Idol I

One time watch

I had big hopes for this drama. But the execution failed and in some places so did the acting.
For an idol who has a murder charge on him and is facing jail time, I found him more like a prince throwing a tantrum left right and center.
The first couple of episodes where you feel any sympathy for him soon turns into frustration and annoyance.
The romance felt forced and more like a noona romance which should not be the case going by the childhood memory they share.
It a strange one, I could bring myself to watch this one back to back, but rather one episode a couple of days. Still can recommend for a binge watch.

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Couldn't carry the weight of its own storyline

This drama was very promising at the beginning. It had an interesting premise, strong actors in place for the leads, and intriguing circumstances bringing them together. Most of all, I really enjoyed the Idol perspective on fans and how they view idols. There was so much potential there.

Unfortunately, neither the murder mystery nor the romance paid off for me. I'm a fan of both the actors playing the leads, but this drama was a huge miss. Even their chemistry couldn't keep me engaged. I wish I could say the romance scenes were good, but they weren't. The whole time I was wondering how he could even think of romance when he was a murder suspect! And the kiss...I felt like it was staged to look pretty, not reasonable. That took me out of it completely. I just wish more thought had been put into both the story and the romance to make it believable. This drama would have benefited from leaning into the serious, Idol-life and murder aspect, with romance being toned down a LOT. So, so disappointed with how this turned out.

Would I recommend it? Only if you're a die-hard fan of the leads and don't mind a popcorn (aka empty, hollow) show. P.S. If you're watching it on Netflix, the maximum play speed is 1.5x...

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had potential but was lacking and boring

this was one of the worst dramas i watched and i am so disappointed. it wasn't the actors fault, it's 100% the storyline. it started off strong and interesting and it had a lot if potential that was sadly not met due a flat arc and irrelevant plotline. if you are looking for a rom com, this isn't it, if you're looking for a crima drama, this is also not it. it's a weird mix that doesn't tap into either genre strong enough to be interesting.

spoilers from here:
in one of the first scenes we already see his ex and that was already the moment me (and i believe a lot of others) thought she is the culprit. i only stepped away from that idea because i thought it would be too easy and waited for more to be revealed. all their nonsense romantic scenes were just random and i didn't care, i wanted to know the damn case not them taking a vacation 😒 there was not enough suspension around the case and way too much unnecessary romance. imo they also had no chemistry and it was quite uncomfortable to watch. i also didn't like raik's character but that's another topic.
i find there could've been great ways to tell the story, start with a trial where his ex is in hearing for murder (when we already know it's her anyways), then roll it backwards, make raik more suspicious, add actual conflict and make him seem guilty so sena and the viewer don't know could it be him after all. i found it super lame that he was just innocent the entire time and I didn't even doubt for a second that it was him. the end was also rushed, no trial... i felt robbed. sorry to say, i also found it particularly disappointing that the death was an accident, no one was actually evil here, all just broken, idk that made it even flatter...also the last episode was the worst, i just skipped through it. we never gotten to know what actually was her dad's story so i didn't care they retrial his case... if they talked about it in one of their many romancy talks, then sorry, i missed it, i skipped those.
also when they tried to figure out the password to that cloud, why didn't her tec guy friend help? maybe i missed that too, idk. that was just really random and dragging. it also didn't make sense to me that nobody asked about that earring before. was there no dna on that earring? did they check? that was seemingly so random that raik accidentally saw the earring and knew the culprit. bro could've easily saved us 9 episodes had they asked him about it earlier lmao.

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Worst storyline and acting

This south korean drama is very poor script writting and film direction. Poor actor and actress choosing. This drama dialogues are very bad.

One of the biggest problems is the **weak and inconsistent storyline**. The show introduces interesting ideas about fame, control, and the music industry, but it never explores them properly. Scenes feel disconnected, as if they exist only to provoke reactions rather than move the plot forward. Instead of building tension or emotional investment, the narrative jumps around and leaves the audience confused or bored.

Another major issue is **poor character development**. Characters lack clear motivations and emotional growth. The protagonist is presented as complex, but the writing rarely shows her inner struggles in a meaningful way. Side characters feel underused and shallow, making it hard to care about their actions or outcomes. When characters don’t feel real, even dramatic moments lose their impact.

The drama is also heavily criticized for its **overuse of explicit content**. Mature themes can be powerful when they serve the story, but in *The Idol*, they often feel unnecessary and excessive. Many scenes appear included purely for shock value, not to deepen characters or themes. This distracts from the message and makes the show feel exploitative rather than artistic.

Additionally, the **tone of the drama is unbalanced**. It tries to be a psychological thriller, a critique of fame, and an erotic drama all at once, but it doesn’t blend these elements smoothly. As a result, the show lacks focus and emotional clarity. Viewers are left wondering what the drama actually wants to say.

Lastly, the **dialogue and pacing** are major weaknesses. Conversations often feel unnatural, and episodes drag without meaningful progression. Even strong visuals and music cannot save a story that lacks substance.

In the end, many people consider *The Idol* a bad drama because it prioritizes style and controversy over storytelling, character depth, and emotional honesty. Without a strong narrative core, shock alone is never enough to create a truly good drama.

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Female lead is just not it for me

It's meh,
The whole idol x fan is my least favorite dynamic, so really not my thing to begin with.

I had also such a hard time feeling the female lead. In my opinion, she's just not it, the story and whole kdrama would have been fine if they worked more on her character,
Like what was ep 4 all about... depression bc of someone's dating life, he doesn't even know u exist, I dont think these behaviours should be normalised,
Not to mention her obsession over Ra ik made her act so unconsiderate/rude towards literally her guy best friend...
She was giving me girl boss vibe, undependant woman... like how i usually like the fl to be, but they ruined it with that aspect.

Other than that, it's just okay. Not really bad, but nothing stands out for me.

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Not a mystery lover but this is an exception

I'm not a mystery lover. Most of the times, I find them hard and confusing to follow with all these law processes and difficult positions. But this one really stood out. First, I have to say that as a fangirl, I particularly enjoyed all the scenes that had to do with her fangirling habits of watching Do Laik's clips, buying merch, streaming and all. It was very sweet!

The ML fit the role extremely. I loved him as an idol, especially after watching him in "Her private life" where he played a known actor. He's very charismatic and cute and I was rooting for him the entire time! He deserved the justice!

The FL was sweet and reasonable, definitely one of the times a female persona really stood out for me. And even though they had seen each other as kids, I loved how we missed the whole "been childhood friends who lost each other on the way" that seems to be the case for almost any kdrama nowadays.

Generally, I am a person who predicts the endings of shows. But this wasn't the case for this one, which surprised me pleasantly! They managed to maintain my interest till the end and have me wondering over who the culprit may be! Overall, very nice series with lovable leads.

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A realistic representation of Idol life, but what else?

The drama excels on multiple fronts: Characters, meaningful story. Well-made love story with good chemistry between Sooyoung and Kim Jaeyeong, but is there anything else? Not much!

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad drama, but they couldn't stick to the standard they set. The last 2 episodes were good in general if you can ignore the ridiculous mistakes the writer made.

Before I mention the negatives, I want to list all the positives.

The premise of the show is good, there aren't many Kdramas where we get authentic representation of celebrity life and fan culture. In many cases it's sugarcoated, but not here. They showed us all the ups and downs of being popular. This and the connection between the two main characters remained just as good as it was in the beginning. I have to praise the writer for creating nuanced characters with flaws, because even the so-called "villains" of the story were up to their part. Every actor gives their all. The directing and the cinematography was good, even though I didn't like everything editing wise, because some parts could've been done better. The soundtrack is also great.

I loved that Sena didn't change drastically throughout the season. Her character development wasn't huge, but she definitely grew up a bit. Or more like she has become more courageous. As for Raik, he has been through so many things since he was a little kid. He didn't get much help from anyone, and that showed. His character showcased what happens when you don't have anyone around you who you can truly trust and who wants to see your true self.

I'm also glad they didn't do the same old love triangle plot with Sena, Raik and Chungjae, who was also a nicely done character. Just like Sena's boss, Gwangsu who was basically her second dad. We didn't get much screen-time with him, because Kim Won Hae was too busy.

Lastly the "villain". Byeong Gyun as one of the bullies of Sena in the school, and now her opposition in the court room is probably the most predictable part of the story. To be honest, I would've loved it if he stayed the same, because I don't really believe in second chances, let alone multiple ones, but overall, I was pleased with his character.

The main plot of the story is that Raik is the main suspect of killing his bandmate, Wooseong. The writer developed this story well till episode 10. Usually I can figure out who's the real killer fast, but here, I've had multiple suspects.

Now, look at the negatives:

Sadly, they messed up the crime story a bit before the finale. The problem isn't with the culprit, it's the fact that how the whole thing happened. As usual, they found every clue at the last minute, and it didn't make any sense. The first clue was the ear-piercing, and I was okay with this till I realized something. If that was one of the evidence against him, why have we never seen it before? Didn't the police mention it before? How can a lawyer ignore it? Why did Sena never do any research about it? The other clue was Wooseong's recordings on his phone and the most ridiculous one is the morse code in his music.

I'm sorry, but if someone dies, the first thing the police do is go through their phone. Even if they can't find it, because Hyejoo probably threw it somewhere, they could've done the same thing Sena and Raik did. Hack into his cloud storage, and they didn't have to listen to all his music to find the password. Not to mention, Sena's best friend is a hacker, so I don't understand why they didn't ask him to help.

This was the worst part of the main story, because Hyejoo being obsessed like a crazy fan is nothing surprising. We've seen the clues for this from the beginning.

The other problem with the show is that we barely see any courtroom scenes. Okay, this isn't really a full-on legal drama, but it's about a lawyer, and we've never seen her defending Raik, not to mention her dad's case. Raik's case was solved thanks to the new evidence, but we never got to know what happened with her dad's. They solved everything so fast or just ignored it in the last two episodes.

Do we have to see Sena winning the case for her father? We can argue about this, but I think we should've, because it was one of the main story. This was the thing that made her a lawyer, but we never got to see her win and the prosecutor fall on his sword who didn't care about who's the actual killer.

So, overall this is a pretty good drama with the same old mistakes Kdrama writers usually make if they include crime in their story.

If you can accept these negatives, it's definitely worth your time.

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Idol-I: I for Intuition.

Major spoiler: I mention the culprit among other spoilers in the drama
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If I did not know the gist of the drama beforehand, I would have thought I was getting something light and easy. The lead names alone screamed romcom, and the wordplay was funny enough to lower my guard. Then the end of episode 1 hit, and suddenly we were dealing with mystery, grief, anxiety, and how lonely and suffocating idol life could be.

Maybe it helped that I binge-watched this, but pacing-wise, it was okay for me than it did for those who watched while it was airing. I thought the story moved steadily without dragging until the end. I appreciated that they did not cram all the happiness into the last five minutes just to check a box.

Raik’s emotional journey was the backbone of the drama. We watch him navigate fame, guilt, suspicion, and the weight of being constantly watched, and in some points, it was sad to witness. I do think that the drama does a good job of showing why his on-stage versus off-stage self are different without overdoing it. It did not excuse his mistakes, but it also allowed us to understand where he was coming from. The same goes as well to the other characters. By the time the mystery deepens, we are already invested in him as a person, not just a suspect nor as an idol alone.

Early on, my expectations for the drama were already set. I had the idea that the drama focus will lean more towards Raik's emotional healing process and idol life than the mechanics of Raik’s case even though technically everything revolved around the case, so I stopped expecting a strong procedural script. I expected an emotional mystery instead, and in that sense, I was right.

With this expectation, the murder mystery itself became an okay. Not groundbreaking, but engaging enough to keep me guessing. I liked that it did not tunnel-vision on one mysterious culprit. The constant shifting of suspicion among characters we already knew kept things tense, and it made the investigation feel messy in a realistic, entertaining way. There was also this sense that solving the case was dangerous in itself and sometimes unfair, which added weight to the story.

However, I do admit that it was hard ignore how many basic investigative steps were skipped, though I was generous in letting that slide because of my set expectations. The very simple things that could've ended this drama on episode 2 were the DNA checks on door handle and the earring. Even if I assume they did check and just did not show it, the flashbacks themselves made it hard to believe the crime scene was spotless. The culprit was frantic and emotional, she was very far from careful. That earring alone should have been enough to crack things open earlier. All Raik had to do was go back to his apartment and the case would have unraveled much faster.

Where the show gets more interesting, and more uncomfortable, is its take on fangirling. Sena was meant to represent the healthier end of admiration, even if the drama sometimes undermined her professionalism to get there. Her fangirling slipped into her work more than it should, and I did find myself frustrated that she did not always act like the capable lawyer she was introduced as. She took on Raik’s case after reading his expression and decided to trust him because, as a 10-year fan, "he doesn't know how to act" was enough to convince her. While I understood the narrative purpose of giving Raik someone who believed in him, I did not love that her decision relied so heavily on intuition and personal guilt (about her father) rather than evidence. Afterall, she is a lawyer who works with facts, not intuition. But then again, she is also human.

In contrast, the ex-girlfriend felt close to a sasaeng. What initially looked like concern and longing on her part gradually revealed itself as obsession. The drama made it clear how "love" could rot when it turned into entitlement and obsession. Everything she said was designed to corner Raik into believing she was what he needed, and would hurt both of them if they aren't together. As her arc unfolded, we come to understand that her relationship with Raik turned parasocial and toxic, which I then questioned whether the love they once shared was ever even real. Watching her justify cruelty, surveillance, and control in the name of love was uncomfortable.

This is where the drama becomes ironic. It spent so much time showing fans how important it is to respect boundaries and recognize idols as human beings with private lives, and how it affects them mentally. Yet, the story ultimately framed a fan as Raik’s emotional and legal savior. At the same time, the culprit was written with sasaeng-like behavior, while the two sasaengs who caused repeated harm faced barely any real consequences and even had character glow-up in the end. I would have liked to see genuine accountability instead of a few scoldings and a glow-up. The way it plays out almost reinforces the idea that fans are the loyal constants. I do not think this was the intention, and viewers with common sense will understand the moral the drama was aiming for, but the narrative choice was still disappointing, especially given how many more challenging and thoughtful directions the story could have taken.

On a lighter note, I appreciated how the side characters parts were handled. No ridiculous filler arcs, and no unnecessary love triangles blowing things up for the sake of drama. The second male lead understood where he stands and respected boundaries. The prosecutor and the policeman, frustrating as they were at first, actually grew and chose truth over power, which was nice. Even Raik’s group was given enough focus to remind us how they also had their own struggles on how isolating idol life can be for others involved, not just for Raik.

The romance itself was fine. It is there, it develops naturally enough, but it is not the point. For me, it works best to be understood as part of Raik’s healing. After everything else was resolved, we witness his emotional growth after one final one-on-one scene with the ex-girlfriend. Finally, her words no longer had power over him. Sena, meanwhile, remains the same person she was, just no longer held back by her past. She's then balancing her appeal for her father’s case, her fangirling, and being Raik’s lover.

Idol I is far from perfect. Some parts could have been fleshed out more, especially given how heavy the themes are. But for a 12-episode drama, it did enough to tell what it was meant to tell.

Not a masterpiece, but a grounded watch.

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An Inside Look at the Harsh Truth of Idol Culture: Good Drama but Something Was Missing

I personally love stories set in the entertainment industry since I’m myself a former …(not an idol, no. Do not get any ideas. I will simply omit my profession here that had me working backstage to avoid my friends finding this page, haha).

In any case, this is not supposed to be any kind of teasing, but since I worked in entertainment for a bit, I have my own ideas about celebrity dramas. The key takeaway here is that I think up until this particular drama, we have only had watered-down versions of dramas about the actual issues celebrities face.

Idol I is an honest and raw take on the topic, which I really appreciated. I have been waiting for Kim Jae Yeong for years to get this kind of role. He’s a talented actor, and he deserves all the love he’s getting for the role of Do La Ik. He’s given us some superb acting here. I have seen some reviews online saying that the acting was subpar.

I disagree.

I do think that, as far as chemistry goes between Kim Jae Yeong and Choi Soo Young, it wasn’t anything special. Nothing like I’ve seen from other dramas, but it also wasn’t bad. I did not doubt their romance for a second as I watched the drama. They both did their job well, and I absolutely did not feel that it was flat or underdeveloped or anything in particular was wrong with their relationship. If anything, perhaps they could have had more moments together, but again, this is a fault in the script, not acting.

If you see others complaining online that the acting and the chemistry are not great, ignore it. Do not let it stop you from checking it out. Just watch it and decide for yourself.

I think the biggest issue with this drama was actually the script because it has given us an organic, slow-burning romance and great character development, but it failed in the aspect of the mystery surrounding the murderer. I think writers should have approached it differently. The investigation bits needed to be amplified. The court scenes should have been added. And the forensics… I was baffled. Does the CSI team in Korea not exist at all? One sweep of the forensics team would have found either fingerprints or other DNA traces of the actual murderer in the apartment. I think this part needed to be approached with more care when it came to writing. And I think this is what's missing from the show.

Overall, I enjoyed the approach to the exploration of the effect of early fame and being a childhood star on a person’s wellbeing, in particular, mental health. This is not discussed enough. And I think writers were very honest with Do La Ik’s character, not making him into a saint, but actually making him a person with his own demons and his own flaws. Which only made his healing journey of self-discovery more meaningful. Writers did Maeng Se Na’s character dirty by not including her own story into the drama properly. It was basically left as an afterthought for the last episode. Introducing her own fight for justice early on would have been better.


However, despite its flaws, this is still a really good drama that talks about the real price of fame.


Some of my personal notes on the (ridiculous) online controversy.

I believe people complaining about a romance drama between an idol and a fan should really not watch Asian romantic drama. Period. Fiction is fiction. Real life is real life. If you cannot differentiate between the two and constantly try to apply fictional scenarios to real life, you should not be consuming romantic fiction. Additionally, fiction also exists to explore topics and show us some truths that are hidden behind the glamour of stardom.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this scenario because this is an extremely popular romantic trope. I don’t know why this is such a big deal for those who are watching not from the west but celebrity/regular person romantic fiction. Here is extremely popular and no one bats an eye. When we discuss romance between a celebrity and a fan in the realm of fiction, it's all about the power dynamics. When the power dynamics are not even, this tips the scales. However, here our characters actually have known each other since they were teens, since before both of them were successful adults, and the power dynamics between them is pretty even. As far as social standing, they are actually on the same level. Just because one of them is a celebrity does not make the other one less. She is an attorney (perhaps a better, more well respected and high earning job then an singer) and her own person. The situation would be different when one of them were a celebrity and the other—a suga baby who needed saving. I would complain about this scenario. You can be someone's fan and date them. As a matter of fact, you should be a fan of the person you're dating. That's how you support your loved one.

So, I’d say the snowflakes complaining about this being a taboo should check themselves or stop watching K-dramas. Or better yet-get a life. Just as Maeng Se Na said in the show, you support your idols from a distance and wish them well. That makes you a true fan. But if you think you own that person because you invest money in them, by buying merch and attending a show, that's not support. That's delusion.

Also, there are a lot of other idol/fan dramas, so criticizing this particular one seems strange.

I, in general, do not understand idol culture or why it's a requirement for them in Asia to stay single. This has never been something important here in the West. People ship their idols with their loved ones, or whoever they are dating, and that's normal.

Everyone deserves to have their private life. I don’t understand why two single people of age seen together is called a dating scandal. I know it’s an Asian only thing so I always adjust my expectations when I watch Asian dramas, but I think this drama showed us exactly why this culture is toxic and perhaps reasons why this needs to change.

To sum this up, just watch the show. It's not perfect and it does feel like it's missing something, at least for me. And I think after finishing it up, I understand what. I wanted more on the police investigation and courtroom politics. And this part was skipped, which I think made it a little bit less intense that I expected. But the acting is great, the character development is great, the romance is solid and the premise is fresh. It does make you think about certain things. Watch it with an open mind. A lot of people who loved it. You might love it too.

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More than a murder mystery

Idol I starts as a mystery but slowly reveals itself to be something much more layered — a story about power, control, and what happens when people are treated as commodities instead of humans.

At its core, this drama is about Ra-ik: a boy pulled into the industry under deeply questionable circumstances, shaped by contracts signed without his consent, and surrounded by people who benefit from his silence. The murder mystery is compelling, but what stayed with me most was how easily the system was willing to let him take the fall.

The early episodes deliberately overwhelm the viewer with suspects, and while the pacing can feel slow at times, it becomes clear this is intentional. The drama isn’t asking us to solve the crime quickly, but to question who benefits when the truth stays buried. When the reveal finally comes, it feels earned and emotionally grounded rather than sensational.

Ra-ik and Maeng Se-na’s relationship is the emotional anchor of the series. Their bond grows quietly, rooted in care, communication, and mutual respect rather than dramatic declarations. Watching Ra-ik learn what real love looks like — and what it doesn’t — is one of the most satisfying arcs of the show.

Se-na’s journey is equally compelling. From emotional suppression to choosing to confront her past and defend those she cares about, her growth is handled with sensitivity. Her fangirl moments in the finale are not only funny, but symbolic — she’s no longer ashamed of who she is or what she loves.

The supporting cast adds depth rather than noise. The prosecutor’s arc, in particular, stands out — choosing integrity over ambition instead of repeating his father’s mistakes. It’s a quiet but meaningful form of growth.

The finale opts for peace and freedom over spectacle. While I would have liked more time spent on Se-na’s father’s retrial, the ending still feels emotionally complete. Idol I isn’t just about solving a murder — it’s about reclaiming agency, breaking free from control, and finally being able to breathe.

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