Final Review: Who Are You: School 2015

It must be something in the water. After Ji Sung’s personalities in Kill Me, Heal Me. Kim So Hyun gets the chance to play double characters and she excelled at playing Lee Eun Bi and Go Eun Byul. Wow! And she is only 16! Wow! Wow! I can only imagine how emotional the previous School’s series were. I am truly glad I was able to see such a drama and glad they were able to produce one that can create change for the better. Thank you cast and crew (everyone) of Who Are You: School 2015!!!!

*Beware of spoilers*

When I had left the mid-review, we knew there was two, Lee Eun Bi and Go Eun Byul, twin sisters, living different lives. Go Eun Byul had her mother, her friends, and a possible crush on her friend Han Yi An, but lived with a painful reminder. Lee Eun Bi lived in a foster home and she loved taking care of the younger children raising them with fairness, and was bullied in school.

Let’s focus on Eun Bi. We see what Lee Eun Bi had gone through and how she came to receive such punishments from So Young; Eun Bi was saving her classmate from So Young’s bullying. When we see her at the bridge to take her life, we see Eun Byul hidden and ultimately saving Eun Bi’s. Having witness So Young bullying Eun Bi, she allows Eun Bi to live as Eun Byul. Momentarily, Eun Bi lives a happy life until her memories return. She does the right thing in letting Eun Byul’s mother know the truth, and though the mother has lost her daughter, she wants Eun Bi to stand by her side as her daughter and later on as Eun Bi not Eun Byul.

When So Young transfer to her school, Eun Bi has to prove herself as Eun Byul. Though Eun Bi struggles to keep herself intact, it’s her new friendships and mother that pushes Eun Bi to protect herself.

 

 

 

 

 

As for Eun Byul, we know that she lived a happy life but she felt scared and helpless. We are introduced to the mysterious Jung Soo In during Eun Bi-Eun Byul switch. The tension we saw between Eun Byul’s mother and Soo In’s mother was due to the fact that Eun Byul and Soo In were best friend and it was Eun Byul who had stop being her friend and finding Soo In dead in the classroom. She had died by an infection (encephalomeningitis) during class, but no one had noticed. Everyone just assumed that she was sleeping and it was reported that she had died after school. Outraged, the mother and sister try and get justice. Soo In’s sister starts to harass Eun Byul and Soo In’s bully by either sending texts to their cellphone by the deceased Soo In’s phone or playing with the lights when they were alone. Eun Byul wants to escape this torment, so after saving her Eun Bi’s life, she goes into hiding. And what brings her out of hiding is an article concerning So Young and her school that Eun Bi is in. Eun Byul heads home to face her family and demons.

I’m glad we get Eun Byul back. Known for not taking anyone’s s***t, she gives a run for So Young’s money. We get to live through Eun Byul as she was able to squish So Young like the disgusting bug she was whenever she tried to hurt Eun Bi.

Karma has a way of finding you. As not only did So Young get punished for her troubles, her father’s political career was cut off. What kind of parent are you that either says stay quiet or squish the people lower than you to keep quiet? Good always win. Also a high five to Eun Byul and Eun Bi’s mother who told off So Young’s mother.

After witnessing So Young’s father outburst to So Young, you can’t feel sorry for her. Props to the actress (Jo Soo Hyang) for playing such a villainy role. Though she doesn’t deserve it. She definitely needs to talk to someone and realize her faults. And I’m glad Eun Bi gets the chance to give her that. So Young won’t apologize for her wrongdoings and though I wanted to slap her, Eun Bi gives me the answer to drop my hand down lol.

“I know that you regret what you did. There’s only one thing I can say to console you. It’s that I’m alive. One day. when you realize what you have done wrong and there’s no one in the world left to receive that apology, how terrifying would it be? Later on, if you truly have something you want to say to me, I hope the fact that I’m alive and well consoles you a little bit.”

By the last two episodes, Eun Bi and Eun Byul get the closure they both needed.

When we were shown Eun Bi’s and Eun Byul’s lives, we knew they were different and in so, we saw what bullying can do. With Eun Bi, the class president, at the time, had stopped a bullying from progressing, but when she was being bullying, no one helped. For Eun Byul, Soo In was bullied, but Eun Byul did nothing, because she was scared and in the end, no one helped either. Bullying isn’t something to be taking lightly and it shouldn’t be done ever. Though we are scared of what the outcome might be like Eun Byul, we should stand up, no one should be put in pain, no one ever deserves it.

 

So… which side were you on Team Han Yi Ah or Team Gong Tae Kwang or Team Switzerland?

 

When we were introduced to Han Yi Ah, I thought who couldn’t be better? A swimmer aiming to do his best and Eun Byul’s childhood friend. He had feelings for her and though he could never voice out his feelings for her, we see how he treated Eun Bi during her time as Eun Byul.

When he finds out the truth, he is heartbroken and for good reason, but that doesn’t stop him from saving Eun Bi from So Young’s threat. Unfortunately, he gets hurt in the process and his swimming career dwindles. Eun Bi does her best to encourage him into physical therapy and it works. Once the real Eun Byul comes back, he’s upset with her but he realizes the meaning of Eun Byul’s words (they are not the same as they were) and they both get closure.

When we see troublemaker Gong Tae Kwang and his simple and kind gestures, I thought who couldn’t be better? He didn’t care about school and his reasons for rebelling was to get attention from his father, the principal of the school. His father wasn’t a perfect father and though he had his faults, Tae Kwang still loves him.

When Tae Kwang finds out the truth about Eun Bi, they become each other’s safe heaven, accepting each other’s faults. He picks her up when she falls and we love him for that.

By the end of the drama, we are shown that she choose Han Yi Ah, but we may never know…

The drama emphasized on two things, one of them is bullying and I hope it creates awareness to stop it from every happening, whether it be in school or online. The second is never giving up. We saw perfect example of the characters losing their way either filled with stress, doing the bad things, or giving up their dream, they found their way in the end…

“Not any more or any less, but just one person…approach a friend that’s crying and say this to them, ‘Both you and I, no matter what ordeal comes our way, we will get through it. It’s okay, if you’re hurt. Because…you’re 18 years old’.”

 

Check out the OST here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpJ7S3Pr8mA

Hope you truly enjoy the drama!

Check out the drama here: http://www.viki.com/tv/27117c-who-are-you-school-2015?q=scho