As You Stood By

A good thriller that opens more questions and awareness.

"As you stood by" reminds me a little of the 1955 French film "Diabolique." Of course there are many differences, but the core premise is basically similar. This series had me intrigued, glued to the TV, and angry. I am trying to keep this spoiler-free, but I will say I may have given it a higher rating if it weren't for the "conveniences" in the plot. Some were actually possible, but some were a stretch.

"As you stood by" may challenge your thought process when it comes to how to handle a situation where someone is repetitively assaulted and there is no real help. I realize times have changed (for the victims) over time when it comes to domestic violence. I also realize that there are cultural differences in opinion and enforcement. "As You Stood By" is a good thriller that will send a range of emotions.

The acting mixed with good cinematography really hits hard. Even though the script has some conveniences, it does press the tension with multiple layers and a few twists. Props to the actors and production team.

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interesting to see how the story unfolded and I loved the suspense.

This husband made me so upset and matter of fact of the other one who beat their wives. When I saw Kim Won Hae I thought okay we may get some comedy from him but it was quite the opposite. 
🙆🏽‍♀️
Now these 2 besties "planned" but didn’t think everything through. What I am so confused about was how she was doing martial arts and could beat anyone and when she and Jin Pyo was fighting, she couldn’t do much?
Like where did all her strength go?
And that could have avoided all the blood in the apartment. 

Now, when the neighbour came by to drop off the fruits, what was so hard to say “I am not feeling well, just leave them at the door….” Something! But Noooooo, she half opened the door and the neighbour could see blood and also the friend’s bloody foot…..
Like come on!!!!!!!

😡 Now this sister….oh I don’t like her because as a woman, you should look out for another especially for something like that but because of your career you keep turning a blind eye to the situation. Don’t let me get started on that Mother of his.
That snow globe……
Turned off the dash cam but had the GPS on?
She kept wearing this black cap just making her look more suspicious and even when the police stopped them to check 
I thought Eun Su was sensible.
But all those were cancelled out because of the sister

It was very interesting to see how the story unfolded and I loved the suspense.

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women with autonomy >>>>

first and foremost thought i wanted to jot down for this review: i love how the women all made their own decisions. no matter right or wrong, this series showed multiple aspects of women in these circumstances with their thoughts, decisions, logic, and ultimately their actions. whether it was a reaction or a preemptive move, it was always the women leading it through. the men were merely a tool, which i thought showed a lot about what this kind of series was about, even if i struggled with it when it came to solving this mess.

as soon as jin became aware of the women’s actions and their plans (or lack thereof), i realized how much i’ve been conditioned to watch a man take over and “save” the day, not giving any thought as to whether the women were capable of completing what they finished, what they’re able to get away with, etc. it would’ve been SO much easier to let jin take the reign, call his men, and clean everything up, but the series challenged us to let the women keep their lead role to drive the plot on their own. jin was there to help them, steer them in the right direction, give his resources, and ultimately give them safety, which was so so important to show that there are men who are more than willing to help women in need.

and i loved that jin acquiesced most of the time, to show that yes he’s capable of much more, without the need of the women to do anything further once he was filled in on what was happening, but he gave them space to do what they thought was right, even if he possibly didn’t agree with it (aka when he let hui-su run out of the hospital to confess—it may have gone better than what ended up happening if he put his foot down and locked them up, took away their autonomy and took care of things on his own). i think this was a very important part of the series that people may even overlook because they want the women to get away with it, to achieve that satisfying justice.

in terms of plot, it was definitely wild. it had that wow factor to reel you in, but it never made the theme of domestic violence any smaller. it highlighted the lengths people would go to on both sides—being the victim and wanting to escape by any means necessary, and seeing the abuse but not wanting to shake the status quo, or to hurt your loved ones who are the abusers.

the misconception that violence should be kept in private was challenged, the sad reality that people do protect abusers was shown, even those who are in positions to challenge it (like being in law enforcement and being a public DV advocate). and i also liked that they showed that there were people in law enforcement who were trying to do right by the victim (jin-young’s partner? or fellow officer idk). there were so many points to this series that i feel like i could write an essay on it 😅

all in all, there were many thought-provoking ideas in here but it never shied away from what was the root: domestic violence is never easy to run from either due to family circumstances (eun-su’s mom staying to keep her family together) or power play (jin-pyo’s family always being aware but never confronting jin-pyo because of their careers/status). society teaches us that we should not interfere with personal affairs, that this is something that just happens to people. but it’s never that. domestic violence doesn’t just happen—it is being done by someone, it is being committed.

i was thoroughly entertained with the story and moved by the characters all the same. the craziness of the events didn’t faze me because there are so many cases of domestic abuse that it could well be just as crazy if not crazier than the stories told in this series. the fact that there were multiple victims of domestic violence in close connection with eun-so in her family life as well as her work life depicts how common it has become—it is EVERYWHERE. i feel like the crazy plot twists just shows how wild it could get if passersby become like eun-su in the beginning and become desensitized whenever they see violence in domestic settings.

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Perfect Story Telling

I saw this show on Netflix's main page, and prior had no idea about it. I came to MDL and saw odd reviews, but decided to watch it anyway and was shocked.

This is the most well-done drama of 2025. Finally, a drama satisfying to watch from the very beginning to end. Of course it being an 8-episode drama adds to that, but it's the choices the director and writers made that allowed all 8 of these episodes to shine in their own way. The first episode being mainly about the 1FL (played by Jeon So Nee), the unmarried friend, set the drama up so well. I was so interested in her story, I didn't even want the episode to end. Such a compelling strong character with so much relatability and emotion. Amazing acting on her part, she was perfect for the role. The second episode is cleverly mainly focused on the 2FL (played by Lee Youmi), the one who suffers the abuse from her husband. These two episodes perfectly tie in together to set the stage for the following 6 episodes that follow. The emotion and pain felt by these two FLs, as well as their bond, were well-received by a viewer, adding to the greatness of this drama. And I cannot forget to talk about how much i loved the second male leads (you moo saeng) character. He's really the glue that kept me pushing through, because I knew this man was going to ride or die for the female leads, and that made the show even more satisfying to watch.

There are many debates about the ending, but I loved it. There is a strong metaphor in the way it ended, but many viewers seemed to have missed it. The way it ended was a lot more powerful than whatever bubblegum ending people wished for, which, in my opinion, is why kdramas have really sucked this year. The ending beautifully displays how there is light at the end of the tunnel, and although the fight will be cruelly difficult, with the right people by your side, you can overcome it.

I'll quickly add the one thing I disliked about this drama. The fact that they had the same actor play the Husband and the doppleganger. it was just so unrealistic and just straight up silly for a show like this. they could have easily found two actors who looked similar. The show would have been a lot more thrilling if they had different actors play that role as well.

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Highly Supenseful

I was a bit unsure how much I was going to like this show at first given that the shocking brutal violence in the initial episodes seemed more graphic than necessary and I worried that it might devolve into a typical weekly plotted all action revenge story. But it proved so much more than that. Above all, this was easily the most suspenseful show I've watched all year. It had me on the edge of my seat for the entire back half of the season with a more complex than expected plot, unpredictable twists that surprised without completely stretching credibility, and a magnificent performance from the cast, particularly the two main female leads, as well as Lee Ho Jung as the antagonist.

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Revenge plots never miss!

This Kdrama genuinely got me out of my kdrama slump. I’ve been struggling with finding interest in the new shows lately but this one had me hooked immediately!!!!

Not only was the story captivating but the acting is amazing. I’ve cried, felt disgusted, scared, happy. This is what a good kdrama does to you!
I wasn’t bored at all and kept waiting to get to the next episode to know what’ll happen next.

But respectfully, I would never watch this again… this show was amazing but it was equally exhausting as well. It was a good one time watch for me.

There were some plotholes in here that made me think a little but I don’t remember them anymore which means it didn’t affect my watching experience so it still holds up as a good show.

Also very IMPORTANT message, we all know Korea’s justice system is ass. Speaking about this stuff will always be important and i’m thankful they aren’t shying away from the reality and what could be happening behind closed doors. Do not be a bystander!!!!!

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When Women Fight Back

I absolutely loved the concept, story, and storytelling in As You Stood By. The acting was adequate, and watching women go up against evil, manipulative men was incredibly satisfying. I love women-centric shows about empowerment, and this one truly delivered.

The show powerfully portrayed how the women had no choice but to resort to murder, not out of cruelty, but desperation after being failed by those in power, by family, and by friends who turned a blind eye. It was heartbreaking but impactful.

That said, the series could have been tighter. 6 episodes instead of 8 would have kept the pace even and made for a more solid show. At some point, the story lost focus and felt all over the place. It also didn’t give enough importance to other characters or their relationship dynamics; everything revolved around the main two. Still, despite those flaws, As You Stood By remains a strong, meaningful show about women, resilience, and justice.

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Best thriller with a social conscience

I don't know why the rating for this is so low, although I have found that crime dramas and without an idol tend to do more poorly on this platform.

For me, this show was a surprise sleeper hit. I hadn't expected much of the two female leads, as their past shows hadn't left me much to be inspired. Lee You Mi in particular surprised me given her past less than useful outings. Later on, Lee Ho Jung as the self-serving sister also put in a stellar surprising performance. In contrast, I have been following Jang Seung Jo for a while now but this seems to be his first baddie role and I was blown away. Without giving away too much of the plot away, his acting was multi layered and dramatically different from his other dramas. Overall, the show was fast paced and had so many twists and turns, 8 episodes was really just nice.

But at the heart of it, it's a show with conscience. The show highlights a chronic blindspot in Korean society. Until I watched the show, I did not know that their laws and society at large mostly ignore domestic violence and adopt a "don't ask, don't tell' approach, possibly to cover up the family shame. I later read up and was shocked. I know that even the West is coming to terms with sweeping domestic violence under the carpet and I hope that K society will too, as more shows such as this emerge.

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As You Stood By — A Heavy Story With a Powerful Voice

Okay, let’s be clear: if you’re looking for a cute, swoony romantic drama, this is definitely not the one for you. This drama hits hard — in all the ways that matter. While watching it, I kept thinking, “If I ever faced domestic violence, would my voice even be heard?” Because honestly, in reality, 90% of such cases get dismissed. Police shrug it off as “relationship problems,” or worse, accuse women of hurting themselves for money.
That’s why the message of this drama is so important. I loved the story, and I truly hope that one day we have stronger laws, better protection, and a world where domestic violence isn’t brushed aside like an inconvenience.
Acting-wise, everyone delivered with full sincerity — no exaggeration, no glamorizing, just raw, painful truth. I gave it a lower rating only because it’s not something I could emotionally rewatch, and of course, a drama like this naturally can’t have a lot of music or light moments.
But if you’re looking for something different — a crime/thriller that actually says something meaningful — this drama deserves a spot on your list.
P.S. – Best line from the drama: “There is always light at the end of a tunnel.”
P.P.S. – And yes, the ending will make you feel relieved and happy — especially seeing the female leads finally shining. 🌟

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Absolutely beautifully written and acted! We needed this drama!

What a commitment to a topic! The last drama I watched, which had such raw, soul shuttering energy was the Glory. Obviously a lot of research went at the back of this story, kudos!
The protagonist in this drama was clearly not the couple, or even the friend - it was the by standers - her mother, his mother and sister, the neighbours etc. it was all those driven by egocentric reasons, fear, conditioning and culture, who allow this to happen. This is not a drama, that will tell you what is right or wrong, it will let you decide for yourself, it will make you feel. It will show that all touched by violence to from someone close, can try and heal, but it’s a long and painful process, finding who they really are without the aggressor. It’s was masterfully written, acted with commitment and conviction and very well shot! Kudos!!

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