2
Pretty People, Pretty Things, Petty Problems
Hierarchy had been on my watchlist for a while, but I quietly deleted it after seeing an avalanche of bad reviews. The drama community wasn’t kind. But then Kim Jae Won happened, specifically, King the Land happened, and suddenly, I found myself casually soft stalking him like a woman on a mission. Turns out, Hierarchy is one of his newer and more talked-about projects, and with only seven episodes, I figured: why not binge it in one sitting and call it a day?
Let me just say this upfront, I walked into this with rock-bottom expectations. I wasn’t looking for deep storytelling or emotional resonance. I just needed something to pass the time before getting back to The Red Sleeve. And in that spirit, here’s my breakdown. Easy, honest, and to the point.
The Good Stuff:
1. Cinematography? Gorgeous.
High-quality visuals, sleek camera work, and a set design that screamed money. Everything looked polished, almost too polished, like everyone lived in a luxury catalog.
2. The Rich Were Rich Rich.
If you’re into watching excessive wealth parade around, think Hermès boxes in every corner, luxury homes, cars that don’t see rain, and private school vibes that are aggressively elite, Hierarchy delivers. Plot? Questionable. But aesthetics? Unmatched.
3. Kim Jae Won and Lee Chae Min = Eye Candy Deluxe.
Whoever cast these two deserves an award and a vacation. Not only are they beautiful, but they also brought more depth than I expected. For their age, the emotional delivery, especially in those tension-filled locker room scenes or when tears started flowing, was surprisingly solid. They carried a lot of the weight of this show, and honestly, they did it well. The rest of the cast was... there. Serviceable.
4. Wardrobe Department Did Not Play.
The outfits, especially for the male leads, were designer from head to toe. Sharp suits, tailored school uniforms, and the kind of casual wear that costs more than my rent. Same goes for the houses, the cars, the props, everything screamed budget.
5. Short and Sweet (Well, Short At Least).
They didn’t drag things out. No 16 episodes of the female lead staring into the void while piano music plays in the background. Things moved quickly, maybe a little too quickly, but at least I didn’t feel like I was being held hostage.
The Not-So-Great:
Don’t expect a plot that’s going to change your life. This isn’t The Glory, Sky Castle, or even Penthouse at its chaotic best. The themes are familiar, class division, secrets, trauma, betrayal, but the writing doesn't dig very deep. It gives rich-people-problems with a sprinkle of a revenge plot and teen angst, but if you're looking for emotional payoff or tight plotting, you might feel underwhelmed.
Final Thoughts:
Hierarchy is like a fashion magazine with a bit of drama sprinkled in. It's not here to teach you life lessons or make you cry in the middle of the night. It's here to look good, stir a little chaos, and leave before things get too complicated. If you're okay with that, and just want to enjoy the visuals, the pretty faces, and some high-budget messiness, it’s worth the watch. Just go in with the right expectations, and you might actually have a good time.
Let me just say this upfront, I walked into this with rock-bottom expectations. I wasn’t looking for deep storytelling or emotional resonance. I just needed something to pass the time before getting back to The Red Sleeve. And in that spirit, here’s my breakdown. Easy, honest, and to the point.
The Good Stuff:
1. Cinematography? Gorgeous.
High-quality visuals, sleek camera work, and a set design that screamed money. Everything looked polished, almost too polished, like everyone lived in a luxury catalog.
2. The Rich Were Rich Rich.
If you’re into watching excessive wealth parade around, think Hermès boxes in every corner, luxury homes, cars that don’t see rain, and private school vibes that are aggressively elite, Hierarchy delivers. Plot? Questionable. But aesthetics? Unmatched.
3. Kim Jae Won and Lee Chae Min = Eye Candy Deluxe.
Whoever cast these two deserves an award and a vacation. Not only are they beautiful, but they also brought more depth than I expected. For their age, the emotional delivery, especially in those tension-filled locker room scenes or when tears started flowing, was surprisingly solid. They carried a lot of the weight of this show, and honestly, they did it well. The rest of the cast was... there. Serviceable.
4. Wardrobe Department Did Not Play.
The outfits, especially for the male leads, were designer from head to toe. Sharp suits, tailored school uniforms, and the kind of casual wear that costs more than my rent. Same goes for the houses, the cars, the props, everything screamed budget.
5. Short and Sweet (Well, Short At Least).
They didn’t drag things out. No 16 episodes of the female lead staring into the void while piano music plays in the background. Things moved quickly, maybe a little too quickly, but at least I didn’t feel like I was being held hostage.
The Not-So-Great:
Don’t expect a plot that’s going to change your life. This isn’t The Glory, Sky Castle, or even Penthouse at its chaotic best. The themes are familiar, class division, secrets, trauma, betrayal, but the writing doesn't dig very deep. It gives rich-people-problems with a sprinkle of a revenge plot and teen angst, but if you're looking for emotional payoff or tight plotting, you might feel underwhelmed.
Final Thoughts:
Hierarchy is like a fashion magazine with a bit of drama sprinkled in. It's not here to teach you life lessons or make you cry in the middle of the night. It's here to look good, stir a little chaos, and leave before things get too complicated. If you're okay with that, and just want to enjoy the visuals, the pretty faces, and some high-budget messiness, it’s worth the watch. Just go in with the right expectations, and you might actually have a good time.
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