This is a gem of KBS special drama, very inventive, the drama grips you right the way through, just the right length for the story. My cyber mind being on high octane throughout, I was contemplating what the ending might be but the way you are kept guessing until the very final shot is awesome. The role of the father, though apparently a sideshow, turns out to be pivotal to the plot. I have to give this full marks overall, even the music was good. The only reason for the lower rewatch value is because this type of story hinges so much on the plot and once you know the ending it removes the drama that keeps you riveted (unless you are riveted by the actors anyway). If you like drama with a sci-fi twist, watch it.

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Good drama, better than expected, full of real characters [teachers and students] you feel are genuine people and you really want to know what happens to them. What a sweet temperament Lee Hyun Woo has. Ep. 10/11 - so far as math's concerned you could say this one went off at a complete tangent. I suppose you have to have "plot development" but the romance angle frankly bores me and I went off watching - back now and it seems to be picking up. On the + side, that director woman is wonderful - the way she can pack so much comedy into just saying "Bo???" is priceless. Ep. 14 and the floodgates of emotion burst open as the high point of the drama approaches. Overall, despite losing its way a bit in the middle, this has been a good drama, good idea, with personal stories interweaving in a mostly not too intrusive way. Probably more episodes than could carry the weight of the idea - I usually feel that conclusion when I stop watching for a while, interest flags but picks up when you watch again - well. I did and they were really tugging at your heartstrings with non-stop emotion and tears in eps 15 and 16. It was not a totally predictable ending. It was wrapped up pretty well with everyone staying in character (including Chan Doo's dad). You felt for and lived with these characters by the end. If that's the test of a good drama, it passes with honours. Very hard to mark this one as there were flaws but overall it caught you up in the story and characters.

Story - the premise is not that original, though in this case it was done very well and the way it was told and the characters (especially teachers) were original. Rare for me to watch two episodes one hour long in a row but I did here. The bit right at the end brightens you up after a lot of emotion.

Characters - brilliant

Music - some of it got on my nerves tbh, especially the folksy music and "fighting" music.

Re-watch - A hard slog this course of study to through again. Also, when you know how it comes out it loses the dramatic tension towards the end. Not one to re-watch for me but recommended for others, it's worth sticking with. My overall rating may seem illogical given the others are sometimes low, but reflects the good parts that really got you involved - the sum of its parts were better than the individual categories.

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Defying brain damage, dislocated limbs and ruptured spleens our heroes led by Tsukasa aka Nakajimo Kento come out on top with brilliant teeth intact, hair barely ruffled and knuckles remarkably ungrazed seeing as they had just been smashing people's faces in for the last 90 minutes. All good macho fun, so OTT as to become comedic. I love the idea of a few boys weighing 65 kilos and standing 1.7m toughing it out against battalions of supersize godzillas. If only. Obviously these appeal or there wouldn't be a market for them. Maybe it feeds into the samurai instincts (without the refinements). The best part was Tsukasa caught in the act of "teaching Yoji (I think) how to kiss" - well they would say that, wouldn't they? Nice boys really. 9/10 for the handsome guys, no re-watch value though.

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This had the most bizarre opening episode - highly unattractive male characters and "celeb"/rich kid background but the cute female saved it. Then you got curiously drawn in to see what happened next, so continued watching. Up to episode 5 - good, despite an uncertain start (I mean are rich/celeb kids really that openly awful) and some predictable plot, boy-girl etc I hoped it would not lose momentum over so many episodes, but was drawn in then, though. Some nice comic turns from Seo Ji's step-mother. EDIT. As at ep 8 this keeps taking unpredicted turns which takes it to a new level of excitement and interest, not just a bunch of kids flopping around in a martial arts school (yawn), though I'm beginning to find the M/F romance angle all very trying and detracts from the story. Too much intrusive music. ep. 11 more s/natural interest, too much martial arts for me. Like the lipstick, boys. This gets better. Just don't understand KangHae's review, but each to his taste. I am now on ep.14 and the soppy romance is really getting in the way of the action while doing nothing for the emotions (this person's anyway). I also continue to find the music intrusive - that's not to say it's not good or appropriate, just why must there be overwrought singing to virtually every scene, literally drowning out what the characters are saying and what's going on ? But Lee Hyun Woo saves it for me, he's a good actor. Ep. 15 things hotting up again, looks like a good ending in prospect. I'll be glad to say "Goodbye" to that song, though, it's like a headache. Ep.16 - good finish, it was certainly a "cliffhanger" :) - everything neatly wrapped up (too neatly for my taste). Predictable in outline if not in all the details. I'm still not sure what's supposed to have happened in that moment of high drama. It was a real pity the bromance angle receded so much during most of the series. And why the h*** did Yoon Shi Woo change from blonde to dark half way through?? Certainly did him no favors. I did not find the ending, where the writers seem to have wanted everyone to literally have everything, convincing. It seems the writers opted for safety and their conventional audience. Then we have the strong bromantic love suddenly hitting us in the very last scene! which suggests to me this was supposed to matter even more than their blissful wedded partners. Hope it did. But the whole thing was very confusing. So it was good enough to stay the course - which for me is an achievement over 16 episodes - but for me sagged a bit in places, so had to have faith. Should have been shorter in my humble opinion. For me the lack of bromance after the earlier episodes did not help. They just managed to come up with some plot twists and action often enough to keep the flame burning. I'd say 10 in places, 6.5 in others but 8.5 overall. I'm not marking down the overall due to lousy music and indifferent re-watch value, though. It's the story and acting that count. Did not quite live up to my initial expectations or the excitement and bromance built up in some episodes . Very unlikely to re-watch.

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This was a good drama with some very emotional, but also heartwarming moments. It also got a serious message across about the problems of growing up part of a gay minority - prejudice, bullying, alienation, just making connections so you can live your life. Pity it was spoilt for me by the tacky ending. I mean, come on, there's a limit to how far you can make up with a guy and his girlfriend/wife who trampled all over your deepest feelings. You can only move on by leaving the unrequited love interest behind! Zhengxi acted the part well, he also has a very sweet expression! I also liked his childhood girlfriend and the guy he finally hooked up with (much better looks than Tao Ye). The Tao Ye character I didn't like at all in the latter part. A true friend would have left Zhengxi alone to get on with his life.

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Really great feel-good movie, just what you need to raise your spirits on a gloomy winter day. For me this movie was made by the gorgeous, sultry Tokuyama Hidenori (Ootani) playing the moody, jealous partner of flighty, upbeat, "everybody's favourite friend", Tachibana (Saito Yasuka). Tokuyama's spoilt brat reactions when MIsuzawa (Matsuoka Rinako) puts in an appearance are priceless. The more serious turn into which this leads the relationship and the way the sensitivities of all three protagonists are resolved is nicely done and gives a bit more depth to the movie without detracting from the happy feel of the movie. For me, almost a perfect score for a movie of its type.

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Quirky romantic comedy

I love the fashion values - and he has two Maseratis in different colors. As at ep. 2 more like "What's becoming of Mr Lee" ? As it develops, the reason the leads come together is highly far-fetched . Apart from that, which is contradictory to the light tone of the drama, this is a good mix of romance, comedy and mystery. It is not just the leads but all the characters in this show contribute to a great mix, really cheers me up. The romance towards the end still has original moments but for me gets boring. Could have been 2 or 3 episodes less imo, but the final episode was beautiful. Music very good. I could re-watch this in future, at least the first half.

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bad Guys＝good guys

This drama I like because it is a real action drama but with interesting idea and characters you want to see how they develop and also there is no romance diverting from the story・ the woman detective is treated equally and she plays an interesting contribution to the story〜I was puzzled by Jun Moon [Park Haee Jin] role in this drama as he is supposed to be this great genius but what was he contributing？ but suddenly I see in episode 8 what his role is in this drama〜still I am disappointed he did not contribute more to this drama but I definitely felt the most for him〜still it is a great Korean drama of this type and the plot of the story is so well put together ・ the fights were in the great tradition of totally unreal odds with the heroes winning・ the trust in each other came out in episode 10 and 11 in a very dramatic turn of the story〜I was never bored during this drama and finished it very quickly〜 what a great action drama！and would join one of few I could watch again in future

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So is that it？ unfortunately another drama promising more than it delivers、the subversion of school rules is really very mild、at times I think the drama tries to be all serious and show how the school can be seen as a small version of the world outside and how rules can be broken there also as a protest against authority to help people keep sanity and self respect〜　well this is my interpretation〜otherwise I can not see how some parts fit in： see for exameple episode 5、 but the rap and the singing work men in that episode really I found just boring〜 seems this drama can not decide if this is school drama or about wider world so ends up neither。 For me other devices in the drama like the discussions between the lead characaters that comment at start of and during the episodes also become rather boring as too the computer games. sorry this is downbeat review but the whole drama I feel is average。

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This started out as a very good movie with a very interesting premiss. Although everything was neatly rounded off at the end, I thought it lost its way and the development of the story became increasingly unconvincing, unrealistic and "off the wall". It also had a big "moral" lesson about the dangers of the ruthless pursuit of excellence, in this case the battle to get into Toudai University and how the system advantages the already privileged. No doubt true, but it's a bit too obvious. So mostly enjoyable, especially due to the attraction of Miura Haruma. Very different story pairing him with Shirota Yu than Samurai High School, though.
P.S. The "hugging" cover photo is very misleading!

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