Foreword: Lee Jong-Suk is gifted with ability to pick the right projects…
School is a strange dimension in TV universe. Sometimes it’s like a gossip Barbie show where shy nerds look like professional athletes competing for Olympic games, quirky girls strongly remind of runaway models and both look at least 10 years older than they should be. Sometimes it’s a reenactment of Sodom and Gomorrah, full of drug addicts and seasoned sex workers, where teachers humiliate students and students rape-murder-beat each other. We’re provided with a lot of gloom, plenty of sparkles and a tiny spots of reality here and there. It’s like writers learn about schools through Wikipedia.
School 2013 avoids the clichés (at least, for the most part) and rather believably depicts the long-standing problems of Korean school, namely: bullying, chase to get into prestigious universities, suicides, pressure of parents and school board on teachers, etc. But to depict doesn’t necessarily mean to succeed. Let’s take a careful look.
- Bullying or Heung-Soo — Nam-Soon — Jung-Ho triangle
It’s the most detailed, prolonged and twisted story out of the bunch, played by the most even set of actors. It may be the most popular one with the audience as well. It touches the hottest topic of all.
It’s an achievement and a failure at once. The amazing bitter realism of the first moments later descends into cheesy dialogues and eerily manhwastic situations redeemed purely by actors’ efforts. This story practically functions as a love plotline, meaning it grows so big that it eclipses other no less interesting plotlines.
- Suicide or Kim Min-Ki desperation
It’s one of the most impressive storylines in the series, the only flaw of which is its shortness. It’s also one of the most plausible stories. However determined his mother is, she’s already lost one son, the second loss has clearly brought her to her senses.
- Parents — teachers — school board
In the real world the teachers would’ve been fired after the first two accidents, at least, teacher Jung would surely be kicked out in no time.
- The curse of Seoul University, or Song Ha-Gyeong
Unfortunately, her story as is her friendship with Lee Kang-joo isn’t told in full. It’s abruptly short-cut, probably, to give more space for Heung-Soo — Nam-Soon epic bromance. Fortunately, the screenwriter doesn’t make her anyone’s love interest — the hints are quickly removed.
- Apathy or Gye Na-ri
It suffers the same problem as Min-Ki’s episode: short, short, and short. Why, oh why didn’t they make it longer?
Upbringing versus Education, Studying versus Cramming or Jung — Kang duel
The tragic flashback is excessive. Teachers don’t leave schools en masse due to extraordinary events. They get overworked, underpaid, bitched at by demanding parents, pushed by ambitious principals, insulted by students and bound hand and foot by exam requirements. They just get tired. Private tutoring isn’t escapism or a haven for tortured souls; it’s a fast, nerve-saving way to earn money. Except that, I have no complaints and consider it, at least, the second best, if not the best story.
The overall grade:
The characters and actors are practically flawless.
The choice of words in certain situations is too bookish (Ha-Gyeong’s monologue would fit nicely into an antique play) — but the actors deliver the phrases steadily. Situations get repetitive (Jung-Ho, make up your mind!) — but no more than life itself. Didactic statements in some cases are too obvious (Ha-Gyeong again) and outcomes are overly optimistic (Young Woo’s expulsion) — rightfully so, if the directors target school students and search for solutions.
It’s insanely good in the beginning, pretty good in the middle and not bad in the end, which makes it very-very good in the mean.
The most powerful scenes:
“Just because” answer, “Flower” rendition, rooftop jump, teacher Jung’s breakdown, Kang — Jung-Ho confrontation, class rebellion.
Trivia:
- Jang Nara has quite a successful career as an actress in…China. You can see her in Beijing welcomes you MV, the official song of 2008 Olympic Games.
- Jang Nara and Daniel Choi has previously worked together in a rom-com Baby-faced Beauty.
Side-note: Daniel Choi’s intonation is incredibly charming.
Official site:
http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/school/
The best of the OST:
Welcome to the School by 4minute
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