Nerdy chaebol ML falls for feisty director killer FL.
My Dearest Nemesis is a charming, light office romcom with a great cast and consistent humor—especially if you're a little nerdy like Ban Ju Yeon. The acting is strong across the board, and it has just enough heart to keep you invested.That said, the show really overemphasizes that Su Jeong has never made her life about herself, and it offers no satisfying payoff to that arc. She’s hardworking and loyal (which is great), but they go out of their way to point out she has no real hobbies or inner spark outside of work or her relationship—and then... leave it at that? It would've meant so much to see her discover a little joy just for herself.
Still, a fun watch if you like flirty rivals-to-lovers and quirky ML energy—but probably not one I’ll remember in a few years.
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I LOVE THIS DRAMA SO MUCH
Edit after watching ep 5: THIS DRAMA IS INCREDIBLE, I AM OBSESSED!!! This has the potential to be one of my fav dramas of all time, do not miss out on watching this! The banter, the chaos, the tension: this drama has it all!I am absolutely loving this so far! The actors are incredible, their chemistry is undeniable. I love rivalry and banter and fierce leads and this drama is delivering! The characters are quirky and complex, and I cannot wait to see them develop further!
This drama is one I've been anticipating for a while, and it has yet to disdapoint me so far--here's to hoping it won't disappoint at all. I'll eagerly be awaiting the next episodes for more hilarious moments! I'm sure this drama will be brilliant <3
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No expectations
I was excited about this drama, but it didn't meet my expectations. The story was predictable with common secret office romance, enemies to lovers things. Despite the actors' best efforts, the story had no much potential. I kept watching for the second couple - they were interesting and to check the grandma's reactions to her grandson's love for cartoons, anime and video games. I wish the writers had done something new and different. If you're looking for a light-hearted watch to kill some time, this drama might be worth checking out. Just don't expect too much from the main plot.Was this review helpful to you?
The Quintessential Office Romcom
“My Dearest Nemesis” is the quintessential rom-com. With vibes that resemble shows such as “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?” and “Business Proposal”, it delivers a show that checks all the boxes for a good ole fashioned Korean office romance.Pros:
• The chemistry of our leads is great. Whether it’s when they’re arguing like crazy rivals at the beginning or making you grin ear to ear with their abundance of sweet moments later, you will get your fill of this awesome couple. Both are flawed in realistic ways and their character development is simply beautiful.
• The second couple! The secondary romance was amazing. I could have watched a show of just them. I loved their subplots.
• The romcom elements. Like I said, this checks all the boxes. It’s funny, romantic, and yet deep at the same time. Very engaging and well done.
Cons:
• I can’t be the only done with mean chaebol families, right? Will this trope never die? While they give her a redemption arc at the very very end, the grandma’s character was almost so bad it was unrealistic. Her coldness was mind boggling.
• Lacked originality and wow factor. “My Dearest Nemesis” doesn’t deliver us anything we haven’t seen before. It feels like countless other romcoms I’ve seen, but it fails to deliver an impact that sets it apart from any of them. I disengaged at points (not enough to quit but still) due to this reality.
Overall? It’s a cozy watch, and it’s a great romcom. Sit back, press play, and enjoy it for what it is. It’s a comfort show for sure.
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This review may contain spoilers
A little tale of love
Another nemesis to the love story got a fairytale ending.After a tumultuous ride for twelve episodes, Su Jeong and Ju Yeon got their happy ending.
The narrative has been strong since the inception. Though makers selected the most cliche niche of Korean dramas, they never stick to the formula. Every twist brought a surprise element alive. Even the graphs of Su Jeong and Ju Yeon met a new twist with their progression and development. Their interaction was never monotonous.
The story maintains an arc throughout the tale. Instead of presenting a regular sad masochistic ML, they gave a sad man who is cowering behind his life. Though FL is older to him, the age gap is not an issue here. Also, the journey of Ha Jin did not reflect much on breaking stereotypes. It is okay to live freely more than often.
This is not just a love tale, but a soft ride of self evolution and conquering personal demons.
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Begin of 9.5 stars - end 7.5*
Great beginning. I wanted to see more and more. Funny, dinamics rhytms... I was sad that I cannot watch all the series, episodes after episodes but only 2 a week.Choi Huyn Wook has personality and acted well in both side lifes characters. Meanwhile Mun Ka Young as a little justicer, is a "little pepper" character.
First part better than second half.
The fact that couples, that of the main actors as well as their friends, break up and then get back together several times in the long run is tiring.
The grandmother who behaves like such a bastard with this poor grandson has made me sincerely hate her.
Then I wonder what kind of people are all those who suddenly change their opinion listening to gossip and have nothing to do but gossip at work and who spread videos and photos. What bad people!
Sometimes the music is too exuberant for the situation.
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1Cute and easy, but won’t stick with you!
This is a good pick for a lighthearted romcom that is a perfect one-time watch. It offers all your classic elements you would expect - from charming moments to some funny and punk rock twists with an overall feel-good vibe from start to finish. While it doesn’t break new ground in terms of plot, it does just enough to make you smile and feel good by the end.The pacing is just right, with a blend of humor and sweet moments that kept me entertained without getting too heavy or too complicated for a romcom.
The chemistry between the leads was good. Their connection felt real and cute, giving off an effortless vibe. Whether they were joking around or having those sweet moments, they somehow just clicked.
From playful banter to tender moments, you can tell they genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Their interaction felt natural and not forced, which added a certain depth to their relationship.
The gaming element at the beginning was actually a clever subplot. It felt seamless and didn’t come across as childish which I feared when I read the synopsis, instead bringing a fresh dynamic that added an extra layer of fun to the plot. I wish they kept more of that in later part of episodes too.
The SML Kim Sin Won was definitely a highlight for me. He was such a sweetheart and I loved that they didn’t make him compete with the ML for FL's attention. That was a nice change from the usual love triangle drama. On the other hand, the SFL wasn’t always my favourite. She came across as kind of immature at times, especially when she pulled away from SML but made him feel like it was his fault. I get needing space, but it would have been nicer if she didn’t act like he was in the wrong for it. Honestly, I think I would have been okay if they hadn’t ended up together.
The supporting characters were a mixed bag and in the background except for throwing some curve ball here and there. The female lead’s dad was such a sweetheart, adding a lot of warmth to the story in the little screentime he got. I liked his supportive nature and his bond with both his kids.
But the male lead’s grandmother! Yikes. I just couldn’t get on board with her till the end. I am sorry but no amount of redemption arc could make me forget how cruel she was to a child.
The acting was decent all around. No complaints really, everyone did their thing with what they had, even if the script wasn’t exactly mind-blowing. They still made it work and brought the characters to life.
Overall, while it wasn’t anything groundbreaking, this still served a good time. Recommended if you are looking for something light and feel-good.
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Light and cute at times.
The show is entertaining, but there's nothing that makes it stand in the ocean of romcoms.Positives: the show is simple, short and light, so if you are looking for an easy show with some funny moments and jokes , this one is perfect. I liked most of the casting, the music was pretty good and it's nice that they featured a real band, the second leads had a good story line and there was no unnecessary love triangle plot line.
Now on the negatives: this one is probably my least liked romcom. I said most of the casting was good, it's my first time seeing the ML but I got too distracted with his airy way of talking, don't know whose decision it was. Too many clichés and no innovation on them, I thought the premise of the ML being a geek would be handled better, but it was used only to show him being cheesy. The grandma was shown as a complete POS for 11 episodes to suddenly get a redemption arc at a segment of the last episode.
My score doesn't mean the show is bad, because if it were, I wouldn't have finished it. It's just very bland. I guess it was hard to flesh it a bit more with only 12 episodes.
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⚝Smooth to watch, not complicated or serious, but somewhat enjoyable⚝
I see that many people consider this cringeworthy—perhaps it is, or perhaps not—because I believe the beginning of some serious plot developments will come in the upcoming episodes. For this type of drama, it’s enjoyable to watch if you’re looking for something light without complex events, plot twists, or mind-burning moments.
As far as I know, the male lead is supposed to be younger than the female lead in the webtoon. I think the cast is good, except for some gaps in the chemistry of the second couple, which might develop in the upcoming episodes. However, I feel their chemistry shows more when they are not being serious (in comedic scenes).
Overall, it’s something you can enjoy if you watch it after a drama with heavy events. There are still upcoming episodes, and the plot is developing. I might update this after it’s completed.
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A love story between a headstrong eldest one in the family who is expected to be the pillar of the family often letting go of her intrests and comfort (I am sure many of us can relate to this) and a young rich chaebol who is expected to be perfect as per the social norms. The trope is often heard of but the show potrays the vulnerabilities and weakness of the characters and how they overcome that in a light way. It is not heavy as I mentioned earlier it is a light hearted romcom. Though people have criticized the age difference between the leads it is not that they are decades apart 😂 they are only 4-5 years apart and the dynamics is well established. The leads acting is okish not that phenomenal. The story is like an average one we have seen similar kdramas and is very predictable. The OST and cinematography is fine.
My dearest nemesis is good one time watch romcom.
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Not fully built out, but still fun, cliche
It was fine:The chemistry between the leads was good and majority of the parts were well acted. I'm not sure when it was decided that "cold" business leaders must speak in short jilted sentences but it's annoying and gives a poor portrayal. Ahn Hyo Seop did it in Business Proposal as well, where it was also obnoxious. Fortunately, the "cold" portrayal isn't the whole range of his character and I thought he did fairly well outside of this.
The character development made no sense. I get that this drama was short but everyone got over their issues within a day including deep seated hatred toward the grandson. It would take more than 2 people calling her out on her BS for someone to grow from that.
There were cute aspects and parts that made my heart pitter patter but there were enough cliches and holes that I will not watch or recommend it
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A Colorful, Rock-Fueled Romcom with a Twist
I aim to keep my reviews short, spoiler-free, and focused on the key points to help you decide if a drama is worth your time. I never fast-forward and always strive to watch the entire series to give a fair and thorough perspective.If you're a seasoned K-drama watcher looking for something that’s both familiar and refreshingly offbeat, this one's going to hit a sweet spot. Imagine your classic chaebol-boy-meets-humble-girl story, but with a quirky twist. Colorful, exaggerated, sometimes childish, and just enough emotional weight to keep things grounded.
Expect offbeat, over-the-top comedy that’s part slapstick, part sweet. It’s unapologetically playful, sometimes innocent, sometimes borderline cringe, but always fun. You’ll either find it adorable or a little much, depending on your romcom tolerance.
Visually, it’s a feast! From vibrant colors, to playful styling, and a youthful energy throughout. The rock-heavy OST adds a punch of personality, while heartfelt ballads land perfectly during emotional moments, especially as the story deepens.
The ML stands out by not being your usual cool, mature male lead. He's more childish and emotionally raw, which makes him stand out in a genre often full of polished perfection. The FL is your classic hardworking heroine, naive in love but full of charm. The leads have good chemistry and deliver strong performances.
Yes, there are clichés (disapproving relatives, fever scenes, classic misunderstandings), but it also throws in fresh twists and avoids a cliché ending. Some arcs feel a bit forced, but overall, the storytelling stays engaging.
It also touches on deeper themes like toxic work culture, the impact of scandals and public perception, and the internal battles of young professionals navigating legacy and expectation. These moments don’t always get the depth they deserve, but the effort is there.
It’s predictable in structure but surprising in detail. A playful, stylish romcom with just enough bite. Whether you find it childish or charming will depend on your mood, but if you stick around, there’s a rewarding emotional journey waiting.
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