Itaewon Class

I enjoyed this series quite a lot. I don't usually like k-dramas because the romance is extremely slow-burn and the drama is too over the top, like in telenovelas. What's different with this one is that the focus is not on the romance. It has a captivating story that will keep you wanting to see it through to the end.

Sadly, some characters are very annoying and the events get a little too ridiculous in some of the last episodes, which almost made me lose interest... but, trust me, it's worth watching till the end just because the main conflict's resolution is very satisfying. It will not disappoint.

As for the main cast, Park Sae Ro Yi comes off as strong and inspiring whenever he's in an important scene; the rest of the time, he could be replaced for a wooden plank and we wouldn't notice. Oh Soo Ah's motivations and feelings are confusing and Yi Seo can be really annoying at times. It looked like they tried to make us feel some empathy for Geun Won and I thought he would receive some character depth, but they completely ruin it in the end. All of my praise goes to Yoo Jae-Myung who made a great job as Jang Dae Hee, the main villain; ruthless and dignified but with clear motivations and foreseeable weaknesses. Without him, the series would have probably been a flop.

I dropped a couple points because of the problems mentioned above, but the series has just enough jaw-dropping moments to make up for it and make it watchable. Plus, the OST was the best part of it. Ha Hyun Woo's voice is amazing, and his theme "Diamond/Stone Block" along with Gaho's "Start Over" are definitely going into my playlist. Worth a watch even if you don't like K-drama.

This k-drama is gripping and touching. The performances of the four lead actors are excellent. Park Seo-Joon is magnetic and he effortlessly expresses a wide-array of emotions. Kim Da-Mi is totally convincing in her role. Highly recommended.

I'm really surprised by how divisive this show seems to be - based on the reviews it looks like people either hated it or loved it. I fell into the love it category (obviously). Interesting characters and a revenge plot line were the heart of this show, with a subplot of romance that people also either loved or hated. I understand that people don't want to waste their time on a show they won't like, so I would probably advise "on-the-fence" viewers that if you don't like Yi-Seo's character from the get-go (I personally loved her), I feel like you won't like this show (based on the other reviews I feel that her character is the perfect benchmark to determine whether or not to keep watching).

A small detail that I really loved and just have to point out was the symbolic use of hairstyles in this show. Also this is hella progressive for a KDrama - I loved how they brought up big issues like racism and trans-phobia. It was refreshing since most KDrama's definitely feel like they can be stuck in that awkward 90's phase of mentioning progressive issues in a way that is funny-offensive (think Friends).

Itaewon Class was such a great binge-watch, you can't help but want to know how it all turns out, and it has so many "yell at the screen moments" that make it truly enjoyable to watch. I did think that towards the end, the choices of some characters felt a bit melodramatic, but this didn't take away from my enjoyment at all. Definitely worth a watch!

Review By Kamal K

Itaewon Class was an emotional ride with an especially promising start. Just after the first two episodes, I felt immensely attached to the main character, Park Saeroyi, and was looking forward to following him on his journey. Throughout the 16 episodes, I definitely learned a lot from his hardwork and values. Park Seo Joon did a phenomenal job with his character and left me in absolute awe. Whether it may be understanding the beauty of life or being reminded the importance of hardwork; I was thankful to be able to get to know and learn from Park Saeroyi.

However, apart from Park Saeroyi, I did have a few complaints for the other characters. Some characters were especially annoying, and lacked development. I did like that the drama showcased imperfect characters, but it also sometimes excused the ignorant behaviour of these characters - almost making it seem that such behaviour was appropriate to viewers. Some characters were especially inconsistent, and just seemed random. This switch was really annoying to see because it didn't make sense. I think these characters had a lot of potential to really compliment the story, but the writer just changed them randomly in order to make Park Saeroyi look good. I wish the side characters had contributed a little more to the overall plot but unfortunately we were unable to see that as viewers.

I was disappointed with the last two episodes as I felt that there were unnecessary additions to the plot. However, the ending was still quite nice and most questions were answered.

The OSTs were beautiful, and I know I will play them countless times in the future!

Overall, this was definitely a meaningful and enjoyable watch.

I was disappointed by the love story. Other than that really a brilliant show with great characters, amazing acting skills and a very entertaining storyline!