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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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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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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⚘ Expires Before Episode 10 ⚘ °6.4° °somewhat good°
A brief encounter with Dae Hyun, our saintly male lead, prompts orphan Jung Saet Byul (who is currently raising her younger sister) to fall in love. He goes on with his day, but she is smitten for life. Fast forward 3 years and she goes to work for him at his convenience store. While people of her status are overlooked by the world, she manages to distinguish herself with her hard work and intelligence. She, °inconveniently, puts the hook-kick to his love life, however, through a series of misunderstandings and other blocks. There is no mistaken understanding when it comes to her, though: She's marked him for clearance; /her clearance to purchase him/ that is.Rated 7.6 on MDL, BSR is much like unexpired convenience store fare - edible, somewhat good, but not very good. It degrades from being pleasant to being a bit of a chore in the last third. Knowing what I now know, would I go back and watch it again for the first time? That's almost a coin flipper. My answer is "no", but many people will enjoy watching this show - for good reason. Everyone is entitled to h/h form of wind-down entertainment, and BSR has obviously done the job for many viewers who have received it well. There are gems tucked away like Korean beef and fresh green onion in the 🍲. They have plenty of good ingredients, but they didn't incorporate them well. Just go into it with your eyes open(ha!). If your enjoyment level starts declining, know that it doesn't get better later. It fizzles and flattens.
Let's talk about the fizzle first. They have fun with the girl fights. There's flying kicks & flying bodies all over the place. They even do the Matrix Reloaded burst-out-of-the-pile-up. They have animation overlay to show eyes with hearts or to bleep out some language. All of it's cute and fun. I was thrilled with the first couple episodes.
They lay out clear character contrast in the opening shots of ep1. She's leading a gang brawl. He's saving a 🐈. (Gimme the perfect combo, indeed!) Sadly, he doesn't notice her for 2/3 of the show. Forget her, /I/ was frustrated! Most viewers want to see him take notice in little ways early on - let's get those 🌭 on the warming rollers! It takes a while for them to get toasty, right? It's a pity that all we see is his pity, or his overlooking her. Very gradually, they bond - soon the two communicate naturally by intricate hand ✌🏽👐🏼 signals. Nobody else can understand, but they somehow do. It's one of the cutest things about the show.
There's a handful of excellent scenes… brilliant really. "Let me go through the expired goods," she says, when the girlfriend walks in the store. He goes to a college reunion and everyone is practically dressed in monotone. They look a boring bunch. He has the most color in a pale green sweater, which could signify that he's still green. He's still a bit naive. She doesn't have a HS diploma, but she is not green. She loves green things and 💐, though. Our FL knows the meaning of every flower. I loved it and it makes me want to learn more of them.
We will see each female lead have a talk with the other that leads to a situational change. It's skillful mirroring. Kdrams love the 💘 🔺. (It's not a love triangle if a third party is interested in one of them, but they only have eyes for eachother, is it?) There's some truly funny moments that are muted, slightly, by other clumsy humor attempts that fail. The closing of episode 12 is fresh - stunning, even.
The best thing about BSR is Kim Yoo Jung playing Jung Saet Byul. She's gorgeous. Her smile is brighter than 🌞. If she went past the freezers she could "melt all that stuff". Also, she can wear tan or white and look good, which shouldn't be allowed - I hate her, lol. Her friends are likable, as is the ML's BFF. The secondary romance is painfully goofy at times, but overall I enjoyed that couple more. Kim Sun Young as Kong Boon Hee, Dae Hyun's mother, is a blast. She commands the screen. Watching her makes me happy. I suppose I'm a true fan.
As for every other character… yuck. His father is contemptible. I want to strangle him every time he's on screen. It's not okay to be that lazy and irresponsible. They get offended when somebody hurts dad's pride. He deserves so much more than hurt feelings! What °pride? ...Pride in what? Breathing? Dae Hyun. He's the ultimate good guy, but they fail to sell "everybody's doormat " as a romantic lead. He is in a current day relationship with a woman when the show begins, and it's a mostly positive relationship; at least, his GF is not the cartoonish villain that they'll often show in romcoms, which is appreciated. He's a wonderful human being, but he's missing sex appeal. He's too wimpy! Ji Chang Wook plays Choi Dae Hyun. He plays a similarly nervous guy who is upended by a woman, in Lovestruck In The City, which is far better than BSR. He's great in K2. It's not the actor's fault, it's how they wrote and directed him.
Our leads' °besties° have instant 🎇. Their relationship is easily more fun than the primary romance. "If I had love in My heart, I'd want the expiration date to be ten thousand years away." "Just call me ten thousand years." Yep, that's how GMO the dialog can get in the show. To be fair, that's between a pair that is comic relief, and they say a lot of very slurpy things. It's almost slapstick, but hey, they're fun. The director tries to wedge in a little too much nonsense, so the eyes will roll at times.
BSR becomes a bit of a slog to stick with it as the episodes roll on. Despite many nice touches like animation overlay, snappy cutting, and pauses that enhance, they don't have enough content to fill more than 10eps competently. Most of the characters are not relatable enough to truly draw the viewer in, and many of the plot drivers and vignettes are boring. Unfortunately, after the initial taste sensation, the expiration date is met long before the episodes expire.
〰🖍 IMHO
🎬72 📝57 🎭70 💓60 🦋40 🌞60 🎨45 ⚡ 🎵/🔊70 😅43 😭20 😱30 😯45 🤔40 💤40 🔚75
Age 13+ The show is tame. No language cautions. They touch on eroticism via the friend's webtoon. Fighting.
Re-📺? Never
{BTW, our ML is BFF with a guy that actually has a tan! Eum Moon Suk plays
Han Dal Shik (Dae Hyun's best friend). He looks so much like a friend of mine (who happens to be Hispanic) that I could only smile and smh every time he appeared on screen. I never plan to go down a 🐇 ⚫, but here we go: When you watch East Asian dramas you would think everybody there is paler than Tom Brady, which is tedious. East Asia's multi-millenia love of pale skin is connected to wealth & status. Field workers are tanned by the sun while the wealthy have a cave-dweller-like vitamin-D deficiency. We will hear Dae Hyun's family talk about their pride more than twice, and that is what it's all about. I am in love with 🌏Asian entertainment. I hesitate (or voice qualifiers) before recommending it to my African American friends and family, though, because it's as colorless as the show Friends. People insist on judging people based on things for which we have no control. Is anything more meaningless than a person's looks? Nobody has a choice of parentage or their skin color, so what is there to judge? Furthermore, much of history has been bleached. Early pictorials of Jesus showed a milk-chocolate skin tone until racism gripped the middle ages. Bible scholars will tell you that there aren't any white people in the Bible, except perhaps, some tangential bad actors. (In Poland they never adopted the Caucasian Jesus and kept the old paintings). The legend of the leprechaun was probably based on real-life Africans visiting Europe with gold. Africa was loaded with gold in ancient times, and there were Africans that navigated the world in canoes with gifts and exotic animals. They were masters at reading the sea currents, or the superhighways of the sea. The legend degraded over time to what we see now. That's two examples from a whole universe most people didn't know existed, Other than the good old vices of pride and prejudice, I cannot tell you why our 🌍 history has been color-lifted, but it is a fact. So, if we point at 🌏, three fingers are pointing back at 🌎. The result is that we remain divided. We should challenge them to diversify more, but also be patient with Asia. We all have deficiencies to work on. I am respectfully and patiently calling them out on this tired old mindset. Let's not start on the way they beat up on orphans…}
In order of ~lite&trite~ to ~heavy&serious~ you may also like:
Reformed by Love:
Crazy Love-7.8,
My First First Love-8,
Boys Over Flowers-8 ~ melodrama to the max,
The Legend of the Blue Sea-7.2 (But for eps 20 &21 it's an 8+)
Oh My Venus-7.4K,
Call It Love-8.4,
That Winter, The Wind Blows-7,
Itaewon Class-8.9,
My Liberation Diary-8.9,
SKY Castle-9,
My Mister 9.5,
Out of Reach love:
A Love So Beautiful-7,
99 days with the Superstar-7,
Crash Landing On You 9.1,
Oh My Ghost 10,
Love Struck in the City 7.3,
Something in the Rain-8.6,
Romance junkies only -
My Secret Romance-7 (if you ff thru overdone flashbacks),
The Bride of Habaek-7,
Heirs-7.3,
C🇨🇳: Well-Intended Love-7.5 Rom-porn - extra points for the dopamine,
When I Fly Towards You-7.8,
Wait, My Youth-8.4,
A Little Thing Called First Love-8.5,
Find Yourself-8.9,
Hidden Love-7.8
Consider a 🇨🇳Chinese 🎎/🔮 fantasyfeature: The Romance of Tiger and Rose 9.8, Love Between Fairy and Devil 8.9, Love and Redemption 10 or 🇯🇵Japanese romcoms: Maid Sama 10, Mischievous Kiss Love in Tokyo 7.8, Love, Chunibyo And Other Delusions 8.4, or Toradora 8.5
Originally 〰️🖊 8/2023
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Chemistry Isn’t Enough to Save a Messy Story, But It Sure Makes It Worth Watching
“Backstreet Rookie” is a drama that’s easy to enjoy. The main leads’ natural chemistry and charming performances are the real highlights. The show gives off a fun and easygoing vibe with the mix of romantic and cheesy moments, especially those flower themes and playful teasing. Supporting actors, like Daehyun’s parents, add a lot of humor and heart. Saet Byul’s journey stands out too as her life with lots of struggles feel emotionally real and are easily the part of the drama for me.But there are quite a few flaws in the drama which is impossible to ignore. The handling of sensitive topics, like Dalshik’s culture, even if it’s meant for comedy, does comes off as racist. Furthermore, the plot often feels messy, especially after a slow start which loses focus as it goes on. Characters like Yeon Joo are underdeveloped, and there’s just too much going on without enough story. The drama would’ve been much better from either more episodes to develop the characters or fewer episodes to cut the extra scenes. And let’s not forget the cop-out kiss scene. Sometimes, we just want the leads to go for it.
Overall, Backstreet Rookie is a mixed bag. Strong chemistry and storyline kept me hooked, but messy writing and some questionable choices hold it back.
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Was good
The story was original. K-drama characters almost always tend to be super wealthy, smart, clever, have special powers, etcetera. These characters don’t really have any of that, except for Saet-byul’s ability to fight. The acting was good. I particularly enjoyed Kim Yoo-jung’s performance; she was absolutely beautiful in this series. It was hard to be attracted to Dae-hyun’s character as he came across as such a pushover and a bit of a loser. If there was music in the series, I definitely don’t remember it. As for rewatch value, I probably won’t be watch it again. I think I personally prefer something a bit more serious, but as mentioned, I did really enjoy watching Kim Yoo-jung :)Was this review helpful to you?
It would be great if it was slightly less
The 2nd half of the show is great, but the 1st half is like dragged on.The first half is monotonous and somewhat frustrating to see. I mean, you introduce the FL at first so the break up was inevitable I think it is kind of dragged on and all they saw was the misery of the ML He was continuously going here and there, juggling both of them and constantly getting hurt.
The second half is more organized; at first they saw us break up and then the next following path.
Some other complaints are that they could make the ML and the FL closer. and somewhere the slightly done some more justice with ML. I mean, they suffered the most in that part of the show, and then they could show the male villain could pay more; they completely ignored him after the truth was discovered, and somewhere they kept a soft corner for the ex till the end. That's it.
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