Good Ol’ Review: Excellent Cast Powers Resonant and Unflinching “Weak Hero Class 2”

TYPE OF REVIEW : GOOD OL’ REVIEW
No spoilers.

I can’t believe it’s been a little more than two years since Weak Hero Class 1. It ended up being my #7 favorite Korean drama of 2022. But maybe even higher in hindsight.

This is how I summarized my praise for the season: “Weak Hero Class 1 is a thrilling, yet sobering portrait of young students and the different struggles, difficulties and momentary joys they experience while growing up in a society that, too often, neglects and pushes them aside. It is strongest though as a character piece, telling the story of friendship and bonds that must survive under the weight of all that is happening around them.”

And after watching the eight episodes of season two, I can easily use that exact same description for it as well. Weak Hero Class 2 not only picks up right where the first season left off in terms of its story, but also with its unflinching and sobering approach to depicting that story.

The season begins with Si Eun having trouble getting by in his new school. Not because he’s being terrorized by other students, but because of his lingering guilt over what happened to Su Ho. So much that he has been unable to sleep since. He has kept to himself since coming to the new school and the other students, hearing of his reputation, have kept their distance from him.

That is until Jun Tae (Choi Min Young), who is forced by the resident school bullies to swipe students’ cell phones, is motivated to stand up for himself thanks to how he interprets Si Eun’s passive remark to him. That brings them closer together. At least, as close as Si Eun will allow. But it also enrages the lightweight bully (Yoo Su Bin) who then tries to drive a wedge between Si Eun and the true “king” of the school, Park Hu Min (Ryeo Un), known as Baku, and his best bro Go Hyun Tak (Lee Min Jae).

This leads to Si Eun learning of The Union, an alliance of bullies from all high schools in the area coming together as a unified teen crime syndicate of sorts. Of which, Hu Min has worked to exclude their high school from, much to the ire of The Union’s head honcho Na Baek Jin (Bae Na Ra) and the group’s #2 Geum Seong Je (Lee Jun Young).

As Si Eun starts growing closer to Jun Tae, Hu Min, and Hyun Tak, The Union’s violent aggression, especially Baek Jin’s seeming focus on Hu Min, threatens to rip them apart. While also ripping open the slowly healing wounds Si Eun continues nursing.

Just like season one, Weak Hero Class 2‘s overall premise isn’t just simply about school violence. Perhaps because of its webtoon origins and manhwa vibes, the story’s scope extends beyond the school walls and features more heightened elements. Both seasons have the resident bullies involved in outside criminal activities with which Si Eun and his friends, unfortunately, get caught up in. That’s what eventually drove the tragic ending of season one. And as mentioned, that continues to hang over Si Eun at his new school.

What Weak Hero does well across both seasons is maintain its focus on a character-driven narrative and address and depict the familiar scourge of school violence in Korea with care while also injecting the story with some youth crime drama. Which can admittedly be a bit more ambitious than your run of the mill high school drama.

Like Class 1, Weak Hero Class 2 is at its strongest when it is focused on character-driven drama. And most especially when exploring the relationships between the main characters. Watching the evolution (and breakdown) of Si Eun’s friendship with Su Ho and Beom Seok in season one was incredibly engaging. And season two is able to do the same (though with a different outcome) with Si Eun’s relationship with new friends Jun Tae, Hu Min, and Hyun Tak.

What’s great is that season two does not just recycle dynamics or scenarios from season one regarding Si Eun’s interactions with his new friends (and enemies). The story is different, yet familiar. And that allows for both fans of season one as well as viewers completely new to the story to equally enjoy the narrative.

It is an absolute joy to see the friendship of these four young men develop and remain a driving force for not only the narrative, but the way the series pulls you in. The characters’ relationships coupled with the talented cast’s performances help to draw you in almost immediately. Endearing, charming, and charismatic; it’s easy to be engaged and invested in their journey and overall story of the series.

The eight episodes are fast-paced. And admittedly, it would be very welcome to have had a bit more time to spend with these characters. Being able to more fully flesh out the characters, both protagonists and antagonists, would surely result in even more emotionally affecting moments. Most especially when it relates to the complex relationship between Hu Min and Baek Jin.

Still, as it is, Weak Hero Class 2 is a nonstop rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. It will have you cheering, laughing, crying, smiling, and even punching the air right along with the series’ brutal fight scenes.

But again, even with the series’ more ambitious and broader scope, its core is with its characters. Depicting young men dealing with guilt and doubt, or seeing true friendship and brotherhood develop in unlikely places; these are what make both seasons of Weak Hero truly engaging and relatable. The series approaches these themes with heart and sincerity. And again, does not shy away from the most difficult of aspects with these themes.

And these well-written characters are brought to life by an excellent ensemble. A young, talented cast that helps to elevate what is already strong material.

Park Ji Hoon has proven himself to be such a versatile actor. Weak Hero Class 1 might have been the first introduction to him for many people. But he has shown how strong he is as an actor in diverse roles in series like Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency, Love Song for Illusion (for which he won a KBS Drama Award for), and the excellent At a Distance, Spring is Green which is probably the best showcase for that versatility.

Here as Si Eun, Park Ji Hoon delivers the necessary nuance to what can be a complicated and difficult character to bring to life. This season especially, the walls Si Eun puts up slowly, but surely start to get chipped away at. And Park Ji Hoon depicts that with a subtlety that is so important to the greater narrative. And seeing Si Eun’s emotional journey through the season is so fascinating.

For this season, he is joined by a new cast. And each of the main characters are able to deliver throughout the eight episodes.

Ryeo Un as Park Hu Min is captivating with the way he must balance the character’s jolly attitude with the pain and darkness he tries to keep deep down inside.

Choi Min Young as Jun Tae has an endearing personality that allows for the character’s relatable and sincere growth be like the steady hand for the series in the middle of all the chaos surrounding them.

Lee Min Jae has a charismatic aura that gives off a certain first impression when meeting Go Hyun Tak. But as the series quickly reveals his softer and unexpectedly friendly personality, Lee Min Jae has no problem switching it up and offering a similar groundedness to the proceedings.

Bae Na Ra delivered a breathtaking performance as Sung Min in season two of D.P.. He was one of my favorite performances of the year. And he proves his incredible talent once again here as Na Baek Jin. As the series’ antagonist, Baek Jin is the most complex character. Someone who is mysterious, but so outwardly vicious. Yet at the same time, Bae Na Ra’s performance leaves that little bit of space to allow for some kind of understanding with Baek Jin. And it takes a very careful and steady performance, built upon the most specific of nuance to allow that to happen. Bae Na Ra is effortless. And it is almost a shame that the series does not have enough time to allow him to truly explore the many facets of Baek Jin’s character.

Lee Jun Young as Geum Seong Je and the scene stealing Yoo Su Bin as Choi Hyo Man also contribute to the vivid world in very unexpected ways as well. And they all come together as part of this strong ensemble.

Overall, Weak Hero Class 2 proves to be a worthy successor to its acclaimed first season with its unflinching portrayal of the cyclical nature of violence and its profound impact on young lives. By focusing on a character-driven exploration of human relationships in the face of an unforgiving world, the series offers a thought-provoking and ultimately moving commentary. One that makes for a truly satisfying and resonant viewing experience that lingers long after the final episode.