Dream to You

A story about dreams and first love (how long did it last? 4 episodes?, unfortunately)

Dream To You tells the story of Ju Yi-jae, a fearless teenager, dreamed of becoming a filmmaker and loved shooting short films. Her classmate, Woo Soo-bin, was a diligent, obedient student with no personal ambitions. Soo-bin was inspired by Yi-jae's tenacity, and a friendship blossomed between them, eventually leading to romance. However, after the university entrance exams, Soo-bin disappeared when his family, who had always planned his life, sent him to study abroad. Now in their thirties, they lead very different lives and unexpectedly reunite. Yi-jae is a struggling journalist, disillusioned with life and feeling she has fallen into mediocrity, while Soo-bin is an award-winning film director. He decides to help her rediscover her spark, but she remains resentful of what happened in the past.

This drama tells the typical story of reuniting with first love, but it does so in a way that captivated me. Although the plot has been seen countless times, the first few episodes were the best. I don't remember ever enjoying the first few episodes so much. The plot, the characters, the flashbacks—everything was wonderful. But, unfortunately, the story takes an unexpected turn. It seems that ENA makes all its dramas captivating in the first few episodes and then ruins the rest, so I should consider not watching any more dramas from this channel. All that drew me in, and the reason I was looking forward to it after seeing the trailers, was a first-love story, the kind we all want to experience. But I don't understand how the series gradually forgot that purpose. The feeling of freshness disappeared to the point that sometimes I didn't even remember they were each other's first love. They seemed like two people who met and simply fell in love without that idea of ​​first love. Scenes I was really looking forward to... In the end, they felt bland, not like in the trailers that excited me so much I wanted to see them. The kissing scenes felt a bit empty without that emotional impact. The point I was definitely hoping for was that they would become a couple, but in the end, I felt nothing. Ha-na's mother is simply a monster. I don't see any chemistry between the secondary couple, to be honest. From the beginning, I was rooting for the leads. Another problem is the changes the characters underwent. Woo Soo-bin went from being simply charming to losing all his charm. Ju Yi-jae went from being such an energetic fighter, which is what captivated me about her, to losing all of that. Their wonderful chemistry was affected by that unstable plot, which is sad. I was hoping to see Baek Seong-cheol again because his characters captivated me, but this one didn't, and that hairstyle doesn't suit him at all. It seems the producers of ENA... love having the irritating ex appear in every show on this channel, and there's absolutely no need for him to be there. It was supposed to be exciting to see them make their movie, but in the end, I liked the one they made about their past better; it felt better because now they don't seem to be making any progress at all. The third couple is one of the worst you'll ever see; she just used him for fun, and that's it, and the poor guy was supposedly in love. The series introduces so many subplots that there's no screen time left for the main characters, and these subplots are pure filler and barely developed. As for clichés, this series uses several, and I'm not just talking about the first romantic reunion, but also: abusive parents, the protagonist who goes abroad and leaves his partner (who surely returns and they live happily ever after), the ex who comes back and is just a nuisance, and above all, that stupid breakup: who comes up with that in a serious drama?


3.709
The drama uses somewhat repetitive characters, seen in other dramas. Speaking of the secondary characters, the lead couple had good chemistry that could have been perfect were it not for a weak script. A sincere question: in the towns depicted in ENA dramas, are there only elderly people? Were our protagonists the only young ones?

Here is my analysis of the main characters:

Woo Soo-bin (Hwang In-yeop): A brilliant film director. After spending his adolescence immersed in the world created by his parents and his twenties breaking free from his shell and running fiercely, he finally achieved his dream of becoming a film director. After a spectacular debut with his first feature film, which swept international festivals, he returns to Korea to reunite with his first love, the person who instilled the dream in him and with whom he promised to make films.

I must say that Hwang In-yeop's acting surprised me. I didn't think he could create such a charismatic character, so different from his role in True Beauty. Unfortunately, his character gradually loses its charm and ends up being quite meh. In the romantic scenes, there was hardly any emotion. Even so, he did a good job, as I feel it was all about the character and not his actual acting skills.

Ju Yi-jae (Lee Hye-ri): A journalist struggling to make a living, gifted with passion and talent. She was a fearless teenager driven by a dream, and later a twenty-something frustrated by harsh reality; now she lives in an existential void, like so many other anonymous people.

This is my first time seeing Hye-ri, and I loved her, but just like with Hwang In-yeop, her character gradually loses all her energy and charisma, and that drive she had in the first two episodes. But I think she's a good actress.

Shim Yu-geon (Baek Seong-cheol): an aspiring actor who still gets nervous in front of the camera.

I was looking forward to seeing Baek Seong-cheol again, but his character disappointed me. I didn't like him as much as in his other projects; he was too selfish, and that haircut just didn't suit him. The chemistry with Ha-na was simply nonexistent.

Oh Ha-na (Lee Yeol-eum): A rising star.

I didn't dislike her character, but she was pretty meh, to be honest. But all in all, good work.

This drama missed many opportunities with its characters. They were introduced and then left flat. The third couple was simply filler. What happened to Yu-geon's father? What about Soo-bin's father and his divorce? They never showed Gu-yeon in high school. What about Ha-na's mother and her relationship with her children? Everything was left incomplete.

The OST isn't extraordinary, but there are some songs I liked, including "Beyond The Dream" (a gem), "Sailing Back To You," and "My Everything." The rest just weren't to my taste.

Would I watch it again? I think if I do, it'll be for the first two episodes, but if I had to choose, I wouldn't watch it again, honestly.

In short, Dream To You is a drama about first loves and dreams, which unfortunately suffers from so many poorly developed subplots that the main storyline gets sidelined and underdeveloped, leaving many things unresolved. Even so, I enjoyed the first few episodes and they inspired me to want to experience my first love (although I already did, but not in the way I wanted, since I couldn't do anything with her, but she still brought some light to my life, even if it was from afar) :( . Overall, I'd give it a 7.5/10. It could have been one of my favorite dramas, but due to a lack of ideas, it fell into the same old patterns.

Despite all this, I didn't hate the drama, but it did get boring in parts. I'm disappointed.




THANKS FOR READING

Read More

An unexpectedly good drama.

Dream To You is the drama I didn't expect to love this much. I started watching it without expectations, even anticipating some elements I might not enjoy, but dang, I ended up loving every episode.

I initially thought I was getting a romance drama, but it turned out to be more of a coming-of-age story about the leads and their journey. I loved how the series used flashbacks alongside the present timeline, making the characters' stories feel more layered.

Strangely, I even found myself liking the second couple more than the leads. There's no messy overlapping interest, and I love them because, beyond romance, they fight for their respective dreams and desires as if these are part of who they are. It makes them feel like real human beings rather than just characters in a drama.

I also enjoyed the filmmaking process woven into the story. It felt realistic, interesting, and easy to follow because of how the drama built each character's perspective.

And I love how they wrapped up the story like a diary, which felt fitting for the journey we've witnessed.

It's a ten for me.

Read More

Dream To You Is A Dreamy Romance For Us

It’s been awhile since I found a pure romance and boy does “Dream to You” delivers (at least through the first 8 episodes). It’s a “First Love Reuinted” story (not a spoiler since it announces it such from the opening), where our two leads find their way back to one other becuase of a shared dream.

But to get them ready to declare themselves and go all-in, we have to get through some past traumas along with new challenges that come up professionally and personally; the kind of challenges that seek only to make them stronger and more resolved in their feelings toward one another.

This is a modern romance that is less plot driven and more a diary of sorts (altho there is plenty of plot to be had). It settles in like a good book, quiet and assured of itself, where each page opens us to a new memory, a new revelation, letting the past tell parts of the story the present can’t name.

This more relaxed pacing (not too slow) allows the narrative to breathe, offering quiet, contemplative moments without trying to cram itself with too many storylines or characters.

It has a dreamlike quality to it, which is fitting given the main theme about the sacrifices it takes to chase one’s dream and the reality that sets in for many when those dreams cannot be realized, or at least not in the way envisioned.

This seemed a very intimate project for the writer and director and a line in the movie “I’ll be a director that makes movies feel human” seems to sum up the filmmaker’s approach to how they want us to feel watching the story unfold.

Thus far, I’m giving it a 9. It’s not epic in adventure or storycraft - just a simple character-driven film that guides us gently down a well-trodden path, giving us time and space to unwind with it as it reveals its secrets.

Hwang In Youp and Lee Hye Ri give excellent performances as our two leads with superb support from the secondary cast.

Read More

Una cámara y un sueño

Qué bello encontrar lo que te apasiona y esforzarte por ello, en especial con la alegría que eso trae. Si bien eso fue algo corto para la protagonista por diversas circunstancias, esta serie fue una muestra de lo que es la resiliencia y también el aprovechar las oportunidades cuando se presentan.
Me encantó que hubiera tres parejas en la serie con su propia línea de historia que me hacía sentir que me trasladaba a cada uno de sus mundos, pero sin desligarse de la historia general. Me reí, lloré y enamoré viendo tan preciosas historias.

Si buscas una historia con toque de relaciones complejas y a la vez conmovedoras, espectacular romance y amor genuino en todas sus formas, disfrutarás de esta serie.

Read More

Don't miss - great drama

Don't read the negative reviews and don't pay attention to the ratings, you might miss out on a great drama, personally, I enjoyed every moment (episode) The casting is perfect, the acting is perfect, the chemistry is great (not just between the main characters ), it has a little bit of everything, (haha), healing and recovery, love and disappointment, joy and sadness, (there were parts that made me cry), relationships between parents and children and vice versa, support, dreams and fulfillment, female empowerment, what goes on behind the scenes of the entertainment industry (dramas/movies) * Trigger – it also has domestic violence – I recommend it with love

Read More

Starts strong but then goes full cliche by the end it straight up free falls

Storyline:
The storyline isn't something out of the box but something we have seen time and again before too, the whole reunion of leads after years, hidden pain and traumas popping up and them slowly working together t heal each other. The drama did start strong but totally went downhill by the end and filled with nonsensical plots and cliche shit. There are times where it will even get under your skin especially the decisions made by the leads at times. The last ep literally has you scratching your head of what exactly was the point of the shit that happened before. Show fell flat on it's face and makes you facepalm.

Pace:
The pacing is decent with the plot not being a total drag for most part. Things move on at a good speed whether it is them dealing with their inner feelings or past hidden scars, it is done in a really nice way and won't make you feel bored.
There are at times later in the drama where things are unnecessary added eg: E9, the whole episode is a total filler and watching a cliche plot in the last 2 eps makes you think what exactly was the need to show it.

Characters:
The characters are quite fun to watch be it the leads or side ones. A chaotic FL with a composed and teasing ML is a great combo also the second couple of the famous actress and a struggling actor too is quite interesting to watch. Both of them have such opposite lives and yet both are miserable.
The lead characters may at times get under your skin and make you think how come a grown up makes such idiotic decisions especially ML be it regards to his family or love life but other than these few hiccups they still leave a good impression. Each actor has done a great job with their roles. The antagonists though were extremely good and really makes you hate them and root for their downfall.

Overall:
It is a one time watch drama and only watch if you are a fan of the cast or have too much time to spend on cliche rom com.

Read More

"BORED"

Dream to You starts off well with an interesting school-drama setup that feels fresh and engaging.

The early episodes are enjoyable, but as the story progresses, the drama slowly becomes boring and predictable.

The chemistry between the main leads is good and gives the romance some enjoyable moments.

However, I personally found the side couple's emotional journey more interesting and impactful than the main couple's.

The drama has some nice moments, but it struggles to maintain the same energy and excitement throughout.
Overall, Dream to You is a decent watch with a strong beginning, but the later episodes make it feel average.

Read More

Some dreams are worth holding onto

This was one of those dramas that quietly pulled me in and never let go. What I loved most was how it balanced the romance with the characters' individual dreams and personal growth, making every achievement and setback feel meaningful. The relationship never felt rushed because both leads had their own journeys, and watching them support each other instead of holding each other back made their connection even more satisfying.
The chemistry between the leads was effortless, but the supporting characters also played a big part in making the story feel complete. They each brought something different to the table, adding warmth, humor, and emotional depth without taking the spotlight away from the main couple. I found myself genuinely caring about more than just the romance, which always makes a drama much more memorable for me.
If I had one small complaint, it's that I wanted a little more time with the characters once everything came together. Even so, this was an emotional, comforting, and beautifully paced drama that left me with a smile by the end. It's definitely one of my favorite surprises of the year.

Read More

Seems like everyone got tricked by the PR. It’s not a rom-com but a melodrama 🙄. The BTS have more comedy than the actual drama

They keep repeating the whole “ML comes back for his first love” storyline while the FL is struggling. But honestly, she’s not struggling that much. She’s gonna survive anyway

The cast is on point. The OST is good. The script, however is absolute nonsense plus the director’s decision to cut everything and wrap up the drama in one week was insane

Also, apparently most K-actors only review the script up to Ep4 so… I guess that explains how this drama happened💀

Read More

What a mess

Please remember, this is just my opinion, so please don't come after me. This reminded me of cooked spaghetti, throw it at the wall and see what sticks.

What I liked:
-second couple
-costuming for the movie they were making
-a couple of good kisses by the main couple
-SML and his relationship with his father
-showing the film to the townspeople
-the music was good

The rest:
-third couple and reality dating show were a complete waste of time
-so, it ends up he has a terrible father AND a terrible mother. The secret parent trope, give me a break.
-the father needed to be in prison. He was such a terrible person and this switched to melodrama whenever he showed up
-the main couple. First love/high school was portrayed well. He comes back years later, she hates him being there, yet suddenly all is forgiven and they are a couple. What was missing was the progression of them becoming a couple again. They spent most of the show working side-by-side: they seemed more like friends. No sparks.
-the whole story of a movie being written in high school and suddenly they have the budget and backing to getting it made. That made no sense to me.
-her having previous lovers. I know, very naive of me. But I was having a hard enough time believing that these two were in love to begin with and knowing that she just moved on with her life (though it was obvious that he had always loved her more than she did him) just left a sour taste in my mouth relating to the main couple.
-ex-lover shows up to act in their movie. Such an overused trope. Then to have the ex-boyfriend confess that he still liked her. They have been out of touch for years.
-her accent (dialect) kept coming and going, and sometimes it was so strong I couldn't focus on the words, just the way she was saying them
-the last two episodes just ticked me off. She decides to go to Canada to learn more about filming. He doesn't want her to go. If they had talked about it, they could have reached an understanding. But to have her say "you aren't my dream and I'm not going to love you anymore" so she could run off was unacceptable.
-she shows up after a year, and all is forgiven.
-I hate the time skip trope anyway and can't believe how often it's used, but in this day and age when everyone has a telephone and there is Facetime, there is no reason for someone to go radio silent.
-as per usual, the ending was rushed.

So no, I did not like this drama, and now that I've written my thoughts, I'm even more mad about the whole thing!

Read More