1
This review may contain spoilers
The real weak heroes are the teachers who never showed up.
I picked up this drama because of the buzz and sky-high ratings. And while I wouldn’t call it bad, I also wouldn’t crown it the best drama of all time. The premise—a top-ranking student getting bullied—is familiar territory. Sadly, bullying is a reality many face, but the sheer level of violence in this show is jarring. At some point, I found myself wondering: where are the teachers while all this is happening? Did they take a collective vow of invisibility?
The trio at the heart of the story—Yeon Si Eun, Su Ho, and Beom Seok—are all deeply flawed, which makes them compelling, if not always likable. For me, Su Ho is the emotional anchor. He’s not perfect, but he’s the one who feels most grounded in reality. That said, the show leans hard into the idea that fighting back is noble, even when it mirrors the same brutality it’s trying to condemn. When does retaliation stop being justice and start becoming a cycle of destruction?
Beom Seok’s arc is especially troubling. Yes, he’s a victim of domestic abuse, and that context matters—but it doesn’t excuse his betrayal or the fact that he nearly killed a friend. Regret after the fact doesn’t erase the damage. For me, that was the point of no return.
This review is strictly for Season 1. I have no plans to watch Season 2, especially knowing Su Ho is reduced to a coma cameo. If the next season is just more violence without meaningful evolution, I’d rather quit while I’m ahead than rage-watch my way to a lower rating.
The trio at the heart of the story—Yeon Si Eun, Su Ho, and Beom Seok—are all deeply flawed, which makes them compelling, if not always likable. For me, Su Ho is the emotional anchor. He’s not perfect, but he’s the one who feels most grounded in reality. That said, the show leans hard into the idea that fighting back is noble, even when it mirrors the same brutality it’s trying to condemn. When does retaliation stop being justice and start becoming a cycle of destruction?
Beom Seok’s arc is especially troubling. Yes, he’s a victim of domestic abuse, and that context matters—but it doesn’t excuse his betrayal or the fact that he nearly killed a friend. Regret after the fact doesn’t erase the damage. For me, that was the point of no return.
This review is strictly for Season 1. I have no plans to watch Season 2, especially knowing Su Ho is reduced to a coma cameo. If the next season is just more violence without meaningful evolution, I’d rather quit while I’m ahead than rage-watch my way to a lower rating.
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