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One of the best productions of 2025 .
Baek Anjin is a very emotionally strong character! I really don't understand why people romanticize male characters of this genre so much, like Wi Hajoon in Midnight, but then when it's a female character, people criticize her.One character I can't stand is Junseo. You don't intentionally cause a car accident and take someone you "love" with you just because you think that's what's best for her.
The best character in this drama was Jaeho!
Although I see that many people didn't like the ending, I think it was the most "realistic" possible.
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You will be frustrated
As much as I disliked literally every character in this show, I can’t lie I practically binged the entire series (as much as I could since I had exams lol). It was incredibly entertaining. I mean seriously, they were annoying but they would leave you on a cliffhanger that’s way too good to ignore.On a side note the ending was so unsatisfying. I mean, I didn’t expect a happy merry ol’ ending where everyone gets their revenge and everyone reaps what they sow but it just felt incompleted? Maybe the writers didn’t have any ideas left where to go lol… It was just so anticlimactic.
I guess they were trying to say that Baek Ahjin is alive and living like a ghost now but still. The ending felt empty, like atleast a little bit more context and background would’ve sufficied.
But overall I can’t say the show is bad just because the characters were frustrating- I mean I could but that’d be a lie because the premise of the show was so interesting! I’m a huge fan of revenge plots and although this isn’t your typical revenge story (lowkey like a bad side of revenge rather than a good one) which was new and refreshing! I recommend this show, be prepared to be frustrated to the core tho!!!
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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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Love this thriller drama
Flowers to Kim You Jung for this role!I couldnt wait to binge watch this. Oh how Baek A Jin used everyone around her and they call just fell for her charm.
Did anyone else realize that Kim Jae O didnt see how he was trapped by A Jin image being an "angel"? Like the things he was hearing, he didnt believe them and all he wanted to do was to "PROTECT HER" to the end and nothing else mattered.
To me, she used Yun Jun Seo emotionally. Like she knew how to always run to him because of the LOVE he has for her, he would do anything despite knowing her ways. Ummm, too bad, she didn't love him back even to the end because he was so tired of her sh*t and it showed.
The moment she got married, I was like okay she found her match, someone who is also crazy but A Jin couldnt be controlled.
Fast forward, with her at the end, I wish her story ended with Yun Jun Seo but the writers had other plans.
Overall, it was a great thriller drama and I enjoyed each episode. Flowers to each character! They played their role well.
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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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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.Was this review helpful to you?
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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'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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Baek Ahjin Exceptionally Creeped Me Out with her acting
The story starts strong with the initial thrill keeping you jaw clenched and focused but then the repetitive plot sets in the monotony. The intense and engaging opening deserved a better conclusion.However, applaud Baek Ahjin for her acting skills, playing the socio n psychopath. She really gave me the chills time to time. At times it felt as if witnessing a true crime.
The other actors too did an amazing job, but I wouldn't be able to give enough due credit, since I started the series just for ahjin's performance.
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The ending disappoints, but the acting and music carry the drama.
[SPOILERS IN THE 1ST PARAGRAPH. Please skip it if you want to avoid them]I didn’t like the ending. It felt rushed, and the fact that nothing happens to her psychopath husband is frustrating, making Jae-oh’s sacrifice feel wasted rather than meaningful. Junseo’s death also feels strange and poorly handled!
But Dear X still works for me largely because of Kim Yoo Jung’s performance. Her acting is absolutely insane and, in my opinion, hard-carries the entire drama. I’ve watched her since we were both kids, and while her acting has always been good, this role truly gives her the space to show her full potential.
The music deserves special praise too, it’s beautifully chosen and greatly amplifies the overall mood. Every track fits Dear X’s vibe perfectly. Give them a listen: Devil’s Angel by Minnie, Insane (Soft Ver.) by Elaine Kim, Ego by Cocona, and Run & Run by Lim Kim.
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beauty privilege is real
selama nonton ini di kepala cuma kepikiran emang beauty privilege is real karena bisa diliat ahjin ini manipulatif & red flag final boss tapi masih aja pada setia sama dia apalagi cowo-cowo, tapi emang perlu di garis bawahi masa lalunya dia juga kejam banget beban hidupnya dia tuh dari kecil ga abis-abis. makanya salut banget sama orang yang dari keluarga yang diperlakukan kejam tapi masih berusaha jadi orang baik karena jujur aku ga menyalahkan kenapa ahjin jadi orang jahat bukan sebagai pembunuh tapi manipulatif dll. tapi alangkah baiknya jangan diikuti ya malah ceramah. aktingnya oke bangetWas this review helpful to you?
