[REVIEW] TV series "Master of Study"

The cast of TV series "Master of Study" [KBS2]

"Master of Study" - Final episode (KBS2 TV, 9:55 PM)

TV series "Master of Study" was never a well-made drama, not even at the end. Out of respect to its target viewers perhaps, the story may have been overly one-dimensional and moved forward without creating much trouble, but it created occasional moments of boredom and the students' teacher and heroic human rights lawyer Kang Seok-ho (played by Kim Soo-ro) ended up remaining on a predictable path. The parting scene between Hahn Soo-jung (played by Bae Doona) and Kang Seok-ho even displayed soap-opera qualities while providing no rationale.

Despite such shortcomings, "Master of Study" is a drama which possesses a mysterious power to attract viewers at certain moments. At the center of such appeal stood the reality created by the young actors who played students of the special "Cheonha University" class. The young actors, pouring out tears while seeing Kang Seok-ho off, displayed facial expressions that could only be shown by people who had given their all for their dream, like the students of Byung-moon High School. Pul-ip (played by Ko Ah-seong) and Bong-goo (played by Lee Chan-ho) got accepted, Baek-hyun (played by Yoo Seung-ho) goes after his dream which he had given up on, Chan-doo (played by Lee Hyun-woo) learns how to give up in order to get what he wants and Hyun-jung (played by Jiyeon) finally begins contemplating what she wants.

Even with the so-and-so consequences, it is difficult to just criticize this drama. While their concerns are shallow, the scope narrow and their solutions lopsided, the actors somehow succeed in delivering the extremely old-fashioned theme of 'working hard to achieve the dream'. They even convince viewers to agree with them, saying that all they need to do is insert their own ideals in place of the show's theme -- academics or a prestigious college. But really, compared to stories of a housewife reviving the family fortune with her cooking skill and a poor young girl climbing the social ladder by marrying up, the solution seen in "Master of Study" was shameless yet more realistic and honest.

Reporter : Yoon Hee-Seong [email protected]
Editor : Lynn Kim [email protected]
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