Weak Hero

Intense. Brutal. Yes, I recommend it. And with a heavy heart I am also considering it valuable

"Weak Hero Class 1" leaves me with mixed emotions. It is an intense KDrama, in which the young people are remarkably slow-paced, sort of numb, at times bordering on apathy. On the other hand, there are violent outbursts. Extreme. Brutal. A cruel parallel world that actually should have no place whatsoever in the everyday life of high school students!
What kind of society do we live in? It is simply too much, what young people have to go through and deal with. KDrama didn't invent it. Neither does the webtoon, the story is based on. It is a sad and scandalous reality in many schools, in many classes, in South Korea and elsewhere.

"Weak Hero Class 1" doesn't sugarcoat anything.
And it ends just the way it is... no end in sight...

I admit, I was about to drop it. Too much frustration and violence - it actually goes on and on. (Even if the 'weak hero' develops cunning, inspiring recipes to fight back... it still remains a world of violence.)
But then the relationship dynamics between the boys (and girls) are quite intense and what they go through inside and out is touching. Ultimately, it doesn't help to look away - even if it's painful to look at. In fact, "Weak Hero Class 1" is a great, impressive production. It is a disturbing inventory - disturbing because the story leaves no perspective, no silver lining, no substantial room for hope. (At most marginal sparks of light here and there.)

The largely indifferent attitude towards life that prevails in posture and movement of the young people is one thing, the massive outbreaks of violence another. Each soul seems to have long since fled its young body, so that there are only roughly apathetic youths on the move who occasionally act as numb thugs who kick helpless bodies on the ground, or vice versa. It's actually unbearable. It's traumatizing on both sides. And yet it is everyday life. This creates a very unique flow in the world of the students. In this world, one may search in vain for serious, responsible, courageous adults. They are lacking. The kids are alone in this world and have to find their way to live in it, or rather: to survive. Which side will you be on? Perpetrator? Victim? Rescuer? Spectator?

What agitates me the most in connection with "Weak Hero Class 1" is the enormous enthusiasm among der age-group of 13-17, who with this story obviously feel seen right on. This may be 'only' a fictional story, but it obviously tells the story of the youth, we (adults) usually dont´t get. Many are thrilled. In fact, I'm NOT thrilled. I'm impressed by the intensity of the production, yes. But primarily appalled by the dominance of bullying and the severity of violence among peers in everyday school life today. I am also shocked by the documented, self-evident aimlessness and helplessness of the adults. Ultimately, I am frustrated by the lack of a positive outlook and affected by such a disillusioning world of experience of the young, growing up generation.

"Weak Hero Class 1" is based on the template of a web toon and has (via KDrama) by now reached an even wider audience, especially among the 'adults', regarding bullying among schoolchildren. I appreciate that. The KDrama was released on the young streaming platform Wavve and was thus able to give plenty of dramaturgical space to the violent excesses. Maybe more than necessary? Or just right? The KDrama has a simple mission: to show what 'we' tend not to see because 'we' (adults) have no place in this parallel world of schoolchildren. And as a matter of principle, the story does not provide any answers in terms of a way out. No.
In the contrary: 'we' adults are in the pillory... What have we done (and also missed) that it could have gotten this far! Where is this going to end? What can we do about it?

Anyway, bottom line: I recommend the series. And with a heavy heart I am also considering it valuable especially for all those who call themselves adults, parents, teachers, social workers, officials in youth welfare offices, police officers, etc....
Hello, wake up!

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The almighty pen.

From a writing perspective, it’s closer to a 7.5, but I had so much fun, I cannot rate it lower than 8.5. It was quite an exciting watch, delivering all types of frustration and thrills, but ending on a rather mediocre note.

Honestly speaking, the first half of the show was a good 10/10. It had everything one might want from a show like this - cute fighter, psycho brain, cinnamon roll who just wants to help. We’ve also got all the blood, pain, violence and the main character - the pen! I was eating it all up, could not stop watching and barely stopped myself from screaming at my laptop.

So what happened in the 2nd half? The drama changed from more plot/action driven to character driven… and it focused on the character I honestly cared the least about. With each and every scene I just started to hate him more and more. For all the buildup, all the tension, all the accumulated frustration in me, I was not delivered a proper closure. I understand it will have a second season, but even with that, rather than being excited and hopeful the drama left me fearful if they will deliver a more proper ending this time. I don’t want to dive into it and get a half baked potato with the last scene.

That said, the show presented a glorious friendship/bromance between Shi Eun and Soo Ho and I could not ask for more on that part. Both characters perfectly played off of each other's traits and the dynamic was just fun to watch. They were perfect partners in crime.

Oh Beom Seok was a complicated character and I don’t think the director quite well delivered what they planned with him. I feel like there was something missing with the way his character was developed. For such complex internal and external struggles, I was completely indifferent to whatever was happening to him - which is ridiculous as he is the center of last 4 episodes.

Plot wise, saying this drama lacks realism would be a massive understatement. Some scenes were so ridiculous and over the top I was just laughing. At times it was even hard to feel bad for these kids, because the situations they were in just made little sense. And this is one of the reasons I enjoyed the show. I watched it for the over the top scenarios. I wanted excitement and hype, and not pain and anxiety. That said - fear not, Weak Hero Class 1 still manages to create decent stakes and make you care for the characters, even if your brain sees the nonsense happening on the screen.

I appreciate how the drama tried to showcase what happens when someone is in a circle of violence. What they missed is to show why some characters were able to get out of it, while others got swallowed deeper and deeper.

Production value was good. Loved the fighting scenes, and loved the different approach the characters had to them. They delivered realistic blood and realistic amounts of it - someone gets punched, they will bleed, but ain’t no bloody waterfalls going on. Some scenes were quite aesthetically pleasing, though I wished they included more visual symbolism here. This is something I felt like the drama lacked.

The acting was the one that surprised me the most, on the positive note. I knew Park Ji Hoon is good and that's why I am even more amazed he delivered even more than I expected. This type of character so so easy to mess up. To create the aura of intimidation, you need some skills. to make him look empathic on top of that, is even harder. And Ji Hoon managed to do it all.

Choi Hyun Wook was honestly adorable. That said, I kind of felt like this is more violet, better at fighting version of the character he played in 2521.

Hong Kyung did a great job with the character he was given. Even if the writing for him felt rushed, he did great at portraying the change and desperation.

Overall, fun, violent and exciting. The characters were interesting, some more and some less likable. The conclusions for specific plots and situations could have been better. Perfect binge watch material.

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EL MEJOR DRAMA ESCOLAR DE ACCION

Antes de ver este drama tenía sobre un pedestal a la serie extracurricular cómo el mejor drama escolar de acción, pero después de ver esto no solo le quitó la corona, si no que se puso 2 escalones arriba.

-el protagonista no pudo tener mejor actor, ya e visto otros de el y simplemente es muy bueno.
- la historia está llena de acción que te llena de ansiedad, emoción y tristeza al final, con escenas magníficas que muestran peleas muy realistas, personajes secundarios que generan un buen ambiente de tensión y sobre todo los amigos del protagonista que nos muestran y nos hacen sentir su amistad como si fuera nuestra.
definitivamente de los mejores kdramas de este 2022 y el mejor kdrama de acción escolar.

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EU TÔ TREMENDO

Estou na frente do computador há meia hora tentando achar palavras pra descrever essa obra prima. A forma que retratam o bullying escolar (e fora da escola) foi diferente do que eu já tinha visto. Muito impactante. Vários eps meu coração quase saia pela boa.
Os personagens e a história foram muito bem construídos. Amei o bromance entre o Si Eun e o Suho, que inclusive são personagens incríveis.
Mas o mais impressionante é a atuação do Park Jihoon, você consegue sentir cada emoção do personagem, principalmente quando ele não está demostrando "nenhuma emoção", a vibe de psicopatia que ele passa é fascinante.
Preciso de uma segunda temporada!

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Friendship, Rage, and Revenge

Disclaimer: This is a short review of someone who haven't read the webtoon but enjoyed the drama.

As someone who hates seeing violence even in fiction, I enjoyed the story. Ngl, there are a lot of fighting scenes, however these are essential for the story. Violence aside, this 8-episode drama could easily pass dragged into a 16 episode drama. (and I'm glad it wasn't the former). I know this is an adaptation and usually the source story is better than the adaptation, but this is a good stand-alone drama. I haven't read the webtoon yet and I am planning to finish it before Season 2 gets aired.

The main character (the weak hero) is quite a unique character in the realm of high school dramas. Top students in such dramas are usually written like they are either just good or evil. I like how this character is written. I know Park Jihoon as an idol and have watched (At a Distance, Spring Is Green) his drama I had dropped but his acting is good here. I am uncertain of how well he played the character similar to that of the webtoon, but I was totally immersed in the story.

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Steep decline

It was good until it just...... wasn't. Didn't take too long to go sour, but the shift from some potential growth to whatever that second half of this mess was felt almost jarring. It's pretty obvious this is something written for men, the lack of depth to any of the characters--especially the female ones--was almost laughable. The saving grace of this was Park Jihoon and Choi Hyunwook. Their chemistry on screen was amazing. Really hated the ending and how we never saw Jeon Seokdae again, he was such a promising character... I'm just glad this wasn't long, though I'm also not sure how they managed to stretch this storyline for the eight episodes they did. Anyway, I see a lot of potential for a lot of the cast in this, I just hope they get roles in better written series.

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Friendship, Happiness, and Hope (Ep4, 33:01)

I am lost for words. But I think I must do a review for how good this is.

The story is captivating, yet sobering, portrait of young students and the various struggles, challenges, and fleeting joys they go through as they develop in a society that all too frequently ignores and pushes them aside. It was everything, the friendship and bonds that must endure in the face of anything going on around them is told best as a character piece. (Did you realize that when Beom Seok lost his eyeglasses on the videoke bar, until then he doesn't wear it and that is when we see his true character or should I say his story.) That was brilliant!.

A talented cast. Even in the brief time we, the viewer, get to spend with the three actors, they effortlessly establish a great chemistry between them. They actually make you wish we could spend a little more time with them before the series takes its darker turns because of how well they get along. Their performances also have no trouble evoking the appropriate emotions from the difficult material. (Park Ji Hoon as Yeon Shi Eun, he definitely ate that role, what a great actor.)

A must-watch for the reason that has an unflinching storytelling, superb cast performances, and gritty but refined style.

I cried.

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INCREDIBLE

i went into this drama blind not expecting anything memorable i wasn't a fan of Park ji hoon i found his acting bland but this drama proved me wrong it was sensational words cannot even described how it suprised me i wanted to drop this in the first 10 minutes because u got very bored but thank God i didn't it the characters are complex but simple the plot is interesting and finally in a korean drama the MAIN CHARACTER doesn't tolerate rubbish this isn't your typical i don't want to get into a fight k drama his character is the definition of stick around and find the fuck out

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A tip: watch the show without comparison between the webtoon & drama.

As someone who has read and is currently still reading the ongoing manhwa, watching this drama was totally worthy of my time and it gave me satisfaction for every scenes especially the fight scenes, so thrilling and blood boiling. I love all the characters, perfect casting in my opinion. I felt a little more depth about their "friendship" and cried a ton of tears watching the latter episode parts until the end. It was fun, both the manhwa and the drama. No bias. Hoping for season/part 2 of the series!!

A tip: watch the show without comparison between the webtoon & drama. Enjoy the drama, do not evaluate and nitpick every detail.

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First 10 for me.

One suggestion to those who are going to watch this... BINGE IT all in one go. Its made to be binged.

Out of all the K,C,J dramas I have watched, this is the only one that 'had' to be given 10/10. This drama was really different from the other dramas. The plot progression was not too fast where we felt things rushed nor was it too slow that made one feel like director is really trying to squeeze out everything. It was just right! The brotherly affection between two ML's was so mature and real. Not the usual run off the mill where one is always the jester and other is way too superior.

The twist in plot midway, was so gradual but shocking because we don't see it coming yet it felt completely plausible and natural. The plot, its really simple. Few people come together in adversity forms friendship. And then shit happens. But the way it was written and directed, really made us feel the emotions which are seldomly felt while watching 'kcj'-dramas. The unsaid glances between the ML's, unsaid respect and love for each other... it works like a charm. Watching this really makes one aspire to have that kind of friendship. Hats off to the writers for writing it.

These young actors really are very promising, talentwise. Not just another good-looking useless 'oppas' now-a-days in vogue.

And unlike other korean mini-series, where acting sucks, story sucks, production sucks, direction sucks.. I mean everything sucks, this mini-series do the opposite. The production is top notch without any compromises. Cinematography, sets, action, acting everything is on point.

Its really a gem!!

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just wow

drop everything and watch this i went into this thinking it was bromance revenge plot ( by edits on tiktok ) but i was very wrong ( kinda ) it was amazing binged the entire thing it has u hooked from ep 1 to 8 the actor deserves so many awards just for the last ep i need to see him in other shows like this one. i cant wait for season 2 ive never enjoyed a kdrama like this in a long time it was very refreshing to watch. ..

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This series has blown my mind by how close it has come to the reality. Just binge it.

I went into this show for a normal korean highschool genre but what I got is way beyond I could have imagine. I directly watched it without synopsis and trailer and yes it has just blown my mind.

Many K dramas have touched the subject of bullying but none were like this.

This show has gone to the depth of the reality. This shows depicts what happen when one does not give in to the bullying. What happens when one actually fights back.

This show puts forward two aspects of friendship. The one where you can give your life for your friend. And the one where you can also take life of your friend.

MUST WATCH !!!!!!!!!

POV - Binge it.

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