A SIX HOUR FEVER DREAM
*shuts my laptop, stares up at the ceiling, takes a deep breath* Now, what did I just watch?
This is probably a common question among those who have watched The School Nurse Files. What did I just watch? Or, what the hell just happened? And, what's up with the ducks? Quite frankly, I can't answer any of these, but I really do applaud The School Nurse Files for breaking away from the mold and raising these questions in the first place. (Also, about the ducks: I think it might be because the school was built over where a pond used to be, but that's just a guess.)
Needless to say, this is not the kind of drama you should watch if you like your shows to serve you information on a silver platter. You are going to be confused - it is inevitable. You are going to be forced to use your brain and draw your own conclusions about what is happening. You are going to have to throw your sense of logic out the window. There were so many things that simply made zero sense, and I loved every minute of it. Well, sort of.
The show seems to stem from the genre of magical girl shows that I grew up on and still enjoy watching today - shows like Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, and Miraculous Ladybug. Obviously, this one focuses more on an adult as the 'magical girl' figure, but the general idea seems to remain the same, and I also kind of liked how it tackled the idea of an adult growing tired of the responsibility that comes along with their magical power. There is also a darker side to The School Nurse Files, and there were some scenes where I was genuinely creeped out, though I think this helped to add to the mystery of the show.
I also really liked the two main leads, played by Jung Yu Mi and Nam Joo Hyuk, respectively. They did such an amazing job portraying these two weirdos, and that's essentially what Ahn Eun Young and Hong In Pyo are: weirdos, oddballs, outcasts. They are awkward and messy, but also incredibly caring and kind. I loved their dynamic so much, and if there is a season two I hope we get to see more of them because I'd really like to see their relationship develop some more.
I also highly enjoyed watching the supporting characters, which were mostly high school students. They really helped to add to the absurdity of the show. Anyone watching this might think, man, these high school students are really weird, but as someone who has gone through high school, I can firmly say that The School Nurse Files' portrayal of high school students s pretty dang accurate. High school students ARE weird. I think we're oftentimes too used to seeing polished and put-together adults playing high school students in dramas, so I thought this aspect of the show was really refreshing to see.
The soundtrack was also spectacular. I really wish Netflix would put it on Spotify so I can listen to it as I walk across campus on my way to class.
My only real issue with the show was pacing, which I think also had an impact on why I was so confused at some parts. I think if this show had been given the usual 16 episodes, or even 12 or 10, this might have corrected this issue. Six episodes were just not enough time to establish characters and world-building, unfortunately.
I understand that this won't be to everyone's taste. Personally, I really like reading fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction, so this show had a lot of things going for it that I personally enjoyed. If you're willing to embrace the weirdness and are in the mood for a short-but-filling drama, then I would definitely give The School Nurse Files a chance.
This is probably a common question among those who have watched The School Nurse Files. What did I just watch? Or, what the hell just happened? And, what's up with the ducks? Quite frankly, I can't answer any of these, but I really do applaud The School Nurse Files for breaking away from the mold and raising these questions in the first place. (Also, about the ducks: I think it might be because the school was built over where a pond used to be, but that's just a guess.)
Needless to say, this is not the kind of drama you should watch if you like your shows to serve you information on a silver platter. You are going to be confused - it is inevitable. You are going to be forced to use your brain and draw your own conclusions about what is happening. You are going to have to throw your sense of logic out the window. There were so many things that simply made zero sense, and I loved every minute of it. Well, sort of.
The show seems to stem from the genre of magical girl shows that I grew up on and still enjoy watching today - shows like Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, and Miraculous Ladybug. Obviously, this one focuses more on an adult as the 'magical girl' figure, but the general idea seems to remain the same, and I also kind of liked how it tackled the idea of an adult growing tired of the responsibility that comes along with their magical power. There is also a darker side to The School Nurse Files, and there were some scenes where I was genuinely creeped out, though I think this helped to add to the mystery of the show.
I also really liked the two main leads, played by Jung Yu Mi and Nam Joo Hyuk, respectively. They did such an amazing job portraying these two weirdos, and that's essentially what Ahn Eun Young and Hong In Pyo are: weirdos, oddballs, outcasts. They are awkward and messy, but also incredibly caring and kind. I loved their dynamic so much, and if there is a season two I hope we get to see more of them because I'd really like to see their relationship develop some more.
I also highly enjoyed watching the supporting characters, which were mostly high school students. They really helped to add to the absurdity of the show. Anyone watching this might think, man, these high school students are really weird, but as someone who has gone through high school, I can firmly say that The School Nurse Files' portrayal of high school students s pretty dang accurate. High school students ARE weird. I think we're oftentimes too used to seeing polished and put-together adults playing high school students in dramas, so I thought this aspect of the show was really refreshing to see.
The soundtrack was also spectacular. I really wish Netflix would put it on Spotify so I can listen to it as I walk across campus on my way to class.
My only real issue with the show was pacing, which I think also had an impact on why I was so confused at some parts. I think if this show had been given the usual 16 episodes, or even 12 or 10, this might have corrected this issue. Six episodes were just not enough time to establish characters and world-building, unfortunately.
I understand that this won't be to everyone's taste. Personally, I really like reading fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction, so this show had a lot of things going for it that I personally enjoyed. If you're willing to embrace the weirdness and are in the mood for a short-but-filling drama, then I would definitely give The School Nurse Files a chance.
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