Idol I

Is this Drama Taking on a Toxic Oppressive Industry?

I just finished Idol I. It was not what I expected. In the end it was a murder mystery with romance on the side. The storyline was interesting enough and the characters likable enough to keep me viewing each week. No big statement on how toxic the Kpop industry is. Just a likable Kdrama--no fuss--no muss--just regular Kdrama stuff. I left my initial impressions below.

I've only watched the first two episodes. I'm wondering if this drama is less about the murder-mystery who-dun-it aspect, and more about shedding light on the toxic music/idol industry. Our ML is an anxious/ paranoid idol who doesn't seem very happy doing what he is doing. He appears trapped in a system that continues to oppress him whether it's the perfectionist expectations of the music label and his fans, his fellow group members who seem to despise him for succeeding out on his own, or the fans who stalk him making him paranoid and his life miserable. None of this surprises me about our ML.

I've watched too many You Tube videos of former idols who are now away from industry and speak about:
1. Excessive control by the music label
2. The pressure to always be perfect
3. Live secret personal lives to keep up an illusion for their fans
4. Physical and emotional abuse
5. Sexual harassment and abuse - this came from former female idols about unwanted attention from groping CEO's of labels.
6. Toxic fans, unrealistic fan expectations, stalking, online harassment

I'm a Kpop fan, but only listen to the music. I really don't follow the idols mainly due to the scary fans. I also have a hard time with what the music labels make these idols do all for the purposes of making money, especially all the pretense...all for money.

Is this drama taking on the toxicity of the Kpop industry? I think there is more here than at first glance? It's worth sticking with the drama to see.

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Great story , amazing acting..

The script of "Idol I" is so impressive, so detailed and well-written, that it really scares you. The truths that are captured in a series of twelve episodes shock you deeply.. It perfectly describes the sick relationship between artist and fan, and Kim Jae-young's amazing performance as Do Ra Ik, a famous singer whose health has been shaken by all this pressure he receives from people who call their obsessions "fan clubs" so inevitably touches you..

I always liked this actor because he "plays" a lot with his eyes. His style is so sad like a lost puppy that you want to hug and protect him... Actress Choi Soo Young as Maeng Se Na, as a lawyer and fanatical fan of Do Ra Ik, gives an acting recital, as the ideal person who can manage and protect a quirky and sensitive personality like Do Ra Ik, as she gives him calm, love and "space" without pressuring him, so that he can breathe off stage.. Their chemistry is a given, as are the moments of tension and interaction between them..The rest of the cast gave their best and passed successfully.. The OST are impressive, the direction is perfectly ..

This story teaches many lessons..Artists are people like all of us, with weaknesses and flaws..What they do is their job and we love them for it, but there has to be a limit and red lines...They don't owe us anything for enduring the abuse of some who, calling themselves "fans", make them suffer...

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Balancing romance, idol life and mystery - a masterpiece

Trying to make my review short, I'll include my main thoughts.

IDOL I is a very good drama consisting of mostly romance but also plenty of scenes with mystery. The acting was phenomenal in many cases and even though it had a pretty slow start it finished on top without any episode being boring or skip-worthy. My favorite thing about this drama is definitely the different perspective of idol life, how difficult and painful it can be to always have so many watching and judging you. Recommended to all k-pop fans and anybody who needs a great k-drama to watch!
Best episodes: 4 & 7

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i had high hopes for this kdrama

Like most people I saw those very relatable tiktok videos of this drama, had very high hopes of it being heavily crime and law related drama, how laws CAN protect the artist and agencies' can be very intolerable.
But what did we get? Agencies pushing their artists to attend their schedules although mental heath is all over the place, a person is grieving their friend's death, threatening while reminding them that they are in fact in debt still that needs to be paid and so on, so that is a check, we got it in this drama which was very mindful.
Then we got sasaengs, deathly obsessive people, so check.
Then we didn't get a lot of romance which honestly was a good choice by the makers, but we did in fact get the "fans" being very obsessive over their idols and dating.
Crime plot was a bit meh, but it wasn't too bad of an idea, just a bit shabby.
Lastly, the leads are actually good actors and in my opinion had more chemistry behind the scenes:)

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not your typical romcom

i refused to watch this for a while. then I was bored and thought oh well just 5 minutes.
i got hooked from the first minute on. it was not your typical cheesy romcom. this was so much better. the pain and suffering that was portrayed by the ml was so feasible! you could feel it with your heart and soul. he was so good in his acting that it was almost physical pain whenever he cried. the fl is my favorite korean actress. she is so beautiful and i absolutely loved how she portrayed a strong woman that is vulnerable at the same time. the talent of this actress is endless and only comparable with chinese actress Bai Lu. the dramas these two could bring on the table if there would be a collaboration…!
i liked that the prosecutor came around. i would not have pegged the killer. my money was on someone else. it really kept me on my seat to find out who it really was. glad they got what they deserved. but I didn’t like that person from the first minute they appeared on screen lol. I’m trying not to reveal and spoil it lol
i would have loved a second couple but it really wasn’t necessary since it would have overcrowded the storyline.
I’m a bit lost right now because this was so good it felt like I was in the middle of it. thanks to the acting and directing.
this really had everything. love, crime, murder, suspense, trauma and laughter. some of the ost was a bit annoying but most of it was really good. i also was wondering if the mother sold the ticket or not 🤣
i loved how her boss supported her like a father. more than that in most cases. dramas and life taught us a lot about that 🥹
this was an easy 10/10 for me and will always have a special place in my heart. if I could give more for the acting skills of both leads I would. the chemistry between the leads and the entire team was just amazing and brilliant.

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That was fun!

Sure, they wasted the 12th episode in an extended victory lap. What made it fun for me was that the FL never got past being a Gold Boys fan. They went a little overboard with her merch purchasing overshadowing the romantic night they spent together...personally I would have been a bit irked if my lover / fan had acted that way. But the FL lead was able to sell that she was a hardcore fan throughout and that goal was likely why that scene was included.

I would be surprised if this series wins many awards and it certainly didn't break new ground. Watch it at 1.25 or higher, use the 10 ahead button liberally, and enjoy the look on the FL's face when she is being a total fangirl. It's gonna make ya smile.

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Needed a bit more courtroom and a little less romance

Idol I is a show that focuses on drawing the line between love and obsession, truth and conviction. I think the story surrounding those two themes is the most interesting part of the show: do fans love these idols, or are they obsessed with them; is heartbreak caused by lost love or a lost purpose; is convincing someone the same as the truth; and is there such thing as an objective truth? While I think this show took a little too much time on some of the romance and not enough time on the legal issues, I still really enjoyed this show.

Maeng Sena is a defense attorney known for taking on high-profile, nearly unwinnable cases and winning; whether that's because she wants the fame and money or because she's invested in the truth is unclear. All that matters to her is having enough time and money to spend on Gold Boys, her favorite idol group. However, when superstar Do Raik of Gold Boys is charged with murdering one of his bandmates in a case with no other suspects, Sena is given the case. Maintaining her professionalism, Sena is determined to prove Raik's innocence - but she is quickly confronted with the reality of the idol that she has been watching on TV for so long. Still, Sena is determined to do her job properly, and not let personal feelings get in the way of catching the culprit.

For a drama that seems to be trying to tell the message of "fans should not treat idols like objects to obsess over," the fan x idol romance seemed to tell a different story. And yes, sure, her story is different because of how they met, but it did still feel somewhat contradictory until the end. Plus, frankly, I was WAY more interested in the murder case than the romance. I wish they had spent a little more time in the courtroom or being questioned by the prosecution. Plus, some of the details felt way too simple for Sena to figure out so late. Still, I enjoyed all the twists in the story and had a great time watching - just know that there is quite a lot of romance for a murder drama.

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Lighthearted slowburn mystery romcom that gets a little

Dived in without much expectations and was looking for a romcom with some mystery, and got exactly that.

The leads had great chemistry and I definitely love the slow-burn pace, be it their romance or the murder case. The mystery kept me looking forward to each episode, and the romance lightened the tone and made the whole drama less mentally exhausting to watch. It was perfect for someone like me now who wants something light-hearted enough but not nonsensical, yet carries some thrilling mystery (need not a murder case though) to make it less boring and not just all about romance. Sure, this drama wasn't exceptional material, but it was thoroughly enjoyable.

Many viewers didn't like either La Ik's personality or Se Na's personality, or both, but for me, the leads were my favorite and I appreciated their flaws. The storyline wasn't groundbreaking and some parts could've been utilized better, but I think it was overall a pretty solid drama. La Ik was someone struggling with a lot of emotional baggage, made worse by fans who stalked him, and a terrible mother (whom I think did not deserve that redemption at the end) who tried to milk him dry. But La Ik actually turned out to be a very warm person. Se Na's determination and resilience impressed me. She always carried herself gracefully and with confidence. I love that ML and FL both became each other's emotional support when they were at their lowest.

The reveal of the murderer at the end had me liking and hating it 50/50. To be honest, it felt kinda anticlimactic at first, but at the same time, I liked that it wasn't linked to a bigger scheme or a bigger bad boss, which I feel was usually the case with murder mystery dramas.

The part in the beginning where they mentioned the stab was done with such precision really threw me off, making me believe that the murder must've been premeditated, and turns out it was the complete opposite. That was the most what the heck moment for me. But the whole thing was very fitting with Hye Ju's character, and the only thing I liked about it was that she was consistent. The fact that she turned out to be the murderer? Honestly, didn't like it that much.

And what I really didn't like about the ending was how the sasaeng fans didn't get any real punishment. At first, I got the feeling that the writer was perhaps trying to encourage respectful fangirling through them in the end. But that's just too idealistic and sasaengs NEED TO BE PUNISHED PROPERLY. Giving them chances after chances hoping they'd change? That's just putting the artist in danger and hurting them even more, physically and mentally, and also risking their safety. I don't think I've seen sasaengs facing real consequences for their actions in k-dramas, which really sucks.

Towards the middle of the drama, I was seriously hoping (though the ending was no surprise) that those two sasaeng fans won't get a ridiculous redemption arc and I wanted them to face proper consequences. Alas, it turned out just as I expected and hated. Oh well.

I really liked that the prosecutor eventually decided to go against his father. I like and appreciate his attitude once he came around because he was actually committed to his decision. He wasn't wishy-washy or ambiguous about it. One of the things he said at the end that I liked was the detective asking him if he'd be okay once the re-trial began as it concerned his dad, and he had this dgaf attitude and just said it was something his father had to face.

I appreciated how the CEO didn't turn out as wicked as I thought, and what a surprise, he just let go of Gold Boys' trademark. Crazy. So unreal. 😂😂😂 How I wish some companies would actually do that......... 😐

The one thing I'd actually nitpick about, is the fanchant at the end only included La Ik's name and Gold Boys, but not the names of other members, which was weird. I can't remember if the fanchants shown in earlier episodes had all their names or not, but if they didn't, then it's no wonder the other members felt neglected.

This was one of the rare dramas I've really enjoyed every single episode and finished entirely lately. Been dropping a lot of dramas recently, and sadly, most of them were k-dramas coz things were feeling very repetitive. So Idol I was definitely a pleasant surprise.

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Depicts fan-idol relationships very well but mystery and crime is lacking

As a Kpop stan, this drama had soooo many relatable scenes which regular viewers might miss out. Some scenes are really tiny details that fans go through everytime. So in that sense I enjoyed the drama as I found it highly relatable.

The first few episodes also highlighted the difficulty idols face with sasaengs, no privacy anxiety and other topics. The boss treats them as money making machines constantly milking without considering the artists well being.

Sena realises that the person she sees on TV is not all of Raik and that he was going through alot more. Raik slowly begins to trust her and he only has her, someone who believes him...However this trust breaks when he finds out she was a huge fan. For some they couldnt understand why he was so angry but from the beginning his impression of fans was not good so everything she did for him probably felt like a lie to him at that moment.

When Sena decided to throw all the merch away it was so painful cause she had to gather so much courage to throw everything away...in the end its not just merch its all her memories from past 10 years...

Now regarding the mystery....this was really the lackluster part. The writer shines when she writes about fandom details but when it comes to the crime portion it was not planned out well.

For many episodes they baited us with different suspects only for the actual situation to be very mediocre...so the episodes where the comedy fluff from small fan-idol interactions stopped, the drama felt dry and draggy. Even after they got together they didnt feel like they were a couple until the last episode.

I would say the drama also lacked some side characters. Maybe a secondary story with friends or another couple could have added more dynamics.

That being said I would still rewatch this show now and then~

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A Realistic Idol Drama with a Spice of Love and Law

Idol I is an idol drama, meaning that the main male lead, Do La Ik, is an idol boy group member.
The drama tries to show the truth about idol life, while also having its plot focused on romance and law. I highly suggest this drama to K-pop fans and those who enjoy romance law dramas, without too much “legalities” and with minimal misunderstandings between the main couple.

STORY:
Meng Sena is a lawyer and a fan of the global K-pop boy group, Goldboys. She keeps her personal life and professional life separated to the best of her ability. When her favorite member, Do La Ik, is suddenly suspected of being the murderer of his fellow bandmate Kang Wooseong, Meng Sena promises herself to keep her personal feelings hidden as she takes on the role of Do La Ik’s lawyer. The drama focuses on finding out who the killer is while showing the viewer the harsh reality of what it takes to be an idol.

SPOILER PART OF THE STORY, MY OPINION:
Idol I showcases the harsh truth about being an idol: the fights and misunderstandings between group members, the fans’ obsessive behavior, and the huge expectations idols struggle with. As an idol drama, the show does well. The drama shows how idols can dislike their sasaengs and how they impact their lives, while also showing the deep gratitude idols have toward the supportive fans who helped them reach the heights they are at.
Personally, I enjoyed that part of the drama the most, as I can only imagine how my favorite groups have struggled, and it is a good reminder to some obsessive fans of what damage they can do to their favorite idol.

The plot doesn’t really have much law in itself, aside from the main female lead, Meng Sena, being a lawyer and using her knowledge to free Do La Ik from the detention cell and from being convicted. She takes Do La Ik into her home and takes care of him when he appears to have no one who believes in his innocence. It is revealed that Meng Sena has a past with Do La Ik from when they were young. He managed to save her life when she was struggling with her father’s wrongful conviction and the deaths of her father and mother. She became a fan due to the gratitude and hope he had given her.
In the last episode, she finally manages to do what she always wanted to do: investigate and prove her father’s innocence. For a 12-episode drama, it was understandable yet disappointing that this was left to the very last episode. However, understanding that the main plot was always about her relationship with Do La Ik and his case, it was okay in my opinion. To call this a law drama would be incorrect in my opinion, as the law is just a side story.

As the plot advances, the drama does a good job of giving viewers mixed signals about who could be the culprit, as in the idol world, there are many corrupt people. It is just reality. Personally, I think the culprit being his ex-girlfriend Hyejoo was slightly a letdown, though it was also realistic—especially for Hyejoo, who grew up as an illegitimate daughter with money but no love.

The silver lining is Meng Sena, who does not waver in her belief that Do La Ik is innocent and in her willingness to continue helping him even after he finds out that she is a fan and fires her as his lawyer. She shows the side of K-pop fans who truly love their idol.
“Real love is cheering someone on from far away, no matter where they are or who they become, believing in them.”
It is this love from Sena that Do La Ik falls in love with. Their love story was believable, given the circumstances they were in. Their passionate kisses were the perfect substitute for the usual K-drama kisses, which are more like pecks. This drama had what you could call real kisses.

MY OPNION SUMMED UP:
The love story is believable and touching, yet I feel like it was a side story. Still, I highly enjoyed it. I would give it an 8. I truly suggest this drama to those who enjoy idol dramas that realistically showcase the life of an idol and the perspective of a fan, while also giving an exciting plot in the form of crime and love. I do have to say that for a 12-episode drama, they wasted time on many unnecessary scenes, when it all could have gone to show more of the ace lawyer side of Meng Sena that she was supposed to be.


ACTING:

Choi Sooyoung g as Meng Sena:
As an girlgroup member herself, she knew how to act like a fan yet also how to show sympathy towards the ML. The moments where Meng Sena stood up for Do Laik, is when she shined the most in my opinion. Her concern and sympathy were the best moments in her acting.

Kim Jaeyong as Do Laik:
Cute. Handsome. Just absolutely cute. If you only need one reason to watch this drama, he is more than enough. Not only did he act well when being cheeky, jealous and cute.. He also acted so well during the distressed moments in Do Laik's life. His tears and the scenes where he acted as panicked, distressed and devastated were raw and real. It was an impressive performance.

I am giving this an 8. The actors especially made this a truly enjoyable drama

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ACTUALLY BORING

I really like watching slow burn TV Shows/ Movies but this one is horrendous! I couldn't get past the 3rd episode because nothing was happening. You're telling me that I was 3 hours in and the only thing that happened was a limited MURDER scene?? We've only got Sooyoung running and fangirling around. Like, I was actually falling asleep at one point. Just give us something; a character's background story, a suspensful scene, or at least a romance-related scene. It's soooooooo boring. I just checked and this is the movie's director's first TV Show... Hopefully the first and the last.

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The Real Definition of "I Will Defend My Bias At All Cost"

Idol I follows a lawyer who defends her favorite idol in a murder case, uncovering the dark side of the Idol life and K-pop industry.

The drama started off really strong for me. The premise was solid, and the execution in the first two episodes was excellent.

However, after that, everything slowly went downhill. If you’re going to stretch a single case into a full 12-episode series, the story needs to stay engaging throughout. Unfortunately, here, the mystery isn’t strong enough to carry the whole series. It becomes boring at times, especially when it feels like there’s not much story left to tell.

On the other hand, the romance doesn’t get enough time to shine. The development feels too slow, and the chemistry between the leads is lacking.

That said, unlike some other viewers, I actually liked how they handled the childhood connection between Se na and Ra ik. For me, it adds more emotional weight to Se-na’s decision to take Ra ik’s case, rather than simply because she’s a hardcore fan.

Overall, it’s not a perfect drama, but it’s still entertaining and has some standout moments for me, especially Se Na fangirling life from the early and last episodes.

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