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 Works:
1. A Unique Tone (At First).
The opening episodes hit the ground running with a snappy, dry sense of humor. The dialogue is smart, the performances are understated but effective, and the absurdity of the divorce insurance business is played with the right amount of restraint. It feels like the show knows exactly what it wants to be: a workplace satire with heart.
2. Memorable Characters.
Characters like Ki-jun and Han-deul are well-drawn and just quirky enough to stand out. Their awkward chemistry and emotional baggage make them easy to root for, even when the writing doesn’t give them the best material. Dae-bok and Ah-yeong, too, begin as comedic relief but slowly develop more dimension, particularly by episode 6.
3. Moments of Real Emotional Resonance.
The show finds quiet power in stories like Seon-hee’s, in particular, which touch on themes of regret and love that feel honest and earned. These slower, character-driven moments are when the show feels most grounded and compelling.
>>Where It Slips:
1. An Underused Core Concept.
The “divorce insurance” hook is fun, but barely explored after the first few episodes. It becomes window dressing for what ends up being a fairly typical office drama and romantic comedy. The ethical questions, the societal commentary, the satire . . . it’s all hinted at, but rarely pursued with real teeth.
2. Inconsistent Pacing.
Later episodes suffer the most. Scenes jump between comedic chaos and emotional earnestness without enough buildup or transition. Big character beats - like romantic confessions or workplace dilemmas - often feel rushed or unearned. It’s like the show wants to sprint through both plot and character arcs at once.
3. Romance Without Slow Burn.
Ki-jun and Han-deul’s relationship escalates quickly, but not convincingly. The setup is there: two people with history and tension. But the emotional development doesn’t match the speed at which the story pushes them together. The result is a romance that feels more necessary to the plot than natural to the characters.
4. Playing It Safe.
After the first half, the show became more emotionally sincere, but also less daring. It leans into melodrama over satire, and many storylines wrap up in neat, almost sentimental ways. While it still hits some strong emotional notes, the sharp edge that made the early episodes stand out has dulled.
>>Final Verdict:
Divorce Insurance is entertaining, often funny, and occasionally touching, but it hasn’t quite figured out what kind of drama it wants to be. It introduces a wildly clever concept, then slowly backs away from it, opting instead for something more familiar. That doesn’t make it bad, just a little disappointing for me, who was hoping for something sharper, weirder, and more consistent.
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LEGENDARY LEE KYUNG SOO Is Here (Giraffe ?)
The Divorce Insurance is a drama with a strange premise that feels unnecessary and full of loopholes. The idea of creating an actual "divorce insurance" policy comes across as unrealistic and highly prone to scams. It’s hard to understand the logic behind making such a concept the core of a K-drama.That said, if you approach it as a light-hearted rom-com, it’s entertaining in parts. The first and second episodes were especially fun and engaging. I was pleasantly surprised by Jo Bo Ah’s special appearance—it added a nice touch. However, the excitement quickly fades by the third and fourth episodes. It honestly felt like the main story had already wrapped up, leaving the rest of the show to drag.
The most disappointing aspect of the drama is the male lead. His character—a plain, middle-aged man who’s been divorced three times—lacks depth, charm, or anything interesting. Sadly, the female lead doesn’t fare much better. Together, they make an underwhelming pair.
By episode 6, The Divorce Insurance is officially collapsing into a dumpster fire—and not even in a fun, chaotic way. No, this drama genuinely believes that being a boring, unremarkable middle-aged man is somehow irresistible enough to spark a love triangle between two divorced women.
Let’s be real: the male lead is a three-time divorcee with the charisma of stale bread. And yet, the writers expect us to believe not one, but two women are fighting over him like he’s some rare gem. One of them is even his first wife, who got dumped, watched him remarry twice, and is still obsessively stuck on him. Where is her dignity? Why is anyone attracted to this guy?
This setup would maybe work as a parody in a high school drama—but here we’re watching grown adults over 40 act like teenagers over a man who wouldn’t even be cast as a second lead in a decent show.
The female lead, meanwhile, feels like a hollow shell. She shows no real emotion, no authentic reaction—she just “falls” for whichever man happens to be within arm’s reach. She’s less of a character and more of a placeholder for whatever contrived plot the writers are pushing this week.
If the show’s goal is to make viewers question every romantic decision being made on screen, congratulations—it’s succeeding. Unfortunately, it's also succeeding in being painfully out of touch, emotionally flat, and utterly infuriating to watch.
Oddly enough, the second lead couple and even the third female lead with her new romantic interest are far more interesting to watch. Their stories feel fresh, while the main leads have nothing left to offer once they start developing feelings for each other.
Still, there’s one reason I’m sticking with the drama: Legendary Lee Kyung Soo. I’d love to see him in a proper romantic role, and his presence alone keeps me curious.
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This review may contain spoilers
A jester movie. Often slapstic funny but overall deep social commentary
There were only 4 episodes so far.This kdrama is definitely influenced by Hollywood and ... hm... I think Netflix is killing kdramas. The Hollywoody traits include that fast supposedly smart and witty conversation that just keeps rolling too fast (and the subtitles flash so fast, you can't read them), and exaggerated body language.
On the plus side, there are some pretty deep messages in this kdrama. Divorce *is* a disaster and it *can* be prevented with all those actions they mention in the drama.
This is a jester kdrama. It talks about some really deep stuff by using slapstic humor.
Acting is ... well... not always realistic but more exaggerated... to create that jester feel. I understand why it is done that way but I don't enjoy seeing it :)
I love the funny twists on the classic kdrama tropes like tripping over to fall onto each other LOL that was so comical, that whole scene of the hood watching... There are many slapsticky scenes like that.
There are also many surprising scenes that take you into DEPTH, suddenly, by surprise. It starts as a fluffy nothing and ends up as a very deep human scene. Like... knitting scene - IF YOU THINK I AM LAUGHING AT YOU, YOU ARE INSECURE. Being easily offended is inferiority complex. Or the scene in the video game store where he tells her to give him 24 business hours notice and she agrees. Or the scene where the nun says that people cave in to societal pressure and give up their dreams bc they are aftaid of being criticized... Or scene where they say that marriage and divorce are both measures taken for self happiness... The AI testing and the questions are sooooo .... wickedly accurate LOL
His exes are definitely wild cards :) Never expected those LOL
It is nice to see the twists, the first ex is so rational but her rationality makes rational decisions that are good decisions since she is impartial.. and so the stereotype of rationality is broken. Although seems like she will soon be a villain.
So yeah, this kdrama can be watched on any level you want. You can focus on slapstic comedy and the antics of the teamleader (I saw him as a gay manager in Strong Bon Sun so I am impressed with his comedian skills), or you can watch it as a rom com, or as a crash course in insurance LOL or a deep social commentary, or a crash course in marriage and divorce, or whatever.
In any case, the kdrama explores the epidemics of divorces in Korea and how that shatters the fabric of the traditional culture and society and where it could lead
One of the team members is in Heo's diner. Overthere she is an excellent actress and makes that kdrama totally real and shiney and amazing bc she is soo good in being conflicted, sarcastic, gloomy, and only secretly affectionate. Here... her acting is hm... not really.
It is fun to see the gloomy and flat and boring Grim Reaper show some spunk and life. LOL
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But I’m in it for the second couple, they’re quirky cheesy
Tho I don’t like 2fl trying to get mls attention, while the fl looks on like a deer caught in headlights
Tbh insurance is just such a scam, they want “many ppl to buy”, but they don’t want many ppl to “claim it”
Sure it’s realistic, but wouldn’t someone more prone to divorce get the insurance? Why would a happy 50 years of marriage candidate buy insurance and pay for years in case they might get divorced
Like a reverse prenup, I mean isn’t alimony a thing anyway? So only men would want to buy a divorce insurance and it’s the same as writing a prenup and saying he won’t pay the ex, so he’ll “win” not paying
The dancer guy is super creepy chasing 3fl like that, he’s not a cute puppy type, she keeps telling him no and he literally ran after her
Kwangsoo and dahee are fun cuz they’re not trying to be impressive and romantic, in the meantime the unnecessary love square is so unnecessary
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Saved by Lee Dong Wook
Its fun to watch this charming little drama after shop for killers. I know some people dont like the subject matter or secondary couples, but that doesnt affect me. LDW has chemistry with a paper bag and i'll happily watch him read a phone book. Also props to any kdrama that tries to destigmatize divorce.Was this review helpful to you?
Hilarious
Dynamic Duos or DD Lee Dong Wook / No Gi Jun married three times and divorced each time ( No one will want to divorce this man ) Kang Han Deul living it up day by day.An Jeon Man is a safety man with a prudent and cautious in relationship Give it some time maybe. Jeon Na Rae analyzed too much she can fall in love again
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INTRIGUING....CURIOUS.....EXCITED.....DIFFERENT....
Hey there! I just wanted to give my review as i am already halfway there and didn't wanna forget some things....Firstly, this drama that I think it might be too difficult for some people to interpret in their way..as it is quite a mature drama and i don't think there will be any crigey moments....the leads are all divorcees which means they each have their own reason for their divorces, but somehow they balance each other out, so yes i am enjoying that right now...The first combo of leads are Kwangsoo and Dongwook, OMG!I never knew i would see this two in a drama, but damn, they really are good, their personality and chemistry is exactly the same as their irl personality...it was quite fun to watch as those two are kinda of like tom & jerry to me....love their dynamics from the start so much...& also that actor Kim Won-hae (really love that he's here, i just know when he is there, that drama is bound to take a really comedic turn in it)...In conclusion, i'm really looking forward to the characters development with each other and how they will somehow help each other.....THANK U SM FOR READING THIS!!!!
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tô adorando
bom, tô no episódio 4 e por enquanto eu tô gostando da história, amo os atores dos protagonistas, primeira vez da diva de protagonista e já tá arrasando, fora que, se tem lee dong wook, estarei assistindo, muito boa a história, bem desenvolvida, personagens legais e regência boas (lenda do nove caudas), espero que o final seja bom, já que o dong wook só participa de roteiro bom, recomendo pra quem gosta de uma comédiaromântica mais descontraída e leve, bom pra passar o tempo
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Extremamente Engraçado
Que a cena do Elevador fale por si só, e que o prota levando a mocinha para encontrar a EX - EX mulher, encontrando uma MONJA, tomando um café e ainda pedindo conselhos.Porém, ao mesmo tempo que traz a comédia é de um toque profundo, quando a monja fala, que foi o próprio ex marido que a incentivou a seguir o propósito verdadeiro pelo qual queria viver, foi bonito, o prota é gentil e o ator designado para o papel consegue encaixar bem.
Estavas com saudades de assitir kdramas com ele!
e a monja ser a atriz que interpretou o par romântico dele em outro kdrama, ficou melhor ainda, como se em outra vida eles pudessem realmente se amar
Até o momento só lançaram dois episódios que estão sendo disponibilizados pela Prime Vídeo, e tem dublado.
Pretendo continuar assistindo!
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Divorce insurance
I found Divorce insurance hilarious, it involves you, there is great complicity between the actors. Lee Dong Wook, in addition to noting his natural beauty, shows his innate ability to identify with Noh Gi-joon in a creative and communicative way. I eagerly await the next episodes, recommending everyone to watch itWas this review helpful to you?
