My Dearest Nemesis Review - ZyKuu
"A Black Dragon's weakness is a Strawberry" - The story was relatively engaging but lacked depth. The plot of the show was lackluster as it followed common tropes and failed to stand out in a unique manner. It may sound harsh but nonetheless it was still entertaining. The main cast was amazing and carried the show, The main couple Baek Su-jeong and Ban Ju-yeon were entertaining but from a romantic standpoint their chemistry was weak. Their chemistry was stronger when they were enemies. The second couple Kim Sin-won and Seo Ha-jin were my favourite couple. Their relationship was realistic, and succeeded in highlighting struggles that couples may be enduring in reality. Su-jeong's family was adorable as they cared about her deeply. Her father was very gentle towards her and always tried to always be there for her. He struggled raising both his kids and carries guilt with him for not being able to support her to his liking. Besides her brother being the comedic relief for me, he had moments where he would express his worry and care for Se-jeong. Ju-yeon's grandmother lore was pretty foolish. The hate she had towards him was unwarranted and seemed unnatural. Chief Kwon was the only adult figure Ju-yeon had and she was always looking out for his well-being which I admired. The OST is good and does a great job at blending in with the emotions of many scenes. Given the length of the show, it was an easy watch and I recommend this show to anyone who is a huge fan of the cast members!Was this review helpful to you?
More of this pleaseeee
Absolutely loved this show!! I haven’t written many reviews but I couldn’t skip on this one. if nothing else but to share my love for the show ahahah.so much I could say but the thing that stands out the most for me about this is that the progression of their relationship actually felt realistic. there was substance and depth. And we get to see the development in real time. I feel like some slow build romcoms have brief build up then just jump into boom a relationship. but it’s like ok but this just can’t be two people liking each other 😂😂😂
I know reviews, rankings, etc. are extremely subjective, but if I had rank the office-based romcoms I’ve watched so far, this is 100% at the top. For me, it had a rather slow and weird start lol but it picked up and finished super strong.
I liked all the actors involved and that the co-workers didn’t just feel like lackeys taking up space lol. There are some extreme parts to personalities, and I feel like some things are stretched unnecessarily far, but that didn’t affect the show’s quality to me. I think things were really made up for with how much I appreciated the relationship’s progression and development.
The second couple’s storyline was kind of annoying at first and would’ve definitely preferred more of the main leads, but it was nice seeing the friendships with their respective main leads so I appreciated them being in the show.
I think if you want to watch a solid romcom with strong relationships (not just between the main leads and romantic ones), this is a solid watch. It is a 10 out of 10 for me because of the acting, overall turnout of the show, and the substance. I put the story at 8.5 mostly because of how the beginning was as well as what I was saying about some things being stretched too far.
Even though this is yet another office-based romance with the stuck up/annoying successor, I feel like this show took a different approach that has a lot of value. First, the FL is a team leader and not a secretary. Second, the ML has entertaining components. He’s not just all work all the time. Third, we get to see their connections with friends and family and see how that relates to them and who they are more. It’s not only superficial family stuff. This is part of why it’d be the best one of this type. Finally, flashbacks felt like they made sense and tied into overall story. Things came full circle at the end, and I loved it.
All in all, a great show, and definitely on my list for eventual rewatch (with some episode skipping hahaha).
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This review may contain spoilers
simple but good love drama
the acting and chemistry between the characters was actually so good!! loved the jokes and how funny the show was. I think this show is a good “hey i’m bored let me start a new drama” show because it’s such an easy plot and story to follow. nothing too special but would still recommend because it’s cute and fun. My only complaint would be the weird relationship development between jooyeon and his grandmother. I think the show makers did a good job at solidifying their bad relationship but failed to fix/heal it- it felt really quick and forced idk. overall really good drama :)Was this review helpful to you?
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Quite refreshing
Firstly the pros: both leads are really interesting and have interesting personalities and backstories. I really liked the age gap with reversed power balance since she's 5 years older, but he's her boss. I also liked that he never really abused his position as a boss as we see in many boss/employee dramas. They both cared and protected each other in a cute way, without the "I'll give up everything to be with you". They both wanted to keep their position, their career, their hard work and ambitions, and that's what made them feel like such a good match.About the hobbies, I thought she would go back to gaming, she seemed to enjoy it a lot, and that would have been a nice touch. They could play together properly again, including with Ha Jin and maybe the old team members.
The male lead's back story was well developed and had the appropriate closure. I felt like although the female lead also had and interesting past, it wasn't nearly developed as much.
Cons: I thought the second male lead's acting felt weird and awkward, i didn't really understand him.
The closure with his grandma felt so rushed. one day she hates his guts, and the next she's crying for forgiveness.. they should've given her at least a few days to accept that she was wrong, idk.
They could've given Su Jeong's mom more scenes, or just talked about her a little more, that plot felt like it was buried deep.
Kinda funny how they didn't break up for the reasons the should, like the fact that they could both loose their jobs, and his grandma could target her for being with him. but broke up because... they met idk how many years ago.. they could've just talked about it. they broke up as fast as they got back together too, omg. it felt like a childish thing happening in the middle of much more serious things.
their break up was extremely unbalanced and they never acknowledged that properly. Ju yeon was a kid when they first met, and he lost everything he had that day, friendship, love, his cherished things got burned, his grandma abused him. when they got back together, it was like he got everything back, only to lose it again, because he could only like things freely when he was with her and his things were in her house too, so he couldn't even rely on that. what she lost at first was a person she leaned on, and her first love. what she lost later, was just a boyfriend, because she didn't need a person to lean on so desperately anymore. the stakes were just so much higher for him.
but it gave us a very cute choi hyunwook crying scene, and i loved her crying scene too, it was so impactful specially the built up of her dad and brother trying so hard to make her open up, because she never cries or show her emotions in front of them
Weird details: she hated knitting, but you want me to believe she knitted him a flawless scarf using the tiniest yarn and needles? that scarf looked 100% machine made, come on..
She "never spends money on herself" (according to her family) but she NEVER repeated clothes? I think the only thing I remember seeing more than once was that red shirt and red cardigan thingy.
I saw someone's review saying they thought it was stupid that liking cartoons and rock music was considered a bad shameful thing. But I thought that made so much sense in this story. He's already young, and people judge his competence because of it. Of course liking children's cartoons and rock music could potentially jeopardize his image. And i think the whole point of that was the contrast between him and the other chaebols. While the other chaebols were involved in gambling, drinking, prostitution, and drugs, and were living freely, he couldn't live freely even though his interest were extremely innocent, because his grandma despised everything he liked. He grew up getting shamed for it by his only family member, of course he thinks it's shameful, and that sentiment grew when he saw people making fun of the toy they found in the office. In the end, it wasn't as shameful as he grew to believe, but we can't deny that liking children's cartoons and wanting to eat happy meals for their toys is childish.. imagine being a die hard Paw Patrol fan at 25.
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There's no shame in liking "childish" stuff when you're adult.
Will probably be one of my comfort dramas from now on.The main reason I liked this series was that I truly could relate to it. We often try to not talk about our hobbies, because we are scared to open up and be vulnerable with others, also there is the fear that we could be judged.
This truly showed us how there's no harm in being into things or hobbies we had as a child. It's truly beautiful and I hope younger people get the courage to be as free with liking whoever and whatever brings them joy.
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TYPICAL KDRAMA ROMCOM
My Dearest Nemesis is a lighthearted rom-com centered around a chaebol family. I stuck with it primarily because of the second couple. The main plot is rather cliché, offering nothing new in terms of storyline,it’s the classic tale of a wealthy grandson falling for a poor girl. The drama boasts great actors and good production quality, but the second couple’s story stole the spotlight for me. Despite their limited screen time, their narrative had immense potential. If only the series had explored their story further,it could have injected more life into the drama.K-dramas should learn to strike a better balance, giving second couples well-developed storylines instead of focusing solely on the main leads!
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Started this show for the lightheartedness, ended up deeply emotionally attached to the characters.
I thought this show would be cute and fluffy, but I’ve found myself crying since episode 9! 😭 It’s possible that I’m just very emotional, but I’ve developed a deep attachment to Ban Ju Yeon and Baek Su Jeong. I often feel like I want to jump through the screen and offer them both a warm, comforting hug. As someone who is very empathetic, I can't help but feel their pain, which is why I tear up even just thinking about what they're going through.Watching them finally reach a point of closure and realize they aren’t alone in their suffering was truly moving. It's a reminder that everyone carries their own burdens, and many forget that others can be just as hurt as they are. Ban Ju Yeon has become my favorite character, and I feel so strongly with everything he faces. While some elements of the story may seem a bit unrealistic (like the grandmother’s sudden change), the raw emotions are incredibly authentic.
Baek Su Jeong feels like she must always be strong, bearing so much responsibility, yet yearns for someone to lean on. Ban Ju Yeon longs to be accepted for who he truly is, but feels as though he should hide his true self. Seo Ha Jin struggles with a fear of opening up and trusting someone again.
It's all so heartbreaking, yet it reflects the genuine feelings and experiences that many of us face.
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peak
mannn idc bout what these reviews r saying cause this was absolute peak, like bro hyunwook and gayoung in one drama is pure CINEMAAAA, but the grandmas redepmtion arc lowk pissed me off cuz i wouldnt have accepted if that was me lowk.. but other than that its a super good drama, and I'd say to watch it cause it was cute and i saw controversy because it was like, "oh bleh bleh gayoung is older bleh bleh hyunwook is younger" dare i say I DO NOT CAREEEEEEEE.. like dude there both adults and the whole POINT was that gayoung was older wrap it uppWas this review helpful to you?
Amazing
I loved this story! I couldn't wait for more episodes every week. I love the Kdrama's where the female lead is visibly older then the male lead, and this was another case of that! The story was emotional at times but it was fun to watch. There was a lot of chemistry between the main couple and I also loved the secondary couple. In the very beginning I was a bit doubtful because of the video game visuals but later on the story started playing and it became a very fun show to watch.Was this review helpful to you?
A drama that is like a warm hug
A drama series with straight forward plot and message as well as very solid pair of leads to go with it.The show is nothing groundbreaking, but does the story that they want to show very well.
The message is clear: "like what you like, enjoy things that makes you happy". Two main leads have clear narrative arcs and very sweet natural chemistry. I really enjoyed Moon Ga-young as the female lead and her character in general, a girl that was bullied in school and lost her mom young and that shaped her into the determined woman, who works hard, has clear principles and is always there for her family. Both leads go through the path of seeing each other's perspective and grow together as well as separetely as individuals. The second couple, that is shown is contrast to the lead, works very well here too, difficulties of the "more adult" relationship is on display. There are, of course, things that could have been done better, example here is the character of grandma, her initial behaviour and her redemption arc that is very cartoonish. Overall, I think the series deserves a lot of praise for the script, acting and direction. I highly recommend it for people that want to watch something heart warming and comedic.
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Simple done the right way
Coming across such a simplistic plot usually has two outcomes for me. I usually think it's boring or just awful, but this set the tone for dramas like it. There was no groundbreaking plot twist or some dark secret. I, for one, thought that this was going to be boring based solely on tik tok edits. Choi Hyun Wook looked so childish to me, he is only freshly 23, 22 or so when this drama was being filmed, acting like a 30-year-old but somehow, I was proven wrong when I started it and I love being proven wrong. He broke out of being type casted as high school only roles and I'm proud.Another thing that bothers me is younger man/ older woman troupe the dynamic is always messy and comes off weird many times with the woman acting like the man is a baby and it being her only reason for not waiting to date him. I know you can't escape the societal structure so easily, but this drama had a hint of that but a lot more love. While the slight gap was talked about it was never the reason for the fight (It was the lie). Then when they became adults it transitioned smoothly, there was no "I'm not respecting him because he is younger" or "She is so old she doesn't even know what I'm talking about" moments. It was all fun and games. All love from the two.
The chemistry was off the charts and although their past made me a little sad it couldn't wipe the big smile off my face when they were dating. There are so many lessons on love you can learn from My dearest nemesis.
1. There are two sides to a story
2. Love every part of a person (even their weirdness)
3. You can trust another person even after being betrayed if you love them enough
4. DON'T misplace your anger
There's so much more but those stuck out to me.
Just like any other story there were characters I hated and those I loved (main characters and the second mains). I'm glad I gave this show a chance, it made me a little happier than I am and maybe it can do that for you too. The best part is you don't have to take the drama too serious. It makes your heart flutter with warmth and comfort without too much worry.
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Su Jeong and Ju Yeon keep running into awkward and hilarious situations, with plenty of misunderstandings along the way. Both are quirky in their own ways, leading to lots of cringe-worthy yet funny moments.
This romantic comedy is full of laughs and heartfelt moments, exploring second chances, rivalry, and love in unexpected ways. Mun Ka-Young brings wit and emotion to Su Jeong, making her frustrations and hidden feelings feel real.
Choi Hyun-Wook plays Ju Yeon with the perfect mix of charm, confidence, and awkwardness, showing his journey from a cocky teen to a determined professional. Im Se-Mi and Kwak Si-Yang add depth to the story with their own romance and friendships, making the series even more engaging.
Read More: https://www.dramadaze.com/my-dearest-nemesis-review/
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