It has been a while since I completed a Korean drama. I fell into a slump after watching Doctor Slump (pure coincidence). I am not exactly sure why. It is not that I didn’t start any new ones. I did, but I never completed them. I was probably missing the crackling chemistry I witnessed in the first few Korean dramas, or it was K-romance fatigue. I’m unsure. However, finally, that dry spell has been broken.
I had been holding back on watching Itaewon Class because I wasn’t sure if it would be my cup of tea. I’m happy to report I enjoyed it. The good reviews are justified.
What’s It About?
An ambitious ex-convict starts a new pub in the busy streets of Itaewon with the main motive of seeking revenge. The series focuses on how he and his loyal staff work together to fulfill the seemingly impossible dream of beating the best pub in town.
Thoughts
I am convinced Park Seo Joon is the best Korean actor out there. I am yet to feel underwhelmed seeing his performance. He not only handles the nuances of his characters perfectly, but his understated charisma has the power to keep you hooked. Itaewon Class is no different.
However, the main star for me in Itaewon Class was Kim Da-mi. Her character is beautifully sketched, a total badass woman who doesn’t resort to the stereotypes of the “modern woman” we see on the big screen. Usually, in new-age cinema, a woman of today is depicted as someone promiscuous and flippant. But in Itaewon Class, the female characters have different shades, they aren’t black or white, they are all sorts of grey. Kim Da-mi plays someone who is, in her own words, a “social psychopath,” yet she feels deeply for her boss and his painful past.
Soo-ah, played by Kwon Nara, is ambitious and a go-getter who does not believe in making sacrifices, such as leaving her cushy job to maintain relationships. She has a “my way or the highway” aura about her, yet she’s soft. Ambitious women are often portrayed in a villainous way, but kudos to the writer for showing how a woman can follow her dreams and still be vulnerable, and that it’s okay if she wants more.
It was interesting to watch such multilayered female characters in a series because it’s not something I often come across in Indian cinema.
Itaewon Class is streaming on Netflix. It has 16 episodes, with each episode lasting over an hour.
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