The premise is simple, and really repetitive these days where there is the murder of a student, the sibling or friend show up at school afterwards and try to find out what happened and who is responsible.

After that, it really comes down to details, like the characters, the twists, the suspense, etc. The problem here is after big K-drama successes that tackle bullying to various degrees, like "The Glory" or "Weak Class Hero", can this drama really afford to acknowledge the violence that the protagonists have initiated against other characters and make them get away with it in way ? This was not satisfactory one bit.

In general, injustice in society is a hot topic, the disgust for those whose social class is so high that they have no repercussions for their actions is very present, and again it's tackled in many k-dramas these days.

With the premise that strangely resembles "Elite", this series has offered us a nerfed version, full of rainbows and inconsistencies. Which is a shame, many series try to make themselves on formulas that work, which is okay, but why do it so lightly ?

The production is not questioned, but the characters and plot are. The series does not make sense, Kang Ha in particular has so many good moments that prop him up to be a decisive character, but somehow he caved in at the end ? The only thing that redeems his arc a little is the last scene at the end, when he seems to send a message of threat to Ri An. His crush on Jae Yi blinded him more than once, and he would have let them get away with it if Jae Yi did not play the 'voice of reason' by encouraging others to take their responsibilities.
Also, it should be mentioned how someone as despicable as Ri An is romanticized ? Not only does he orchestrate bullying and violence, but his toxicity and sense of ownership towards Jae Yi has no limits. It's more of a codependent relationship than anything else. It's not romantic, and he deserves to be punished with more than a slap on the wrist. Oddly enough, He Ra stands out as a character that we can relate to. She has her flaws, but she's relatable. Woo Jin is a discreet character, that we haven't really discovered, it's obvious that he can be cunning and even dangerous, but overall his character is overlooked and doesn't even get punished for being an accomplice.

The series was filled with scenes full of ostentation without real meaning, the plot is empty, it's just about characters provoking each other for attention, jealousy and power, nothing leaves space to breathe. Everyone watches these series to satisfy their inner sense of being petty and righteous, somehow, this series failed at that and just gave more frustration. I hope season 2 will live up to expectations, because honestly, do we really need a second empty season ? Like what is even the plot now that they've all 'paid' for their mistakes ? A murder ? Can't it get more cliché, sigh. It's their last year, I have low expectations.

I just hope this series will help Lee Chae Min land more series in the future.