‘The Science Club’ Netflix Series Review - A Heart-Warming Tale of Learning and Second Chances

In an era where many school dramas focus on elite students, The Science Club takes a different approach. Set in Hihasgu Shinjuku Night High School in Tokyo, the series follows a small science club consisting of students whose lives are not easy. These students, unlike typical high school students, are not teenagers running after grades and universities. Rather, they are individuals carrying emotional scars, personal ordeals, and dreams left to be fulfilled. The plot revolves around Taketo, a troubled man whose life has taken a bad turn due to poor choices. His anger and frustration make him appear as a person who is highly unapproachable. Yet behind this angry young man façade lies a person who is vulnerable and is constantly searching for a purpose in life. Next, we have Angela, a Filipina-Japanese woman in her forties who is struggling to keep up with her studies. She worries about being older than most of her classmates and doubts whether she still has it in her to learn. With the help of this character, the makers have explored the insecurities that come with age when a person returns to the classroom.  Kasumi’s story is also equally moving. Suffering from orthostatic intolerance, most of her time is spent at the nurse’s office, which makes her feel disconnected from her peers. Another member of this club is a 76-year-old man called Shozo, who never had an opportunity to attend school because of the financial hardships he faced at a very young age. His determination is indeed an inspiring angle that the makers have added to the Science Club. But these students are nothing without their teacher, Fujitake. He is shown as someone flawed yet mysterious. His greatest strength lies in the belief that science belongs to everyone. He lets his students make mistakes in the pretext of learning from them, which is a great approach as well.

The best part about The Science Club is how they balance the emotional quotient in the plot. No, it's not over dramatic. Rather, it teaches us an important lesson: learning has no age barrier, even though there is a physical age to attend school as set by society. These students might not be regular ones and may have many doubts filled in them, yet the fact that they are showing up is more than an achievement in itself.

The character development is another remarkable feature of the series.  Each of the students, including their teacher, appears to be something at the start of the show, and by the time things wrap up, we see so much change and development in them. Each episode offers a certain type of growth in them, which also forms the crux of the plot that we are shown.

The pacing is surprisingly good. Nowhere does the plot rush when showing us the back story of the characters and how they are developing holistically in the later years of their lives. Perhaps that, too, is a great thing about the Science Club. So dear viewers, if you wish to watch something fun and informative that has a touch of inspiration, The Science Club is what you should be starting your week with.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times