The Divorce Insurance

A Bold Premise That Plays It Safe

Divorce Insurance sets out with a refreshingly bizarre premise. That kind of dark humor and social satire is a solid hook, and for the first few episodes, the drama leans into it well. But as the series progresses, it struggles to maintain that satirical sharpness, often trading its unique premise for safer, more conventional drama beats.

-> What It Gets (Almost) Right:
1. A Unique Tone: Briefly, Before It Chickens Out
The first few episodes are weird in the best way. There’s a sly, deadpan humor, the kind that makes you think, Maybe this show is actually onto something. The actors get the assignment, the writing's clever, and the whole “divorce as an industry” thing feels biting. And then, poof! It remembers it wants to be heartfelt and relatable, and any trace of teeth gets politely brushed away.

2. Characters With Just Enough Quirk to Be Marketable
Ki-jun and Han-deul are awkward and emotionally damaged, aka perfect TV protagonists. They have an unresolved history, which the show dangles just long enough to be interesting before shoving them into a rushed romance. Dae-bok and Ah-yeong start off as quirky sidekicks and actually evolve into real people, which feels like a miracle considering how often they’re used for punchlines. Credit where it’s due.

3. Real Feelings, Occasionally
When the show stops trying to be cute or clever, it sometimes stumbles into real emotion. Seon-hee’s storyline, for instance, is actually moving. It’s the kind of subplot that makes you think, Why isn’t the rest of the show like this? And the answer, apparently, is because that would be too interesting.

-> Where It Trips Over Its Own Premise:
1. Remember That Whole “Divorce Insurance” Thing? Neither Does the Show
The hook is gold: morally questionable, ripe for satire, bizarre enough to stand out. Naturally, the show throws it in the trunk and drives off without it. A couple of episodes later, the business model is basically background noise. No messy ethics, no biting commentary - just cute coworkers trying not to cry at their desks.

2. Pacing? What Pacing?
The second half is like a montage in a movie where someone’s life spirals out of control, except without the music or the emotional payoff. Things happen too fast, characters make decisions that feel unearned, and big moments come out of nowhere. It’s not so much building tension as it is skipping steps and hoping no one notices.

3. Romance On Fast-Forward
Ki-jun and Han-deul clearly have history, and by the time the show explores any of it, they’re already halfway to coupledom. It’s the classic “we have chemistry, so let’s skip all the work” strategy. The result is a romance that feels less like a natural evolution and more like a checklist item the writers were eager to tick off.

4. From Satire to Sentimentality: A Speedrun
Once the show decides it wants to be “sincere,” it abandons the very thing that made it interesting. The bite is gone, the satire neutered, and what’s left are neatly wrapped plotlines. It’s emotional, sure, but safe, and not in a good way.

-> Final Verdict:
Divorce Insurance sets out to be sharp, strange, and subversive. But after a promising start, it quickly trades its edge for something safer and more familiar.. It is disappointing for me, who was hoping for something sharper, weirder, and more consistent.

At least you can’t say it didn’t try... for a little while.

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Meant to be a perfect package, but felt more like a rough draft with a hint of chemistry!

This had a unique and promising premise, a group of divorcees coming together to create an insurance policy for one of life’s emotionally and financially taxing experience. With the ever-increasing divorce rate as a backdrop, the idea of treating divorce like an unpredictable disaster was sort of intriguing and fresh.

Unfortunately, while the drama had its good moments, it didn’t quite live up to the boldness of its concept that it promised. The narrative felt muted and at times, downright dull and boring if I am being honest.
The plot often settled for surface-level storytelling, weighed down by repetitive boardroom scenes, overly sanitized and clean conflicts and a reluctance to explore anything too emotional. There were so many arcs that could have been fleshed out but everything was at surface level and packaged pretty.
The writing felt hesitant, as if it was trying not to ruffle feathers, resulting in a story that lacked a bite.

Let’s start with the strengths. The main leads, No Gi Jun and Kang Han Deul were the heart of this story for me. Their relationship was built on mutual respect, empathy and most importantly, excellent communication. It’s rare to see a romance so subtle portrayed with no dramatic grand declarations, just lingering glances, stolen touches and quiet meaningful actual conversations that slowly build a healing connection. It felt mature and grounded, and it’s this sincerity that makes their chemistry work. Their dynamic is what kept me watching. Their relationship was not "on your face romance."

Another highlight was the third couple. They brought a lighthearted, chaotic energy to the show without slipping into childishness considering they were the youngest. They didn't have much screentime but I wasn't bored seeing them! Their relationship could have been explored more though.
Alternatively, they could have explored more single life monogamy dynamics of A Yeong. I thought they will give it more attention because it was introduced quite a few times in the story!

However, the drama slowly begins to fall apart as it starts.
The second lead couple was a complete mismatch. Their chemistry didn’t just fall flat, it barely existed for me. Every scene they shared felt exaggerated to the point of parody, like they were stuck in some over the top skit. The dramatic reactions, the awkward attempts at romance felt like filler with no real emotional weight.
As individual characters, they did have something to offer to the overall plot whether it is drama or comedy but the second they were paired romantically, it was like all that potential vanished. They would have been better off just being part of the main circle, adding value without the forced love line.

Also Jeon Na Rae’s behavior was honestly more annoying than anything. Her constant confrontational vibe was just exhausting for me. Instead of adding tension or drama in a meaningful way, she just stirred things up for no real reason. What made it even more confusing was that she had her own thing going on with An Jeon Man, yet she was still acting like she had a say in everyone else’s business especially No Gi Jun. It felt totally unnecessary the way she kept poking her nose in his life even though he was married twice after her.

The business-heavy plot, while very ambitious on paper, often felt bogged down by business jargon and unrealistic portrayals of this whole Insurance corporate world. The 12 episodes felt too stretched! The different divorce cases every few episodes also was a hit or miss for me. A couple of them were interesting and emotional, while others felt bland or underdeveloped.

The comedy in the drama was a bit uneven too. There were moments where the humor worked, but a lot of the time it felt overdone. Thankfully, the show dialed it down in the latter half.

The acting was decent, all things considered. It is not something you would run home about or hand out awards for, but it was passable and had its moments. The script itself was pretty weak and didn’t give the cast a lot to work with, but the actors still managed to deliver grounded performances. Honestly I came in expecting more, from both the story and the cast so maybe that is why the letdown feels stronger.

Overall, this whole thing was kinda all over the place. From uneven storytelling, pacing issues and some pretty underwhelming subplots made it fall short of what it could have been. Recommended only if you are here for the main couple, Lee Dong Wook or any of the cast but if you're not, you are not missing much by skipping this. I kind of
stayed for the leads, tolerated the rest.

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