Weak Hero Class 1

This is the first time in a long time that I haven't been able to stop thinking about a show!

I'm a huge fan of silent storytelling, and this show is full of it! So much of the storytelling and emotions are conveyed through subtle images and the actors' faces, rather than through words. The three leads are particularly good at this. There are tons of cool fight scenes, but the quiet, still moments are some of my absolute favorites.

I've seen plenty of great big budget shows with casts full of high profile actors, but sometimes shows like this are even better, in my opinion. It's the magic of really great writing, directing, and acting.

A heartbreaking and beautiful show. Absolutely brilliant.

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.

The story is typical. Some rascals bully other weak students in school. But don't give up on that, because our protagonist, Yeon Si Eun, although has a weak physic, has a brilliant mind in fighting comparable to Sherlock Holmes (2009 and 2011) type of fighting skill.

Si Eun fought bullies with his wits and will. And along the way, he picked up some new friends. Soo Hoon, Beom Seok and Young Yi joined Si Eun to end bullying in their school. And when they thought it was over, something happened among themselves that beyond anything they could prepared for.

I binged watching this last night. A full 8 episodes of brawl, friendship, love and betrayal. And I just can't wait for season 2 already!

Excellent 9/10.

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.

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!