This review may contain spoilers
Plotline was messy and displays horrible character development
bruh i dont get how this kdrama is on netflix, everything is happening all at once like so many plots that it's just weird, i don't get how basically no one was actually punished except for the teacher, a kid was murdered and everything just turned out for the best like wha... there was a love triangle going on, there was a revenge going on, there was a rich friend group drama going on, there was family issues going on ( but that's in every kdrama ), there was a teacher student thing going on, i felt like the screenwriter just found every popular genre and just randomly threw it into the drama. Most importantly the capture of the teacher was sooo anti climatic, like she did nothing to defend herself and just got arrested just like that. Moreover, if they reallllllly wanna play off the bullies as slightly good people at the end ( which is just soo goddamn weird cuz no one would randomly just switch up like that ), they should at least implement a slight bit of guilt scenes like PTSD anxiety or sth :////// and the storyline was overall just not flowing at all, things just randomly happen out of nowhere, like bruh they didn't give enough indication that JJY was actually still in love with KRA. And I think the only good character in this kdrama is KH, like he stuck to his morals to the very end even if it meant hurting someone that he likes cuz that was what he came for and didn't stray from his principles ( kinda ), everyone else's development just either didn't change or just randomly became good after a few mins -_-Overall, mid kdrama, dunno why its on netflix, it was the first kdrama where I felt painful to watch
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the plot
The story is VERY good, but I feel like they didn't take advantage of it well. Maybe if it had had more episodes the plot could have been developed much better, the ending shocked me a little because everything It was so fast, I mean, they imprison the culprit and that's it? I would have liked them to have concentrated more on the story than on the characters' love affairs, even so I feel that it is a good kdrama and that it deserves for people to watch it!! I love all the actors who were there.Was this review helpful to you?
Too many angry fans so let me be the only positive reviewer you need
I have always had Hierarchy on my watch list but edited it out after reading countless bad reviews,so the other day I started trcking Kim Jae Won(Mr eye candy) after seing him in King the Land and Hierarchy is one of his recent and most famous drama and it was only 7 episodes so i knew i would watch it in one seating.Due to bad reviews,I went in this with lowest expectatioons and only to pass time before continuing with Red Sleeve.So i will make this simple and easy to read
THE PROS:
1.The cinematography was good, shot in high quality picture and the set was meticulous
2.The rich was very rich,if you want to see excessive wealth on display and many Heremes boxes,this is the show for you
3.The two MLs are beautiful men,I dont know who cast them but give this casting director their flowers,to be honest I loved their acting and knowing how young they are in real life,I think they did a pretty good job and yes I need men who can cry a river and bring out seriou emotions weither its love or lockeroom fights,the rest of the casts was ok
4.The wordrobe was expensive and really good peices especially for the men.THis goes for them houses,cars and everything expensive
5.The fact that that it was short,they wrapped up things quick,i didnt have to seat and watch the FL being a tree for 16 episodes..
Overall if you enjoyed Penthouse,The Glory and Sky castle,add this to the rich but dont expect a strong storyline just enjoy rich people doing rich people things.
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“Hierarchy” – Promising Concept, Poor Execution
Overall Rating: 6/10“Hierarchy” promised an intriguing plot with its premise set in the elite social circles, reminiscent of “Elite” from Netflix. However, while the idea had great potential, the execution left much to be desired.
First and foremost, condensing such a drama into just seven episodes was a significant misstep. The storyline had the foundation to be much more engaging if given at least twelve episodes to develop. The current format felt rushed and incomplete, failing to deliver a satisfying experience.
Characters and Development
The characters in “Hierarchy” were disappointingly shallow. There was a noticeable lack of depth and complexity, which made it difficult to form any meaningful connection with them. The interactions between characters were devoid of chemistry, leaving the relationships feeling forced and unconvincing.
The main character, who had the potential to be a strong lead, did little to earn the audience’s sympathy or admiration. The plot’s conclusion was particularly lackluster, with the final episode wrapping up so quickly that it was hard to register that it was indeed the end. This abruptness left a lot of unresolved issues and did not provide the closure that viewers look for in a drama.
Comparison to "Elite"
Comparing “Hierarchy” to “Elite,” it’s clear that it falls short. “Hierarchy” felt like a diluted version of its counterpart, missing the intense character dynamics and gripping plot twists that made “Elite” so compelling. The drama tried to mimic the high-stakes, glamorous world of the elite but failed to bring the same level of intrigue and engagement.
Production and Acting
On a positive note, the production quality was commendable. The lavish settings, luxurious houses, and high-end cars did add to the visual appeal of the series. The aesthetics of the upper class were well-portrayed, creating an attractive backdrop for the story. However, this alone was not enough to compensate for the weak narrative and character development.
The acting, unfortunately, was another letdown. It lacked the intensity and emotion necessary to elevate the script, resulting in performances that felt flat and uninspired.
Soundtrack
One of the redeeming aspects of “Hierarchy” was its soundtrack. The music was well-chosen and complemented the scenes effectively, adding an extra layer of atmosphere to the drama. It was one of the few elements that stood out positively.
Final Thoughts
“Hierarchy” had the potential to be an engaging drama with its intriguing premise and visually appealing production. However, its rushed pacing, shallow characters, and unsatisfying conclusion left much to be desired. While it’s a quick watch, it’s unlikely to leave you feeling fulfilled. For fans of dramas set in the world of the wealthy and elite, it might be worth a look for the visuals alone, but don't expect to be captivated by the storyline or characters.
Overall, “Hierarchy” is a drama with a lot of missed opportunities. With a stronger lead and more episodes to flesh out the plot, it could have been much more impactful. As it stands, it’s an average series that’s visually pleasing but ultimately falls short in delivering a compelling narrative.
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too dramatic
it's like a telenovela and not in a good way.there's nothing breaking up the drama and the heaviness.
it's simply all bad things happening all the time.
some of the plot twists were laughable.
the actors did a good job with what they had to work with. the entire reason I wanted to watch this was for Rian's actor cause I enjoyed him in King The Land. I prefer him as a nice guy, but he did show off a good cry face in this.
the fact that all the suits had the tags on the outside was super weird, too.
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let’s be real
RIGHT I NEED TO TALK ABT THIS SERIES so at first I enjoyed it it was good the story line was great and the overall series was pretty good the only disappointing thing was the end it was all sloppy and just stupid and far from what I expected or wanted in fact still now I don’t really know what happened in the end because they left it so empty also after the crafts they had a little suspense but it felt like they just wanted viewers to acc consider watching a second season because if it didn’t end like that I defo wouldn’t watch a second season as there would be no pointWas this review helpful to you?
Esperei demais, recebi de menos
Producão visual: absultamente perfeita, a ambientação, as casas modernas e luxuosas, ambientes totalmente elegantes.História: De inicio pensei que teria uma vingança propriamente dita, mas me decepcionei demais com o que entregaram.
Sonoplastia: gostei da escolha de musicas para cada momento.
No geral: uma vingança meio meh, tudo se resolveu mto rapido, não teve uma construção profunda dos personagens a fim de fazer o telespectador sentir a raiva e a dor que ele sentiu. E a atuação poderia ter sido melhor. Virou apenas um dorama genérico de vingança
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This review may contain spoilers
Mid with fun costuming, editing and directing
If you're like me and half of the fun is the makeup, fashion,cars and lifestyle of the characters and the other half is romance then this won't be a one star for you. It'll be like a 5 out of 10 star drama at best. Just meeehhh.It was okay. It had great potential to ruin the student's lives, get FL in a better relationship with guy who truly deserves her. But no they decided to leave her with the murderous idiot who didn't know she was pregnant and went to get an abortion but ended up having a miscarriage? Okay. Also the people who beat up the kids didn't get enough punishment and were right back at it again. It just felt weird and rushed since the moment she found out he was the little brother. Even that I felt they revealed too quickly and she wasn't even angry at him at all about it.
Can we talk about the STATUTORY RAPE that was taking place all theought and how no one cared? Like what in the world?
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Looks pretty, sounds pretty, interesting premise, but the plot goes nowhere
The first episode promises a lot: mystery, sex, intrigue, and scandal. Except ultimately, the plot, character growth, and overall message of the show fell flat. Pretty cinematography, good acting, and a decent soundtrack can't make up for that. In the end, this drama comes off as a quick, shallow Korean remake of Gossip Girl.The set up of the plot and characters is quite good; each character's motives and personality is well established, and is consistent with the actions they take. But that becomes a problem when it feels like the plot is going nowhere. When you've revealed to the audience the two biggest mysteries of the show by episode four, what do you do with the last three? Nothing it seems. Everyone at the school has these deep, juicy, life-ruining secrets about each other and yet there's no truly dramatic moment of rash revelations or impulsive angry decisions to expose one another. It feels like a missed opportunity that leaves the show directionless and empty.
The show was too concerned with trying to make its characters and relationships redeemable by the end that they chickened out with the scandalous antics. (For example, betrayal feels half-hearted when you screw over a character that was introduced that episode. Why not your best friend instead? That would be much more impactful.) Like yes, the point of the show can be that these are no-so-nice people doing terrible things, but they love each other and learn to grow. Despite the attempts in the final episode, it feels like none of the main characters truly received any tangible consequences (besides guilt lol). And that would be okay if that was the story you were trying to tell, but that isn't what's happening here. The final message is about atoning to your mistakes and accepting the consequences. But truly, there were none for these characters, leaving the entire message of the show fake, performative, and hollow.
In the end, this show had an interesting premise that fell flat into a disappointing mess of half-hearted character growth. I would only recommend the first couple of episodes.
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Not the best, could do with a few improvements, but not a complete waste of time...
I think first off the actors did pretty decently, I really appreciated the acting of the main cast, however, no matter how good the cast is, if the plot is 'eh' the show is gonna end up being 'eh'.I think the show's idea was good, just executed in such a hasted and messy way. With only 7 episodes, we aren't able to fully connect and understand enough of the characters that we need do. Some of the plot ideas seemed a bit out of place and pointless, but then again that could be because we didn't have enough time to explore the characters and backstories. Some things felt rushed and shallow, e.g, the teacher being Kang Inhan's killer? And Woojin's shallow and unexplained relationship w/ the teacher when apparently he liked Hera all this time, but we never were really shown that till the end. The lack on context w/ Jae-i's mother. Of course not everything is meant to be explained, but i feel like we could've gotten more out of this show. The idea was good, just could've been executed a bit differently. At times it was a bit messy and a lot was going on with not much meaning or depth i think. But it wasn't boring. It had potential, and I think with the ending credit scene they showed, there is definitely potential for a better season 2, if they so choose to make one. The end scene where it's hinted that Kang Ha maybe isn't done with his revenge and starts to threaten Kim Rian, if continued correctly, could make for a very interesting season 2.
Oh, another thing i wanted to mention is that the whole plot line with that class president kid and his mum(principal) was not explained enough and there's a lack of context about him and his backstory which would have been relevant as he was the only blackmailing Jae-i. I don't know, a lot felt unfinished with this show, however i will say that the ideas were good and i think it could have been a hit show if planned more carefully like penthouse or sky castle or class of lies, idk. But yeah!
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Slow, but ok.
My review contains a little bit of spoilers but it doesn't reveal too much? if you get what I mean? like detail complaints. not storyline or story progression.I didn't think this was that bad compared to the other written reviews. I do feel like the drama series was missing in the story development and character depth (which are the two main points of a story), the cast is pretty good enough to distract us from that gap.
After watching this drama, I have so many questions.
1. This is a high school, right? What do you mean drugs and parties? How would parents even fund for that?
2. What do you mean pregnant at 18 in a prestigious high school? Do they not attend classes?
3. also how does a grown woman disappear out of thin air (jung jae-i's mom) and have a little kid believe that after all that prestigious schooling?
4. who is the anonymous Instagram messager?
5. after this high school experience, how would the directors even depict their college? Because the school's vicinity alone is massive.
6. How long is this story's timeline? They can't be high school seniors forever right?
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This review may contain spoilers
As long as the story has thrill, i am in for it
I got off the 1st episode with great difficulty bcz it seemed like the same rich kids vs poor kid plot and rich girl falling for the poor guy but then after watching 2nd episode I was totally into the show and completed it in one go.There were things that brought excitement into the show and kept the audience curious. I wanted to know why Jae-i broke off with Ri-an and who was blackmailing her. Although He-ra was a bitch but she was quite the character. She added the spice in the show. Kang ha, the hero of the show was kind of okay. It was typical of him to actually fell for the rich girl even thou he knew his brother’s death is linked to her. The thrill got me going till the end. Especially episode 5 and 6 were soo fire. Loved them. It wasn’t bad at all for a 7 episode show. The new faces were refreshing to watch.
I know the plot has similarities to the series ELITE but nevertheless l enjoyed the Korean version of it.
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