As an Australian and an educator, it is difficult to imagine the intense pressure put on high schoolers to do well in exams, especially leading up to college entrance. This series portrays those pressures in a variety of ways; overbearing mothers; competitiveness of trying to get into top academies; the need to study to the point of exhaustion; the extremes some students go to, and more. The 16-episode format allows for in depth explorations of so much and this is one reason why they have become so popular.
Crash Course in Romance also deals with common K-drama romance tropes such as class difference, with the well-off main character falling for a natural, struggling, hard-working woman, rather than the privileged, rich, and in this case, more beautiful counterparts. Upper class female characters are often portrayed quite negatively, and this is no different. It certainly reflects some stifling aspects of Korean society, where those with money seem fixated on appearance and gossip and are ready to judge extremely harshly those who step out of their class boundaries. One shrieking intense mother played by Kim Sun-young does this in consummate style, but then she is such an experienced actor, this is no surprise.
It has a darker element running through it, which adds intrigue and mystery. This certainly helps maintain interest, which is so important over the 16-episode format.
Finally, there is a sensitive portrayal of a character on the spectrum. Oh Eui-shik as Nam Jae-woo is extraordinary in this role, helped by good script writing. The whole family unit of the main players works so well with convincing relationship dynamics. The young Roh Yoon-seo, consolidates her position as a rising star after her award for Our Blues. Her portrayal of Nam Hae-yi was understated, controlled and therefore quite tricky to maintain. She did her character justice. I also liked the evolving relationship between Choi Chi-yeol (Jung Kyung-ho) and Nam Jae-woo, which was done so sensitively and beautifully.
So this series is packed with good acting, believable characters and there is a good deal to recommend it.
