[Sportschosun Lee Ge-eun] Forbes, the world-renowned U.S. business magazine, praised the Netflix series "Get Schooled" (English title: "Teach You a Lesson"), saying it is "likely to be one of the best dramas of the year."
In a review published on the 9th, Forbes said "Get Schooled" dispelled concerns over the excessive violence of the original webtoon, "Get Schooled," and was reborn as a highly polished production.
Set against a backdrop of rising school violence and the decline of teachers' authority, the series centers on the Education Rights Protection Bureau, established by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea. Under the leadership of Gangseok Choi, the ministry chief who lost his daughter to school violence, the bureau goes to any lengths to protect victims of violence in all forms, including students, teachers, and parents. The show has become a hit for its satisfying portrayal of reforming delinquent students through force, but it has also drawn criticism for normalizing corporal punishment and human rights violations.
Forbes first gave high marks to the lead performances and the actors' ability to embody their characters. About Kim Moo-yul, who plays Na Hwa-jin, a former special forces captain, the magazine said he "masterfully portrayed a stern yet righteous character." It also praised his action scenes, calling him a next-generation global action star that Western audiences have yet to discover, and compared his performance to the film "John Wick." Forbes added that the shared sense of loss between Lee Sung-min and Kim Moo-yul, and the chemistry that emerges from it, are deeply moving.
It also praised the colorful Education Rights Protection Bureau team members, including Jin Ki-joo as the quirky and outspoken Hanlim and Pyo Ji-hoon as the eccentric deputy chief Bong Geun-dae, saying they bring energy to the drama.
Forbes particularly noted that "at a time when school violence is becoming more serious around the world, including cyberbullying via Telegram, the message of this drama is highly timely."
The magazine said the series sharply reflects the realities faced by children around the world, including socioeconomic problems in which those in power abuse the system and economically vulnerable people suffer, as well as the issue of overbearing parents who place such extreme pressure on their children that they consider drastic choices.
However, regarding an episode involving a false accusation against a teacher, Forbes said it was regrettable that the series did not also address the seriousness of grooming-related sex crimes and sexual harassment that occur in real schools and universities. Even so, it said the unpredictable and compelling narrative running through the entire drama keeps viewers engaged.
Finally, Forbes said that while there may be real-world constraints such as backlash over the original work or the actors' schedules, it would be unfair to deny another season of the drama, as doing so would take away a chance to offer a kind of vicarious satisfaction and escape to those suffering under the absurdities of reality. It expressed strong expectations for a follow-up season.
Since its release on the 5th, "Get Schooled" recorded 6.4 million views in just three days, ranking No. 1 among global non-English shows on Netflix's Top 10 list. It also topped the charts in 10 countries, including South Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, and has entered the Top 10 in 48 countries overall, causing a major sensation.
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