Sachungi Medulli shows a budget production with an exceptional storyline. Director Kum Sung Yoon has done a good job directing a team of vibrant actors like Kwak Dong-Yeon and Lee Sw- young, with a rational use of cues and gestures in the complete storytelling.
Sachungi Medeulli or Puberty Medley as they translate it in English, is a simple high school drama that aired in 2013, written by Kim Bo-Yeon and derived from a webtoon of the same name.
This show was aired for four episodes that show a complete love story, and an epic presentation of bullying, a quadrilateral love story, and much more of a Korean village's high school.
Extraordinary bravery and foolish acts of a person, provided he does not have to take care of the aftermath, has been perfectly portrayed in this series in the very first episode.
The plot set by this episode involves teenagers engaging in a fight with gangsters, going out with class monitors publicly, and announcing to participate in a national singing competition fearlessly.
There are scenes like a continuous situation of judgment about people from the new areas going on in the protagonist's head, his noticing of girl tumbling on heels, and the monitor's sleeving up her leggings on a lunch date, enough to represent the rampant teenage part of explained by title of the show.
The psychological implications of the frames used in this drama show real location shooting, and the environment of the school has been perfectly portrayed.
The situation when a person is in between devil and sea, where he can try to act brave but is beaten to thrash inside are gems of this story. The props team and director has done good job with repeated frames on and off the road to school, countryside flavor in people's tone, food serving and not too aesthetic presentation of a motel, huge piles of kimbap and fewer side dishes, one and only boxing center, etc presenting a flavor of originality in the show.
There is a cautious presentation of suspense in the second episode, maintaining the viewer's interest.
The presentation of cliches and countryside stereotype "man proposes first" is well acknowledged by the female lead.
When the episode wrapping-up starts, just what can be more precious in a k drama than a friend's smile for his friend blushes happily in love?
However, the actors look too old for the role.
Development of feelings like jealousy along with step by step set up of chemistry as per typical k- drama adds a flavor to the story when a totally stupid lead plays paper football in class using milk can, showing game of spirit exploits the dreams of 90s kids leaving them with a trip of nostalgia as it is one thing close to our heart which this show turns into pure romance.
Unexpected reunion and forgive me for spilling the beans here but, a twist of not getting the girl by both the main leads of story is unconventional for a k drama per se.
The dramatic change in people's attitude is shown by character of Ayeong. A teenage girl's feeling expressed in terms of arts, fulfilling a boyfriends dream, being there for each other and climax opening up with a final meeting is a heavily loaded plot, not quite justified with light presentations without details and slow pace.
The first two episodes were good but the wrap-up was a bit too hurried causing it to be a lot more "only rush" than actual entertainment.
Overall, this drama gets one star for real location shooting and good frame onscreen, one star for story flow, and one for amazing psychological cues used to explain more than actual story narration. Hence it's a 3-star drama losing 2 points on poor acting skills of the lead and support actors and a poor finish.
