INSOLENTLY GO, GO - EPISODE 3

Through subterfuge and trickery, Kim Yeol gets Yeon Doo alone and convinces her to cheer. Neither of them can forget the other's vulnerable moment echoing in their heads that night.

Yeon Doo manages to convince Real King to compete and extracts a promise from the principal that Real King will be reinstated. Baek Ho parents are upset, feeling this is all for Soo Ah's benefit, but the principal mollifies them.


Still not what it looks like. :)

A cheerleading instructor is hired and puts the clubs through a punishing fitness program. In class, Soo Ah declares war on Yeon Doo, mistaking Kim Yeol's prank as the Real King leader's. During cheer practice, one of the kids sprains her wrist, prompting angry Baek Ho parents to storm the school, and the Ministry of Education gets involved, as well. Principal Choi is cornered...

I wanted to take a moment to talk about N's performance -- he is completely awesome. While we don't see that much of his character, he has a way with facial expressions. You have to pay attention, though -- he doesn't just make a face for all the world to see. But sidelong glances and tender looks make it obvious he's there for his friends. He's well-suited to the subtlety required to portray Dong Jae.   


Cheerleading practice or gulag?

Okay, I think it's safe to say that there are two relationships blossoming here, though slowly to be sure. 1) Despite my wishes, Kim Yeol and Yeon Doo. They have great chemistry together, and there's something about the roguish Kim Yeol that makes you want to like him. 2) Dong Jae and Soo Ah! I thought I was seeing things last week, but now I don't think so. This episode confirms it. His expressions when he sees her are those of concern, not puppy love. If they do get together, I hope she doesn't break his heart to spite Yeon Doo.   

The show seems to gravitate between comedic and edgy. When Soo Ah's around, everything changes. That girl should have Darth Vader's theme music! The little comic touches make me chuckle, such as the student's reactions to the fitness regimen or the violent crack of thunder when the parents arrive. But some of the problems portrayed here are pretty severe and solemn, such as an abusive parent or a suicidal streak. It balances them okay, and that may largely be because of the rapid pacing.


Locked out of the dorms, Kim Yeol and Yeon Doo are forced to improvise.

I like it so far. It has enough twists and turns to keep me guessing and enough that's familiar to use as an anchor. It's focus is a bit different than most high school dramas where it has an overarching plot, and we don't have one student or another who has some problem (like requiring brain surgery or being homeless). You've got the same mains and bit players, and the extras are little more than warm bodies to fill desks.   

So I wonder if this will be just a series of one setback or another to complicate their entry into the competition or will Principal Choi continue to make their lives miserable? Like I said, I can't predict entirely where this is going, and I think that's what keeps me watching.

So what do you guys think?

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