Heracin

This very bingeable series took me by surprise. I was not expecting that intricate level of psychology and mind games from what started as a pretty classical bullying story, between rich and poor high schoolers. But once the Pyramid Game revealed itself : I was hooked ! The friendship between some of the girls was the most memorable part of the series. There was a lot of variety in the characters and their motivations, it never felt repetitive.

Where the writing hit the hardest was on putting the focus on the bystanders, sharing the blame not only on the active bully but on the herd mentality that can be so damn damaging. If the script sometimes felt a bit bland for the adult characters, it really stood out in highlighting the relationships between the teens, with all the social dynamics and the hierarchy and power imbalance at play. Despite wishing for a longer epilogue, I enjoyed the conclusion, the pay off of the story made a lot of sense.

The ensemble cast did a very good job. I got very attached to Myung Ja Eun, portrayed by Ryu Da In. This character was incredibly touching, being a mix of good heart and social awkwardness. Despite her being so heavily bullied and ostracized, she managed to build bridge with the heroine Seong Su Ji (played by Bona) and the external world.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for an angsty school drama. If you enjoy psychological thriller, I feel this is a great pick. It is a quite short series, well paced. Once you start, you are in for a brutal ride!