Choi Min-sik (left) and Choi Hyun-wook (right) will star in ‘Notes from the Last Row.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Netflix’s K-drama lineup is growing, and its latest addition promises a gripping psychological ride. Notes from the Last Row brings together veteran actor Choi Min-sik and rising star Choi Hyun-wook, in a Korean adaptation of the acclaimed Spanish play El Chico de la última fila (The Boy in the Last Row) by playwright Juan Mayorga.
This psychological thriller explores the intense and sketchy relationship between a jaded, cynical professor and a quiet, mysterious student who always keeps to the back of the class.
Choi Min-sik plays Professor Heo Mun-ho, a bitter academic whose dreams of becoming a successful writer never materialized. His world shifts when he discovers that one of his students, engineering major Lee Kang (played by Choi Hyun-wook), possesses an extraordinary talent for writing. Mun-ho’s discovery leads to secret writing sessions between the two, as his admiration for Lee Kang spirals into more.
As Mun-ho becomes increasingly invested in his student’s stories, he starts to live vicariously through them, blurring the lines between mentorship and manipulation. What begins as inspiration turns into fixation, with their growing bond revealing deep-rooted insecurities and emotional volatility.
At the helm is director Kim Kyu-tae, known for creating emotionally charged dramas that linger long after the credits roll. His past work includes That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013), It’s Okay, That’s Love (2014), Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2014), Our Blues (2022) and more recently The Trunk (2024) which has proven his expertise in exploring complex themes like mental health, trauma, and relationships. And according to Netflix, Notes from the Last Row is no different—it’s all about the intense drama that unfolds when characters “marked by volatile emotions” collide in a complex web of relationships.
The series also features a strong supporting cast, including Huh Joon-ho, Kim Yun-jin, and Jin Kyung. While a release date hasn’t been announced yet, Notes from the Last Row is expected to premiere sometime next year.
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