Idol I

good potential but lukewarm execution

started out strong given this was one of like 2 shows I kept up with. it's supposed to be a thriller but I'm not thrilled.
I love the actor as well as the actress but as the show progressed the fl just gave me no energy I don't know what was off about her but it is telling if the only memorable thing about her is her suits. and the way she is supposed to be like a super lawyer was lowkey laughable and with zero show like they would give her a stack of papers and have her stay up at night kinda like giving a toddler an empty coffee mug and a tie and telling him you're a businessman. ml did well I mean kinda. I am slightly biased cause i liked him prior to the show.

The story feels like something you'd read in a very frustrating but very well drawn manhwa. it carried a fanfic style with the pivot from investigation and mystery to romance and even at that it didn't carry the tension of a romance fanfic. like the visuals were the only saving grace.
unrealistic and VERY slow progress like some episodes felt literally useless and could be summed up in like a sentence.
The romance felt forced by proximity more than anything and the chemistry was there just again meh.
sure, it gave awareness and realism with the whole toxic obsessive fans, but it threw the realism out of the window with everything else.

The second ml was oddly placed like he was just there to pull evidence out of his ass whenever convenient. and the way they handled the mother was very meh. The prosecutor's change of heart was so stupid i actually laughed like what?

The last episode was very very cringe like the unnatural dialogue and behavior and that's coming from an actual kpop fan.
I mean from the beginning they kept circling around themselves under the guise of tension but the ending 'reveal' felt underwhelming and like a last-minute decision of a very long and boring brainstorming session.
needless to say the whole 2nd fl plot was ass yet it was included for like the whole show while the dad's retrial was cast aside until last episode and was addressed for like 10 minutes. it was like they forgot about it and then were like shit we have to fix it.

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In my opinion, this was an excellent drama. I got completely hooked and never once felt like it was dragging. A huge plus for me was that it portrayed the real problems Asian idols face — the ones that are often kept silent. Staying quiet about your struggles, being forced to smile when fans cross boundaries because otherwise a scandal breaks out. While watching, I didn’t feel like anything was particularly forced, although after cooling down and thinking about it a few hours later, a few issues did come to mind.

I’ll start with the murder case. Personally, I was deeply invested in it and watched each episode with genuine curiosity. I think it was mainly this storyline and everything connected to it that made me like the series so much. I’ll admit — I correctly guessed who the culprit was, although I was convinced that this person wasn’t acting alone, so that part surprised me. I also have to confess that at the very beginning I had Kang U Seong written down as a suspect (laughing through tears). And I’m still not over the fact that he died, because the flashbacks made him one of my favorite characters, and I wanted him to have a happy ending. However, I do have to nitpick something here. I’m not knowledgeable about law, yet even I was struck by this detail — though only after thinking about it later. How on earth did Se Na, supposedly one of the best lawyers, not check the evidence found at the crime scene from the very beginning and show it to Ra Ik? This is a crime drama. I understand that it would have solved the case immediately, but it just makes no sense. The iCloud issue is less glaring, though I still feel that the prosecution should have accessed it early in the investigation. So, in summary, there were at least two noticeable plot conveniences that could affect the overall perception of the drama — personally, they didn’t bother me too much, but I tend to overlook such things.

Now onto the main couple — Maeng Se Na and Do Ra Ik. For most of the time, I genuinely enjoyed watching their relationship. Almost every time (with a small exception when he found out she had been his fan), they stood firmly by each other’s side and were a huge support during difficult moments, protecting one another. It was also clear that they became better — and happier — people because of each other. He learned to show his true emotions, his real self, and that he too deserved love. She learned to slow down, to enjoy her life, and to stop running from her past. I also loved them individually as characters. They were different yet similar, and they complemented each other well. However, toward the end I had one reservation. With Ra Ik, we clearly saw that he fell in love with the real her. But with Se Na, I have mixed feelings. I think the core issue was that she was still his obsessive fan even when they were already in a relationship. Instead of supporting him more as a partner, it still felt like she was supporting him as a fan (his merch, the concert ticket). On one hand, it was funny; on the other, slightly uncomfortable, and those final scenes somewhat disturbed my perception of their relationship (though I’ll pretend that didn’t happen :D).

I’m also glad that in the end the boys reunited as a group, reconciled, and created an album with their late friend — that really moved me. I’m also grateful that none of them turned out to be guilty, because for a moment I was worried about Lee Yeong Bin — he was a bit too calm :D. I did miss further development of Do Ra Ik’s storyline with his mother, especially an apology from her. Although, judging by her behavior, I had the impression that she didn’t fully understand her mistakes, so maybe that’s why we didn’t get one.

Returning to the legal side of things, I’m glad it was shown that Se Na started fighting to restore her father’s name after he had been “wrongfully” convicted. It would have been even better if we had seen her actually win the case. I hope Kwak Jong Cheol rotted in prison :D. As for Kwak Byeong Gyun, I’m glad he cut ties with his father and started fighting for the truth. Despite his mistakes as a child, you could see from the beginning that there was goodness in him, worn down by his father’s manipulation, which made me feel a bit of sympathy for him. Though I did hope he would wise up sooner and work with Se Na to find the murderer. Cheon Gwang Su was also a truly wonderful character — like a second father to Se Na — and it was heartwarming to watch how he supported her in everything.

Lastly, I’ll briefly mention Hong Hye Ju, because I simply couldn’t stand her. She hurt Do Ra Ik, constantly shifted all the blame for her behavior onto him — even when she cheated on him. And later she had the audacity to come back and hide behind the excuse of love. Even at the very end, after everything, she tried again, as if she were the only one who had suffered in that situation. A toxic creature. I had to get that off my chest — because I also became his fan :D

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Disappointing at all levels

Things I loved

1 The premise. I thought it would be interesting and it was for a few episodes. Then I stopped caring.

Things I liked

1 The FL. She's one of the actresses I like, but here something was amiss. I can't put my finger on it, but she didn't fit the role for some reason.

Things I disliked

1 The ML. Unfortunately I didn't care about his acting and I found him disturbing. Maybe he's a good actor but here he didn't deliver for me. I didn't want him to be guilty but I didn't care either and that's what ruined the whole drama for me. That he wasn't a compelling enough character to make me care.

2 The romance part. They didn't have chemistry in my book.

3 The ending. Not riveting and at that point i didn't care for that ether.

4 The fan part. I thought it would be good but it was limit disturbing. I didn't hate it but it wasn't dealt well with and that diminished my enjoyment. All in all, not as good as I was expecting and hoping.

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It needed 16 episodes

I started this drama so hyped, I waited the whole week super excited for the next episode but from episodes 7/8 I felt like it was going downhill...

The begining was so strong, the murder mystery was really interesting and it had me suspecting everyone while rooting for the romance. The side plots are fine, good complements for the main plot, the ex was annoying but she gave us some conflict, the prosecutor was annoying as hell but he also gave us tension and expectation.

After a few episodes the murder mystery becomes a side plot, poping up when needed but not brought up unless something else happened with the case, which I found weird, our ML was a mess for the first 3 episodes and suddenly he's fine and falling in love like his best friend didn't die in his living room and he wasn't the main suspect, like, people are literally acussing you of KILLING someone I assume you love? why did it only take a little cheer up moment for him to be so fine about his death? no grief at all... Then when we get back to the murder case there were some plot holes like, didnt we see the prosecutor talking with the forensic doctor about how the stab was really clean and weird for someone whithout knowledge of like medicine to go for that certain point etc? like why did it end on an oopsy it was an accident while they fell? where did the clean stab go?

Still, it was a solid watch, entretaining, kinda went downhill and a little nonsensical, but it was still good, the actors had chemistry, the story was entretaining and I was expecting it every week. The ending was so rushed, if they gave this 16 episodes it would've been better.

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When Idol Life Meets Murder Mystery

Idol I turned out to be an enjoyable watch. Going in, I expected the drama to focus mainly on the struggles of idols—the pressures from fans, companies, media scrutiny, and personal sacrifices. While those elements were present, the story leaned more heavily into a murder mystery, which was a surprising shift.
One character who stood out strongly was the prosecutor. His actions often felt cruel and frustrating, making him easy to dislike. At times he seemed like a puppet following others without thinking for himself. However, toward the end, it was satisfying to see him finally stand up and do the right thing.
The mystery itself kept things interesting. I initially suspected the CEO or the manager, so the actual reveal came as a surprise. Although the thriller angle worked for entertainment, part of me still feels the drama could have explored the realistic struggles of idol life in greater depth.
The lighter moments also helped balance the tone. The fan-to-romantic angle felt slightly unnecessary, but it was still cute seeing her fangirl over her boyfriend. Overall, the drama blends real idol pressures with a mystery storyline while keeping the atmosphere fun and watchable. It may not be groundbreaking, but it’s a solid one-time watch

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A Kpop stan's dream come true!

Idol I is a cute watch— its basically a dream come true for every Kpop stan. Se Na, a stan of the Kpop group Gold Boys, but specifically the lead singer, La Ik, gets to be his defense attorney when he gets accused of killing his fellow Gold Boys member and good friend. What follows, is a "mystery" that was pretty easy to see through, and a cutesy love story between Se Na and La Ik, which was strangely vanilla, like they were highschool teenagers instead of adults in their 30s.

Still, I thought the acting was amazing by both leads, and the chemistry was there. Since it was just 12 episodes, it did not feel very draggy, and was overall a cute watch. I just wish this show did not follow the classic Kdrama trope that I am now seeing EVERYWHERE. Which is, the leads were somehow connected when they were kids, and that's when their relationship "actually" began.
*sigh*

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12 Episodes, Two Plots Were Enough

For me, this drama is just a pretty normal mystery drama. It’s not something I think I’ll remember for a long time or something that will leave a lasting mark on me.

One thing I did find kind of annoying, though, was the unnecessary love interest. I mean, I understand that adding someone who is interested in the female lead can be an important part of some drama, but in this particular case, I honestly felt like it wasn’t needed.

The drama is only 12 episodes, around 65 minutes each, and it already has two pretty prominent storylines. First, there’s the murder mystery, which is the main catalyst of the whole drama and already carries enough weight on its own. Then there’s the second storyline, which is the romance, where she suddenly meets the guy she has admired for a long time, but now in a completely different situation and setting, and the two of them have to figure things out together.

So, with those two plots already taking up most of the story, I really don't think there was any need to add a third person into their relationship. The moment he appeared at the window in the first episode, I immediately knew that he had a crush on her, but he was never going to get the girl.

That’s why, for me, his character and his love interest just felt unnecessary. It didn’t really add anything to the story, especially when the drama already had enough going on.

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great drama with engaging storyline with mature relationship

What a pleasant surprise! I went in expecting something cringy and predictable, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

The storyline had me hooked from the very first episode. The drama follows Maeng Se Na (Choi Soo Young), a high-profile lawyer known as the "lawyer for villains," who secretly happens to be an 11-year devoted fan of the K-pop band Gold Boys. When her ultimate bias, Do Ra Ik (Kim Jae Yeong), becomes the prime suspect in a murder case, she must defend him while hiding her fangirl identity. It's a fun and refreshing concept that blends legal drama, romance, and thriller elements.

I really loved the main leads together. Their relationship felt mature and healing—they helped each other grow, and conflicts were resolved within an episode without unnecessary dragging. That was such a relief to see.

Kim Jae Yeong delivered a solid performance, capturing his character's anxious yet charming persona well. However, I wasn't entirely convinced by Choi Soo Young—her facial expressions felt a bit too consistent throughout, which made it difficult to fully connect with her character.

The thriller aspect was enjoyable, keeping me guessing who the real culprit was. But I do think the drama didn't fully utilise its potential. Towards the end, it lost momentum, and the resolution for some side characters felt rushed and incomplete.

It's a shame because I was completely invested in the beginning. Despite its flaws, I genuinely enjoyed the ride and already miss our fan and idol couple.

Verdict: A refreshing drama with an intriguing premise, great leads, and mature relationship dynamics. Let down by a rushed ending and underutilised potential, but still well worth the watch—especially if you're looking for something light yet engaging.

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A positive, mature, and beautifully concluded story

I think it’s an excellent series that never loses its pace all the way to the very end, which is quite rare in my opinion. The final episode is fantastic as well — it wraps everything up beautifully, calmly, and in a truly complete way, something I honestly haven’t experienced in a long time.

The main characters are adults, and a nice bonus is that they actually behave like adults throughout the whole story. That deserves extra appreciation, especially considering that the female lead, even at her age, is still partly a quirky fangirl of a boy band 😅

Any misunderstandings are never dragged out, everything moves at exactly the right pace, and despite the sadness that one person is simply never coming back, the whole series shines with a great sense of positivity.

I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did 😉

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Good work to Jae Yeung and Soo Young!

This drama dives into the complex nature of an idol and fan relationship from deep rooted reasons to support someone from a place of love and support to crossing the threshold of obsession (not FL). It makes us reflect on how we show our support and admiration for others, question who we and others really are behind closed doors, and the nature of one's actions vs. their true intent. Is it genuine or is it all a façade?

Additionally, this story highlights the realistic and dark reality of the entertainment industry. The obsessive, stalking, and even aggressive so called fans bringing terror, fear, and anxiety towards individuals to the point of desperation to be recognized as the "biggest" fan and for the idol, desperation to be seen as a normal human being with both ends of the stick getting to a breaking point. Ultimately no one owes anything to anyone else regardless of their career, and especially if it's in the public eye. Unfortunately not everyone understands this concept and will "support" with misdirected entitlement.

In the end, it was nice to see the leads find support and solace in each other despite their rocky road together from beginning to end.

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A textbook case of wasted potential

Idol I started with so much promise. The early episodes did an excellent job building its characters, giving us enough backstory to genuinely connect with their struggles. You understood who these people were and why they mattered, which made the first half of the drama genuinely compelling .

Then came the climax. The main murder motive was incredibly anti-climactic. After all that buildup, the reasoning behind the crime—and committing another to cover it up—felt so stale and underwhelming . It's the kind of reveal that makes you feel hollow rather than shocked.

What makes it worse is how underdeveloped the murder's reasoning felt. We needed more time with the antagonist to understand their descent. Instead, the reveal feels like a last-minute decision from a long brainstorming session . The writers rushed to close doors they spent episodes carefully opening .

The frustrating part? This drama had so much potential. It realistically portrayed the pressures idols face, the blurry line between support and obsession, and how the industry treats artists as products . But by sidelining the murder mystery that drove the plot, it wasted its own foundation.

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entertaining romantic drama without being overly cheesy ;)

Idol I is an entertaining romantic drama without being overly cheesy (although I did have to roll my eyes a few times). The character development is believable and authentic.

SPOILER!!
For me personally, the murder case could have been a little darker, and I ultimately found the resolution a bit shallow and simplistic. There was no real confrontation in court, and I didn't feel that Do Ra Ik was ever really in danger. The obsession with the fans could have been more intense as well.
The supporting character Park Chung Jae as the “unrequited love of the childhood friend” was unnecessary in my opinion. I would have liked it if he had been given a real backstory and more screen time, maybe even as a second romantic storyline. We didn't really learn anything about him, except that he had a difficult childhood and that his mother and grandmother are dead. His character was only meant to be a rival to Ra Ik and show how fixated Maeng Se Na is on Ra Ik. I found the placement of the character in the case very shallow, quite predictable, and clichéd.

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