© 2018 Charles Dunlevy
Those who know me well know that I love Korean dramas. These television series are just incredible. Korean dramas tend to employ some fantastic writing. It is the only genre of television which takes me through a wide variety of emotions.
I am not sure what it is but Korean dramas and movies that draws me in emotionally. I find myself relating to some of the characters and genuinely caring about them despite the fact that the stories are completely fictional.
The stories involve several plot twists and turns and you just never know what to expect next. In some cases, you might hate a character in the beginning, but by the end you admire them. The same goes in the reverse… a character you like in the beginning you might find yourself hating by the end.
Right when you think the story is about to end, another twist is thrown in and it continues. I would say these are the best-written television shows in the entire business.
Itawon Class is a drama released on Netflix in 2020 about a young man who gets into business to avenge the death of his father. I guess that is the simplest way that I can explain the plot. I really do not wish to give away the story, so I will not divulge anymore details.
This story takes on a lot of serious topics. It deals with class, love, racism, business, friendship, bullying, sibling rivalry, and hate.
One of the main characters was bullied by his half-brother. He was not really loved as he was considered the “bastard” of the family having been born out of wedlock.
Another character had to deal with hatred for being transgendered. The things this character goes through can bring tears to your eyes and make you realize how cruel people can be.
I have been watching Korean dramas since 2012. All these years I have not seen them deal with subjects such as transgender and racial bigotry. There is a Black character in this series who has to deal with being treated as an outsider despite his back story which I will not spoil.
Love is a central theme in Korean dramas and the lead character is caught between two women who love him dearly. As I watch, I try to get into his shoes and think about how I would approach the situation. Oh the drama!
The cast of characters each have their own backstory and dilemma and it is interesting to learn about each as the series progresses.
I find that I can relate to some of what I saw in this show. For instance, the death of a parent resonates deep with me. There are scenes which brought me to tears thinking about my dear mother who has passed on. The issues with the transgender character resonates with me because I went to school with a girl who was transgender and I saw what she went through. I recently saw a transgender at a local bar who was treated poorly by random people. Racism is something I have dealt with my entire life. I am fortunate to have never experienced racism while I was in Korea, but I am well informed of its existence.
This is a wonderful drama that I highly recommend. The soundtrack is also fantastic to listen to. I really love the music that goes along with Korean dramas. They employ wonderful vocals with piano and classical instruments. It is a far better genre of music than K-pop which to me is manufactured industry junk. Korean ballads are far better than K-pop.
By the way, Itaewon is a district in Seoul known to have a lot of foreigners. I do not spend too much time there when I am in Korea because it reminds me a lot of Toronto. It makes no sense for me to fly 11,000 kilometres from home to be in a similar environment. That being said, I think Itaewon has a much better nightlife than Toronto. It is a great place to go when feeling homesick while in Korea. People work very hard in Korea and really know how to unwind after a long day’s work. That is a topic for another day.
Go ahead and watch Itaewon Class on Netflix today! This show is fantastic. It will bring tears to your eyes… both sorrow and joy. It will inspire you with your own life. It will make you feel anger, sadness, worry, and joy. You get the full round of emotions while watching this wonderful series.
I will leave you with a beautiful song from the series: