An extraordinary, chaotic fateful first love
Such a unique and unpredictable plot line guarantees that you are on the edge of your seat with each episode. Complex characters, mind-bending plot twists, and a touch of EVERY cliche from amnesia to historical royalty transforms this drama into a fun rollercoaster.The stakes are high for spunky, peppy Dan-Oh as she chaotically attempts to change her fate. If she is the force pushing the story, Haru is the life given to it. He may be a quiet character, but his heartfelt eyes for Dan-Oh proves their chemistry.
Their romance is simply adorable. It's impossible not to root for them.
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This review may contain spoilers
Within the world of a comic
This is a rom-com/drama about Dan Oh and her relationships with other characters of the high school comic that she finds herself a part of. She and a few others become self-aware and are able to realize that they are more than the setup that their writer established for them. In order to change the story to better reflect the self-aware characters' thoughts and wishes, they work together, or sometimes against each other, to make the needed adjustments.The drama had a lot of potential, and, as is, would have been fine with half as many episodes. If it had to be 32 episodes, it would have been better with more story line. Instead, the same few scenes were played over and over as if the viewers needed certain points drilled into their heads. You could almost skip the entire middle of the story and not miss anything. Personally, I didn't mind too much, simply because Rowoon, Lee Tae Ri, and most of the others, are pretty to look at. But I did get tired of seeing the same scenes. Even within the story, Dan Oh was tired of it. And the brooding faces of a bunch of rich, angsty teens got tiresome as well. It was a breath of fresh air when the final episode moved them on to a new (university) comic with the same characters but a whole different vibe. I wouldn't have minded if there had been more university episodes and fewer high school episodes, just to see the cast play more of their new characters.
I did love the premise and the way the comic world was portrayed from the viewpoint of the characters. In between each "stage," it was like a director yelling "cut" and the self-aware characters would retreat from their setups, while the ones who were not self-aware would continue as their characters were written. I did not understand how the characters within the comic had access to a previous comic, but....plot holes within plot holes, I guess.
The OST from this drama is amazing in my opinion. These songs will stick with me longer than the drama will.
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They really try to make male lead somewhat of angelic being. this result of many cringe scene when ever male lead are shown.
there no way man like this gonna exist lol.
But overall pretty good movie if you want to watch not really in my highly recommend one but good enough for kill some times
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This review may contain spoilers
Nothing says ‘romance’ like ignoring your whole survival plan because of a pretty comic book boy
A girl rewrites her destiny inside a comic book world where every heartbeat might be her last.Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕
The Good
A One-of-a-Kind Concept
The idea of high schoolers being trapped in a comic book and forced to say whatever the writer scripts? Absolute brilliance. Dan Oh discovering she’s not even the lead, but an extra with a tragic storyline and pre-scheduled death? Deliciously heartbreaking.
Kept the Momentum Without Dragging
Some viewers felt the middle episodes dipped, but I didn’t. Every new twist: Haru’s memory loss, more characters waking up, the previous story, added layers without slowing the pace.
She Chose Peace (And the Right Man)
Dan Oh not ending up with Kyung outside the stage storyline? That was the real reward. His redemption arc might’ve added nuance, but it didn’t erase the disrespect he dished out earlier. Even with his self-awareness, Kyung still reeked of long-term toxicity. So thank you, Dan Oh, for choosing Haru. Soft boy supremacy lives on.
The Bad
So Many Questions, Zero Answers
This drama dropped a truckload of questions and then backed away like it hadn’t. Haru changed the story… how? Who’s the writer pulling the strings? Why does the shadow even exist? Shouldn’t the characters just vanish until their next scene? And what exactly is the portal? Why was Kyung’s brother self-aware for all of five minutes, adding absolutely nothing? Why was the Squid Fairy basically the Comic Universe Wiki? These weren’t small plotholes, they were gaping wormholes. Instead of telling us, we got Haru and Dan Oh doing sad couple laps around the shadow dimension while the script was begging for answers.
Girl, You Had a Mission And Then You Saw a Jawline
Dan Oh came in swinging: determined to survive, rewrite her destiny, and reclaim control. But as soon as Haru entered frame, survival took a backseat and her only mission was to hang out with him. She had tunnel vision for a guy who, frankly, kept glitching in and out of existence. She went from “I’m rewriting my destiny” to “If I die, I die — as long as we hold hands in the forest.” Girl what?
Haru: Pretty, Powerful, but a Whole Blank Page
One question still drives me nuts: Who was Haru really? Because if you look closely, he didn’t exist outside of Dan Oh. Every scene? He’s either staring at her, thinking about her, talking to her or taking her away from Kyung. That’s it. No backstory, no parents, no hobbies, not even a room to sleep in, apparently.
I know, he started as an unnamed extra, but once he became a “real” character with a name and a bit of plot impact, you’d think we’d get something. He literally bent the rules of the comic world but had zero depth outside of “I like Dan Oh.”
The Squid Fairy Knew Too Much… and Told Too Little
How did the dried seafood mascot know everything? He was suspiciously informed for an extra. He knew the previous comic, the current comic, all the rules, the risks, pretty much everything. And yet, we never found out how. He was an extra in the past story and an extra here. So how does he get all the spoilers?
That Past Comic Was Just… There
Let’s be real, the Trumpet Creeper storyline was more confusing than helpful. It gave us a hint about Squid Fairy’s backstory and vaguely justified Haru’s attachment to Dan Oh, but as for actual relevance? Not much. Kyung digging through it like he was about to crack the Da Vinci Code only to… not crack anything was pointless. History repeating itself didn’t even deliver tension because, spoiler, Dan Oh survives anyway. It felt like a setup with no satisfying payoff. Like the show whispered, “This is deep,” and then walked away without explaining anything.
The Writer Was the Real Villain (and Also Lowkey Lazy)
I needed the author to show up in the final scenes with some dramatic flourish, or at least a post-it note of explanation. Instead, we’re left guessing: were these changes driven by character chaos, or did the writer just decide to pivot mid-story? Duh, it was the latter. The whole idea that Haru was “disrupting” the story makes zero sense. You’re fictional. The writer is just hitting backspace and rewriting you. That’s it. He got deleted because he was an extra who outlived his purpose. That’s not defiance, that’s editing.
Justice for Do Hwa—The Real MVP
Joo Da choosing Nam Joo over Do Hwa will forever baffle me. The scene that did it for me was when everyone bullied her about her old shoes so Do Hwa got her new ones. Nam Joo? A doll. Sir, she needed dignity, not decor. Joo Da claiming Nam Joo needed her in the shadow was confusing since he wouldn’t remember it anyway. What exactly were they preserving? Once she became self-aware, Nam Joo offered vibes at best and bare-minimum effort at worst. The fact that she chose the chaotic cardboard lead over someone who actually supported her? It’s giving True Beauty all over again.
Final Thoughts
In the end, I can only sum this review up with one thing: “?”. This show had an excellent premise and a solid A+ for originality, but it felt like they didn’t really know what to do with all that originality once they had it. Fresh ideas like this need actual explanations, but instead they used a brilliant plot to stage what turned into a half-hearted high school romance.
There was so much potential in the world they created, and it feels like they skimmed the surface instead of diving in. If you’re going to invent a layered, reality-bending setup, you need to stick the landing. Preferably with clear answers and characters who are more than just walking plot tools with romantic side quests.
In the end, the original concept carried the entire show… but it needed far fewer tears, way more answers, and maybe just a little less “I’d rather die than not date my shadow boyfriend.”
~~~
I always see this drama recommended, so what did you think? I was actually pleasantly surprised because I did think that by episode 16, I’d be bored out of my mind.
I cover more topics elsewhere so let me know if you want the full review (+What I Would Do!)
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Something New
I really like the story it's a new story as all the kdrams are getting boring now there is something new in this drama.And you will find a moral in the end if you can understand it.Also there are many love stories and all of them ended well.Overall it was tge roller coaster of emotions and i really enjoyed watching it. We need more kdrams like this. Because world need a good massage rather than a cruel endings that we can see now mostly in Kdramas.and the cast we so perfectly choose i like it so much.Was this review helpful to you?
There are loopholes and unanswered questions.
Waiting for HARU to show up was my most intense patient time...lmao.. it took him a while to show up in this drama(not gonna say when but,...) it was worth it. After episode 21...I began to lose interest...but still finished as I need to, to move on haha. I skipped a lot as some were very slow and repetitive and ..yuh/
I was planning to watch this last year due to high-recommendation but my expectation is kinda low for this drama..but I will give it a good 5-6 star as it was a unique story.
Idk what else to say but if you are looking for something slow, but witted and high school romance, I would give this a go.
It was a fun drama and I am happy I finished it with a good life lesson: Enjoy life, be grateful for what you got and move on.
12/27/20 10:02pm
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Surprising Jewel
It's a drama that I did not expect I would enjoy at first. I don't have high expectations but i enioyed it very much. The story is creative and the characters especially Dan Oh has a 'character' that makes her unforgettable among the numerous dramas I watched. The chemistry with the leading men is great. It was my first time watching the three main leads, the actors for Dan Oh, Haru and Baekyung, and I liked all of them. You will laugh and your heart will flutter. You will also get intrigued. I suggest you watch this if you're deciding :)Was this review helpful to you?
My #1 fav K-Drama fr
This is a fantasy drama that i loved so much. At the start i really didnt like it so what i did was, i skipped to episode 23 and noticed something very important (i don't want to spoil anything) so i went back and waatched it from where i left of. It was such and amazing expirience and a surprising heart warming ending i absolutely loved ♡♡♡♡♡♡This is the K-Drama i always reccomend to everyone and of they tell me they have already watched it i just tell them to rewatch it because of how good it is ♡♡
I hope you find this review helpful and have fun watchign Extraordinary You and dont forget Rowoon is the male lead ♡
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I like the story basis, everyone knows the second lead is whatever, no one cares about them, this is actually a storyline that’s been really popular lately so I was all for it, but as I watched it more and more (because the second lead in the WEBTOON was trying to be a main lead) it was making me anxious. And I had major second lead syndrome with her “fiancée” and also the best friend in love with the main girl and etc. Everything was all good, in the beginning everything is unraveling and you’re literally into it because you want to know more, like who is who and why everything is happening and all that, but why I wouldn’t say this is a 10/10 show is because it fell short. You’re left with no answer, everything falls short and honestly that’s that. Your curiosity never ends. Also it just made me feel horrible that she was changing the story because even though that’s how it was meant to be, well it’s the whole show, I was like darn it just keep it the same!!! The twist and crooks and crannies and different stories, it was just all a lot really.
The acting was A1, you had a group of pretty decent, kind of new to the industry actors and actresses, they all really did great and I’m excited to see how they’re going to grow more, like they’ve been in things but they could be in more, ya know? They really did shine though. But I hated the complication and story changing because it really kind of killed the romance in a way.
I barely heard anything from the OST and that usually pops to me so I’m kind of disappointed by that.
Anyway, would I rewatch it? I honestly probably wouldn’t unless I was really bored, it was definitely a 1 hit wonder for me and I don’t think I’d find more information going back to watch it.
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This review may contain spoilers
would rewatch once in a while
I really really love this drama. It's one of those top tiers puppy love dramas. The plotline was interesting and the cast was good. It actually devastates me whenever Rowoon disappears despite watching the drama multiple times. The male main character was slowly introduced around ep 3?? and I really liked that. Hyeyoon's acting is top-notch, her energetic and outgoing character was prominent and makes me think whether she is like that in real life. I have always been Rowoon x Hyeyoon couple. I never really thought that Jaewook was a better match than Rowoon.Tbh I didn't really like skz's ost, too much autotune sounded off.
I would rewatch this once in a while if I yearn for some love dramas hahaha.
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funny and enjoying
overall i really loved this drama. the story is very original and the potential it had was insane, however i think in the second half it became a bit repetitive and the rhythm slowed a bit, i was more curios about the secondary characters other than the main protagonists, and i think they could focus a lot more on the background stories that were very interesting, i would loved to learn more about them.i enjoyed it a lot!! and i had a lot of fun but i would not rewatch it.
one thing i want to say, or better two things, rowoon was amazing and the osts for these drama are absolutely beautiful!!
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