This review may contain spoilers
Melo Movie — The Kind of Slow-Paced Drama You Need Once in a While
I really didn’t know what to expect with Melo Movie. I only knew it had the same screenwriter as Our Beloved Summer, which I started but had to put on hold because I was juggling so many other C-dramas at the time.
I decided to stick out with Melo Movie mainly because my sisters recommended it—and I adore the cast. To my surprise, this series turned out to be something completely unexpected.
For some background: I’ve actually been moving away from K-dramas for a while. I grew up with them in the '90s, but over the years, as they gained popularity overseas, the hype kind of dulled my love for them. I slowly returned to C-dramas, which is what I originally grew up with. K-dramas was an accident that landed in my lap without me knowing because most of them were dubbed in another Asian language. This is why, every now and then, I’ll watch a series here and there, but they don’t have all my love and attention.
Why am I sharing all this? Because Melo Movie gave me that nostalgia—like a warm throwback to the '90s and my love for both movies and dramas.
From the very start, the story captivated me. And honestly, that’s been rare with recent K-dramas. I loved that the main couple had a shared passion I could actually relate to—I simply love movies. I grew up on VHS tapes, watching everything from Stephen Chow to Love Actually. Some of the episode titles in this drama even referenced older films. You can’t help but fall in love with the director and the screenwriting because they are people who love movies just as much as I do.
Things I loved:
• The details. I’m by no means a critic or someone who studied film, but I’ve picked up things over time just from watching so many dramas and movies. The small, subtle details made this series fun to watch. I’ve been rushing through a lot of shows lately, so to my surprise, Melo Movie made me slow down—especially for a K-drama.
• The lighting. The visuals made the emotional moments so much more meaningful. I keep thinking about that kiss under the lamppost—a classic '90s scene—or the candlelight moment when she comforted him after his brother’s death. There was also a scene with flickering lights throughout the dark house, it felt like scattered thoughts, like a visual representation of a mind trying to piece everything together.
• Everything was a movie to him. Every encounter, every setback—it all played out like a scene. His optimism and love for movies made his character so endearing.
• Mubee’s complexity. I loved that she wasn’t just “the angry girl.” Yes, she had anger, but it was rooted in real, logical reasons. I also adored the portrayal of her younger self—fighting neighbor bullies, lying about being an orphan. Her character felt fully fleshed out. I’ve always been a fan of Park Bo Young, and I’m glad she’s stepped away from just rom-coms and fantasy into more grounded, slice-of-life roles.
• The older brother. I’ve followed Kim Jae Wook since the early 2000s, so seeing him here added an extra layer of enjoyment. His character brought depth and pushed the protagonist’s growth in a meaningful way.
Things I struggled with:
While many people loved the second lead couple, I personally had a harder time connecting with their story. It started off strong but eventually felt redundant. He clearly wasn’t over the breakup, and she only stepped away because she was burned out—classic young love where you give everything and lose yourself in the process.
By the time she came back, it felt like she had a hidden agenda—like she wanted to help him succeed and still loved him but was not planning on getting back together.
Honestly, the last two episodes were kind of a blur for me, mostly because the second couple’s storyline took center stage, and it just didn’t hold my attention the same way.
To conclude, Melo Movie wasn’t just a slow-paced love story—it was a love letter to film, to memory, and to that quiet kind of connection that doesn’t need grand gestures to feel meaningful. It reminded me of why I used to love K-dramas in the first place. The subtle emotions, the attention to detail, and the quiet moments that linger—those were all here, and they hit just right.
It’s not a perfect series, and there were parts I struggled with, especially the second couple’s arc toward the end. But even with that, the story stuck with me. I didn’t rush through this one. I let it sit. And maybe that’s the kind of drama Melo Movie is—something you don’t binge, but something you feel.
If you’ve ever loved movies or miss the kind of storytelling that feels personal and a little nostalgic, this might be the drama to pull you in too.
I decided to stick out with Melo Movie mainly because my sisters recommended it—and I adore the cast. To my surprise, this series turned out to be something completely unexpected.
For some background: I’ve actually been moving away from K-dramas for a while. I grew up with them in the '90s, but over the years, as they gained popularity overseas, the hype kind of dulled my love for them. I slowly returned to C-dramas, which is what I originally grew up with. K-dramas was an accident that landed in my lap without me knowing because most of them were dubbed in another Asian language. This is why, every now and then, I’ll watch a series here and there, but they don’t have all my love and attention.
Why am I sharing all this? Because Melo Movie gave me that nostalgia—like a warm throwback to the '90s and my love for both movies and dramas.
From the very start, the story captivated me. And honestly, that’s been rare with recent K-dramas. I loved that the main couple had a shared passion I could actually relate to—I simply love movies. I grew up on VHS tapes, watching everything from Stephen Chow to Love Actually. Some of the episode titles in this drama even referenced older films. You can’t help but fall in love with the director and the screenwriting because they are people who love movies just as much as I do.
Things I loved:
• The details. I’m by no means a critic or someone who studied film, but I’ve picked up things over time just from watching so many dramas and movies. The small, subtle details made this series fun to watch. I’ve been rushing through a lot of shows lately, so to my surprise, Melo Movie made me slow down—especially for a K-drama.
• The lighting. The visuals made the emotional moments so much more meaningful. I keep thinking about that kiss under the lamppost—a classic '90s scene—or the candlelight moment when she comforted him after his brother’s death. There was also a scene with flickering lights throughout the dark house, it felt like scattered thoughts, like a visual representation of a mind trying to piece everything together.
• Everything was a movie to him. Every encounter, every setback—it all played out like a scene. His optimism and love for movies made his character so endearing.
• Mubee’s complexity. I loved that she wasn’t just “the angry girl.” Yes, she had anger, but it was rooted in real, logical reasons. I also adored the portrayal of her younger self—fighting neighbor bullies, lying about being an orphan. Her character felt fully fleshed out. I’ve always been a fan of Park Bo Young, and I’m glad she’s stepped away from just rom-coms and fantasy into more grounded, slice-of-life roles.
• The older brother. I’ve followed Kim Jae Wook since the early 2000s, so seeing him here added an extra layer of enjoyment. His character brought depth and pushed the protagonist’s growth in a meaningful way.
Things I struggled with:
While many people loved the second lead couple, I personally had a harder time connecting with their story. It started off strong but eventually felt redundant. He clearly wasn’t over the breakup, and she only stepped away because she was burned out—classic young love where you give everything and lose yourself in the process.
By the time she came back, it felt like she had a hidden agenda—like she wanted to help him succeed and still loved him but was not planning on getting back together.
Honestly, the last two episodes were kind of a blur for me, mostly because the second couple’s storyline took center stage, and it just didn’t hold my attention the same way.
To conclude, Melo Movie wasn’t just a slow-paced love story—it was a love letter to film, to memory, and to that quiet kind of connection that doesn’t need grand gestures to feel meaningful. It reminded me of why I used to love K-dramas in the first place. The subtle emotions, the attention to detail, and the quiet moments that linger—those were all here, and they hit just right.
It’s not a perfect series, and there were parts I struggled with, especially the second couple’s arc toward the end. But even with that, the story stuck with me. I didn’t rush through this one. I let it sit. And maybe that’s the kind of drama Melo Movie is—something you don’t binge, but something you feel.
If you’ve ever loved movies or miss the kind of storytelling that feels personal and a little nostalgic, this might be the drama to pull you in too.
Was this review helpful to you?
