The first episode of Hierarchy starts with a new scholarship student, Kang Ha introducing himself in the school's assembly which followed a strict order of succession. When the assembly was over, the students didn't vacate the hall as per their wish, and it was Ri-an who first stood from his chair while the rest followed. The scene was enough to show how Hierarchy is functional in the setup.
There are four royalties in the school- Ri-an, Jae-i, He-ra, and Woo-jin. While the first two used to date, Jae-in ghosted Ri-an for three months which included her stay in New York. After returning back, Ri-an demands answers, but she puts a bet on it. The condition was whoever finishes the race first gets a choice. Jae-i won it and wished for them to break up and just remain friends. While this conversation is happening, there's a scene where both are standing at a distance of one arm, but their shadows are seen holding hands. The scene is one of the best filmed to date which shows their separation yet their yearning to be together.
Ri-an is blindly in love with her and Kang Ha’s increasing proximity with her builds tension. The girl Jae-i is royalty and the way her father treats her is the worst. She's treated as a commodity who has to be married into a rich family to expand the business. This is something that we see in all rich families in dramas yet, what is it that separates her from the rest?
Jae-i is a sensible girl with a moral compass, unlike the other rich heirs. She had done something utterly wrong to get a stalker message from an anonymous account on social media. The identity of this evil person hasn't been revealed and the guesses point towards a teacher Woo-jin is involved with, the principal and her son. It's yet to be disclosed who is torturing her with the videos of her being pregnant and sharing space with In-han.
In-han was also a scholarship student and was murdered. The boy is related to Kang Ha and he's been admitted to this fine and prestigious school to get revenge. With so many things going on, Kang Ha wants to find out who killed his brother and take revenge on the same.
The best part about the series is the building of romantic tension between Kang Ha and Jae-i. While it's absolutely clear that Jae-i doesn't share those feelings for him and is out for vengeance, I was rooting for the couple. The first episode itself had a scene where Kang Ha shared a kiss with her, though it was a dare, it was enough to get butterflies.
The plot of Hierarchy can be counted among the best Korean dramas till now. Many revelations leave you in shock, and the person who was least expected to be behind this fiasco finally reveals themself. With a total of seven episodes, the series has set a high bar with its acting, plot, and cinematography. It'll be interesting to watch what's in store for all the characters which have been intelligently written and will leave a long-lasting impression on your mind.
Something that will be noteworthy to watch is Kang Ha’s revenge, how Ri-an reacts, and He-ra’s building tension with the group and in her home. The lives of the rich and the things they try to hide will be in the open and there'll be nothing left except chaos.
Final Score – [8.5/10]
Reviewed by - Riya Singh
Follow @_riyasinghhh_ on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times
Note: The first 4 episodes are screened for this review.
Premiere Date: June 7, 2024, on Netflix.