Thank you for writing your article. Let me respectfully disagree.Here are five reasons for NOT watching Extracurricular:1.…
I was going to argue with your "reasons" because they come off more as subjective opinions than concrete facts, but then I read your reviews and sorry lady you seem kinda crazy LOL. Like you insinuated that people who want to watch movies with sex and violence in them don't want "even a tiny drop of critical thinking and self respect". Also it was pretty obvious that the drama was dark? Like you seem upset about the amount of violence and adult themes in it but they literally gave you the plot and the rating, so it's not like they tricked you into watching.
I disagree with the idea that the show is promoting the sex-trafficking of minors or getting viewers excited about it - the whole entire plotline deals with the consequences of doing so and the physical, mental and emotional ramifications it has on the characters!!
I think it's pretty important to explore these topics with young people especially (in light of the Nth room situation) such as those who find themselves in Minhee's position thinking that compensated dating is a quick and easy way to get money or Gyuri and Jisoo getting mixed up in some illegal business. Neither of the characters are perfect or figures to aspire to but they aren't literal monsters and many viewers can sympathise with the motivations they had for doing their awful actions (e.g. Jisoo's need for money for living expenses).
It'd be another thing if they tried to make out the characters are "cool" and "grown-up" for doing so but it's pretty obvious to the viewers that they're suffering as a result of it (PTSD, injuries etc.). If some desperate students might think sex work or other illegal business was a good idea previously, I'd say this drama stamped that idea out. A lot of students might wise up and understand that "If something's too good to be true, it probably is" in relation to shady money making opportunities. Sometimes dramas get the message out better than school programs and students/minors get a better, more realistic understanding grasp that "X is bad and I shouldn't do it".
I'll also add that it may encourage students to report those kinds of situation earlier to adults, as many of the problems in the drama escalated as a result of being afraid of reporting to authorities and kids trying (and failing) to deal with it themselves. As seen in the drama, the characters often overestimated their ability to handle the situation and felt that they cannot trust the adults, which I think is a similar issue in real life. The end of the episode emphasises this message by providing a helpline/tag telling students facing the same problems to seek help. Like idk how you can get more blatant than that, it's pretty obvious that the writer/director condemns the criminal behaviour portrayed in the drama (and not some weird fantasy conjured up for advertising as you seem to think - was there even product placement in that drama? apart from burgers)
As to what new perspective I learned from this drama - fyi I enjoyed it and no I do not have "unresolved childhood drama" or desire for adrenaline (and even if I did I would not use that as a motivation for becoming a doctor/nurse - I would do that because I want to HELP people) and I do not like watching people being killed or tortured etc. I liked this drama because it showed that morality was not always black and white - it showed me complicated characters like Jisoo and Gyuri, who weren't evil people but weren't also completely good either, and how we can root for them and hope for their redemption but also understand that they need to face consequences/stop their actions. It also made me sympathise with characters like Minhee who do sex work, often these people are looked down in society and as a result harder for them to seek help if trouble occurs in that situation. It made me more aware of underlying social issues we have in society and what we can do to resolve them. Overall, this drama made me realise how hard it is to be a "good person" and make the most ethical decisions and no longer look down on those who struggle doing so.
I disagree with the idea that the show is promoting the sex-trafficking of minors or getting viewers excited about it - the whole entire plotline deals with the consequences of doing so and the physical, mental and emotional ramifications it has on the characters!!
I think it's pretty important to explore these topics with young people especially (in light of the Nth room situation) such as those who find themselves in Minhee's position thinking that compensated dating is a quick and easy way to get money or Gyuri and Jisoo getting mixed up in some illegal business. Neither of the characters are perfect or figures to aspire to but they aren't literal monsters and many viewers can sympathise with the motivations they had for doing their awful actions (e.g. Jisoo's need for money for living expenses).
It'd be another thing if they tried to make out the characters are "cool" and "grown-up" for doing so but it's pretty obvious to the viewers that they're suffering as a result of it (PTSD, injuries etc.). If some desperate students might think sex work or other illegal business was a good idea previously, I'd say this drama stamped that idea out. A lot of students might wise up and understand that "If something's too good to be true, it probably is" in relation to shady money making opportunities. Sometimes dramas get the message out better than school programs and students/minors get a better, more realistic understanding grasp that "X is bad and I shouldn't do it".
I'll also add that it may encourage students to report those kinds of situation earlier to adults, as many of the problems in the drama escalated as a result of being afraid of reporting to authorities and kids trying (and failing) to deal with it themselves. As seen in the drama, the characters often overestimated their ability to handle the situation and felt that they cannot trust the adults, which I think is a similar issue in real life. The end of the episode emphasises this message by providing a helpline/tag telling students facing the same problems to seek help. Like idk how you can get more blatant than that, it's pretty obvious that the writer/director condemns the criminal behaviour portrayed in the drama (and not some weird fantasy conjured up for advertising as you seem to think - was there even product placement in that drama? apart from burgers)
As to what new perspective I learned from this drama - fyi I enjoyed it and no I do not have "unresolved childhood drama" or desire for adrenaline (and even if I did I would not use that as a motivation for becoming a doctor/nurse - I would do that because I want to HELP people) and I do not like watching people being killed or tortured etc. I liked this drama because it showed that morality was not always black and white - it showed me complicated characters like Jisoo and Gyuri, who weren't evil people but weren't also completely good either, and how we can root for them and hope for their redemption but also understand that they need to face consequences/stop their actions. It also made me sympathise with characters like Minhee who do sex work, often these people are looked down in society and as a result harder for them to seek help if trouble occurs in that situation. It made me more aware of underlying social issues we have in society and what we can do to resolve them. Overall, this drama made me realise how hard it is to be a "good person" and make the most ethical decisions and no longer look down on those who struggle doing so.