Hey there, buddies.

Today’s theme is bullying and self-strength. So, I’m here with a review of Gakkou no Kaidan, which does justice to both of them.

Gakkou no Kaidan (2015)
Country: Japan
Episodes: 10 (45’ each)
Genres: Thriller, Psychological, Youth, Drama
My Rating: 7.5/10

Casting

Hirose Suzu as Tsubame Haruna
Kamiki Ryunosuke as Kei Shizukui

Plot

Haruma Tsubame is an ordinary girl in a school full of rich students. There, the Platinum 8 (a group of the richest and most powerful students), controls everything. Tsubame is pushed into becoming the school president, a tactic by the Platinum 8 to use and manipulate her for their own purposes.

One day, she suddenly meets a strange boy in a wheelchair, and as desperate as she is to change things, she trusts him to become her speechwriter. Together, they start a revolution in the school.

As you may have noticed, the plot gives off Hana Yori Dango vibes, but without focusing on the romance part.

Spoilers ahead

I have to admit, it seemed pretty creepy to me that Tsubame just followed a stranger she had just met to his home. I know she was desperate for help, though. But who is this mysterious man, and why is he helping her anyway?

We start learning more about him and his past in episode 7. The true motive behind his desire to destroy the school is revealed through a very powerful speech about free will, and how people are easily influenced by others and change their opinions. The full mystery behind his actions is revealed in episodes 8 and 9, when his real name is confirmed: Isezaki Toru. He was the victim of an accident five years ago, caused by the headmistress, so he’s here to take revenge by bringing down both her and the school.

In the early episodes, Tsubame starts the revolution alone. Then, she gains the support of the school council, school clubs, her class, and by episode 5, she’s already begun to inspire the Platinum 8. Eventually, even the teachers take her side.

In the end, they all come together to demand the headmistress’s resignation, and they succeed. The school gets a new principal, and Tsubame convinces Kei to stay and continue school with her.
(I was totally amazed by the sudden kiss she gave him, though.)

Characters

All the characters are deep and well-written. Every episode emphasizes the sensitive side of a seemingly bad person. Rich students (and not only students), who are, in truth, unhappy or even empty inside.

Tsubame may have started a revolution, but she ended up helping the bullies too. Unfortunately, bullying and manipulative behavior hurt both the bully and the bullied.

As for the two protagonists, both helped each other grow.

Tsubame had suffered a lot from bullying. She may have seemed weak, but she’s actually a very powerful person. All she needed was someone to help her use her strength to stand up and fight. Her weapon is her powerful and motivational speeches.

Kei, on the other hand, had lost hope in everything, but through Tsubame, he found the strength to overcome his past and move forward.

Conclusion

I expected the plot to be deeper – and while it is at times, we dive into it slowly. It does build a sense of mystery, but I think the suspense fades a little because of the slow pacing. Nevertheless, it’s easy to put yourself in each protagonist’s shoes and think about what you would do in their situation. Watching the series makes you recall all the times in your life you wished you’d had the strength to stand up and speak, instead of enduring a bad situation.

I believe it’s a worth-watching series, because of its interesting plot. Japan has surely produced many great series about bullying, but this one also stands out with its own unique approach. The focus on how bullies might suffer too gives the story a different perspective.

That’s it for today! I hope you enjoyed this review! I’d love to read your opinions and if you want, like and subscribe for more.

Thanks for reading,
Utaku