Extracurricular (2020)

a 50/50 series

I just picked this up because I randomly remembered it existed and was wanting more of a thriller / school drama after all the romances I've been watching lately, and this, in a "sometimes" fashion, did not disappoint

things I didn't like
- the detective???
- the random plot dropping and introducing
- kitae's character status?? is he not supposed to be a main character???
- gyuri being really annoying (I will never understand her)

things I liked
- THE ACTING !!!!
- the music/ost !!! I felt that every scene was made with whatever ost they used
- seo minhee !!!
- the last episode
- the emotions !!!
- the open ending!!

I don't think I can call this "one of the best shows" I've seen, but it was definitely a fun watch, and the entire last episode had me genuinely screaming and gasping at the reveals, especially with the cinematography and "freak" by kim sawol . . . beautiful

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the female lead ruined the show

the plot and story are actually really good and entertaining. it was really interesting to see how the main character dealing with his situation and how a high school student can fake his life that no one even suspects him. but everything ruins when the female lead gets into the picture. like i understand its the plot but she was so annoying. like idc she ruined the show for me. without many spoilers- she wanted to show her parents so bad that she’s not what they’re expecting her to be and that she’s a rebel that she ruined what the main character was basically living off. he just didn’t deserve it. that’s why I hate her. also the ending was really weird and that also effected the enjoyment of the show for me

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Good drama but lacks characterisation!!

I freaking love this drama, but i have quite a few criticisms.

The actors were great and the storyline was engaging. There was a lot of tension and high intensity scenes, and even episodes.

The characterisation fell flat, however. There should have been more of a background story for the characters. It would have been interesting to know how the ML started the whole job and why exactly he did it. In a way, it sort of doesn't make sense; he explains that he wants to lead a normal life without drawing too much attention to himself but his "job" is the opposite and can get him into a lot of trouble. If he wanted money, he could just get a job that regular kids his age got like at a convenience store.

The FL was the same; she wanted to make money but had no motive. They tried to give the storyline that her parents wanted her to pursue the same thing as them and she didn't want to, but how exactly is doing what she was going to help her get out of her parents' desired plan for her? Also, why is she willing to risk getting in trouble for managing a sex work business just to not be a ceo - it's not equivalent.

Another thing about the fl was that she was annoying. She clearly hadn't set her priorities straight, as evident in the previous paragraph. But, from the first episode we see that she's a pretty shit person. She went out of her way to take the ML's phone so she could go through it. When she didn't know the passcode, she watched him enter the passcode for his other phone and used that to get into his phone. The invasion of privacy is not cool and I'm pretty sure she doesn't apologise. I don't like how the writers chose that as a catalyst for how the FL had to find out about everything. Other than that, she's purely fucking annoying. She is constantly putting everyone in danger and she feels no remorse. As soon as she is introduced, she fucks everything up. And luckily for her, she has the money to buy herself out of trouble because her parents are rich, whereas the ML has to suffer more.

Mr Lee was such a g bro. I love him. I also liked the homeroom teacher.

Did the second leads even genuinely like each other? He was pretty shitty towards her and relied on her for her money. But, he was able to get his homeboys to trash the karaoke bar for his GF. The scene was pretty iconic though.

With most of these characters, there was no clear motive for most of their decisions *cue motive by Ari and Doja* which i think is the biggest flaw in this drama.

But I did genuinely enjoy my time watching it. I'm really into high school dramas that are dark like 'Class of Lies'. Both of these dramas, along with 'How to Buy a Friend' have all been compared. Personally, my favourite would be 'Class of Lies'. Because there were only 10 episodes in extracurricular, they might have not been able to develop the characters as well.

I know some people want a second season after the last episode but i don't really think it would be as good. I'm not sure how they would add another 10 episodes without dragging out and ruining it. I think people need to start being okay with dramas where the ending is unclear.

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Dreams are expensive

I had been putting this one off for a long time thinking that I had to be in the right mood to handle something so heavy. It turns out, however, that it wasn't as dark as I expected and I realized I was wishing that it was. The entire time it felt like the drama was going at 70% intensity; it amped up a little during the climax but not for long.

It's interesting because I think this drama teeters between being character-driven and plot-driven and it probably could've gone deeper on both aspects — I found myself wanting to explore the character backstories and original lives more, and I also found myself wanting the plot itself to be a little more intense and harrowing.

Overall, I still think this was a great watch; the writing is solid and the performances are great, and I also think there are great moral questions to ponder. You find yourself rooting for anti-heroes and I always love that.

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ExTrAcIrRcUlAr

(^^lol the title is a joke with my brother's friend) I started watching this because my friend already saw this and recommended it, so I tried it. Y'all the plot is one of the most addicting plots I've ever seen. I really want a season 2 because the ending was really vague, but I feel like a lot of things would change throughout season 2, and therefore would ruin the original plot. Maybe they should have a movie sequel to further explain the ending.

Oh Ji Soo, if someone told me that he was the most innocent person in the class without telling me he ran something illegal, I'd believe you. At such a young age, he was forced to learn how to survive, and he was really good at surviving on his own. Bae Gyu Ri was the worst female lead I've ever seen. Like I understand she's not happy with her life, but that doesn't mean you practically shove yourself into someone's life just because you want a thrill in your life. He was right when he said something like "You think my life is a game to you", she's done nothing but interrupt everything Ji Soo's worked hard for. Seo Min Hee was pretty unlikable, but in the end she's just a girl who just wants to please her boyfriend through money, which she gets through Ji Soo's business. I kind of wish she had a better ending, but it's whatever I guess. Kwak Ki Tae was a pretty unnecessary character, considering Min Hee could've have had another person in mind to make money for. Lee Wang Cheol was a good character, why did they do him dirty like they did. They also should've added a backstory as to how he was found by Ji Soo and how he became the "shadow boss" as I refer him as. Choi Jin Woo reminds me of my teachers that I was close with; they were caring, and were willing to listen and cover for me. He's the kind of teacher we all need if we want school to be a happy place. Officer Lee Hae Gyung was like the older version of Gyu Ri; she was annoying. She always thought she was entitled to look into everything, and was even willing to break the standards of what an officer was supposed to do. Like ahjumma, leave the main cast alone.

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Worth a watch if good writing is not your priority

If you are a fan of good writing this show is not for you. At least for me, it's a huge disappointment.
1. Lack of motives, the show doesn't have enough backstory to explain why they do the things they do
2. Lack of character development (They even become stupider lol)

However, if good writing is not your priority, it's worth a watch for these reasons:
1. Actors/ actress are good looking
2. The production is quite nice, the mood and pacing etc
3. Exciting plot

(Your review must be at least 500 characters in length. Your review must be at least 500 characters in length. Your review must be at least 500 characters in length.)

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Not a typical high school kdrama!

I was looking forward in watching a psychological/thriller. I must say Extracurricular delivered! It was very eccentric and intriguing. I absolutely loved the character's development.
Actor Dong-Hee Kim did an amazing job; portraying his character's 2 sided personality, every time he turned evil I always got goosebumps. As well as him, Park Ju-hyun's acting skills really payed off, her playing as Bae Gyu-ri really stood out, her desperation to escape her parents and the pressure she was under was presented fantasitcally!
The cliffhanger ending fitted well, as it leaves you questioned with what may happen next. Apparently there will be a season 2 coming out in 2023, my hopes are high!

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Not Bad

Good:
Compelling Premise: The premise of a high school student leading a double life adds layers of complexity to the storyline, providing ample opportunities for suspense and moral exploration.

Strong Performances: The cast delivers solid performances, with actors like Kim Dong-hee and Jung Da-bin bringing depth and authenticity to their roles, effectively capturing the emotional turmoil of their characters.

Intense Plot: The series keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its unpredictable twists and turns, weaving together multiple storylines to create a suspenseful and gripping narrative that hooks audiences from the start.

Bad:
Uneven Pacing: While the plot is intense, there are instances where the pacing feels uneven, with certain scenes dragging or feeling rushed. This inconsistency in pacing can disrupt the flow of the story and impact the overall viewing experience.

Underdeveloped Characters: While the main characters receive ample attention and development, some supporting characters feel underutilized and lack depth, leaving their motivations and actions feeling unclear or unexplained.

Limited Exploration: While the series touches on themes of morality and consequence, there are missed opportunities for deeper exploration and analysis, leaving certain aspects of the storyline feeling underdeveloped or unresolved.

Overall, "Extracurricular" offers a compelling premise and strong performances, but it is hindered by uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters. Despite its flaws, it remains an engaging drama that will captivate audiences with its intense plot and suspenseful twists.

Rating: 7/10

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With new spices : Not a fairy tale

This drama got me here because of the actor choi min so from the drama lawless lawyer (LL)! what a great performance again!! You will feel the long lasting impression from him. This drama has a very new unique story, very creative, i would say! I enjoyed every episode with thrilling and suspense. The whole drama was a roller-coaster ride. Director did very well justice to the whole plot. I have watched " live (2018)"before, so I also know how police service cant act rashly on sudden demand in south korea. So its very logical if someone finds the police-involvement is not proactive! The teen are getting corrupted at early age which is inevitable because of the whole social changes around us which is also truly sad. This drama tried to bring up such dark side of the society too. I feel so sad watching kids getting their innocent carefree life totally destroyed, totally robbed off due to social circumstances. Even it is a fictional drama but still it is very applicable in real life, i think. Almost 70% casts are from lawless layer and every casts are totally in different roles with respect to the role they played in LL except Choi. He was bad ass thug as before but made us like him till the end, lol. Love his fighting scenes, damn suits his figure and gesture! Would be lovely if a sequel drama can be produced highlighting the life story of that role.
Overall, very impressive production with very very creativeness! After a long time I found a story which is so creative and cleverly written. No copy-paste-edit feeling. An entirely unique story line! Its directed by the same director of LL but LL was kind of " old wine in new but crooked bottle" while this one is brand new in every essence! Just enjoyed every bit of it. Of course, its not a fairy tale with pinkish romance aura, absolutely loved it! Not for weak heart either! Ending is little disappointing but it deserves 10 from me. However, suspense-thriller plots often relatively tend to lose "rewatch-values", cant really help it. Especially when in drama land with so many available dramas, its rare that a drama can earn a place to have a rewatch value 10! May be after 10 years, I can rewatch it again, till then bye! It was really nice to come across to this master piece ;)

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Darker School Drama

An interesting drama which includes discussions on illegal businesses, underage escorts, s*x trafficking, the rights of workers & the need for security. This drama really had me hooked.

▹ Jisoo's character
He was presented as a straight A, quiet, shy school boy at the start. Later, it's revealed he runs an illegal security business in the backdrop of his perfect school life. He is different when he is "Uncle" and then when he is Jisoo in school.

▹ Illegal Business
Depending on individual views on escorts, the business Jisoo runs provides security for escorts. The business is illegal and he also allows underage Minhee to use the service. If one is being "equal", "protective" they wouldn't allow underage girls to do this.

▹ Dark but real
It was interesting to see how dark but real the show was. It’s common to see something like this in Asian cities, the motels/compensated dating etc. This drama feels raw and different. Not the typical school drama

▹ Gyuri's impact
People have moaned and said that "it's gyuri's fault". Yes, it is. She took Jisoo's phone but how else did you expect the drama to even start. Something had to go wrong, since they're all high school kids. They don't know any better.

▹ Minhee & PTSD
Her character was always shown to be smart-mouthed and stubborn. Yes, she should have listened to others to not go to the motel that day but she experienced something brutal. She was left traumatised and couldn't work.

▹ Police officer
For some reason, the show wrote the police officer in such an annoying way. Perhaps this was intentional. We are seeing the officer, the way the high school kids are. She did the right things but she was doing them in the wrong ways possible.

▹ Ending
The last 2 episodes were basically game changers like American tv shows and movies. The good turn bad and the bad turn good. I do wonder why they chose to pursue this root instead of sticking with what they had. But, I understand. The shock factor outweighs consistency in this situation.

OVERALL
Really good kdrama, it's not the typical school drama. It's dark and real. It opens up discussions about the dark side of Korea. The underage escorts, the money problems and the need for good parental figures. The last two episodes could have been a bit better in terms of the story and I find that the episodes stand out/ are different in terms of consistency with the rest of the series.

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I wish there was a second season for this otherwise its such a waste!
The character development, the storyline, literally everything is so well done
This show will no doubt have you hooked immediately. So many heartwrenching moments in here and the ending actually shook me to my core ngl, I really wasnt expecting on of the most prominent characters to die but now it left me intrigued and I can't help but wish for more seasons and episodes ;;; please i wish there will be another season!! I also really liked the chemistry between the main characters, I hope their love blossoms if there is gonna be a new season.

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An Exciting Thriller..

The drama [ Extracurricular ] takes a different aspect from typical school dramas, like a struggling male lead who manages trafficking businesses. It ( his work ) can be troubling at times because things frequently get away from his control and he is unable to deal with his unexpected situations. So, despite the dark atmosphere, the story was well-constructed and captivating to the end.

As a kdrama lover I'm not defending bullying, sexual assault, or whatever else they shown in this drama, but what i liked is how the K-drama ( Extracurricular ) subtly unveils the depth of a crime-filled plot with teenage school story line. Let's appreciate that Netflix work brought a different subject theme this time allowing the writer Jin Han-Sae and Director Kim Jin-Min to move away from the common Korean high school storyline, cut off the classic love story element, and brought the crucially dark topics such as school bullying, payed dating, online sex work, and a variety of other issues navigating young adolescents in today's online world..

You will most certainly feel a wide range of emotions from sadness to love to frustration to anger to excitement through the main characters. And those emotions help add what can be an incredibly enlightening view of today’s youth and crime.


Kim Dong Hee is a brilliant actor and one of the young korean talents, After receiving prominent status for his supporting parts in the two biggest dramas, Kim Dong Hee jumps into leading roles & conveys an emotionally intense performance that will leave us question ourselves what you stand for at the end of the drama, Park Joo Hyun another talented young actress, no word how to appreciate her work, A Perfectionist. She really gave her 10/10 performance here, Portraying raw emotions with parental pressure and like a deep hurting inside daughter she perfectly played her role. Jung Da Bin did an excellent job giving her character depth.

Both ScreenWriter & Director were given a good thriller by showing the School Bullying, harassment, social norms, and parental pressure are all aspects of the life of a high school student in South Korea.
Cinematography and Soundtrack two are top quality that they capture us into a thriller mood.

Still waiting for season 02..

I enjoyed the drama and thanks to the Kdrama Judge who was given[ recommendation ] to me one of the best Kdramas. If you’re looking for an exploration in Korean highschool thriller with an engaging plot then this is definitely a must-watch..

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