High School Return of a Gangster

Everything from the story writing, cinematography, actors, etc. Was on point. But I was not expecting this series to be therapeutic. The series was going like how I was expecting it to go, then bam!!! Either they leave you with a cliff hanger or something totally unexpected happens. I expect a bunch of fiction in a drama, that's what makes it fun to watch. But when they add some reality in there in a way that's not in your face the message hits a little different. It felt so good to have an adult there for a child when they needed them. I remember being that bullied kid. So seeing the people who wronged him either be held accountable and/or apologize filled my soul with joy. This series will tug at your heart and make you cry. But it will be a good cry and so worth the watch.

A middle school graduate gangster is studying to get his GED and go to college. When he witnesses a high school boy attempt su*cide, he riskes his own life to save him only to unexpectly wake up in that boys body.

It's chaotic and unpredictable from the very start. There's never a dull moment in this show.

The plot is fresh and creative. The bromance is sweet and amusing.

The progression and ending of the plot is very satisfying and enjoyable. I love how genuine and solid the friendships were displayed in this show and even how conflict with bullies were navigated. It's full of wisdom, comedy, and excitement.

Deuk Pal is a gangster. That doesn't mean he can't get his GED and take the college entrance exams. He has a tutor and he's working hard. His boss wants him to quit school and take over the gang. Song I "Heon" is much younger, but he's already given up. He's jumping off the foot bridge to the highway below. Deuk Pal sees and rushes to stop him. They collide. Heon dies, and somehow, their souls switch. Deuk Pal's soul ends up in the kid's body. Deuk gets to attend his own funeral.

At first, he makes weak, ill-informed attempts to get back into his old body. That just isn't going to work. Next, a rude woman (Lee Mi Kyung played by Hwang Bo Ra of Vagabond-8 & What's Wrong with Secretary Kim-6.8) drops by and appears to be his stepmother? His father's aid? (He doesn't know anything or anybody in Heon's life). She drops off some school books after complaining about what a pain he is and that he couldn't even kill himself "properly". He pulls out the tablet and reads the diary of the kid whose body he's taken. This kid's been picked on his whole life. He decides he'll go to school and set the bullies straight.

Deuk quickly learns that he doesn't have the mentality, vocabulary, or fashion sense that the other kids do. But he does have his strength-of-mind; gangsters aren't pushovers. He's also got a credit card with no limit, since he's the illegitimate son of the CEO of one of Korea's top 3 construction companies.

Heon had worn his hair long and over his eyes in order to hide from the world. In Heon's body, Deuk immediately gets a haircut. It's truly shocking what a difference a hairdo makes. Like a coat of paint, a change in hairstyle is an instant makeover. His classmates don't even recognize him. Deuk-Heon is a middle-aged man in a kid's body, but he is very much a middle-aged man. He's constantly told he sounds like an old fogey. He also takes responsibility, as an adult, for what goes wrong and encourages the kids to be their best and do their best. It's played for laughs and warmth.

Yoon Chan Young (All of Us Are Dead) portrays ML, Heon, who gets possessed by Kim Deuk Pal. This kid is great. He has the middle-aged man walk, stance, expressions, & the standing-casual-with-hands-in-pockets. He's got that vague, ever present exasperation. Bong Jae Hyun (Crash! & Insignificant Roommates) plays Choi Se "Kyung". They are friends, though their relationship isn't simple. Kyung knows enough to know that this dude ain't Heon. Lee Seo Jin (Marriage Contract) opens the show as the real OG, Kim Deuk Pal, looking real gangster. Ko Dong Ok plays the rotund thug, Jong Cheol. He's very amusing. This is the acting debut of singer, dancer, and model Joo Yoon Chan as Hong "Jae" Min, the school's worst bully, and the cause of Heon's ep1 suicide. Deuk Pal isn't much for bullying. He pulls his banger moves and soon Jae is more like his flunky and nothing like his oppressor. Jae ends up being pushed by two opposing sides and has a difficult choice to make.

I can't tell if this is a romance or a bromance between the 2 male leads. It's open-ended enough to read either way. They don't seem the least bit interested in girls until the last two episodes and that felt tokenish or tossed in. The past friendship is vague, poorly defined and looks more like it was an attraction. With Deuk on the scene, the friendship is real and true, and it's the centerpiece of the show.

"Why do you try so hard?" "If we don't do anything, bad people will continue to get the upper hand, and everything will just get worse. That's how the world works." The only thing Deuk Pal is afraid of is exams and teachers, whether he's in Heon's body or not. He feels for Jae and wants to clean up the mess that is Jae's life, but Deuk-Heon isnalready balancing bullies, gangs, his dad's assistant (perhaps the most gangster character in the show), teachers, friends' parents, and his own sick mother. One thing he doesn't have to deal with is dad. Daddy's always been absent.

Toxic parents who push kids too hard or ignore kids for their own agenda are, once again, front and center. Kyung is pushed cruelly by a rigid father. Bullying and suicide are also in the mix. Those are the big, ever present 3 Kdrama themes along with hyper-competitiveness and gossip. It's obvious that their society runs on toxic pride. Every human society does, to a certain degree, but they keep it at a whole different level.

Can people change? Deuk thinks so, as long as they decide to. "Even if you give up on me, dad, I will never give up on you. I'm going to grow up to be an adult who is respectable, confident, and upright. So you just watch me." Kyung finally stands up to his father. People can change once they face truth. Once truth hits an individual, it's hard to continue to live in lies. Sadly, truth doesn't even brush by most people. Most people exist in lies all of their waking hours. The first and biggest lie is telling ourselves we're doing pretty good. All of us need more improvement than we could accomplish in a lifetime, and it seems that none of us are humble enough.

HSROG is a 2024 release that is rated 90 on AWiki. It is 1 season consisting of only 8 55-minute episodes. The first sign that this is a lite piece, and the creators weren't adverse to taking shortcuts, is the fact that they give us no reason for the soul switch. Maybe I looked away for a moment and missed it, but I don't recall any basis. We just have to accept it. Nevertheless, I took to it fully, rather quickly. I looked forward to each episode and was sad when I got beyond the halfway mark. The show is fun to watch.

It does lose steam and get goofier in the 2nd half. The villain is Heon's father's aid. She's much worse than the good-at-heart gangsters. It's alittle much, but not so far out of line. The show opted for simplicity not complexity. It is on the teen level, and for that level, it's good.

The heart-of-gold gangster is as easy to find as the heart-of-gold rich person. They are urban legends borne of our projection. Sure, some must exist, somewhere, but there's not many of them. I could never understand the appeal of gangsters and thugs in entertainment. Apparently, audiences love them because they do whatever they want to do. I still don't get the appeal of lowlife thugs, murderers, rapists, drug dealers and cruel pimps. I never will. It's different for someone truly apologetic. Bad guys who turn a new leaf are an inspiration. Jae has a genuine turnaround and experiences forgiveness and genuine human connections for the first time.

Despite the fact that this is less than half the length of a typical k-drama, they still have a wonderful last episode with a thorough and satisfying wrap-up. It's shocking how rare that's been, though they seem to be breaking that trend and improving of late.

As the show reinforces good values and is relatively clean and tame, it's perfect for teens who will relate to the pressures that these kids are grappling with. It reinforces personal responsibility, strength, and forgiveness. It's the opposite of gangsta.

QUOTES🗣

Play stupid games and win stupid prizes.

It's an adult's job to help kids avoid misery as much as possible.

IMHO〰🖍

📣7.4 📝6.5 🎭7.7 🎨6.5 🎵/🔊7.3 🔚6 🤗4.7 ▪ 🌞5⚡4.5 😅2.5 😭3.5 😱2 😯3 🤢2 🤔4.8 💤0

Shazams: GO by LUCY

Age 12+ Language: weak@$$, @$$holes, violence, bullying, Rated TV-15: Parents Strongly Cautioned. However, this show is on a teen level. It's more a kid's show than an adult piece.

Re-📺?

This one's in the good-to-pass-the-time category, but I may never pass this way again....

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"High School Return of a Gangster" (2024) is a thrilling, heartwarming K-drama that earns a perfect 10/10. This series masterfully blends action, drama, and comedy, following a former gangster returning to high school, a unique premise executed brilliantly. The writing is sharp with witty dialogue and unexpected twists. The lead actor's nuanced performance and the strong supporting cast create genuine and engaging relationships. Top-notch cinematography and a well-curated soundtrack enhance the viewing experience. Exploring themes of redemption and identity, this show is both entertaining and meaningful. A must-watch hit of 2024!

This was a masterpiece of drama. Awesome characters, amazing story, great balance of drama and action, and I enjoy the humour in the series. This show deserves more accolades than it receives. This series wonderfully balances action, drama, and comedy by following a former mobster returning to high school, a unique premise done brilliantly. It's simple, but the performance is excellent. I'm impressed by the delivery. Particularly, episode 8 made me cry in a variety of areas that I enjoy. This show is both fun and serious, focusing on themes of redemption and identity. 2024's must-see hit! Also, yes. Korean writers are among the best.