Episode 5: “The Rival Group”
Summary: Lee Hyun’s rival group challenges them to a public debate that turns into an exposé of grade manipulation. The episode ends with a student collapsing after taking “study vitamins”.
Key Moments:
- Debate scene cross-cut with faculty emergency meeting
- Discovery of performance-enhancing drugs in the school supplies
- First appearance of Principal Kwon’s surveillance monitors
Thematic Arcs Across Episodes:
- Surveillance: Escalating from academic monitoring (Ep2) to full tracking system reveal (Ep5)
- Trust: From initial suspicion (Ep2) to proven loyalty (Ep4 hallway fight)
- Systemic Corruption: Foreshadowed in Ep2, confirmed in Ep4 ledger scene
Visual Motifs:
- Recurring shots of broken pencils (pressure)
- The “red pen” editing marks that appear on all leaked documents
- Gradual darkening of the study room’s lighting
