Countless series are released weekly on Netflix. One of the latest hits has excited MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes, even though he struggled to recommend the series.
Which series is it about? On June 5, 2026, Teach You A Lesson started on Netflix – and quite successfully. Looking at the Netflix charts, the series managed to achieve 21 million views in its second week (June 8 to June 14) and was thus ranked number 1 among non-English series. Even a week later, the series maintained its number 1 position.
I actually started the series out of boredom, but I was hooked right after the first episode. Teach You A Lesson is really good, but I still have difficulties recommending it completely.
You can watch the trailer for the series with English subtitles here (don’t worry, there’s also a German dub of Teach You A Lesson on Netflix):
Action, Humor, and a Difficult Theme
What is Teach You A Lesson about? Violence and bullying in schools in South Korea have increased to the point where the Minister of Education forms a task force that goes directly into the schools. Na Hwa-jin, played by Kim Mu-yeol, is the driving force behind this task force. He goes to schools with his team of 2 other staff members and tries to solve the problems as a kind of substitute teacher
.
He also enjoys fighting the bullies himself and outsmarts them so they can’t continue their terror.
The bullying scenes depicted are not exactly gentle and evoke strong emotions. You empathize with the victims, and when Hwa-jin delivers his slaps, you cheer. Overall, the fight scenes are impressive. They are not only well staged, but they are also fun, as the series has some creative ideas to create a certain impact.
The humorous scenes also work because the characters are simply likable. With cheeky remarks and an effective smile, the main characters create a pleasant atmosphere. This way, the suffering depicted is not only cushioned but also symbolizes a certain form of hope.
For example, Hwa-jin does not just want to beat up bullies; he cares for the victims and wants to protect them as a symbolic teacher. This also creates heartwarming moments, where one can certainly hold back a tear or two.
The series actually has everything a good Korean series needs: a mix of action, humor, and drama, as well as likable characters you enjoy watching. But I still have issues with the series, mainly because of its core message.
Is This Really the Solution?
The bullying and violence problem that Teach You A Lesson depicts is real. The thought that teachers and students feel so lost that they can’t do anything hits hard while watching, and when Hwa-jin then fights against these bullies, one feels excited and cheers: Finally, they get what they deserve.
This is simply fun, but the more I think about it, the more I struggle. Teach You A Lesson plays with harsh fates, and I strongly question the solution approach that a new teacher simply beats up bullies to solve the problem. In one of the first episodes, the minister states that these students are not students; they are monsters, and you can only defeat a monster with a monster.
You could simply tell me: It’s not that deep, Bro
, but the series invests too much time in showing me tragic fates. I had a lot of fun with each episode, but in the back of my mind remains the thought of whether it is questionable to present such a solution approach.
But I must give Teach You A Lesson this: I think a lot about this series, even though it outwardly is just a good action series. But maybe Teach You A Lesson wants to generate exactly that.
But what do you think of Teach You A Lesson? Have you watched the series, and how did you like it? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. Another series recommendation from Korea can be found here: A tough action series on Netflix showcased the best fights I’ve seen since John Wick 4
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