However, one of the only reasons that I finished the drama was the bromance, and man, the bromance is strong with this one. Granted the story line was actually pretty good, and every character played an important part in making this series what it was (an exploration into how people affect each other's lives and how important friendships are in shaping the lives of young adults and their futures).
The drama did drag on a bit through the second half, but it never lots it's original purpose and that's what kept me interested. Each character had their own story to tell, and each actor did an amazing job telling that story. Especially the two lead teachers, who had an amazing chemistry that had nothing to do with romance.
The lack of romance is definitely one of it's strengths. By not adding romance it allowed the drama to reach another level of friendship that isn't typically seen in this genre. Which brings me back to Heung Soo and Nam Soon, the two best reasons to watch this drama. Their bromance kept me going, making me laugh, cry, and throw a tantrum when things didn't go right. I can't remember ever seeing such an amazing friendship, and it's really what kept me coming back for more.
Overall, I can't find many reasons not to watch this drama (well maybe the ridiculous reasons they concoct to attempt to expel students ever other day). If you are reluctant to watch it as I was, don't be. It's a great watch, and definitely made me appreciate the friends I have.
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I'm curious about something. Did they choose the male cast according to their lips?! Seriously I was watching their lips not the drama!
Anyway cast is amazing. Even the ones don't have lines was great. Jongsuk's bad boy acts were amazing. He has a cute face but he really pull that off!
Woobin is usually plays a bad boy and the one that "gets no love in love triangles".
Daniel is good at showing the emotions with only his expressions. He does not need words or background music. I hope he'll play fun, happy character next time!
I'm usually picky when it comes to actresses. This one I like Hyoyoung and Jang Na Ra. I love Nam Kyungmin!
I saw other school dramas too but this one makes me cry the most.
This one has no significant music that I can talk about. They could've use amazing songs but they didn't!
So many teacher jung scenes makes this show a little boring. Why show every text scene with details? Just show she's texting who if you wanna show it so badly. That was unneccesary!
STILL I like it. It's worth to watch it but only once.
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The acting was marvelous, the characters were so well put. I especially love Lee Jong Suk and Kim Woo Bin's bromance. It's all about friendship and HOW I WISH there is something like it in reality. I've cried a lot through out the episodes which according to my mom I LOOK RETARDED crying over a drama. ughh! as if she doesn't
-____- You know that feeling when you watch a drama and it was really interesting in the first half but you get bored by then? Well, this one isn't like that. While watching this I always looked forward to watching the next episodes... I'm looking forward rewatching it again in the future! :D
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In Short: The only k-drama I've seen that has not involved any central romance. I really liked the characters and the message in this drama, and I think the realism of it separates it from other high school dramas, which are often pure fluff.
Pros: A good focus on friendship and team work, likable lead characters and no unnecessary love triangles. The two lead students were infinitely cute together. Sharing blankets is for real men.
Cons: A bit hard to connect to the flashback events that supposedly happened during middle school, when the roles are played by 25 year old dudes.
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This review may contain spoilers
Well, a friend recommended this Drama to me and at first I wasn't so sure if I'd really like this Drama, I've seen quite some school Dramas and I didn't think it would be somehow special or new.But I was wrong, after the very first minutes of it, I was totally packed! The characters and their development in the story is very well, the characters are really authentic and the cast also is very nicely chosen! It also is a very emotional Drama, I've probably cried half of the time, not just because of sad moments, also because of happy moments.I really loved the main characters.
But what I disliked again is the end. It - again - feels like it just (and I hope that's not counted as a spoiler) stopped in the middle of the story, and many "side storys" haven't even been mentioned anymore...
But overall I really loved this Drama. I thought of giving it a 9/10 because of it's end, but it's just been to awesome, so I simply couldn't do that! I would really, really recommend this Drama to everyone, who likes a dramatical plot with sometimes very surprising changes!
So... to go into more detail (I'll try to not write any spoilers! I hope none will sneek in!)
To the story:
Most school dramas are happy and fluffy with sort-of dramatical scenes, but.... not really realistic.
This one on the other hand was very, very realistic. It was sort of dark, there was violence, drama, stress, it just seemed like that's how school in S. Korea could really be! And from what I know, it's also meant to be realistic.
Another thibg I liked about the story: other dramas, mostly school dramas are about romance, but this isn't, there may be a hint of possible romance but in the end there really isn't!
Also, I think it's hard to really say this and that person are the main characters! It was all about the whole class and also about the teachers, of course the listed main characters had sort of more screentime, but in the end everyone mattered in some way!
Even though I liked that it was so realistic, also about violence, not hiding anything, seeing the characters getting beaten up was very, very gard to watch!
I also liked, that many characters had their own back-story but it was sad, that not everything was cleared up in the end, actually many things were left open which I always hate while seeing Dramas, and I will never get used to it!
Now to the acting/cast:
I really, really loved the cast, actually I found 2 actors I didn't know/haven't paid much attention to before, which I now really look up to!
I don't know much about acting, and when I get into a story I don't really pay attention to that at all, and since I was really absorbed by the story, I can't say if the acting really was good or not but for me it simply was. The actors seemed to have very good chemistry which you also felt while watching, what they did just seemed realistic and not acted, sure there may be some scenes, but honestly I can't remember any...
To the Music:
I wouldn't say it was overly awesome, but I liked it and it was fitting, so I'm satisfied with that.
I probably won't rewatch it that soon, but that's rather because I can't watch something I just watched after a short time again, also there are just too many other Dramas to watch.
Well, overall I can just say that I really, really love this drama. It is by far one of the best dramas I've watched till now.
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I worked w/ kids that were kicked out of public school b/c of their bx. So, I kind of know what some of the kids were going through. Teaching kids at that age the difference b/t right & wrong is extremely hard. They r like adults & don't know how to bend very easily. They r "stuck in their ways," so to speak. The way the teachers dealt with the students was good & bad, but it made me rly get into the lives of the teachers.
The questions that were asked throughout the drama are some that will never be answered. "Whose fault is it when children act inappropriately, the parents or the teachers?" The blame is & will always be passed around, b/c no1 wants to be responsible. Not only is this drama interesting, but it has a lot to teach us about these issues.
I would suggest that every1 who watches this look for the deeper meaning behind the troubled youths bx. Try to understand what is underneath all the anger. This drama to me had a sense of reality that other dramas don't have. I think that is 1 of the main reasons I enjoyed it so much. I think that the main point is that there is no 1 answer to every problem, & that relying on others when u need help is not wrong.
I enjoyed every minute of this drama & am sad that I won't be able to watch more. Even though I wrote about the seriousness of the drama, it was also fun. I hope u all can enjoy it as much as I did.
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The main plot line of the drama is dragged on for a few episodes and gets solved within two episodes with legit zero development. All other plots were not interesting and the characters involved were also very dull or just annoying to watch.
If you want to get bored, watch this. Only reason I didn't drop this was due to being in too deep already and not wanting to just quit. Otherwise, I regret watching it.
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All in all, the characters were realistic. Some of the acting was a little over the top, but that was okay since it was a school drama. I was able to sympathize with the main characters and really felt with them. There was no character I couldn't stand if the show didn't want me to hate them anyway.
The story was great. Some might say it was pretty much about nothing, just showing the everyday life of those kids and the teachers, but for me the friendship parts were so big that it never got boring. Of course there's the school parts, too. Achieving their goals, finding themselves.
The music was fitting, the drama wasn't too slow or fast paced and overall I liked everything. Thinking back of my thoughts about each episode, I liked every single one of them.
I mainly recommend this to everyone who's not too fond of dramas focusing on romance - And actually to everyone else, too. I think this is a drama for everyone. Give it a try.
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What upset me the most was that there were some random scenes thrown in which had no reason to be there expect to fill time. You never know what happens to Min-Ki's brother either >.<
Also, a potential for so many couples to be formed in this series, but nothing happens. I understand they didn't want to digress from the plot but would have been nice to have kisses and a few skinships [pervert in me wanted this, not me of course!! ;D]
Anyway, as you would expect in a school, the cunning-evil-plotters are mostly students spreading rumours, self-centred, rowdies, or not caring for anything else. Misunderstanding, due to vicious rumours, happen between the bromancer couples, between friends instead of the usual boy/girl couples. You would either be experiencing situations similar to that at the moment, or seen it happen when you were in school. These moments were captured very well in the series.
Overall this is a fairly good drama. If I watched this when I was in school I probably would have been motivated to study a little XD Since I'm not, I'm glad I'm out of the whole situation XP
Watch it for the bromance, the girl-friends, the sincerity in the teachers to improve the students life and the sheer joy of feeling young again [but not having to study :p]
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I really enjoyed the teachers Se Chan (Choi Daniel) and In Jae (Jang Na Ra). I think they did an excellent job portraying the hardship that a teacher can go through while trying to teach their students while caring for their well-being. I also enjoyed the students...all of them. Kim Woo Bin is an excellent actor. I hope to see him in more dramas. His portrayal of tough man Heung Soo was well done. Lee Jong Suk plays Nam Soo to perfection. Who knew that under that sweet face was a fighter. I also really thought that Kwak Jung Wook does an excellent role as Jung Ho. His character is the one I felt for the most. It must be hard to live that life and I think that you can understand that better due to his character portrayal.
The music is good.
I Probably won't rewatch this.
No matter what genre you prefer, this is a drama that is enjoyable for everyone.
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