Itaewon Class

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Analysis

Synopsis

​Park Sae Ro Yi lost everything when he was young, because of an altercation at school with a wealthy bully called Jang Geun Won. He is expelled from school, his father dies (in a car accident because of Geun Won) and he unfortunately has to go to prison. Years later, he finally comes out, driven by a vengeful plan he is determined to set into motion. 

My Opinion (No Spoilers)

Amazing! This webtoon adaptation is a must-see!

​For starters, I am a huge fan of Park Seo Joon, so it was inevitable that I’d watch his newest drama! And I was not disappointed one bit. Itaewon Class is the kind of drama that will make you want to fight alongside the characters (especially Park Sae Ro Yi) and will teach to never give up. I just loved it! Everything was perfect!

​On the one side, it was close to the usual style of dramas (in terms of plot for example or villains) but the more I watched, the more amazed I was by how original it actually is. It is refreshing and breathtaking! Plus, I discovered Kim Da Mi in that drama, whom I didn’t know at all and I can’t wait to see her next drama. 

​Considering the overall success and the compliments the drama received, I can only highly recommend that you watch it as soon as possible! 

​Analysis (Spoiler Alert)

Characters: All characters were actually very well written, to the point that even “bad” ones were understandable. 

Park Sae Ro Yi (Park Seo Joon) is a strong and combative character. His name is as atypical as his personality. Indeed, he follows his own beliefs and doesn’t hesitate to go full in to defend them. He has a specific line of conduct, that doesn’t discriminate or exclude anyone. He is remarkably loyal (either in friendship, at work or to the woman he loves). His will is difficult to bend and his determination is admirable. He is stubborn and strong-willed, hardworking and meticulous. At first, he gave me the impression that he belonged to another world, he was socially distant and had some real issues making friends. But it is understandable, since he only trusts those who share his principles. Park Sae Ro Yi is in my opinion a model of mental strength and ambition. He is the living proof that you can succeed no matter the obstacles, if you truly want it and if you carefully prepare it. I was impressed by his capacity of never breaking down or getting crushed by what life throws at him. He has conviction and knows what he wants. Frankly, one of the best characters I have ever seen!

I think the best aspect of Sae Ro Yi’s personality is that he never takes the easy way, if it means cheating, betraying people or his conscious. He prefers doing things right (and setting a model for it) – even if it means going through some rough patches –  rather than making morally and ethically questionable decisions. 

​Kim Da Mi plays the role of Jo Yi Seo in that drama and I was so glad to actually discover that actress. Plus, I fell in love with her character right from the start. She is a genius sociopath, who doesn’t really feel emotions. Like Park Sae Ro Yi, Yi Seo struggles at establishing social connections, worse she doesn’t feel an ounce of empathy for others. That’s why, most of the time, she acts like a real jerk. But let’s admit it, that’s what we love about her! She is honest and open, she is young and yet, she is not afraid of speaking her mind. She doesn’t let other bully her and can sometimes become the bully herself. Moreover, she has a strong sense of business, which is the reason why Park Sae Ro Yi hires her in the first place. 

​Jang Geun Won (played by Ahn Bo Hyun) is such a sad and pitiful character in reality. From the very beginning, he was a kid seeking for his father’s attention and approbation. However, his father Chairman Jang Dae Hee (Yoo Jae Myung) never complimented him and constantly denigrated him. He is the reason Geun Won turned into this horrible monster (cc the chicken episode!) and I could only feel very empathetic towards him. Even though his decisions were never the good ones, he kept trying to feel recognized by his dad. In vain! I can’t lie of course, I wanted to punch him at some point in the drama (especially by the end), yet he was a character in pain, suffering and feeling desperately lonely. 

​Contrary to his son, Chairman Jang Dae Hee has long stopped seeking approval from others. He is convinced that money can buy everything, as it comes alongside power. He is given a beautiful lesson by Park Sae Ro Yi at the end, who metaphorically punches him in the face. I think it is a sad and lonely path in the end the Chairman has chosen to go down; because he put power and money over people (in business notably). Park Sae Ro Yi chose to do the exact opposite and proves him wrong. People matter more (and they will always), they remain, even if you have lost everything! Jang Dae Hee was in the drama the villain and didn’t budge one bit from that place!

​Ok, now the third best character in that drama after Sae Ro Yi and Yi Seo is definitely Ma Hyun Yi (played by Lee Joo Young)! Omg what to say about that woman! First, I loved the idea to portray for once a transgender character! (Thank you!) Ma Hyun Yi is just like our two main leads, she is super strong and follows her own rules – which is notable since she is transgender in a country that doesn’t entirely accept the LGBTQ+ community. There is only one episode that can magnificently convey Hyun Yi’s convictions: the one, in which everyone discovers she is transgender. 

​Oh Soo Ah (Kwon Na Ra) is Sae Ro Yi’s best friend and first love. I personally didn’t like her character: she always chose her company (Dae Hee’s company) over her friends and took advantage of Sae Ro Yi’s feelings at some point. But, hopefully, she changes sides, when she realizes that she is becoming someone corrupted and morally questionable. It was a great change for a character who was never sure about what to do and where to go in life. She took the opportunities she was given (and she was right to do so) but she also learned how to think by herself and discovered what kind of person she truly wants to be. A good ending for a character, that started off the wrong foot. 

​The four other characters Jang Geun Soo (Kim Dong Hee), Choi Seung Kwon (Ryu Kyung Soo), Lee Hyo Jin (Lee David) and Toni (Chris Lyon) are of course also interesting, but I preferred focusing on the others, who happened to be more complex. 

The Romance: I actually could draw a lot of parallels between our main leads: both are loyal to the bone, they are fearless and determined (especially when it comes to protecting what/who they love); they live by their own rules and principles. Also, at the beginning, they are both socially distant and seem completely disconnected from the world. They obviously don’t have the same background, but their encounter is a revelation point (for Jo Yi Seo above all). 

I felt as if Park Sae Ro Yi (because of his life circumstances) had acquired a sort of wisdom, that only one can get by living for a time. He was sort of educating Yi Seo and sharing his wisdom with her, he is the one making her more humane, willing to feel, express and shout out loud her feelings. He turns her from a cold and insolent sociopath to a young strong-willed woman. She discovers a vast range of emotions thanks to Sae Ro Yi and is deeply touched by his life struggles. She discovers a vulnerable side of him, that pushes her towards him. She asserts herself to become a protective shield and a solid pillar for Sae Ro Yi. He is by the way also very attached to her, without even realizing it. I was actually so happy by the end, when he finds out that Yi Seo has always been the one next to him, the one he relies on. What a satisfying feeling to see him finally realize his feelings for her!

​The romance blooms in that drama and grows, as characters unravel parts of their own personalities. I loved to see how such an eclectic group could actually unite and fight together towards a common goal. I seriously fell in love with the main couple, expecting at each episode what new scenes would occur. Plus, Yi Seo becomes so cute and so clingy, she opposes so much Sae Ro Yi’s relationship with Soo Ah and proclaims her love for him so often, that we can only encourage her in doing so. 

​The OSTs: What to listen to when you are jogging, feeling down or depressed? Simple answer: the entire playlist of Itaewon Class. Going from Gaho (Start) to The Rose, Kim Feel or The Vane, Itaewon Class is as inspirational musically as it is visually. Go listen to that incredible playlist right away!

​Marginal characters in a multi-cultural neighborhood: All characters are marginal (ex-convict, transgender, afro-Korean, social inapt) and represent perfectly the actual Korean society. All tackle a specific fight that some people have to go through in South Korea in order to be accepted, to fit and to challenge taboos. And what better place than a multicultural neighborhood like Itaewon Class to follow their evolution. A very reliable and relatable depiction of the actual society! Well done!

​What are the themes questioned? 

​First, if I had to explain what the drama is about, I would use the following words: determination, acceptance, love (yourself and others), conviction, ambition, people, courage, believing in your dreams and yourself, never give up, justice. 

​These are all the messages transmitted by the drama through our characters’ stories. It challenges you to dare to dream and believe in your ambitions. It pushes you to accomplish what you wish for. It teaches you to accept and love others and yourself the way we all are (hence a black character and transgender character). 

It also tackles the difficult task of rehabilitating former prisoners in society, when out of the system and the harsh experiences due to bullying. 

​I can’t tell you how much strength, energy and inspiration this drama gave me and still gives me!

​It made me want to be more just, better and stronger every day, just like the characters! 

​P.S: For fans, don’t miss Seo Eun Su, Yoon Park and Park Bo Gum’s cameos!

​P.S.2: Did you know that Toni’s life could be inspired by a true story?