Itaewon Class (2020)

If you want to go on a journey about human relationships that explores all the subtle nuances, gray areas, and motivations, that encompass being a human, then this is a must watch. Every single character was so finely etched and just the fact that you sympathize with each and every character in the show at least once, conveys the amount of depth and sincerity in the narrative. Every single scene has so many undertones and if you try and pay attention to everything that is NOT being said, along with everything that is being verbalized, you'll come to appreciate the brilliant storytelling even more. I can for sure say that just by watching this show, I was able to reflect more on my actions, motivations and aspirations, and grow into a better human being. The acting is A++++++. Will not be forgetting any of the characters, especially SRY and YS for a long long time.

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I’m not really one for writing reviews- just because I’m terrible at it haha.

Let me start with saying that it’s been awhile since I have been sucked right into a show with all the things I love, action, fighting, Revenge, I wouldn’t say romance to be exact .... maybe near the end but it fits perfectly with the direction of this show.

The story starts and ends really nicely for the amount of episodes, it ties up perfectly not rushed and finishes everything cleanly, I was super impressed actually since some shows tend to rush and leave you with questions.... they literally cover everything.


Music was really good I actually downloaded some of the sound track. Music was fitting with the scenes.


Acting: Every single character was amazing in there part!! I’m always blowin away with Park Seo-Joon acting, very talented !!



Like I said I’m no good at writing reviews lol this show is well worth the watch !! :)

Happy watching

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I don't know where to start. It's so fascinating how a story with such a gripping hook and beautiful portrayal of a broken teenager could turn into a sap story cliche. Not only did the acting turn sour, the characters and the plot completely pushed it down the cliff of cringe. Some of the moments were honestly so atrocious, I found myself yelling at the TV screen; how could a series go from phenomenal to something so sub-par in a matter of 8 episodes?

Let's start with the acting. For the first 5-6 episodes, Park Seo-Joon had my heart. I felt like I wanted to hold him as he battled the more than flawed system. I wanted to kill anyone who'd damaged this poor boy, yet he continued to get up and persevere. They way that he swayed me with his constant belief in his principles and how he didn't want anything more than to be a son that his father could say he was proud of; he totally had me. I was constantly impressed (that is until episode 8 and on). He went from the strong boy to a clueless and dependent man. Nothing like I wanted him to become.

And his relationship with his female leads? Atrocious. Purely horrendous to watch. First it's that childhood crush of his, Soo-Ah. He constantly talked about how independent she was and that she should only rely on herself? I call bull. Constantly wants to be assured that PSJ likes her while she's practically lying in bed with the family that killed his father, got him expelled and tried to ruin his career. And she sheds a tear when he gives a little more attention to himself than to her? I honestly have to laugh at this hypocrite. Selfish, inconsiderate, dependent, lazy, etc.

And let's go to little miss Yi-Seo. If you think constantly reminding someone who's rejected you for 5-6 years is romantic, you're twisted. If you reversed the roles around, the man would be considered to be harassing the women, but just because she's a young, pretty and smart woman, it's a pass? That's disgusting. Nothing about their relationship is romantic. She's a smart woman but wouldn't know professionalism if it her in the face. This goes for Soo-Ah too. Not any of the three deserve to be in a relationship. PSJ is indecisive about anything related to his heart, Soo-Ah just likes the idea of being chased, and Ii-Seo has can't get over a first love. It's ironic that she once said that just because you get rejected once doesn't mean they're the only one, and yet she's being an annoying baby about PSJ. Both females are hypocrites, and PSJ is just plain stupid.

Honestly, the saving graces were To-Ni, Hyun-Yi, and Seung-Kwon. Thank the directors for being inclusive with these characters. I wouldn't say I'm an advocate for the LGBTQIAA+, but I truly wanted to understand the group better thanks to Hyun-Yi's portrayal of one of their many struggles. Thank you for that refreshing character.

I was really hoping for a lasting drama considering the acting cast. There were so many weak links, it just couldn't be possible. I have to say though, the first 8 episodes were beautifully well down. I do not mean to hate on this drama, but I'm criticizing it because I know that the actors could and can do better.

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We need more dramas like this one!

I was super excited to write a review of this drama because I've enjoyed it soo much! If you browse through some reviews on MyDramaList, you'll see that there are many negative ones. I feel like this drama deserves a lot better and I'm going to tell you why.

Story: First of all, I think we all know this drama is not perfect. It was messy at times, but you could tell the producers tried their best to make it unique and memorable. For me personally, they really achieved that. As for the story, I loved it (at least most of the time). While watching this drama, I've learned so much about the definition of hard work, going after your dreams and goals no matter what and showing the world you can do it. And you learn some cool things about cooking, food, and advertising. It was interesting to get a little insight into this industry. I found it truly amazing how Park Saeroyi managed to stick to his goals and values, even though he had to overcome many obstacles and hurdles to reach his dreams. But let's just appreciate the fact that he really did it! His determination inspired me to go after my dreams as well. Now I feel like I want to work harder in order to live the life I want! Thank you Park Saeroyi for teaching me some life lessons and for motivating me to do my best!
I loved this aspect of the story but I figured the vibe of the whole drama (like being an outcast, working hard etc.) kind of changed at a certain point towards the end (when he established his company) which made me quite upset, to be honest. I was also a tad annoyed the main focus on this drama lied on revenge. This became quite tiring after a while... From then on I wasn't really excited to see the ending. But thank god, the last episode totally convinced me to give it a 9/10. Also, it felt super refreshing to watch because they covered topics like sexuality (transgender), racism, and whatnot. It was the first time ever I've seen something like this in a K-drama and I'm glad Korea is starting to get more open-minded in terms of topics like these <3

Characters/Cast: I cannot lie, THE CAST WAS AMAZING! This was my first drama with Park Seo-Joon (Park Saeroyi) and wow, he's an amazing actor and I cannot wait to see his other dramas! He totally pulled off his role as Park Saeroyi and it was perfect for him! As I have mentioned above, I love Park Saeroyi and I still think a lot about this drama and how he managed to achieve everything he wanted despite the circumstances. He is a big inspiration to me and I'm glad I watched this drama!
As for Kim Da-Mi (Jo Yi-Seo), She was my favorite character in the whole drama! I really can't believe it was her first role in a drama ever... She was absolutely amazing in it! I also cannot wait to see more dramas with her! Yi-Seo is now officially one of my favorite female characters ever! She was so damn badass, iconic, and cool! She would do everything for Saeroyi and it really pissed me off in the beginning that he couldn't see her as a woman. I mean yes, she is like 10 years younger but come on, who cares? I shipped them right from the beginning and I wished they had gotten together a little bit earlier. It took him ages to realize he loves her... At least they ended up being together which made me very happy. The two of them really deserve only the best!
A character I absolutely couldn't stand was Oh Soo-Ah! Gosh, I hated her so much! In the first episodes, I thought she was okay but oh no, she wasn't. Working for Jangga and the chairman knowing what they had done to Park Saeroyi and his dad made me so angry. I really couldn't understand how Saeroyi has loved her for 10 years! She was a hypocrite, expecting him to love her but silently turning her back on him. I couldn't even look at her face because it made me mad. But I do have to admit I was glad she had a little character development at the end. The last episode made me hate her a little less. What confused me as well, was the character Jang Geun-soo. I loved him in the beginning but once he started working at Jangga he really started disappointing me. I was glad he apologized for his deeds and became a better person in the end. I guess I don't have to say how much I hated the Chairman and his stupid, cruel son.
Other than that, I loved the squad and the staff at DanBam. Super lovely people <3

Music: This is something I was super excited to write about as well! The OSTs were amazing and I'm sure I'll never forget them. Especially the songs "You Make Me Back" by Woosung and "Start Over" by Gaho will stay in my playlist for a looong time! They are super motivating. I also loved the instrumental songs and I love listening to the whole OST album :)

In conclusion, should you watch this drama? Yes. Is it perfect? No.
I feel like this drama's imperfection is really not that bad cause it showcases that life itself is NOT perfect at all and that everyone is going through life for the first time. This drama was a total rollercoaster ride with unforgettable characters, amazing acting, and awesome music. It's now one of my favorite dramas and I hope it can become one of yours too. :)

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To me Itaewon class is one of those drama I would definitely let my kids watch. Apart from all the romance in it. It’s such an eye opener. You get to see the world from different angles. It also shows us the relationship between people. Those who will willingly sacrifice for you and those who are greedy. I always tell my friends this. We can never choose who are parents are, we can never choose your own name when you born and you can’t choose the color of your skin either. But we can choose who we make our friends, we can choose our spouses and we can choose who are business partners are. So choose wisely. I enjoyed it very much FYI I’m not the type that rewatches a drama again no matter how good it is that’s why I scored the rewatch value at 7

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Danbam, a sweet night. And I had many sweet nights (and days) watching this drama on a weekly basis.

The story is not ground-breaking. It is your standard David vs Goliath revenge tale, but sprinkle in characters like Park Sae Ro Yi and his immovable principles, Jo Yi Seo and her cunning brilliance, and I'm hooked.
Contrary to what is said in the show, is it not easy to be a person like Sae Ro Yi (or Yi Seo, either) and that was a lot of the appeal for me; to see a character so unfamiliar and uncommon in a world that does not favor those who don't compromise.
The development of supporting characters is also very good, especially Seung Kwon.
The romance wasn't the point of the story for me but I wasn't disappointed or confused by the result. It was also really enjoyable to see Soo Ah and Yi Seo square off time and time again.

I would definitely recommend a watch of this show and hope you can take some lessons to heart on the way.

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Itaewon Class is one of those rare kdramas that have an explosive start. The first two episodes are enough to capture the viewers' attention and raise their anticipation. The plot is strong, very promising, I wouldn't say unique, but is still a rare gem in the kdrama world an feels like a breath of fresh air. The screenplay is amazing and gives a sense of hope and inspiration while showing common people strive through hardships and do the unthinkable. The drama has also touched sensitive issues like racism and lgbtq and has dealt with it quite well, given that it is a korean drama. But the ending just put me off very badly. I am so disappointed. They could have pulled it off in the most majestic way, yet they had to drive us all into the overused hole of romantic angles and cliches. The determination and principle that started the very plot of the drama seem to fall flat towards the end. The drama didn't do justice to many characters and gives a bad aftertaste.
Well, I couldn't end the review without talking about the characters. The group of misfits namely Seungkwan, Hyunyi, Toni, Yiseo and their boss/leader/mentor Saeroyi are the center of attraction in this drama. Park Seojoon's portrayal of the character Saeroyi is awesome. He is trustworthy, dependable and an awkwardly funny character, capable of making the viewers laugh with him as well as shed tears with him, though his decisions towards the end of the drama disappointed me a lot. The unbreakable bond between these characters is a delight to watch. Kwon Nara as Soo Ah has done a fantastic job. She represents the independent working woman of 21st century, struggling through her internal conflicts between loyalty, gratitude, competition and love. Ahn Bo Hyun as Jang Geun Won is totally believable as the typical rich brat who bullies anyone and everyone on his way but is actually an insecure kid at heart, terrified of his father. Speaking of his father Chairman Jang Dae Hee (played by Yoo Jae Myung) is the epic villain of the story. This character deserves equal appreciation as that of Saeroyi. He is evil, shrewd, plays dirty politics but on the other hand, is hardworking, self-made, inspiring and a successful man. Yoo Jae Myung gives a new persona to this vicious character and i am sure the viewers will see this villain in a different light. As much as I hate this character, there is a certain sense of admiration and respect towards him in my heart which I can't explain. Lastly Yiseo (played by Kim Da Mi)- oh boy, i can't deal with her. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't like her at all, nor relate to her feelings even remotely. She is a confident, smart and very capable young lady but has lots of negative traits. Okay, her character is meant to be a sociopath, but that doesn't give anyone the free pass to act in the most hypocritical way possible. She uses people and discards them like an old tissue. The fact that she is one of the main leads in the drama and doesn't even have a character growth at the end just angers me the most. The rest of the supporting cast have done their job quite well. I just wish there were an alternate ending to this story, a more righteous and impactful one. I would recommend you to watch Itaewon Class but I can't guarantee you that you will like the ending. For Park Seo Joon fans, definitely go for it, for the awesome fight scenes and his signature awkward comedy.

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Promising Start that lead to a disaster

THINGS I LIKE
(+) Strong starting hook
(+) Relatively strong to decent acting
(+) Diverse and inclusive cast
(+) Plot is somewhat inspiring
(+) 1-2 memorable OSTs

THING I DIDN'T LIKE
(-) Story quality decreases half way through
(-) Unnatural and misplaced romance throughout
(-) Flat antagonists that becomes more illogical as the plot progress
(-) Major plot scenes felt forced
(-) the main character Park SaeRoYi only accomplish his goals through luck

REVIEW
The opening episodes did an exceptional job to draw you in with a very unjust conflict that reliably foreshadowed the themes of revenge. The first 3-4 episodes was executed in a very unpredictable manner that was great at making you second guess on where the plot was going and made it effortless to binge watch. However, I can't give the same compliment to the rest of this drama as the scenes begin to drag soon after and this got worse later on.

(Spoilers) By far the biggest issues I have with this drama are the characters and their character development. Firstly, our main protagonist Park SaeRoYi really wasn't all that intelligent as a businessman. Had he not luckily got YiSeo to fall in love with him, he would have not even come close to his success in the end as he did. In fact, both of the women that loved him were far more competent than he was. It only took a numerous amount of second chances where he'd almost completely run his company to the ground due to his stubbornness before he was able to learn from his mistakes. And technically, Soo Ah was actually the one who destroyed Jangga, not SaeRoYi. Secondly, I also just cannot relate to YiSeo's character. It made no sense to me that she would love SaeRoYi so much just after learning about his past whereas before she was a girl who did not give a f*** about anything. Her character is quite controversial among all the reviews I've seen - people either find her creepy and overly obsessive or admire her dedication. Either way, her character as a whole is just a huge stretch especially if you consider how little she knew of Park SaeRoYi before deciding to dedicate her entire life around him. I also want to comment on HyunYi (the chef of DanBam). She came from a background with zero education and experience of cooking and somehow she is able to be beat Jangga just by some trial and error style learning with YiSeo's taste-testing? Like, I wish the world was that easy. The last comment I want to make are for the villains - both Jang Geun Won (the son) and Jang Dae Hee (father)'s character just feel really flat and one-directional. The son being reckless is something I can see but Dae Hee is the CEO of a massive corporation. Yet, his way of thinking is just way too immature for anyone close to being as successful as he is supposed to be.

Overall, I think this drama had good ideas and meaningful intentions but tried way too hard to make a grand finale for this story resulting in poor and disconnected execution.

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PSJ was the reason for the success of this drama

PSJ was the reason for the success of this drama. You could put a bunch of actors in a room, but no one would have been able to portray his character (Park Saeroyi) like PSJ did himself. This drama was released at a time when Crash Landing on You (CLOY) was becoming one of the highest-rated shows of all times, and whilst this didn't quite compare to CLOY, it did however peak my interest in other ways. For example, the supporting cast involved characters from all different walks of life and is a good affirmation of that saying: "never judge a book by its cover". It highlighted discrimination, gender issues, corporate power/greed, and perserverance very well. There were some scenes which were a bit lacking and the chemistry b/w the lead actors could have been stronger, but overall this drama was well written and directed.

Storyline -- started off great but then overly exaggerated towards the end with unncessary back and forth revenge acts, and in particular, Jo Yi-seo's character who was just annoying, irritating and difficult to watch.

Acting -- great execution and compelling performances by Park Seo-joon in his portrayal as Park Saeroyi, and from Yoo Jae-myung who played Jang Dae-hee (CEO of Jangga Pub).

Characters -- I loved that each character came from all different walks of life and was determined to put up a fight regardless of societal standards and values.

OST -- wasn't that big of a fan of the (pop rock) OST to be honest but maybe just a few song selections here and there.

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I love Park Seojoon and was so thrilled that he had a new drama coming out. The premise seemed intriguing, and when I finished Episode 1, I was already desperate for more. However, as I continued on, I started falling more and more out of love with it.

While I'm a sucker for time skips in dramas ( usually I like that it helps to move the plot forward without having to go through all the filler in between ), this one seemed to make use of it too much without it explaining why or how we got to a certain point. The way certain characters were developed didn't seem consistent with their original characterization. It felt like the drama wanted us to get to a certain point, but it didn't really go about the best means in doing so.

I didn't feel anything for the relationships between the characters, and most scenarios were predictable at best. I do have friends who really liked the drama ( and others who hated it to the point they just dropped it altogether midway ) and it seems like people also feel a wide range of emotions towards it on this site. Wouldn't be a drama that I'd recommend immediately, but perhaps if you really like one of the cast members, you'd be interested in checking it out.

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Wow, so many negative reviews. Even though I agree that Itaewon Class is not the best drama out there and it has a lot of flaws, I can't deny the fact that I enjoyed watching it and I really appreciate the message the drama tried to say and did it very well.

Itaewon Class started in a very cliche way and honestly, I wasn't really into the first two episodes but I decided to wait before dropping it and I'm glad I did it because the drama truly got better as the actual plot started progressing. I loved the first half, it was slow-paced but at the same time it wasn't even close to being draggy or tiring. Each episode was filled with excitement and intensity. The whole atmosphere around ''DanBam'' was so heart-warming and beautiful and I was so glad to see Se Roy's dream becoming true. Itaweon Class is a very inspiring show and it really gives you confindence about your dreams and goals in life. Seeing our protagonist giving his all to achieve his dream, seeing the passion in his eyes, it just makes you feel very motivated and it gives you energy. Of course, the drama has a very idealistic view and Se Roy himself is an absolute idealist which is why it's hard to connect the storyline to the reality we are living in. But the purpose of Itaewon Class is not to be realistic and you shouldn't approach it that way.

The second half was when the drama started getting a little bit too draggy and repetitive. All things I loved in the first half lost their impact somehow and I lowkey stoped caring about what's happening between DanBam and Jangga Co. There were so many filler scenes which had literally no impact to the actual story and it was very easy for me to get bored.

However, even though I was definitely getting bored at one point, I didn't stop watching because I really, really loved the characters and I believe they are written very well. Park Se Roy, as I already said, is a total idealist who never betrayed his ideals and stayed true to himself till the very end. Being such a sweet and kind-hearted human being, his character is very easy to like.

Jo Yi Seo is definitely the most interesting character in the drama and she's also the one who developed the most. They introduced her as a sociopath and one thing I really love about IC is that they never try to romanticize the fact that she was a sociopath. It's true that she was a very cool, sassy rebel who knows how to kick some asses and defend herself. However, no matter how bold she was, some of her doings and things she said were horrible and repellent. Sociopaths lack emphaty and so does she. But as the story progressed, she developed so so much. Her love for Se Roy made her a better person. You know, Se Roy is this type of person who always gives you positive energy, whose ideals are so big that they make you feel small and you just want to become a better person like him. I have never ever thought that Yi Seo's love for Se Roy was an obsession.

Oh So Ah... was quite useless? When the drama started, I thought she would be a super annoying bi*ch but I think she was just... fine. I don't know, I feel like her existence in the drama was more or less poitless, but I guess Se Roy needed to have a crush on someone. I wouldn't say she is a bad character -- on the contrary, she was quite an interesting persona but it's just the fact that she had no real connection to the plot.

The Danbam crew was amazing! I love how different they were but how they got on so well. The villians -- Jang Geun Won and his trashy father whose name I don't remember were a bit weak to be honest. Especially the father, he was just annoying. Geun Won though... this man was just disgusting.

The romance is not a big part of the drama, but it is definitely there. I don't really know how I feel about it though. [SPOILER >>> ] Everything felt so rushed, like Se Roy liked Soo Ah the whole time, not showing any interest in Yi Seo, but then suddenly, he realizes that he was in love with Yi Seo all this time? It was way too rushed in my opinion.

The acting was very good, especially kudos to Park Seo Joon and Kim Da Mi! Also, my man Ryu Kyung Soo!!! I'm really thankful that they casted him, he is very talanted but very underrated unfortunately.

The ending was very satisfying and it gave a good closure to the drama. Gaho's OST in the end almost made me cry, I just love this song soooooo much!

Overall, Itaewon Class is a good show which has flaws, but it's quite enjoyable. The characters are its charm for sure and I would recommend it if you like character-driven dramas.

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