Is 'Hierarchy' basically just the Korean version of 'Elite'?

It definitely tries to be. It shares the same DNA: a transfer student from a lower-class background enters a den of vipers at an ultra-exclusive school. However, Hierarchy is generally considered less graphic but also less cleverly written than the early seasons of Elite.

How bad is the bullying in this show?

It's pretty intense. We're talking about psychological warfare, physical intimidation, and students being treated as literal servants. It’s a central theme, so if that’s a trigger for your kid, stay far away.

Are there any positive role models in the cast?

Not really. Even the 'heroes' are driven by revenge and operate in a moral gray area. It’s a show where everyone is a little bit toxic, which is typical for the genre but worth noting if you're looking for 'good' characters.

Is it worth the 7-hour time investment?

Most critics and viewers say no. With a 6.1 on IMDb and a 2.4 on Letterboxd, the consensus is that it's a 'style over substance' project. You're better off spending those hours on a higher-rated K-drama like Crash Landing on You or The Glory.

Hierarchy – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Hierarchy

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2024

38%

WISE Score

A glossy but hollow K-drama about elite teens that tries to be deep but ends up feeling like a high-budget soap opera you've seen a dozen times before.

Hierarchy

show

15, 2024

38%

WISE Score

A glossy but hollow K-drama about elite teens that tries to be deep but ends up feeling like a high-budget soap opera you've seen a dozen times before.

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, we all love a good 'rich kids behaving badly' story, but Hierarchy is a bit of a swing and a miss. It has the look of a prestige drama but the soul of a generic daytime soap. If your teen is obsessed with K-dramas, they've probably already seen better versions of this story.

It’s not that it’s 'dangerous' for a 16-year-old, it’s just that it’s not particularly good. Between the flat characters and the 'contrived mess' of a script, it’s a hard one to recommend when your time is limited. Skip this and go watch The Glory or Sky Castle instead.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (15+) and adults. The themes of revenge, suicide, and sexual tension are handled with a maturity level that will fly over the heads of younger kids and likely stress them out.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The show is built on a foundation of systemic bullying, classism, and revenge. While it attempts to critique these structures, it spends most of its time wallowing in toxic social dynamics and cruelty.

Imaginative

It follows a very well-worn path of 'elite high school drama.' While the production design is slick and polished, the narrative doesn't offer much that hasn't been seen in shows like 'Elite' or 'The Glory.'

Safe

Common Sense Media puts this at 15+. It contains intense bullying, depictions of suicide, and some sexual content. It's not 'unsafe' for older teens, but it's definitely not for the middle-school crowd.

Enriching

Critiques of the 0.01% are surface-level. The writing is widely panned as contrived and lazy, meaning it lacks the intellectual or emotional weight to be truly enriching.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

High production value makes Jooshin High School look incredibly aspirational and visually striking.
Short runtime at only seven episodes means it's a quick commitment if you just want some low-stakes melodrama.
The 'eat the rich' theme is always cathartic, even if this execution is a bit clunky and predictable.

⚠

What to Watch For

Vicious bullying is the primary engine of the plot; it can be genuinely uncomfortable and goes beyond typical 'mean girl' tropes.
Mature subplots involving teacher-student relationships and drug use are present, pushing this firmly into the 15+ category.
Lack of payoff is a common complaint; the mystery elements often lead to unsatisfying or illogical conclusions.

Conversation Starters

"Why do we find stories about ultra-wealthy, miserable people so compelling?"
"If you saw someone being treated like a 'scholarship kid' at your school, how would you actually react?"
"Does the show make the wealthy lifestyle look fun, or does it make it look like a prison?"

Deep Dive

The 'Fast Fashion' of K-Dramas

Hierarchy arrived in 2024 with a lot of hype, mostly because Netflix has become the global home for high-stakes Korean school dramas. It checks every box on the list: the mysterious transfer student, the untouchable 'queen bee,' the brooding heir, and a school that looks more like a five-star hotel than an educational institution. But once you look past the cinematography, there’s not much there.

The biggest issue is the writing. As many viewers pointed out on Reddit, the characters lack chemistry and the plot relies on people making nonsensical decisions just to keep the drama moving. It feels like a show written by an AI that was fed the scripts of Elite and Gossip Girl but forgot to add the wit.

"Hierarchy is just a contrived mess that tries too hard to be something it can never be."

For parents, the 'watch-out' isn't necessarily the 'bad influence'—most teens can spot the absurdity of this world from a mile away. The real watch-out is the intensity of the bullying and the depiction of suicide, which are used more as plot devices than as serious topics for exploration. If you're looking for a show that actually tackles class and education in Korea with some teeth, this isn't it.

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