ONE: High School Heroes

Presentation

For more…

Overview

Synopsis

Kim Eui Gyeom is a top student at his school. Despite his father’s oppression and strict discipline at home, he tries to stay away from violence and bullies at school. Kang Yoon Ki is a student at the same school as Eui Gyeom. One day, he notices his schoolmate’s natural talent for fighting and offers him to form a High School Heroes team against the school bullies.

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

This drama is so underrated, and yet so good! To give you an idea, if you’ve liked the vibe of Weak Hero, then ONE: High School Heroes should definitely be your next pick! Though the plot seems to be yet another revenge drama and fight against school bullies, there’s actually much more complexity if you scratch the surface. Kim Eui Gyeom may seem like a nice and quiet student, but he hides dark secrets. His family is far from being ordinary, his parents are obsessed with grades, he suffers under his father’s oppression, his brother committed suicide, etc…. All of that allows the drama to shed light on important themes like mental health, traumas, and healing. Both narratives are perfectly merged. So trust me, this show is definitely worth your time!

Analysis

• Characters
  Kim Eui Gyeom
  Kang Yoon Ki
  The repented bullies
• Parents’ greed
• Traumas
• School violence
  Eui Gyeom rising to the top
  High school heroes, the noble cause
• Symbols
  The plane
  The walkman
  The trigger
  Kim Su Gyeom’s ghost
  The final fight
• Frienship
• The ending

Characters: Though the two main protagonists are compelling, I preferred the bullies’ complex psychology. Some of them were utter villains, but others repent.

Kim Eui Gyeom: Kim Eui Gyeom (Lee Jung Ha) comes from a wealthy family. His grandfather is the patriarch who imposes strict discipline and cares about reputation and social status above all. Eui Gyeom’s father, Kim Seok Tae (Kim Sang Ho), has inherited that discipline and obsession for success. However, he’s never succeeded in life himself and is seen as the disappointing black sheep of the family. Even his own father considers him a good-for-nothing and belittles him in all occasions. The psychological pressure made and his low self-esteem resulted in an inferiority complex. Through his son, Kim Seok Tae hopes to finally get his father’s approval, turning Kim Eui Gyeom into the unfortunate catalyst of Kim Seok Tae’s insecurities. He and his older brother have to live under his constant oppression. Their mother, Myung Da Bin (Kim Joo Ryung), is no better. She knows that her husband’s discipline is toxic. She’s aware that her children suffocate, but turns a blind eye until Su Gyeom commits suicide. After that, she falls into depression, drowning her sorrows in alcohol. Kim Eui Gyeom is left alone to fend for himself against his tyrannical father, while having to deal with his own traumas. First, his grief following his brother’s passing. Second, his post-traumatic stress, as his brother used to terrorize him by strangling him. This was his way of exteriorizing his anger. At the beginning of the drama, we discover a character who’s suffering, traumatized, but incapable of expressing his feelings. He’s like a pressure cooker ready to explode any minute. Against all odds, Kim Eui Gyeom finds a way to let out his anger through fighting. Turns out he’s also excellent in that field, learning opponents’ techniques fast and reproducing them easily. This helps him rise to the top fighters of the school. Later on, he finds a purpose and a justification to fight by taking down the bullies of the school. But it’s also a dangerous path because he doesn’t know how to control his rage. Thankfully, his experience against the bullies enable him to get out of this pressurizing situation with his parents. They are forced to react, take measures, but above all reflect upon the reasons behind their son’s aggressive behavior.

Kang Yoon Ki: Kang Yoon Ki (Kim Do Wan) seems aloof and nonchalant at first, as if he didn’t care about anything. He considers school fights to be entertainment and enjoys them. He also pretends he doesn’t know how to fight. When he discovers Eui Gyeom’s potential, he offers him a deal: he’ll help him acquire fighting skills, in exchange Eui Gyeom has to become the school hero and take the bullies down. Rapidly, we find out Yoon Ki’s hidden scheme behind this offer. Turns out that he and his best friend Lee Ji Sung (Yoon Hyun Soo) used to be bullied. One day, the top four bullies cornered them on the school rooftop. They ordered Kang Yoon Ki to leave first and remained with his friend. But he felt guilty and turned back. While on the way, he saw the bullies throw Ji Sung off the roof. His friend survived but ended up in a coma. Since then, Yoon Ki promised he would get his revenge. He learned how to fight and encouraged Eui Gyeom to do so too. At the end, Yoon Ki’s purpose comes to light. He used Eui Gyeom as an instrument in his personal vendetta. But he was not expecting to strike a friendship with Eui Gyeom. Yet, Kang Yoon Ki is a remorseful character who’s a loyal friend. When Eui Gyeom is forced to transfer at the end, he accompanies him to his new high school. He’s protected Ji Sung who’s woken up. Now, he needs to be with Eui Gyeom.

The repented bullies: Not going to lie, I think the ‘repented bullies‘ in the drama were the most interesting characters. Kim Seung Joon (Im Sung Kyun) is the first bully Eui Gyeom confronts. Though he appears to be the top dog, he’s actually an underling. He needs to report to other bullies ranked higher in the hierarchy. At some point, Seung Joon loses his fight against Eui Gyeom. Though it could all have ended here, Seung Joon’s superiors refuse to admit defeat. So, they call both fighters on the rooftop for a new round. Yet, Eui Gyeom refuses to take Seung Joon down again. This behavior is an eye-opener for the now repentant bully. Eui Gyeom is the only one who stands up against his superiors and even protects him from them. After that, Kim Seung Joon ‘retires‘. He doesn’t partake in school fights anymore and tries to enjoy a normal school life, devoid of violence. Lee Geol Jae (Yuk Jun Seo) used to study at Myomyeong High School, a so-called reforming school where students are literally forced to fight against each other. Though he’s managed to go out, his situation is still fragile. One single fight and he’d go back to hell. That’s why he hides his identity when he transfers. Unfortunately for him, he’s got many enemies outside. Some who want vengeance, others who just want to compete with the legendary fighter. In both cases, he tries not to get involved. For both characters, it is clear that their past as bullies has taught them a lot. They have escaped the cycle of violence they were in. However, they paid a heavy price, proportional to the pain they inflicted. That’s why Geol Jae is enemy number 1 and can’t truly break free from his former group. These two have also acquired a certain wisdom. They know what it feels like to be powerful and to use that strength to crush others. It can be addictive and dangerous. Hence their warnings towards Eui Gyeom not to become like them. They messed up and paid for them. So, they don’t want him to make the same mistakes.

Parents’ greed: What would be a school drama without a good focus on education? In ONE: High School Heroes, Eui Gyeom’s issues all stem from his parents’ greed to make him the top student. His father wants to impress his own father by showing off his sons. He pressurizes them to be the best and enter med school, even if they are not interested. And their mother’s greed is no better. She also wants to brag about their successes. She’s oblivious to their pain, as long as it brings results. At some point, Eui Gyeom’s brother can’t withstand that burden and commits suicide. That’s where parents’ paths diverge. On the one hand, Kim Seok Tae doesn’t repent. He continues his tyranny on his remaining son. He never reflects on his behavior nor questions his teaching methods. On the other hand, Myung Da Bin has an awakening. When she realizes that she may lose her second son too, she comes out of her lethargy. She starts paying attention to Eui Gyeom. She confronts Seok Tae and stands up against him. She becomes an actual mother who cares about her child’s well-being first and foremost. She wants to make amends and rekindles a relationship with her son. Instead of forcing him, she wants to know what he really wants to do, giving him time and space. At the end, she is the mother she’s supposed to be.

Traumas: Traumas are at the core of the intrigue. Characters’ mental health is severely disturbed by either death, violence, harassment or psychological torture. For example, Eui Gyeom suffers from a variety of traumas he’s not equipped to deal with and that hinder his daily existence: the abrupt loss of his brother, violence at home (either psychological or physical), anger management issues. His troubled environment causes him to be mentally unstable. He thus resorts to self-harm – by strangling himself – or violence to exteriorize his toxic emotions. His evolution is concomitant with his healing journey – with a bit more blood than expected. Kang Yoon Ki’s irruption in his life takes him out of his solitude. His fights allow him to let off steam. His unusual behavior forces his parents to pay attention to him. Even if the method is not correct, Kim Eui Gyeom finds his own way to get better. He’s not there yet, but it’s a good start.

School violence: I will never repeat it enough but schools are microcosms that mirror the reality of the outside world. Yet, they function with their own rules. Like everywhere, you have a hierarchy with bullies at the top who rule over the weaker ones. The law of the retaliation (‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’) is the only principle that exists. If you want to get out of your condition, you need to prove it with your fists.

Eui Gyeom rising to the top: In this environment, Kim Eui Gyeom raises to the top. His resourcefulness and fighting skills are a major asset, as he learns his enemies’ techniques that he reproduces against them. Despite the challenge, the former quiet model student gets out of his condition and wins against the stronger individuals one after the other. He imposes himself as the main target to take down.

High school heroes, the noble cause: Kim Eui Gyeom doesn’t become a fighter for personal gain. Though it helps him exteriorize his anger, his goal is to establish peace at school. Once bullies are all eliminated, other students will finally be able to breathe. He’ convinced himself that he’d act as a protector, a superhero, a vigilante. That’s why he puts a mask on and hides his identity. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to get rid of bad guys, especially when they are that well organized. Violence leads to more violence. The cycle never really ends and heroes rarely have time to rest.

Symbols: The drama uses a lot of symbols to express Eui Gyeom’s traumatic experiences and/or to show how one simple detail can trigger him.

The plane: Every day, Kim Eui Gyeom stops in the school’s yard and stares at the sky. He silently observes planes with his walkman on. Although this seems like an ordinary habit, it actually tells us a lot about his state of mind. Kim Eui Gyeom feels trapped. He’s suffocating from his father’s pressure and suffering from his brother’s suicide. The plane represents his desire to escape reality and be free of his shackles. Oftentimes, he imagines himself in the plane which allows him to have a moment of rest before facing the day.

The walkman: The walkman is a gift from his older brother Kim Su Gyeom (Shin Hyun Soo). After his father’s strict discipline, Su Gyeom would put his walkman on and listen to some music to clear his mind. Then, he’d become someone else. I think the walkman had an hypnotic effect on the older brother. Music would make him escape reality, yet it would also let his subconscious do the worst to express his anger and hatred. As he could not attack his father, Su Gyeom chose an easier target: his brother. He would put his walkman on, get in a sort of trance and give way to his darkest urges. Hypnotized, he’d strangle his brother in his sleep and traumatize him. What started as a comforting object turned into a horrible item. One day, his father broke the walkman and I think that’s when it all went wrong. Kim Su Gyeom had not medium in order to exteriorize his pain, so he chose suicide. After that, Eui Gyeom started to use the walkman as a way to shut himself from the rest of the world. Even without music, the item would serve as a shield against intruders and protect him from exterior contact. On top of that, it also represents his brother, which enables him to keep a connection to his sibling. That’s why he would go mad when someone tries to steal it from him. This object is literally the last thing he’s got from his older brother and is only protection against others. At the end of the drama, Kang Yoon Ki fixes Eui Gyeom’s walkman. He can finally listen to his brother’s favorite songs. This is a turning point for Eui Gyeom as well. It proves that if the walkman can be fixed, so can he. He can heal his wounds and overcome his trauma.

The trigger: When someone puts his finger on his forehead and pushes his head away, Eui Gyeom simply goes crazy. This may seem ordinary, but it reminds him of his father’s discipline who would do the same while reviewing his homework. This gesture is associated with belittlement, humiliation, but also anger. That’s why Eui Gyeom can’t control his rage whenever someone does that. It’s like pulling the trigger of a gun. Kim Eui Gyeom would beat everyone up and not stop until he’s fully satisfied or stopped by someone. I think this is an evident sign of Eui Gyeom’s psychological torture. He associates this gesture with his hatred for his father. He then is completely blinded by rage and imagines himself beating his father up.

Kim Su Gyeom’s ghost: Kim Su Gyeom may have died, but he’s somehow managed to save his brother’s life. Whilst in the hospital after a fight with ultimate bully Choi Ki Soo (Yoo Hee Je), Eui Gyeom’s mother wakes up in the middle of the night and sees that her son is not in bed. Confused, she goes out of the room and desperately looks for him. She ends up on the rooftop where she sees her son ready to jump. This scene is a little bit confusing for everyone, even for me. I think the mother is so terrified that she may lose Eui Gyeom too that she hallucinates that moment. She believes Eui Gyeom is about to jump, but his face intertwines with that of his brother. As if the brother was telling his mother that Eui Gyeom was standing at the edge of a cliff and that he would die if she turned a blind eye. That’s an eye-opener for the mother who takes a 180 turn and wakes up from her coma. She’s now ready to assume the role of a protective mother and behave properly for the sake of her remaining son. Hallucination or not, Kim Su Gyeom’s ghost served its purpose.

The final fight: The final fight opposes Eui Gyeom and the main school bully Choi Ki Soo. After a long moment of beating each other up, Eui Gyeom eventually wins and puts Ki Soo on the floor. While beating him up, Eui Gyeom starts to confuse his face with others’. He see his brother, then his father and finally himself. These 3 people are the ones he resents the most. They are his demons. His brother left him alone and terrorized him. His father pressured him. And he himself couldn’t say anything or defend himself. He was weak and a coward, incapable of standing up against his father. The beating is his way of punishing everyone from his bully to himself. At the end of that scene, his father asks him why he’s like that – what an ironic question. Kim Eui Gyeom answers ‘That’s only now you’re asking why’ meaning that is father has been oblivious to his suffering all along. Now that he’s ruined someone’s face, his father is finally paying attention and asking questions. I think that in general Eui Gyeom’s violent behavior was a cry for help. He was literally telling everyone ‘look at me! I’m beating people up for a reason, pay attention to me and start asking yourself why I’m doing that’. Seems like his parents have finally heard him at the end.

Friendship: Though it starts as a fake relationship – Yoon Ki uses Eui Gyeom for revenge – the two leads eventually become real friends. They’ve been through a lot together, so their common experience has reinforced their bond. On top of that, Yoon Ki feels truly guilty for what he’s done. So, he asks Eui Gyeom for forgiveness and sides with him. He even transfers to the same school to prove him his willingness to repent. All in all, I think that Yoon Ki is a great friend to Eui Gyeom. If he had not been there, I wonder how long the model student would’ve lasted before doing something serious.

The ending: At the end of the drama, Kang Yoon Ki and Kim Eui Gyeom are transferred to Myomyeong High School (where Lee Geol Jae comes from). Rumor has it that this place is like hell on Earth. From the outside, it looks like a prison and the atmosphere is no better in side. This high school is where violent young students are sent to be disciplined. What happens in reality is that teachers make them fight against each other and only let the top 10 fighters go out. The fact that our two protagonists end up in that horrible high school hints out at a potential second season. Now, Yoon Ki and Eui Gyeom will have to fight against this new school system in order to escape. Will they stick together? Will they turn against each other? Will we meet new students? Will Eui Gyeom’s mother play a role as a parent figure? Hopefully, we’ll get answers soon.