Pyramid Games recently wrapped up its tenth episode on Thursday (21/3/2024), sparking discussions about school bullying depicted through the medium of games. Baek Ha Rin (portrayed by Jang Da Ah), the creator of the game, orchestrates violence against participants assigned to class F.
Among Baek Ha Rin’s victims is Myung Ja Eun (played by Ryu Da In), a target of his despicable acts since their early school days. Over the course of 10 episodes, viewers have deduced several underlying factors contributing to bullying at Baekyeon Girls’ High School. Here are the key causes:
1. The perpetrator was once the victim
Baek Ha Rin (Jang Da Ah) in the drama Pyramid Game (instagram.com/tving.official)Baek Ha Rin, the mastermind behind the pyramid games, was once bullied by peers during childhood. This past trauma fueled his inability to forgive, especially towards individuals like Myung Ja Eun, who showed him no empathy.
2. There is a feeling of wanting to be a ruler
Baek Ha Rin (Jang Da Ah) in the drama Pyramid Game (instagram.com/tving.official)Aside from being a former victim, Baek Ha Rin leverages his privilege and familial status as a member of the Baekyeon Group to assert dominance over his peers. He adopts a ruler-like persona, compelling others to submit to his authority and ensuring that past injustices are not repeated.
3. Lack of love from parents
Kim Da Yeon (Hwang Hyun Jung) in the drama Pyramid Game (instagram.com/sulfur.hipipi1021)Baek Ha Rin’s colleague, Kim Da Yeon (portrayed by Hwang Hyun Jung), serves as a bouncer for class F students. However, his actions are driven more by emotional release than genuine care. Growing up, Kim Da Yeon never experienced love or support from his family, enduring physical abuse from his father and neglect from his mother and siblings.
4. No one dares to fight
Myung Ja Eun (Ryu Da In) in the drama Pyramid Game (instagram.com/tving.official)Before Sung Soo Ji (played by Bona WJSN) arrives at Baekyeon Girls’ High School, students in Baek Ha Rin’s class lack the courage to stand up against bullying. They succumb to Baek Ha Rin’s manipulation, choosing to turn a blind eye to violence rather than risk confrontation. Even Seo Do Ah (portrayed by Shin Seul Ki), the class president, fails to intervene, prioritizing compliance over protecting classmates.
5. Teachers tend to turn a blind eye
Sung Soo Ji (Bona WJSN) in the drama Pyramid Game (instagram.com/tving.official)The homeroom teacher for class 2-5, Lim Joo Hyung (played by Choi Sung Won), often ignores instances of violence within the classroom. When Sung Soo Ji attempts to report the abuse, she faces further mistreatment from the teacher. Lim Joo Hyung’s reluctance to address bullying aligns with the principal’s desire to maintain the school’s reputation, leading to a culture of silence among staff members.
Internal bullying depicted in Pyramid Games serves as a poignant reminder that such behavior, even in a simulated environment, inflicts real harm on victims’ emotional well-being. This drama prompts audiences to cultivate empathy and solidarity, preventing individuals from falling prey to bullying dynamics.
