A Drama That Goes Nowhere
This show is the textbook definition of wasted potential. From start to finish, it’s a flat, lifeless experience with no real story to tell. The pacing is sluggish, the plot is practically nonexistent & not a single character leaves an impression. Most actors weren't particularly charming either (but it could be just to do with the screenplay & unintriguing story).Sehun character, as one of the male leads, is especially underwhelming. With the entire narrative supposedly built around his character, you’d expect some level of depth or charisma but sadly he brings zero presence & painfully disengaged throughout which makes you feel super annoyed as a viewer.
The rest of the cast doesn’t do much to elevate things either. Plenty of moments with unwarranted over the top acting. There’s not much chemistry anywhere, no standout performance, & definitely no reason to care about what’s happening on screen.
Releasing all episodes at once was the only mercy as you have the option to FF. Go for it, if you have time to kill but to me, not worth the time.
Was this review helpful to you?
*sigh*
I'm so disappointed that I'll keep it very short. This TV series is sh*t. Full of plot contrivances, over-the-top acting, lousy directing, lousy cinematography, lousy character development. Lousy ending. The so-called funny bits are mostly cringe. I'm sure people will enjoy it and give it a high rating but "I like this show" is not the same with "this show is good", fact most people forget.So: Wanna watch it? Go for it. Might you enjoy it? Sure. Is it objectively good? Definitely no. Return value? Pls, stop.
Have a lovely day.
Was this review helpful to you?
A High School Election with No Heart, No Humor, and No Point
I started I Am a Running Mate because I had some free time and the preview looked interesting. I didn’t check reviews beforehand since it had just dropped, and I thought it might offer something fresh. Unfortunately, the show turned out to be a complete letdown.The core story is very thin—just school election politics—but they stretch it out to fill 8 episodes. It feels like the creators were trying to build something similar to Weak Hero Class 1 or a “study hard” kind of drama, but the foundation was too weak to begin with. The plot drags unnecessarily, and by the end, it’s hard to even summarize what the drama wanted to be.
The characters? All over the place. Every student behaves more like they’re in college or an adult drama rather than high school. Our main lead acts like a typical teenager (which would be fine if others did too), but the rest of the cast is written with bizarre maturity or intensity that doesn’t match the setting. It’s also weird that we see many scenes at students' homes, but no parents ever show up—almost like they don’t exist or have no clue what their kids are doing.
Acting-wise, nothing stood out. Honestly, no one gave a memorable performance, and it felt pretty flat overall. There's no romance, no real emotional connection, and certainly no dark comedy. If they wanted to drag a story like this, they could’ve made it 50 episodes just for the sake of it—but without depth or direction, what’s the point?
There were no goosebumps, no touching moments, and no character I felt any sympathy for—not even the main lead.
In short, it’s a school drama based on unrealistic election politics, stretched too far with weak execution. If you’re watching just because you have free time (like I did), maybe give it a shot—but don’t expect much. Definitely not a must-watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
"The Only Useful Vote: Don’t Watch"
Honestly, I have no idea how this drama was filmed in 2023. With all the progress in storytelling and production quality in K-dramas lately, *I Am a Running Mate* feels like a huge step backwards. It’s like watching a school project and not even a good one.The plot had potential: student elections, politics, youth, identity… but it’s completely wasted. Nothing feels genuine. The story is flat, the dialogue sounds awkward, and the characters are just walking clichés. I kept waiting for the story to take off, but it never did. Each episode felt like filler, with no real stakes or emotional pull.
And let’s talk about the acting. Wow. 😬
It’s stiff, awkward, and often unintentionally funny. It feels like no one was really sure what kind of drama they were filming. Emotional scenes fall completely flat, and I couldn’t connect with a single character not for lack of trying, but because none of them felt remotely believable.
Visually, it’s also very bland. For something filmed in 2023, the directing felt lazy. No style, no creativity, just plain, boring shots strung together with no energy or rhythm. I honestly expected more from something linked to Han Jin-won (yes, the *Parasite* guy… still can’t believe it).
Thankfully it’s short (only 8 episodes), but honestly? It still felt like a chore to finish. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone unless you’re curious to see how a decent premise can be completely ruined.
Was this review helpful to you?
Don’t be fooled by the rating!!
This drama was really easy to watch especially if you are bored or wanting to waste time. I can see how the plot drags and becomes empty midway but it was still watchable. I honestly did not think it was bad than what the other people are saying in the comments. If you really want to watch it than don’t read the comments…As someone who has seen way too many dramas, this was pretty good. The acting is what made it better like LEE JUNGSIK…been a fan since dear.m and he needs more main lead roles and recognition!! (that picture also needs to be changed ASAP) He acted so good to portray the evilness of his character and I LOVED IT. I did expect the other actors to do well also.
This drama is good and I would recommend it to other people as well. The only thing that lacked mainly was the ML character. Bonus for the zerobaseone ost tho!
Was this review helpful to you?
A Political Drama in a School Uniform
"I Am a Running Mate" has a fresh concept with student politics at its core, but the execution doesn’t quite deliver. After a decent start, the story slows down with repetitive campaign talk and little real tension. Most side characters are underused, and the romance feels pointless. The ending wraps things up too neatly, skipping over deeper consequences.While the lead gives a solid performance and the core message is thoughtful, the show overall feels more like a lecture than a drama. Good idea, but too slow, too safe, and not very rewatchable.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This drama was interesting!!
I really liked this drama, It was very different compared to other dramas. The story was very triggering though with lots of embarrassing moments and ups and downs. If you get triggered easily this wouldn't be a recommendation. I honestly think it was a masterpiece. The acting was legitimate, even the support actors and actresses had such good roles and acting and the main don't even underestimate their acting it was FANTASTIC. The ending did disappoint me a bit although it was a happy ending but I feel like it could depend on everyone's feelings on the drama since there was sides you could choose on which you liked more. I recommend watching this if your not really into severe fighting and more of word fighting!Was this review helpful to you?
It was actually good
When I first saw the reviews I didn't expect anything special, but I was wrong. It kept me interested until the very end, which is hard for me. The ending wasn't very expected. It brings friendly vibes, apart from the rivalry. It has some harsh words and actions but if you're okay with it you should give it a shot.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Ultimate Political Face Off in a Schoolyard
What a Show!!This was hands down one of the most entertaining and unique dramas i have watched this year. From E1 to 8, not a single moment felt dull or dragged, it was consistently engaging and sharp.
I absolutely loved the concept of using a high school election as a miniature version of real life korean politics. The way they mirrored actual political processes, candidate selection, campaigning, approval ratings, final speeches, was done so well. But it didnt stop there. The show also reflected the darker realities of politics, deception, betrayal, strategic manipulation and character attacks. It was a smart, well layered satire wrapped in a school setting.
The performances were fantastic across the board, especially by the ML Noh Sehun and SML Kwak Sang Hyeon. Both the SML and the third ML Yang Won Dae were contenders for the student president position and both were manipulative, sly and strategic. While Kwak Sang Hyeon was more overtly evil, Yang Won Dae wasnt far behind. Still, between the two, the Yang Won Dae felt like the lesser evil and the better choice.
The ML Noh Sehun himself was more of a clumsy, passive figure throughout, with most of the political drama playing out between the SML Kwak Sang Hyeon and third ML Yang Won Dae. But Noh Sehun's final move, exposing the Kwak Sang Hyeon was so satisfying. Aside from the Noh Sehun, my favorite character was Kang Jae Won, one of the SML’s underlings and a kind hyung to the Noh Sehun. I loved his character development the most.
I also loved how the show used red and blue to represent the two election camps, just like south korea’s major political parties. It was such a thoughtful, symbolic detail.
Overall, Im Running Mate is one of the most refreshing and original school dramas i have seen, a bold break from the usual school bullying tropes.
10/10 for how much i enjoyed every episode!!
Was this review helpful to you?
Enjoyed it very much !!!
Despite all the low reviews for this series, I genuinely rlly liked it. It definitely was all over the place sometimes and it might not have ended the way some people wanted but I genuinely loved the way it ended. It felt complete definitely had some questions and wanted to know about some of the characters in the end but it kept me on my seat the entire time and the chemistry between the whole cast was amazinggggg. The twist and turns I feel like are what made this series good(plus the bromance lmaooo) but I would recommend to watch before you judge based off the reviews!!! Anyway KT OUT!! ✌️Was this review helpful to you?
School Elections, Petty Drama, and Unexpected Feels
It isn’t your average K-Drama and that’s exactly what makes it entertaining. It brings a fresh concept to the table by centering around a high school student council election, which, while sounding mundane on paper, is elevated by strong performances and surprisingly grounded humor. It's not packed with sweeping romance arcs or revenge showdowns, and that’s part of the charm.The acting deserves special mention. Every main actor, plays their role very well. The humor is another win here: light, smart, and rarely cringe. Even the cringey bits are handled with a wink that says, “Yeah, we know.” It’s self-aware in the best way.
That said, the plot itself, the actual school election, felt like the weakest part. It was a bit too much for something as small-scale as a student presidency. Betrayals, lies, wild accusations, and political scheming that made it feel like a miniature version of Scandal or House of Cards… for teens. Dramatic? Definitely. Necessary? Definitely not.
The real heart of the show is the bromance. Yes the bromance, it plays out like the three male leads are all vying for Se Hun in their own way. From one angle, it genuinely feels like a tug-of-war over a quiet, unremarkable kid who somehow becomes everyone’s emotional center. Two of them want are only interested in him for their selfish needs, while the third, arguably the most compelling, ends up genuinely caring for him. Whether out of pity, admiration, or something else, there’s a surprising emotional depth there that I didn’t expect going in.
Se Hun himself is an interesting choice for a main character. He’s not particularly charismatic or standout in the traditional K-drama sense, but that’s part of the point. He’s normal. A bit too kind, too quiet, too passive at times, which was annoying at times, but maybe that’s what makes him an interesting character.
Overall, I Am a Running Mate is not groundbreaking, but it is refreshing. If you go in for the plot, you might be disappointed. But if you’re here for bromance, subtle humor, and watching teens go too far over a school election, then give it a try.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
a bit boring but worth a try
for 8 episodes tells about school politics to become the chairman of the student council. a bit annoyed with no se-hun who does not have a firm stance, often takes action without thinking. sang-hyun's character from the beginning I suspected that he was not good, he thought that getting everything could be with power and wealth but he was afraid of his parents. in this film jae-won is indeed the best, love jae won ♡Was this review helpful to you?
