Meet Me After School

Another May-December or Noona romance story, but I would like to comment on parent-children relationship depicted in this film that stood out for me. What kind of a frustrated parent it takes to deliberately inflict pain on their child? One parent deliberates on depriving their unborn baby of the father, another parent torments their child prioritising the parent's own emotional needs, the third parent torments their child by hiding father's letters and prohibiting the budding feelings of love, and the fourth parent at some point alienates their own adult child. Are we dealing with some massive phenomenon of emotional abuse of children in the family or is it a cultural "thing" or perhaps generational? "You aren't wrong about this. You only did what any parent would do. [...] It's OK. People always grow stronger through hardships. They are all precious experiences. It's sure to help in his life ahead." What kind of philosophy is this, furthermore, coming from the lips of a teacher? What is OK or precious about it?

So the story develops against this backdrop with the hope for the future that somehow children who go through this will acquire cognitive sophistication to navigate interpersonal relationship.

When I started it, I didn't know what to expect from the story ( I thought boy would be 18 and even if he had feelings for the teacher, he would confess after few years or something) but boom, not at all like it, everything happens so quickly.

The teacher is very sweet, friendly and cheerful ( trying her best ) and the student ( 15 years old) is complicated ( haha not bad personality, little tired of family drama I guess ). I was in shock how their relationship gradually built ( it is definitely shocking).

I believe if the teacher was more strict, such situation would not arise ( she literally fell for him instantly which seems disappointing, like one should atleast have discipline and professionalism).

The storyline takes many unpredictable turns so it's interesting. It was definitely not at all boring ( a good binge watch) but I believe the concept is very controversial.

Second Japanese series I watch that a woman falls in love with an 15-year old. It feels uncomfortable. I have nothing against an age gap but a 15-year old guy (boy!)?! I just can't understand... It made the series very burdened. I totally don't get why the script writers made this decision.

That being said, I hoped when he became an adult, it would become a more lighthearted series but it didn't. We almost never saw them smile with/at each other.

11 episodes weren't needed, it felt dragged on.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad but I would have liked it more if the romance became more lighthearted.

This drama deals with the taboo of not only age gap and forbidden love but also with having a relationship with a minor. I won't review this drama based on my own views on the matter, as it didn't glorify it, but just presented the story and the tragedy of their love. So, emotion wise, this one was strong at that area. Especially at the begining, however, it got boring towards the end and the pace slowed down as well. I also enjoyed the presentation of the how everyone else viewed their choices as well as the emotional struggles the two leads had to deal with. In addition, the performances were really good and the cinematography on point for this drama.

So - if pupils set fire to something and get burnt and taken to hospital - who do the authorities call? Parents - of course - the police - maybe - but teachers?

I have never heard of anything similar in any other country.

The school's senior female teacher (wearing a grotesque grey wig) told the young teacher not to wear light clothing - not to use scented shampoo or body lotions - I suppose perfume would have resulted in immediate dismissal. Not to mention being driven to the hospital by her "lover".

The young teacher was just too sweet and innocent for words - there was no way she should have been put in charge of a bunch of hormonal teenagers - mostly male.

In my view - the young man who fell in love with her looked far older than fifteen - if you want to make a point about age gap love at least make the actors look the age they are supposed to be.

I didn't find their story convincing - he should have been expelled immediately after slapping her. When she took no action it damaged her credibility as a teacher in my view. She was far too accepting of every display of disrespect by her pupils. She had no control over them at all. She wasn't fit for the job.

Was this scenario meant to convey her emotional weakness?

As usual we had to have the compulsory same sex kiss by her boyfriends female colleague and his descent from hero to zero when he was unfaithful to her with said colleague who informed him that she was conveniently "Bi".

It was as if this was put forward as an excuse for our heroine's subsequent behaviour.

The acting was OK - but the story was not gripping because the outcome was too obvious.