Released Year: 2020
No of Episodes: 16
Main Leads : Park Seo-joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-myung and Kwon Nara
Genre: Drama
Itaewon Class, a webtoon adapted series, portrays the realistic struggles of an ex-con whose life changed upside down after standing against bullying that leads to his father’s death.
Park Sae-Ro-Yi (Park Seo-Joon) who got expelled from school on his first day after punching his classmate Jang Geun-won who bullied a fellow student. The bully boy is the son of CEO Jang Dae-Hee under whom Park Sae-Ro-Yi’s father works. After refusing to plead on behalf of his son’s action, Sae-Ro-Yi’s father was forced to resign his job. Later Sae-Ro-yi’s father was killed in the accident caused by Jang Geun-won. Furious Sae-Ro-Yi, violently beats him and ended up in prison. Once he released from prison, he vows to take revenge on the Jangga group, he plans to open a restaurant and he opened it after 7 Years! He meets Jo Yi-seo (Kim Da-Mi), a schoolgirl who is popular in social media and known as a sociopath. Yi-seo, at all cost wanted and helped Sae-ro-yi to chase up his dreams of ruining the Jangga Group owned by CEO Jang Dae-Hee. Meanwhile, Yi-Seo falls in love with Park Sae-Ro-Yi. Jang Dae-Hee, CEO of the Jangga group and father of Jang Geun-Won tries to stop Sae-ro-yi from growing his DanBam(bar-restaurant) into a franchise.
The story reveals,
1.Will Sae-ro-yi able to achieve his dream?
2. Will Oh Soo-ah reciprocates Sae-ro-yi’s feelings for her?
3. Will Yi-seo’s love come true?
Unlike other drama, this series is more realistic and focuses on the struggles and difficulties one faces when his life changes upside down. This series beautifully portrays every character with emotional aspects that makes us connect with day-to-day life. I’m not going to review every episode but the first episode is my favorite. It beautifully highlights each character and their emotional connections. Normally the first half episode, will determine whether to continue watching a drama or not, and Itaewon Class is perfect, the unusual portrayal of Park Seo-joon made me continue watching it. All the scenes are clear-cut.
After 5 episodes, we could see the story and character development. Though I thought Oh Soo-ah is the female lead at first, her character never been strong at Sae-ro-yi’s side and always been chaotic between him and her company. Yi-seo is portrayed as a sociopath who speaks harsh reality but she did justice to her role by being sassy and brave at times when needed to be. We could see how every character has their own story and improvising themselves from their experiences and how they admire Sae-ro-yi for who he is.
How could I not talk about Ma Hyun-yi? Her character shows the difficulties of every transgender. The episode where she proved herself needs applaud. But is that real in Korea?!Treating someone bad because of their skin color and not giving opportunities because of being a transgender?? Well, I’m not sure!
And last few episodes may not be appealing because it felts like the plot was dragged to an extent where they needed to show some antagonism like usual. But overall this series was worth binge-watching.
Itaewon Class has a strong message,”Do not Give Up!” and Retaliate by Improvising Your Lives, not by doing the same what they had done to You!
Let’s see the characters,
Park Sae-Ro-Yi, an ex-con, owner of DanBam restaurant in Itaewon. He is a calm and composed guy and always chooses people over money! Unlike other roles, here park seo-joon never shouts or gets jealous, though many of his fans would have expected. His love for his one-sided love, Oh Soo-ah astonishes me! How can he understand and forgets whatever she does? How can he still love even when she is such a confusing girl!! Like Yi-seo, I too loved him for that and I thought Oh Soo-ah would accept Sae-Ro-Yi. Rather, she proved that she is always a confusing girl. Finally, the romantic king has taken up a stoic role and nailed it!
Jo Yi-Seo, a manager in Danbam restaurant, a sociopath and multitalented girl with an IQ of 162. She is popular figure in social media as her part-time work is to review the famous hotels food, infrastructure, and hospitality. After meeting Sae-Ro-Yi, she gives up on her studies and despite annoyed by Sae-Ro-Yi’s character initially, she started loving him for the same. About Jo Yi-seo’s portrayal, I could say A BIG WOW! As an avid fan of Korean dramas and watched almost all the Korean dramas, I have never seen such a sturdy minded portrayal before, I love the way when she says “I will kill whoever messes with my man”! I still wonder what takes Sae-Ro-Yi to reject her. Well, I strongly believe, this drama would be a step for Kim da-mi Success!
Oh Soo-Ah, a former classmate of Sae-Ro-Yi and head of the strategic planning team in the Jangga group. Grew up in an orphanage, she became close to Sae-ro-yi ‘s father who visits the orphanage often and she is the first love of Sae-ro-yi. After Sae-ro-yi father’s death, she received a scholarship from the Jangga group and later became an employee there. she is torn between her love for Sae-ro-yi and her company Jangga but always chooses the Jangga group, she always looks with teary eyes, and confused, and is she reprised the same role which she had in the Suspicious Partner?
Jang Geun-soo character, who has a crush on Yi-seo, is a notable one! As like in usual Korean dramas, this guy has a one side crush for Yi-seo. And unlike other Korean drama, Yi-seo uses him to grow his crush’s restaurant eventhough, when her crush has a crush on someone. Did’nt get it? Then watch it, it’s a Great one!
Interesting facts:
Itaewon Class is a Massive hit in South Korea as it started out with a decent rating with a regular rise in subsequent episodes.
The final episode recorded a 16.5% nationwide audience share, making it the seventh highest rated drama in Korean cable television history as of June-2020.
Ratings:
This is just a personal rating from Allsorts Kdrama and not upon any channel or user ratings.
4.9/5
(A must Watch)