School 2013 discussion post!

[markthatcoin.livejournal.com]

Dramabeans has posted a recap of episode 9 of the currently airing KBS drama School 2013. Episodes 1-8 are subbed on DramaFever/hulu+ if you have access to those, and all nine episodes are also available elsewhere....

Under the cut: bts pics of the School 2013 cast wearing lots of grins (rare?!)











Sources: Dramabeans for pictures, Dramabeans for episode recap, Drama Fever for prior episodes

Are you watching?? What do you think of the cast? Use this post to discuss the show!

This post is likely to contain spoilers, please consider this before you click!

Comments

[in-noctem.livejournal.com]

I shall leave a comment before it is unsafe to do so.

I've only watched up to ep 2 (since I watch them as they air on kbs world) but can't wait for ep 3 since Woobin finally shows up *_* I really like it so far but I seem to love school-based dramas (SUFBB, Reply 1997...and High Kick to a certain extent). I hope it's still just as good up til episode 9?

[potaoto.livejournal.com]

I hope it's still just as good up til episode 9?
i think they've been pretty consistent with the quality, so you should definitely keep watching 8)

[purekpopology.livejournal.com]

I'm really liking School 2013 so far. The cast and plot are solid. At first I was little worried because it seemed like a cliche "school drama" set up with the "trouble maker class" and the teacher who really wants to be *involved* etc., but it's really gone into some new territory.

I feel like the issues of the students and teachers are portrayed fairly realistically. The teachers have to deal with whiny parents, and sometimes pleasing those parents comes before anything else, students lie on classroom surveys because they have their own agenda, and other situations.

I haven't watched ep 9 yet, but I'll be back afterwards!

[tlict.livejournal.com]

i was hesitant too because really, how much gokusen could anyone endure? but dramabeans backed this up and she's always right in my book, glad i watched this.

[tlict.livejournal.com]

ooh! i'm watching ep 4 right now and really liking this drama so far. i haven't used the fast forward button once so. only complaint would be that i heard the writers got rid of the love lines. i get that a school drama doesn't really need romance but i WANT it ugh. the kids (and the teachers too!) have great chemistry, NS-HK, KJ-HS <3

[purekpopology.livejournal.com]

I heard that about the love lines too! I REALLY hope that's not true though :(. I mean it IS high school, there HAS to be love lines haha.

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

I haven't started this show yet because I hate waiting for episodes but I hear everyone's obsessed!

The trouble is I don't think I'd be able to focus on the plot because I'd rather see Lee Jong Suk in a queer movie or something. Gah! So attractive and he has chemistry with ANYONE he makes eye contact with.

Can someone clarify the relationship between Namsoon and Heungsoo for me, because from all the pictures I see I can only conclude that there's major sexual tension going on.

[bolingi-aii.livejournal.com]

You should watch it, its really good!

lol Lee Jong Suk's lips make me uncomfortable, are they natural?

Well I dont want to spoil it for you bc their relationship is stalled for a couple of episodes because it reveals a major secret about Nam Soon's past. Basically they were close in the past. Yeah the relationships comes off as romantic probably because both leads are so sensual and exude sex T.T LOL

[taecmyheart.livejournal.com]

i love it so far. heungsoo/namsoon are killing me rn, but i'm also really glad that we get issues surrounding the other students too. conflicts seem pretty realistic, and the cast is amazing. i've said it before, but it really reminds me of SU:FBB. ;__; which means i know i'm going to cry when it's over.

[shanny-w.livejournal.com]

Added a spoiler warning tag

[markthatcoin.livejournal.com]

ty bb! i will keep it in mind for the next drama discussion post ^^

[sashays27.livejournal.com]

cried a couple of times watching some scenes...

everyone should start watching this drama..
so much better than i anticipated

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

I'm only on episode 5 but OMG I love this drama. School's starting for me again tomorrow and I hate the fact that I'm gonna have to cut down my drama-watching time again. I can barely keep up with King of Dramas as is!

[mya13.livejournal.com]

this drama is just flawless. i can't even tell their is no love story in it and i actually like it this way better. this drama does not lack in quality at all. it's really refreshing.

[bolingi-aii.livejournal.com]

I really love it when non romantic comedy don't have a love story. love story usually end up being distracting and annoying unless its vital to the entire plot. I hope they keep it this way and dont make Jung Saem and Kang Saem have a romance >.

[bolingi-aii.livejournal.com]

Jung saem really gets on my nerves sometimes. I think its a good quality for her to be concerned with her students, because it seems like all the troubled kids are in Class 2. But good Lord, she needs to give them something else besides her attention. Like Kang Saem said, she can't hold onto them forever. I wish instead of following after them and looking pitiful all the time she should sit them down and be real with them. Given their family background and economic situation, an education is the only thing that is gonna save them. I think she's too soft sometimes but dammit if some of these kids dont need some TLC.

[markthatcoin.livejournal.com]

ok i skipped around a bit (read a few recaps since i'm so far behind) but now i've seen ep 9. i think i'm frustrated that the teachers haven't figured out how to work together yet. argh! you see hints of them acting in the best interest of the kids but there isn't substance there yet. every so often she is "real" with them. but idk.

of course i have to go back and rewatch the episodes for which i just read the recaps but i'm a little troubled with how i might be feeling about Heungsoo, as in he's kind of just straight up annoying me. the backstory is believable but idk. what a sad backstory tho :(

i love Hakyung and even though the show is hinting at romance/feelings with Namsoon i would prefer them to remain just friends. i also dont know how i feel about a love line with the two teachers. not really hft but who am i to say they dont deserve love lol

[markthatcoin.livejournal.com]

i declined watching this drama until last week because it seemed a little too gritty for me. i'm usually in dramaland for romcom (i just started Queen In-Hyun's Man) or clever/serious storytelling (Vampire Prosecutor is my jam). i had some time to kill and i watched the first episode... if you're in this post wondering if you should watch this show, WATCH IT!

i'm only a few episodes in but it's evident the acting is well above par, the storytelling is fresh and well-rounded, and Lee Jong Suk is so damn cute when he grins omg. i feel nothing for him when he is stoic but i'm all melty when he grins with those cute perfect white teeth

[bolingi-aii.livejournal.com]

Vampire Prosecutor is the shit! T.T Do you have any word on S3? I'm so in love with their work dynamic. Lowkey I miss the forensics lady from S1, I liked her bold flirting with Prosecutor Min and the way Detective Hwang used to just stare at her like a 15 year old boy she was really pretty too.

[hopelessheartz.livejournal.com]

I'm in love with this drama. I havent watched ep 9 but I will tomorrow. I was worried that it would be a typical romantic drama set in a high school, but I watched it anyway for Lee Jong Suk. I'm not disappointed, although I feel theyre alluding to future relations between certain characters I'm glad thats not at the forefront of the drama. And I'm happy the female teacher (i can never remember names T_T) has some sort of backbone.

[markthatcoin.livejournal.com]

someone mentioned above that all the love story arcs were cut out of the show, but i don't have confirmation on that piece of news

regardless, i agree that it's refreshing not to have romance storylines thrown at us in every scene

[o-srsly.livejournal.com]

Effing obsessed with this show, its characters and the storyline. Honestly I wish it ran for a few seasons because this entire cast is ADORABLE and I want to be with them forever.

[markthatcoin.livejournal.com]

qt gif ^^

[yunhalove.livejournal.com]

Just watched ep 9 and omg. People cannot tell me all the lovelines have been canceled because jesus fing christ. What with the tragic past and the recent "You were my soccer" scene you cannot tell me the writers aren't laying Heungsoo/Namsoon on thicker than a lot of drama OTPs.

And now they've gone on to literally hide themselves in the closet, and then get locked in together inside an abandoned shed. ARE YOU KIDDING ME DRAMA WRITERS. THIS IS LIKE THE PLOT OF EVERY SHOUJO MANGA I HAVE EVER READ EVER. LIKE REALLY. NEXT THEY'LL BE HUDDLING HALF NAKED FOR WARMTH LIKE ARE YOU SERIOUS.

Hakyung/Hyoyoung's character aren't much better either. LOL naturally, i approve of everything

[bolingi-aii.livejournal.com]

lolol quite honestly, I had to laugh when they walked out of the closet together. They must have been really good friends lmaoo I'm still dying at the flashback when Nam soon said " lets smoke it together *giggle* *giggle*" The homoeroticism between these two is real.

Hakyung and kang joo are cute friends lol

[madelyn93.livejournal.com]

am i the only one feeling some sort of disconnection from the drama? i love high school dramas but this one.... meh hit and miss for me.
i like some parts and i want to like it but it's just not enough.
i'm up to the latest btw

[gundae.livejournal.com]

I was about to post the same thing.. I dropped it before the end of the 8th episode because it didn't seem like it was going to get any better.

friendship is the main point of this drama but I don't feel the connection between the characters. the only moment I really felt was the convo between heungsoo and namsoon when namsoon told him he wasn't merely giving up on school but on him.

like.. try and compare this to the bromance in shut up flower boy band.

[hugtimes.livejournal.com]

i love this drama so much, i got into it really quickly ^^
i'm only ep 5 tho, i need to catch up over the weekend.

[yejun.livejournal.com]

I like how it's not like Gokusen where they "solve" a student's problem each episode. It's realistic and the acting is rly good.

The only thing that throws me off is that Jungho looks a lot like my friend who's as far from scary and tough as you can get so I end up laughing at him a whole lot. poor bb.

[murderistx.livejournal.com]

I feel like the authors are testing the waters because they keep hinting a love plot. I personally hope Nam Soo + Ha Kyung DO NOT get together. I really dont like her character. I also cannot wait for the author to reveal the Jung Ho's character plot.

I also want to say I love the "White Christmas" cast and everything they do. ;~; In this case, Heungsoo + Jung Ho.

[markthatcoin.livejournal.com]

I feel like the authors are testing the waters because they keep hinting a love plot. I personally hope Nam Soo + Ha Kyung DO NOT get together

yeah idk what the deal is with the love story arcs. there are hints at about eight, but idk idk! i wouldn't support Namsoo-Hakyung pairing because i think they would be better for each other as friends if all the craziness ever dies down. on the contrary, i really love Hakyung as a character. i think she's "that studious girl" but she actually has a great support system in place (in Namsoo and Kangjoo) if she plays her cards right and DOESN'T ALIENATE EVERYONE wtf

[muhnaplusmuhna.livejournal.com]

I like this show because though it's about a school in South Korea, the problems the school faces is universal. The conflict and growing tension between characters is handled realistically. I was worried about the possible 'problem' of the week scenarios or budding romance between teacher/student, but the writers proved me wrong.

I like the organic flow of the stories thus far.

[markthatcoin.livejournal.com]

I was worried about the possible 'problem' of the week scenarios or budding romance between teacher/student, but the writers proved me wrong.
that's always one of my biggest fears going into a high school drama. dnw!

[jaghatar.livejournal.com]

boring ass show

[hina.livejournal.com]

I think I'm somewhat alone in this, but I love Kwak Jungwook. I think he's a great actor, and I like that he's willing to play the 'bad guy' roles (since a lot of rookie actors are scared of playing roles like that in case it affects their image.)
Anyway, because of that, I end up supporting Oh Jungho. Even tho he's a meddling bastard, I want him to be redeemed in the end.

Also really do not want a loveline between any of the characters, but especially not the teachers. I find Daniel Choi's character so unlikeable.

And I'm really enjoying the supporting cast. I love dramas that bother to flesh out the reoccuring characters. Just about every member of the class + the teachers have a recognisable personality.

[xxmannequin.livejournal.com]

No, you are not alone. I love Kwak Jungwook, too.
I think his acting is pretty good, and he seems as he can carry out a lot of different characters. It took me some time to realize he was the same guy from White Christmas and SUFB.

[xxmannequin.livejournal.com]

I like this drama a lot.
Idk about others, but I love Choi Daniel's character and I like his acting. On the other hand, I find Teacher Jung boring. I get it that she wants to help everyone, but she really is doing everything wrong.
I hope the writers won't force the love lines, especially not Go Nam Soon x Song Ha Kyung.
I can't wait for 10th episode after watching the preview. It seems like the story will develop to another level.
I hope we'll will soon find out more about Oh Jung Ho, I really can't hate him at all.

[purekpopology.livejournal.com]

This is my "OMG KIM WOO BIN FEELS" comment!

I watched episode 9 last night, and OMG I was DYING. That boy is so CUTE, HOT, AMAZING, etc.

Every time he smiles is killer, and the scene where Teacher Jung stood next to him and reached up to the top of his head to show she was tall enough was SO CUTE. He made her look so tiny!

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

her touching the top of his head was the cutest scene

Tertiary character appreciation

[markthatcoin.livejournal.com]

i totally love love love the kid who wears his jacket backwards. it's killing me that i can't recall his name. i know he is supposed to be noisy and nosy, yet i find him totally hilarious

i also am in love with Minki. i feel so horrible for him because of his crazy head of the board of education or whatever mother, and what is going on with his mystery brother?! he seems like a good kid and he is qt

i'm totally rooting for reformed bully Jihoon!

Kangjoo deserves more character development imo. i still don't get her relationship with Namsoo (what'd i miss??)

Re: Tertiary character appreciation

[purekpopology.livejournal.com]

Haha I love the class clown kid too XD! I'm always cracking up at the goofy things he's doing.

I feel SO bad for Minki too D=. I can't imagine how stressed he must be ALL THE TIME. Besides worry about his grades/mom pressure, he's probably totally scared someone will find out about his brother, plus just being plain worried for his bro. His brother must have some mental illness either just naturally, or stres/anxiety created from being pressured by his mom to succeed.

All the tertiary characters are great in my opinion :)! They bring so much character and realism to the classroom. Every one of them has such distinct personalities just like real kids would have.

[nyx06.livejournal.com]

This drama was unexpected for me. I had heard about it in passing but I was never really interestef but I decided to watch it one day, because I was caught up with I Miss You, and BAM I was hooked from ep 1.

One of the main reasons I really like this drama is because it doesn't try to get too fancy with the angst. It had me feeling Teach Jung's disappointment in the students and left me all around sad in ep 5 and flat out sobbing at the end of ep 7.

It comes off as realistic (as realistic as a drama can be) without being boring. I feel like the characters are totally relateable. Even though there are some students there that I would just love to punch in the throat for being rude little... anyway, I just really like it.

[o-srsly.livejournal.com]

I agree, I liked some of the actors but wasn't looking forward to it or anything. Basically watched all the eps in one day.

Somehow, without big name actors or expensive sets, they managed to focus on a lot of the human moments and I was really touched at parts too.