Dear X

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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Dear X : un drama élégant mais qui s’égare dans ses propres ombres...

Dès les premières minutes de "Dear X", j’ai senti que je n’entrais pas dans un drama qui allait me ménager 😭🔥. Tout est beau, tout est glamour en surface, mais dès que tu grattes un peu… c’est noir, c’est tranchant, c’est dérangeant. J’ai été happée par cette ambiance élégante mais toxique. C'est un mélange entre thriller psychologique et drame émotionnel qui m'a attrapé par les nerfs et a refusé de me lâcher...

Au centre de tout ça, Baek Ah-jin. Dès son apparition, elle m’a fascinée 😲. Elle est belle, lumineuse, presque parfaite… mais j'ai senti tout de suite que son sourire tenait avec du scotch émotionnel... Plus je la regardais, plus je voyais les fissures, les traumas, ce vide qu’elle essaie de combler coûte que coûte. Elle est compliquée, imparfaite, touchante, parfois agaçante… mais tellement humaine ✨💔. C'est exactement le genre de personnage qui me capture en un seul regard.

En face d’elle, Seo Jun-seo, c'est un petit rayon de douceur qui flotte autour d’elle comme une promesse silencieuse de “tu mérites mieux”. Il a cette énergie douce, protectrice, presque invisible, qui vient naturellement se poser sur Ah-jin 🖤😮‍💨.

Et puis… il y a Jae-oh... C'est pas un héros, ni un méchant... c'est juste un gars qui vit dans l’ombre et qui se dissout complètement pour Ah-jin. Il est Loyal, obsédé, prêt à tout... Il fait les manipulations, il exécute les plans, il se sacrifie encore et encore... Même son identité, il l’efface. À un moment, c’est simple, il respire pour elle. C’est dérangeant… mais captivant 😶‍🌫️.

Autour d’eux gravite un véritable cirque émotionnel... Entre jalousies, ambitions, blessures, mensonges… Personne n’est vraiment "gentil" ou "méchant". Chacun porte sa propre zone d’ombre, et c’est exactement ce qui rend "Dear X" aussi addictif (selon mes goûts biensur 😅).

Avant de parler des choses qui m'ont moins emballé... J'aimerai saluer la jeune actrice qui joue Ah-jin enfant. MAIS QUEL TALENT !!! 👍🏻. À chaque apparition, elle dégage une intensité folle... Cette gamine joue l’innocence et le calcul en même temps, comme si elle lisait les gens mieux qu’eux-mêmes. Je l'ai trouvé subtile, dérangeante, fascinante… clairemment, elle crève l’écran 😳🔥. Et Kim Yoo-jung reprend ça, l’amplifie, et elle le maîtrise à la perfection. Elle est majestueuse, impossible à lire, élégante mais tranchante... Elle fait de Ah-jin une héroïne aussi belle que dangereuse, aussi fragile que monstrueuse. C'est un vrai tour de force 👌🏻.

Au début, j’étais totalement dans l’illusion... je voulais moi aussi protéger Ah-jin, je voulais croire que c’était juste une gamine paumée dans un système pourri... Mais plus les épisodes avançaient, plus j'avais cette petite boule dans le ventre 😅. J'ai fini par réaliser que ce n’est plus seulement une victime... Elle manipule, elle orchestre, elle contrôle. Elle lit les gens comme un livre ouvert et retourne les situations avec une facilité effrayante. J’ai oscillée entre compassion… et malaise durant un moment. Après, je pense que c’est exactement ce qu'ils ont voulut provoquer 😵‍💫🔥.

Maintenant on y arrive… la fin... c'est quoi cette fin ?!? 😩. Après tout le build-up psychologique, toute la montée en tension, le drama s’est échoué... Je trouve que la conclusion est floue, pour moi elle est bâclée à 100%. Je n'ai eu aucune vraie résolution, aucune justice, aucune rédemption. Il y a des morts et des sacrifices qui n’ont aucun poids, aucune conséquence… comme si tout ça n’avait servi à rien... 🤷🏼‍♀️. La dernière scène pareil... ça ne dit rien, n’éclaire rien, ne ferme rien. Elle m'a juste laissé un goût amer...

Pire encore, je trouve que le drama finit presque par glorifier la manipulation, la survie toxique, le “tout est permis pour avancer”, sans jamais remettre ça en perspective. J'ai trouvé que moralement c'était bof 😬. Et un dernier truc aussi 😁, ce n’est PAS une ROMANCE... Au mieux il y a juste des crushs à sens unique, et une “relation” qui n’existe que par intérêt et qui finit par détruire tout le monde. Alors quand je vois des classements “romance”… j’ai envie de rire jaune 😅.

Au final, j’ai passé un visionnage intense, intriguant, élégant… mais la fin trahit un peu tout ce qu’ils avaient construit. Ça laisse des trous, des questions, et cette sensation bizarre que tout s’est effondré pour rien... ✌🏻

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Totalmente assurdo

può una serie che fino all'episodio 8 essere da 10, crollare miseramente a non so neanche che voto. sono sinceramente incazzata nera, potevano perfettamente concludere come il webtoon che era perfetto cosi.
poi sto ancora più nera, perché seminano roba che non raccolgono.
1. il padre di Ah-jin è andato in prigione nel 2011 uscito nel 2016, ma la parte dei flashback sono del 2008-09, cos'è successo?
2. il film Amen for nothing è del 2024 ma nel 4 episodio il boss di lei che guarda la tv è in prigione quando è uscito nel 2021
3. l'ex fidanzato non si è palesemente suicidato perché non avrebbe buttato pillole e alcool ma è stato ucciso dal marito di lei, così poteva salvarla dopo averlo distrutta

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