This review may contain spoilers
Peter Parker meets Superman meets Bruce Lee in this ridiculously fun action school drama
That’s exactly what Yoo Ga-min was a school kid who was passionate about learning but also about protecting the weak and doing the right thing. The way he miraculously appeared when his friends were in trouble along with his super human strength ie kicking through steel doors, jumping off of buildings, running at super human speed and crashing through walls without getting so much as a scratch, he was indeed a super hero. All he needed was a cape.
The idea that his ultimate goal was to form a study group, so that he could improve his grades and go to college was original and served as a great way to bring the misfits that were the study group together. The group was a nice mix of brains, brawn , and kids from varying backgrounds. Though none of their lives were particularly similar they all formed a strong bond of friendship and loyalty.
This show was entertaining and had many hilarious moments but did have a very dark undertone, which was the ever present theme which pops up in k-dramas, severe bullying. It was infuriating to watch kids get bullied at school, bullied walking home from school, bullied when walking to the local store or just hanging out with friends, and no adult stepping up to help. The school was strait up pandemonium, but save for one teacher, administrators weren’t doing anything create order. It was ridiculous (and unrealistic) that there were no parental complaints about the chaos at the school ( or their kids coming home with black eyes, bloody noses and other bruises) while crimes were going on daily on school grounds without any recourse from the administrators or local law enforcement.
Pi Ha Wool’s reign of terror at the school made sense in that he wanted to control his “kingdom”. What didn’t make sense is that control entailing terrorizing kids who wanted to study, learn and make something of themselves. Another plot hole, it was implied that Geon Yoop’s mom was murdered by Pi Ha Wool and/or his gang of thugs but that story thread was dropped and seemingly given to Ms. Lee. Not a plot hole but though Ga min’s focus was learning not fighting, I wanted him to teach his friends a few moves that would help them defend themselves when he wasn’t around. It difficult to watch them repeatedly get slapped, kicked and beat down (rarely fighting back) until Ga-min miraculously came to the rescue.
Despite some flaws, this was a great show. Good cast with great chemistry. Min-Hyun was perfect as Ga-min. This was by far his best role to date. Would I recommend this show? Absolutely! Would I rewatch it? Absolutely!
The idea that his ultimate goal was to form a study group, so that he could improve his grades and go to college was original and served as a great way to bring the misfits that were the study group together. The group was a nice mix of brains, brawn , and kids from varying backgrounds. Though none of their lives were particularly similar they all formed a strong bond of friendship and loyalty.
This show was entertaining and had many hilarious moments but did have a very dark undertone, which was the ever present theme which pops up in k-dramas, severe bullying. It was infuriating to watch kids get bullied at school, bullied walking home from school, bullied when walking to the local store or just hanging out with friends, and no adult stepping up to help. The school was strait up pandemonium, but save for one teacher, administrators weren’t doing anything create order. It was ridiculous (and unrealistic) that there were no parental complaints about the chaos at the school ( or their kids coming home with black eyes, bloody noses and other bruises) while crimes were going on daily on school grounds without any recourse from the administrators or local law enforcement.
Pi Ha Wool’s reign of terror at the school made sense in that he wanted to control his “kingdom”. What didn’t make sense is that control entailing terrorizing kids who wanted to study, learn and make something of themselves. Another plot hole, it was implied that Geon Yoop’s mom was murdered by Pi Ha Wool and/or his gang of thugs but that story thread was dropped and seemingly given to Ms. Lee. Not a plot hole but though Ga min’s focus was learning not fighting, I wanted him to teach his friends a few moves that would help them defend themselves when he wasn’t around. It difficult to watch them repeatedly get slapped, kicked and beat down (rarely fighting back) until Ga-min miraculously came to the rescue.
Despite some flaws, this was a great show. Good cast with great chemistry. Min-Hyun was perfect as Ga-min. This was by far his best role to date. Would I recommend this show? Absolutely! Would I rewatch it? Absolutely!
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