My Thoughts On The Popularity Of 'Itaewon Class' In Netflix PH

I remembered watching Crash Landing on You because it trended number one in Netflix Philippines until today. Now, if you happen to have Netflix and you're a Filipino - please check the trending now and you may notice Itaewon Class is number two right now. Not surprisingly, ABS-CBN even made a review out of it. I decided to check it out and decided to write this speculative post on its popularity. Sometimes, something foreign doesn't get popular in the Philippines that fast and takes a bit of momentum. However, it seems that Itaewon Class would have something that made Filipinos like it so much than just the K-Drama fever.

I think it has to do something with the characters and the social ills that happened. Okay, beyond the Erika Toda clone Kwon Nara - I decided to dig deeper into the villains themselves. The anti-hero Park Saeyori is a guy who wants to fight for justice and later gets blinded by vengeance. Who are the worst villains? Well, I'd talk about the smug founder of Jangga Corporation with Chairman Jang and his incredibly spoiled son Geun Won. Chairman Jang also sired an illegitimate child who hates him named Geun Soo. Much of the conflict escalates because Kim Hye Eun the executive director is a far better person than Chairman Jang. Chairman Jang thinks too highly of himself without considering he shares his success with the other directors. The issue also has Guen Won who is spoiled rotten. Many times, I just want to slap Chairman Jang for creating the spoiled monster that will eventually destroy the livelihood of Jangga Corporation. Chairman Jang should've made his son climb up the steps to learn the ropes. At least Sun Woo Hwan in Brilliant Legacy matured but no, not Guen Won. Guen Won remains the bratty rich guy because there's no one like Grandma Jang to set him straight!

I think the show itself really has a lot of stuff Filipinos can relate to. Early on, you've got social inequality which can be seen between the oligarchs and the average Filipino. You've got the schooling environment where the anti-hero Saeyori was unjustly expelled when he could've just been suspended for hitting the smug Guen Won. Guen Won brags that he is "the law" in the high school they were in. It really made me mad that the teacher (who was played by Baek Seung Hyun) was an exact opposite of Manager Lee in Brilliant Legacy. While Manager Lee wasn't willing to let Hwan intimidate him and played a role in changing the angry brat - this one condoned to the faults of Geun Won. I guess Guen Won's high grades were passed over by a silver platter. If that happens then Chairman Jang created the stupid evil son he has today. Saeyori did deserve jail time for what he did. However, a lot of his unlawful actions are a result of corrupt authority figures that make it look like human rights are for sale. I don't blame Saeyori for nearly killing that a**hole Guen Won. Kudos to directors who chose the smug-looking Ahn Bo Hyun to excellently make Guen Won so unlikable! Could the same be said about those extrajudicial killings in the Philippines because of a really weak justice system?

With that said, maybe Itaewon Class' popularity among Filipinos can't be disputed. I would also credit it to how it really portrays true social injustice than just the classic rich vs. poor narrative. It also includes the middle class (such as Saeyori) and the lawful rich (like Hye Eun). It encourages the anti-hero Saeyori to rise above the ashes against the villainous Chairman Jang while encouraging Hye Eun to lead the company in the right direction. On the other hand, I do think Itaewon Class is a messy story. Personally, I just find myself unable to accept some stuff like Hye Ri is actually a man pretending to be a woman (when the character is clearly played by a WOMAN) or that there's too man sudden twists and turns. For me, maybe the simplemindedness added to that factor. Though it'd be some time before Crash Landing on You will be overshadowed by this popular of a woke mess.