Extracurricular (2020)

A very refreshing take on high school

First of all,the actors have done an awesome job in this drama! Not one bad actor?? The story is well written, dialogues too but like they swear way too much I was lowkey annoyed. All characters were in grey and I loved that! All new kinds of characters and stories never told before, was refreshing. The concept itself was pretty good. It was a whole new dark take on school, interesting.
The reason why points reduce is because of my personal opinions, I personally do not enjoy high school dramas especially dark high school dramas. So watching this sometimes made me want to stop,like it didn't keep me on my toes for some reason and wasn't super hooked or anything,it was interesting but not interesting enough, I sometimes had to force myself to watch it.
Also it made me sad that all characters were anti and I couldn't relate or cheer for. Still i loved the way each character played out and all thier crazy behaviours! This drama was extremely refreshing and very unique ☺️

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I don't really know what exactly to say about this drama. First of all, the easy stuff, realistic school life, they actually study. The hard stuff now, I don't know how easy someone can speak about these things like underage sex trafficking, and mental health issues. In a enviroment that can remind a Steven King story (young people, school as a small community etc), this drama speaks about that with realistic enough way. About the trauma and the reasons behind it. And how to some people the hardships of others is something far away and a "game".
That was the main point, but as the story went by I think it became a little too much complicated with this gang stuff. And I think it wasn't needed. The story as a whole had more potential, always I had a feeling that it was good but with something missing. The story and the end had some similarities with Parasite, someone with nothing using illegal methods to climb the social ladder and the way the story is solved. I think it is just a Korean dark thing the end. I have watched crime dark series and movies from differents countries and korean ones are some of the darkest.
Also, really great acting, especially Kim Dong Hee (I loved him from Itaewon Class but in Extracarricular he is amazing) and Choi Min Soo. And congratulations to Park Joo Hyun for creating a really annoying and completely fitting character as Bae Gyu Ri.

(English isn't my first language, sorry for any mistakes)

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The guy was supposed to be so smart but not so smart to take caution on his illegal phone. Like wtf, it's too easy. I was hooked on the pilot episode and everything was doing great. Then it was ruined by nonsense plot, it's rather stupid. I'm so furious for watching it only to waste my time. Damn, if only i could take back that lost time.

I don't understand how they can write a compelling story only to make a conflict that was rather petty. It was just not convincing. Now you might think I'm nitpicking or anything but I'm not. The guy had literally planned a very sophisticated way to run his illegal activity and for some reason his downfall was his phone.

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Terrible writing, unlikeable lead characters

This show is very poorly done. The storyline revolves around a high schooler who is a pimp with some of the girls also being in high school. Ok, that premise is sketchy but whatever, lets give it a shot. Turns out, both leads are extremely unlikeable and not well-developed characters. Nothing is explained well or makes sense. There are so many things in the first 3 episodes that are just stupid.

Seriously, are we supposed to believe that the lead is the smartest person in the school, has a successful underground business but makes the most ridiculous & careless mistakes safeguarding his money and identity? He has a phone used only for illegal activities but with that phone he takes a selfie holding a bunch of cash. Awful writing...

I can't stress enough how unlikable the leads are. I mean, they are pimping high school girls and the writers didn't think to at least make something about them likable.

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Don't waste your time. Just awful.

I've watched 3 episodes and this is the darkest, ugliest kdrama story I've ever watched. One of the reason I like Korean productions is they are typically better written, but also are without all the smut we have on TV in the United States..
Leave it to Netflix to produce a kdrama story this wicked. Teen prostitution, teen pimping, violence, theft, gambling,... I could probably go on. Don't waste you time. Why in heck does MyDramaList require reviews be over 500 characters? //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

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It's not the destination, but the journey.

The show had alot potential. Unfortunately, the fatal flaw of the show is it on the end of story rather than beginning. So, we missed out on all challenges dealing with setting up escort service network and the journey of him becoming rich. For example, how did first appoarch and meet the girls? Why did he choose them? How did he get intial funds? What inspired him to setup the service? All of this content was lost. Instead, we get forced romance couple drama of girl doing ridiculous actions ruining his life just for sake of drama. Imagine if they did Breaking bad the same way and just start him at end. The show would been terrible.

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- First thing first... the Bonnie and Clyde vibe got me entirely hooked up. PERFECT...
- The theme song became my ringtone and alarm too. <3
+ + +
- Episode 1 & 2 was perfect according to me, to build up the adrenaline rush among the viewers. These two episodes made me realize that I am way too punctual and responsible to live a life like them but thb Oh Jisoo inspired me a lot to............ study... :-)
- Episode 3 through 7-8 ... it was meeehhh for me.
- Episode 9 gave me all the gore that I wanted and expected (I expected a lot more thought). And also gave me a good laugh and fair share of pain too.
- Episode 10 ... the BEST. In short, perfectly satisfied with the ending.
+ + +
- I adored the 'Grandfather'. He was my fave. Both in action and mystery department.
- Loathed Minhee. She was too weak, cute and annoying for her own good.
- Wanted to beautifully punch the 'smiling b*tch'
+ + +
I think that's all... But trust me YOU MUST WATCH THIS DRAMA.
And in the future I wish to get a partner like either Oh Jisoo or Bae Gyuri.

Thank you,
Maaya

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The webdrama A-TEEN was Kim Donghee's first acting project and I've adored him ever since I saw the second season of it. When I saw the announcement of him starring in this Netflix drama a year ago, I got really excited and told myself I'd wait for it. And so I did, and it took so long for it to come out. But it did!!

This drama is far away from being perfect, but it was absolutely worth the wait and watch. It's cleverly written with a lot of detail and has relatively believable characters and teens, at least in relation to the situations in the drama. I liked the leads together, they had chemistry and helped each other out, even if it was for the business.

! HEAVY SPOILERS COMING UP !

I very much enjoyed the theme itself - sex trafficking, prostitution of minors - even if it wasn't portrayed in the heaviest manner ever, which some people complained about. I coulnd't have seen that coming by seeing the trailer and the plot summary.
It's clear that it's a heavy, difficult subject, even without the leads or anyone saying it explicitly. It's obvious when you see the drama. The plot revolving around that business kept me on the edge of my seat and was just entertaining and new.

Practically every decision and character arc led up to the climax and the ending. This is where I get most critical of the drama though, because by focusing on the whole Psycho man drama, the Police woman and Seo Minhee as well as Mr. Lee, there was little room for our leads to work and decide together and their relationship and the characters together couldn't evolve properly. That's why Jisoo's final breakdown over Seo Minhee having recorded that Bae Gyuri was involved didn't feel entirely logical to me, even if I get it for the most part. In general, not everything this drama and the writers decided to do was smart, I don't find Kitae stabbing Jisoo too convincing or justified, some things were also predictable, like when Minhee fell down the stairs.

For me, the ending isn't disappointing - it would be actually insane if they really left it that. Just like THAT. It really made me think, and the last shots of the drama were creepy as hell. Everything left me speechless. I wouldn't mind a second season, I just don't know what it should revolve around.

! SPOILERS OVER !

Even if it has some flaws, I still love the drama for what it is,: a pretty dark rollercoaster story with eery symbolism and quirks thrown in. ( ?SPOILER? I really enjoyed Jisoos horrifying dreams, I don't get the thing with the hermit crab though)

Recommending this one big time, if you want to see a heavy, fresh teen drama that isn't.. perfect.

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