Jess Reporting In on Moorim School

Moorim School, starring Lee Hyun Woo and Vixx’s Hong Bin, began airing earlier this month and I would be lying if I tried to say that I had not been looking forward to this drama.  The first four episodes are available with subtitles, and so I thought would put in my two cents on how I think the story is going so far.  It’s safe to say that there will be some spoilers ahead.

The Moorim Institute is a school for gifted students that focuses on the ideas of honesty and faith as well as academics.  The school is also hidden behind a seal and seems to have mysteries of its own.  Throw in some characters that are hinted to have some supernatural abilities with some great fight scenes and this drama was meant for me all tied up with a bow.

Yoon Shi Woo (Lee Hyun Woo) is a popular kpop idol who may be losing his hearing.  After an accident at one of his concerts and an internet scandal, he is told that he may find help at the Moorim Institute.  Wang Chi Ang (Lee Hong Bin) is the spoiled heir to a Chinese corporation.  He’s used to doing whatever he wants and his father has him kidnapped in order to get him to the school.  The boys end up being roommates, which does not go over well as their personalities have already clashed during a hotel mishap at Shi Woo’s concert.  Their early bickering can only mean on thing in my mind: upcoming bromance.

We do get to see the bromance bloom early on in the show beginning in episode three after the boys are caught fighting and are forced to trek up Moorim Mountain together to see which one will remain enrolled at the school.  They save each other’s lives, make a fire all Macguyver-like and share some food all while their fellow students watch their progress via a drone with the best darn battery life that I have ever seen.  I loved watching them go from disliking each other to becoming friends.  These are two characters with pasts that have caused them to be loners even when surrounded by people who shower them with (at times fickle) affection.  I feel like these two have never had a real friend that was not trying to use them for fame or money.

In the first four episodes, I am enjoying the cast.  I like the different students at the school and the two leading females.  Seo Ye Ji as Shim Soon Duk was admittedly a bit overacted in the first episode, but I really liked her spunk and I think that she has become more comfortable in her character.  Hwang Sun Ah (Jeong Yoo Jin) is a character that I really enjoy.  I love that she shows up Shi Woo’s concert at first appearing like she may start trouble, but ends up being a super fan.  The fact that the girls come to the guys’ aid while on the mountain also makes me happy.  The question now is who will end up coupled together? I’m rooting for two couples and no love triangle.

As with any drama, there are some imperfections.  I have seen it pointed out that there are some inconsistencies with the sets (such as the boys’ bedding being switched, which I now cannot unsee and look for each time we are in their dorm).  I’m sure there are some mistakes with the international students’ Korean, but they are better than I am, so I have no room to talk.  I have read this morning that there may also be some trouble as far as number of episodes, but I’m not too worried.

The drama is a bit silly at times (I watched the “real” competition fight between the lead guys at least three times), but I love the whimsical elements and the idea that there are mysteries to be discovered, not to mention hidden abilities to understand in some of the characters. The scenery around the school is beautiful. I love that this drama reminds me of so many book series that I would devour as a teen, and admittedly as an adult.  I’m looking forward to the rest of the drama.

Are you watching Moorim School? What do you think of the drama so far?