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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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Finding Warmth in the Shadows of Failure
In a world obsessed with success stories and "making it big," Idol I is a gentle, somewhat bittersweet reminder of the beauty found in the struggle itself. It doesn’t try to paint the K-pop industry with golden brushes, instead, it sits with you in the dimly lit practice rooms and the quiet moments of despair.What moved me about this drama wasn't the glitz of the stage, but the exploration of "failure." It asks a hauntingly beautiful question: What happens when you give your all, and it’s still not enough? The writing captures that fragile line between holding on to a dream and the courage required to let it go. While the plot follows a familiar trajectory, its heart lies in the dignity it gives to those who are often forgotten in the shadows of the spotlight.
The drama shines brightest in its portrayal of human connection. The bond between the members isn't just about teamwork, it’s about survival. There is a profound warmth in seeing characters comfort one another when the world seems to have moved on. Even when the pacing felt slow or the tropes felt "average,” the emotional sincerity of the cast kept me grounded. It’s a story about finding family in the midst of a professional storm.
The music serves as the heartbeat of this journey, not just as pop songs, but as cries for recognition. While the drama has its flaws and occasionally stumbles into melodrama, it left me reflecting on my own "unmet goals" with a bit more kindness.
Idol I is a cozy yet melancholic watch. It’s for those nights when you feel a little lost and need to know that your worth isn’t defined by a trophy or a chart topping hit. It may be an "average" drama in terms of production beats, but its soul is remarkably human. It’s a slow dance with reality, imperfect, a bit sad, but ultimately worth the time.
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A mess of a script.
Once again I asked myself "how should I rate this drama?" I tend to feel like that when there are elements in a drama that have really annoyed me.The answer became clear when I finally gave up on episode 9, not interested anymore on reaching the end.
Honestly the script was so unintelligent that I wondered who was the target audience. Plotholes all over the place, the villain characters cartoonishly evil that was almost laughable, and the romance for me was not romancing enough to save the series.
Among all this, Choi Sooyoung's acting was the only thing I enjoyed. Her character had such an interesting background, a devastating past which had my eyes welling up when they occasionally mentioned it.
Her dad's case was the reason I kept watching, but when I reached ep9 and they were still dealing with the "evil" CEO and the "evil" prosecution I was finally fed up.
Overall, this drama is not for people that enjoy intelligent or even semi-intelligent scripts. I really wanted to like this, but when I kept spending my time wanting to skip scenes and frowning with the badly written story, no amount of Choi Sooyoung's intriguing acting could make me stick around for more.
I had so many thoughts (not good ones) while watching the episodes but now that I'm writing this I don't know what to say anymore.
Anyway, this series was not for me and that's about it.
I gave it 4.5 for the acting and ok directing but story based it's not even a 2.
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A breath of fresh air
An intelligent, well-conceived K-drama. It’s so nice to see a FL depicted as a mature, no-nonsense professional. Even though she has a few quirks and a lighter side, the FL maintains her integrity and dignity throughout.The ML, has a messier life. But he, too, comes across as a fully formed human being.
As for the acting, both leads display a range of emotions through subtle expressions and body language that add depth and nuance to their characters.
Only the best actors can keep this up without missing a beat. These two pull it off with skill and consistency. Luckily, they’re helped along by a well-written, polished script and excellent camera work. Really liked it.
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What starts with a murder and ends with a singalong?
Taken as a whole, it is a decent rom-com. However, if we look closer, we soon find cracks.The show starts quite angsty with a hint of an exposé on the idol industry and (toxic) fandom. An unexpected murder hints at darker motives and conspiracies. Any sign of cuteness evaporated.
As it stands, the law and order subplot is laughable. There is little suspense. The revelation of whodunit towards the end has little impact. The inept police investigation and the "corrupt" prosecution process are groan worthy. They seems to have never heard of forensics. No finger printing, no DNA tests, blood splatters? It is borderline criminal negligence. Are Koreans numb to plots making a mockery of their police and judicial system?
Just to rib salt into the wound, most of the real detective work are done by the protagonist. Good on them, but that's cold comforts.
It is obvious that most of the subplots are there to push our leads together. The breadcrumbs all leads to their eventual HEA ending.
I'm not surprised that the last ep is largely fan service, but I was taken aback by how little substance there is. Did the writer-nim took an early vacay and left it to the intern to wrap things up?
In terms of acting, most actors are in their element. The support cast is largely from central casting. Our leads do look good together. They have chemistry and some nice skinship. Pretty much par for the course.
As a run-of-the-mill rom-com, it is fine. I enjoyed it. Fans of our leads will rejoice. Their romance is nice and cute. Just don't expect a serious crime thriller or any heavy hitting social commentaries.
It feels like an odd choice to start so heavy handedly and then reduce it to a fluffy romp by systematically paving over the darker elements with unicorn pastures. In the end, the rom-com bits are tropey and predictable. The rest feels half baked and tacked on. It is not a bad show, just a little underdone. I like the FL so the show gets an extra 0.5. ;)
One and done. Enough said. Peace.
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The show wants too much and ends up doing nothing.
This is a half-baked idol-romance, mystery-thriller, lawyer-drama and social critique about the terrors of idol reality. Maybe the show wanted too much and failed to deliver... in anything really. This COULD have been good, if the script was better, sharper and had fleshed out their characters more. Aside from the ML, nothing stood out. Actor was really good as well.The best thing about the show are the leads! Their romance was cute, ok, but nothing memorable, sadly.
As usual for mediocre k-dramas we as viewers are assaulted by typical elements like: nonsensical law enforcement, forced second male lead romance, incompetent police officers and overdone childhood-encounters (even though this was ok, I think).
The idea of the show was great, but the script was so mediocre that even the murder plot was as exiting as watching paint dry. I honestly did not see it coming... because it didn't make any sense. There was no backstory here so make it make sense??? There were basically no clues, no motives, it didn't fit the character, whatever. It also got resolved wayyy to easily. Where was the investigation work?
I have no idea why they even bothered with the 2ML romance, it was there for one episode and then never mentioned again (and unnecessary). I caught myself wishing the attorney was the ML because there was more potential for a more interesting love story. At least with a better script writer. Sadly, the chemistry was a bit better with them.
That said, I didn't hate the drama but I didn't love the drama either. Lackluster, but okay.
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Enjoyable watch
overall this was an enjoyable drama for me. The mystery part was interesting enough and kept you guessing until near the end. The behind the scenes life of an idol was very interesting. I like how she saw him differently as a person and as an idol. The leads are both very attractive and had great chemistry. It wasn’t dragged out with excess filler since it was 12 episodes. The SML is one I really like from My Sweet Mobster. All the actors were good and I almost believed the Gold Boys were a real kpop group! I’d definitely recommend this one.Was this review helpful to you?
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A good excuse to be a delulu fangirl
I personally loved this drama more than expected! 😂😂😂It was actually darker than I thought too, especially the first half of the drama. Things got a bit lighter towards the end. This drama didn’t just start good but it landed the plane well too plus it had not a single boring episode! I loved all the twists and turns 😍😍😍 This drama is a must for every Idol fangirl 🥰🥰🥰 But even if you are just a little bit interested in law dramas, this could be fun too!
All in all I definitely recommend this watch!
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I really enjoyed this overall, especially because the leads were so strong. I wasn’t familiar with Kim Jae Yeong at all, but he impressed me here — his scenes dealing with grief, mental health struggles, and being accused of murder were some of the best in the show. He and Choi Soo Young had great chemistry and carried a lot of the emotional weight. I do wish the drama had pushed harder on its critique of obsessive fan culture and media bias. The show touches on how idols are treated as less than human, but it never digs as deeply as it could have. Even so, the performances and core story kept me invested.
Even when the writing gets predictable or overly dramatic and some plot points land flat, the themes and character moments kept it watchable.
2/1/26
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When Chemistry and Music Are Enough
one of those K-dramas best enjoyed when you stop overthinking and simply let it play. The story isn’t meant to be dissected too deeply; instead, it works as a light, comforting watch driven by chemistry and mood. The scenes are visually pleasant, often framed with soft lighting and gentle pacing that suit the idol-world setting. Emotional moments are clear and direct, never demanding too much from the viewer.What really carries the drama is the chemistry between the leads. Their interactions feel natural and easy, making even predictable scenes enjoyable. The OST also does a lot of heavy lifting, enhancing romantic and reflective moments without overpowering them.
At its core, Idol I quietly reminds us about staying true to oneself amid fame, expectations, and public judgment. It’s not groundbreaking, but that’s exactly why it works. Watch this drama to relax, enjoy the music, and appreciate simple storytelling without pressure.
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Best Kiss
Gotta start with the Kiss in episode 10 -- boy that Idol can kiss & his acting partner backs it up -- the kiss is so good that you truly believe that this is fabulous acting -- there is something about the dual that you could never ship them but they acted the crap outta this series -- the premises is also very timely Kim Jae Yeong plays an Idol well & all the angst that accompanies being one -- the hopelessness of having to play for the fans & how quickly the public writes you off -- the reality that not all members of these groups nor the people surrounding them even like or support each other -- the reality once again of the extreme bulling culture in Asian films -- which you can only wonder is it also a real life issue in that country -- The awful fans is one thing but the awful parents is quite another. In all economic classes in this series the children are relentlessly hurt by the parents Choi Soo Young does an excellent job as the pent up lawyer with severe emotional trauma from childhood bulling & losing her parents All around good seriesWas this review helpful to you?
