Hmmm, Minhyun as a high-schooler is sus, but Han Ji-eun as a teacher at "the worst school on earth" (per MDL) is more promising. I'm going to imagine this as the origin story of Secret Agent Kim Do-ha.

🤓

Hwaiting!

I think I will pass this one. I don't think I could be convinced by Minhyun as a hotblood fighter.

This actor is probably 27 years old? But in my opinion he has the looks to be suitable for a high school student. I watched him in his last drama and even though he played someone under 30 (the character was 27 or 28?), I couldn't shake the feeling that he looked too young. And I think it's because of the current trend of Korean actors being pale and emaciated (the natural-looking actors from this year's "Oasis" in the initial episodes were quite a shock for some viewers). In dramas from the first decade of the 21st century actors in their 20s actually looked like men. These modern young men under 30 mostly look like teenage kids.

Wow, just like some Beans have mentioned before that he might pull it off acting as a secret agent and here comes the role!

This has caught my interest. I don't usually connect with high school type shows (could it be the age gap twixt me and them?) but this ones plot says I'm likely to like it! I just hope the study group guys are likeable and adhesive instead of gummy and unlikeable. They can make or break the "rest of the show" sometimes!

I am not sure I want to watch one more drama about school bullying. And at first when they said student teacher and the high schooler who was not good at studies etc., it reminded me of a webtoon where FL and ML can enter each others dreams.

Sigh. I had sworn off school bullying shows because I am sick of it (and it is a bit triggering) and I am annoyed as I may be pulled back in by this. I asked my son who is teaching English in Korea this year if there really was a lot of bullying in Korean schools and he said not at his anyway (it is a junior high though). He thinks there must have been more at my New York City schools based on my stories. (I did have to resort to breaking a chair on a bully.) For what that is worth. He said the students are much better behaved. He only had trouble once and when he lost his temper (finally) the student got on his knees and apologized. Of course, a teacher, maybe especially a foreign English teacher, might not be around for the bad bullying scenes. He did say that Koreans do seem to have a group mentality which isn’t always a bad thing but can be if you are ostracized from said group. I feel like nowadays in America, you don’t want to bully anyone because of the school shootings and general craziness. My son did not have bullying in his high school because they were drilled on school evacuations (in case of shootings…but I mean, if the shooter is a student, they’re also familiar with this drill?) and heavily inundated with anti-bullying messages.

Sic, @sicarius what are your feelings on TVING’s STUDY GROUP?

Two things may bring me in to this drama:
1. Cha Woo-min. In WEAK HERO CLASS 1 (2022) (Viki US) his physicality (i.e. fighting ability) was outstanding. He and Choi Hyun-wook were the obvious best in that department and at at rl ages 21 and 20 respectively they were reasonably close to high school age. It is my only CWM drama.
2. Hwang Min-hyun. His Seo Yul was one of the highlights of ALCHEMY OF SOULS (2022) for me. His role in STUDY GROUP would be like a 180 for him and I assume he has been doing some serious training if his character is known for his fighting ability.
So to see HMH and CWM go at it probably is enough for me to sign on even though high school dramas are not a favorite genre of mine.

Wow Doha turns in to an undercover agent to get rid of gangster elements in school.