The Wavve and TVING streaming sites captured Korean drama fans with the show High School Return of a Gangster. The series was made available for streaming on the sites in May 2024.
When the eight episodes were new, viewers could access them every Wednesday at 14:00 (KST). Now, they can enjoy the show from start to finish on these streaming sites.
High School Return of a Gangster takes us on a journey exploring various social issues while offering a unique perspective on handling them.
Here are some of the highlights that had us captivated by the series.
1. Plot overview
The show focuses on Kim Deuk-pal, a 47-year-old gangster who finds himself in 19-year-old Song Yi-heon’s body. This happens when Kim goes to save Yi-heon from ending his life.
Kim then has to navigate being a teenager and the problems associated with that phase of life. He discovers that Yiheon has been a victim of bullying and works towards stopping the bullying from continuing.
This switch follows how the gangster copes with this new world he has been thrown into. We laugh, cringe, cry, and feel various emotions that the actors work hard to portray.
2. Adaptation from a web novel
Initially, High School Return of a Gangster was a web novel titled “I, A Gangster Becomes A High School Student.” The web novel written by Horol has also been adapted into a webtoon series.
The book was originally classified in the Boys’ Love (BL) genre, but the series adaptation is considered a bromance. Show producers justified the change of genres by saying the BL genre was less lucrative in production costs.
Some fans of the web novel complained about the change, claiming the series straight-washed the characters. Meanwhile, other fans were excited, as most of the novel’s originality is kept in the series.
3. Cast members
Most of the cast members of High School Return of a Gangster are rising stars and their performances were nothing short of brilliant.
Yoon Chan-young plays both Song Yi-heon and Kim Deuk-pa in this series. He is lauded for flawlessly showcasing the differences between the characters.
Supporting characters bring out the show’s depth as they help build the storyline. The inclusion of Jae-hyun, a member of the K-pop group Golden Child, draws his fans to watch the series.
4. Social issues
High School Return of a Gangster tackles a couple of societal problems. We get to experience how people perceive mental wellness and how they treat those suffering mentally.
Song Yi-heon struggles with depression, that makes him want to cut his life short. He is constantly bullied at school for his timidness, and it affects his mental health.
The consequences of bullying are also highlighted in the show. Song Yi-heon, possessed by Kim’s spirit, can finally stand up to his bullies.
Bong Jae-hyun, who plays Choi Se-Kyung, brings out the effects of domestic violence and how people deal with the aftermath.
We also get to explore how friendships can be healing, as Yi-heon and Se-Kyung get to help each other through their difficulties.
5. Season 2
Given the show’s ending, a new season could follow Yi-heon and Se-Kyung’s college journeys.
TVING and Wavve are yet to provide information on whether the show will be renewed but we remain optimistic.
One can stream the show on TVING, Wavve, Viu or Hulu. Happy viewing!