I originally watched this drama because it was recommended to be similar to High School Return of a Gangster (2024) and Weak Hero Class 1, if you’re looking at specifically the redemption/revenge story line, (in Boyhood very different compared to those two) we can say that they are similar, but we really do have to then ignore the rest of the details. Such is the plot line/main characters personality/ motivations in each, and despite my initial “displeasure” to seeing the main character in the first few episode (compared to the two brain/brawn powerhouse mains I mentioned above) I’m still very glad I decided to watch as it was very much worth it.

This Drama focuses on the main lead Jang Byung Tae, who in the beginning episodes I truly disliked and was disappointed with, at the very least annoyed (maybe because I still had expectations him to be someone like the main leads of the two dramas I mentioned above). Jang Byung Tae, in the begging of this drama, let’s just say is the least likely to use his brain to create some elaborate scheme to pull of some big and satisfying redemption ark. I believed him to be on the autism spectrum as well, with how much he was being misunderstood by his peers/people around him, combined with his low ability to read social clues or maybe downright ignoring them! I thought any minute he would say something idiotic and he’d get beat up by some primary school student! That how bad my view of him was. He was just making it super easy for people around him to pick on him!

Seeing him getting beat up at first was pretty sad, and there are moment even in further parts where I thought this is just inhumane and too much, however I have to admit at times I did burst out laughing at the pure idiocracy of him despite his multiple beat ups. And as you start watching the first episode you’ll understand what I mean, he doesn’t make it easier for himself. But slowly I started enjoying his silly character, I even started rooting for him. But at most I liked that in later episodes his character goes though a change, and he grows into himself and becomes from annoying, to someone I looked up to! So if you get discouraged halfway don’t lose hope, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for his character. The cringy parts turned simply funny to me, and spoiler alert: at the last episodes he starts getting back at everyone who hurt him is very good, and at times super funny, I can’t get over those last 3 episodes even now I giggle to myself as I think about them as I write this. So if just for those parts alone it’s really worth watching because they really good.

Now into the background characters and his friends I really liked Park Ji Young, she was badass and endearing, she was superb at stating the obvious, so in way I was alway left satisfied as I felt she said all I would’ve in that situation.

Cho Ho Suk Was super funny, he was literally the best comedic release and his shenanigans with Jang Byung Tae never failed to make me laugh, especially towards the end when the two gets super close.

The rest of the boys were ever changing in my opinion of them so that made the drama more interesting, they kept me in my toes whilst watching, and after the big turning point I really did like all of the boys, even our main antagonist, Jung Gyeong Tae. The actor who played him is very young and less experienced compared to his co actors but delivered his character super well! I truly believe if you give this drama a try you won’t regret it. Especially if you don’t jump into it with a large expectations and constant cross referencing/comparing it to other dramas like I did!