Underdog student dreams of breaking into the elite ranks in School 2017
by tineybeanie
KBS’s coming-of-age drama School 2017 continues its optimistic underdog tone in its new teaser as IOI’s Kim Se-jung shows her fighting spirit by dreaming big and not accepting the school’s status quo. She plays Ra Eun-ho, the lowest-level (sixth tier) student, who consistently places last in her class, ranking 280 out of 280.
Ra Eun-ho explains that in her world, “Everything about a student is determined by this one question: What’s your rank?” It’s no wonder that jaws drop when she announces her decision to go to the elite Hankook University. She has lofty dreams of becoming a manga artist, and she’s highly interested in the webtoon-media department there, so she becomes determined to try.
But obstacles abound as the last-place student attempts to study and rise to the top of her class. Thankfully, a couple people are on her side. When she explains that it’s her dream, fellow student Kim Jung-hyun (Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People) remarks casually, “Oh, I guess things like that still exist now. How old-fashioned…” But we see in the scenes that he’s supporting her all along, taking her on rides on his scooter and breathing fresh air with her on the rooftop.
Model student Jang Dong-yoon (Solomon’s Perjury) also stands up for Eun-ho when she’s physically bullied by some other students who think she’s becoming too uppity. It still ends in a huge fight that disperses when homeroom teacher Han Joo-wan (Blow Breeze) arrives. In a disciplinary hearing, harsh adult voices say, “Cut this girl immediately. The students can’t be friends; they’re just competitors.”
However, Ra Eun-ho just reminds herself to keep her chin up and “Don’t lose confidence” as she walks away with tears in her eyes. The copy onscreen explains her as “The forever last-place loser student who flips Geumdo High School upside down with her daring college admission project to go to an elite school.”
The two recently released posters also show the youthful energy of our cast, and the first one says: “The emergency recovery project of the tangled, colliding lives of the 18-year-old sophomores from Class 1 of Geumdo High School,” while the three main students, their homeroom teacher, and the school’s policewoman (played by Han Sun-hwa) sit against a graffitied brick wall. The second poster has the same text, but gives us a glimpse at the larger cast of students in the drama.
I’m not quite sure where the mystery bit is supposed to fit in (the previous teaser hinted at dark criminal behavior), but I’m liking this refreshing, upbeat tone much better. Monday-Tuesday drama School 2017 begin airing on KBS starting next week after the conclusion of Fight My Way.
Via iMBC
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Tags: Jang Dong-yoon, Jang Nara, Kim Jung-hyun, Kim Se-jung, kim Tera, Ryu Hwa-young, School 2017, Seo Hyun-jin, Seo Ji-hye, Sohn Ho-joon, Woo Do-hwan, Yang Se-jong, Yoo Ji-tae
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1 kabsy
July 10, 2017 at 10:15 AM
It looks good to me. I like the underdog, optimist tone, the relatable heroine and the tackling of youth issues and friendship which is quite refreshing, the mix with the mystery thriller tone will be interesting. But it does excite me a lot, I have decent expectations (I have high expectations for almost no show), this can work well and my fingers are crossed.
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CatoCat
July 10, 2017 at 1:39 PM
Main story is directly copied from japanese one. And Japanese version is based on a true story. I can already see many dramatic superficial moments in the show.
Hope it does well.
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nanabot
July 10, 2017 at 2:31 PM
Aha! Yup the plotline is somewhat similar to that Japanese movie "Biri Gyaru!" that movie....it actually touched me pretty well.
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gauui
July 11, 2017 at 1:00 AM
Yo! I saw the similarities straight away. I loved that movie, and it didn't even have a romance. The main character in that had so much warmth was relatable, I can only hope the lead in this drama is half as lovely and layered.
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2 juniebug
July 10, 2017 at 10:40 AM
This is bittersweet. I can't wait for this drama, but I also don't wan't FMW to end. The underdog tone is nice to watch, especially in a school setting. Every addition to the School series has amazing friendships and realistic features, so I'm really looking froward to see what this drama delivers. Also, am I the only one getting Sassy Go Go (Cheer Up) vibes? The thriller/mystery part is catching my attention the most. Another (hopefully) good-looking murderer/psychopath/other to look forward to!
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3 yhang
July 10, 2017 at 11:00 AM
I'm hopeful for this. I was disappointed with School 2015 because it's too far from reality, but I'm hoping that this would redeem it.
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4 Kimbap?
July 10, 2017 at 11:06 AM
I see an excellent opportunity for laundry detergent PPL -possibly the new and improved formula that keeps the students' shirts blindingly white so these antsy teenagers can be without worries when dreaming on rooftops with good looking friends, dealing with adults who are way harsh, and fighting against low self-confidence all while looking sharp.
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5 sirena
July 10, 2017 at 11:07 AM
I've never liked the idea of a students rank being displayed for the entire student body to see. I cannot imagine how nerve racking it must be for Korean students.
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6 littlemoonstar
July 10, 2017 at 11:40 AM
I ship Sejeong with Kim Jung Hyun already ><
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7 fatcat007
July 10, 2017 at 11:48 AM
I like her dream & the whole underdog theme. But why does everyone want to be part of the "elite" rank. The "elites" in high school are never nice. Hope she fights through with her supportive friends!!
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8 fay17
July 10, 2017 at 11:48 AM
Maybe just me, but kim jung hyun looks a bit old than the rest of the lot, don't know.
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9 marsinblue
July 10, 2017 at 11:48 AM
Cutie-pie Minhyuk being punched. *gasps*
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10 fay17
July 10, 2017 at 11:52 AM
So no bromance? I was waiting for another OTP like lee jong suk - kim woo bin lol. But I think I can say now, [ maybe will say this when the show ends too], nothing can beat school 2013, of all the school dramas probably.
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kabsy
July 10, 2017 at 12:59 PM
Maybe there will be a good female friendship, a sismance, whatever it is called.
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11 dream
July 10, 2017 at 11:57 AM
i think it's okay to have high hopes for this installment of school series; i really liked school 2015 with all its mysterious vibes so i don't have any issues regarding their decision to include mystery as one of its genres; most importantly, i'm eager to see Jang Dong-yoon back to dramaland, yep! just enough reason to hold on to this upcoming drama ^^
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12 mintkiri
July 10, 2017 at 12:27 PM
Jang Dong-yoon! He was great in Solomon's Perjury. I hope this drama goes well for him and gets him some attention~
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13 hannaehh
July 10, 2017 at 12:33 PM
I'm so excited for this! Really looking forward to watch School 2017
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14 Jenn
July 10, 2017 at 2:10 PM
Whaaat you can become a manga artist without having to go to an "elite university", lol. So many webtoon artists started by posting their work online.
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15 gadis
July 10, 2017 at 3:32 PM
It looks good. I like the upbeat, underdog tone too. Hopefully the mystery subplot will blend in well and give us an interesting take on the school series.
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16 ar
July 10, 2017 at 8:00 PM
Great teaser! I'm so ready for School 2017. Totally different aura from the first teaser.
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17 keiru
July 10, 2017 at 9:00 PM
Is that Kkot Bi from Radiant Office? So happy to see her again in another drama ^^
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keiru
July 10, 2017 at 9:02 PM
Also, Kim Se Jung's look kinda reminds me of young Nam Ji Hyun when she was starring in QSD
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18 elvira
July 10, 2017 at 10:17 PM
I'm here for Kim Jung hyun a.k.a. Mori from Rebel/Pyo Na ri's brother
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19 hung vuong bungalow
July 11, 2017 at 8:47 AM
Two other Vietnamese candidates Park Hyatt Saigon and
Sheraton Saigon were also on the list. The country is full of such
other gems, which you ought to discover upon visiting this
beautiful resort, located in Asia. Meanwhile the Superior Family Apartments which are ideal for up to six
guests offer 60 square meters of living space encompassing
one twin bedded room, a separate living room with four folding beds,
a kitchenette, a bathroom and a fully furnished balcony, again overlooking the sea.
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20 prosecutorsunshine
July 12, 2017 at 7:08 AM
I will watch the first few episodes -- the premise seems interesting and I really liked Jang Doon Yoon in Solomon's Perjury! I feel like there's gonna be another love triangle similar to 2015 -- and I'm calling it now, this time, the rebel/bad boy gets the girl!
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21 oosiee
July 12, 2017 at 1:22 PM
Seo Ji hoon is among the cast for real?? Yeppiee!!
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22 meliyasha
July 13, 2017 at 7:24 PM
From the description Seo Ji-hoon must be the one who holds guitar on the top left in the poster, right? Because I can't recognize him at all. But then again, I couldn't recall that he was the bad guy from Signal when I watched him in Solomon's Perjury.
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