“School 2015: Who Are You?”
Image Source: Google - edited by me
If you have read several of my blog about movie or drama review, you may recognize that I’m not a fan of romantic genre. However, my little brother insist me to watch one of popular Korean Drama in 2015 which classified as school-romance genre. Yup the one that persuade me to watch it was my little brother. As far as I know, he’s not typical of sweet boy and really objected any kind of romance movie. Wondering why he keeps recommended this drama then I gave it a try, and this one is worth to watch.
For Korean World fans (my finger point to @LookUp ^^), maybe already able to guess which drama that I’ll covering about. This drama titled “School 2015: Who Are You?” Which is the latest drama of KBS' "School" series which have started running since the 90s. A little info, one of the biggest Korean TV station KBS2, has been releasing school-themed drama series since 1999. Usually the beginning of the title contains the word "School" and followed with alternative titles. The story of each drama generally discuss about life of a teenager in school at the time the drama was released. However, the flow of the plot for each drama so far are quite varied. One of this drama series that quite popular is “School 2013” which released in 2013.
In the drama series “School 2015: Who Are You?”, we met with the South Korean’s teen stars whose on the rise, such as Kim So-Hyun, Yook Sung-Jae (member of BtoB) and Nam Joo-Hyuk, whose their acting skills begin to attract the appreciation of the audience. There was also Jo Soo-Hyang, a new teen artist who acted very well in this drama even though she was only played a second-lead character.
Teaser School 2015: Who Are You?
Video Source: Youtube
With the theme of the school, romance, friendship and suspense, this drama is quite okay, although there were a little senseless plot and the love story that is less than satisfactory for viewers. However, this drama successfully inculcate moral message and highlight the case of bullying which is still rife in school life. The author is also able to convey society's issue, which unwittingly still embedded in the minds of the public, especially teenagers. Bullying itself not only in Korea, but also in other countries.
About “School 2015: Who Are You?”
Eun-Byul and Eun-Bi (both played by Kim So-Hyun) is a twin sister. They were orphans and had been treated until toddler at the same orphanage in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang. However fate separated them. Eun-Byul was adopted by a wealthy family and moved to Seoul, while Eun-Bi remain in the same orphanage through adolescence. Eun-Byul's memory is more powerful, so she's only one who remembered that she had a twin sister in Tongyeong. While Eun-Bi had forgotten that she still has family. Both of them never communicate directly with each other since the split.
Go Eun Byul, The Lucky Twins
Image Source: Google
Eun-Byul lived well in Seoul. The parents who adopt her loved her, gave her a life that is more than enough. Eun-Byul studied at a private school, smart, confident, and popular among her friends. From the outside she looks like a girl who was cold and arrogant, but especially good to his friend Han Yi-Ahn (Nam Joo-Hyuk). She was never lacking of anything, except her heart which often still think of her twin sister who lived far away in Tongyeong. Eun-Byul secretly still watching Eun-Bi, finding out the news of his sister, however Eun-Byul never dared to meet or talk with Eun-Bi directly.
Lee Eun Bi, The Unlucky Twins
Image Source: Google
While in Tongyeong, Eun-Bi lived with propriety. She only knew that she was all alone, doesn't remember that she still had a sister. Eun Bi attended the local public school, learning and helping take care of the orphanage where she lived and grew up. Her school performance is mediocre, nothing special. Sadly, Eun-Bi has long been a target of bullying from her friends, particularly by her classmate named So-Young (Jo Soo-Hyang). She was experiencing mental distress for many things.
One day, Eun-Bi had an accident and lost her memory. When conscious, a woman who she didn’t recognize called her Eun-Byul and take her to Seoul. Due to her memory loss, Eun-Bi really thought that Seoul, the private school, her popular friends, beautiful clothes, and a kind-hearted mother is her life before the amnesia. However over time, Eun-Bi, (who is becoming Eun-Byul) began to smell a peculiarity in the identity that she has now.
If she (Eun-Bi) is not Eun-Byul, who is the figure that she has replaced? What is her relationship with Eun-Byul, even her family and her friends believed that she was the real Eun-Byul? And where did the real Eun-Byul disappear?
The Characters of “School 2015: Who Are You?”
Image Source: Google
| ❶ | Kim So Hyun (김소현) as Lee Eun Bi (이은비) & Go Eun Byul (고은별) Lee Eun Bi is a girl who lived in the orphanage "Love House" and take care of the children in there with a vengeance. However, at the school she has always been the subject of bullying and nobody was willing to help her. This situation makes her stressed that she was thinking about suicide. Meanwhile, Go Eun Byul, is Eun Bi’s twin sister who adopted. She is a haughty, cold but popular girl, who secretly always watching Eun Bi and she’s the only one who knows their relationship. Eun Byul is actually a very good person however because of an incident, she changed her attitude to cover her fear. |
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Nam Joo Hyuk (남주혁) as Han Yi Ahn (한이안) |
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| ❸ | Yook Sung Jae (육성재) as Gong Tae Kwang (공태광) Gong Tae Kwang, is Eun Byul’s classmates who naughty and not close to his friends. Tae Kwang always considered Eun Byul as an evil person until he meets with Eun Bi, who he thought was Eun Byul. Tae Kwang fascinated by the differences of Eun Byul attitude since Eun Bi has replaced her. Then, he always approached Eun Bi and wanted to get close with her due to his dark past and feel lonely. |
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| Jo Soo Hyang (조수향) as Kang So Young (강소영) Kang So Young, is Eun Bi’s classmate in Tongyeong who always makes Eun Bi as the object of bullying. When the news broke that Eun Bi died, So Young was transferred to Segang High School and met with Eun Bi, who now known as Go Eun Byul. So Young is trying to reveal Eun Bi’s real identity and search for evidence to support her theory. |
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A Person Who Calls You by Your Real Name
The first aspect that attracted me to this drama is the way the author preserves my curiosity along the episode. Two thumbs up for the author. This drama manages to maintain its suspense genre on the beginning of story. It keeps make me wondering, questioning, guessing, and can’t handle myself to continue watching the next episode. The drama is successfully churning my curiosity. All mysteries are answered slowly, one by one, while injecting a bit by bit clue in every episode which may guide you to a wild imagination.
Eun Bi being bullied as Soo Hyang's Birth Day Present
Image Source: Google
Another aspect of the added value of this drama is the story itself that covers about the social issues that are still common, which is bullying. Forms of bullying itself is not limited to the direct action such as extortion or abusive behavior against a person. However, indifference and being silent when witnessing bullying acts is also included in bullying behavior, albeit in a more refined version. Similar with what happened with Eun Bi, where many parties are silent though they realized that she’s being bullied. Unconsciously, the ignorant attitude of the people around Eun Bi has also come to be perpetrators of bullying acts indirectly.
Eun-Bi Life as The Victim of Bullying (Reset - OST School 2015: Who Are You)
Video Source: Youtube
Unfortunately, this clever story ideas wasn’t coupled by the development of the characters. Here, Eun Bi, who is victims of bullying in the end still can’t fight for herself but instead her problem is solved by her twin sister, Eun Byul. I think it would be better if Eun Bi has become a person who is strong and able to fight against those who commit acts of bullying on her. I think this message will be able to motivate the victims of bullying that the pressure they receive will be eliminated if they dare to fend for themselves. Although, Eun Byul action by take care and confronting people who has doing bullying to Eun Bi could be good example on what community should do when they witness the act of bullying.
Eun Byul Confronted Soo Hyang for What She had Done
Image Source: Google
While for the love story, it's quite common in a drama with two male and one female characters that the female will choose one of the man. However, her decision quite out of my prediction. I'm kinda wondering why the writer choose to end up those two person being together.
Who will Eun Bi Choose? Tae Kwang or Yi Ahn?
Image Source: Google
Well, bottom line, this drama is quite worth watching. Personally, I give it 8 out of 10. The story quite deep. It recount that the rough characters on teenagers not just show up, there must be a trigger for it. Often, because of unhealthy situation at home make your children find an outlet for their stress outside the home. This situation sometimes led to bullying. In the end, the participation of teachers, parents and friends can help solve this problem. However the question is, “are you willing to help?”
