Dear X

A Dark, Addictive Drama

This show will either grab you immediately or completely turn you off—there’s no middle ground. Dark, intense, and morally complex, it’s not for everyone, but if you enjoy character-driven dramas with twists and emotional depth, it’s worth watching.

But what for me makes this drama stand out is Kim Yoo-jung as Baek Ah-jin. She brings so much depth to a character who is flawed, vulnerable, and fiercely ambitious. You can’t help but be drawn to her, even though almost everything she does is questionable. Ah-jin is definitely not a “good” person — she can be selfish, manipulative, and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. But under her tough exterior, you can see her insecurities and the trauma she’s carrying from her past. Her choices may hurt people, but they often make sense when you understand her drive and survival instincts. Watching her, I was constantly torn between rooting for her, sympathizing with her, and questioning her actions — which made the show frustrating and compelling at the same time.

It’s a big change from the roles we usually see Kim Yoo-jung in, and she pulls it off effortlessly. I honestly think this role was a career risk, but she handles it with confidence, making it feel like a turning point. Taking on such a complex, morally gray character could have gone wrong, but instead it really shows how bold and versatile she’s become.

We also can’t forget the two male leads, Kim Young-dae as Yoon Jun-seo and Kim Do-hoon as Kim Jae-oh. Without them, the story wouldn’t be the same. Honestly, they almost feel like her loyal minions, she tells them to jump, and they ask how high. They would do anything for her. They would literally die for her.

Visually, Dear X looks amazing, and the OST is just as memorable. The music really brings out the emotions in each scene, making the highs more intense and the dramatic moments hit harder.

The ending wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t quite what I expected. I had hoped Ah-jin would face at least some consequences for her actions, but even so, the journey is what makes this drama so compelling.

If you like character-driven dramas with morally complex characters and incredible acting . Dear X is definitely worth watching.

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Too Much Misery, Not Enough Brilliance

There are many illogical aspects in the story from the very beginning. The author describes the female lead as a villain ever since she was a small child, yet she does nothing that truly deserves such a label. We do not even know why her mother is considered evil, aside from the fact that she brutally beats her young daughter for no reason. In an environment like that, it is only natural for anyone to lose their sanity, and the female lead cannot be blamed for seeking help from others or using them, as the story tries to portray her in an even worse light than she deserves.

I am not saying that her attempts to use tricks and schemes against those who try to harm her are completely innocent actions, but they are nowhere near enough to call her truly villainous. Yes, she exploits people, but in many cases she is a victim first. Unfortunately, many of her plans are not intelligent at all for someone who is supposed to be a master schemer, cunning, and skilled at manipulating others. Her plans often involve her personally taking part and putting herself in danger, which disappointed me greatly.

When she was at school, the events were somewhat enjoyable, but after her father’s case, things became extremely frustrating in my opinion. Her plan was reckless and very foolish. On top of that, instead of escaping to another country where her past could not catch up with her, she becomes an actress under a company with a strong reputation, supposedly capable of protecting her. This makes no sense. No company would accept an artist with existing problems because it would fear for its reputation. It is far more realistic that the company would abandon her at the first harmful rumor.

Most of the people who became her victims actually deserved what happened to them; what they suffered was a result of their own bad actions. The female lead cannot be blamed 100% for everything, even though she sometimes played a role in the outcome. It felt as though the author was deliberately trying to turn everything against her. At a certain point, whether the viewer sympathizes with her or not, no one would enjoy her tragic state that lacks intelligence, cunning, or well-thought-out plans.

I especially hated the final arc, and her psycho husband even more than the female lead herself. Honestly, I would have preferred it if the female lead were truly the mastermind—clever, devious, and manipulating everyone from behind the scenes—even if her ending were not a happy one, like Moriarty. Instead, all I saw was a female lead who remained a victim throughout her entire life.

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Dear X: A Brilliant Psychological Study of an Unpunished Villain

"Dear X" is a drama that, from its title onward, subtly deceives us. For those seeking a story of redemption or healing love, this is not the place. This drama was never about romance; it was, from the first minute to the last, a fascinating and audacious portrait of a sociopath in action.

The protagonist, flawlessly portrayed by the dazzling Kim Yoo Jung, is a master manipulator. The drama clearly shows how she uses every tool at her disposal: her circumstances, her calculating personality, and, most notably, her beauty. Kim Yoo Jung is not only gorgeous, but her character wields that beauty like a precise weapon to disarm, confuse, and dominate those around her.

Watching her operate was a source of perverse satisfaction. Every time she got away with it so cynically, I couldn't help but smile in astonishment. However, the narrative is so powerful that on multiple occasions I thought, "Someone has to stop her!" That's where its brilliance lies.

I'm no psychologist, but the character is constructed with chilling precision. Beyond the "bad" label, we see a narcissistic, egocentric woman with a deep tendency toward victimhood (Yes, adding that he had a terrible childhood). Her greatest disorder, perhaps, is her absolute inability to see the damage she causes; she feels no remorse because, in her distorted reality, her actions are never wrong. Even the ending, where she ends up with a man who is her pathological reflection, demonstrates this: instead of taking responsibility, she throws a tantrum and blames life, never her own decisions.

I love psychologically complex characters. She's a pure villain, who will never love anyone but herself (perhaps the one he showed the most consideration was Kim Jae Oh, but that's because this character gave everything, even his life, without blinking and without morally questioning it, unlike the other boys) and the drama has the courage to maintain that until the very end. That's why the ending seemed perfect to me: she survives and never pays for her actions. It's the logical and coherent conclusion for someone whose only morality is self-interest.

In short: "Dear X" is a bold, unsettling, and brilliant drama for those who enjoy dark psychological analysis, an unethical yet irresistible protagonist, and a story that dares to break all the molds of the "fair ending." Highly recommended if you're looking for something out of the ordinary.

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Too many plot holes

It started out great. Things made sense at first until they didn't. I understand that she's supposed to be a sociopath but she was also supposed to be smart, no? A lot of her choices did not make sense. A lot of the characters didn't make sense either. The sudden appearance of Moon Do-hyuk was the most random and unexplained plot point. There's just sooo many questions about who he is and what he wanted from her. Anyway, I will probably watch season 2 if they decide to make one just because I need answers to all of the holes that this series didn't fill.

The redeeming factor: The actors were brilliant. Gave it -1 tho cause of the actor that played Jun-seo. I feel like they could've chosen someone else for that role.

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Baek Ah Jin- The Manipulative Sociopath

Dear X is undeniably one dark drama—honestly, it’s the darkest one I’ve watched so far. It’s the kind of show that can mess with your mind in a psychological way just by watching it. It made me curious, and even scared, about how manipulative sociopaths can twist people for their own gain. Baek Ah-jin, portrayed as a manipulative sociopath, is a product of trauma and childhood abuse. The series clearly shows how deeply childhood experiences shape a person. She grew up thinking she needed to use others before they could use her, and as an adult, her manipulative behavior just escalated—wanting more and more no matter who gets hurt in the process.

The story itself was incredibly well-written. I’m honestly at a loss for words. From start to finish, the pacing was consistent, and there was never a boring episode. The plot twists were insane and kept making the drama even better. And let’s not ignore the overflowing chemistry between the characters—I didn’t even know who to ship Ah-jin with at some point. If she had just stopped all her evil schemes, she could’ve ended up with one of the male leads, especially my boy In-gang or Jae-oh.

As for the cast, Kim Yoo-jung absolutely killed her role. Her acting was beyond outstanding. She delivered every expression and emotion so perfectly that you could literally feel the character through her performance. And the chemistry she had with EVERY partnered male lead was unbelievable. Her chemistry with Hwang In-yeop in particular was top-tier. Their scenes were so good that I almost forgot this was a dark drama. I honestly wish we could’ve seen more of their relationship—they had that lingering kilig effect that stayed with me for days. I still wish they ended up together.

Kim Do-hoon’s character, Jae-oh, was like a whole green flag forest. At least for me. He was always there for Ah-jin—doing everything for her, believing in her even when everyone else turned away. Jae-oh is literally the definition of boyfriend material. Kim Do-hoon himself was adorable and handsome throughout the drama, and his smile gave me so many kilig moments. His chemistry with Yoo-jung was also amazing. If it couldn’t be In-gang, I was rooting for Jae-oh. In Ah-jin’s world full of X’s, he was her zero—the one person who truly believed in her. He’s honestly the only second lead I have ever rooted THIS hard for. His death crushed me. I was genuinely sad when they killed off his character. :(((

Kim Young-dae’s character, Jun-seo, was… interesting. I’m not sure if his constant expressionlessness was part of the character or just him, but he really felt nonchalant the entire time. To be honest, I didn’t even notice he was the main lead because he barely did anything in most of the episodes. It was basically Jae-oh carrying the entire male storyline while Jun-seo was just… there. Aside from the final episode, Jun-seo didn’t really contribute much, which made his role feel overshadowed. He even doubted Ah-jin in some situations—maybe because he knew her too well and understood that she was capable of murder. Still, he did care for her and wanted the best for her, but it seemed like he eventually got tired of Ah-jin’s endless chaos and decided to end everything. But joke’s on him, she survived. His suicide attempt with her in the car was honestly not the best decision. If he really wanted to go that route, there were easier and less dramatic ways—but no, he chose the most reckless one.

Lastly, Hwang In-yeop. OMG, I don’t even know where to begin. He was one of the best “extra” characters in the series. His chemistry with Yoo-jung? Don’t even question it. It was so good that I kept forgetting he wasn’t the official male lead. I hope they get cast together in a proper romance drama someday. His emotions, acting, and heartbreaking scenes were so good that I almost cried with him. One thing’s for sure—I will forever hate Ah-jin for what happened, because she honestly played a huge role in why my boy In-gang took his own life. :(

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Final Thought

the ending still feels wild to me, but now I get why it’s called Dear X just like how x in math is unknown

Baek Ah-jin? she’s a full-on sociopath. the way she builds fake stories, pulls people into her web, and switches masks like it’s nothing… it’s terrifying in such a quiet, realistic way. when her facade cracks, you can literally feel the temperature drop.
the actors carried this drama like legends — every expression was on point.

the ending left this sad heaviness. a reminder that monsters aren’t born overnight, and that hurting a child can twist their soul forever.
never abuse your kids. the drama made that message loud and clear.

overall, Dear X is unsettling, poetic, and honestly unforgettable.

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Every person is despicable except for Jeong Ho and Heo In my shaylaaaa! Not sure how to like a drama when you hate the character of the MLs and especially such a vile FL. Granted she was dealt a bad hand and you know she’s a sociopath but it was a hard watch to see her use people like she did. The acting was good but that didn’t save this disaster which left a bad taste in my mouth just like ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ which the main character was revolting but got away with it - makes you angry. If you hate injustice and vile personalities then skip this one.

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Boring

I got interested in this drama after watching Kdrama shorts.

First 2 episodes were interesting but lost focus pretty fast. It was annoying she pulled innocents in her part of “revenge”.
After she asked if her innocent and kind hearted stepbrother would kill for her, and later put him in jail for not doing after fabricating the scene, I started to hate this FL.
But more after dragging an innocent man into this and fabricating the crime scene to make him the culprit instead of the protective hero.

After reading other reviews I decided to drop it.
A third and last try in “sociopaths and psychopaths “ drama.

Actors were great and did a good job. Only they deserve the 5*

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