Good fun with a splash of romance, mystery, adventure — just the way I like my K-dramas!
When a handsome, down-on-his-luck government agent (Seo Kang Joon) goes undercover as a student at a swanky private high school, he stirs up plenty of trouble (and interest) as he struggles to balance his mission with issues he encounters at the school — including bullying, power-tripping rich kids, suspicious school officials, and a certain female teacher (Jin Ki Joo) who’s determined to keep an eye on the new “problem student.”
Pairing leads from two of my favorite dramas (“Are You Human Too?” and “The Secret Life of My Secretary”), I was looking forward to this show, and it didn’t disappoint.
Seo Kang Joon brings a certain intensity to his roles that works well for the male lead, Jeong Hae Seong. You get the sense that even though he might look like the strong, silent type, there are a lot of emotions simmering beneath the surface.
Part of an intelligence team tasked with locating stolen cultural treasures, Agent Jeong looks effortlessly cool and confident on the job but also has moments of being awkward, easily embarrassed, and overwhelmed by his emotions. At heart, he’s just a nice guy with a lot of empathy who also happens to have some impressive fighting skills.
His character is multifaceted and gets more of a backstory than Jin Ki Joo’s female lead, Oh Su A, a teacher who’s caring and determined to make a difference for her students, but a bit silly. However, she does get some character growth, and JKJ gives a charming performance. The two of them have a playful, somewhat goofy dynamic that’s fun to watch, even though the romance takes a back seat to other plot elements.
There are also plenty of interesting characters besides the leads, particularly Chairwoman Seo. She’s a terrifying and formidable villain without being one dimensional. Her daughter, the student council president, is also a well-written and layered character— infuriating and pitiful at the same time.
Although this series does touch on a few serious topics (including the previously mentioned bullying and self-harm), it’s an entertaining watch that’s exciting from the get-go, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and offers lots of laughs, all without stretching out the story with too many episodes. Plus, everything gets wrapped up with a satisfying ending where the main characters each get their own little epilogue. Recommended!
When a handsome, down-on-his-luck government agent (Seo Kang Joon) goes undercover as a student at a swanky private high school, he stirs up plenty of trouble (and interest) as he struggles to balance his mission with issues he encounters at the school — including bullying, power-tripping rich kids, suspicious school officials, and a certain female teacher (Jin Ki Joo) who’s determined to keep an eye on the new “problem student.”
Pairing leads from two of my favorite dramas (“Are You Human Too?” and “The Secret Life of My Secretary”), I was looking forward to this show, and it didn’t disappoint.
Seo Kang Joon brings a certain intensity to his roles that works well for the male lead, Jeong Hae Seong. You get the sense that even though he might look like the strong, silent type, there are a lot of emotions simmering beneath the surface.
Part of an intelligence team tasked with locating stolen cultural treasures, Agent Jeong looks effortlessly cool and confident on the job but also has moments of being awkward, easily embarrassed, and overwhelmed by his emotions. At heart, he’s just a nice guy with a lot of empathy who also happens to have some impressive fighting skills.
His character is multifaceted and gets more of a backstory than Jin Ki Joo’s female lead, Oh Su A, a teacher who’s caring and determined to make a difference for her students, but a bit silly. However, she does get some character growth, and JKJ gives a charming performance. The two of them have a playful, somewhat goofy dynamic that’s fun to watch, even though the romance takes a back seat to other plot elements.
There are also plenty of interesting characters besides the leads, particularly Chairwoman Seo. She’s a terrifying and formidable villain without being one dimensional. Her daughter, the student council president, is also a well-written and layered character— infuriating and pitiful at the same time.
Although this series does touch on a few serious topics (including the previously mentioned bullying and self-harm), it’s an entertaining watch that’s exciting from the get-go, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and offers lots of laughs, all without stretching out the story with too many episodes. Plus, everything gets wrapped up with a satisfying ending where the main characters each get their own little epilogue. Recommended!
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