Dear X (2025)

A Masterclass in Acting with a Divisive Finale

Dear X starts with a bang. The first half is a masterclass in cinematography and pacing—I couldn't look away. Kim Yoo Jung’s performance is haunting; she makes you pity her one moment and despise her the next as you realize the depth of her manipulation.

The male characters were the heart of the show for me. I was rooting for them the whole way through, and the friendship between everyone was so well-done. Specifically, the bromance between Jun Seo and Kim Jae-young was a major highlight—their bond felt authentic and kept me grounded in the story.

Unfortunately, the drama couldn't maintain its initial momentum. While it stayed "good," it lost the "amazing" quality of the earlier episodes. The last few episodes felt like a bit of a mess, and the ending was quite a letdown. I was expecting a much more polished finale for a show that started with such promise.

Even though the ending ruined the experience slightly, the acting and the relationships made it a journey worth taking.

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The writer left the show just like Ajin left the Award Show.

When I watched Episode 1, I thought: "Jesus Christ, this is crazy". Then I realized, a drama that sets the bar this high is not gonna end well, and as usual, I was right again.

The first half of the season was fun, and chilling, but the second half was just a HOT MESS!!!

I should dislike a psychopath woman like Ajin, but somehow, I managed to hate Junseo more than any other character on the show. No sane person would make excuses for Ajin, but the fact is, she never experienced love and caring, and based on what we've seen, she never really wanted to hurt anyone, other than her dad. When she did something bad against someone, it was basically a retaliation. Sure, she used people for her own sake to gain success and fame, but it's not like other people don't do the same, it doesn't make her worse than others.

The biggest problem with the show is that there's no clear goal. Someone hurts Ajin, and she fights back. That's all. What they did to her in the past when she was a kid was never solved by the police, no one protected her. All the disgusting crimes people and her own family committed against her were never solved. I can't blame her at all for wanting to kill her dad, even tho she could've done it without using another guy, but that's another story.

The police were completely useless, but this is not a surprise in Kdrama land.

The writer used her backstory and mental illness as a tool, and barely did anything with it. The whole show was carried by Kim You Jung, and Kim You Jung ALONE! Without her, I would've dropped this in midway. Her acting made this addictive.

The only actor who were almost on the level with her is Kim Do Hoon. They were the ONLY interesting characters and actors who actually put something in this.

Kim Young Dae was bang average, he was basically a one face guy, and a totally useless character. I don't mind if his character wants to betray Ajin, but he not only betrays her, he betrays Jaeo as well. What's worse, he helps out the psychopath billionaire who killed his so called "friend". How messed up is that? Not to mention, he gives up on his kidney to help his abusive mother, then lives with her a couple of weeks to make her a bit happy. Like, where's the logic in this?

Say whatever you want about Ajin, that's up for debate, but Jun Seo is not better than her in any shape or form. I would argue he's worse than Ajin.

Above, I said I don't know what was the point of this drama, and the finale proved that. They didn't solve a single storyline, and that's a rare thing to see, even in a Kdrama.


I could rant about this show all day, but I don't want to waste more time.

I'm really disappointed!

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Great great casts!

Pertama, Dear X ini fresh air banget buat kdrama menurut gue, setelah banyak drama 2025 boring abis. Kategori thrillernya juga bukan yang pembunuhan biasa yang ada detektifnya, jadi dia emg lumayan beda nih, itu poin plus.

Kedua, gak hentinya gue bilang KYJ lo akhirnya menemukan peran lo ya! ini satu-satunya drama KYJ yang menurut gue cocok sama KYJ, ternyata dia lebih cocok jadi villain! turut senang KYJ akhirnya menemukan best fieldnya. Ini drama terbagus KYJ sih, yang lain meh banget. Gak cuman KYJ tapi ini drama terbagusnya Yongdae dan Dohoon juga menurut gue. Suka banget liat mereka di sini, dan casts lainnya, good job banget si pemilihannya.

Dari segi cerita, agak melambat ditengah ya, dan agak rushing diakhir dia ketemu "lawan" nya, tapi masih enjoyable. Dari awal sbenernya udh kerasa sih siapa belenggu aslinya, gue bingung aja knp dia bisa sepercaya itu haha.

Gue kasih rate tinggi karena Dear X ini gue anggap lebih baik dari drama2 lainnya ditahun ini. Overall, great!

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The webtoons ending is better!

I finally finished this series and I will say it made for a very entertaining show, the actors, the music, the plot twists were all very interesting and made you anticipate the next episode...however Im giving the show a 8/10 rating because hear me out...
1) The two male leads deserved a chance at true happiness and they just ended up living their lives in misery allowing themselves to be used by her
2) The main male lead.. The author was at first very Attentive to her but later realized that she is beyond saving so my thing is why not allow him to atleast have a happy ending with the other actress girl? Move away from his mother and live freely? Instead he ended up dying
3) My husband Hwang In Yeop didn't need to die like that either... maybe attempt to kill himself but not actually die.... let him live !

4) Second male lead again died because of her.... everyone around her always ends up dead! So my conclusion for this show was that she'd either end up dead.. an eye for an eye or in the mad house but again that didn't happen! Instead she ended up escaping the car crash with male lead and got away scot free meanwhile male lead died...and then thats how the show ended! I don't find that its very satisfactory at all given the fact that she has caused so many innocent people in this show to die!
Overall I think it was a good show but I didn't think the ending was satisfactory even if its adapted from a webtoon! Kill her off in the ending.. this is what she deserves! She allowed her misfortunes in life to turn her into something more Devilish than her past abusers ( Dad and Mom ) and maybe the bullies at school

SPOILER ALERT!
I read the webtoons ending... Its the only ending I accept... firstly no one dies... two male leads are alive
Stepbrother: He made the documentary exposing her for all her evil deeds and then he washed his hands clean of her and cut her out of his life... he's still an author and has started a completely different life far away from her!
Jaeoh: When Stepbrother released the documentary Ahjin tried to take her own life and Jaeoh intervened and helped her escape... he remains part of her life now and is helping her raise her child... (I think the child belongs to her Physcopathic husband
Its said that she does return sometime after and hints that she never really changed her ways so the cycle might repeat... in my opinion she should of died in both the webtoon and the drama but unfortunately she lived.... 😄😄

So 7/10 Overall for this Drama

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What started strongly, ended up falling hard

What started as a case study of an innocent looking evil character, becomes a dragged display of rising to the top and using everyone on the way.

That's the story of Dear X - a psychological thriller story that starts with Baek Ah Jin's (Kim Yoo Jung) character study. The initial reception was very good, the way the characters were written and Jung's sociopath performance was absolutely terrific.

However, as the show progressed, it started losing it's grip towards the second half, due to it's tonal shift, logical inconsistencies and poor character development. For someone who was abandoned and abused, her character development was disappointing and somehow became a cliché villain towards the end.

The finale was something that could have wiped out the mess of the second half, but that too, was half-baked. The series is built on a foundation of cruel and nonsensical character actions, making it an emotionally exhausting and ultimately pointless watch, despite of one of the best acting performances in K-Drama I have seen this year.

My Rating : 3/5

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i love it when the drama is nothing like my expectations.
there was a point where i was on ahjin's side, and although that changed drastically, i can't deny that her revenge plans strike me as genius. pure evil at times but a necessary evil perhaps? devestating but equally evil. HOWEVER, not at the expance of jae oh man... i called it but i'm also quite baffled with his character, because while i understand his feelings and behavior, i can't imagine myself going throught that. i may have tolerated it once, but in the long run, it's peak evil to say the least, but completely understandable from his side too. i also have to mention that i don't particularly think i've ever hated hong jonghyun's characters before, but he truly took the cake for this, epic villain!!! who would've thought he'd be such a maniac, and i loved every second of it.

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Sometimes evil wins in the end, and that sucks.

I really enjoyed the drama's storytelling and character development throughout most of the series. The cast delivered exceptional performances, and the chemistry between the leads was absolutely captivating. However, the ending was incredibly disappointing and ruined the entire experience for me. Watching the villain triumph felt unearned and left a bitter taste. The final episodes could have explored redemption or provided closure that made sense. Instead, I was left feeling frustrated and regretting the time invested. The ending contradicted the emotional journey I took with these characters, making me feel like the whole series was a waste.

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If 'Black Swan' and 'Carrie' had a child

Dear X is dark and utterly addictive!
It's an emotional rollercoaster that keeps you guessing—who to trust, what’s real, and what isn’t.

Weaving together drama, suspense, and psychological tension, Dear X offers a unique take on the entertainment industry. It’s chilling and beautifully crafted, a tangled web of emotions where everyone is hurting, everyone wants something, and nobody walks away unscathed. Haunting, dramatic, and surprisingly empathetic, it shows how ambition, love, and pain can twist together until you can’t tell them apart anymore.

Ah-jin is not an easy character to like, which threw me off at times, but I found myself captivated by her story nonetheless. She manipulates the loyalty and devotion of those around her, using them to climb higher and prove just how far she’ll go to survive and succeed.

While not directly related, or even intentional, I couldn’t help but notice some striking similarities between Ah-jin and Carrie White from the Carrie films. Both grow up lonely, mistreated, and misunderstood—carrying wounds that no one truly sees until it’s too late. When they finally break, it’s not because they’re evil, but because they were never given love, safety, or the chance to simply be human. In the end, both stand as tragic figures shaped more by the cruelty around them than by who they ever hoped to be.

Much like Nina from Black Swan, Ah-jin also spirals into madness as she claws her way toward the top. The parallels between the two are impossible to ignore. Both are women moulded by trauma and crushed by impossible expectations within the entertainment world. They want so badly to be perfect, to be chosen, to be enough, and that pressure slowly unravels them. Their lives become performances, their identities blur, and eventually the personas they’re forced to uphold end up consuming them. It’s a painful, raw look at how the entertainment world can twist people until only the mask remains.

If you’re in the mood for an eerie drama that leaves a lasting impression, Dear X is exactly that.

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KIM YOO JUNG era, thee actress

A Soundtrack That Resonates

I have to start by saying how much I fell in love with Dear X’s soundtrack. Each song felt like the perfect companion to the action on screen. When Ah-jin was on the move, Lim Kim’s energetic “Run & Run” had my adrenaline pumping and made me feel like I was right there with her. In the quiet, intense moments, Elaine’s soulful “Insane” and Olivia Marsh’s gentle “Eyes on Me” brought tears to my eyes—I found myself humming those melodies long after the episode ended. And Sam Ock’s “Goodbye”… oh, I literally had to pause and catch my breath when that haunting piano and his voice echoed Ah-jin’s heartbreak. The music didn’t just sit in the background—it became a part of the story, pulling me into every emotion of the show.

Twists in the Tale (Story and Divergence)

The plot of Dear X kept me hooked from start to finish. Watching Baek Ah-jin rise from a wounded girl to a ruthless top actress was endlessly gripping, and I loved that the story never let me rest—the pacing was sharp, and each episode had me gasping for more. Just when I thought I knew where it was going, it threw me a wild curveball. I hadn’t read the webtoon it’s based on, but I could tell the drama was weaving its own path. For example, in the final act when Jun-seo’s fate unfolds in a way I didn’t expect—wow, it left me breathless. It was one of those endings that had me muttering, “You’ve got to be kidding me,” and then applauding the writers for taking such a daring turn. I’m still thinking about it days later.
Character :
What I loved most about Dear X was how real and complicated the characters felt. Baek Ah-jin isn’t your typical heroine – she’s brilliant, ambitious, and full of survival instinct. I actually felt sorry for her because of the hell she went through as a child, and was impressed with her for being so ruthless. Kim Yoo-jung brought out every layer of Ah-jin’s personality so completely that I was torn between sympathy and intrgue throughout the show. Then there’s Yoon Jun-seo (Kim Young-dae), Ah-jin’s loyal friend. Watching his unwavering love slowly turn into heartbreak literally made my eyes tear up. And Kim Jae-oh (Kim Do-hoon), the gentle shadow always by her side – his quiet loyalty and grief devastated me. Even Im Re-na (Lee Yul-eum), the rival actress, was more than a typical villain; her jealousy and pain made her feel real and tragic. All these characters felt so human that I kept wondering Diving Into Darkness (Bold Themes)

This show didn’t hold back on the dark stuff, and I loved it for that. Dear X is brave – it plunges into trauma, sociopathy, betrayal, and obsession without sugarcoating a thing. I remember one scene where Ah-jin confronts her past and it literally made my skin crawl (in the best way). It’s the kind of series that makes you stop and ask yourself tough questions about right and wrong. Honestly, I found myself thinking, “Why do people dont get her, i root for her?” That kind of moral grey area kept me thinking long after I turned off the TV. The show’s willingness to tackle such heavy themes is what makes it unforgettable to me.

This Show Isn’t for Everyone

I have to admit, Dear X is not an easy watch, and it definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. If you go in expecting a sweet romance or a clear-cut hero, you might be shocked (and maybe even upset) by how twisted it gets. I remember reading comments from fans and critics who said they began watching expecting something completely different – and honestly, they are lame. The show is intense and relentless. But for me, that’s what made it special. Yes, it can be brutal and unforgiving, but those very qualities made it so compelling. I will recommend it everyone, coz its art.

An Underrated Gem Deserving More Love

I’ve been telling everyone I know: Dear X is criminally underrated and deserves a lot more attention. Seriously, this is the kind of show that should sweep awards season. The writing, the directing, the soundtrack – everything came together so beautifully. I found myself replaying scenes and quoting lines because I was so blown away. It breaks my heart that more people aren’t talking about it. I truly hope word of mouth will spread, because the cast and crew absolutely deserve the spotlight. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in a few years, it’s talked about as a hidden masterpiece.

Final Thoughts: More Kim Yoo-jung, Please!

I could go on and on, but I’ll wrap it up by saying: Dear X was a ride unlike any other. It made me feel a whirlwind of emotions – excitement, heartbreak, anger, awe – and it stayed with me long after the final credits. It was intense, it was beautiful, and it was so incredibly well-crafted. And Kim Yoo-jung… wow, she really knocked it out of the park as Ah-jin. Watching her fully own that complex role was electrifying. I’m already first in line for anything she does next, especially if it’s as dark and challenging as this. Dear X might not be for everyone, but to me it’s pure gold.who I was really supposed to root for.

Performances That Blew Me Away

I can’t gush enough about the acting in this drama. Kim Yoo-jung as Ah-jin? Absolutely stunning. She had this eerie grace – one moment she’d charm you with a smile, the next she’d give you the coldest stare – and I believed it every single time. I was on the edge of my seat during her scenes, wondering which side of Ah-jin we’d see. Kim Young-dae tore my heart out as Jun-seo; every time he looked at Ah-jin with love and confusion, I felt his pain too. Kim Do-hoon’s portrayal of Jae-oh was heartbreakingly gentle – his devotion and sadness were palpable. Even Lee Yul-eum made the icy Re-na feel real and tragic. Seriously, the entire cast owned these roles and made me feel every emotion alongside them.

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"Dear X" (친애하는 X) distinguishes itself by delving into darker, more psychological territory than most K-dramas. Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, this series doesn't offer the usual comic relief or romantic tropes, but instead focuses on an intense and complex story of trauma, manipulation, and ambition.

Kim Yoo-jung's portrayal of Baek Ah-jin is simply masterful. She manages to capture the character's duality, being at once charming, ruthless, and deeply damaged, making you feel a strange mix of repulsion and sympathy.

The drama tackles serious issues such as child abuse, personality disorder, and trauma bonding.

"Dear X" is a must-watch series for those looking for a K-drama that dares to explore the darkness of the human psyche and go beyond the clichés.

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