Worrying is a waste of time. It's the perfect moment to hit the play button. This is said about ‘Weak Hero’ and ‘Study Group’, which capture the hot growth period of youth, even though their atmospheres are different.
The Tving series ‘Study Group’, based on a webtoon, tells the story of high school student Yoon Ga-min (Hwang Min-hyun), who has no talent for studying but possesses a unique ability for fighting, as he enrolls in the worst school, Yuseong Technical High School.
Yoon Ga-min reunites with his former tutor, now a temporary teacher at Yuseong Technical High School, Lee Han-gyeong (Han Ji-eun), and forms the ‘Study Group’. However, he fights to survive in a school where fighting is a daily occurrence and to study with his friends.
‘Study Group’ quickly unfolds the narratives and friendships of its members, along with villains that shake the school, capturing attention. While there are violent elements, it is not entirely dark. With action reminiscent of a comic and humorous elements, it can be enjoyed without burden.
The performances of the actors stand out. Hwang Min-hyun, who I didn't expect to handle action so well, perfectly embodies the quirky charm of Yoon Ga-min. Han Ji-min provides stability as a teacher with a strong inner self among the students. The drama is made even more attractive with fresh faces like Cha Woo-min as the villain Pi Han-ul, Lee Jong-hyun, Shin Soo-hyun, Yoon Sang-jeong, and Gong Do-yu.
‘Study Group’ captures the friendship and growth of youth, as well as social injustices, through the contrasting elements of studying and fighting. Although it consists of 10 episodes, it can be enjoyed without feeling overwhelmed.
We cannot overlook ‘Weak Hero’, which is set to release Season 2 on Netflix soon.
Released in 2022 through Wavve, ‘Weak Hero Class 1’ is an action growth drama that depicts the journey of top 1% model student Yeon Si-eun as he faces numerous acts of violence alongside his first friends, Soo-ho and Beom-seok.
Based on the webtoon of the same name, it portrays the intense growing pains of model student Yeon Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon) as he learns to fight against harsh realities with An Soo-ho (Choi Hyun-wook) and Oh Beom-seok (Hong Kyung). The brain action utilizing Yeon Si-eun's outstanding intelligence also captures attention.
This 8-episode series also offers immersion through its uniquely strong characters and the performances of the actors who embody them. The serious and weighty story of Yeon Si-eun and his friends fighting against violence for their friends leaves a lasting impression.
Park Ji-hoon leaves his mark as an actor, not just as an idol, with his deep gaze. What about the performances of Choi Hyun-wook and Hong Kyung? They exist as the characters themselves, without excessive emotion that makes you think of other actors. The portrayal of their friendship, fractures, betrayals, and losses is compelling and keeps your eyes glued to the screen.
While waiting for the soon-to-be-released ‘Weak Hero Class 2’ on Netflix, it’s a great work to review or watch anew.
‘Study Group’ and ‘Weak Hero’ have completely different atmospheres, but they both have various enjoyable points from characters to action. Comparing the characters played by the actors in both works will also be quite fun. Above all, both series have been validated for their entertainment and artistic quality, receiving comments from viewers saying, “The subscription fee is worth it.”
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
#‘Yang Churi’ is an abbreviation for Yang So-young's recommendation list. I recommend without discrimination between movies, dramas, and variety shows.
