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High School King of Savvy: Episode 1

Score another one for tvN. No, I haven’t been a fan of every single show they’ve produced, but they certainly do have a high track record of producing well-crafted dramas, particularly in this Monday-Tuesday rom-com slot. High School King of Savvy managed a deft intro to its slick double-identity comedy plot, but it also managed to sneak in a dose of poignancy that I wasn’t expecting, which I really enjoyed. For just being one episode, it’s pretty impressive that the show managed to make me like every single one of its characters, too. I have good feelings about the show, so I’m hoping it stays this solid. Fingers crossed!

SONG OF THE DAY

Trans Fixion – “One Way” from the High School King of Savvy OST [ Download ]

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EPISODE 1 RECAP

After a cute opening that efficiently lays out the central conceit for this show (high schooler moonlighting as an executive, shenanigans!), we open on a helicopter that flies above Seoul and lands on a private helipad. The young professional who steps out is greeted by an entourage of suit-wearing professionals, alerting us to the fact that he is no mere businessman—here be a serious hotshot.

He’s greeted by men much older than him and called Chief Director Lee—he’s LEE HYUNG-SEOK, one of the two roles played by Seo In-gook. Hyung-seok accepts the praise for a job well done and takes a stretch limo to the company headquarters for Comfo Inc., where he is showered with more praise by Comfo’s president.

At every step of the way, his secretary, JUNG SOO-YOUNG (Lee Hana), whispers reminders to keep him on the ball. Hyung-seok keeps his cool facade in place until they’re alone, and then it’s all run-hurry-scramble. He only has 25 minutes till his next appointment, and tugs at his clothing to change as they run.

One Superman-esque twirl in the revolving doors later, and he’s suddenly dressed in high school uniform—aha, so this was our hero, LEE MIN-SEOK, the younger brother.

Min-seok takes off in a sprint and secretary Soo-young shouts reminders and encouragement after him.

(Note: Here’s where the cold open ends, and there’s no indication of a time jump but based on later events, we can assume we’ve jumped back in time to see how this dual life came to be. I watched for the next fifteen minutes assuming we continued forward and encountered a serious moment of confusion, as you might imagine.)

We reopen on the ice, with Min-seok dressed in hockey gear and squaring off against the rival team on the ice. He’s the star of his team, intercepting passes and scoring goals. The coach warns the team to beware of fouls and for Min-seok in particular to keep his cool.

As predicted, the game gets more violent in the second half, and Min-seok is particularly harassed by the other team. Despite his assurance that he’s no hotheaded kid anymore, Min-seok is screaming his head off in no time and has to be held back by referees.

One of his cheerleaders gets so worked up that she shoves her way rinkside and swears at the opponents (“You call yourself a man?!”) and argues with the referee. The coach and other players don’t interfere, but her older sister Soo-young steps in to pull her away from the game. So the younger sister is Min-seok’s fangirl JUNG YOO-AH (Lee Yeol-eum), and the older sister is Min-seok’s future accomplice and secretary Soo-young.

Min-seok’s teammates have to tackle him to keep him from going after the other team, and Soo-young takes down her kid sister in a similar maneuver.

The coach punishes the unruly team for fighting, and he exasperatedly asks after Min-seok’s violent girlfriend. Min-seok protests that Yoo-ah’s not his girlfriend—she’s more like a stalker.

Pretty much. At school, Yoo-ah basically arranges herself around Min-seok’s whereabouts and inserts herself between him and a couple of younger girls with obvious crushes. She calls him Husband Lee and chastises him for flirting with other girls and not reporting his movements to her. She’s pretty domineering (in a cute way), though Min-seok and his two buddies just take her presence with weary acceptance.

Yoo-ah pesters Min-seok to go to the movies with her, taking away his food and nagging until he tells her to hold out her fists together. She does, and he places the bowl of cup ramyun on top of them, effectively immobilizing her since it’s still half-full of hot soup. (Ha! They totally stole that from Jealousy, the original trendy drama from the ’90s.)

Min-seok’s father calls to inform him that his older brother is finally coming back home tonight, after spending the last eight years in Germany. His friends wonder how it’s possible for brothers aged ten years apart to look like twins, and Min-seok wonders how it’s possible for brothers who look like twins to be so different in brains. As in, hyung Hyung-seok got all of them.

Future secretary Soo-young currently works with the Comfo retail team, and her colleagues gossip about the handsome young project director that they’re all angling after. Soo-young is hardworking and bookish, and stays behind at the office to confirm a fax while her colleagues check out. So she’s the only one around when said project team director, YOO JIN-WOO (Lee Soo-hyuk), calls with a request to see a contract.

Soo-young practically does a dance of joy to get the chance to see him face to face. However, in her hurry to bring the document to Jin-woo’s office, she misses hearing that her fax didn’t go through, uh-oh. She primps furiously on her way in, smearing the lipstick she’d haphazardly applied.

Jin-woo is in the middle of an angry business call, and he holds up a memo for her to read. She complies, pretending to be his secretary reporting on the latest development with a contract, and that gives Jin-woo the leverage to swear at his caller and apply pressure about the project.

Jin-woo praises Soo-young for thinking fast on her feet and takes note of her name. He reminds her of their interdepartmental dinner tomorrow, and she leaves in a happy daze.

At the airport, a Comfo employee waits to pick up big bro Hyung-seok at the gate, but wonders why he doesn’t show up. Hyung-seok’s luggage is the only one still on the carousel, awaiting its owner, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

At home, Soo-young reads up on the effects of pheromones, going the extra mile trying to beautify, but since it’s not her usual routine, she ends up with strange hair and some wrong ideas. Little Sis Yoo-ah tsk-tsks that her unni is abnormal.

Min-seok goes home to the modest living he shares with his warm-hearted dry-cleaner father, who turns out not to be his bio-dad but the driver who’d once attended to Min-seok’s father. His father has since passed away, and it’s this man, Choi Jang-ho, who acts as de facto dad now. Min-seok lives with Jang-ho and Jang-ho’s senile father, but as Min-seok calls them Dad and Grandpa, so will I.

The feast Dad has prepared goes cold while they wait for Hyung-seok to arrive. Dad’s clearly disappointed, and so is Min-seok, who calls hyung a rude punk. Min-seok tells Dad he’s too soft-hearted and always getting taken advantage of, but Dad bickers that Min-seok is too rude.

Belatedly they realize that Grandpa has wandered off, and Min-seok scours the neighborhood till he finds him fighting with an ajumma over a chocolate bar. Min-seok takes Grandpa home, who says that he stepped out to get the candy for Hyung-seok, who likes chocolate. Aw.

Min-seok looks up hopefully when a taxi pulls up to the neighborhood, then turns away in disappointment when it’s just a random ajusshi. Still no hyung.

At the Comfo offices, our shark-like project director Jin-woo gets praised by the president’s assistants for effectively getting an investment contract cancelled, probably via last night’s phone shenanigans. It’s clear that the president himself does not like Jin-woo, however, and he ignores Jin-woo and asks after Hyung-seok instead. Ah, so we’ve got two camps going here, and the president is on Hyung-seok’s side.

Thus Hyung-seok’s continued absence is a matter of increasing concern for the Comfo execs who’d scouted him. The retail department’s Team Leader Kim is antsy to get a hold of him and bows out of the company dinner to deal with this problem.

Meanwhile, the ladies of the retail team all take extra time to primp before meeting the hottie director. Everyone perks up when Jin-woo shows up at the restaurant, and Soo-young gets super excited when he seats himself in front of her and greets her by name. It’s a little embarrassing to watch her get so excited about the “signals” he’s sending of his interest in her, but it’s also really cute—who among us hasn’t been there?

Positive that his solicitousness means he’s declaring his interest in her, Soo-young plucks up her nerve and follows him into the men’s room. Omg. He takes her oddness in stride, and when she slips on the tile, Jin-woo smoothly catches her.

He asks if she’s okay, and Soo-young blurts, “I like you! I’ve liked you ever since I joined the company!” Aieeee, I take it back, it’s not cute at all and entirely embarrassing, stop it stop iiiiiiit.

Unflappable Jin-woo merely says that it’s not the case for him, and asks her politely to put those feelings behind her. Cruuuuush.

And so, Soo-young gets roaring drunk on juice boxes of liquor in a convenience store, which just gets me right there. *heart zap* Not that I’ve ever gotten ugly-drunk in a 7-Eleven, but I feel her pain. She whips out her phone to call Jin-woo (nooooo), apologizing for her behavior and blubbering on about pheromones.

While she’s on the bus, Min-seok steps onboard and overhears her leaving a message (or twenty) apologizing in great length about those pheromones and courtship signals. She wears her phone battery down and thus requests the use of Min-seok’s phone so she can continue, and he watches in amusement as she finally wraps up the long-winded message.

But Soo-young gets off at her stop with his phone in hand, and Min-seok has to toss himself out a window in his efforts to catch up with her. Luckily that’s not too hard since she’s doubled over in front of a building. He retrieves his phone but can’t quite bring himself to leave her passed out in the street, and tries to wake her to no avail.

So Min-seok calls the number Soo-young had been calling, and explains to Jin-woo that she’s drunk in a dodgy neighborhood. He leaves the address and tells “One-Sided Crush Man” to decide what to do, absolving himself of further responsibility.

I’m relieved that Jin-woo’s not a total ass, because he changes course to deal with the Soo-young situation. She’s completely zonked out and unresponsive so he has no luck finding out where she lives—and we see that around the corner, Min-seok hangs back, having stayed to make sure Crush Man would show up. Aw. I love these characters already.

Min-seok comes home to find a visitor there—Team Leader Kim, who leaps up and calls him Hyung-seok before realizing it’s not the right brother. Now the family gets an inkling that something went wrong, because Hyung-seok confirmed with Team Leader Kim that he was on his way to the airport. Team Leader Kim leaves with the request to inform him the moment Hyung-seok contacts home. Still, while Dad worries and wants to call the police, Min-seok tells him to wait.

That night, Min-seok finally gets word from hyung, who calls from a restricted number and tells him to listen in an urgent tone. “You’ll have to help me,” he instructs. “Go to my office and act like me, just for a while. I’ll explain later, but you have to go.”

Min-seok protests, but hyung is insistent and reminds him that they’re the only blood tie they’ve got. That works, and Min-seok thinks back to his childhood when his father had raged at him for cutting school, alluding to a dire family (read: financial) situation. He’d driven off in his car… and into a lake, killing himself.

The company had gone bankrupt, and there was gossip that he tried to make his suicide look like an accident to give his family the insurance money. Mom had collapsed and died soon thereafter, and then hyung had left Min-seok in (Jang-ho) Dad’s care to study abroad, while Min-seok had sobbed for him not to leave him. Ah, well that explains the combination of hero worship and resentment in Min-seok’s attitude toward his brother.

Hyung-seok adds that he’s in a “extremely difficult situation” and begs him to keep up the ruse for only a few days. “You’re the only one I’ve got,” Hyung-seok says. “I don’t have much time. I have to go. I’m trusting in you.”

In the morning, Soo-young awakens to find herself in a strange luxurious apartment. The events of last night flash through her mind and she curses herself for calling Jin-woo after her embarrassing display. She reads the curt note he left her, asking her to take her leave while he’s gone for his workout.

Unfortunately, before she can leave, someone arrives at the door. It’s Comfo’s President Yoo, who just… lets himself in? And then when Jin-woo arrives, he addresses the president as Father.

President Yoo barks at Jin-woo for having sent for his mother, who had been living abroad. In hiding, it seems, because Jin-woo assures his father that she can stay out of sight at the nursing home. President Yoo says that his mother will be recognized, and asks if Jin-woo means to stir things up for him and “get revenge.”

Jin-woo hangs his head meekly and takes the diatribe, while Soo-young takes the opening to tiptoe toward the door. Jin-woo sees her but doesn’t react, and his father informs him that he’s hired a young new chief director for the retail team. “You’d better be on your guard!” he warns Jin-woo.

Jin-woo calls Soo-young into his office that morning, where she promises to keep his secret. He says he doesn’t trust people easily and therefore can’t trust her. She assures him that when you have a one-sided crush, you don’t want that person hurt and have no reason to reveal their weaknesses, and therefore she won’t whisper a word.

Yoo-ah accosts Min-seok on their way in to school, and gasps at his haggard-looking face. He humors her guess that he was up all night watching porn, since that’s probably easier than the truth.

It’s game day so he gets excused from classes with his team, but on his way onto the bus, he gets a call from that same number and thinks of his brother’s pleas. It’s that mention of blood ties that makes him pause, and Min-seok turns tail with a grimace, racing off with his coach in hot pursuit. He jumps the fence and makes a break for it.

 
COMMENTS

Despite the fact that we all knew the setup from the beginning—weeks in advance for many of us, or about twenty seconds in for those who hadn’t been reading pre-show promo descriptions—High School King of Savvy handled its premiere episode quite well. In my view, the key was the way it combined the efficiently plotted narrative with a set of introductions that cut to the heart of each character. I keep using the word efficient but that’s really an apt description, and a notable trait that many premieres don’t value (or can’t achieve). Not only do we get an understanding of who these characters are with a minimum of laboring or description, we also are brought to care, and I’m very pleased about that.

For instance, even the minor side characters are played with an understanding that these are people beyond the lines they’re given. Like the sisterly relationship between Soo-young (the harried unni, a little off-kilter, the responsible one) and Yoo-ah (the immature one with all the street smarts). Independently they’d be in trouble—I see one sister getting conned by everyone and the other one conning everyone—but together you feel like they’ve got each other covered.

Then there’s Jin-woo, a character type that’s often rather flat. But I like Jin-woo’s professional mien (okay, though you could argue that tricking your business associate into action isn’t professional) and his treatment of Soo-young—he has a heart and a conscience, but he doesn’t string her along for a second and also isn’t any meaner than he has to be. His relationship with the president will probably put him into rival territory since it seems like his father is pushing him aside in favor of the new guy, and I suspect Jin-woo may be dealing with conflicted emotions over wanting his father’s approval and being angry at him for the way he was raised. (The show hasn’t told us yet but the description tells us that the father-son relationship is hidden, because he was born out of wedlock.)

Jin-woo’s conversation with Soo-young toward the end was interesting to me, because she was approaching the situation (of keeping her silence) from a stance of trust being the default emotion, and he was approaching it with suspicion as his default. I’m actually very curious to see if/how he develops with Soo-young because she’s his exact opposite—and frankly, in a drama where our hero is so much younger (only 18) I can’t exactly root for that to be the main romance).

Especially when I find the little sister cute in her own right, even if it’s in a steamrollery kind of way. And while Min-seok keeps Yoo-ah at arm’s length, he doesn’t actually actively shut her down, so maybe he’ll come ’round? We’ll have to see where that goes.

But by and large, my favorite aspect of the show is the family relationship between our four men. There’s the strained brotherly relationship between Min-seok and Hyung-seok, which feels rich and layered on its own merits, and then there’s also the surrogate father/grandfather relationship. Min-seok has an almost knee-jerk visceral reaction to hyung reminding them that they’ve only got each other as blood relatives, and that’s the tie that he can never cut, even if he wanted to. (You get the sense he may have wanted to in the past whenever his resentment bubbled up, though he never would.) But the instant that a stranger makes the casual comment that Min-seok and Dad look nothing alike, he gets tense and hostile, even though no insult was intended.

So he’s fiercely loyal and protective, and he’s become the glue of his family. I love the dynamic here, and this kind of emotional grounding is what makes me able to put my faith in the show despite its very out-there premise. Who knows what Hyung-seok’s real reason is for being out of commission, or whether the show can produce a rationale that feels realistic (I’m thinking of the whole botched plastic surgery excuse in You’re Beautiful, although at least in that case the absurdity was played up for comic effect). Still, because the show has gotten me emotionally invested, I’m not so concerned with that—I’m just gonna sit back, relax, and go with the hijinks.

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So excited about this drama!! Thanks, jb!

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Where is everyone watching this? It's not on viki, dramafever, dramacrazy, or any sites that I know.

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kdrama.com has a page for it, but there's no episode up yet...

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I have refreshed their page so many times now...Gah! Must resist urge to read recap... have to watch spoiler free!

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I don't believe many sites have it up currently. However, I've been watching it on dramago.com and both episodes are uploaded and subbed completely there.

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I looked too but no luck. Ambitions well law have a source? I'm about decoded to give up on Doctor Stranger so it would be nice to Habs a Monday - Tuesday replacement.

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Good Lord. That was a messy comment! Sorry for the auto-corrected muddle.

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That's okay. Thinking about Doctor Stranger does that to my brain as well.

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I know! I've been trying to find it everywhere but it seems like no website has licensed it, which sucks. Hopefully it shows up on gooddrama some time this week. Good thing dramabeans is recapping it and is positive about the first episode though.

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There is actually a relatively new licensed website called kdrama.com that has the rights to it! The subbed episode should be up within a day or so. The site doesn't really come up when searching for episodes on google so it's hard to track down, but it has some shows that dramafever and viki don't, such as the recent OCN show Ghost Detective. That's how I discovered it :) Hope this helps!

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kdrama.com incidentally is where I go for my You're All Surrounded fix, too. They simulcast it with same-day subtitles. Though they seem to be late on simulcasting this drama; it should be available already judging from the date on the site.

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http://www.dramacool.com/ -awesome site and the drama's on there:)

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gooddrama gets dramafever and viki subtitles, so I don't think there will be subs for it, unless another website subs it... like this new one people talked about.

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I found it here: http://kr.vslovetv.com/2014/06/1-high-schooler-king-of-life-ep1.html but it's with Chinese subtitles...

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It's on drama.net

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well..www.drama.net its an awesome site:)

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Dramabay.com has it with eng sub.

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gooddrama.net has it subbed

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drama.net has releasead the first episode, you can watch it there ^^

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dramafire.com
coolest site to watch full uninterrupted episodes fast..!

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gooddrama.com/net

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BEST WEB 4 VISITED !!!!!!!
4every1 who curious to know (NOTjust annie) d best website 2 watch it , u can try dramafire it have whole ep withou cut/diveded it into 4 part. its best web ever i usually watch every k-drama (there japn,taiwan,chine,anime too ^^) in this web.

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You can watch it on dramafire.com

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Yep. I'm gonna love this show. I haven't even watched it with subs yet, but I already know I love it.

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Omgush, Seo In-gook is a total winner. I looove him. Eeeeee!!! Soo-young's confession was soooo embarrassing. Hahaha. So far, I like what we have here. Hope the show keeps it up!

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I still have to see it when it'll be available...but reading jb's review-I know I'm gonna love it.....

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I like SIG's hi-schooler. I like his feisty fangirl stalker. It's her sister that I don't like.

In ep 1, she is shown to be a bumbling idiot, sb who has less common sense or general knowledge than the average person, sb who can't keep her lipstick on her lips when she is trying to look pretty for a special someone she wants to impress, sb who embarrasses herself w/o ends. Just Not my kind of heroine. I hope ep 2 onwards will show her good qualities.

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Not mine either especially with Fated To Love You promising a similar type of female lead. She seems competent at her job but that's faint praise when the drama focuses on her unkempt appearance and social blunders.

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LOL. The bumbling idiot ... And her "conning" sister with big mouth.

This drama comes with two sisters representing two of the female archetypes that are K-drama staples. (One other might be a chaebol daughter, I think.) As the story progresses, they will invariably gravitate towards the center from their present opposite extremes. The first or the second time I encountered them, it was refreshing and even ground-breaking. But, by the 10th time, it begins to look a bit overwrought.

For once, if we can get an average, well-rounded but otherwise-ordinary heroine without serious deficiencies or extreme poverty or ugliness who go perform deeds that are extraordinary (for her) and even get their men, that might be a welcome change. Not to mention a different role model.

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I think the drama you're looking for is 'Dalja's Spring', very realistic heroine, dealing with very realistic issues there. One of my favorites.

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Ah come on, bumblers deserve love too...even if they don't transform. And I totally loved her boy's reaction to her lipstick. Shows he has a good heart that accepts oddballs. I'm shipping them.

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Where can I watch this with english subtitle? Does anyone know? Until now, I still haven't find the subtitle for this drama.

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It's on drama.net and dramabay.com.

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The need to watch a drama episode is never so great as when you have no access to it. Hope I get to watch this, but if not, at least it is being recapped! Thank you!

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First episode did not disappoint. I really like the cast as well - looking forward to how their chemistry work out!

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Great recap as always Javabeans. :)

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lee soo hyuk. swooon.

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his voice *Q*

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His voice is killing me ded. And when he smiles! I don't think I've seen him really smile, with his eyes, in anything before. I adore Seo In Guuk, but I have a feeling Lee Soo Hyuk is going to run away with my heart in this one.

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lee soo hyuk genuinely smiling is like a rare unicorn sighting. absolutely mesmerizing and beautiful. i can see how some people find his looks to be scary, but he is just utterly adorable to me.

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Yep! Gonna watch this for him!

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Honestly I thought he was weird looking from pics and the teasers (never seen him act) but in the show, holy moly he is SEXY. His sexy voice plus the swagger with his fantasy looks...I'm not typically into pretty boys but he is definitely an exception.

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watching it for lee soo hyuk ;)

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Am I the only one who wants the director to be with the older sister? I like them together already

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I hope so too.

The pairing of the hottie director and Soo Young, I can see.

Because it's hard to see for now how they can get away with two sisters liking the same guy (who's only 18 years old) without it leaning toward...eekyy?

Though they did go there with Flower Boy Ramyun Shop; two brothers vying for the same girl but they were not brought up together if I remembered correctly.

Oh well, will have to see how it develops. Enjoying it nevertheless except for Soo Young's embarrassing conduct. It was really hard to watch. However because of that, it'll be interesting to see how hottie director falls for her...if that happens. :)

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me too.

and min seok with yoo ah the cute stalker <3

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I'm hoping Soo Young and Min Seok are more of a buddy team helping each other out professionally and romantically but never cross into romantic territory themselves.

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I'm not into noona romance but if i dont want sooyoung to fall for min-seok & vice versa is because i want the drama to show us development between the sisters since they might mirror our protagonist & his brother. & if both like the same guy it wont turn out as i'd like.

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Me too...kind of ^^
But who knows, I expect the romance to be light enough so we do not need to suffer much. Maybe the elder sister can end up with the director or with the older brother. Seo In Guk looks so young in the high school uniform, I do not know if I can take seriously a romance between him and Soo Young...but maybe there will be lots of awkward/sexy misunderstandings :D
I'm looking forward to see what happens...and for the fun. It's so good to have a nice drama to start summer holidays!!!

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Thanks so much for the recaps! I really like the actor who plays the dad. He seems to regularly portray good-hearted, working-class guys.

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Hi. I have downloaded this video but there is no subtitle. Do you know where I can download it?

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Asiatorrents has subs available for download this morning. The user "kingofbeer" is pretty good about uploading drama episodes pretty quick on air date, then subs within a day afterwards, if you prefer downloading. I also found it subbed on drama.net as stated upthread.

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I know it's quite early but I'm rooting for the older sis and the project director though I get uncomfortable watching her looking so weak and dumb like that.

Great start for High School King! :D

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Just watched it and am in love with it totally. (Yay: two dramas I'm loving so far from the new season. The other being Yoon Na's Street. So hope someone here blogs that.)

But back to this. I like how there is apparently a hero and a heroine and both are not seemingly attached to each other. That would be sooooooooooooo neat if we had a kdrama where main female and main male are in OTP relationships with other folks.

All that said, I like how we really don't know which of the guys is fated for our heroine. That's always something i miss in rom-coms. I'll be happy whoever heroine ends up with. Although I do want younger sis to have a beau as well. Am liking everyone in this drama so far.

As for missing hyung, either he's waaay shady and in legal trouble. Or --is he a spy? Or..has he found out something bad about "Dad?" Will see. At this point I can have fun guessing all kinds of possibilities until the truth rears its head.

Thanks for the recap. If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have watched epi 1.

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Where are you watching Yoona's Street? I've been looking but I can't find it anywhere...

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dramacool.com They only had the first episode subbed though. The other seven are still raw.

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This show is so cute! I have been watching it on a really good website called dramacool.com- it's titled as king of high school and is uploaded with english subtitles usually the day after a drama airs.

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can I say Seo In Guk is the TVN's rom-com leading man king ;)

his dramas in TVN are great! <3

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I am so curious. Who's the real romance pairing?

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I think the romance in the end is Legolas (Jin-Woo) and Soo-Young, with Min-seok playing cupid.

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I had the same case. Why they didn't put note for the time jump? editing mistake? I'm so confused, i stop midway and decided to find answer here to find out JB had the same problem with me.

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Very good opening episode! I have to admit I'm liking the idea of Min-seok and Soo-young having a cute romance, even though they haven't had many scenes together. The director is pretty great too though... Guess I will see after a few episodes who I want to be together!

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"Wallflowers" like Soo-Young (Lee Ha Na) are commonly depicted as modern women, who rise to fame through their determination and some luck. I applaud that notion.

However, women who are not fashionable, doesn't necessarily look so shabby. Lee Ha Na particularly looks pathetic as Soo-Young. One may argue that it is tough for a gangly/awkward outcast (character) to look cute. Even Yun Eun-Hye (Mi-Rae's choice) couldn't pull that off. But then, Lee Min-Jung did spectacularly well as an "ajhumma" in Sly & Single Again.

I only wish there are more "ajhumma" characters like Lee Min Jung's, who are flawed but strong AND LOOK GOOD.

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Because it's illeeeeegal!

Adorable puppy boys are one thing, but jailbait is no bueno. Good thing he has an older double. Best of both worlds?

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oh but ep2's bus scene and the whole follow-you-home shenanigan got me swayed... SY does think and move more like an eight year old for that matter. Haha. Tell me about excuses

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But isn't the actress that plays the younger sister, Lee Yeol Eum, only 18 or so, to Seo In Guk's 27? She looks SO young next to him. He doesn't look old, but he for sure looks like a fully grown adult male. Them kissing would just feel weird to me, because she still looks like a child.

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Isn't he 18 though? And most of the noona romances I've seen involve men in their 20s with women in their 30s, so how is that illegal again?

In fact, I think it'd somewhat creepy to see the high school little sister, whose actress is played by an 18 year old in real life, get it on, onscreen, with Seo In-Guk, who is 27 in real life...

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Maybe there'll be a time jump and all will be well when he's of age. OR maybe his brother and him will have one of those weird "Big" Moments. Right now I'm thinking there are about three possible guys and two girls. Young Bro, old bro, Hottie director. Lotsa possible permutations, especially if there's all this misunderstandings about identity etc. We'll see.

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After this episodes set up, I am actually hoping Soo-Young ends up with Jin-woo, and Min-Seeok ends up with Yoo-Ah. I thought I would be rooting for the noona romance, but now I want to see Jin-woo fall head-over-heels and beg Soo-young to be his woman.

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me too. The poor cinderella should get the needy rich chaebol anyway. But however it comes out, I'm okay with it. I think. I think.

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I have to admit episode 2 - bus follow-hoola got me pretty swayed. demmit, it's cute to get thrown at with a gum wrap because he's worried for you. wehehe

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I really love Soo-young. In fact, I just love all 4 leads, this will be so much fun ~ Although I have to get Answer Me 1994 out of my mind when I see In-gook in these roles.

Loved the step dad's comment to Min Suk, "Your blood sucks."

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Just saw the first episode! Seo in guk is such a great actor and this episode was interesting but I'm wondering how Lee Hana's character becomes responsible for helping him keep up the ruse???

Thanks for the recap!

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Other sources of English Subs:

http://www.kdrama.com/en/shows/king-of-high-school -- at times a bit slower than the others to post new episodes, but the video quality very good!

http://www.epdrama.com/drama/king-of-high-school-life-conduct/ -- again, sometimes slower to translate from raw to subs. Video quality varies by their source for the shows. In the case of episode 1 of High School King it's very good.

Like everyone else I'm anxious for new episodes of any show! Sometimes I'll wait for these sources though 'cause the experience is so much better.

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Another source I like for good quality video is http://sensen.tv/ -- so far they don't have High School King. But they are usually very slow to put up new episodes.

A trick with these sites is that the best available video quality for your computer/Internet speed isn't always automatically selected, but you can change this. With sensen, to see the options varies by the source they are streaming -- sometimes it's a little gear icon at the bottom of the player, other times clicking the upper right corner brings up the contols.

With kdrama.com the options are always below the player (before you enlarge it). You have to remember to check -- may not be the best quality right off.

Happy viewing!

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as long as there is ice hockey in it... I'll watch. :o) it's gonna help to ease my pain of withdrawal now that stanley cup final ended.

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BTW, the other day I came across a 2013 movie with Seo In Guk called "No Breathing". Very sweet film... plus it has another flower boy Lee Jong Suk (currently in Doctor Stranger). In swimsuits! ;-)

Available here:

http://www.dramabay.com/no-breathing/
http://www.dramago.com/korean-movie/no-breathing-movie

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For newbies: gooddrama.net and dramago.com are identical. All the same kdramas and movies. As I remembered there are a couple more mirrored sites like this.

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javabeans ~

Thanks for the recap. I like it so far. I like goofball Soo-young .

First time seeing Lee Hana , seems like she has a knack for comedy.

Pheromones ! I'm pulling for you Soo-young.

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Watched part of episode 2 just now. This show is absolutely tearing me up, a very rare occurrence for me personally. The humor is spot on and the characters are terrific, I will definitely keep following this drama. I hope dramabeans will pick it up as well and recap the whole thing! :)

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So true. This is the first drama in a loooooooooong while that had me totally laughing myself silly. I'd missed humor...and now here it is. And i think this is another reason why adorkable heroine works. She is just soooooooooo awkward. It's perfectly over-the-top.

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it is soooo funny and and adorable! the face SIG made at the end of episode 2 alone had me cackling! I love his acting here! The writing and entire cast is just on point, even the small supporting roles..i sometimes forget about the female lead though. I'm REALLY loving it so far and it's finally a drama I can enjoy! Haven't laughed this hard since History of a Salaryman. If you are feeling down or sad, watch this show, it will cheer you up.

I hope it stays this good and gets great ratings in Korea and overseas.

p.s. I have fallen HARD and fast for Lee Soo Hyuk. His face and voice keep popping up in my head!

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Salaryman is another hilarious comedy yeah, Lee Beom-Soo is a comedy genious when it comes to his roles in dramas. Watched the complete episode and it's also hilarious, and dat face he made at the end of the episode... Priceless! xD

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it is soooo funny and and adorable! the face SIG made at the end of episode 2 alone had me cackling! I love his acting here! The writing and entire cast is just on point, even the small supporting roles..i sometimes forget about the female lead though. I'm REALLY loving it so far and it's finally a drama I can enjoy! Haven't laughed this hard since History of a Salaryman. If you are feeling down or sad, watch this show, it will cheer you up.

Hope it gets more popular!

p.s. I have fallen HARD and fast for Lee Soo Hyuk. His face and voice keep popping up in my head!

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I LOVE TVN.
So far so good. Let's hope it doesn't go on a downward spiral like A Witch's Romance did. >_>
I'm loving all the actors. Lee Hana is amazing. AAAHH i love her. She's so good that I had to pause the drama a couple times because i thought i'd die of second hand embarrassment. :'D
GIRL, don't be going into the men's washroom to confess your love to a dude 'cause you felt his pheromones!!! LMAO i was on the floor.
Seo In Guk will always be my favourite actor. He always does his thing. So talented. AND SQUISHY. AND ADORABLE.
Also, I really hope both male actors keep their hair out of their foreheads because they look SOOO much better with their hair pushed back. Regina was right, Aaron.
YOUR HAIR LOOKS SEXY PUSHED BACK. <3

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Ugh. I could hardly watch the first half of this, because Soo Young is sooo awkward and dorky, I was cringing with sympathy embarrassment the whole time -_-

When she followed him into the MEN'S ROOM I panicked and hit the pause button out of fear of what was next... It was simultaneously better and worse then I expected. Aaaaaaiiiiiiii

She is like... my worst nightmare of my own dorky self.

Show is really good though.

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I liked watching her awkward because I felt I was watching myself. Although when she went in the men's room, I about died laughing. Sadly, it's something I would have seen myself doing a few years ago, but I just felt bad for her. Luckily, Jin Woo doesn't seem to be too hurtful or awful.

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LOL I fast foward it, when she enters the Men's room. I can't see how bad will she destroy herself. hahaha I love the story so far... I hope this will not destroy my expectation like Doctor stranger... -_-"" totally dissapointed with that series.

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This is my first time posting a comment in dramabeans. Although, i visited this website for last 6 months or so. I just wanted to post this comment to say that this recap is awesome. Thanks to javabeans for this awesome recap.

About this drama? This seems to be a good drama. I will keep watching it. Those, who haven't watched it yet, u can watch it.

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What's the title of the song in ep 2 while they were in the bus? Thanks

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Thanks for the great recap JB! Totally agree with your comments at the end. Really intrigued as to how all the relationships between the main four will pan out. Really great intros.

I'm liking this more than I thought I would! And I'm so happy because haven't been this excited about a drama premiere since Stars tbh.

I'm really endeared to Minseok and his family. The way him and his dad were comforting each other over hyung's absence under the guise of arguing got me right in the heart. The grandpa and his gluttonous ways completely cracked me up. I was giggling at him throughout. I loved seeing Seo In Guk in uniform again. He plays boyish so well.

Also cringing at Sooyoung with her signals. I had to pause to prepare myself for the impending doom. Usually these type of characters I just roll my eyes because really again? But I'm gonna give her the benefit of the doubt. She's adorable though. Really, really clueless and earnest but adorable.

The little sister reminds me of an aggressive puppy. Constantly vying for attention but really rather harmless and pretty cute once you forget that it's kind of attacking you.

Jinwoo is nicer than I thought he would be. I really hope his character doesn't venture into flat villain territory. I'm just weary because of his whole set up with mean CEO father of company he works at, the need for approval and all that. Soohyuk's voice is a gift.

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luuuurrrvvvv... Episode 1 was the hook; Episode 2 was line and sinker. I'm just chuckling the entire time and SIG's expressions are sheer utter joy to watch. I like all 4 leads and anticipate real character growth (crosses fingers, toes, arms and legs). I seem to like the shows on tvN for the most part...just wish Viki or Dramafever would pick more of their shows up as I'm paying for those ad-free subscriptions! argh! LSH was off my radar, especially during Tree with Deep Roots...but in this role, whoa, his voice, I hear it, and his smile helps a lot. I like how he's playing his character, lots of angles to explore.

Thanks for the recap JB!

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i love this drama so much already! can't wait for the next episode :)

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A couple of thoughts
1. Henceforth Jin-Woo will be called Legolas (you were thinking it!)
2. Something was weird about the way they emphasized Hyung-seok asking Min-seok to lower his voice.
3. This show has made me laugh out loud a number of times.
4. As a woman, I would just like to say that if I did all of the things Jin-Woo did, a guy would DEFINITELY think I was sending signals, so she shouldn't be embarrassed.

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Thank you for the recap!
10 points extra for the use of the word "diatribe."

;)

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i love lee soo hyuk's voice..i hope jin woo will be end up with soo young... i don't know but i'm always rooting for second lead actor... Jin Woo Fighting!!!

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second lead actor symptom lol..yess jin woo's voice soo sexy.. i also rooting for jin woo and soo young couple...

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I was confused by the opening too...no words were given as to there was a time jump

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This show is so cute! I have been watching it on a really good website called http://dramanice.com- it’s titled as king of high school and is uploaded with english subtitles usually the day after a drama airs.
http://dramanice.com/drama/king-of-high-school-detail

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Haha! THIS SHOW HERE!!!! I am new to kdrama, and after I got through with Coffee Prince, I tried to find something else. I needed a show that was similar to Coffee Prince as far as emotional multilayered subplots go! Soo Young is me through and through...okay...maybe with a few differences. She may appear weak because she is in love, but she knows when she had been wronged and heal her wounds by slowly getting over her crush. I can relate to that. She may be guessing if a positive action was a flirtatious one, but she is not trying to figure if a negative action was a positive one. I'll give this show major kudos for that! This sort of thing have been missing in the many-a-dramas I have stopped watching. And LORD HAVE MERCY, the kisses in this drama are hungry, passionate kisses. I like that.

Now, here's what I'm hoping: Soo-young and Jin-woo get together. Like really. I know how Jin-woo feel. When you lived in turmoil all your life you get used to it and then you must make new problems; in this case, Soo-young. And also, sometimes you don't know how you feel until someone is gone. Not in the 'do I like her or not' way, but more like 'blank...blank...blank...' to 'WHY IS THIS PERSON NOT IN MY LIFE ANYMORE?!!!!!'

Seo In-Guk has more flexibility with his role than Lee Soo hyuk because well...he's playing two roles. So I like that he is able to be playful and dance and act goofy! His acting ability reminds me of Gong Yoo in alot of ways. Not only can he be professional and nonchalant, he can be cute and silly! I will like to see Lee Soo Hyuk in the same way, but I'm afraid he might be too scared to do that--which is fine! If that is the case, I will like to see him in more serious roles, similar to the roles of Won Bin. I hope he makes a name for himself.

Well, so far I've watched up to eleven episodes. And I know I'm going to watch this drama over and over again.

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Does anybody know the ending song from this episode??? I can not find it on SHAZAM.... TT.TT

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