"Hierarchy," a Netflix Korean drama similar in too many ways to the Spanish show "Elite," falls short.
The series follows rivalries among the students at the prestigious Jooshin High School, which is controlled by the top 0.01% of students.
A new student named Kang Ha, known for being bright and bold, enters the school and disrupts its hierarchy, facing disdain from the dominant 'plastics' group, including the jock Kim Ri-an, as he seeks revenge for his murdered brother.
While "Hierarchy" boasts high production values and familiar tropes, it lacks depth in storytelling, character development, and emotional engagement.
The show features talented young actors, but their performances are mixed, with some supporting roles being sidelined and the lead actor's performance coming off as more tired than the rich brat persona intended.
The talented young cast struggles due to a lackluster script, and the series lacks deeper exploration of academic pressures in a rich Korean household, resulting in a waste of time for some viewers.
"Hierarchy" represents a missed opportunity for Netflix to create a memorable addition to its K-drama lineup, highlighting the ongoing challenges in producing resonant K-dramas that can translate cultural nuances for a global audience.
Sources: hindustantimes.com, thereviewgeek.com, readysteadycut.com, theubj.com, butwhytho.net, leisurebyte.com, list23.com, pinkvilla.com, moviesr.net, dvd-fever.co.uk, decider.com, tomshardware.com, and dmtalkies.com.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
