By Jae-Ha Kim
Substack
April 30, 2025
☆☆☆ (out of ☆☆☆☆)
Yeon Si-eun (played by Park Ji-hoon)
Park Hu-min (played by Ryeoun)
↑Note: Korean names denote the surname followed by the given name.
Capsule review: This superb K-drama made it into my Best K-dramas of 2025 list in Teen Vogue:
No one tops South Korean creatives when it comes to telling high school-centered bullying stories. In the sequel to 2022’s “Weak Hero Class 1,” our protagonist Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon) wants nothing more than to be left alone and study. But as with the first season (available on Viki, Kocowa, Netflix), the quiet student’s plans are thwarted by his surroundings. His classmates fight incessantly as a way to curry the favor of the school’s alpha bully. When they hear rumors about why Si-eun had to transfer schools – did he really kill someone?!! – he becomes everyone’s target.
The fight scenes are well choreographed. But the most deadly weapon is Si-eun’s pen, not because it’s the ultimate weapon (though it can be), but because his clicking of it signifies that he is ready to hold his own. I’d like to think that the pen also signifies that being educated provides a path to a better future. But then again, a pen is sometimes just a pen. I won’t ruin the surprise, but there are a couple of notable cameo appearances that fans of the first season will appreciate. (Netflix)
Airdates: Eight episodes (about 40 minutes each) dropped on Netflix on April 25, 2025.
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