The school nurse filed explained

The School Nurse files is weird. Like really off the wall weird, one of the strangest things I’ve seen in a while. I saw a lot of people online saying they didn’t like it because it didn’t make sense or they couldn’t understand it. Going into it I expected to see a drama that followed the regular format. There’s not necessarily a set format but there is a certain style to Kdramas and this one doesn’t fit into that box. It could be classified as absurdism, surrealism, or magic realism. Absurdism is defined as “intentionally ridiculous or bizarre behavior or character.” Examples of this can be found in Plays like Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. As well as books, movies and shows like Catch 22, Bojack Horseman, The Big Lebowski, and Rick and Morty. Absurdism usually focuses on the human tendency to seek meaning and value in a purposeless or chaotic and irrational universe.
Surrealism is described as “the principles, ideals, or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery by means of unnatural or irrational juxtapositions and combinations.” Examples of this can be found in the play Rhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco (in which a small town of people slowly start turning into rhinoceros’s) as well as movies and shows like A ClockWork Orange, Twin Peaks, Beetlejuice, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It can also be seen in the works of Salvador Dali and Frida Kahlo.
Magic realism is explained as “a genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy.” Examples of this can be found in the play References To Salvador Dali Make Me Hot” by José Rivera as well as movies and shows like Donnie Darko, Scott Pilgrim vs. The world, Birdman, and Jane The Virgin. Matthew Strecher explains it by saying "what happens when a highly detailed, realistic setting is invaded by something too strange to believe." Magic realism is usually a separate genre from fantasy because in magic realism there’s realistic detail with magic elements included to make a point about reality. While fantasy is sort of separated from reality entirely.

At first I was unable to definitively classify The School Nurse Files under one of the 3 specific genres. After watching the first episode I could see why people were confused. It’s experimental and avant-garde in a way that usually isn’t seen in Kdramas. However after finishing the show I have come to the conclusion that it is surrealism. It’s not absurdism because none of the characters really ever seek meaning, no one asks how or why and they all sort of except their predetermined fate and the strange events that are happening at the school. The only deviation from this Baek Hye-Min, who decides she wants to live past the age of 20. However she never questions what her role is or why it has to be her. It’s not magic realism because the narrative isn’t realistic enough. Obviously there are themes of bullying and same sex love but other than that, every character just accepts the supremely weird circumstances they’re in without question or hesitation. Which isn’t realistic behavior. Not knowing what surrealism is and going into the show not knowing that’s what it’d be, is why it left a strange taste in most viewers mouth.

Some of the structures of a surrealist plot are as follows.
* Deliberate abandonment of clarity, order and rational thought.
* Confusing storylines
* Illogical plot
* Elements of fantasy
* Chaotic universe with in the world of the story

Nothing is ever explained, who the safe and happiness group is, whether they’re related or the enemy of Ilgwang sterilization group. Who they are or where they came from. Who Baek Hye-Min is and where she came from. Why ghost copies of Oh Seung-Gwon where standing around the school. Why “Lucky” and “Ruckus” have an umbilical cord attached to their necks that connect them together. Why they’re attached, and why they’d die if it didn’t become unattached. It sort of made sense that it was connected to the hair at the base of their neck, but why it’s related to their armpit hair isn’t explained, or why whatever it is likes curly hair in the first place. Why does Mackenzie have seemingly more magical power than Ahn Eun-Young. Enough to the point where he put a hex on the boys on the basketball at the wish of Lee Ji-Hyeong, who then later was shown sweating profusely in the nurses office but after that is shown to be perfectly fine, absolving him of any consequences that would’ve proceeded his wish. Why does Hong In-Pyo have such a strange aura, what does it mean and why is it important to the happy and safe group. All these examples and the many more I’m sure I forgot about fall under deliberate abandonment of clarity, confusing storylines, and illogical plot.
The examples of fantasy are much more clear, the jellies, the ghosts, the multiple occasions on which the students became possessed.
The chaotic universe within the world of the story is the obvious one.
It doesn’t make sense because it’s not supposed to. Surrealism in its truest form is meant to feel like a dream. Where nothing is explained and by the end of it you’re left feeling confused. You don’t understand it because you’re not meant to. The School Nurse files was executed perfectly within the genre of surrealism. And the only way to enjoy it is to suspend your disbelief to an almost irrational level.

I loved it, but that’s because I like surrealism. A lot of people think it’s stupid. And their opinions are also valid. It could be said that most people didn’t like The School Nurse Files because they simply don’t like surrealism.

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