A weed with every reason to grow, but the gardener can seem to stop cutting it off.
Dear X is an unapologetic story that refuses the common limitations of K-dramas nowadays. It doesn't fear getting dirty, personal, or wrecking your emotional wellbeing. It has only one purpose, to tell the story of Baek Ah Jin.
But how much of this destroys the very essence of the drama?
Story: The story began as promising as it could be. It told the story of a girl with Anti Social Disorder and her experiences in an abusive home and how that ultimately shaped her. It also showed us just the lengths Baek Ah Jin would go through to survive. As the story progresses, the stakes get higher and your view on Baek Ah In shifts. You begin this drama understanding that she doesn't care but as the betrayals ensue, you're not sure whether she can still remain an at least "likeable" main character. However, the story justifies her actions, every single time without fail.
Towards the end, she suffers from trauma which is a lackluster consequence to her actions but I digress.
It finishes off with an idea that the audience can make up the ending to Baek Ah Jin, whether she truly cared about those she had to betray and sacrifice, or if she simply found them as thorns in her shoe. At some point in the story, you almost begin to understand Yun Jun Seo's desire for Baek Ah Jin to be "normal" or at least show signs of humanity in situations where it would naturally be necessary, but the plot strips you and Jun Seo of that idea and progresses. I personally found this rather irritable as I am ashamed to say that I wish Baek Ah Jin did a somewhat redeemable action to anyone in the story, absolving the hate I had for her. That is to say, I understand her character and I understand why that would simply be impossible.
Acting: Kim You Jung's acting portraying Baek Ah Jin, a woman with anti-social disorder was nothing short of spectacular. The emptiness in her eyes sold Baek Ah Jin's character and her crash outs felt real. Bae Soobin's portrayal of Baek Ah Jin's father gave me what it should have: uncomfortableness, anger and disgust. Perfect. The rest of the line up of actors did amazing and sold the idea of this seemingly "noir" series.
Music: There was nothing noteworthy about the music that had played, but I felt as though in certain scenes, it was better to not have it as it led me to quickly infer what would happen next, ruining the immersion into the series. The ost used in the film were great but not exactly memorable.
I don't think I'd ever watch Dear X again due to the turmoil in emotions I had faced, but it was an interesting, captivating watch. I simply could not miss each episode.
So watch carefully and don't get attached to anyone or the "romances" this drama has to offer. The only romance here is the romance of survival of the fittess and what it means to have enough power for people not to discard you.
But how much of this destroys the very essence of the drama?
Story: The story began as promising as it could be. It told the story of a girl with Anti Social Disorder and her experiences in an abusive home and how that ultimately shaped her. It also showed us just the lengths Baek Ah Jin would go through to survive. As the story progresses, the stakes get higher and your view on Baek Ah In shifts. You begin this drama understanding that she doesn't care but as the betrayals ensue, you're not sure whether she can still remain an at least "likeable" main character. However, the story justifies her actions, every single time without fail.
Towards the end, she suffers from trauma which is a lackluster consequence to her actions but I digress.
It finishes off with an idea that the audience can make up the ending to Baek Ah Jin, whether she truly cared about those she had to betray and sacrifice, or if she simply found them as thorns in her shoe. At some point in the story, you almost begin to understand Yun Jun Seo's desire for Baek Ah Jin to be "normal" or at least show signs of humanity in situations where it would naturally be necessary, but the plot strips you and Jun Seo of that idea and progresses. I personally found this rather irritable as I am ashamed to say that I wish Baek Ah Jin did a somewhat redeemable action to anyone in the story, absolving the hate I had for her. That is to say, I understand her character and I understand why that would simply be impossible.
Acting: Kim You Jung's acting portraying Baek Ah Jin, a woman with anti-social disorder was nothing short of spectacular. The emptiness in her eyes sold Baek Ah Jin's character and her crash outs felt real. Bae Soobin's portrayal of Baek Ah Jin's father gave me what it should have: uncomfortableness, anger and disgust. Perfect. The rest of the line up of actors did amazing and sold the idea of this seemingly "noir" series.
Music: There was nothing noteworthy about the music that had played, but I felt as though in certain scenes, it was better to not have it as it led me to quickly infer what would happen next, ruining the immersion into the series. The ost used in the film were great but not exactly memorable.
I don't think I'd ever watch Dear X again due to the turmoil in emotions I had faced, but it was an interesting, captivating watch. I simply could not miss each episode.
So watch carefully and don't get attached to anyone or the "romances" this drama has to offer. The only romance here is the romance of survival of the fittess and what it means to have enough power for people not to discard you.
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