Corporate Politics: Cover-Ups: Revenge, and Pubs. All ingredients in a surprisingly satisfying show.

*Spoiler Free Section*

Itaewon Class was as someone else put it - trying very hard to be relevant. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. It has seeped into me and has been on the forefront of my mind for the past few days of watching. There were plot twists I didn't expect, there were characters who changed in ways I never thought were possible and there were character archetypes done in a well-rounded manner, one I've rarely seen to this standard. However, I cannot disregard the earlier statement. Yes, it tried very hard to be relevant but I think it worked.

Itaewon Class is a corporate political thriller with a sprinkling of romance, action, drama and bright-coloured lights. Within was a well-balanced cast with great representation. There were a few questionable scenes but overall the show proved to be a great, diverse, well cast well-acted and well-filmed piece of work. I believe that this show will be another that's on the top 10 lists for years to come. And though it is not perfect it is entertaining and enjoyable nonetheless.

The male lead, Park Saeroyi, is an empathetic/morally high kinda character. As we watch him through his life we are attached to his unwavering personality, revengeful dreams, and heartbreaking struggles. The supporting cast of characters is a melting pot of people with their own struggles that found their anchor in Saeroyi. Each one is unique in its own regard and each back story is heartbreaking and heartwarming. I rooted for some whilst I hexed others, and I found myself at the end of the show on teams I never expected I would be on. This show managed to make me doubt my understanding of characters and the written word, some scenes shocked and others were exactly how I would have written them. It was a fun watch and there were times where I was genuinely on the edge of my seat or crying for the characters.

The love V between three of the characters was bitter and annoying at times. At least for me. But it resolved itself sweetly at the end and in a very nice way that will be stuck in my head whenever I write another romance story. It was another blind lead type of romance where everyone else knew his feelings yet he did not know his own, until about 15 hours in... despite that though, it was enjoyable to watch and progress.

I was satisfied with the ending of this show. There are a lot of shows out there with endings that are not satiating. This was one, in my opinion, was not one of them. This show satisfied me and I'm glad it did. Sixteen off hours not wasted. It's a quality show that deserves some hype.

If you enjoyed Uncanny Counter, K2, etc. This may just be right up your street. Give it chance if you need something to watch.





*Spoilers in the form of quotes and rants*

1) The beginning and the last episode. I thoroughly enjoyed the build-up of one scene created in the first episode when Yi-Seo is talking to her councillor and the conversation regarding death between Saeroyi and Yi-Seo comes to light. It's well done as it paints him to be merciless and cold when in reality he is the polar opposite. And when at the end you find out the full conversation it's because both of them have found their true selves and have come to an understanding as we (the audience) have just watched that journey unfold; we now seeing it again highlighted to us. The parallels there work brilliantly.

2) When Yi-Seo and Guen-Soo got kidnapped I was certain he was going to die to save her. I'm actually disappointed that no character died in the last two episodes as it was, in my opinion, a) the right time to have done it and b) kinda implied. Though, Yi-Seo's escape was very fitting with her character, using Guan-Soo.

3) Yi-Seo. I loved her character. 79% chance she is a sociopath. I would have loved her to have had more sociopathic tendencies though and for the writer to have kept on that line a bit more. Not saying she couldn't have loved Saeroyi as that is 100% plausible, I just think more should have occurred. I also loved the scene where she used Guen-Won and recorded his confession. She was the MVP of this show in my opinion.

4) Soo-Ah annoyed me throughout the show. I hated her. Until. She pulled out the evidence against Jangga. Co. I just could not believe that she could work them after what Chairman Jang and Geun-Won did to Mr. Park. I was raging most of the show watching her help Jangga Co. But now, I see it was a brilliant way to blind the viewer to Soo-Ah's true intention of bringing Jangga Co down herself even if that wasn't always the case or was the last resort it was always something she was willing to do. She just needed the right motivator. I thought Saeroyi would have offered her a job, in the end, I think it was a missed opportunity.
Quotes that I enjoyed or thought had significance. (There as translated by Netflix and are likely to be remembered or recorded wrong, my apologies if there are any mistakes). But I like how she ended.

5) Hyun-Yi and Choi and Toni. I like their stories. I can't say much else. I like them.

6) the background love story was sweet! Min-Jung and Byung-Hun. Loved it.

7) Geun-Soo I wanted so badly to have stayed with IC. co and beat his father at his own game alongside Saeroyi, I was completely taken aback by his character development AND how he outed Hyun-Yi. I wanted to hate him but I'm sympathetic.... still annoyed though.

Saeroyi:
'I wanted to live myself without regrets. I regret... I miss you like crazy.' (Parallels between Yi-Seo's dialogue towards him and Searoyi's feelings).
'Am I going to die there? No. I'm going to survive. I'm afraid, if anything happens to Yi-Seo, that I will really be destroyed.'
I'm already happier than I ever imagined I could be.'

Yi-Seo:
'If you die, I'll die.' (Though most of what she said was iconic).

Soo-Ah:
'I thought, as the girl who was never loved by anyone else. That I should at least cherish myself.'

Seung-Kwon:
'I didn't know what those tears meant. But I'm relieved.'

Mr. Park (Saeroyi's father):
'You can overcome anything as long as you're alive.'
'How does it taste?...[sweet] Means you had an impressive day.'

Tee.

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