Our Universe

not a found family drama, more like a found frustration

This has been sold as a family drama, about two protagonists who, after losing their respective siblings, must take care of their nephew. What can I expect? What we found in the first chapters: living together without getting along, living with a baby, managing parenthood and work life...

The problem is that halfway through the drama, everything shifts to a love triangle. Where's the baby? The protagonist has no idea because she's preoccupied with the second lead. I hope the second lead actor was paid well, because he was on screen almost as much as the main lead in the second half of the drama.

I hope they stop selling me false premises in the future; I'm frustrated.

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A Story That Lost Focus

The drama Our Universe had a good concept and a talented cast including Bae In-hyuk, Roh Jeong-eui, Park Seo-ham, and child actor Park Yu-ho. Sadly, the execution didn’t live up to its potential.

My biggest problem with the drama was the character balance. The female lead’s character often felt frustrating rather than relatable, which made it difficult to stay emotionally invested in the story. At the same time, the second male lead, played by Park Seo-ham, seemed to receive an unusual amount of screen time.

Because of this, the main male lead (Bae In-hyuk) didn’t feel like the true center of the story. His character had potential, but the drama rarely gave him enough moments to fully develop.

One highlight, however, was Park Yu-ho. The child actor brought sincerity and warmth to the drama, and his scenes were some of the most natural and engaging parts of the series.

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We're all hate watching, Aren't we?

I started this one because I would watch anything with Bae Inhyuk and at first it seemed promising but at this point the baby is the only reason I keep coming back and it's not even worth it.

I usually don't mind love triangles, but this one is insufferable, unbearable and quite honestly torturous. The female lead is bland, boring, annoying, selfish, clueless, dumb... I could go on for days really, there's zero chemistry between her and both men. Taehyung is way too good for Hyunjin she doesn't deserve to have such a prince fall for her and the other dude sucks baaaad but I can't root that couple either. The plot is draggy, boring and repetitive, the baby is the only redeeming quality of this drama oh and Taehyung good looks are also a plus, but this is an absolute waste of time, do not watch.

I am already 10 out of 12 episodes in, I will finish, probably at 2x speed just to see how it ends, but I am sure 100% that it will be awful.

To my surprise the last 2 episodes weren't as bad as I predicted, with the love triangle was out of the way the plot became what it should've been to begin with how ever it was too little too late and not enough to save this from being the worst drama I've sat through in a long time, Do not watch this.

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great start, middle sucks, emotional ending

The drama really had a lot of potential from the very beginning! The plot with the main character being a child was something new, which is why everyone was captivated by the first few episodes. However, from episode 6 to 9, the focus shifted from the relationship between the main characters to various other aspects. In particular, there was an inappropriate amount of time dedicated to the second lead and Hyunjin, which was time that they spent together. Despite these plot holes, I continued watching, and honestly, the last episode was the best for me. It was very emotional and touched my heart. The important words spoken and the love for U Ju's baby were truly heartwarming.
U Ju's baby is a true little star in the drama, and he’s a such a cute kid!
The drama’s so cute, family-friendly, and lighthearted. If you are a fan of the Taekwon-duo, you can skip episode 9.

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The truth is that this kdrama is not perfect but it is very good and entertaining

The story follows two people who, when they meet, immediately dislike each other and later are forced to live together because their siblings died and left behind a 20-month-old child whom they must take care of. Honestly, the story is very good in my opinion. At the beginning, it is a bit slow or boring, but by episode 2, everything becomes interesting. It is entertaining to see how the protagonists go from hating each other, to respecting each other, from respecting each other to becoming friends, and from becoming friends to starting to fall for each other. It is a series of the 'enemies to lovers' type, so if you like series like that, you will love this one. The acting and the chemistry between the protagonists are also very good. But there is something that is making people underestimate this series: it is the hate it is receiving.
With much respect I say this, I was reading the comments and the only thing I could see was everyone hating this K-drama, saying that the protagonist is bad, that she doesn't act well, that it is poorly developed, and everything. I am watching this series and I have realized that obviously it is not perfect, but it is a very good series. But of course, people only see the bad things and don't notice the good ones. I don't think that if they met the writer in real life they would tell him all the harsh criticism they give to the series (although I think some would be capable >v). Sometimes we only see that things are not the way we want and we don't see that actually the way they did it is much better than how we wanted. Besides, we shouldn't disregard the hard work of the writers and producers of this series, who, although they made mistakes in some things, put in a lot of effort. Well, I say all this with much respect and I am sharing my opinion about this, so if you don't agree, that's okay.

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Starts so fun! then MAJORLY flops :( Watch only ML and Baby - they are AMAZING! - and ff FL

The rating: 10/10 for ML and the baby -- 0/10 for FL 7/10 for SML
ML and Woo Ju are the stars, the show is worth it for them. ML actor is EXCELLENT at his very complex role, so energetic and COMICAL and so good with Woo Ju. Woo Ju is a precious gem. SO JUST WATCH ML AND BABY. The overall ratings are too high to protect ML and WooJu actors.

FL is a REALLY bad actress, so FLAT. She looks malnourished, lifeless, weak and tired, .... Has no connection with Woo Ju or ML.
Side actors are pretty good. SML is mediocre actor. Looks cute to so some

The first few episodes.ML is a jerk, and FL is so lifeless parasitic... Then after ep 2 it gets pretty good, FL perks up, gets a job, protects the baby, and ML transforms totally into a very caring dad.
As soon as SML shows up, WATCH ONLY ML AND BABY -they are AMAZING!!!!! and fast forward FL and SML.
Then FL turns into a slime and chases her first love SML and goes on dates with SML (while ML does free babysits)… FL-SML dating takes all the time, and we barely get to see ML and the baby, and the whole drama is a flop.

FL leads on/ strings two guys at the same time, and forgets the kid. She uses ML as a free babysiter while she goes on dates and often takes Woo Ju on her flirt escapades with SML
FL is treating Woo Ju the baby as a pet fish - she buys aquarium and pet food and orgets it... ML provides "home" for WooJu .. FL has no connection with Woo Ju... bc she is going on dates with SML ... and taking WJ with her... meanwhile ML is going bananas bc he fell in love with her... and WJ is anxious to see his "mom" flirt witih someone who is not his "dad"…. SML persists and Woo Ju gets used to it and ML leaves…
SO this is only 12 ep drama and UNTIL THE END OF ep 9, FL is still with SLM flirting, and at the very very last scene of ep 10, she cheesily confesses to ML… without any real feelings... the vibe was "pleae dont leave, I need free and reliable housemaid, who is gonna babysit for me when I go on dates" - so fake ...
Ep 11 and 12 are super cheesy and fake and nothing feels like romance between them... FL actress is a total flop, cannot act

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EVERYONE!!! i think I can put into formal language why this drama flopped.
Another user and I were discussing 'emergent love' (intentionally working in partnership to deepen the love) versus rom-coms and "submergent love" (falling in love without any effort) so now I can explain why Our Universe was such a tragic flop - and how to fix it.

Our Universe had a baby .... so that attracted audience which is not totally airheads. But the drama makers didnt get it... the drama was done like a classic brainless rom-com

A typical rom com is made for the audience that uses dramas instead of alcohol or drugs to turn off their brain and go into delulu fantasy mode...
- and such audience loves to fantasize about how great they could be and how much they can own/have... and wants to see only delulu fluff... NO work, committment, etc - only RECEIVING good things and RULING THE WORLD .... this kind of audience watches Perfect Crown, Dynamite Kiss. Pursuit of Jade, etc.

So that's why the drama had that FL character - bc that was a TYPICAL trash rom-com character - trash rom-com audience wants to see other ppl kissing their as@ - just like Sunbae and ML were bending backward for FL ... so that triangle plot was put into Our Universe to serve that purpose

so Our Unverse was done as a classic trash rom-com - started with falling in love bc they just happened to be living together (submergent love) but then failed to enter the stage of emergent love, (working in partnership to deepen the love)... and even worse, continued as a classic cheesy rom com with the love triangle as the focus - the drama totally forgot about the baby....

Emergent love plot is the plot that typical rom com audience HATES bc typical rom com audience likes only utmost delulu fluff - but Our Universe audience was a lot more mature audience and totally protested the drama when it became obvious that emergent love was not happening - and the sacrificed was the baby.

Our Universe Audience first protested bc baby was left hanging, neglected and essentially abused, in this trashy rom-com. Then the audience protested bc the ML was left hanging too.

So Our Universe could have been a rare true good rom com where submergent love evolves into an emergent love - the plot was there, THE AUDIENCE WAS THERE - but the drama choose to stay in trash rom-com mode and make drama called "FL and Sunbae Universe".

And one of the main red flags was the FL actress - where she shows up is most likely ONLY trash mode. If you see her in a drama, run.

So I think they need to redo Our Universe under a different name :) Wait a tiny bit until ppl forget Our Universe flop and then make a very similar drama but do it right
To be honest, that ML actor is perfect for that role and should be the male lead. ANd Woo Ju should be the child lead but he will be too big very soon - but why not, have a drama about Woo Ju later...

How about this - have Our Universe Season 2 where ML and FL split and she goes back to Sunbae and they go to the USA and leave Woo Ju with ML... so we watch him develop his photography, raise Woo Ju and then... he runs into a good woman and we see that relationship develop and Woo Ju get a great mom and ML get a great wife. it would be 16 ep at least

I think Our Universe makers really owe it to the audience to do that drama right

===== MY REVIEW AFTER WATCHING 10 EPISODES ====
THE SYNOPSIS: FL initiated flirting with SML, he abused his office power to flirt back, and FL gladly continued flirting with him, until he went overboard with stalking her and she got tired of it AT THE VERY END OF EP 9, but she still did not stop him.
It was by sheer luck that her need for a good housekeeper made her stop SML - her housemaid / babysitter was suddenly leaving and she needed to take care of that business. She REALLY realized how nice it is to find a clean house and a fed, bathed and asleep baby when she gets home from dates with her first love. So she begged ML to stay and keep her life comfortable, and he consented.

THIS IS FL-CENTERED DRAMA, SO WE GET TO SEE FL-SML ON THE SCREEN A LOT BC FL IS DATING HIM. ML is a secondary character as a roommate who does free housework and babysitting while FL goes on dates.

*It was FL who started chasing Sunbae when she met him at work, ah so thrilled about her first love showing up, and CONSTANTLY MENTIONING THOSE OLD TIMES. * He did not say a thing to her, she kept chasing him.

At that point, SML had no idea she had kid and ML, and he was a boss, so he used his authority to select her to work with him, and SHE CONSENTED, AND KEPT UP FLIRTING WITH ML, and totally completely forgot about Woo Ju so many times and used ML as a free babysitter.

And FL intentionally dragged both guys on the leash.... having a great office romance where she got to be promoted based on her romance, and at home she had a free housemaid / babysitter for free. She was going on dates and coming home to a clean house, fed bathed and asleep kid. WONDERFUL.
She had no connection with Woo Ju, and acted as a very flimsy irresponsible guardian.
SML kept inserting himself and FL was happy to spend time with him…. until he really went overboard- showing up at the first Woo Ju show. SO VERY LAST SCENE OF EP 9 IS THE FIRST TIME FL WAS NOT HAPPY TO SEE SML. But still she did not send SML back.
AND SHE NEVER CALLED HIS UNCLE TO SEE HIS FIRST SHOW.
AS USUAL, FL DID ***NOT*** THINK ONE BIT ABOUT WOO JU
FL by script is a very weak parasite, a woman child, the drama is her love story regardless of how anyone else feels, she drags two guys and essentially tortures them to make her life comfortable, and she gives no thought to Woo Ju. SHE IS SUPER IMMATURE AND WEAK AND SLIMEY and the actress fits that
SML was a jerk, NOT TELLING he saw the ML there, then depriving Woo Ju of family time on weekend to go on a date .... SML was too entitled and too pushy and totally did not understand what it means to have a kid, and also, he ignored the thick feelings between ML and FL, and had the audacity to scold ML and tell him off. SML is really an ignoramus and a very entitled and manipulative person, LED ON BY THE SLIMEY PARASITIC FL, WHO INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS FUN TO ATTACH TO HIM, AND LED HIM ON UNTIL THE VERY LAST SCENE OF EP 9.

So both of those are ignoramuses. FL and SML are a perfect pair. The best ending to this drama was that those two run off to the USA and leave Woo Ju to ML and some nice woman who loves them both.

ML had his share of ignorance, leaving Woo Ju just like his brother left him. But in some ways he had no choice bc Woo Ju came attached to FL as his guardian, he could not take Woo Ju alone. However, ML was definitely a man child and jumped out of this for wrong reasons, for his own insecurities instead of nailing down FL to talk with her and to realize she is just using him. ML grew up a lot since ep 1, but he still did not overcome this character fault by ep 10.

FL stayed a slimey parasite to the end - that peck on the face at end of ep 10 saying PLEASE HOUSEMAID DO NOT LEAVE, I LOVE TO COME HOME AFTER MY DATES AND SEE THE HOUSE ALL CLEAN AND A BATHED FED BABY SOUND ASLEEP... PLEASE!!! DO NOT LEAVE ME TO DEAL WITH THIS MESS!!!!

and then ML being forced to kiss her - out of what... ???? we never saw any moments between them that would lead to a kiss. It was soooo fake. FL has zero sex appeal and zero attractiveness and zero ability to connect. Kissing her at the airport after her PLEASE STAY I NEED A GOOD HOUSEMAID!!!! begging ..... has ZERO sex appeal and kiss is just not called for. The swhole scene is just ... clearly fake. ML actor really really tried acting it and did well but the overall scene is fake.

The drama was not supposed to be about ML FL living in domestic bliss for 12 eps!!!! The script had to show two adults ML and FL with heavy past overcome their issues and come together in rasing a kid and being functional adults and a romantic pair - overcoming their character flaws and pasts - overcoming parastitic life, lingering first love, abandonment issues, criminal family, etc etc etc - that was all supposed to be a part of the plot but sped up to fit into 12 episodes. ML-FL should have both confessed by ep 6 and then dealt together with their character flaws, becoming “parents” and becoming a love pair, SML, kid, office, traumas from the past, etc.
Heck, cut out SML somehow, SML is SML for a good reason - HE APPEARS LESS ON THE SCREEN THAN ML. HELLO!!!!!! otherwise, call him the ML and denote ML to the supporting role.
SML and FL love story had most of screen time, and ML was just a supporting character to babysit while they went on dates, and that is a total and complete DISASTER, for the story and also for acting, ML and Woo Ju are the best actors here and most of us came to watch THEM, not fl-sml flirting.

So overall, the script is super trashy and whoever ordered and/or APPROVED that script is at fault.
I learned to always skip anything with this director, writer and/or FL actress. Their work has the signature FLOP.

========MY REVIEW AFTER WATCHING 4 EPISODES ========
This drama is a revolutionary approach to adulting and parenting, showing real struggle and real success that comes with some effort.... and a smart kid as an equal member of the family.

This drama is a treat!!!!! I LOVE THIS DRAMA!!! so refreshing, so lively and cute, and deep and ... realistic... that healthy toddler is totally real :) and the challenges of raising a kid and becoming a functional adult are also real...

Some parts are realistically scary... LOL ML started as a selfish immature jerk, he would have just let that child go!!!! but in later episodes, he becomes a caring and engaged dad, better caretaker of Woo Ju than the FL.. .... I love that it is realistic, we see him starting as totally unwilling - as most men would LOL - and then transforming...

FL started as weak, but luckily already somewhat transformed, by ep 2 is already fighting! more energetic and lively and a lot better mom! Omg I so appreciate the script writer for not dragging her lifeless phase. It is such a relief to see her take good care of the kid and to see the kid flourish under her - and to see her flourish too. She got stronger and more vibrant and expressive and giving. More mature. But not enough - she too is selfish jerk, just in a more polite way, and keeps forgetting the kid. But ... she also makes progress...
it is hard bc FL actress is so ... malnourished that she does not seem energetic at all....

ML is energetic and strong and reaaally fun, I love that actor for his comedy skills, the ML character is making a great dad once he started turning around. It will be such a great pair with the baby.

THE BABY IS SOOOOO ADORABLE. He is a star :) I am so glad they are using AI for scenes with him so that the baby doesnt suffer from filming scenes with yelling adults etc.

The drama milked every opportunity for comedy and for cuteness... ML is an amazing comedian, the baby too, and FL is helping as well...

The filming makes it even more hilarious - translating baby's words, various angles of the camera, it is sooo creative!!!! I loved that front scene of ML that was head in the right corner of screen and his shoulder in the left corner. It was asymmetrical and really looked good, and very "up and coming new style". The filming is very dynamic. THe camera and video production are very creative and skilled and the comical effect of their work is hilarious.

Such a lovely sparkley alive refreshing drama. I LOVE IT!!!!

Please rate individual episodes so that the rating goes up! Spread the word!

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I was thinking a lot about Woo Ju. The way the kid is portrayed is so .. revolutionary. I really love how they show him observing, talking and expressing his opinions... He is a smart cutie :) and it goes a lot deeper than just that. This idea that the parents are TALKING with the kid as an active participant and someone who has a say. Notice that Woo Ju never ever is allowed to dictate anything nor does he try.... . He is just asked for opinion. And he offers his opinion when something is really bothering him LOL and it is always for a good reason...

Woo Ju is shown as an entity of his own, with his own mind and emotions, and actively participating - he observes and reads the room and knows what is going on....
So: this drama portrays ****children as active participants in family, who have their say and who can be reasoned with.**** It is very remarkable. This is totally revolutionary according to the traditional upbringing where kids are more like furniture that the parent OWNS and arranges as they wish - including marriage, etc.

The drama is very deep. It is about what it means to be a good parent. That's deep….. sic
So overall, this is an AMAZING drama in so many ways.
I really like it a lot.
Minus some details LOL I want FL to eat, have some muscles on her and be energetic, lively and strong.
I love acting of ML actor, he is just amazing
and I totally adore Woo Ju :)
This is one of the best dramas ever, it is very funny yet profound and meaningful.

Calling it "Baby propaganda" is actually totally skewed bc children are a part of life, just like seniors are. The world does not revolve around young adults - although young adults like to think that way LOL The world does not consist only of working-age adults....Presence of children and elderly SHOULD BE totally normal.

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Biggest red flag FL

Premise was great, it had potential to become hit with simplistic story but deep message. Instead it went downhill fast.

FL is biggest red flag in kdrama land that i've seen this far. She makes promises she can't keep, she uses people and she is just bland as a character. She promises to take primary guardianship of the baby and as soon as hot man arrives, baby is forgotten to MLs care. She neglects baby multiple times and she really doesn't deserve guardianship at all. She doesn't deserve ML or the baby.

ML is classic green flag character who bends his back to prop up FL and FL throws it all to dumpster to date SML. At this point of the drama, i wish he would grow a spine and take the baby away from FL cause she doesn't really do anything to help anyways and start family of two.

SML is completely unnecessary character. He is epitome what death of creativity means in this business. He adds nothing and takes away importance from the great premise and destroys it with FL.

Conclusions:
This could've been superb unlikely family drama if it just did what the premise promised. Now it became another love triangle drama among the sea of them with nothing setting it a part. It is so shallow and disappointing.

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started great and lost it totally

The first few Episodes were so good but then it deteriorated totally. It’s really sad because of the actors and specially the baby are so good. But it’s just not interesting anymore and has no real heart. I will probably watch the last episode but drop it for now. it is not a spoiler that it has a left triangle, which is totally unnecessary. I was hoping for a healing Romans or a slice of life and the Journey becoming parents and overcoming the death of their loved ones together. instead, it is a wishy-washy female lead, and the second male lead who is a good actor, but a useless character in my opinion.

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FROM TRAGEDY TO TOGETHERNESS

The story follows Seon Tae-hyung, a free-spirited photography assistant, and Woo Hyun-jin, a pragmatic job seeker. The two are in-laws who can barely stand each other until a tragic accident claims the lives of their siblings, leaving them as the joint guardians of their 20-month-old nephew, Woo-joo. The drama's strongest asset is its initial setup: two 'parenting novices' forced to cohabitate and navigate the chaotic, messy, and often hilarious world of raising a toddler while grieving their own losses.

Once again, Bae In-hyuk proves he is the king of 'hidden pain'. His portrayal of Tae-hyung balancing his desire for freedom with a growing, fierce love for his nephew is the emotional anchor for the show. Park Yu-ho ( playing baby Woo-joo) is a scene stealer. The moments of domestic bliss and the struggles of early parenthood felt authentic and provided the 'healing' vibes viewers craved. Also, the cinematography is crisp and warm, and the chemistry between the leads is undeniable, especially in the early episodes where their bickering turns into mutual support.

However, the second half of the drama disappointed a lot of viewers as it felt like the introduction of the second male lead was unnecessary. The plot shifted away from the 'found family' dynamic to a predictable, frustrating love triangle that ate up valuable screentime. While the show excelled at character building early on, the finale felt rushed. Major plot points, like the legal guardianship battle, were crammed into the final two episodes, leaving some viewers feeling 'hate-watched' into the conclusion. Also, the female lead's character, Hyun-jin, develops slowly, making her seem indecisive or passive compared to the more layered Tae-hyung.

In conclusion, Our Universe is a classic 'healing drama' that occasionally trips over its own tropes. If you enjoy domestic fluff, adorable baby interactions, and high-quality acting, it's a solid 7.5/10. However, if you have a low tolerance for 'second Lead Syndrome' or late-game plot holes, you might find the final episodes a bit taxing. Anyways, it's a beautiful journey about becoming a family, even if the road gets a little too bumpy towards the end. RECOMMEND IT.

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