Pyramid Game (2024)

WATCH IT!!!!!!!!1

this show was exciting from start to finish. it's a well-written story, with well-written characters and excellent acting! the only thing i didn't like about the story was the past of harin and jaeun. their storyline and connection seemed unnecessary to me, especially when harin burned down the school. i mean i get that's the reason why harin wants jaeun to stay in grade F forever. but still, i find this "shared past" storyline uninteresting in most kdramas.

other than that, i dont know how to feel about the ending. the students were responsible and they got what they deserved. but what about their parents? those kids turned out the way they are because of their upbringing. for example, dayeon. what happened to her father? will she be abused like this forever? kids learn from their parents and she learned violence from her dad. same goes to harin. yes she was a psychopath. but at the same time, she was a kid who never felt loved. she was always neglected by her parents. her mother didnt even consider her to be her daughter. her grandmother was manipulative and self-seeking, hence why she loved harin only until she fucked up. that old bitch liked her family members as long as she could benefit from them. so what happened to her? im not justifying harin's or other girls' acts. im just saying that adults were the real villains of this show. and ironically, nothing happened to them at the end. maybe that's the sad reality. we blame the kids but never ask how they turned out to be that evil.

i only criticised the drama but these parts couldn't make me dislike the show. i really loved it. i had low expectations but even after the first episode i was intrigued. i didn't know bona was good at acting, she really did a good job - i mean all of them did! i always saw bona to be very feminine and charming on stage but i like this genius student style on her too.

other than the storyline and acting, i also enjoyed yelim and eunjung's "friendship" too hahaha. they were lovely tbh

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it was not perfect, but it was perfect for me

this was what it exactly promised to be, not too dramatic, and not too unrealistic, I loved the characters, and their friendship
the bullying wasn't shown as too severe, the game was like The Genius/The Devils Plan, the girls made alliances, there were betrayals and there were great plot twists that warmed my heart

I really loved the cast and characters, each one had their charms and the friend group easily became a friendship everyone envied enough to want to join, not to break xD

the backstory of harin and jauen was predictable, I knew it from harin's first words "do you know the orphanage", and that story was too flat to explain why harin went crazy.. so the main problem was the teacher, I wish they dived deeper there, like yeah adults do effect kids, and yeah orphans are easily miss treated cuz the adults think they're teaching them survival skills
what confused me was, was that teacher the orphanage teacher or the schools? and why were they different
I also wanted more about her adoptive family, her grandma loved to play games, and the parents never treated her as their real daughter, especially since the dad/son was put in a coparision game against young harin

sooji always lived by a pattern, she never made any deep connections and always played a social game to fit in, and that's why in ways, she enjoyed breaking the pyramid game as much as harin enjoyed making it

jauennie was too precious, she was genuine, she was awkward and she had a heart of gold, I loved how her first impression seemed like the outcasted bully, I loved how sooji was sucked into that game
I wanted more of those things, more misunderstanding and more "mind" bullying, they didn't want it to be too graphic, so overall the atmosphere of the drama was youtful, though I do hate too much extreme gore, but still she was the daughter of an army guy, he should've taught her how to fight xD

so I wanted more tension, more side games, games they lost and games they won, and I really wanted more screentime for their friendships, I was lowkey waiting for that amusement park date

this became my "March" fav drama and easily joined my best of 2024
the ost was great, makjang drama lvl quality, and I wouldn't mind fast binging this again, I LOVE female centered plots, i feel like in the last year they became more scarce, especially diverse and well layered female characters
I'm also interested in the webtoon a bit, I read that many things were different, maybe it'll give the heavy angst this was missing, though I wouldn't change a thing

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If you're into school dramas, a must watch for you.

Wow. Literally this show gave everything I needed in a while. Nothing less, maybe a bit more. Pyramid Game brought me back to the Kdrama world. I don't really remember when was the last time I was THIS hooked for a drama . My main reason for wanting to watch was Bona, Kim Jiyeon. But after reading the plot i was looking more forward to this. Like everyone, I got worried about the acting, because of the many new names. And let me tell you something. Every one of them did great jobs portraying the characters. About the adaptation, I did not read the webtoon so I don't have much to say about it. But everyone should give this one a try. It's not that long, only 10 episodes. And episodes will go super fast, you won't feel how time passed.

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A Class Plays a Game

Hey everyone, welcome back to the K-drama Study. The last time I talked about Death Game, which started Seo In Guk. Today, I'll be talking about Pyramid Game One, which I've been looking forward to watching. The show stars Bona, one of my favorite idol actresses. I've been watching her since her first drama was released in 2017. Now, let's jump into the show and remember to read the disclaimer.

Disclaimer: There will be spoilers, so read at your own will

I remember seeing this show on my drama list, and the description made me want to add this to my watch list. Since 2014, I've been waiting for this show to air, and when it did, I was happy. This drama was the first that featured more girls as characters than males. I was curious to see what kind of character they would have Bona play in this show. After watching the first episode, I wanted another one cause it left off with a killer cliffhanger that pulled me right into the show. As the episodes kept airing, I loved watching Song Soo Ji craft a little team/friend group, which helped make the show more interesting. During the first episode, I felt terrible for Song Soo Ji, who had been tortured since she was in Grade F, thanks to the pyramid game. It did anger me from time to time that some people had a feeling there was school violence but didn't do anything about it. Ha Rin was the one who made the class play the pyramid game, and I hated her as a character cause she was mean to some of the girls. Seung-Yi was one girl who I wasn't a fan of, but I felt sorry for her cause her father beat her. I found it fun to watch Soo Ji and the gang come up with ideas on how they would stop the pyramid game. Getting the guy from the convenience store, Woo-ri's brother, to help them was a twist I didn't see coming. I loved how everything unfolded in the last two episodes, as I was happy the game was ending and people were getting what they deserved. The ending with the Twins left an excellent cliffhanger. I will see if there will be a Season 2.

Usually, I would discuss the OSTs, but since there are only two, I won't. I will be giving Pyramid Game an A for being one that kept pulling me back, wanting to know what was going to happen next and see what the characters would be doing next. I can't wait to see another Bona show and my next drama, so look out for that. I'll see you all next time in another review.

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WAAY BETTER THAN SQUID GAME!

Indeed, as the title aptly suggests, this series is a cut above the rest, even surpassing the likes of the globally acclaimed ‘Squid Game’. For those who are aficionados of anime, the name ‘Classroom of the Elite’ would certainly ring a bell. This series, in its essence, resonates with the same vibes that ‘Classroom of the Elite’ exudes.

It’s like a wild roller-coaster ride full of cliffhangers. Seriously, the production quality is top-notch, and the actors? Wow, they’re just amazing.

Overall, the series leaves no stone unturned in ensuring viewer satisfaction. The superior production quality, the stellar performances by the actors, and of course, the enchanting Original Sound Track (OST) that we all hold dear, collectively contribute to making this series a must-watch.

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It was surprisingly good!

A group of students engage in an hierarchical game where they vote for eachother and are graded in groups of ABCD and then F for the person who fails to get any votes...this person then becomes a victim of consensual bullying by the other members especially those in the top grades.....Our female lead becomes a victim to this bullying after she transfers schools and lands in grade F for not having any votes......and right there and then we witness her slowly learn about the rules of the game and how it has affected the students relationships and even the students psychology or mental health...things heat up when she discovers that the person who made the game is one of their class mates...and that's when the story heats off as she tries to get her classmates on her side in order for them to destroy the game....these students are placed in a psychological warfare with one another as they try to find a way to get rid of the game.

I loved the premise of this drama and I must say it's execution was done in a way that felt really entertaining and Intriguing to me as a watcher.

What did I loved about the show?

I loved the acting...I loved how every one delivered in terms of acting I was told that it was an acting debut for the girl who played the villain of the show and Iam suprised by how good she was..her micro eye expressions and body language always gave me chills...in addition to Bona our female lead who out did her self.....the support characters also did an amazing job.

I loved the way the characters were written most especially the main female lead and the villain of the show..I love how these characters mirrored eachother in terms of strengths and determination and strategies but what differentiated them was the fact that one was using them for good and the other for bad....I love how smart these two characters were made on top of being manipulative and strategists....I loved how the main female lead was a smart planner she did everything after giving it much thought and that made her character stand out for me...I enjoyed her inner monologues since they gave us an idea on what her plans were....either way she was smart and easy to root for......the other characters also blended in perfectly since they all had different personalities which added to the charm of the series.

I loved the story pacing which didn't seem fast nor slow but just alright and it kept me invested both physically and emotionally...it was an intense yet really satisfying and emotional ride.

I loved the osts and background music that added to the intensity of the different scenes....the osts gave me goosebumps especially the opening intro ost that hyped me up for the drama.

I loved the finale and how it wrapped up most of the things in a way that didn't feel rushed but rather they took time off to answer questions arroused and also tied up the different stories of the different characters...it felt satisfying and rewarding.

I loved most of everything about this drama to be honest..it might not have been the most perfectly written but it was entertaining nonetheless.

What I didn't like about it was the fact that it was too short...it ended sooner than I wanted it too but at the same time Iam glad the number of episodes were enough to introduce the story delve into it and then finale conclude it.

Do I recommend this?

YES, If you are looking for a short yet brilliantly written and thrilling drama.

Note: There are scenes of violence and they can be disturbing but they lessen with every episode so you don't have to worry about them being many.....

It's a good and entertaining watch!

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PERFECTION

This drama served in every department. Acting, production, ost, story, just everything was outstanding. I was already hyped for this because I loved the Webtoon and because of Bona being the main lead and somehow I was still shocked by how much I loved this. Whoever did the casting I want to thank you because this cast really was able to bring this amazing story to life. I was so pleasantly surprised by the acting in this show, some of the best acting I've seen in a while, even from the rookie actresses. Jang Da-Ah especially shocked me. I was initially worried about her first role being such a huge and complex one but wow she really brought the crazy that was needed for Harin. I love how the cast is full of women. Bona has impressed me in every single role but Suji has to be her best role yet, the way she portrayed this character was spot on and no one could do it as good as she did. I love how Suji isn't perfect and isn't always morally correct, we need more flawed main characters (that are still likable). One detail I loved throughout the story was the similarities the side characters would point out between Suji and Harin, the protagonist and antagonist. These similarities are so important because yes these characters are similar but have completely different end goals. I was also pleasantly surprised that they were so open with Eunjeong and Yerim's story. They made their feelings for each other more explicit than the webtoon. In conclusion, definitely one of my favorite K-Dramas ever and also the K-Drama that got me back into K-Dramas. I hope there will be a season 2 as they did end with a cliffhanger and a new cast member that I am very excited to see added to this already amazing cast.

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An overview of what society looks like

*Started this right after its release (two days after on march 2nd) but had to take a month and a half-long break of it because kisskh's subtitles litteraly disappeared. Fortunately it strated woring again a few days ago so I started again from where I stopped on april 22nd. Finished the series five days after *

CHARACTERS AND MY OPINION ON THEM :

* Myoung jae eun
She is such a good person like she is genuinely sympathetic and toughtful to the point she would willingly give up her well-being to help the others even when she was told and could see multiple times how hypocritical and fake they were in the class.
she deserves sm better. like the world ! ❤️
Later on, I would understand more why she was also ´okay ´ with ha rin bullying her.

* Sung soo ji
At the beginning I thought :
She is a wise character and I get her point with ignoring the situation of some egoistic people in her class after they get to go through the same as her and myoung jae. but sometimes it’s too much to ignore !
i hated that part (ep 2-mid ep3) in which she litteraly betrayed myoung jae eun and was claiming she used her for her own will asf it was nothing. like gurl no. Then after that much time ignoring the promise she made she suddenly took a turn and came back to jae eun out of nowhere. like ? what ? it’s not cool to leave behind someone to come back to them because you need them and especially bcuz you remember you could get back to the state of the bullied student after the upcoming edition of the game if you don’t destroy the game. like how selfish and self-centered can you be to do that ?

I’m complaining but logically it’s quite ´human ´. I mean it’s in the human character to stand for themselves and be egoistic in hard times.

After the few first episodes, I made up my mind as her character gained in depth.

I loved how the relationships between ja eun, ji ae, jae hung and soo ji grew and how they all lost/ forgot abt their defaults and managed to blend in this group although they were not meant to be, especially with all those diverse characters, personnalities and conflicting backgrounds they have.
I love the friends group they’ve created. They genuinely got close because they went through thick and thin together. Even those who were cold at first (jae hung, soo ji) opened their hearts!
I learned to love them all with all their defaults (jae hung the pervert, ji ae, the betrayer, soo ji the cold-hearted, eun jung, jae eun the too kind, ye rim).
Loved the duos jae hung/jae eun and jae eun/ soo ji sm btw!

I hate that ko eun byeol girl so much! She so fake and the biggest evil after ha rin in that class. She came up with litteraly the worst of game ideas everytime and even had the audacity to claim she did nothing !

The class is as fake as ha rin is. what I don’t get is when they could have done something (ex : the paintball session) they still turned their back to the situation like why tf…

Also I have to talk about the way I gasped and then starting throwing hands when da yeon litteraly busted both eun jung's knee and prolly her whole swimming career at the same time like what tf are you on ?
Then about Da yeon, at least she's not being fake as litteraly the whole class...On the contrary, she clearly shows her emotions and even her emotion swings and that shows how emotionnaly unstable she was. I was so freaking glad everyone let her down at some point eventhough they should have way earlier to prevent so much troubles and to help her as well because how tf no one is helping a girl who is getting beaten up every single day at home, and even at some point at school, IN FRONT OF A TEACHER ??? like wtf is that ?? I lost it when in a scene they did 'a joke' about her situation... like that ain't actually funny bfr.

THEN Ha rin !
She is so messed up. I mean what Jae eun did younger was not good at all, I get that she wants go take avenge but when the guilty keeps asking for pardon (and sincerely) you should not do what she did. You should not belittle yourself at that level and surely not drag a whole class into this. Plus she is using ja eun as an excuse at some point because before ja eun, the grade f was woo ri who is litteraly not related to all that. She destroyed that poor girl and shattered her whole life…

Shoutout to woo ri and his brother ! They went through so much and together. I loved their character developments ! Wish them all the good for the future !

By the way, if someone could explain me what happened with soo ji’s father it would be super good because I’m still confused by his scene in ep9.

Tbh the adults seemed to be brainless sometimes, because how tf a highschooler no matter the level of their family, can manage to litteraly blackmail everyone even her family. She even (I might not have gotten that part as I said above) destroyed soo ji’s father’s career.
A middle-aged man. That was some makjang series thing at some point ngl. I mean she is a highshooler and they are grown men and women…

About the school staff :
The teacher (the money lover one) was so freaking annoying as well as the principle. Also, I loved that the other temporary teacher wanted to help but writers didn’t make her intervene as much as she could have done for the students unfortunately…

To conclude :
* I felt bad for ha rin because at the end, it seems like her family didn’t even actually cared about her but more about the money.
Ha rin didn’t receive the good penalty for all what she did. Maybe being disowned and being hated by the public is a beginning of a penalty but she needs to face a trial for something of that gravity.

* I loved soo ji’s father’s character development as well as do ah’s.

*Ye rim and her bff/crush/gf has so much chemistry and the tension ! Till the end, we are not fixed on what they are ugh ! ?

*All those moments when ha rin would be stepping on her prey’s shoes (obvious shoe marketing lol) were too much, OTT imo. To some extent, I was even quickly fed up by it, because it wasn’t intimidating at all, just giving second hand embarrassment ?

The OSTs, the cast and the plot : EVERYTHING was perfect !

*I will just ignore the ending indicating there might be a season 2 cuz I feel like it will just be a ditto of season 1 (as for the night has come series’ ending ifykyk)*

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Perfection

One of the few kdramas i have "binge-watched", and it screams perfection. The story is very well made, great cliffhangers, and twists. The acting and cast is perfect, Dain's character being the loser she is, Jiyeon's character being a brave, confident one, considering this is Jang Daah's very first act, and her debut, she is playing her character very well, especially those face expressions oh my... Naeon's character is amazing, but I mostly like her bond with Lee Juyeon's character. My favorite side characters are gotta be Hwang Hyunjeong's and Shin Seulki's!!!! However, music wise, I really don't like the OSTs :(

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Very Satisfying!

This series initially didn't pique my interest when I first read the synopsis, leading to reluctance on my part to give it a chance. However, I'm thrilled to admit that I was completely blown away. It defies predictability at every turn. While the premise may seem straightforward—students casting votes in a popularity poll—the reality is far more complex. It reveals a brutal ranking system that dictates the entire social hierarchy of the school, allowing legal bullying of those with the lowest grades.

Enter Sung Soo Jie, the daughter of a soldier transferred to Baekyeon Girls' High School. Strong-minded and observant, she becomes a beacon of hope for victims like Myung Ja Eun, who has endured relentless bullying. Together, they forge alliances to dismantle the pyramid of oppression and put an end to the madness.

The series' pacing is expertly executed, striking a perfect balance between revelation and suspense. Personally, I found the dynamic between rivals Sung Soo Ji and Baek Harin particularly captivating. Despite their differing social standings, their battles of wit are intense, with Soo Ji's underdog status making her victories all the more satisfying.

Moreover, the OST is outstanding, never losing its charm even after hours of play. The cast, comprising mostly newcomers delivers stellar performances that left me pleasantly surprised.

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A brutal watch

The Korean drama industry always makes sure to deliver two to three stories yearly on school violence. All of Us Are Dead or the Glory has been wowing international fans with their killing game.
Song Su Ji transfers to Baekyeon Girls’ High School in Seoul. Students of this cynical game indulge in a deadly game of ranking to determine who will be the punching bag of the month and who is going to be the top dog of the place. Oblivious to this cruel scene, she finds herself in the den of wolves soon. And soon everyone starts walking all over her.

Appears Beak Ha Rin who is the mind of this torture play. As the story progresses battle between Ha Rin and Su Ji intensifies as none of them wants to let go of the leash.

Bona as Su Ji delivers a strong graph throughout the season. She establishes herself as a maestro in drawing the attention of the audience on an emotional note. Compared to her performance in Twenty-five Twenty-one, she comes out as a stronger player in the ring. As her character suffers she starts replying more cruelly. Jang Da a as Ha Rin delivers a cream performance. Her effortless enactment of the vicious character has made the audience forget all the cruel queens from the past.

Korean Dramas are sharpening their hands in making thrillers. Each and every character are arch nemesis of each other and variances in character layers never make the story monotonous. The pain dripping from the face of Su Ji to the remarks of Ha Rin- the audience lived on edge throughout the ten episodes. It is important to eradicate this type of cruelty from educational institutions once and for all.

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