Itaewon Class has really been the talk of the town even
before its release, not only because it’s a Park Seo Jun series, but also
because it is based from another famous web comic with the same name. I personally
haven’t read the whole web comic (I only saw some parts of it) so I do not have
the idea on what the story will be.
But the main reason why I badly want to watch this drama is
because of Kim Donghee. I liked him ever since A-Teen (his debut web drama).
Aside from the fact that he is really good-looking, he is also from JYP
Entertainment. As you know, I’m a JYP stan. I really wanted to see more of him
and how he grows as an actor.
Just a quick reminder, this review is purely my opinion where
you may agree or disagree. Also, this may contain spoilers. Read at your own
risk.
ABOUT ITAEWON CLASS
Title: Itaewon Class
Episodes: 16 episodes (around 1 hour each)
Airing Period: January 31 – March 21, 2020
Characters:
Park Saeroyi played by Park Seo Joon
Jo Yi Seo played by Kim Da Mi
Jang Dae Hee played by Yoo Jae Myung
Oh Soo A played by Kwon Na Ra
Jang Geun Won played by Ahn Bo Hyun
Jang Geun Soo played by Kim Dong Hee
Kang Min Jung played by Kim Hye Eun
Choi Seong Kwon played by Ryoo Kyung Soo
Ma Hyun Yi played by Lee Joo Young
Tony Kim played by Chris Lyon
Plot: Itaewon Class is a story of an ex-convict named Park
Saeroyi who had a roller coaster life after getting expelled from school
because he punched a bully and also when his father died in an accident. Not
giving up on himself, he established a mini pub in Itaewon and challenges the
family who caused all his misfortunes.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT ITAEWON CLASS
It has a strong start
I am that kind of person wherein I’ll continue to watch a
drama if I got hooked with it on the first three episodes. Well, it would be
better if I got hooked with the first episode like in Angel’s Last Mission:
Love. Let’s just call it, first impression?
The first scene of the drama already made me like it. Jo Yi
Seo has been spitting out words that I wanted to say. A lot of people were able
to relate to it. And then on the next scenes, the story of Park Saeroyi’s life
started and how this whole Itaewon Class started.
It tackles a lot of social issues
First one, bullying – physical, verbal, and emotional.
During Park Saeroyi’s expulsion from the school, we can already see different
kinds of bullying.
The physical bullying was Jang Geun Won pouring milk and
smashing the head of his classmate. Not only that, Jang Geun Won also bullies
his little brother whenever something bad happens to him. But these physical
bullying happened because Jang Geun Won was verbally and emotionally abused by
his father. This shows what happens to the children if their parents treat them
like that.
On Episode 15, Jang Geun Won mentioned why he ended up being
that. People may say that “we have a choice, and his choice was to be a bad
guy” but I somehow understood him, though I do not want to tolerate his
wrongdoings. For a person who has never been loved by people around him, his
mind has been blocked that stopped him from doing what is right.
Second, looking lowly on the ex-convicts. Most of the time,
when we knew that the person has been to jail, we became afraid of them. As
much as possible, we don’t want to get involved with them. I, too, admit that
there are times that I felt uneasy dealing with ex-convicts. But you know what?
Itaewon Class had a different approach. This series showed how the lives of
ex-convicts are and how they can change. Seung Kwon for example. He had a hard
time changing but eventually became one of the most loved character as the reaches
the end.
Third, the transgender issue. Ma Hyun Yi, the main cook of
DanBam is a transgender in this story. When his workmates knew about this, they
were shocked and some felt a bit disgusted, Jo Yi Seo and Seung Kwon. This is
the typical reaction of people. But eventually, they learned to accept Ma Hyun
Yi’s decision with his life.
Fourth, racism. During the time when Tony was about to enter
the club, he wasn’t permitted to enter because he is from Africa, even if he is
half Korean. He was degraded because of his looks. And of course, Jo Yi Seo as
the first one to tell it to him. It only shows how racist some (or I guess
most) people are. But good thing, there are still some people who don’t care
about it and still be friends with other nationality.
Fifth, family issue. Jo Yi Seo stopped going to school and
helped Park Saeroyi with his pub. Her mom got mad at her and even asked her to
leave the house. There are times our parents want us to finish studying because
through this we’ll have a decent life. But Jo Yi Seo proved that even if she
didn’t graduate, she is capable of a lot of things. Besides, life is all about
how you handle it and not about the technical things the book teaches us.
Sixth, and I guess the main issue, you can easily be thrown
away if you have no power. Park Saeroyi was expelled and got into prison
because his enemy was way powerful than him. The real murderer for his dad’s
death did not immediately get punished. Why? Because of power.
Another one, when Jangga bought the building that Park
Saeroyi was occupying. This shows that people with money, power, and fame, can
do anything to a person without those things. Good thing, Park Saeroyi is a
person full of motivation and he did not allow Jangga to crush them fully.
Soo Ah’s character
A lot of people say that Soo Ah’s character never changed.
She did not improve or anything. There was no development. But I disagree with
it. There was a development we just didn’t see it. On Episode 15, Soo Ah
suddenly gave her resignation to Jangga Co. Along with it is record of all the
manipulations that the company did.
Throughout the story, she was portrayed as someone who is
afraid of making her own decisions, afraid of choosing Park Saeroyi, a selfish
one. At first, I also hated her for that. She has a choice; I always say that.
And last Episode 15, I suddenly realized why she stayed with Jangga Co. She
stayed there to see all the bad doings of the company and slowly ruin the
company at the end. Just like the saying goes, “Make your friends close, and
your enemies closer.” She stayed there because she wanted to give back to Mr.
Park for all the good things that he has given her.
Soo Ah is doing something we never know because we didn’t
see it, that even Park Saeroyi didn’t see. That’s why he was not able to wait.
Park Bo Gum’s cameo
Probably the only thing that I liked in the ending of
Itaewon Class was Park Bo Gum’s appearance as a chef applying for Soo Ah’s new
restaurant. Aside from the fact that he is so handsome, I found out that Soo Ah
deserved someone better. After being dumped by Park Saeroyi because he could
not wait more (well, that’s how I see it), I know Soo Ah deserved more.
Seeing Park Bo Gum’s appearance, I was lowkey hoping that
Soo Ah finally found her forever.
WHAT I SOMEHOW DISLIKED WITH ITAEWON CLASS
I never liked Jo Yi Seo and Park Saeroyi’s love story
Most of the series I have watched shows that the main leads
always end up with each other. Well, it’s the cliché. And I hate it how Itaewon
Class made it into this cliché love story. Although I am lowkey shipping
Saeroyi with Soo Ah, I also believe that it would be better if Saeroyi do not
end up with anyone, because I believe he deserves more.
Not until we reached Episode 14. On this episode, third to
the last, Park Saeroyi suddenly realized that he really liked Jo Yi Seo. Like
what some of my friends say, “I’m not buying it. It’s too late.” Just because you’re
thankful for someone, doesn’t mean you’re in love with them. I just didn’t get
it how he completely abandoned his love for Soo Ah because of that reason.
I don’t know why, but I just don’t feel any chemistry
between the two. Though I already know that they will end up with each other
because of the “drunk kiss” that happened on the first few episodes (can’t
remember what episode sorry).
Tony’s character
As far as I know, Tony wasn’t part of the webcomic, which
means they added him on this series. Yes, he is the grandson of the rich woman
who invested on Park Saeroyi’s company, but I wanted to see more from his
character.
He became a part of DanBam and then suddenly disappeared. If
his role was just to show the racism part, well, they were able to portray
that. But I’m looking for more than that. Look at how the character of Lee Ho
Jin (the bullied classmate) was portrayed. He suddenly became someone important
to Park Saeoryi. I was just a bit disappointed with Tony’s character. I feel
like something lacks.
Jang Geun Soo being the enemy
Maybe because I like Kim Donghee? Or maybe because he’s just
too cute and too innocent-looking to be an antagonist. When he transferred to
Jangga Co., I still can’t get mad at him. A lot of people say that Kim
Donghee’s acting lacks. Probably, yes. But his face is just too innocent that
being the bad guy doesn’t suit his image.
I’ll be waiting for his next Netflix series to see if his
acting really improved.
CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS
There are actually a lot of lessons we can learn from this
drama. I may not be able to list them all but here are some of the things I got
in mind.
The person you bullied will always remember everything.
While bullies tend to forget the things they have done, sometimes
even the person, the bullied one will always remember everything. Just like how
Ho Jin was bullied by Geun Won. He remembered it even if years has passed. The
bullied ones will never forget all those bullying.
So be kind. That’s all.
Sometimes, all you need is a little push.
Park Saeroyi never even thought of having a revenge towards
the Jangga Family (or even have plans when he gets our of the prison) not until
Ho Jin and Soo Ah pushed him to do it, in a good way of course. In an episode
of Itaewon Class, it was seen that Ho Jin visited Park Saeroyi when he was in
the prison. He was able to talk to him and told him his future plans to destroy
Jangga. He even asked Saeroyi about his plans. That’s when Saeroyi started to
think.
One of the turning points here was when Soo Ah told Saeroyi
that he wanted a rich man. Soo Ah never really wanted a rich man, besides she
is an independent and strong woman. She is not that kind of a woman. She told
that to Saeroyi to push him to be the better him, to achieve what he really
wanted. Saeroyi, who loves Soo Ah so much will do everything to be the guy “he
thought” Soo Ah liked.
When you’re intimidated by those lower than you, you’re the actual prey not the predator.
We can see here that Mr. Jang was so afraid of Park Saeroyi’s
existence even if there’s a huge gap between the two of them. He is richer and has
an established company. Meanwhile Saeroyi, is just starting his small pub. He
made sure that he knows Saeroyi’s steps so that he can already have his attack.
But come to think of it, why will Saeroyi be a big threat for Mr. Jang? It only
means that Saeroyi is controlling Mr. Jang.
Same goes in real life, if you feel intimidated by a person,
you’re being controlled by them.
Life is unpredictable.
The person you love right now may not be the person you will
end up now. The people whom you are friends with doesn’t mean they’ll stay
being friends with you until the end. You may be poor now, but who knows? You
might get rich sooner.
No one really knows what will happen in life. All we need to
do is to remain kind to the people around us and never doubt your friends who
really helped you and trusted you all the way.
It is how we use our time that matters.
Just like how Seung Kwon mentioned. Everyone is given the
same amount of time, but everyone differs on how they used their time. Park
Saeroyi used his time to improve himself while Seung Kwon went back to his old
life.
Use your time wisely. You cannot return the time that
passed.
You don’t need an explanation or a validation from other people.
Like how Ma Hyun Yi overcame his fear of revealing his true
self, you are you and you don’t need a validation from other people. You love
to write but other people tell you that you shouldn’t write because you’re not
a graduate of Communications Art. Tell them, “I am who I am, and I don’t need
your validation. I will write because I love writing.”
Same goes to those people who tell you how you lived in the
past. Living an ugly life before doesn’t mean you will continue to live on that
kind of life. Every people have a choice and chance to change. So, don’t let other
people dictate who you are.
My honest thoughts and conclusions:
I am just a bit frustrated with Itaewon Class. I was really
looking forward to it even before. But this drama has failed me. Well, this is
my opinion. It’s probably because it didn’t go as I wanted it to go. The first
part was okay. But then, the second half, it started to go down.
I honestly wanted to drop it already, but I still forced
myself to finish it because I have already surpassed half of the episodes.
In the end, Itaewon Class, as a whole, is still good series
(especially if you’re not a choosy person). I have my disappointments with the
drama, but I also learned a lot from the drama. How about you guys? What are
your thoughts about Itaewon Class?
