My Bias Is Showing?!

For real, my PREJUDICE is showing

I am going to be biased in this review, whether i like it or not. If youre a big KPop fan, who doesnt fantasize about the scenarios in this drama. Its a fanboy/fangirl dream come to life.

Kim Kang Min played Choi Si Yeol perfectly as a member of an ageing idol group and Kevin as the almost geeky and perfectly relatable teacher Na Ae Jun. The moment the show started i am immediately transported into the shoes of Ae Jun - the slowmo moments and the cute fangirling - my heart would have exploded and i wouldnt have his self control when faced in similar situation.

Im glad that the episodes were a little bit longer than the usual KBLs and isntead of 8 we got 10 episodes. It was the perfect length to tell the story without rushing things.

The show, however, isnt perfect - first, it felt like there was a little bit of budget constraints especially when acquiring songs because this is a show about a KPop idol but there wasnt really any great song for the soundtrack. I also felt like there was a lot of missed opportunity to tell a deeper story as they glossed over the difficulties faced by idols (and their partners) especially when it comes to their personal lives.

This series also amped up my anxiety to the max. When it was revealed that Si Yeol is only using Ae Jun to exact revenge on Ji Kyusong i felt afraid for him and imagined how devastated it would be if he found out that his bias has been deceiving him. I sincerely felt that the show didnt handle that situation very well because that was some weird dark sh^t and it was downplayed as something to be forgiven easily just because "i like you first for a really long time".

What could have been an impactful romance drama became a cute, fluffy and light fantasy (yes i consider it a fantasy since i think everything is just a fantasy happening in the mind of Ae Jun) series that lacked real depth.

Dont get me wrong, Its not a bad drama but its definitely not on the level as some of the best KBLs like Semantic Error, To My Star, Bleuming and Love for Love's Sake.

Would I recommend? Yes, definitely.
Would I rewatch? Probably not.
Giving it a high 8 just because i love all of the 4 main cast. I told you im going to be biased.

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Forget the actual plot and watch it for the fluffy "plot"!

7.75/10 (That awkward in-between score where you kind of love it but also know this isn't life changing )

The cheat code to enjoy this drama is not to expect much. It isn't trying to reinvent the wheel, and you get the idea early on. It sticks to its lane..light, a bit fluffy and breezy to watch. It's easy on the eyes, with good chemistry between the leads, comedy that isn't cringey, although it had slightly uneven pacing and not enough angst.

The premise is simple yet fun. Na Aejoon, a fanboy, suddenly finds himself working alongside his idol, the charming Choi Si Yeol. The twist is that Na Aejoon keeps his fanboy status a secret, while Si Yeol has his own mysterious agenda for getting close to him.
Their chemistry is not smooth or effortlessly romantic. It is awkward and adorable. The height difference is just the cherry on the cake. Sometimes they did act like cringey clichés, but it kind of makes you smile rather than suffer. The visuals, their silly banter overall maintain that feel good vibe.

Now, coming to the biggest issue I had with this drama was Si Yeol’s character. It felt like a wasted potential. For most of the drama, he is playing the long game with his little revenge mission, which means his actual feelings don’t come into play until way too late. By the time the truth comes out, there is barely any space left for him to properly redeem himself.
I would have rather liked it if they had given him a lot more inner conflict earlier on. It would have given the drama enough and much-needed angst. The guilt, the hesitation, the tiny moments of self-doubt...we didn't get to see this.

As for the second couple, they were sweet but very underdeveloped. I know they had a tragic past, but I feel we didn't see them enough to believe it or have any kind of connection. The last-minute conflict resolution magic wand does its trick, and voilà... a happy ending.

Another thing that I feel they could have milked better is the whole idol fan relationship. They just brush past it pretty quickly.

Acting-wise, it was decent. Kevin, as Na Aejoon carried the role nicely. I felt the clumsiness, the second-hand embarrassment and the emotional scenes were spot on, especially when he was cooped up in his room. Kim Kang Min as Choi Si Yeol was charming too, but some of the heavier emotions didn't quite land. It wasn't terrible by any means, but when Aejoon cried, I felt something; however when Si Yeol cried (the classroom scene) lacked that impact.

Overall, this isn't a gourmet meal, but it will satiate your cravings. It has flaws but it's charming enough to forgive.
I would recommend it if you are looking for a short, fun, feel-good BL that's easy to binge. But don't expect clever writing or too much depth. It's a guilty pleasure kind of recommendation.

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