Yakhanyeongung

Weak Hero Class 1 is a high school thriller series that follows the story of 3 students who doesn't care about anything else, and somehow gets involved in constant fights due to bullying.

Most of the school centric dramas are romance, which becomes monotonous watching after a certain point of time. Weak Hero Class 1,however, is a thrilling, yet sobering portrait of young students and the different struggles, difficulties and momentary joys they experience while growing up in a society that, too often, neglects and pushes them aside, that successfully stands out as one of the best dramas of 2022.

With just 8 episodes, the pacing is superb and the action sequences were well crafted. And perhaps what the series does best is to show the immeasurable toll such violence and abuse can take on one's physical, emotional and mental health. Especially for teenagers who may be experiencing other types of abuse, hardship and struggles outside of the school walls as well.

School violence is certainly not a new theme for a K-drama. But Weak Hero Class 1 is able to take that familiar topic and present it in a way that focuses more on the characters, particularly the victims, and show the unfortunately lasting effects of such violence. The best part of the drama were the 3 leads who had an amazing chemistry on screen and their change in characters once the events turned dark.

Adapted from a webtoon, Weak Hero Class 1 is engaging, highly effective action packed school based drama. The finale teases a 2nd season and yes I am very much intrigued to see what happens next.

My Rating : 8.5/10.

I went into this show with admittedly low expectations. It didn't air on any of the big Korean channels, and wasn't made for any streaming service in particular. There were no big name actors in it, although I did recognize Park Ji Hoon from the fantastic At A Distance Summer is Green, where he played a summery playboy hiding a dark secret. This character could not have been more opposite, and boy was I blown away by his performance. I hope he is given bigger roles after this show, he certainly deserves the chance as his acting was great across the board.

Si Yeun is a pretty, smallish young boy, so seeing him being a brilliant strategist combined with a wiry, stubborn strength was a pleasant surprise that kept me interested from the very first few minutes. While school bullying in Korean dramas is certainly not a new concept, this show is somewhat different from the others I have seen. It centers on human emotions in a way that puts every character in a grey moral zone that makes them all incredible interesting to watch and also all too relatable.

It seems the ending was set up for a season two, and I really hope to see another set of episodes of this amazing show. I was completely hooked from start to finish!

The headline says it all --- the themes of this show are long overdue in its portrayal of the S. Korean HS life. Its the best show I've seen all year. Based on a Webtoon comic, Weak Hero is a unique take on the coming of age fighter tale as Yeon Si Eun uses his intellect and unbridled rage to fight and defend those who feel weak under the rules of society thus fall victim. Never has it been a clearer example of hurt people create more hurt people than in this incredible adaptation. Definitely a must watch for fans of South Korean Webtoon manhwas like Study Group, To Not Die and Viral Hit just to name a few.

This isn't your typical high school drama.

No crushes. No fluff. Just grit, trauma, and survival.

Yeon Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon) is the kind of character who looks weak-skinny, pale, top student-but when cornered, he becomes terrifyingly strategic. He fights not with fists, but with intellect and intent. Every move is calculated. Every blow has purpose.

He's not just fighting bullies-he's fighting a system that rewards cruelty and punishes silence.

--- Why It Hits So Hard:

Brutal realism: The fights are short, messy, and raw. You feel every hit.

Cinematic quality: It looks and sounds like a film, not a web series.

Three-dimensional characters: You're not watching good guys vs. Bad guys. You're watching flawed boys forced to grow up fast.

Themes: Power, loyalty, betrayal, and the violence beneath the surface of society.

--- What Stays With You

The friendship between Si-eun, Su-ho, and Beom-seok?

Heartbreaking.

It starts as a glimmer of hope-and ends in pure devastation.

The transformation of Beom-seok is a masterclass in how trauma mutates into something darker when ignored.

--- Standout Performances:

Park Ji-hoon (Si-eun): Cold, precise, yet quietly emotional. A revelation.

Choi Hyun-wook (Su-ho): The loyal bruiser with a soft heart.

Hong Kyung (Beom-seok): Possibly the most complex and tragic arc.

--- This show isn't about glorifying violence.

It's about what people become when no one protects them.

And in that silence, how some people rise-while others fall.

If you're tired of polished heroes and one-dimensional villains, Weak Hero Class 1 punches through the clichés and leaves a lasting bruise.

It's not just a show. It's a gut check.

I am absolutely in awe by this drama, we have seen this theme of bullying used often in kdramaland but I don't think I have ever been as satisfied with the main leads getting justice for what they suffer ( maybe The Uncanny Counter)

The story is dark and painful and its a shame it's something that happens often in south korea but will move your heart countless times with the strong bond of loyalty and friendship between the leads and how they would continue to sacrifice themselves just to prevent harm from happening to their loved ones.

The performances in this drama are just so powerful.

The oscar goes without a doubt to Park Ji Hoon which completely transforms from candid roles like the one in Love revolution to this one. He plays a wounded beast, a beast that is caged in a weak body but who's soul is burning inside and that will never be extinguished. You just have to look at his eyes, the murderous gaze, filled with the wrath caused by the agonizing pain and the frustration of how much evil men can cause to others.

What a display of raw emotions.

But the other two leads are not left behind, the range of performances here are just outstanding.

Just impatiently waiting now for season 2 and I hope we will also see again some of the characters from this season, otherwise I would miss them dearly.