This review may contain spoilers
Mental Health Awareness and Bullying Film, but with Supernatural Solutions
High School Return of a Gangster's story revolves around Song Yiheon, a high school student, who's being bullied by his classmates. Meanwhile, Kim Deokpal is the head of a gang. They met each other when Deokpal was standing under an overpass, while Yiheon jumped from it. When Deokpal woke up, he was shockingly in the body of Yiheon already. When he read Yiheon's letter, he took the opportunity of being in that body to fix Yiheon's life. He worked-out to get physically fit and fight the bullies. Basically, the story revolves around Deokpal fixing Yiheon's life while he is in that body.
Plot/Story - 9/10
First of all, I like the whole story. I liked where the story might lead you and the ending of it. But along the way, I felt like there is nothing new with the story. Yes, the main character's soul was changed and he is now in the body of a high schooler with the purpose of establishing a better life for the owner of his body, but what's more of it? What's something more to the story that viewers might get interested in? Yes, I am happy that the bullied main character is now getting his revenge on the bullies and that his life is now better but I felt uninterested at some point, because I was not intrigued already on what might happen in the next episodes. Nevertheless, the plot was concise and understandable, but I felt like the story is only going through a straight line instead of a line with zigzags of it.
The novel was considered as BL, but this series was tagged as bromance, yet I appreciate the fact that the script still gives hints of flirting in it and how the characters' actions and lines are to each other.
Characters - 10/10
Chanyoung did great in portraying a contrasting character; him as Yiheon and as Deokpal. The way he managed to give different emotions out of the two characters really did make me feel proud of him. His acting of Deokpal's mannerisms as an older age is really something that must be highlighted.
Yiheon's character is really the main plot of this story. I just can't imagine the battles that he needs to go through to the point that he needs to make that decision to himself. In the end, I believed that his decision was a good decision. As someone who experienced going through that state (Not bullied), I felt him when he said that he is tired already. I understand his decision and I always understand people who are experiencing that kind of mental health disorder.
Yiheon's Parents
I actually do not just understand the fact that he is a chairman of a company's son, yet he was not recognized by him. I mean, knowing the culture of South Korea, they value more if their child is a son. With her mother who has been an addict for her whole life, it is so funny to see that she is okay already that fast. I mean, addiction is not something that you can cure in just one day, it is a long process.
Choi Sekyung - I know that in the moment that he met the new Yiheon and he was surprised, there is something going on between the two of them. I felt emotional with his character because of how mentally pressured he was to abide by his abusive father, no children must experience that kind of maltreatment. On the other hand, I hate him for not helping the abused when Yiheon needed him. I always believe that if you are not doing anything against the oppressor, then you're also siding with the oppressor. Nevertheless, his character development gave him a redeeming moment.
Hong Jaemin - I actually thought that he is one of the main characters, but I understand how he is just a side character. I hate him, his way of thinking, and the actions he did. I will never forgive his character for that. But can I talk about how Joo Yoonchan portrayed this character? The anger that I feel towards this motherfucker bully suddenly becomes so cute in my eyes whenever he appears on my screen. His incorrect English words and cute actions made his character adorable. I still hate him as a bully, but once again a character with a development and redeeming moment in the end.
Lee Seojin - Even if he only appeared in one episode, he became remarkable. The way that his aura shifted from a student who is bad at Math, then suddenly showing his charismatic and manly aura when the gang opened the door. That scene was so funny to me.
Each and everyone of the casts did amazing on their respective roles. Some made me love them, some made me irritated, but that just means that they did great in portraying their characters.
In totality, High School Return of a Gangster did well and I loved watching it. This film used it platform to raise awareness about Mental Health Disorders and Bullying, but the solution used cannot be used in real life situations. The ending made me satisfied, the bullies going to jail and Kim Deokpal remains on Earth with Yiheon's body. I just wish an entirely and everlasting happiness for Yiheon in the afterlife.
Plot/Story - 9/10
First of all, I like the whole story. I liked where the story might lead you and the ending of it. But along the way, I felt like there is nothing new with the story. Yes, the main character's soul was changed and he is now in the body of a high schooler with the purpose of establishing a better life for the owner of his body, but what's more of it? What's something more to the story that viewers might get interested in? Yes, I am happy that the bullied main character is now getting his revenge on the bullies and that his life is now better but I felt uninterested at some point, because I was not intrigued already on what might happen in the next episodes. Nevertheless, the plot was concise and understandable, but I felt like the story is only going through a straight line instead of a line with zigzags of it.
The novel was considered as BL, but this series was tagged as bromance, yet I appreciate the fact that the script still gives hints of flirting in it and how the characters' actions and lines are to each other.
Characters - 10/10
Chanyoung did great in portraying a contrasting character; him as Yiheon and as Deokpal. The way he managed to give different emotions out of the two characters really did make me feel proud of him. His acting of Deokpal's mannerisms as an older age is really something that must be highlighted.
Yiheon's character is really the main plot of this story. I just can't imagine the battles that he needs to go through to the point that he needs to make that decision to himself. In the end, I believed that his decision was a good decision. As someone who experienced going through that state (Not bullied), I felt him when he said that he is tired already. I understand his decision and I always understand people who are experiencing that kind of mental health disorder.
Yiheon's Parents
I actually do not just understand the fact that he is a chairman of a company's son, yet he was not recognized by him. I mean, knowing the culture of South Korea, they value more if their child is a son. With her mother who has been an addict for her whole life, it is so funny to see that she is okay already that fast. I mean, addiction is not something that you can cure in just one day, it is a long process.
Choi Sekyung - I know that in the moment that he met the new Yiheon and he was surprised, there is something going on between the two of them. I felt emotional with his character because of how mentally pressured he was to abide by his abusive father, no children must experience that kind of maltreatment. On the other hand, I hate him for not helping the abused when Yiheon needed him. I always believe that if you are not doing anything against the oppressor, then you're also siding with the oppressor. Nevertheless, his character development gave him a redeeming moment.
Hong Jaemin - I actually thought that he is one of the main characters, but I understand how he is just a side character. I hate him, his way of thinking, and the actions he did. I will never forgive his character for that. But can I talk about how Joo Yoonchan portrayed this character? The anger that I feel towards this motherfucker bully suddenly becomes so cute in my eyes whenever he appears on my screen. His incorrect English words and cute actions made his character adorable. I still hate him as a bully, but once again a character with a development and redeeming moment in the end.
Lee Seojin - Even if he only appeared in one episode, he became remarkable. The way that his aura shifted from a student who is bad at Math, then suddenly showing his charismatic and manly aura when the gang opened the door. That scene was so funny to me.
Each and everyone of the casts did amazing on their respective roles. Some made me love them, some made me irritated, but that just means that they did great in portraying their characters.
In totality, High School Return of a Gangster did well and I loved watching it. This film used it platform to raise awareness about Mental Health Disorders and Bullying, but the solution used cannot be used in real life situations. The ending made me satisfied, the bullies going to jail and Kim Deokpal remains on Earth with Yiheon's body. I just wish an entirely and everlasting happiness for Yiheon in the afterlife.
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