SunOh

Romantic thriller about privileged teenagers — an intense work beyond appearances

Review with images, spoiler marks and more: https://www.reddit.com/user/_sunoh/comments/1ljwqtb/hierarchy_review_an_intense_work_beyond/

---

Hierarchy is a drama that, behind an apparent classic structure — elite school, bullying, revenge — stands out precisely through its ability to go further, delivering a human, emotional, and above all, resolved story. And that is its strength.

The story doesn’t need a sequel because it is complete. Kang Ha gets the truth he seeks, and justice is served. No blind revenge, no spectacular payback, but a quest for meaning, understanding, and repair. The drama doesn't dwell on the brutality of bullying as often seen elsewhere, it chooses a more subtle, mature, realistic tone. And that makes all the difference.

Kang Ha, as a central figure, disrupts the established order through his academic excellence, courage and emotional intelligence. The way he prevents the sharing of the video, or his heartbreaking line to Ri An — “Learn to live with your guilt because I will never accept your apology” — gives the whole story its meaning: a life lesson, not a revenge tale.

Every line of dialogue matters, every word carries weight, and it’s in these exchanges that Hierarchy finds its full scope. The final episode is especially striking: intense, accomplished, and deeply moving.

Jae I herself embodies the ambivalence that makes the characters so human. Both victim and witness, stoic yet wounded, she perfectly illustrates the emotional complexity the drama aims to convey. Her performance, subtle and restrained, makes her a memorable character, just like Kang Ha, whose portrayal literally carries the drama. Moreover, all the main characters—and many others—add depth and nuance to the story.

Far from being a simple “aesthetic” drama, Hierarchy knows exactly where it’s going. It doesn’t seek consensus perfection — it seeks resonance. And it succeeds, because every episode is rich and layered, every emotion measured, every transformation believable. Even Ri An benefits from a complex and realistic character arc. And that’s precisely what makes this work memorable: nothing is black or white, and above all, everything is said.

The settings themselves play an equally interesting role. They depict a school of unreal beauty, which makes the contrast with the darkness of the drama all the more striking. It evokes certain dystopian films: a seemingly perfect world where the worst seeps into every crack. This visual dissonance is no accident — it reinforces the drama’s atmosphere and underlines its tensions.

It's easy to criticize the drama for a lack of originality, but that's a misreading. Hierarchy doesn’t overplay elitism or corruption — it deconstructs them with finesse. And above all, it highlights a powerful message: the importance of change, awareness, and education — even in the most closed environments.

All in all, Hierarchy is a short but impactful drama. Not because of its spectacular aspect, but because of its sensitivity, accuracy, and its ability to evoke emotion without relying on gimmicks. The drama doesn't aim to shock — it aims to heal, to bring growth, and it does it well.

The post-credits depict a symbolic scene of Kang Ha and the school hinting at a Season 2, but either way, the leads got reunited in Crushology 101 along with Kim Min Chul.

Read More

"and if you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."

It’s definitely not a film for everyone, but it expressed something I deeply relate to and that was cathartic for me. Anyone who dismisses it as merely weird or perverted is missing how profound it truly is. It touches on everything — from the struggles of adolescence and mental health to a subtle critique of a rigid, monotone society with the lack of mental health support, stigma, detached overworking parents, etc. It’s raw, powerful, and honest. The opening line even states it’s meant for those who have suffered through puberty, which sets the tone perfectly. Of course, Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal is part of the film.

The symbolism is brilliant — I especially loved the “other side” theme. It’s probably this impactful because it condenses a massive, masterful manga into just two hours, making the experience intense and overwhelming in the best way. Honestly, this movie found me rather than the other way around.

My personal highlight was Takao's actor — his performance resonated with me like no one else’s could. And the cinematography? Absolutely stunning — every frame was thoughtful, beautiful, and full of meaning.

Read More

A nostalgic and fun fiction

Edit: After all, it seems it didn't do so bad on Disney. According to an official source, the production and broadcast of Season 2 are planned for 2026.

Twelve is a tribute to a vintage, nostalgic style reminiscent of traditional series, fighting games, and especially Power Rangers, which originated from tokusatsu. The first season was meant to lay the groundwork for three more, which gives a lot of meaning to its structure.

The angels were meant to look like ordinary humans while still remaining unique. Their activites, the loss of the other angels (explaining why it's not as "colorful" as some expected), the tired father figure—Taesan, who has lost faith in humanity—the contrast between the Crow Ogwi (my favorite) and the Tiger Taesan, as well as the presence of the main villain, the priest. And most importantly, the Korean "Romeo & Juliet" between Ogwi and Mireu, or Zeref and Mavis (Fairy Tail).

Regarding the twelve zodiac signs, the characters are well thought-out (the symbolic of the healer Snake, the quiet geeky Rat, the solitary Dragon who is key to the story, the slightly goofy Monkey, the loyalty and sense of duty of the Dog and the Horse, the grumpy, hedonistic and protective Pig) and the human chosen for the angels highlights the more vicious aspects of humanity. From their first look, I found them perfect. I'll add a comment about their names in the comments too.

To me, the acting, the music and the visuals were all strong points. However, the reception was disastrous, so I’ve almost lost hope. And to be honest, Disney didn't help at all because of the poor release (not available in many countries as usual, if it wasn't enough that it's too expensive). As for the TV ratings, Bon Appétit Your Majesty aired at the exact same time, and it's not surprising it quickly took the spot.

It’s a shame, because it would only have improved, and the drama deserved recognition. Critics may say it was slow and weak despite its touching subtext (like the old shopkeeper who acts as Taesan’s emotional support) but this drama isn’t meant to be watched superficially—the style simply didn’t find its audience. We all know KBS isn’t known for massive budgets, yet I personally find this drama beautiful.

In the end, I enjoyed the action and the story. It was a fun time and I got attached to these characters, so if you think this drama might resonate with you, give it a chance.

Quote from Ma Dong Seok:

“In Twelve, besides myself, the angels who appear in the form of the twelve zodiac signs each display actions that reflect their own characteristics. They all have distinct traits. Rather than carrying the burden of the action alone, I tried to harmonize everything and find balance with them, so I ask for your generous support.”

The actor also revealed the effort invested in creating this K-drama:

“Even a simple story is difficult in its own way, but building the universe of a more complex narrative is even harder. I spent months staying up late working on it, to the point that my hair was falling out in clumps. The diverse and interesting character stories, along with the action, are the drama’s strengths.”

A small detail: The drama even had merchandise, you can find the drama's account on Twitter if you type Twelve Drama.

Read More

Falling in love, falling apart

I really liked this. It portrays reality well—how a relationship can fade over time. The story captures the growing distance between them, along with her struggles at work, in a subtle and believable way. That one confrontation between them is particularly well written, with sharp dialogue, strong performances, and a palpable sense of tension.

The female lead comes across as almost sociopathic—not in a purely villainous sense, but in her detached curiosity about human nature, which makes her fascinating to watch. The second male lead is genuinely endearing, and the drama weaves in understated societal themes, as you’d expect from a J-drama.

In the end, the characters reflect on their mistakes, revisit how they met, and remember why they fell in love in the first place. The climax, underscored by classical music, is especially striking. The final scene then settles into a quieter note, as they exchange a simple “good morning” and look at each other with a mixture of regret and affection. It all comes together for a deeply satisfying conclusion.

Read More

Not as bad of an adaptation as it's made out to be

I wasn't immediately convinced with the first part, but I came in with prejudice that the movie might be bad so that didn't help. Nevertheless, I was fully invested by the end of it and jumped on Part 2.

1. This looks amazing for the budget and time this was made in, it's not an Hollywood blockbuster and they put in a lot of work. Keep mocking the titans but that's literally how they're supposed to look, only not in anime.
2. The author himself asked for the differences.
3. This is closer to chapter 0, the author's trial before the actual manga and some things appeared later in the manga.
4. Have some respect for Eren's actor who did amazing and was perfect as Eren regardless of what you wanted him to be (besides the characters seem similar especially Hange, there's just no Levi who doesn't fit in a Japanese setting anyway). Rest in peace Miura.
5. Brilliant details such as the movies being adapted as a novel inspired by Dante's Inferno, the implied bisexuality of Kirishima's character in the white room scene (Matrix reference) with Eren being a parallel to Satan tempting Adam and Eve. Yes Levi will be the cooler guy to most people but Kirishima is meaningful in the story.

TitanGoji's latest video on the movie if you're interested: https://youtu.be/KlgtzJKKtVM

// Details of my earlier points

The official novelizations published by Kodansha are based on the film screenplays by Tomohiro Machiyama and Yusuke Watanabe—they are not adaptations of the manga.

What's particularly interesting is the chapter structure.
The first novel (Attack on Titan) contains chapter titles such as:
辺獄 (Limbo)
地獄の門 (The Gate of Hell)
ディーテの市 (City of Dis)
遅悔者 (Late Repentant)
コキュートス (Cocytus)
ジュデッカ (Judecca)
These are all locations or concepts directly associated with Dante's Inferno.

The second novel (End of the World) continues the pattern with chapters including:
ミーノスの審判 (The Judgment of Minos)
エデンの真実 (The Truth of Eden)
アケローン川の畔 (On the Banks of the Acheron)
悪魔と聖女 (The Devil and the Saint)
Again, Minos and the River Acheron are unmistakable references to Inferno.

Read More

A poignant and philosophical take on the end of the world

"Together today, tomorrow, till the end."

The Fool of the End was such a powerful title, but I'm not surprised they changed it in English. The screentime of Yoo Ah In that was removed did not appear significant to me at all. The protagonist was also Ahn Eun Jin, not him.

It’s definitely not a drama for everyone, but it reminded me of recent real-world events like the covid lockdown, Korea’s sudden martial law, and, on a more personal level, the sense of community my grandma shares at the church. The timelines were handled well (so I was quite confused about the criticism, because the drama was giving you clear hints like showing the date and changing the color, also context clues), and it was satisfying to learn about each character and connect everything together. I loved the unsettling but also calm atmosphere despite the chaos, how it kept my mind engaged, and how it moved me. It can sometimes feel ambiguous and require thinking or patience, but in a very good way. What Goodbye Earth offers is a deeply human story with a portrayal of hope and despair.

The drama focused on the perspective of ordinary people whose lives suddenly became extraordinary, and on what the catastrophe meant to the protagonist. The script wasn’t bad—the worldbuilding and storytelling were fascinating, and the introduction was great. Hae Chan, one of the kids, narrating the story to the audience as if you just opened a book? Perfect. I've read that the first episode was bad, but I couldn't disagree more. I got chills right away and was more hooked than with most dramas. This is far beyond a simple slice-of-life as suggested by others, and yes it is a thriller, people only say otherwise because of genre stereotypes. Anyone looking for raw intensity and complexity should definitely give it a chance. Despite the vast cast of characters, that was handled well as I felt closer to them along the way. Besides, I also loved the female villain, she had an amazing presence.

The directing was amazing, and in terms of cinematography, it was the best with amazing colors. From the start, I loved how the lyrics matched the ending scene of episode one, and how the flashbacks used black and white frames along with other cool effects. The soundtrack was also a masterpiece, including the final track, and the performances were incredibly raw and compelling. By the way, Revolution by Hwang Sang Jun and Pre-holiday is not just an OST, it's an hymn.

On top of all this, the drama was also progressive in more than one way, and I salute the screenwriter for that.

One flaw for me was the fact that I didn't understand In Ha's military storyline, I felt a bit lost with some of the military stuff. Maybe it was just me and hopefully I understand it better upon a rewatch. It definitely looked cool.

Side note: As stated in the opening, Goodbye Earth is the adaptation of a Japanese mini-bus novel, which is a first.

I will comment about the ending below.

Read More