I've held off watching this drama for a while now, mostly because I didn't catch it while it was airing. Then I kept wondering all this time if it actually lives up to the hype or is it just because of the cast. Truth be told, it's definitely worth the hype. It's beautifully made -- from the story to the acting, it was just perfect. I've actually read the first few chapters of Weak Hero on webtoon way before the drama came out, so my expectations were really high. Boy, did they jump over my expectations.

Now, let's get down to the review. The story was just made so realistically. Normally, I don't necessarily resonate with negatively developed characters, but Beom Seok's character touched my heart deeply. I know, he's like the most hated character because of what he did, but I completely understand where he's coming from. Although immoral actions are inexcusable, his story is truly one of a kind. I say this as I've also been in his position before -- the 'leftover' friend with no one to turn to. It's suffocating, especially when you'd just transferred schools. I've been there. When he tried to look for different 'friends', I understood it all too well. Everyone, if they were in his place, would do the same thing. The people you thought were your friends made you feel like a lost dog tagging along every time. Yes, they might not have meant it, but to Beom Seok, it was. Considering that he was bullied heavily to the point he had to receive therapy, it must have been so painful to see yourself be 'replaced' by someone else in your friend group. Just like what Si Eun had said, Beom Seok was feeling lonely. But to put it into Suho's perspective, it was also something to be angry about. I think what had to be done was for Beom Seok to explain what he truly felt to them, because clearly the other two saw him as a friend they treasured. However, that's totally easier said than done. The scene where Beom Seok hid in his closet, surrounded by children's toys was heartbreaking. It's like we could see that he never really got to escape his childhood trauma from his father's abuse and to the school bullying.

Aside from Beom Seok, I loved Si Eun's character a lot. He went from being an emotionless block that cared about his academic performance to a fearless person that loved his friends more than anything else, despite what they have done. Ji Hoon outdid himself with this one, truly. I was actually expecting an average performance from him, since he's an idol that trainedmore on performing rather than acting. The scene where he first attacked Yeong Bin was jaw-dropping. And even more so for the scene when he punched the glass window in the last episode. He truly embodied his character, not just acted as Si Eun, but really became him. It was like I wasn't seeing the cute member from WANNA ONE, but a student that had gone through so much. I'm looking forward to his acting in the second season!
Choi Hyunwook did well too. His character was static, in my opinion, though. There wasn't any development, but he was a catalyst for both of his friends' development. I loved the trio.

I really think this drama was very well made. It was very painful, especially the ending. I think there should've been a better closure, especially for Beom Seok, but I guess that'll have to wait for the next season.

I highly recommend this drama. Aside from the violence and foul language, it's an excellent drama that holds true life lessons.