Review: High School King of Savvy (2014)

One mysterious phone call. An absurd request. Can a mere high school boy really lead a double life as asked?

High School King of Savvy is a 17-episode romantic comedy that revolves around the life of Lee Min Suk, a high school student and ice hockey player who suddenly finds himself thrown at the corporate world to impersonate his brother who looks exactly just like him. Living a double life with little to no knowledge about the new world around him, he finds solace in Jung Soo Young, a temporary worker at the company who helps him move forward with a thing or two. Together, they navigate their way into the world of adults and office drama, eventually leading to them falling in love.

Image via Tving.

Easily, High School King of Savvy isn’t your usual noona romance; but nonetheless it still was a nice surprise. It's witty, fun, maybe a little bit weird, but is simple and not at all cliche. Most importantly, it did what it actually set out to do: tell a heartwarming tale full of love and loyalty with lots and lots of Seo In Guk to boot. That alone is enough to get me hooked from beginning to end—certainly, without doubt.

❀ RAVES ❀ »•» 

1) Comedy. Oh boy, don’t even get me started with this. If I have to describe High School King of Savvy in one word, it would be fun. comical. entertaining. Okay, so that wasn’t exactly one word... but hey, I’m serious! One aspect that High School King of Savvy is certainly good at is comedy. It did a good job playing up the comedic element of Min Suk’s double life and didn’t disappoint with its overall comedic timing. Like so:

That scene in Episode 14 where Jin Woo got sick and Min Suk had no choice but to care for him instead because he wouldn’t allow Soo Young anywhere near her previous crush was totally hilarious. Not to mention that elevator scene at Episode 5 with him cursing and all. Epic comedy at its finest.

2) Seo In Guk. Oh my goodness, Seo In Guk is definitely killing it in this role! Watching Min Suk go around and pretend to be his brother Hyung Suk was truly the highlight of the show for me, more so because Seo In Guk did an absolutely fantabulous job as Min Suk with all those body language, gestures and facial expressions. His comedic timing was flawless, gold even, and it was fun to watch him pull off both a childish high school student front and a confident company director act with so much class. Thanks to Seo In Guk, Min Suk became someone who was hilarious yet convincing and has sooooo much heart. In retrospect, he was even way more mature at times than most of the adults in the show, which I love. Like so:

In Episode 5, when Soo Young got fired from her job, Min Suk was the only person who genuinely cared for her to get the job back. The way he rushed to the meeting with Soo Young in tow, outright declaring that he’s hiring her back as his secretary speaks volumes of what a grown man should do and be, and I definitely laud Min Suk for that.

But nothing, as in nothing, beats Seo In Guk’s performance here:

When Hyung Suk showed up, everyone was like: ooohhh you two look exactly the same, but you’re totally different people. And I was like: yeah dude, totally. Seo In Guk is absolutely nailing it with that dual identity role. If you look at it closely, the only difference between Min Suk and Hyung Suk is the hair and the eyeglasses, but Seo In Guk makes it like they were two totally different people from the body language down to the aura. It never felt like I was watching one actor act as two different people. Nope, it’s as if I am completely watching two different people act. I even find hyung hotter sometimes, which is weird, since they literally are just the same person. Should I be fearing for my sanity now?

Or here:

It was so sad that we had to say goodbye to Gramps in Episode 15. It actually isn’t befitting that a bubbly innocent character gets killed off at the end for the sake of another character; but I forgive, because that very scene made Seo In Guk shine all the more. The way he handled Min Suk’s anguish and denial over his grandfather’s death was a scene stealer. That look in Min Suk’s eyes gut in me, and when he began wailing inconsolably while clinging to his grandpa? I was totally in tears I just… can’t. I just can’t.

3) Unique Premise. In the vast world that is K-Dramaland, it isn’t highly likely for us to get to encounter a story where a perky younger brother struggles to live a zippy double life and disguise as his poised older brother due to some inexplicable dilemma. It may sound intriguingly absurd, but that uniqueness is what makes High School King of Savvy work (and not work) in so many ways. It’s a fun and refreshing pick among other drama offerings out there. Maybe not the best, but still something that will definitely leave you with a pleasant feeling.

4) Heart. In a show with a premise such as High School King of Savvy’s, it is very much easy for reality bites to fly right off the bat given the show’s semi-fantastical concept and inclination to exaggerated antics. However, what sets it apart from all other drama in the same league is its slice-of-life approach in each of its episodes. The show is very much grounded to reality (though not all the time) with characters that feel authentic and believable. They aren’t bland or one-dimensional but have depth and heart, just like real people we can relate to; which I think is the show’s ultimate charm.

5) The Smoochies. Seo In Guk ain’t the master of kissing for nothing! High School King of Savvy has definitely got the most wonderful kiss scenes in K-dramaland—the type that isn’t done just for fan service. Rather, it is the type that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy and very much in love just like the characters… and boy oh boy I just couldn’t help but swoon. Like so:

Seo In Guk just had me in that cast kiss! The way he told Soo Young “I’m the man” while sweeping her in his arms despite the cast and kissing her right then and there was so, so swoon worthy I just melt!

Or like:

That popcorn proposal slash kiss scene was a winner! It was just like Lee Min Suk, it was so cute and so sweet I just can’t help but melt!

Or like:

When Min Suk kissed Soo Young in the same exact spot where they had their first kiss I was like: Awww can you guys not get any more sweeter? I don’t think I can melt any longer—I feel like I’m already an evaporated puddle of goo for melting over and over again! Not that I’m complaining. Rawr.

❀ RANTS ❀ »•» 

1) Secondhand Embarassment. I love Lee Hana. Her performance was amazing, but Jung Soo Young’s peculiarity and social awkwardness was just too much to bear sometimes she’s sort of painful to watch. I couldn’t even count how many times I’ve cringed in this show because of her. She gets endearing eventually, but dang all that secondhand embarrassment. They just go through the roof.

2) Hyung Suk Less Explored. Lee Hyung Suk was one of the characters that never really got fleshed out during the whole series. He was a plot device to get the story rolling, yes, but up until the end I still don’t get why he ended up as a criminal suspect and desperately needed Min Suk to fill in for him at Comfo. Care to explain that, hyung?

3) The Ending. High School King of Savvy does have gut for taking that road less taken by most dramas in the end. However, I am among those people who were initially put off with the idea, like… Really now, show? You can’t be serious, can you? 

Throwing in a wedding at the last part of the drama, like, right then and there felt sort of contrived and rushed. I mean, what would have been so terrible about Min Suk leaving for Germany for a bit? Of course I would love to see Min Suk and Soo Young get married, they deserved it. But could they not do it after a time skip where Min Suk would come back all nice and accomplished and much more ready for responsibility?

But I guess High School King of Savvy is unique that way. It never really settled to fit in the norm. It undermined viewer expectation and undercut the usual drama tropes almost all the time, managing to go where other dramas didn’t. The ending isn’t perfect, I didn’t like it logically speaking, but at least we got a happy ending and an ever loyal Min Suk to top. That should be more than enough, right?

❀ RULING ❀ »•» 

To sum up, High School King of Savvy is a charming drama that has just the right dose of humor, romance, heart, and of course, Seo In Guk. It is one good show that would tug at your heartstrings and would give you warmth you never thought you needed, especially if you just let the man steal your heart and run away with it. 

TAGS: High School King of Savvy, K-Drama, K-Drama Reviews, Lee Hana, Lee Soo Hyuk, Seo In Guk, Seo In Guk Dramas   Edit