Idol I

The failure of this drama was the direction.

==Breakdown==
Background plot- 65%
Romance - 30%
Misc comedy - 5%

Background plot - Pretty good
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - None to mention / speak of
Production value - Pretty good
Direction / editing - Not great

The casting for this was quite good, and the story wasn't bad (it was also quite good). The script was also good. The failure of this drama was the direction. Some of the direction choices were, quite frankly, terrible, which led to problems in pacing and characterization.

Scenes that should've been short were drawn out for no reason and scenes that might've increased tension and viewer interest were glossed over and rushed.

However, despite the poor direction choices, the actors still shined. I can only attribute this to their natural chemistry and insane talent.

Overall, this was worth a watch for the story and actors. You will have to fast-forward quite a bit, but there are some scenes that are gems, especially between the two leads.

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A brave look that falls short of its darkest potential.

"My Idol" starts with a necessary and courageous premise: to expose the harsh and dehumanizing reality behind the K-pop industry. The drama successfully portrays how these artists are treated as disposable commercial products, subjected to constant pressure, obsessive fans, depression, and the complete erosion of their mental health under the relentless public eye. This exploration is the series' greatest achievement, reminding us that behind the glamour are vulnerable human beings.

The structure that combines this social critique with a murder mystery works well initially. The crime investigation serves as an effective vehicle for both protagonists, helping Maeng Se Na uncover the true face of the industry from a fan's perspective, revealing the tragic consequences of this system. However, it is precisely in the development where the drama loses some of its initial bite.

While it started strong with a raw perspective, it ended up embracing a conventional romantic cliché: the protagonist ends up with the idol. While this isn't inherently bad, and the romance is entertaining, this resolution softens the sharp impact of the critique it had so effectively established, diluting its disruptive potential in favor of a more "safe" ending.

The biggest point of frustration, however, lies in the subplots that were left unfinished and had enormous potential:

Kang Woo Seong, his relationship with the protagonist hinted at a deeper layer. It would have been revolutionary and realistic to explore the taboo of homosexuality in the K-pop industry, a practically invisible topic that would have added a layer of brutal tragedy and truth. Hong Hye Joo, reducing her complexity to a simple diagnosis of "emotional instability" was a poor choice. Her character deserved a deeper dissection of her traumas and motivations. Prosecutor Kwak Byung Gyun, his arc of paternal pressure and guilt for convicting innocent people was fascinating, but it was resolved hastily, without delving into the psychological and moral impact of his actions.

Conclusion: "My Idol" is an entertaining and romantic drama that deserves credit for exposing the darker side of the Korean entertainment industry. It works perfectly as light entertainment with a touch of mystery. However, it can't shake the feeling of missed opportunity. By opting for a more conventional path and not delving deeper into its bolder subplots, it remains a good idea that could have been exceptional. Recommended viewing for those seeking entertainment, but with the caveat that its social commentary, while present, isn't as incisive as it initially promises.

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Nothing Burger

While looking for a contemporary drama to break up the costume ones I've been chugging, I skipped down my watch list to IDOL I.

I want to say the positive things first.

I really liked the way the show looked. There was clearly a visual vision in every episode. There was some editing and camerawork that made a good impression of me and honestly had me hyped at the start of the show.

The acting is also amazing. Sooyoung has been an icon for decades at this point and she's never been in a truly bad drama. I loved seeing her play this confident woman with hidden duality. Kim Jae-young isn't as well known to me but he did a great job getting his emotions across, and he did such a good job that I totally forgot that he was a grown ass man who was older than Sooyoung.

Now the not so good stuff.

This show is a murder mystery that also seeks to tackle the pitfalls of idol culture, parasocialism, and even government corruption???

Bruh. they shoulda stuck to one thing.

The murder mystery is a jumbled up mess that's easily predictable and inconsistent throughout the whole story. The show will give you a clue that tells you one thing about the crime and then reveal the actual events were the complete opposite of what they told you. Other clues will give you the answer basically immediately.

This drama goes out of its way to show how awful Sasaeng fans are…. but they just get slaps on the wrist multiple times and technically never learn their lessons because they are STILL following the guy around by the end.

The cause of the most grief for kpop idols aren't just the bold fans who physically invade their privacy or bombard their phones, its regular faceless fans who make up the bulk of a fandom and will tear any idol apart for any perceived weakness.

This show expects me to be comfortable with a FL who expressed disappointment when she heard about our ML having a dating scandal and perked back up when he denied the relationship. We later find out the relationship was real and he did have strong feelings for the 2nd FL.

Watching a fan fall in love with an idol she's supposed to be defending, just felt icky. I think I would have liked it better if this show had no romance.

Speaking of the 2nd FL. Women chasing a man who has either shown them NO romantic interest OR has made it clear that they DON'T want a relationship is MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE. I can't stand it, and this drama offers a big helping of the jealous 2nd FL trope. It's annoying and awful and I hate it. Girl I know you're crazy 🤪 or whatever but have some respect for yourself.

I also had a huge issue with the corruption bits. It was so frustrating to watch a drama that thought I was dumb enough to believe that prosecutors doing their job was like a miracle. 2nd ML has so many dumb scenes with his dad where they're like “why are you doing your job? Make shit up!” It was so dumb, and I hated the way this whole thing connected to our (dadless) ORPHAN FL.

Also EVERYONE in this thing is like the WORST person ever to our ML once he gets accused. Every sad backstory you could think of for an idol, bros got it.

I didn't care for the musical bits but I was having fun at the beginning before the romantic bits started up. I know that its only 12 episodes but I was so frustrated watching the ML start questioning the FL about the men in her life… like dude, it's none ya business AND I think you got more important things to worry about? lol anyways, I'm never gonna rewatch. 5/10 no drama.

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I'M HEAD OVER HEELS

Idol was a really good drama. I enjoyed how Ra-ik’s innocence was proven and how genuinely good Se-na was to him. Overall, the drama is worth watching; however, the last four episodes were not very engaging for me. Maybe I was distracted, but I loved the rest of it. This was not a slow burn per se—it was more complex, with romance developing alongside the main plot. Also, Ra-ik was extremely attractive in this drama; he was pure eye candy. Soo-young was fine in it, and I liked her character.

Lastly, I think there should be a new K-drama just for Chungjae. His character has a lot of potential: someone with a bad, rebellious past who is finally financially independent and able to find his own partner and fall in love with someone who can heal him in some way. No matter how tough he acts, he still needs someone. The cool hacker-detective vibe—especially on a motorcycle—is very attractive. He could easily carry his own storyline, and I would love to see him as a main lead.


before finishing the drama, my thoughts below lol

I’m so glad Kim Jae-yeong is finally getting the recognition he deserves by starring in this drama. He looks criminally good, like genuinely deliciously attractive, and I swear I’m completely head over heels for him.

I’m also really loving this whole concept of the girl “fixing” him. I honestly don’t get why people are being so hypocritical about it, acting like “a girl should never fix a guy”—please, boo hoo. kdrama male leads ALWAYS save the girls, so why not? We literally saw it earlier in *Head Over Heels*, with Seong-ah saving Gyeon-u, and now we have Se-na and Do-ra-ik. I’m obsessed.

Se-na is such a badass, and the dynamic between her and Do-ra-ik is just beautiful. The drama has this bittersweet vibe that hits you right in the feels—it genuinely makes me tear up in every episode. I’m so in love with this story and these characters.

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went in with no expectations ...

and came out really happy that i started this! it was my first kdrama after a long stint of cdramas instead, having struggled to find something to capture my attention recently. the premise seemed interesting enough, and i figured i had nothing to lose in starting it.

the mystery aspect kept me engaged and prevented the show from feeling like another idol x fan drama. the shared backstory between the characters was also interesting though it's very much one of those things that would "only happen in the movies" (aka is it possible for all those coincidences to happen in real life? not impossible but certainly difficult). nonetheless, a drama is always more enjoyable if you don't think too much about all the little things.

the music was also great! i wish gold boys were an actual group because i would very much be a fan of their music 😂 both sooyoung and kim jaeyeong also did fantastic in their respective roles. the supporting cast was wonderful as well.

all in all, things seemed to tie together nicely and i'm glad they didn't drag it on to be a 16-episode drama. definitely happy with how it played out!

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Pure Enjoyment From Start To Finish

I'm a bit surprised at some of the negative reviews. I really found this series to be great in every way. It gives you all angles from the two main protagonists. I think the two actors in this are perfectly cast. Not only do they fit the parts so well, you can feel the chemistry building between the two as you get deeper and deeper into the drama. When Se Na has her first encounter with Laik, anyone who has idolized someone from a far, you know exactly what she's feeling. Soo Young delivers it so well.
Jae Yeong is also fantastic as "The Idol". He makes you feel so much empathy for his character. Someone who had it all and in the blink of an eye, everything disappears overnight. He keeps you rooting for him throughout each episode.
I think what's a rare thing in this series, some of the antagonists in this story, that you really find hatred for early on, do a turn around and show some decency in their character, especially as you get toward the final episodes.
The one thing I always a negative in most series, is when time skips forward as you get toward a conclusion. Where you see that caption "one year later" ... right away I thought, oh boy, they just ruined it. But somehow the writing does a great job at keeping things in perspective. It doesn't turn out to be a negative after all and the final episode it truly an enjoyable sixty minutes right till the end. They keep a blend of drama with a touch of light comedy mixed in.
There's a line used at one point of the series that definitely explains a major story line of this drama ... "Sometimes people's hearts are hard to see, even when they're right beside you"
Excellently written and brilliantly performed drama!

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When two worlds collide

Idol I really surprised me in the best way. What struck me most is how relatable and honest the fangirl world feels: it doesn’t romanticise fandom, but shows the emotional investment, quiet devotion, and the constant balance between passion and reality, and as someone who knows that world, I felt seen more than once.
The story blends mystery, legal drama, and romance without losing its emotional core, especially as the female lead’s two identities collide and force her to face both her professionalism and her feelings. The pressure of public opinion, the loneliness of defending someone already judged, and the focus on trust,in truth, in oneself, and in the person behind the public image, all feel grounded and earned. It also helps that Kim Jae Yeong is always a pleasure to watch, and this just made me want to see him in more romcoms.
In the end, this drama feels intimate, thoughtful, and surprisingly comforting, portraying fandom as something deeply human and meaningful, and it stayed with me far more than I expected

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I like the mystery more than the romance :)

Unlike many comments I read, I actually liked this drama for the mystery more than the romance. It was quite well done because it kept me hooked and I honestly couldn't guess till the end. Was she my suspect? Yes! But so was their CEO and the manager at some point in time. That is exactly what a mystery show is supposed to do - make you question everyone.

I also like how they don't delve deeper into her father's case because unjust or not, no court is going to let you comes 10+ years later and ask for retrial. There's a reason we have the law of limitations. I like when shows are practical more than idealistic in certain themes, law being one of them. I have nothing against creative freedom otherwise. Maybe it's because I'm a lawyer?

I like the subtle romance, great music and a wholesome plot. Yes, things could've been better and the plot could've been tighter. But I like how nothing felt weird at any point to me. I also like the last episode. A fresh take on showing life after and not just ending it there.

Overall, a really nice watch. :)

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As a K-pop fan, this felt like a hug!

I think they really managed to make this drama feel like a proper comfort watch, nothing overwhelming, nothing awkward, and thankfully no cringe around the fan-idol dynamic, which I was honestly worried about going in. It was genuinely nice to sit back and just enjoy it.

It was really good to see Kim Jae Yeong finally getting the recognition he deserves. Both Choi Soo Young and Kim Jae Yeong handled their characters beautifully. You could clearly see the depth they brought in, and honestly, no doubts there, they’re both solid actors. Soo Young as Maeng Se Na was especially inspiring. Her passion, her dedication towards her work and life in general felt really motivating to watch.

One thing I truly loved was how the drama showed the positive impact of K-pop. The way music and idol groups can push you forward, how your biases can keep you motivated on days when you feel low, that part felt really personal and beautiful. We’ve seen quite a few dramas based on idols before, but this felt fresh. It focused more on how music and fandom can quietly support people rather than turning it into something unrealistic or dramatic.

Yes, there were a few plot holes towards the end, but honestly, they were easy to overlook because overall the drama remained a warm and enjoyable watch. The pacing was alright, the OSTs were amazing, and everything flowed nicely.

As for the romance between the main leads - it was cute, funny, and never over the top. The chemistry was definitely there, and the actors did a great job making it feel natural. Safe to say, it gave me butterflies!

The supporting characters were also really well written. I especially liked the prosecutor’s character arc, his development felt meaningful and helped the story move forward. In fact, every character had some form of growth, which made the drama feel nicely wrapped up by the end.

As a K-pop fan myself, I can confidently say this drama feels like a hug. It wasn’t perfect in every aspect, but I genuinely loved it from beginning to end.

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Not the worst I've seen, but...

I had high hopes for this one and was sadly disappointed.

Story: Did they have multiple writers working in different rooms and then just merge all their ideas together? This seriously seemed like it didn't know what it wanted to be. The murder mystery was full of red herrings, but I just didn't care. Then, when we FINALLY find out what happened, it was so anticlimactic! There was so much that made no sense - the ease of the toxic fans getting into his apartment. The leads realized they met when they were in school, but he was older than her, yet in current times, she seems so much older than him. Throw in some romance, but don't develop it properly. The ending was so flat. Yet another sow with the obligatory time jump. Why?!?!? And in that year, did they have no contact with one another?

Acting: The actors were good, except maybe for the 2FL. She was not believable. The leads are both very attractive, but he didn't seem charismatic enough to carry the lead.

Chemistry: Some good kisses, and they were cute together (in the brief times we saw them interacting with one another), but she just seemed too old for him to me

This was one of those shows that I was counting down how many episodes I had left before I was done so I could move on.

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