Weak Hero: Don't Mess With This Quiet Kid

Based on a webtoon, this K-drama shares the journey of Yeon Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon), an intelligent but introverted student who becomes entangled in a world of violence by fighting against bullies at his hierarchical high school. Through taking this stand, he finds friends worth protecting.

So, this show was insanely good. Let's just say that my Instagram feed was filled with their content after watching it. There was a really great balance between demonstrating the horrors of school violence while simultaneously portraying a sense of hope as Si-eun develops a close circle of friends. I liked how it wasn't treated as a campaign of advocacy against school bullying, rather an intimate narrative where well-developed characters are forced to navigate the difficulties of this world. The theme of friendship was weaved in so seamlessly and powerfully that all the later plot developments fully seized my attention.

Personally, I preferred the second season. There was the new inclusion of so many amazing characters and it lacked the betrayal that was rife in the first season (it's a long story). The found family trope was more heartwarming to watch unfold because the build-up was so expertly extensive. The relationships were expressed so well, made especially difficult by a character as expressionless as Si-eun, and the payoff was so worth it.

Speaking of Si-eun, I need to take a second and marvel at the incredible acting. Every actor portrayed the humor, agony, and power of each character so phenomenally, it was actually sickening. I was constantly amazed at how a show could portray such joy and despair so flawlessly; I was laughing one minute and tearing up the next. It's especially impressive when considering that a lot of the actors are younger, up-and-coming ones. I desperately need a third season, and am possibly willing to finance it myself so Netflix, please let me know immediately.