This review may contain spoilers
TL;DR - Watch this show, its really good
I want to preface this review by saying that I don't write reviews very often
Extracurricular has everything I would like in Korean Dramas. It's a bit of a slow burn which I tend to love in movies and television. It's not a soap opera. It's themes are heavy hitting and its tonally consistent in my opinion. Its not a drama about perfect characters nor does it portray an ideal society. Its not a typical teen drama and its very grounded in its portrayal of school life and crime.
The main characters in this drama are morally grey, grounded, and very human. Sometimes their actions are well intentioned but have negative repercussions. Ji Soo is a coward that keeps his head down but can weasel his way out of situations when truly pushed into a corner. Gyu Ri seems like an aspiring woman but is really suffocated by her parents and turns to delinquency as a means of acting out. Min Hee is truly one of the most tragic characters in the show. She bullies others and sells herself as an escort but is lonely and longing for true companionship. In a sort of Leon the Professional/Taxi Driver way she befriends the man that acts as the muscle for her escort service
The ending is a real clincher and kept me thinking long after the show finished. It's open ended, but its important to remember is that its not about whether Ji Soo and Gyu Ri are caught by the police. What's important is that they began to love each other despite the hardships they faced. Despite the pressure of being caught, Gyu Ri stays with Ji Soo and is prepared to follow him no matter the circumstance.
Overall this show is just really well written with nuanced characters and a plot that is unconventional and keeps you interested.
I want to preface this review by saying that I don't write reviews very often
Extracurricular has everything I would like in Korean Dramas. It's a bit of a slow burn which I tend to love in movies and television. It's not a soap opera. It's themes are heavy hitting and its tonally consistent in my opinion. Its not a drama about perfect characters nor does it portray an ideal society. Its not a typical teen drama and its very grounded in its portrayal of school life and crime.
The main characters in this drama are morally grey, grounded, and very human. Sometimes their actions are well intentioned but have negative repercussions. Ji Soo is a coward that keeps his head down but can weasel his way out of situations when truly pushed into a corner. Gyu Ri seems like an aspiring woman but is really suffocated by her parents and turns to delinquency as a means of acting out. Min Hee is truly one of the most tragic characters in the show. She bullies others and sells herself as an escort but is lonely and longing for true companionship. In a sort of Leon the Professional/Taxi Driver way she befriends the man that acts as the muscle for her escort service
The ending is a real clincher and kept me thinking long after the show finished. It's open ended, but its important to remember is that its not about whether Ji Soo and Gyu Ri are caught by the police. What's important is that they began to love each other despite the hardships they faced. Despite the pressure of being caught, Gyu Ri stays with Ji Soo and is prepared to follow him no matter the circumstance.
Overall this show is just really well written with nuanced characters and a plot that is unconventional and keeps you interested.
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