Reviews

A Gem That's Worth Every Episode

Since I'm rewatching once again, I decided to stick this here as my first real review.

Don't let the episode count scare you. They fly by especially once you hit the middle section of the show. This drama was absolutely amazing and is probably in my top three Chinese dramas, and is in my top five favorite shows overall. I almost didn't watch it but I'm so glad I did. There's something to be said about a show that isn't afraid to really build up the characters. Watching Minglan and Ting Ye grow separately made them coming together much more rewarding, and it helped you understand why they experienced conflict with each other and strengthened each other. The cast of characters is outstanding, especially Minglan's family. Their scenes are impactful and often funny too.

Minglan is quiet and clever with a subtle sense of humor. She's honestly quite introverted and reserved, especially when it comes to love (which makes so much sense considering her home life) but has a spine of steel and isn't afraid to get down when it comes to things she cares about. I've yet to see any other FL like her. I liked that you got to really see how Minglan's upbringing shaped her as a person, which a lot of dramas really don't do to the extent that this show does. All the household conflicts that she experiences are not just petty trifles and filler. They're teaching moments that really end up aiding her in the future.

Ting Ye is outgoing, boisterous, and transparent about his feelings. I actually didn't like Ting Ye much in the beginning. He wasn't necessarily awful, but I wasn't impressed with his character at first. And that turned out to be one of my favorite things about this show. I greatly respect that they weren't afraid to show him failing. So many dramas have MLs that are almost inhumanely perfect. They're always the smartest person in the room who is always ahead of everyone and rarely makes mistakes. But Ting Ye pretty much starts off making mistakes. He falls for schemes in the beginning and isn't perfect and I love that. He's certainly not dumb, but Minglan is definitely smarter than him, and that's okay because he supports and protects her in other ways. Eventually, he gets better at utilizing his own strengths and balances Minglan so wonderfully especially in moments where she needed it the most.

Anyway, watch this show because I said so.

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A Drama with Meaningful Lessons to Learn

This is the first full Korean drama I have watched in 2026. At first, I thought I was simply watching another school-themed K-drama. However, I never expected the story to be this powerful, meaningful, and thought-provoking.

I am writing this review as a former college teacher who has always believed in the power of education to change lives.
As a college teacher to engineering students for several years, I was naturally drawn to its educational theme.
What I discovered was far more than entertainment. Each episode explores issues that continue to challenge schools and society today—bullying, abuse of authority, parental pressure, social media harassment, gambling, drug abuse, academic obsession, juvenile crime, and, above all, the responsibility of adults to guide the next generation.

The main characters—Minister of Education Choi Gang Seok, the founder of the Educational Rights Protection Bureau (ERPB), together with Inspector Na Hwa-Jin, Im Han Rim, and Bong Geun Dae—represent individuals who, despite carrying deep personal grief, never lose sight of education's true purpose: helping young people become responsible, compassionate, and productive members of society.

Special recognition must also be given to Kim Moo-yul, whose portrayal of Inspector Na Hwa-Jin gave the series both strength and emotional depth. His performance was calm, restrained, and convincing, allowing viewers to feel not only the character's determination but also the quiet grief he carried throughout the story. Together with the outstanding performances of Lee Sung-min as Minister Choi Gang Seok, Lee Jung-hyun as Im Han Rim, Kim Min as Bong Geun Dae, and the entire cast and production team, they created a drama that was both compelling and deeply meaningful. Their collective dedication transformed an already excellent script into one of the most memorable Korean dramas of the year.

One of the drama's greatest strengths, in my opinion, is its memorable dialogue. Many of its quotations stayed with me long after each episode ended and inspired me to reflect more deeply on the role of teachers, parents, students, and society. The very first episode immediately captured my heart when Inspector Na Hwa-Jin said:

"In a world where adults are afraid of children, is a world that is nearing its end."

To me, these words express a timeless truth: a school cannot fulfill its mission when fear replaces mutual respect between students and the adults entrusted to guide them.

As I continued watching the series, I found myself writing down many of its quotations and the lessons behind them. I have compiled these under the Discussion section of this drama on MDL for anyone who would like to revisit its inspiring messages:

https://kisskh.at/778658-get-schooled/discussions/153084-teach-you-a-lesson-quotable-quotes-lessons-learned

Watching this drama also reminded me of my own years in the classroom. During my time as a teacher, respect between students and educators was generally built through trust, discipline, and open communication. Today's teachers often face new challenges brought about by technology, social media, changing family dynamics, and increasing pressures both inside and outside the classroom. While every generation has its own struggles, the calling of a teacher remains unchanged: not only to impart knowledge, but also to help shape character, inspire responsibility, and nurture hope.

For me, "Teach You A Lesson" is far more than a school drama. It is a thoughtful reflection on the shared responsibility of parents, teachers, students, and society in building a better future. It reminds us that education is not merely about academic success—it is about forming individuals of integrity, compassion, accountability, and respect.

As a former college teacher, I did not simply watch "Teach You A Lesson". I found myself reflecting on my own years in the classroom, remembering the responsibility entrusted to every educator: not merely to teach subjects, but to help shape character. This drama reminded me that true education begins where knowledge meets responsibility, compassion, and accountability.

My Rating: 10/10
A remarkable drama that not only entertains but also encourages every viewer to reflect on the kind of society we hope to build through education.

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Perfect Casting and Chemistry but Uneven Timeline Distribution

The casting in this was perfect. Both the actors gave off the vibe they needed for these characters. Bao Shangen did so well like her crying scenes genuinely had me feeling so bad for her.

Honestly the yearning in this drama was next level like it had me hooked from the beginning. I also love the character dynamics. I like the side characters and I like how they didn't take up too much of the drama and how most of it was focused on our main characters.

They also did a lot of tropey things like him backing her into a wall and if done wrong it would be very cringey and hard to watch but since they have such a natural chemistry they pulled it off really well.

My main complaint was the timing of the drama. For a 29 episode drama why did we spend like over half the time in the past. I feel like it should've been half and half not like 20-9. At some points in the past the drama felt like it was dragging abit. I think we should've spent more time unpacking Lu Xixiao's pain and what not in the present. I also think the transition back into their relationship in the future could've been smoother. It felt a bit too all of a sudden to me and didn't make much sense. I wish I saw Lu Xixiao get more mad or something because it would've been valid.

Anyways this was a very good show that I would definitely rewatch one day.

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I was hooked at first, they were cute and Wayu is adorable. I love his relationship with Tai. He is his biggest supporter.

Rose is my favorite character. She is the best friend you can even think of.

UpPoom's chemistry is still on top/


I hate how everyone suddenly change because??? Like the mom became good, his sister caame back. The homophobic and controlling dad became okay with his gay son. Can we accept that some character don't have a great family and can build a better life after.

What ruineed the drama to me is some incident that happen while they were watching their own episode (sorry not sorry I can't separated some things).

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Even the audience is getting manipulated

So happy to see Hyun Wook in something again! This show was pretty intriguing, more than I thought it would. It really takes you on a ride and you really don't know what's happening. After finishing the show last night and sitting with it today, I still am left confused. The finale really floored me but also just confused on how to feel about the ending. I do like that the show made it feel like you were seeing a story with an unreliable narrator. I always think that is fun and thought they did well on leaving the audience confused. It also did a great job making you want more. It was a super easy show to want to binge. It's nice that it was only six episodes as well.

I found Lee Gang really interesting. You never really knew what he was thinking which was cool. He was so weird and just made you uncomfortable because he was just off. He was incredibly smart and talented, but just not right. He was creepy. He did seem to care a lot about Se Yun but after the finale I don't even know if that's true. Crazy he slept with Hyeon Suk too. I did think doing all he did just because of one small moment when he was little was kind of stupid though.

I hated Heo Mun O. He was a dick, insulted everyone, a horrible teacher, an awful husband who is still obsessed with his first love, and just overall an awful person. He had no redeeming qualities at all. His obsession with Eun Ju was so wild. Man liked her in college and is still obsessed 30 years or so later...insane. He was such an ass to his wife too. Not just because of the obsession either, he just treated her badly and you can tell he doesn't care about her much at all. I hated how he treated Lee Gang right from the beginning. He was always insulting him and putting him down. I just did not like him at all. I also can't believe that after everything Lee Gang did to him, that he would still hear him out for another story. That didn't make sense to me.

Overall, I just feel confused about this show. I think the things that were done well were done really well. I just think there were some things they could've done better. The finale is the biggest one. The finale could've used some major tweaking and then I think this could've been a solid 10/10, but they just missed the mark with it, I think.

The camerawork in this was fantastic! So cinematic! The lighting too was so incredible! I really praised that as I was watching this!

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Really this is very good and delightful drama

I just finished this drama.First of all congratulations to all actor and actress for your hard work specially Tian jian ci and wang churan... This was the most anticipated drama.. I waiting for this drama for many years.. At last it came... It really fireworks🎇... I really like it...
But in this drama the most annoying part is jun's mom and wang ruhoi but overall is really good... Specially Li yifei and Qian Fei's bickering to each other... I really enjoyed those bickering... They already looked like a couple even before the confession.... Yes after 26 no. episode I loosed my patients because at least in 10 episodes we saw their dating era but after 33 no episode (33-36) I just speechless what a sweet moment between them!!!! And no more Jun's mom annoying scene..... 5-6 kisses just in 3 episodes 😍😍so many hugs....

So please go and enjoy this drama really worth it.....

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Bad Buddy: Collateral Damage

Bad Buddy is beloved by BL fans, and rightly so. Its charismatic, natural performances fit the characters as if they were written for the obvious onscreen chemistry of the two leads, Ohm and Nanon. When you add Aof’s trademark cinematic vision and emotional depth, you have a BL series that continues to resonate around the world.

It took me one or two episodes to begin to really appreciate it. As someone who works in academia, “a dangerous gang of architecture students” is … a bit of a stretch. Besides, if you’re going to do the Sharks versus the Jets, at least dance to music.

After the rival armies were nudged to the side, however, I was able to focus more on the story and characters. One thing that makes “Bad Buddy” more interesting - and more poignant - than most enemies-to-lovers stories is that, in a way, there’s nothing personal between them. Instead, they are both fighting a battle their parents started; Pat (played by Ohm) and Pran (played by Nanon) are merely collateral damage.

What makes the heavy weight of parental expectations believable is the performances of the two leads. Nanon is achingly subtle. You can feel the tension and pain Pran experiences as he tries to internally rationalize loyalty to his parents with his growing, if confused, pull toward Pat.

And Ohm … Ohm is a revelation. As an actor, he is grounded and warm, and the camera loves him. That’s a good thing because he is forced to do much of the heavy lifting. Pat becomes aware of his feelings first and throughout the series, Pat emotionally puts himself on the line and does the work of trying to build a relationship against the weight of their families' feud.

In contrast, Pran responds with passivity and hesitation. Pat takes bold steps forward, Pran refuses to reciprocate, and the dynamic stalls because the emotional labor isn’t shared. That’s not a reflection on Nanon’s acting; you see his internal struggle. It does, however, place an almost unfair burden on Ohm’s character—and on Ohm as an actor—to constantly generate the momentum needed to keep the romance from collapsing. It’s a testament to Ohm’s ability that he could carry much of the show without breaking a sweat.

One small moment stays with me. Pran rejects him once again, saying “I don’t want to be friends with you,” and Pat says, softly, almost to himself “Why not? I have many good qualities….” Haven’t we all thought that? Haven’t we all wondered why someone doesn’t like us? Haven’t we all thought “I’m a nice guy, I’m kind to dogs, I recycle…why doesn’t that person like me?” That one, very small moment was deeply, deeply human.

That works because Aof is not afraid of small, quiet, unpretentious moments. Instead of introducing big “D” Drama, Aof reduces a generation-long conflict to its core: two souls trying to find each other.

This reveals Aof’s genius for visual storytelling. He lets the camera do the work. His lingering closeups, beautiful color and shadow, and use of space make scenes feel intimate instead of staged. When Pat and Pran speak, Aof lets them speak, but when they are quiet, Aof lets you know what they’re feeling without a word being spoken.

And that, I think, is an important clue as to its lasting appeal. By giving us unsaid truths, Aof trusts his actors, he trusts his audience, and he treats them with respect. That respect transforms a simple BL youth story into something that continues to resonate.

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Holy Shit

I could probably come up with a better heading, but 'Holy Shit' is the only thing ringing in my head because, Holy shit. What the ever-loving fuck?🙆🏾‍♀️?

I'm also not one to come on this platform and complain about how a show is rated or tell people to ignore ratings. I understand that the enjoyment of any media is subjective. I have absolutely abhorred shows that are loved and highly rated to a point that I questioned the sanity of the reviewers and myself, and loved shows that people said were mid or a bore.

With that said, if you are considering watching this, I now urge you to wholly ignore the rating of this show and give it a chance. If you enjoy thrillers, love stories that explore the greys that are humans, and want a story that's not afraid to show just how cruel and evil people can be to serve their own ends, watch this.

The pacing was incredible, the comedy, while unexpected, was good and not overdone, the performances by the cast were incredible, and the social issues explored.... My God. I hate that they are grounded in everyday, horrendous reality. Other reviewers have mentioned it, but the strength of this story is in how no one is either good or bad. There isn't one good guy and one bad guy. Humans are layered and nuanced, and they show you that.

Now about that ending.... I knew some shit was about to go left field when something in my head went 'Are we ending this now? Only to look at the progress bar and realize that we had 11 minutes left.' Little did I know. They done fucked me up in those 11 minutes. I just... Holy shit

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Shin and Saint are in love

I watched this because I'm currently going through all of Nani's works, but I'm so glad I watched it. I really liked this a lot. I love the cast so much! So many of my favorites and familiar faces in this which I loved. Sky and Nani have incredible chemistry and it's crazy that this was their first project together. Amazing! I thought the whole cast was great together. I loved the plot and concept of the show a lot as well. I loved seeing how Jan and Sung would solve problems between the kids and seeing how much they cared for and fought for them, especially when all the other teachers already gave up on them. I really enjoyed watching everyone's growth over the series as well. None of it felt rushed and all felt very natural. Also have to say that I loved that the boys in class never messed with the girls and stood up for them a lot. I feel like that showed that they were good people deep down. Small detail but I really liked that. This was a lot of fun to watch!

Characters:
Saint: I loved seeing how much he cared for his friends, especially Shin, and how hard working he was. I loved that he didn't fight just to fight like some of the others and really only did when it was for his friends. He's definitely in love with Shin.

Shin: He was my favorite character. He was so caring towards so many people, especially his friends, but didn't put up with bullshit either. He is way more forgiving than I ever could be so props to him because personally I wouldn't have ever been able to forgive Saint. I love his relationship with Saint though and was happy he didn't immediately be friends with him again because of what he did to him. He's definitely in love with Saint. I really liked his relationship with Chatjen as well! I loved how close they were. I know he was pretty good friends with First and Thiu as well, but I feel like we didn't see much of a bond between them other than them just following Shin around. Loved his relationship with his sister too! So cute!

They should've just had these two get together. It was so gay between them, and they were flirting all the time. Stop queer baiting and let them be together.

Jan: I loved her! Like I said before I loved what her and Sung did for the kids. She was a bit dramatic at times about just wanting to resign or say she was an awful teacher every time it didn't go her way but other than that I did like her a lot.

Sung: I thought he was just okay at first, but he grew on me throughout the series and like I said before I liked what he did for the kids. I liked learning that he used to be a troublemaker too and how he's changed since the accident in high school.

Chatjen: I loved him! He was so smart and so caring! I liked seeing him always try to help the others get along. He really helped with Shin and Saints relationship a lot too. I was sad when he said he was going abroad, but I loved the conversations him and Saint and Shin had prior to him leaving to help him feel better about leaving. I just loved him a lot and he was one of my favorites.

Ken: I hated this man. By the end he did grow quite a bit and he was more tolerable. I just didn't like him at all throughout 90% or more of the show. I will say I liked his relationship with the twins a lot. Their friendship was really sweet. I felt bad about his home life too.

Knot and Nate: I didn't care for the twins throughout the most the show either. I liked how good of a relationship they had with each other as well as with Ken. That was really nice to see. I was happy when they were getting more screentime in the final episodes just because I love AJ and JJ.

Cable: I love Mark so much, so I was happy to see him in this. I was waiting for him to stand up against his mother because he just looked so sad all the time. I do feel like even when it was his moment in the show (him running away), that it was still kind of an afterthought or something. A lot of the characters got a storyline where they were pretty much the main focus but even during his storyline, Ken's was more of a focus. So, I wish we got a little bit more with him because I think it could've been done a bit better. I liked him just felt bad for him more than anything.

Peeta: I hated her from beginning to end. She just felt entitled, didn't listen to what anyone was saying, and just selfish. We saw that a lot during her fight with Eve, but it was there even before that. Even by the time the show was done I just didn't like her at all. She didn't have much growth really at all either. I'm pretty sure I even liked Ken better by the end than her.

Eve: I kind of went back and forth for a bit if I liked her or not. At first, she didn't really listen to anyone either. Once the thing with the painted locker happened and she started getting closer to Airy, I liked her a lot better and could see how she was changing. I liked her friendship with Peeta and loved her relationship with Airy a lot. I definitely think they like each other.

Airy: She was kind of just forgettable to me for the first chunk of the show until she started getting closer to Eve. I really liked her a lot after that. I think they brought out a fun part of each other. She definitely likes Eve a lot.

First and Thiu: They seemed a bit more important in the first few episodes and then after that I feel we barely saw them. I thought we'd get to see more of theirs and Shin's relationship, but we didn't. I wish we got to though to see why they're apparently good friends.

Chingching: SO CUTE! Loved her!! She really helped with Shin and Saints relationship a lot too!

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Sometimes, the hardest journey isn't finding your place in the world—it's finding yourself.

*Our Generation* is, at its heart, a story of self-discovery. The male lead grows up trapped in the shadow of his late brother, carrying expectations that were never truly his own. Every decision is shaped by the life others wanted him to live, leaving little room to ask a simple yet important question: *Who am I?* It is only after meeting the female lead that he slowly begins to explore his own interests, make his own choices, and discover the person he was always meant to become.

But this story isn't just his.

It's equally the story of the female lead, whose unwavering optimism becomes the light that guides those around her. She doesn't promise that life will be easy or that the future won't be frightening. Instead, she teaches that there's no point in fearing tomorrow before it arrives. Face today's challenges, and when tomorrow brings new ones, you'll face those too.

What touched me most was her persistence. She never gave up on him. She waited when he couldn't move forward, chased after him when he chose to run away, and time and time again pulled him out of the darkness created by grief, guilt, and circumstances beyond his control. She wasn't there to save him by solving his problems—she simply believed in him until he found the strength to believe in himself.

*Our Generation* is a beautiful reminder that sometimes all it takes is one person who sees the real you—not the version shaped by expectations—to help you rediscover your own path. It's a story about healing, growth, and learning that life isn't about living in someone else's shadow, but about finding the courage to step into your own light.

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It went on for too long (slight spoilers)

Up to episode 5 it was teally good and positive, they founf their way to each other. From there, everything went downhill.
This show was talk of the town so i had high hopes. And first half was great. After they broke up for the 2nd time, it was almost unwatcahble.
Maybe i cant relate with asian culture but its always annoying how much they care about their parents opinion. That mom was proper drama queen.
And then lu feng became a certified psychopath what seems like all of a sudden with no ryme or reason. He was great in the begining. Plot became very dark and confusing. Him imprisoning other guy (forgot the name) and mentally torturing him didnt make any sense.
Time jumps and time line was too long, this relationship was on and off for over 10 years. Im on ep 8 and im so over them now, get a grip, you're grown men.

What a shame cause the begining was dramatic because nobody suported their relationship but they were great and i really enjoyed their dynamics.

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Sky and Nani's chemistry is insane!

This was pretty good overall. I do think some of the earlier episodes were better paced and more interesting than some of the later episodes, especially when it came to the finale. I didn't care for the finale at all. It didn't really feel exciting enough or like there was a lot happening but also didn't feel like a good aftermath either. A lot felt like it was wrapped really quickly or really drawn out and there wasn't ever a good in between. I did like the plot overall and loved seeing all the stuff with the different rituals, especially when they were all in the smoke facing different things.
I liked all the characters that were with us for the ritual. I loved Niran and Pete a lot. This was my introduction to Sky and Nani and loved their chemistry a lot. Niran was a really cool character. I liked how committed he was to Pete, and I really liked how he talked about his morals and things like that. I loved Pete! He was my favorite character. I loved how he was a badass in moments and so cutie in others.
I do have to say that Niran and Pete definitely felt like queer baiting a bit. The golden string soulmate thing aside (which is already pretty crazy), there were lots of moments of flirting, looks of love, the scene of Pete hugging Niran in the spirit world, and so many others that were very romantic and then nothing came out of it. I know it's not advertised as a BL, but I don't see why have all that if nothing is going to come out of it.

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