Idol I

A Heartwarming, Pleasant Surprise

I came into this drama with 0 expectations. Mostly because dramas with idol themes tend to get cringe or childish at some parts.

But the way FL's character was introduced, I think I was hooked. I thought, even if the story turned out to be bad, I could still keep watching because Sooyoung as this "villain lawyer" was so convincing in just less than 10 minutes. Especially the way Kim Won Hae was hyping her up was so endearing to me. He lets her get away with leaving on time instead of being pressured to stay at a gathering which was cool. I already liked their dynamic from the first scene they had together.

Then I watched the first episode. Crazy but despite knowing previous idol-themed dramas tackled similar themes regarding the dark side of the entertainment industry, the way Idol I does it felt so raw, and I had never empathised as much as I did until I saw Kim Jaeyoung's performance as Do Ra-ik. I still remember my first impression of the character. This guy is rude as hell, and for what?? But then again, maybe his staff really did suck. His security sucks big time. No wonder that mf was going around cursing people. And then he got the panic attack. Damn, really felt for him. I couldn't hate him even though in reality, if an idol was exposed having attitude problems, while I don't think I would care to write hate comments, I probably would have believed he had a terrible personality from that short compilation clip. The writers really did their research on how fandom and anti-fandom works.

Anyways, the first few episodes were so good, even though I came into this drama knowing there was a romance tag, the first 3 eps made me think even if they didn't fall for each other, it would still be a good drama. Because beyond lawyer and client, the way they just connected as humans trying to understand each other, was very heartwarming to see. Especially that scene where Sena dusts off his socks, saying they shouldn't give up on the truth for the sake of the people who they lost. Got me bawling actually. Subtle yet powerful performance from the two of them.

Then came episode 4, when Raik saw the note that his lawyer REALLY believed in him. Some lawyers do not actually believe the client, they just need to do their job based on the evidence they find, or lessen the sentence. like his previous lawyer who was assigned to him. All he wanted was for someone to believe in him and Sena gave that to him. I felt touched as much as he did. So I was surprised the next day, after seeing her try to take care of him, Raik showed tiny signs of curiosity towards her relationship with her best friend. Don't tell me he's jealous?? Raik didn't seem like he was interested in anyone but himself, so when he showed interest in his lawyer's relationship with her friend + the prosecutor, suddenly I was thinking, wow jealousy looks good on him! He became so much happier just because he found someone who believed him, him running to her like a puppy while her expression was slightly sad made my heart ache. Suddenly I'm seeing their romantic potential with a tad of angst. I'm such a sucker for romantic potential and these two gave it to me. The hug was quite sudden, I wonder if Raik would hug his lawyer if it wasn't Sena, and I don't think he would have. Him suddenly getting protective in front of the prosecutor and being nosy about their relationship was hilarious to watch. At first I couldn't see how Raik was going to like his lawyer but the transition from having someone believe in him also made me believe his attraction to his lawyer.

The romance was also a pleasant surprise after thinking to myself, they could be better off just lawyer/client and idol/fan. I think it's because Raik's positive growth after liking Sena made me root for them. Sena too, I admired and appreciated her quiet restraint as Raik crossed all kinds of boundaries trying to get her attention. She was professional most of the time, and couldn't help but relent because it's Raik, her idol of all people, being nosy about her personal life. Let me tell you, this was the first time I loved the "she fell first, he fell harder" trope. Because Sena's love for Raik, never felt pathetic (at least, after he became her client)? Her character growth from putting him on a pedestal to just seeing him as human, was very beautiful to watch.

I'm a sucker for subtle romance who never get together in the end because it leaves so much to the imagination, but with Idol I, the two of them were giving "subtle romance" for 9 episodes. They had like one proper romantic interaction for every episode, it made you crave more from them. so it was my first time feeling happy they actually became canon in episode 10. This may be the reason some might find their romance unconvincing, but it was all that I needed to believe they were genuinely in love with each other. Throughout 9 episodes, their skinship was holding hands and 1 hug, most of their emotional bonding came from their deeply human conversations, getting to know each other and comforting each other, so it all felt very rewarding in episode 10 when their feelings become mutual.

Also, the best thing about their romance is that, even after they get together, THEY DON'T BECOME BORING! Some romantic couples suffer from being boring after they get together, like their original personalities suddenly die because they're in love. But not Raik x Sena. I think getting together quite late into the story helped, especially since they got together before the murder plot was solved. So their interactions are still interesting. The final episode with their dating era, was so sweet and adorable to watch. I'm not one to care for overly sweet romance, but with one episode left, Raik x Sena made you appreciate their romance SO much more.

Moving onto the characters, the drama started out with very few characters to root for. But when I tell you I was surprised EVERY character had decent development within the short 12 episodes they were given. The story paid attention to Raik and Sena's character development the most, but I still appreciated how much the other supporting characters grew by the end of the story. Shoutout to Jung Jae Kwang who played Prosecutor Kwak Byung-gyun, who started off terrible, in the middle quite wishy washy coz he was torn between doing the right thing and just following in his father's footsteps, and eventually doing the right thing. Him and the ML probably went through the most drastic changes (positively). Kim Hyun Jin as Chungjae was lovely as Sena's loyal best friend who loved her but eventually moved on and vowed to stay as her best friend, no hard feelings. What a great guy! And the standout was definitely Choi Heejin who played Hong Hyejoo. I wanted to hate her, but I couldn't. Fantastic acting from her. I did think her words for Raik was cruel when they broke up, she didn't have to say all that even if she was forced to breakup with him, but eventually we realize she was in a bad place mentally, so yeah they just weren't very right for each other.

The next best thing is the OSTs! Gold Boys/Raik songs weren't catchy at first listen, but since I wanted to be immersed and understand Sena's fangirl feelings, I found myself listening to the songs on repeat, and I have been obsessed with the songs ever since. They have less English lyrics so it's harder to memorize, but I will keep repeating the songs until I have them memorized. As for non-idol songs, the ballad "To Our Beautiful Past" is definitely the best song out of the OSTs. Such a beautiful duet. And "Everytime I Close My Eyes" that plays whenever Raik thinks about Woosung, had me very teary, especially the funeral scene. The rest of the OSTs matched well with the scenes and while I thought the OST during RaikSena's first kiss scene was generic in terms of melody, the lyrics were very heartfelt.

Now, the negative aspects of the show to me, was just the murder investigation. I had watched an interview where the actors said it has legal aspects but it's not an actual courtroom legal drama so I kept that in mind. Sena didn't get a lot of chance to show off her lawyer skills in the court which was too bad, but it doesn't make me think any less of her skills. HOWEVER, because the legal/murder investigation plot was very thin, it does make the characters who were supposed to be competent, look very bad. The mystery was done well in that it kept me asking not just "Who killed Woosung?" but "What's her relationship with him?" or "What happened to Woosung before he died?" There were little mysteries like that throughout the drama which kept me engaged. But, the killer reveal which was acted very well, made me annoyed because it didn't align with the clues they had given us in the earlier episodes. For example, they said the stab was in one shot, and had no signs of struggle. So it was either a very skilled person with a knife, or someone the victim knew that made them let their guard down. And yet, the reveal was that it was just an accident?? I would have prefered it was planned! But the crime scene was so sloppy, why did the initial investigation not catch the culrpit sooner? I'm just gonna believe the killer's father cleaned up the crime scene and covered up the evidence so the investigation went poorly otherwise I'll be mad.

Final Verdict: If you come into this drama with low expectations, you will enjoy it a LOT. And it's probably better to bingewatch so that you don't waste time thinking of theories but it ends up out the window as soon as the killer is revealed lol. When it comes down to it, this drama feels like a human, healing hurt/comfort drama about two lonely souls who come together, and exploring various characters's relationships related to the murder. And I was very much comforted by these characters, especially Raik, Sena, and the victim, Woosung.

9.5/10 coz I'm biased towards everything but can't give a full 10/10 because of the poor murder investigation. Enjoy!

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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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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 series

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If you love a murder mystery with a subtle romance in the background. Watch it.

I loved how the shows main focus was the murder mystery factor and how the romance was a secondary theme.
I loved Kim Jae Yeong acting in the first few episodes where he was showing the stages of grief.Felt super raw and emotional.
Choi Jae Hui's storyline and everything that happened to him and his feelings of jealousy also really interested me and made me curious.
I loved Park Jung Jae's character.
I surprisingly enjoyed episode 12, it really made sure there was no open endings.

The only thing I slightly disliked was the couple becoming a pair initially did feel a bit pushed into the storyline.

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A great murder-mystery drama

I have no words. This was an incredible journey – from observing the dynamics among the members of Gold Boys to exploring the differences in perception between idol-fan interactions, solving the murder mystery, and following the romance between Ra Ik and Se Na. I had such a wonderful time!

This drama is truly exceptional, and I won’t tolerate any negative remarks about it (LOL).


Honestly, the cast deserves a major shoutout. They did an amazing job. I wasn't familiar with Kim Jae Yeong before, but I'm so glad I got to see his performance. He portrayed Ra Ik's character and emotions beautifully. There were moments when I felt sorry for him, and other times when I wanted to scream at him – this made him feel very human to me.


The same can be said for Choi Soo Young, Choi Hee Jin, and Jung Jae Kwang, all of whom impressed me greatly!


Overall, I think this is a must-watch. It's fun, incorporates good suspense and mystery, features great romantic chemistry, and the story is genuinely moving once you reach the end.

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Great watch.

Loved this series start to finish. Love both
leads Male and female. The acting was first
class The script was fab. Welldone to the writers. Kim Jae-young ML looked like an idol.
The Korean visuals I like. Not like some actors
who lose their asian features and look westernised... I did look at his age and couldn't
believe how young he looks. My other bias was
Jung jae kwang.. Loved the female lead. All round... great series.. Didn't want it to end..
These series are what makes bl dramas super to watch.. We need more like this.. ❤️

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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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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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From the Filming, to the Writing, to the characters to the story - Perfect!

My Rating: 10/10

I haven’t enjoyed a drama this much in a long time.

What really stood out is how unique the overall blend of genres is. It’s not just a romance or an idol drama — it seamlessly weaves together mystery, crime, legal elements, and a grounded look at idol life. That combination alone makes it feel fresh, but what elevates it even further is the execution.

The filming was absolutely stunning. I even looked up who the director was, Lee Gwang Young, the acting and filming were top level. I will be excited to see her other works. There’s a clear artistic vision behind how this drama was shot. Certain scenes — like the nature shots or even simple moments inside Maeng Se-na’s home — felt intentionally composed in a way that made everything look elevated without feeling artificial. It never felt overly filtered or unrealistic, just… expertly captured. Like a photographer who knows exactly how to frame a subject to make it look its best.

It’s the kind of cinematography that makes you notice the direction, not just the story. I actually found myself wanting to look up the director afterward just to see what else they’ve done — and that doesn’t happen often.

I also really appreciated the more grounded portrayal of the industry. Through Do Ra-ik’s experience, the drama doesn’t just show the glamorous side of fame, but also the pressure, lack of privacy, and emotional toll that comes with it. If you’ve seen other works in this space, you can tell there’s a clear interest in showing the reality behind celebrity life rather than just the fantasy. It has elements that reminded me of the Indie film "Time to Be Strong" which I saw on a Delta flight and wish was widely available. These types of films, that show the less glamorous aspects of fame, are important to validate the experience many that choose these paths go through.

On top of that, the pacing and storytelling keep you engaged the entire time. There’s always something unfolding — whether it’s the legal case, the mystery, or the developing relationship — so it never feels slow or dragged out. Kim Da Rin, the screenwriter did an amazing job and I also looked up her other works. If what I saw was accurate this may be her first but I will be paying attention if she does more, because this was an amazing show with great writing.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this and would absolutely watch it again. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys:


Romance
Idol dramas
Mystery/crime
Or especially a strong blend of all of the above

⚠️ Spoilers

This drama did an incredible job keeping me guessing.

From the beginning, I was sure Do Ra-ik wasn’t actually guilty. But beyond that, it constantly shifted where suspicion landed. At first, it really seemed like Choi Jae-hee (the bandmate who was always angry with him and had just fought with him) could be responsible. For a good portion of the show, that felt like the most obvious answer.

Then after Jae-hee's accident, that theory started to fall apart, and attention shifted elsewhere. For a while, it really felt like the truth might lie with someone closer to the situation — possibly even someone unexpected like a female character involved in the case.

At one point, it even made you question whether someone like Lee Young-bin could be behind it all, or if there would be a twist involving someone who seemed neutral — like the “peacemaker” type within the group. That constant shifting is what made the mystery so engaging. It never felt predictable.

Another standout element was how the show handled fan culture.

The obsessive fans around Do Ra-ik were uncomfortable to watch — but in a very real way. The lack of boundaries, the constant surveillance, the physical closeness without consent… it all felt grounded in reality. Anyone who has dealt with that kind of behavior (even on a smaller scale) would recognize how unsettling it is.

One particular fan’s behavior bordered on cringe, Se-na, but it also made more sense once her backstory was revealed — especially the fact that Do Ra-ik had played a role in saving her life. That added a layer of understanding without excusing the behavior.

The relationship between Maeng Se-na and Do Ra-ik was something I really loved. There is a slight gray area with professional ethics early on, since she is initially connected to him in a professional capacity, but the dynamic shifts naturally over time. Much of the emotional progression comes after that boundary is no longer in place, which makes it feel more acceptable and organic.

I also really enjoyed the subplot involving Maeng Se-na’s tenant/friend. His investigative skills were impressive, and the backstory of how she helped pull him out of a life of crime was genuinely heartwarming. It added another layer to her character and showed her impact on others beyond the main storyline.

Now… Do Ra-ik’s mother.

She was honestly a difficult character to watch. The idea that she essentially pushed him into the industry at a young age and shaped his entire life around that choice is hard to ignore. The drama does attempt to frame it later in a more positive light — suggesting recognition of his talent — but it definitely takes some narrative stretching to make her actions feel justified. That’s something I’ve noticed comes up often in Korean dramas, but here it stood out more.

Also — the hairstyles in the early days 😄I understand they were trying to make the group look younger, and early K-pop styles were definitely… a choice. It worked for the timeline, but it was still noticeable.

As for the romance — I loved them. Completely.

The only very minor disappointment for me was the ending. While we clearly see that Maeng Se-na and Do Ra-ik are together and happy, I would have loved to see a proposal. It felt like the story was right there, ready for that final step, and it just stopped short.

It’s a small thing, but I really wanted to see how he would ask — what that moment would look like. Ending without it felt just slightly incomplete for such a strong relationship.

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Good Idea - But dragging

I loved the idea. Started watching it so happy. After episode 4 it kind of started to drag a little. No progress is made. The story between them is really predictable. I'm not sold on how one episode he's stuck on another woman and then next episode he's all of a sudden in love with the female lead.
Also when he finds out she's a fan she just says nothing. This is bad writting to just create drama.

Now i want to know who did it but I watched the last episodes while skipping 10sec all the time. It's so slow and so many useless scenes.

I will not rewatch 😁

PS : don't get me started on his 2005 haircut 😨

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