I just finished Hierarchy and wow, that was a ride and not the good kind. As someone who devours revenge dramas and high school thrillers, I went into this Netflix release with decent expectations. The trailer had all the right elements: elite school, dark secrets, rich kids running amok, a tragic backstory, and a scholarship student out for blood. What I got instead was a drama that looked like a Lamborghini but ran like a clunky go-kart.
Let's not sugarcoat it—this plot was a complete mess. The premise had real promise: a mysterious student infiltrates an elite high school to uncover the truth behind his brother's death. But what could've been an intense, slow-burning takedown of the rich turned into a glorified teen soap opera. The revenge storyline? Completely botched. Kang Ha, our main character, strolls in all broody and mysterious, but by episode 3, it's painfully clear he has no actual plan. And somehow he gets completely sidetracked by a love triangle instead of seeking justice for his brother… what?
This is a guy whose brother, In-Ha, was bullied to death by the very elites he's now hanging around with, and yet he starts protecting one of the ringleaders' girlfriends, Jae-I, just because he's caught some feelings? The same girl who knew what was happening to In-Ha, did nothing to stop it, and now wants to keep her psychopathic ex-boyfriend out of trouble? I kept shouting at my screen, "Dude, focus!" but he just kept getting more distracted, like we were watching the revenge plot dissolve into a romance fanfic. The betrayal of the initial premise isn't just frustrating—it's insulting.
There's not a single truly likeable character here, which isn't always a bad thing if you have compelling writing to back it up, but this show definitely didn't. Jae-I, the female lead, was the absolute queen of inconsistency. She ghosted her boyfriend, flip-flopped between men constantly, and tried to play savior while still clinging to the actual villain. Ri-An, her ex, who was controlling and manipulative, yet somehow the show wanted us to feel sorry for him. The only characters with any real charisma and depth were Hera and Woo-Jin, the side characters. Seriously, Ji Hye-Won acted circles around the entire main cast.
The show desperately wanted to be The Glory meets Elite with the gorgeous aesthetics of Heirs, but ended up being a lukewarm mishmash of every cliché you can imagine. It had serious issues like bullying, classism, and student-teacher grooming, but nothing had any real weight or consequence. The resolution to the bullying plot was absolutely ridiculous—the perpetrators basically got a gentle slap on the wrist and walked off into the sunset like nothing happened.
I'll give credit where it's due though—this show looked absolutely stunning. The cinematography, styling, and soundtrack were genuinely top-tier. Netflix clearly threw serious money at the production. The school looked like some high-fashion version of Hogwarts, everyone's wardrobe screamed expensive chaebol glamour, and the music was actually fire. But all of that is just fancy icing on a cake that was completely underbaked.
Hierarchy is basically what happens when you dress up a mediocre script in designer clothes and hope nobody notices. It's watchable if you're just looking for pretty faces and dramatic staring contests, but if you came here for a gripping plot, smart revenge, or any kind of emotional payoff, you're way better off watching Pyramid Game, Weak Hero Class 1, or The Glory instead. Would I watch a Season 2? Honestly, probably only out of curiosity or if I need something mindless to watch while folding laundry. The post-credit scene tried to tease a new unknown deeper mystery and setup for season 2, but after seven episodes of shallow storytelling and unlikable characters, i couldn't care less.
Watch on Netflix