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A Bold Premise That Plays It Safe
Divorce Insurance sets out with a refreshingly bizarre premise. That kind of dark humor and social satire is a solid hook, and for the first few episodes, the drama leans into it well. But as the series progresses, it struggles to maintain that satirical sharpness, often trading its unique premise for safer, more conventional drama beats.
-> What It Gets (Almost) Right:
1. A Unique Tone: Briefly, Before It Chickens Out
The first few episodes are weird in the best way. There’s a sly, deadpan humor, the kind that makes you think, Maybe this show is actually onto something. The actors get the assignment, the writing's clever, and the whole “divorce as an industry” thing feels biting. And then, poof! It remembers it wants to be heartfelt and relatable, and any trace of teeth gets politely brushed away.
2. Characters With Just Enough Quirk to Be Marketable
Ki-jun and Han-deul are awkward and emotionally damaged, aka perfect TV protagonists. They have an unresolved history, which the show dangles just long enough to be interesting before shoving them into a rushed romance. Dae-bok and Ah-yeong start off as quirky sidekicks and actually evolve into real people, which feels like a miracle considering how often they’re used for punchlines. Credit where it’s due.
3. Real Feelings, Occasionally
When the show stops trying to be cute or clever, it sometimes stumbles into real emotion. Seon-hee’s storyline, for instance, is actually moving. It’s the kind of subplot that makes you think, Why isn’t the rest of the show like this? And the answer, apparently, is because that would be too interesting.
-> Where It Trips Over Its Own Premise:
1. Remember That Whole “Divorce Insurance” Thing? Neither Does the Show
The hook is gold: morally questionable, ripe for satire, bizarre enough to stand out. Naturally, the show throws it in the trunk and drives off without it. A couple of episodes later, the business model is basically background noise. No messy ethics, no biting commentary - just cute coworkers trying not to cry at their desks.
2. Pacing? What Pacing?
The second half is like a montage in a movie where someone’s life spirals out of control, except without the music or the emotional payoff. Things happen too fast, characters make decisions that feel unearned, and big moments come out of nowhere. It’s not so much building tension as it is skipping steps and hoping no one notices.
3. Romance On Fast-Forward
Ki-jun and Han-deul clearly have history, and by the time the show explores any of it, they’re already halfway to coupledom. It’s the classic “we have chemistry, so let’s skip all the work” strategy. The result is a romance that feels less like a natural evolution and more like a checklist item the writers were eager to tick off.
4. From Satire to Sentimentality: A Speedrun
Once the show decides it wants to be “sincere,” it abandons the very thing that made it interesting. The bite is gone, the satire neutered, and what’s left are neatly wrapped plotlines. It’s emotional, sure, but safe, and not in a good way.
-> Final Verdict:
Divorce Insurance sets out to be sharp, strange, and subversive. But after a promising start, it quickly trades its edge for something safer and more familiar.. It is disappointing for me, who was hoping for something sharper, weirder, and more consistent.
At least you can’t say it didn’t try... for a little while.
-> What It Gets (Almost) Right:
1. A Unique Tone: Briefly, Before It Chickens Out
The first few episodes are weird in the best way. There’s a sly, deadpan humor, the kind that makes you think, Maybe this show is actually onto something. The actors get the assignment, the writing's clever, and the whole “divorce as an industry” thing feels biting. And then, poof! It remembers it wants to be heartfelt and relatable, and any trace of teeth gets politely brushed away.
2. Characters With Just Enough Quirk to Be Marketable
Ki-jun and Han-deul are awkward and emotionally damaged, aka perfect TV protagonists. They have an unresolved history, which the show dangles just long enough to be interesting before shoving them into a rushed romance. Dae-bok and Ah-yeong start off as quirky sidekicks and actually evolve into real people, which feels like a miracle considering how often they’re used for punchlines. Credit where it’s due.
3. Real Feelings, Occasionally
When the show stops trying to be cute or clever, it sometimes stumbles into real emotion. Seon-hee’s storyline, for instance, is actually moving. It’s the kind of subplot that makes you think, Why isn’t the rest of the show like this? And the answer, apparently, is because that would be too interesting.
-> Where It Trips Over Its Own Premise:
1. Remember That Whole “Divorce Insurance” Thing? Neither Does the Show
The hook is gold: morally questionable, ripe for satire, bizarre enough to stand out. Naturally, the show throws it in the trunk and drives off without it. A couple of episodes later, the business model is basically background noise. No messy ethics, no biting commentary - just cute coworkers trying not to cry at their desks.
2. Pacing? What Pacing?
The second half is like a montage in a movie where someone’s life spirals out of control, except without the music or the emotional payoff. Things happen too fast, characters make decisions that feel unearned, and big moments come out of nowhere. It’s not so much building tension as it is skipping steps and hoping no one notices.
3. Romance On Fast-Forward
Ki-jun and Han-deul clearly have history, and by the time the show explores any of it, they’re already halfway to coupledom. It’s the classic “we have chemistry, so let’s skip all the work” strategy. The result is a romance that feels less like a natural evolution and more like a checklist item the writers were eager to tick off.
4. From Satire to Sentimentality: A Speedrun
Once the show decides it wants to be “sincere,” it abandons the very thing that made it interesting. The bite is gone, the satire neutered, and what’s left are neatly wrapped plotlines. It’s emotional, sure, but safe, and not in a good way.
-> Final Verdict:
Divorce Insurance sets out to be sharp, strange, and subversive. But after a promising start, it quickly trades its edge for something safer and more familiar.. It is disappointing for me, who was hoping for something sharper, weirder, and more consistent.
At least you can’t say it didn’t try... for a little while.
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