Melo Movie (2025)

Love is all around, and it's not just about romantic love

When watching this series, I had a similar feeling when I was watching my favorite Japanese series Life's Punchline. I feel these two series have quite a similar vibe. I love it.

This series has a different vibe from a lot of Kdramas. The story, the music, and cinematography is just so perfect. Just like the title, I felt like watching a movie, not a series.

This is a beautiful realistic slice of life series, with romance being a part of it. It's a mix of love, family, friendship, human relationships, dreams, passions, trauma, life and death. It touches different aspects of life. I was surprised that it was able to cover all those aspects in just a 10 episode series. Of course it cannot be too deep, but it’s enough. I was left fulfilled after finishing this series.

Love is all around in this series. Everything in it is connected to love, and it's not just about romantic love. First, it’s the love between our leads, Mubi and Gyeom. Their love isn’t just romantic, but it’s a deep connection and understanding. It’s so special. They love each other and are each other’s home. My heart feels warm and calm everytime they hug each other. It’s just so beautiful.

Second, it’s the love among the family members. We have Gyeom and his older brother, and Mubi and her parents as the two major focuses throughout this series. Gyeom and his brother truly love and care for each other dearly. Gyeom is the light in his brother’s life, while his brother is like a big tree for Gyeom. Gyeom always behaves like a kid around his brother. They rely on each other. However, Gyeom has developed a fear of being abandoned by his brother since he was a kid.

In Mubi’s situation, that her father is an absent father leads to her daddy issues. Her lack of fatherly love also leads to a fear of being abandoned and makes her always crave for love. It’s a kind of trauma that both our leads share. That’s why Mubi’s mom told Gyeom that he and Mubi are exactly like each other. And “Melo Movie” is their healing love story.

Other forms of love are friendship and human compassion, the love for one’s passion and dream, and the love for life. Each form is beautifully portrayed in this series.

Like Gyeom, my dream used to be watching every film ever made, and also reading every book ever written. However, the older I get, I understand that it’s impossible, because we have a limited time in this life while there are too many things to explore, including books and films. I can see myself in Gyeom’s development throughout the series. Oh, there was a scene where Gyeom went to the cinema with a girl who probably had a crush on him, but he didn’t care and just focused on the movie. I laughed at that scene and wondered if such a situation ever happened to me. I only go to the cinema to enjoy a movie on screen, so I don’t like talking with others when I am watching and I don’t pay attention to the person either. A lot of people may think that’s a place for dating, but it’s definitely not the case for me. I go to the cinema alone a lot. As an Asian, it’s not a common thing to do and people think I’m weird. I’m glad I’m not alone in this. :)

Like Mubi, I also love romance films and one of my favorite movies is “Love Actually” as well. I don’t understand why people don’t seem to take romance movies seriously. Maybe because I also have father issues like Mubi?

Other things I love about this series is the ending for the second leads. I’m glad they didn’t get back together at the end because it’s not realistic. In the first half of the series, I didn’t enjoy watching these two exes’ interactions and I didn’t like Ju A. But as the series goes, I think their relationship is realistic and relatable among young people. They are so young, passionate about each other and make mistakes. They once had each other in a period of their life and had a beautiful love story. I think Ju A owed Shi Jun an explanation why she broke up with him at the time, not just left him without any explanation. I think that’s the reason why Shi Jun was still stuck in the past when she was able to move on. I’m glad they met again so that Shi Jun could finally move on. Although I still don’t like Ju A, her character does exist in real life and it’s understandable.

After watching this series, I have the urge to rewatch some of my favorite romance movies and series. :)

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WOW, the genre truly is in the title.

Listen, this story really took me on a ride. I wasn't sure how well it was keeping my attention in the beginning, I enjoyed it at first, however, that switch at ep. 7 and after took a show that had me mentally rating it a solid 8 to bumping it up to a solid 9!!!

*Ep. 7 was beautifully eyeball sucker punching.

Being a cinephile, I truly did appreciate a story that was based around that, as well as interweaving movie genres into the actual different character's stories and POV styles. I also clocked, and enjoyed all the movie nods laced throughout the drama as well.

Melo Movie, tells you what it's about in the title. I should have taken it at face value because my eyes hurt, but the love is heartfelt. I was also really happy to see my fave Kim-Jae wook with his lush hair and fine face card, his storyline is tied to ep. 7. *chef's kiss*

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A good example of what Korean drama does best

I have read comments that criticise the Korean content on Netflix for being “too western”, as though pure Korean drama has been corrupted and led astray. I really don’t see it like that. Rather I think that Korean writers, directors and actors have been given a less restricting space to work in. Where the target audience is broader than the domestic weekly TV watchers, the train tracks of trope, cliché and accepted practice are still under construction, and the censors (real and ideological) don’t cast so long a shadow.

This drama feels very much like that. It retains all the hallmarks of what Korean drama does best: slow pacing; subtlety and character exploration, which are, in my opinion, so often sadly under-developed in US drama. But it allows an added edge of imperfection that is, for me, the missing ingredient in many home-based Korean productions. As though the perfect idol make up has been removed to reveal a natural imperfect beauty. The characters are still well within the social bounds of respectable, but they have an underbelly beneath the shiny exterior that gets exposed. They are being permitted to fail in terms of perfection and be acceptable, and accepted, as ordinary. The SML, Si Jun, is even allowed to be morose and negative for almost the whole drama without it dragging the whole thing down.

The dominant theme of the drama is hiding and its relationship to honesty, both with ourselves and others. The masks we put on, not just to hide ourselves from the world but also to hide ourselves from ourselves. The oblivious hiding, where we do it so well that we can’t even see what we are hiding. And the hiding of the truth about others, wanting to believe what someone is presenting to you, rather than diving with them into the murky depths of their world. Hiding our own fears and insecurities under the pretext of something else, such as not wanting to invade someone’s privacy. The drama addresses all these types of hiding. The plot explores what it takes to reach those moments of honesty that realign the characters with the world around them and free them from the shackles of the past allowing them to accept the broader truth.

The narrative flow was a little lumpy, especially in the latter part. With the result that it was as though they needed to explain, rather than everything already being in place for the viewer to understand. A more integrated approach to the backstory earlier on, for the second couple, would have made this less clumsy and allowed for a better lead into the final episode.

The cinematography was clean and square. Presenting pictures in which the action unfolded, rather than wondering through the set: static rather than fluid. There was a crispiness to the overall mood, with the use of sharp contrasts and pure colours.

For a drama where the soundtrack was featured, it didn’t really impress me. Using well worn melodic styles, heavy with the sort of filler piano runs that trickle along like relaxing background noise in a respectable bar. And the songs, although pleasant were not groundbreaking or striking in any way. I think an opportunity was missed there.

Overall I really enjoyed this drama. The production was solid rather than remarkable. Its main strength was to offer good characterisations and explore the depth of them well.

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THE perfect kdrama!!!

Melo is one of those rare K-dramas that feels perfect. The plot, the music, the scenes—everything comes together beautifully. But what truly stood out to me was the direction. The colors, the cinematography, the unique angles—every shot felt intentional and visually stunning.

I know this might sound crazy, but if you watch it, you’ll understand. It feels like the director’s only goal was to make you happy. Even when problems arise, they’re presented in a way that doesn’t make you sad but helps you understand them with warmth.

There’s so much to admire that any flaws don’t even matter. If you’re looking for a drama that delivers pure happiness, Melo is a must-watch.

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One for the books

I will unashamedly glaze this show. As I was watching it, I knew it would be an all-time favorite. I cried constantly throughout the show but ESPECIALLY in the last episode, during the talk with the mom, during the break-up/offical good-bye, and as soon as Jun showed up I was bawling, I mean I was a goner, but I cried because it was so good! It's insane that a show can make you feel so strongly in ONLY 10 episodes! I have seen a lot about dramas getting shorter and shorter, but I have to say I really liked the 10-episode length because it's what fit the storyline best. There are no unnecessary plot-filling storylines that are somewhat pointless and poorly written. I have also read some points that it wasn't particularly romantic, but I think that's for the best. I enjoyed watching a storyline about how love can persevere through life's difficulties rather than unrealistically be the center of every conversation and scene, with large grand gestures, which are very fun to each in the certain dramas, but the fact is, this isn't that kinda of drama. The ending didn't have to be grand like an engagement or wedding because the show ultimately wasn't about grandeur. So many dramas are either too similar or try so hard to be different that they mess up the ending, but this one just was a perfect sign-off, very happy with the ending.
I could go on and on about the attention to detail that is just so admirable; it totally makes a difference. To start, all of the side characters are incredibly well written and fleshed out, they always add to the storyline. The dialogue is just so well written, it has a perfect balance of comedy and drama, and it handles the very difficult topics of grief and loneliness in a very realistic way. The cinematography makes all the difference, I saw a lot of more artistic shots compared to other dramas, and not only were they stunning and added to a scene's emotion, but they also played very nicely with the overall theme of cinema. The color grading was also very lovely, it matched the scenes very nicely, playing with warm and cool tones and the lighting choices i mean again the attention to detail really shows through. THE EPISODE TITLES I mean, the fact that each title is a quote from a famous film AND it relates to the episode's overarching theme is just perfection. Finally, the performances from all the actors and actresses is undeniably what makes this really emotionally impactful. Once again, the portrayal the complex feelings of grief, loneliness, and love all in one drama is just done so well, and that's not just talking about the lead actor and actress but every single actor and actress who played side characters just killed it, I mean smashed it out of the park. I don't rewatch dramas much, especially not so quickly after I've just watched it, but I am very excited to revisit this one. Even still, I don't think this review covers my love for the show and how impressed I was with it.

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Too small slices of life

This drama has great promise with an amazing cast and not to mention the director and writer who have delivered some of my personal favourite dramas.

The acting, dynamics, music, direction, cinematography and stotylines are all pretty decent, fine they just had to add one of my personal pet peeves showing dialog with ghosts and inner younger selves, but tother than that the delivery was really good. The characters are all fun to watch, given they are recognisable from previous characters played yet with a slight twist that shows the actors range. I guess or something like that.

However there where just a few to many stories and to few episodes to fully be able to deliver the emotional roller coster I was hoping for. As they prioritised shots of pretty scenery and pauses before dialog and digging deep in to the minds of our characters. Leaving just a little bit to much unsaid.

Leaving me with a sense of neither feel good nor feel mad, or sad just oh, ok I guess that is life. And to be honest a part of me thinks that was what they where going for. So if you are in it for the feels this may not be the right place to find it but if you want the reals and under-explored this is a good place to find it.

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Melo Movie Gave Me Butterflies… Then Broke My Heart – Here’s What I Think!

The first episode promised me a full series of laughter and butterflies through the romance between the main leads. I absolutely loved Ko Gyeom's character and how his love story with Mubee began. But just when I was getting invested, an accident shattered everything, leading to a sudden time skip. That part was a bit disappointing. However, the producers did a great job of saving the story by ensuring the leads met frequently, and having Ko Gyeom move in across from Mubee with his brother. At that point, I thought I was in for a second round of romcom goodness.

I watched the series with giggles and plenty of “salting” moments, but then, around episode 6, everything shifted. What started as a sweet and lighthearted show turned into an emotional and melancholic drama. I understand that this was the series’ intended direction, but by the time I finished watching, I felt like the heartwarming, gloomy atmosphere had taken over the romance. Instead of a sweet love story with some emotional depth, the emotions became the main focus.

Episode 7 was a major turning point. Just when the story was starting to feel flat, Ko Jun stepped in and completely flipped the series. His presence changed Ko Gyeom’s character and altered the entire flow of the story. In fact, it almost felt like the series was more about the relationship between Ko Gyeom and his brother rather than his romance with Mubee. Their sibling bond somewhat overshadowed the main love story.

Although the title Melo Movie suggests a romance-driven plot, I felt that the romantic aspect was lacking. Instead, the series focused more on the hardships faced by Ko Gyeom and Mubee and how these struggles affected their love lives. Even after they officially got together, I don’t think we got enough heart-fluttering moments between them.

As for the second leads, I think their story was well-written. It felt like they were playing an emotional tug-of-war—both trying to hold on to each other but never fully expressing their feelings. Despite their efforts to save their love, nothing worked out in the end.

On the acting side, Choi Woo Shik did a fantastic job making Ko Gyeom such a fun character to watch. The rest of the cast also played their roles well, but I feel like Hong Si Jun, played by Lee Jun Young, could have had a stronger impact. I’m not saying his performance was bad, but I think he could have delivered more expressive emotions to make his character stand out.

Overall, I really enjoyed Melo Movie, even though I believe it had the potential to be even better. I think 10 episodes were just the right length—any longer, and the story might have lost its appeal. I hope you all enjoyed reading my review. Thank you! 😊

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an emotional slow burn

I absolutely loved this show. I can't explain it otherwise.

I don't think that I'll need to talk a lot about the casting because if you're into Kdramas you know that they're really great actresses and actors.

For the story, I read that some found it disappointing and that it's not really representing the title but I liked the story for real. It is a slow burn so if you're not into series of that type it may not be your cup of tea because it then may seem too slow or boring for you (examples for other slow burn Kdramas: Summer Strike, Our Beloved Summer, Tell me that you love me). Personally, I love slow burn series and this is an enjoyable one. You will be emotionally touched by the story of love, past relationships and most importantly: how grief is handled differently. I honestly learned so much about humanity through this Kdrama and to never take things for granted. I had a good cry watching this too especially the later episodes.

So if you like slow burns or want to give one a try I definitely recommend this one!

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True-to-life plots (plural) and lessons

Don't get confused, «Melo Movie» is a 10-episode series about love from romance to family to friendships, and yes, even break-ups and moving on.

If you're thinking it's just another typical melo story, well, you're wrong. It tackles a lot of topics about love and life, and how different people handle the challenges the world throws at us. It can either remind us of how good it is to feel loved and to love someone, or give us new lessons we haven't gone through that we can use one day.

Or, maybe, it's just me because I was able to relate to many of the plots that I've been through one way or another. From a parent-children relationship to how not ending a relationship properly can stop us getting back on our feet.

I give it 1000 over 10 stars.

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