Boyfriend on Demand

Simple, Self-Aware, and Entertaining

It sat in my watchlist for a month because I was convinced I’d hate it - too tropey, too cheesy, and ultimately boring. Turns out, I was only half right. It is tropey and cheesy. But boring? Not quite. Surprisingly, no.

Story

Our leads are competitive editors in a production house. It’s evident to us that the ML has a crush on FL, but she is oblivious. She subscribes to an AI immersive experience, where she can date - albeit virtually - these fictional characters. Eventually, actual reality clashes with the virtual one. She realizes that she needs a real connections to be happy. The leads get together.

Presentation

There’s nothing particularly deep or layered here, but the show doesn’t pretend otherwise. The virtual dating concept is playful - and uncomfortably plausible. What works is the consistency in tone. From the very first episode, the show commits to being bright, self-aware, and lightly sarcastic about its own tropes. It neither glorifies nor critiques AI in any meaningful way, which feels like a deliberate choice. This isn’t social commentary. It’s escapism, and it stays firmly in that lane without turning preachy.

Characters & Actors

Seo Mi-Rae, the female lead, is a practical young woman who claims to dislike anything cheesy. Ironically, in the VR world, she revels in being the center of attention and indulges in exactly that kind of over-the-top cheesiness through her virtual dates. This contradiction is genuinely amusing, and much of that credit goes to Jisoo. However, there are moments - especially when the male lead pursues her - where her exaggerated expressions feel a bit off.

Park Kyeong-Nam, played by Seo In-guk, is the more grounded counterpart. His dynamic with Mi-Rae creates some genuinely fun early moments, but the character suffers from a lack of depth. We get almost no insight into his personal life or motivations, which makes it harder to fully invest in him. Despite that, Seo In-guk manages to inject enough charm to keep the character engaging, arguably more than the script deserves.

The supporting cast sticks closely to familiar romcom templates and serves its purpose without standing out. The standout addition, however, is the lineup of cameo appearances as virtual boyfriends. Their exaggerated perfection and over-the-top charm are knowingly ridiculous, and that’s exactly why they work.

Overall

This is a romcom that understands its limits and plays to them. After a string of shows with uneven storytelling, its consistency feels refreshing. It won’t become a favorite, and it’s not something I’d go out of my way to recommend, but it’s an easy, enjoyable watch if you’re in the mood for something light. As long as you are not actively opposed to the genre, there’s enough here to keep you entertained.

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God Tier Level Fantasy Boyfriends

This show really said, “What if we made a rom‑com, cast half the Korean male entertainment industry as fantasy boyfriends and to hell with everything else!" And honestly, I was here for it! Overall average series and a qucik fun watch. I gave an extra star b/c the fantasy delivered in all the ways!

The casting director clearly knows what women want (or what I want). Lee Soo Hyuk, Seo Kang Jun, Lee Jae Wook, Lee Sang Yi, Modern Tarzan — it’s a parade of heart‑stealers, each just as unfairly attractive than the last. The only person missing is Kim Ji Hoon!!

The real‑world storyline wobbles between heartfelt and exasperating. Kyeong Nam’s confession is handled with surprising maturity, Mi Rae’s avoidance tactics are comedy gold, and her Episode 8 meltdown is the kind of self‑inflicted drama that makes viewers yell at the screens.

The show ties up its central conflict with a mix of sincerity but it did feel rushed. I agree with someone else who said they spent way too much time in the VR world and specifically with Mi Rae dating the Eun Ho (boyfriend). Kyeong Nam processes, Mi Rae grows (finally), and the VR boyfriend saga gets the closure it deserves. Even when the pacing stumbles, the show remains entertaining — a rom‑com that thrives on its humor, its fantasy boyfriends, and its willingness to let its characters be messy, dramatic, and occasionally ridiculous.

3/21/26

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Lighten up, y'all

This is a funny, light romance that passes the time enjoyably without a lot of trauma or unnecessary PC crap. The virtual boyfriends are all swoony in different ways and since I did NOT get the memo about who was doing cameos, each new appearance was a delight. Unlike other reviewers, I thought the pacing of the main couple's story was good, because the FL had some baggage to work through before she'd be ready to consider a new serious relationship. So delaying the focus on their relationship made sense. Seo In Guk did a great job creating two different characters. His IRL office guy was maybe a bit too reserved at first, but I grew very sympathetic to him eventually. The FL was ooo-kay, but I thought it made sense in the story for her character to be not very exceptional; after all, the allure of the dating fantasy is that someone spectacular falls for average you.

I won't waste words on details...My point is that if you like a light romcom without expecting too much, you will surely enjoy this. And yes, I will rewatch some of the cameos.

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High hopes but faced with disappointment

I feel like it was meant to be like an unserious show but instead it just comes off as cringy, like even from the amazinggg casting (even the side characters) initially i was soo excited cus it had soo much potential but ultimately disappointed.

In my opinion it felt like the main character was meant to be seen as someone who finds comfort spending time with herself but then randomly being wayyy to invested into these inverted reality situations??
acting like she's romance deprived causing her to come off as being pathetic. It personally felt like there was no reason for her to even fantasize the 1st cold chaebol type character especially when she was extremely vocal about her hatred for this type of behavior (even describing him as cringy) but then falls for him??? actually for his money.

However with the introduction of the 2nd character (college romance) I do understand her deep connection where it seemed like she had actual feelings for him but instead it was just cus she wasn't over her ex. I feel like this would have been a great moment for her to get clarification or external validation over the breakup since it seemed like she was still heartbroken (for how long?? who knows... esp cus he now married) but then she randomly gets the ick from him cus he's the same to everyone else????? i mean what did she even expect?????

also the weird disgust or the one sided hatred/rivalry she has for the main lead is soo annoying, gives her main character energy IN NOT A POSTIVE WAY

And the so called "conflict" they experienced like resolving it 5 mins before the end is driving me insane!!!
like he is straight forward about his feelings for her and she feels the same but she's tryna push him away??
like him despite being reserved and introverted works up his courage to confess and this girl is still delusional in her fantasies????? hollering for a man and pushing away the only one in vicinity. shes just so unlovable.
But that's not even the actual "conflict", that happened before they even got together.
he sees the ai she created looks just like him and bro is weirded out (i would be too) but she doesn't even explain properly and like turns it on him or smh????? like whattt???? also they don't even resolve it, its just shoved under the carpet and mind u he still be acting like an upsety spaghetti (they deffo not gonna last if this happened irl)

also when she says "if its going to end anyway, its better not to start at all" WHATTT???
this vr shit was just feeding into her delusions, she needs to seek therapy like yesterday.
When he says "you chose me at the end, that's all that it matters"????? BRO ACTUALLY FOUGHT AGAINST AI AND IS HAPPY FOR GETTING PICKED????? he actually deserves soooooo much better smh
+
i do like how we can differentiate the vr world and irl esp with the filming style changing.
the randomly reoccurring the side couple in the ai world was tooo cutessyy
the webtoon writer and the rivals assistant romance was too cute and should have made it an actual thing but the lil hint for him and the random employee was a lil too much (ig its cute cus at some point they were crushing on someone else)
-
also imo her acting is lowkey bad like shes attempting to act but its not working out, someone said hyeri would act better and highkey i agree. idkkkk i feel like her expressions are lacking esp the "agyeo" she does on dates is sooo cringy, i couldn't even bear the pain.
how the hell is a few scenes supposedly equivalent to 50 hrs????? also is bro not getting sleep whilst experiencing these simulations or is she just dreaming???? also how the hell is the device safe if she immediately loses consciousness.
ANDD how does she know how much time has passed by irl.
incorrect subtitles is the cherry on top along with the horrible soundtrack (yall had money for the actors but not for some singers??? hellooo??? jisoo is literally here)



In conclusion,
don't waste your time (cus im lowkey glad it was only 10 hours of hell)
thx <3


(also how the hell is this rated 8 stars???)

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Would you rather spend time with a perfect fictional partner or a real, flawed, and frustrating human being?

Seo Mi Rae faces this question when she agrees to test out a virtual reality dating app where she meets a series of charming characters designed to be ideal boyfriends.

As a busy working woman who’s given up on dating, at first she’s half-skeptical, half-intrigued, but soon she finds herself sucked into the immersive experience.

She indulges in every classic romance genre setup — being wined and dined by a wealthy suitor, falling for the campus heartthrob, reconnecting with a crush after years apart, and more.

The cameos for the virtual boyfriends are brilliant (particularly from a scene-stealing Seo Kang Joon). And that’s the problem — the fantasy date scenarios are more fun and more frequent than Mi Rae’s interactions with her real-life love interest, and their dynamic doesn’t shift from a workplace rivalry to something more until late in the series.

It kind of undermines the moral of the story: that real-life connections are always more meaningful than imaginary ones, no matter how realistic. And that’s not the only problem with the script; it leaves little time for any connection or chemistry to develop between the leads, and Mi Rae’s emotional immaturity sometimes makes it difficult to connect with her and her choices as the main character.

Still, this drama is a lot of fun, a quick watch at only 10 episodes, and a perfect choice for something light and fluffy between more serious fare.

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Tedious lead female character & Alot of handsome men

This is total female escapism stuffed with handsome men & swoon worthy closeups of them. Pure fantasy fuel.
Even though it's not without it's flaws, this is a fangirl's delight that's embarrassingly addictive & smile inducing. It will have you mesmerized while at the same time appalled at how often you fins youyrself entranced.
I'm going to explain why I only gave it an 8 at the end, but let's start with:
Date # 1 : Lee Soo hyuk - he's coolly suave here & so he has to be first so you can put him out of your mind as the drama continues- because really no one else even comes close to being so heart fluttering. The scenario he's in is cringy & total trope but the truth is the other dates pale in comparison.
(with the exception of Lee Sang yi' : whose frustratingly blink of an eye comedic cameo as a firefighter-who given more screen time WOULD make for an impossible choice if up against Lee Soo hyuk) .
Suffice it to say that the camera gives you plenty of swoonful, heart stopping moments involving Lee Soo hyuk's character & he sets the bar pretty high for the other dates that follow.
Date # 2 made me cringe. School dramas are not a genre I enjoy & not only was everything pink but it was weird as the female lead was SO much older & experienced than her date. He also was more of a boyishly earnest puppy/golden retriever type boyfriend, which didn't appeal to me personally. Additionally, it was a painful episode, raking up the female lead's dating past. Oddly, it didn't make me sympathetic towards her, as both she & her ex had changed as well as both had become mean.
Now about the virtual world:
They seemed to be making a point that being in a fake virtual romance/relationship will leave you dissatisfied with real men, ( I mean isn't that the same expectation vs reality dilemma as with men & porn ? )
As the unmemorable, but good looking dates rapidly fly by in the virtual world, in the real world, Seo in guk hides his charisma in a cave somewhere off camera. He dead pans most of the drama -sleep walking around with barely any dialogue & is bafflingly bland. (Now THAT is acting !!!) Seriously, The blame is completely on how his character is written as we know he normally radiates charisma in anything he does.
Not to despair; his charisma is revived near the end of the series.
I think that it's possible that the very point that the drama is attempting to make is that women may over look a perfectly nice, attractive guy in thier search for exciting & thier definition of "perfect" & that both men & women a fearful of being hurt.

So what makes this less than perfect ?
The female lead is not very likeable. She's only nice when it benefits her. She is cold. Though they do show a reason, I was not convinced that it was actually a valid excuse for how she keeps brushing the male lead
off . Honestly, they don't give a good reason why she's worth the male lead's effort. Further more, she wants him to prove something that he has no control over & make promises that she herself can't make.
So here is where the discontent lies:
As with most other new dramas this female lead only turns nice once she is in love. She will inevitably revert back to her natural unlikeable personality once she's been in a relationship for a length of time- we actually see this occur in her previous relationship.
I found the "follow your heart" trope/theme to be a stagnant & a damaging bit of advice to the plot as a romance as it equates to: "follow your emotions & feelings" and only consider yourself.
For a story to be really good & satisfying you need to feel that there are things that are worth investing in & that "keeping" those thingss/relationships takes effort, which requires commitment & discipline- all things that might not feel good in the moment & you might not want to do, but it's those things that makes great love stories.

Endurance-
that's what this drama is lacking. How long can the couple "live in the moment" ? Once they stop having heart fluttering moments ? So they pretty much are setting themselves up to fail with no thought to the future & a lack of commitment.
That the female lead asks advice from an AI that was created from her own detailed input means that it's her advising herself- so everything is from her persecutive-which seems rather unhelpful to her. AND of course the AI guy will tell her to leave her heart with him as he is programmed to keep her attached to him, to keep her a paying customer for the program! The game is a "Honey Trap" and as addictive as opium. I was glad that there were consequences & that the resolutions didn't take long to get worked through, but I couldn't ever really warm up to the female lead .

**************spoiler***********
this is why I only gave it 8 stars.
The female lead continued to be unlikeable.
At a critical point she could have been honest about the doppelganger boyfriend, but she isn't. That she sees the virtual boyfriend a few times afterward the male lead found out about it, made me like her even less.
I was glad that they were very tasteful in only implying that the leads spent the night together, (leaving a question mark there) but was very disappointed that the end had them implying that she was pregnant- BUT there was no definition to thier relationship- not engaged, not married, just living in the moment. TTHAT's not going to work now, is it!? !

there is enough here to lose yourself in the warm fuzzies, but the rewatch value is only for skipping through the story to get your fan girl fantasy on if that's your thing.

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A technological dream turned into a light and charming romantic comedy.

This drama came to me without high expectations and left as one of those dramas that brings a constant smile to your face without needing grand tragedies or epic plot twists. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need.

The idea of ​​a simulation world where you can subscribe to different types of boyfriends and experience scheduled dates is simply delightful. The drama develops this concept solidly: it's not just a promotional hook, but explores the emotional implications, the possibilities, and even the limitations of such technology. And I confess that, as a viewer, I was left wanting it to exist in real life. I would definitely buy one too.

I know Jisoo isn't a trained actress, but for this type of character, her performance works wonderfully. Her character has that mix of innocence, endearing clumsiness, and comical bad luck that makes her incredibly real and relatable. Far from feeling forced, her acting brings a natural freshness that fits perfectly with the drama's lighthearted tone. And visually, needless to say: she always looks gorgeous, with outfits that are a pleasure to look at.

As an avid manhwa reader, the subplot about the publishing platform and the lives of authors was particularly appealing to me. Seeing that world reflected—with its pressures, deadlines, and stories that resonate with readers—added a layer of authenticity that I appreciated. It wasn't just a backdrop; it was seamlessly integrated into the characters' development.

I've been following Seo In Guk since "Doom at Your Service," and in this drama, he gives us a very different but equally captivating character. Here, he plays a shy, introverted, and reserved man, but with a disarming capacity for love. His evolution throughout the series—learning to open up, to let go of control, to allow himself to be loved—is very well-paced, and his chemistry with Jisoo is sweet and believable.

"It's not a profound plot, nor is it life-changing." And that's perfectly fine. This drama knows what it is and stays true to itself: a lighthearted romantic comedy with an original concept, adorable characters, and a brisk pace. It doesn't aim for philosophical reflections on technology or tearjerker dramas. Its goal is to entertain, charm, and give you a good time. And at least for me, it succeeds brilliantly.

If you're looking for a drama that will make you smile, make you sigh with its romantic moments, and present a premise so original that you'll wish it existed, this drama is the perfect choice. Jisoo shines with her natural charm, Seo In Guk once again demonstrates his versatility, and the combination of a technological world, simulated dates, and the universe of manhwa creates a delightful and addictive mix. Ideal for binge-watching when you need something lighthearted but heartfelt.

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Well-depicted effects of artificial BF (on users/society)

Love seo in guk! Interesting concept. FL acted really well too! The series triggers relevant discussions on the technological, mental, ethical, societal effects of such a dating simulation. These are interesting & chaotic times to be alive in!

--spoiler--
Didn't agree with story progression towards the end - of FL consulting artificial boyfriend on how to patch up with the real boyfriend, but I get it - they captured the essence well of the AI willing to help the user/make them happy by whatever means necessary.
They captured other facets well too - of impact of such a service on human life - like, FL's best friend gaming the system, the comic author getting immersed in it, etc.
There is of course unrealism too in the ML being persistent with the FL till she's ready to date - this is the bubble of dramas, rare in the real world.
--spoiler--

A short series that captured the essence of having an artificial BF well.

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It was alright. The ost was pissing me off though, I felt like all the music except that one Yena song felt out of place to the situation it was being placed in. It was also strange how they did not give Boyfriend on Demand that much flack in the end, I thought they would pull a "None of this is real and thats the problem" but they never really did so it was a bit strange. There was also quite a bit gen ai use in the scenes which was ironic considering they're editers for webtoon artists. Overall though it was a rather light hearted drama with some good comedic moments.

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