Hating to hate
Some people here have some unbiased opinions on the show, but most people here are just trying to jump on the idol actress hate bandwagon which is really sad. This drama is light hearted, fun and unserious, but y’all want Oscar acting and and insane performances. This drama wasn’t made for that and yes rom coms can be serious but this one isn’t about that. The whole atmosphere is fun and I think all the actors did a great job. Jisoo is obviously the most talked about but i genuinely don’t see how her acting is bad ??? And don’t get me wrong im not saying she is the best actress ever but is she bad ? No! I feel like y’all should give this a go, and see for yourself if you like it or not. Don’t let the haters make you think this is bad in any way.Was this review helpful to you?
TOTALLY WORTH IT
I really love this drama of Jisoo because this show another side of her as an actress. I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy Boyfriend on Demand this much, but it turned out to be such a fun and heart-warming experience. The story is light, entertaining, and surprisingly sweet. The characters are charming, and the interactions feel natural and engaging, which makes it easy to get invested in the story.What I liked the most is how it balances humor, romance, and emotional moments. Some scenes are really cute and will definitely make you smile.
Overall, Boyfriend on Demand is a feel-good story that’s perfect if you’re looking for something relaxing, romantic, and enjoyable. Definitely worth checking out!
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It delivers what’s promised
It’s a fun, light, and interesting journey!The premise is very well executed, with great special effects, strong side characters, and excellent development of the FL.
About Jisoo:
I’m not used to actress Jisoo, but after two episodes I completely forgot she was Jisoo and was able to see only the character. Some scenes were a little cringe, like when she gets bothered and shakes her head like “why?”, but I’ve seen other actors do this too. I guess it’s something Koreans do to vent frustration. Other than that, I really liked her acting.
ML:
I LOVED the way he fell in love. It wasn’t obvious; it was about the little things. After he realized his feelings, he was a real man. Even when things got complicated, he was able to understand his heart.
FL:
She is a little egocentric, and sometimes I didn’t like the way she treated her friend. But she had the biggest growth in the whole drama, and it was really nice to see. I also felt sympathetic toward her after finding out what happened in the past. Her character felt very real. I think anyone who has been in relationships can relate to her.
The plot:
The AI dating isn’t really the focus. It’s actually about letting go of the past and opening up to new experiences, but it adds entertainment value.
The scene when the FL goes on a blind date in real life was SO REAL. It showed the truth about modern dating in such a raw way. I was not expecting that.
The side characters are fun to watch, and I got very invested in the best friend’s storyline.
I didn’t catch myself fast-forwarding at all, and 10 episodes was the perfect length.
Definitely the best rom-com this year so far!
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Boyfriend on Demand: VR Boyfriend Goals!
Yo, Boyfriend on Demand on Netflix is my new fave K-drama escape. Exhausted webtoon producer Seo Mi Rae's life sucks—no dates, just deadlines. Then boom, she scores a "Monthly Boyfriend" VR gadget and dives into a world of perfect dream dudes. It wakes up all her romance vibes, big time.Her office rival, Park Gyeong Nam? Total ice king at work, but he's got secrets that hit different. The real-vs-virtual tension is chef's kiss, with fun VR dates and office drama that keeps you hooked.
Jisoo kills it as Mi Rae—super relatable, from wiped-out to swoony. Her acting? Easy 8.5/10, girl owns it.
Short, bingeable 10 eps of fluffy romance with laughs. If dating apps got you down, this is your fix. 8/10—hit play!
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Not the best.
Sweet, kinda silly drama — the typical type you watch just to turn your brain off.The idea was actually really cool and had a lot of potential, but the execution was pretty weak.
The drama itself was boring and kinda whatever.
The chemistry between the main leads? Basically nonexistent.
I also wanted to see more of the app storyline and the romance with other virtual boyfriends, but there was barely any of that.
And the main female character… insanely annoying. I could barely finish it because of her. All she does is sigh, start sentences without finishing them, or just stare when someone talks to her or asks a question. I was like, “girl, can you speak????”
Also, Jisoo as an actress ...— don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate her, but her acting is just really weak. There are so many better actors out there, and they still cast her just because she’s famous? Ugh. I’m just disappointed. (also i wanted to mention that i translated my opinion in google translator bc i dont speak english! )
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Felt like they dropped the ball on this one
Was super interested in this when it was first announced because the gist of ai-generated boyfriends on the fly sounded kinda fun, and the early episodes lean into that fun part pretty well. The virtual worlds look great and make it too good to be true like it should be, the scenarios were cliche obviously but because it was supposed to be unrealistically fun (sometimes cringy in a fun way), and the production and costume work in those settings are especially well done.The fun concept it built though starts to lose its momentum around the midpoint. The story felt like it kept circling back to the idea that each boyfriend is perfect but not real which is a good concept to build off of but they didn’t really explore how those experiences changed Mi Rae’s view on real relationships very well. The virtual boyfriend part was pretty much Lee Soo Hyuk, mostly Seo Kang Jun, and Seo In Guk's Yeong Il character with other minor appearances that were way to short so she pretty much just experienced two boyfriends in reality when i thought it was going to be something like a boyfriend per episode, that typa thing until the last few episodes. Because of that, they rely a lot on the virtual dates to carry the first half of the story while the real-world story feels underdeveloped and rushed to clean up when they gotta limit the BOD and mostly shift the real world in the 2nd half.
Mi Rae's character was kinda a mixed bag for me. Felt like she was too indecisive which made her frustrating at times and her not really understanding why the perfect boyfriends not only made her happy but sad reflecting on her relationship with Se Jun and how wanting to be perfect leads to imperfection. Her character gets a bit repetitive with the plot revolves around her journeying through her virtual boyfriends but again she didn’t really develop much out of it. I think Jisoo fits the role visually and the styling for her character is great (big credit to the costume team again), but her acting still feels like it’s developing and isn’t ready for a full lead role just yet. She’s not terrible like some others like to say just because she's an idol, but in scenes where her emotions need to show to she sometimes lacked the depth, which makes it hard to take a scene seriously. In my opinion she still has things to improve on which is normal and expected for someone with limited acting roles. I personally think a secondary lead would fit her better while she builds up her repertoire and refines the little things that she has shown she can improve but it’s pretty obvious because of her name that wouldn’t happen even if i think it would really benefit her.
The main romance doesn’t help much either in picking up the flat parts either. The chemistry between Mi Rae and Gyeong Nam feels pretty meh and just like you expect them to get together because they are the leads and not that they actually mesh together well which was a bummer. Could be that they pretty much just gave them just about 2 episodes to be together and not really letting them establish anything until around the second half. Could be also that Gyeon Nam's character remains very robotic even when he gets together with Mi Rae, which adds to romance feeling more forced than natural. One hated the other and one was more of a robot then the actualy AI-generated boyfriends somehow. I get he is not an expert at being social but even then still like they overdid his character being too monotonous.
Overall, it’s not bad, but the concept never feels as fully explored as it could have been and instead relied a bit to much on parts that didn't amount to much. It’s visually appealing and has some fun moments, but it ends up feeling a bit underwhelming by the end. The cameo appearances ended up being a highlight for me and where BOD showed its best colors. Seo Kang Jun really came out swinging in this and he definitely brought the most fun outta this.
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This review may contain spoilers
Human or AI?
I seriously don’t understand how this drama got such a low rating! I absolutely loved it!!!! From beginning to end, there was not a single boring or annoying scene! I was trying to think of some flaws but couldn’t come up with any 😂😂😂First of all, the obvious reasons I liked this drama were the cast. Most of these actors were new to me except for Choi Siwon, Lee Soohyuk, Jay Park and Yoo Inna! And I absolutely LOVED these cameos!!!! First of all, I just recently had watches Tomorrow and absolutely fell in love with Lee Soohyuk! Especially his voice! So I loved it how they used his voice in the commercials for the Boyfriend on Demand game 😂😂😂 And seeing him as a romantic character was SO MUCH FUN!!!!!
And Choi Siwon ofc was AMAZING!!!! He was one of the first Kdrama actors I got to know thanks to his role in Revolutionary Love which was one of the first Kdramas I watched so I have a soft spot for him 😂😂😂And the fact he was the Webtoon artist’s lover was soooooo good!!!! I LOVED it!!!!
Then ofc Yoo Inna whom I have discovered in Goblin as Sunny last year and fell in love with was also amazing in her role as the guide in the game 😂😂😂
Jay Park’s role was kinda short but it was funny that he played himself 😂😂😂
There were some other familiar faces like the CEO of the company whom we all know from other dramas! This man can literally play any role from villain to loving dad.
Then we had a former Physical 100 comtestant, Tarzan who played the Single’s Inferno date aka the fake Dex 😂😂😂
And ofc Ko Kyu-Pil who was always another character in the games and literally all his characters were hilarious but him as a bartender doing yoga cracked me up the most 😂😂😂
Then next, our main leads, Jisoo from Blackpink and Seo Inguk! I have never seen any dramas these two were in so I was excited to see them act together in this drama and I loved both of their acting skills. Jisoo was super funny! I love her talking voice and her facial expressions were really cute! I really think she is even more talented as an actress than a singer! 😂😂😂Seo Inguk was super cute too!!! I loved his nerdy and emotionally distant character but then how he slowly changed thanks to her. His rare smile MELTED my heart and the kiss scenes were super swoony!!!! 😍😍😍
Other new and amazing actors I discovered after this drama:
- Seo Kang-Joon: Omg his eyes were out of this world!!! He seems to be a new actor as I have never heard anything about him so I will try to check out his other dramas soon.
- Lee Jae-wook: JUST WOW!!!! I am literally blown away by this man’s charisma! AND HIS LIPS!!!! Omg now I get all the hype around him!!! My next mission is to watch a drama with him as a male lead! Can’t believe I have never seen him in anything…
Next one up is the plot:
For a romcom, the plot was fun, consistent, unique, and relatable. I also loved how everything was wrapped up in the end smoothly. The themes and topics fit very well into the plot and the characters all did their job.
Also I loved it how this drama got along so well without any major tropes like dramatic hospital scenes, car accidenta or the mid-way break-up. And if tropes were used, they mostly happened in the game as something so absurd and over the top. I loved how the drama played with it clearly stating that such tropes are not reality and only exist in the fantasy of women but also showing that there is nothing wrong about liking tropes.
And while we are at it, the themes are next. I think this drama did such a great job at pointing out the most relatable themes that are interferring with the lives of young adults right now: Dating and AI:
1. Dating difficulties:
This is not just a struggle in Korea but something that many people around the world struggle with. Whether it is about lack of time due to work, financial issues, or incompatibility between many young men and women due to the difference of expectations, it showed it really well. And the Boyfriend on Demand game worked its wonders. The first few episodes the game was presented in such an amazing way that it was impossible for me to imagine how the main female lead would get out of this amazing world!!! Like, there is no way the real world and real dating would be as exciting as this game!!! And thats also when I realized why women love watching K-Dramas so much: this game basically was the equivalence of K-Dramas: unrealistic expectations of love and dating and unrealistic men who do anything for the women. And again, I loved how this drama does not portray these expectations that women have on men as something negative but as something men should strive for. The fact that the othet female characters in this drama also were using the game and how it benefitted their lives (the writer used it as inspiration for her new webtoon and the bestie used it to get over her ex, live out her fantasies without hurting anyone and even getting famous on social media with her advice). At the same time it gave hope to all single women that their ideal partner might be around the corner or someone we least expected to be in love with us.
2. AI vs. Human:
First, the drama introduces to us the benefits of AI and technology and how they can easily replace humans and even offer a better version of humans altogether. As dating gets more and more difficult these days, AI could offer benefits for young people seeking true love and being able to feel emotions again. It reminded me a lot of the movie Her. But this was actually BETTER!!!!! Not only because of the fact that it was more fun but also because of the ending or the fina statement it gave: Even if AI can replace many things and make many things easier and more convenient, it will never be able to replace one thing: Humanity. Human touch, real feelings and love. These are all reserved for humans only. I loved how this drama does not condemn AI or technology all together as they can offer benefits as well but I also loved how it emphasized the importance of real human interaction.
3. Change:
This was not as big of a theme as the other two but it was of importance in Jisoo’s past and current relationships. She was afraid of changing as it could lead to break-ups so she viewed change as something negative, thus got addicted to the game even more as the feelings of the boyfriends would never change and she could always live happily in a never-changing relationship with them. But then, with Seo Inguk’s character we see that change is not always bad and it can also lead to something beautiful like the way his character changed after he fell in love with her and tried to change himself in order to get closer to her.
4. Feminism:
This was also a rather small theme but we saw this in Mi-rae’s bestie and how she played the game as a femme fatale seducing all the boyfriends instead of getting seduced by them. And her motives for using the game were merely just in order to avoid being judged as an easy woman as society always expects women to be demure and loyal to one man. This part of the story was truly entertaining! At first I actually didn’t like the bestie but she turned out to be such a fun character and I was rooting for her in the end!
These are all the things I loved the most about this drama! I am sure if I think about it more, I can probably think of more points! A literal 10/10 drama!!! Well done everyone!!!
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BOD
I cannot lie this drama was good. The plot was good, the cast and the story I can tell some of these people writing their reviews have skipped until they saw something that they did not like and that’s okay but you cannot lie that the acting was good and the chemistry between the actors are good too. I’m the kind of person who does not lie about a kdrama, if the kdrama is good I will say it, it’s not I will admit it. So people saying the acting is bad and that the actress should stick to singing is kind of offensive. You can tell her acting is amazing in BOD. You can tell her acting has improved since snowdrop (2021)Was this review helpful to you?
Binge-worthy if you love some cheesy storylines
I will be very honest, I was interested in this drama because Jisoo and Seo In Guk are in this drama and I love both of them.And they did not disappoint! The premise and storyline is amazing and pretty much in pair with all those AI bot stories where you can date irl now. It expands that idea, creating interesting storyline that might feel relevant in modern times.
Some of those vr scenes were pretty cringeworthy if I'm being honest, but sometimes we like those cheesy tropes in romance genre, so it was okay to see it being present.
Acting was pretty good for me, both from leads and the supporting cast, but you could find some annoying characters or very cliche like that you might not like. Jisoo was amazing in this! I loved her acting cuz it felt more natural with every episode. Seo In Guk was also perfect with some of his little expressions and that sweet, soft smile.
Music wasn't the only part that I enjoyed every time, but it was fitting for the scenes, especially the exaggeration during romantic scenes. I loved that.
I might rewatch it soon because of all the feel-good moments I had while watching it. I enjoyed every second I watched!
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A must watch
MonthlyBoyfriend on Netflix is a total gem! ✨ Jisoo’s acting has improved so much—her tone is incredibly stable and natural. The chemistry with Seo In-guk is pure fire! 🔥 The plot is rich, well-paced, and full of heart. It’s the perfect blend of visuals and talent. Don’t miss out on this masterpiece! 🚀🎬💖Was this review helpful to you?
AI proganda in the year of our Lord, 2026
I was taught to keep to myself if I have nothing good to say. But perhaps if the good and the bad are mixed together, we can come up with an honest review.Positives 👍
It’s really visually nice to look at. Everything is clean, bright, and colorful. You will never have to turn your brightness all the way up like in those HBO shows, but I digress. The actor lineup is impressive. I believe the casting director might have asked how many love interests the female lead needed, and the production team just replied with a yes. (I know that’s the whole point of the drama—the multiple love interests.) The music, production, and acting were all okay.
Negatives 👎
The downfall was probably the plot. I wasn’t sure if it was plot-driven or character-driven. Either way, I did not care about the plot or the characters, which is a shame because it’s a visually stunning drama. The drama had so many romantic encounters, but somehow none of them felt earned. Therefore, it was hard to connect with or root for anyone.
Personal opinion (you can skip this part)
I hate to do this. I could just leave my score and scram, but here we are. The main thing that I struggled to sit with was the propaganda of virtual reality and AI. We know AI dating is becoming a thing, and it’s preying on human loneliness to feed the AI companies with annual subscriptions. Somehow this drama is promoting all that. I think the vision of the crew behind this drama was: we can either join the movement of AI or fight it and we all know which road they took.
Another thing I was wondering is how destructive the Boyfriend on Demand reality was to her actual life. She was constantly having to escape reality to be in this fake world that she had to pay for. This could have worked as a thriller or horror although i believe black mirror already showed us this.
I will stop now. ✋️
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This review may contain spoilers
Sadly Disappointing
I was really looking forward to seeing Seo In Guk in this drama, but I was so disappointed. The entire script felt quite lacking. The premise of the story had great potential but fell short for me. Other than the AI environment of the storyline which I'd rate a 10, this kdrama was painfully uneventful. It seemed as if the writers focused mainly on creating the AI feature with all its realism and features, and then ran out of steam. I couldn't help but notice that the color pink was featured prominently throughout wardrobe choices and set designs, perhaps as a nod to the main actress. While it's my favorite color, I wish that same effort could have gone into improving the script.I did not feel any chemistry between the main leads, either. Even Seo In Guk's great looks were downplayed with nerdy glasses and frumpy hair, not to mention the lackluster nature of his character. I stuck with it to the end but, by episode 8, I was really struggling. For a Netflix production with a sizable budget and a lot of hype, I felt it overpromised and underdelivered. With that said, there is one great positive to this kdrama: the parade of hot actors who make guest appearances! If anything, stick around for that. Oh, and the hottie on the motorcycle 😁
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