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Melancholia Review: High School Teacher Helps Math Prodigy With A Traumatic Past

Melancholia episode one review 


At first blush, Melancholia may seem like just another K-drama that sheds light on the cracks of Korea’s educational system. However, there’s more than meets the eye as it follows the personal struggles of both a student and a teacher. Here’s a concise Melancholia drama review of episode one for those who are thinking about adding this drama to their to-watch list.


A math prodigy who sees the world through numbers & equations 


Melancholia review - drama poster
Image credit: @tvn_drama

Melancholia revolves around two protagonists, Ji Yoon-soo and Baek Seung-yoo, who meet at a prestigious private high school.

Although Seung-yoo used to be a math prodigy, he experiences a traumatic incident that makes him shy away from the subject. Yoon-soo helps Seung-yoo to overcome his trauma, but the journey to recovery is an uphill task as they unexpectedly get involved in a sex scandal.


Highlights


1. The drama begins with Yoon-soo being arrested by the police 


Melancholia review - yoon-soo is arrested by the police after the sex scandal spreads
Image adapted from: tvN

The first episode begins with a flashforward scene. Yoon-soo is arrested by the police after she gets involved in a sex scandal with her student, Seung-yoo.

Melancholia review - seung-yoo promises her that he will reveal the truth
Image adapted from: tvN

Seung-yoo frantically runs towards Yoon-soo and assures her that he will prove the school wrong. This hints that their sex scandal is most likely fabricated, albeit for a reason that is not yet disclosed. 

Melancholia review - yoon-soo gets slapped by seung-yoo's mother
Image adapted from: tvN

Following the scandal, Seung-yoo’s mother barges into the school’s staff room and slaps Yoon-soo’s face in front of other teachers and parents. Her fury is understandable as she has no idea that the scandal is likely fabricated.


2. Seung-yoo mistakes Yoon-soo’s bag for his own


Melancholia review - yoon-soo and seung-yoo meet each other for the first time on the KTX
Image adapted from: tvN

Seung-yoo first encounters Yoon-soo on the KTX, a Korean high-speed train. When the train comes to a sudden halt, Yoon-soo loses her balance and almost falls to the ground. Thankfully, Seung-yoo’s arm stops her from falling, and they share an intense gaze for a second or two. 

Melancholia review - they share an intense eye contact when the train comes to a halt
Image adapted from: tvN

Melancholia review - seung-yoo passes the wrong tote bag to yoon-soo
Image adapted from: tvN

As they get ready to alight, Yoon-soo realises that she left her backpack in the baggage hold. While she retrieves her backpack, Seung-yoo passes her tote bag and leaves without saying a word. However, Seung-yoo inadvertently gave her the wrong tote bag as it looks similar to his own.

Melancholia review - yoon-soo sees that seung-yoo sees the world through math
Image adapted from: tvN

Melancholia review - yoon-soo sees that seung-yoo sees the world through math
Image adapted from: tvN

Yoon-soo finds out that their tote bags got swapped when she finds a camera in the bag. She’s able to tell that Seung-yoo sees the world through math based on the pictures he took.


3. Yoon-soo finds out who got the right answer to her math question


Melancholia review - seung-yoo writes the correct answer to yoon-soo's math question
Image adapted from: tvN

Besides teaching advanced math, Yoon-soo also leads a math club. During her math club session, she assigns the students a math question as homework. Only one student was able to get the correct answer, but the identity of the student was unknown to Yoon-soo.

Melancholia review - yoon-soo finds out that seung-yoo is the one who got the correct answer
Image adapted from: tvN

Melancholia review - yoon-soo finds out that seung-yoo is the one who got the correct answer
Image adapted from: tvN

Later, Yoon-soo finds out that Seung-yoo was the one who solved her question when some of her students show her a video of themselves dancing. 

In the background of the video, a student is caught writing the answer to her math question. As the student is wearing a hoodie with the numbers “1729” written on it, Yoon-soo immediately recognises that it’s Seung-yoo. 

Melancholia review - their encounter in school
Image adapted from: tvN

With an excited and eager heart, Yoon-soo goes around the school campus to search for Seung-yoo. The first episode comes to a close with the protagonists sharing yet another intense round of eye contact. 


Verdict: 3.8/5


K-dramas that grapple with a school system skewed towards the people of power and affluence are not new to us. However, the addition of a mysterious main character who sees the world through math and struggles with a traumatic past makes the overall plot more compelling.


Melancholia review: a corrupt system & a shared passion for math


The first episode ended with several unanswered questions. What caused Seung-yoo to distance himself from math? How did the protagonists get involved in a sex scandal? Does the scandal surrounding the two hold any water? Is there really an inappropriate relationship going on between the student and teacher?

There’s only one way to find out: keep watching. 

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Cover image adapted from: @tvn_drama and @tvn_drama