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This review may contain spoilers
We're All Just Trapped in a Cage
Much like many of the reviews of this drama, I was left with a feeling that it didn't deliver what I wanted. Usually when that happens, I try to look at it from a production perspective, mainly the writer and director. I ask myself, "What was the point of this story?" As I thought about this a conversation with a friend came to mind. One day we were talking about the rise of Korean entertainment, specifically Kpop, and she stated, "I feel for Kpop idols. They are trapped in golden cages."
When I looked at the characters of this story, they are all trapped in cages.
The parents trapped in the cage of ruthless power and wealth while appearing to do good in the world.
The principal of the school trapped in the cage of image and branding while constantly putting out fires that threaten that image.
Jae I and Ri an caught in the cage of being the most perfect, obedient, best students in the school, as well as, being crowned royalty which comes with the expectation of service from others.
He Ra was caught in the cage of survival when her only way of life she knew was threatened.
U Jin was caught in the cage of loving He Ra from afar, always wanting but never having.
Ji Su, the teacher and U Jin's lover, was caught in a cage of wanting to be a part of that wealth and seeing U Jin as the source. Her desire led to unspeakable, unethical, and illegal behavior. She was a teacher, suppose to be a good guy, but she was as corrupt and depraved as the students that bullied, the parents that controlled, the principal who covered up.
The wealthy students were caught in a cage of constantly establishing their superiority over others which also meant delivering abuse.
The scholarship students were caught in the cage of just putting up with the abuse to show gratitude for this educational opportunity.
Kang Ha's cage was one of getting revenge for his brother's death.
The only person I could see with a true mission of making things change was Ju Won who wanted to make his mother see how the effect of hiding the student's true behavior was damaging so many people inside the school and also damaging his mother. Which in the end led to the tragic death of In Han.
The story was about people taking control and breaking out of their cages. I think where the story broke down is the act of breaking out of the cage wasn't as clear as it should have been, wasn't as dramatic as hoped for, so we all didn't get the satisfaction we expected.
Jae I was probably the most dramatic of those who broke out of the cage. She said goodbye to Ri an, said goodbye to her way of life, and left to find her banished mother. We are left with the assumption that she is just living a normal, ordinary life.
Ri an too broke out of his cage by not allowing his mother to protect him. He declared he would not be his mother's heir and follow her down the road of corporate wealth. He apologized to Kang Ha for the part he played in his brother's death. Kang Ha's words to him motivated him to go before the disciplinary board to confess he too was guilty. We are left with the assumption that he would be a better person.
Ji Su was arrested for In Han's death and we assume she is now in a real cage.
There was an inkling that U Jin and He Ra might get together but nothing solid. Life seemed very much the same for them. He Ra's father got their company back on track so she was back in the driver's seat of living the good life. No assumption here, as it isn't clear at all what happens to them.
Kang Ha's ending story also fell flat. The revenge he sought in bringing down the school, Ri an, and the other bullies was entirely too anticlimactic. Instead it was coopted by his crush on Jae I, which I felt was too contrived. I honestly didn't feel they had a love connection at all. The scene of him running to catch up to her was stupid. In fact, most of the scenes for the final two episodes were awkward and stunted, like they were suppose to have a purpose but fell very short. It was a bunch of actors delivering their lines as though they all felt in the end that this didn't come together as expected. Which it didn't.
I like a storyline of a person coming into their own skin, breaking out of that cage of expectations by others, and finding their own footing in life. It can make for a really good story. But unfortunately, if that is what this story was suppose to be, it really fell short.
When I looked at the characters of this story, they are all trapped in cages.
The parents trapped in the cage of ruthless power and wealth while appearing to do good in the world.
The principal of the school trapped in the cage of image and branding while constantly putting out fires that threaten that image.
Jae I and Ri an caught in the cage of being the most perfect, obedient, best students in the school, as well as, being crowned royalty which comes with the expectation of service from others.
He Ra was caught in the cage of survival when her only way of life she knew was threatened.
U Jin was caught in the cage of loving He Ra from afar, always wanting but never having.
Ji Su, the teacher and U Jin's lover, was caught in a cage of wanting to be a part of that wealth and seeing U Jin as the source. Her desire led to unspeakable, unethical, and illegal behavior. She was a teacher, suppose to be a good guy, but she was as corrupt and depraved as the students that bullied, the parents that controlled, the principal who covered up.
The wealthy students were caught in a cage of constantly establishing their superiority over others which also meant delivering abuse.
The scholarship students were caught in the cage of just putting up with the abuse to show gratitude for this educational opportunity.
Kang Ha's cage was one of getting revenge for his brother's death.
The only person I could see with a true mission of making things change was Ju Won who wanted to make his mother see how the effect of hiding the student's true behavior was damaging so many people inside the school and also damaging his mother. Which in the end led to the tragic death of In Han.
The story was about people taking control and breaking out of their cages. I think where the story broke down is the act of breaking out of the cage wasn't as clear as it should have been, wasn't as dramatic as hoped for, so we all didn't get the satisfaction we expected.
Jae I was probably the most dramatic of those who broke out of the cage. She said goodbye to Ri an, said goodbye to her way of life, and left to find her banished mother. We are left with the assumption that she is just living a normal, ordinary life.
Ri an too broke out of his cage by not allowing his mother to protect him. He declared he would not be his mother's heir and follow her down the road of corporate wealth. He apologized to Kang Ha for the part he played in his brother's death. Kang Ha's words to him motivated him to go before the disciplinary board to confess he too was guilty. We are left with the assumption that he would be a better person.
Ji Su was arrested for In Han's death and we assume she is now in a real cage.
There was an inkling that U Jin and He Ra might get together but nothing solid. Life seemed very much the same for them. He Ra's father got their company back on track so she was back in the driver's seat of living the good life. No assumption here, as it isn't clear at all what happens to them.
Kang Ha's ending story also fell flat. The revenge he sought in bringing down the school, Ri an, and the other bullies was entirely too anticlimactic. Instead it was coopted by his crush on Jae I, which I felt was too contrived. I honestly didn't feel they had a love connection at all. The scene of him running to catch up to her was stupid. In fact, most of the scenes for the final two episodes were awkward and stunted, like they were suppose to have a purpose but fell very short. It was a bunch of actors delivering their lines as though they all felt in the end that this didn't come together as expected. Which it didn't.
I like a storyline of a person coming into their own skin, breaking out of that cage of expectations by others, and finding their own footing in life. It can make for a really good story. But unfortunately, if that is what this story was suppose to be, it really fell short.
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