K-DRAMA REVIEW: SCHOOL 2015 – WHO ARE YOU

Ayushi Dhiman, New Delhi

It has been quite a while since I finished watching School 2015, but the plot has left me longing ever since. “School 2015: Who are you?” is the sixth instalment in KBS’ School series. The plot is full of twists and turns; and keeps you highly engrossed, from the very first episode. It depicts the dark realities of School culture, bullying, twisted love relationships, unrecoverable trauma, and the power of sisterhood. Most importantly, it empowers the audience to stand up against any form of bullying or injustice. Watching this drama was an absolute roller coaster ride, and I went through a plethora of emotions.

Plot

In brief, the story revolves around the life of two identical twin sisters Go Eun-byul and Lee Eun-bi (played by actress Kim So-hyun), who were separated at the age of 5. Go Eun-byul was adopted and started living a normal life with her supportive mother figure, while Lee Eun-bi lived in a foster home and spent the majority of her time looking after younger residents. However, she hides the fact that she was getting bullied in her school. She tried to keep herself together until one day she gave up and tries to end her life. Go Eun-byul, being aware of her sister’s tragic life, saved her sister from drowning; exchanged identity with her, and kept it a secret. Lee Eun-bi suffered amnesia and thus started living her sister’s life. Until Lee Eun-bi’s bully Kim Hee-jung (played by Cha Song-joo) is transferred to her new school; and threatens to expose Lee Eun-bi’s truth. Since Go Eun-byul herself had a history and is guilty of losing a friend due to bullying, she supported Lee Eun-bi to overcome her worst fears and speak up against her bully.

Why you should watch?

The drama radiates many strong emotions. I was able to sympathize with Lee Eun-bi; I felt her pain, I was seeking answers with her, and I felt empowered when she finally got the courage to speak up against her bully. Her revival and acceptance of her identity felt liberating to me as well. Go Eun-byul was the most savage character in the drama and her comeback added a lot of depth to the story. The fact that Kim So-hyun was merely 16 years old when she played such strong characters is insane. She indeed is a talented actress. I cannot go on without mentioning that actress Cha Song-joo, has delivered an amazing performance and her skills have contributed a lot to this drama.

Another thing to look forward to in this drama is the love triangle between Lee Eun-bi, and her two classmates: Gong Tae-kwang (played by Yook Sung-jae) and Ha Yi-an (played by Nam Joo-hyuk). Both of them have contrasting personalities, and it is an interesting journey to find out who Lee Eun-bi ends up with. (Spoiler alert) This drama gave me one of the worst second lead syndromes ever! The chemistry between Lee Eun-bi and Gong Tae-kwang kept me hooked up till the end. They shared an ample amount of screen time, and their friendship is pure and innocent, with genuine care and respect. Gong Tae-kwang was also among the first few people to find out about the identity of Lee Eun-bi. He is an adorable character; though he has a family history of his own, he never let his messy personal life reflect upon himself.

I especially love the OST “Reset” by Tiger JK. It served as icing on the cake. This is by far one of the best OSTs I’ve heard in a long time. The song is powerful, with an ethereal blend of delicate yet strong vocals; and rap.

“It’s okay…If you are hurt. Because you are just 18 years old…”

The story ends on a light note and spreads a message of standing up for the truth and following your heart. Teenagers are fragile, but this show celebrates the power of youth. Love interests of this show are complicated, but it overall ends on the note that teenage love is about where your heart bends since they are still young to know the gravity of love, which is completely justifiable.

Overall, it is a beautiful drama with a touch of almost everything; the way story is bound together is nothing but cinematic brilliance. Have you seen this drama yet? What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments