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Standard formula, but still fun
I really enjoyed watching this one, even though you get some of the same themes and tropes, but i have not tired of them after watching so many dramas. I am from USA, but really only watch A-dramas/reality and comedies.First off, I have to get this out of the way: Kim Yoo Jung is the most beautiful woman ever! So gorgeous and so much style. ..and her character's fight scenes were so entertaining. She is such an incredible beauty and talent and she did a great job with this character.
As for other actors, I thought Ji Chang Wook did a great job in the male lead. I thought he was also great in Lovestruck in the City. This one, he was such a great guy. Nothing to dislike.
His mother was awesome, probably my 2nd favorite character in the show. Some have complained about how she physically hit her husband and I can understand how they feel if it were real, however, I thought it worked as part of the fictional story. Same with the reggae character. I never understood why people complain about cultural appropriation. I think it is a sign of respect and admiration when people copy others. Just don't understand why people let things like that bother them. and the fact that he was dirty and had flies around him was what his character was. Why do people have to look at it as a knock of a whole group of people. Anyway, that's all the political commentary.
Lastly about the love story, I thought it was great how FL fell in love with ML, and was devoted to him the whole program, however after watching so many K-dramas I could foresee the way she let him down after he confessed. If this was my first K-drama, I would have said 'WTF?'; she was in love with him the whole show, then when he confesses, she runs away?!?. Again, one of the same themes- giving up your love because you feel it is the best thing for the other person. The ultimate sacrifice so to say. I guess it proves how much someone really loves the other person. And it usually turns out well in the end anyway.
All said, the show was fun and I really enjoyed.
Now I will search for more shows with Ms Kim in them.
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An Amazing Light-Hearted Romance Comedy
This is now one of my top favorite K-dramas.It's a romantic comedy that is funny, light-hearted but has some drama to move the plot forward, **amazing** FL who is so cute and loyal, and a really funny/cool ML. Their chemistry was really nice too and the romance was sweet. The fight scenes were also so well done with the special effects and coordination.
If you're looking for something comedic (but not too goofy), with romance (but not melodramatic or too heavy), and great production quality, then I highly recommend.
Also, I heard that there were offensive parts to some people, but I really don't understand why because I loved every single episode and was not offended in the slightest. It's meant to be a fun show, not serious.
Will absolutely rewatch this series when I want to smile and have a good laugh.
Rewatch value 10/10
Story 10/10
Acting 10/10
Music 10/10
Overall 10/10
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This review may contain spoilers
enjoyable!!!
banyak org review ni drakor smua karakter utamanya red flag, dan jujur gwe lumayan setuju sih..... pacar si cowok gajujur + main belakang, si cowok terlalu baik sama cwek lain jadinya salah paham mulu, terakhir si pegawai cwek emg udh naksir dr dulu jadinya seneng kl ada problem antar cowok-pacarnya akeowkowkwow. but besides of that, menurut gw ini seru sih dan cukup entertaining. biasanya gw nonton drakor 16 eps tu 3 hari, tp ini bs tamat 2 hari doang bjir kek???? karena sebagus itu coy???? plotny ok sih, cuma solusi permasalahannya tuh pada di ending semua. even jadiannya jg di ending cong 🛵💨💨💨💨 paling yg bikin gw agak gmn gitu pas part romancenya nanti diulang sampe 3-4x gitu gw jadi kayak????? njirlah 👩🦯👩🦯👩🦯 OH ya trus karakter si yoojung ni kek apa ya dikit2 lari dari masalah kek gwe emosi bgt????? kabur dari rumah mulu cok untung di akhir insaf, kl ga udh gwe gibeng ni orang 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻Was this review helpful to you?
Ppl just brush off how weird and offensive this is
The story is weird with the really big age gap, he met her when she was a high schooler and then got with her?It’s so odd and just annoying like it didn’t really have anything to highlight, I watched this a while ago and the only stuff I truly remember is the weird age gap and the man that was cosplaying a black person (so many ppl are brushing that off like it was nothing).
Not worth the watch, the story would’ve been cute if it was a romance with the SML like just friends working together and stuff (without the weird offensive man as well).
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED; Light-hearted, Family-friendly| 40% Slice of Life, 40% Rom, 20% Com.
Before anything else, I sincerely ask you to put aside any preconception created by any other kdrama viewers/webtoon readers (myself included) and please kindly give this drama a try; two 60-minute episodes to be safe. As your own opinion is the only thing that matters to you.Though sometimes it has unrealistic scenes, purely for comedic purposes, its ability to depict the aspects of our daily life is flawless. "Backstreet Rookie" will bring you through an emotional rollercoaster without the cliche elements of which you always see sci-fi dramas. The Flow of the story is GOOD albeit can be better, same for Character Development. This unfortunately is the case for almost all dramas due to the time restriction. Acting/Casts are EXCELLENT as no role is dispensable. Chemistry between lead roles is EXCELLENT. The experienced Ji Chang Wook in addition to the talented Kim Yoo Jung created a KILLER combination. Music Choice is EXCELLENT and they go very well with their specified scenes. I must have listened to the OSTs a hundred times. Overall: 10/10; I wish there will be more dramas like this or a Season 2.
I am willing to fund the original author of "Backstreet Rookie" $10,000 to create more pieces like this and have them made into dramas.
Like many Kdrama fans, I am a picky person when it comes to deciding which drama is worth my time and health(binge-watching). However, I can confidently say that "Backstreet Rookie" is one of my favorite if not my favorite K-drama. I have already watched it 3 times and it always brings the same emotions every single time; excitement, sadness, optimism and motivation in life. Whenever I feel like I am incompetent and unmotivated, I always come back to this drama to find myself and my own value as a human being.
Thank you for reading
TDopa
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Not bad at all
It was definitely not a bad watch. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t show them kissing at the end. Is it the age gap? They had a kissing scene at the beginning tho.Honestly I kinda just started to watch this because I really liked the cast. At first I was a bit skeptical about the age gap but their chemistry really grew on me. I hope to see Kim Yoo-Jung in more dramas. I think she is about to hit her prime years. And Ji Chang Wook is still the best looking male actor in my opinion. Overall this is definitely not in the top dramas list but more of a chill drama.
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it's good if you like the type of drama it is
Backstreet Rookie isn’t perfect, but it’s definitely fun if you’re looking for something light, chaotic, and funny. I came for Kim Yoo-jung and Ji Chang-wook, and they totally carried the show with their chemistry and energy. The cast is honestly the best part — every actor brought something unique and enjoyable, though I wish it had a better plot for them because I don't hate the show but for this cast you would've expected better.The story follows a simple convenience store setup with quirky customers, odd situations, and a female lead who’s tough, loyal, and kind of chaotic in the best way. I liked that it didn’t take itself too seriously — it was easy to watch, didn’t demand full attention, and had enough heartwarming moments to keep me invested.
That said, the plot could’ve been way better. Some parts were random or dragged on, and a few things felt unnecessary (and yes, there’s a scene in the beginning that definitely should’ve been cut). There’s also an age gap between the leads that isn’t handled as smoothly as it could’ve been, also the unnecessary dreads guy he just annoyed me the whole show. Still, the comedy, relationships, and feel-good moments made up for it.
Overall, it’s not the deepest drama — but it’s charming and made me smile. If you like light romantic comedies with lovable leads and don’t mind a few writing flaws, give it a try!
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*sighs* IM SORRY.
I TRIED because of Kim Yoo jung but I just COULDNT.Where is the plot?! It just had this that she was a part-timer. It was TOO boring, I was on ep 5, and it felt like the finale. No matter how much I try, I can't like this. Sure, it has SOME interesting scenes but they were literally 3. JUST THAT. I couldn't even wait anymore. I'm sorry, once again.
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Funny, quirky, and a bit chaotic. 7.5/10, good for a laugh!
"Backstreet Rookie: 7.7/10 – A Chaotic Convenience Store of Emotions"The Good:
Ji Chang-wook & Kim Yoo-jung’s weirdly addictive chemistry – It’s like watching a puppy flirt with a grumpy cat. Somehow, it works.
The humor – When it hits, it’s gold (e.g., "Why is this part-time job interview more intense than my actual life?").
Vibrant, fast-paced energy – Feels like a live-action anime at times (for better or worse).
The Bad:
The questionable age-gap vibes – Even K-drama logic couldn’t fully smooth this over. ("She’s technically an adult now!" – The script, probably.)
Plot? What plot? – Swings from rom-com to gangster drama to random part-time worker shenanigans like a drunk karaoke night.
That one cursed hairstyle (You know the one. Why, stylist-nim, why?).
The Ugly (But Fun):
The product placements – So aggressive, you’ll dream of convenience store tuna mayo gimbap.
The ending – Rushed like a last-minute "we’re out of kimchi" crisis.
Verdict:
"A messy, meme-worthy ride that’s hard to hate—but harder to defend." Watch it for the chaos, stay for Ji Chang-wook’s "why am I here?" facial expressions.
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Better than I thought it would be...
First episode didn't make the best impression on me, but I try other one anyway, because the pacing of the episode wasn't bad, plus JCW is big reason I started this drama. It got better and I got hooked. I enjoy the comedy and fact it wasn't only it but also about struggles and differences between poors and riches.Jung Saet Byul was my favorite girl with fire in her soul. Love her positivity and her badass approach to bullies and bad people. Only thing I wasn't fan of with her, was her delulu acting towards her crush. The romance was main issue - I didn't feel it, the chemistry was there, but it took a long time, I don't mind slowburn, but it wasn't believable. But when JCW looked at her at some moments I forgot about it for a little time.
Honestly characters were big part why I enjoyed it that much. They were likeable, only with 2 I had big issues - SB's sister who was ungrateful brat and wasn't punished for her actions and Yoo Yeon Joo, her victim complex and hypocrisity was annoying!
The ending was nice. Nothing special, but nothing horrible either, I was satysfied.
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A Hurricane in Sneakers, a Handsome Disaster, and Pure Absurdity—Backstreet Rookie Wins.
Okay, listen. This show is chaotic in the best possible way. From minute one, I’m yelling at my brain: “This is absurd. This is hilarious. Keep up.” Saet Byul walks in like a hurricane in sneakers, and Dae Hyun just… exists—calm, handsome, suffering quietly. The contrast? Chef’s kiss.The romance? It’s there. Tiny little sparks. But it’s not a swoon-fest, thank god. It’s an absurd rom-com. If you try to take it seriously, it collapses like a Jenga tower in a wind tunnel. The point is the chaos, the banter, the moments that make you go: “What even is happening right now—and why am I laughing so hard?”
Some people complain the leads lack chemistry. Uh… no. They have chemistry, it’s just the weird, awkward, quirky kind that fits the show’s tone. It’s like someone sprinkled love and sarcasm in the blender and hit high-speed. You get awkward flirting, hilarious misunderstandings, and moments of genuine warmth all wrapped in ridiculousness.
Sideplots? Love triangles? Minimal, thank god. This is about comedy first. Romance second, if you even notice it. The absurdity is the star. And oh my god, Crazy by April as the opening theme? I hum it, scream it, possibly annoy my neighbors daily. Perfect chaotic anthem.
💭 Final Mood:
“Laughing until my ribs hurt, grimacing at the cringe moments, teared up once because I secretly care about them, fully embracing the absurdity, and now considering how much my own life lacks Saet Byul-level energy. 10/10. Would watch at 2 a.m., preferably with snacks, sarcasm, and zero self-control.”
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Alright
It was an alright watch.1. The leads are both very attractive. The pro of watching this was that I discovered the ML.
2. Some scenes were goofy and made me cringe. I can't lie about that. I love the actress for the FL, but man... .
3. I liked how the ML was. He was realistic. Mopey, a little silly, sweet. I mostly stayed for him.
4. This drama is silly and lighthearted. Not meant to be taken seriously. It's mostly for the goofy romance, not for action or fast-paced cool scenes. Think more realistically in terms of ML personality, with a splash of wtf.
5. It is horrible that they made the character with dreads act the way he did. I mean, making him act the way he did, flies buzzing around his hair as if to say dreads stink (when that isn't the case if taken care of). Idk, the whole thing with that character felt wrong.
6. While the chemistry between the leads wasn't the strongest, the drama still doesn't suck all that bad. Def feels sort of like a fever dream, but it still isn't completely horrible.
I watched this once before, but I don't think I can watch it a second time. It's alright.
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