Maritza

Before starting any review, I do like to thank the writers, producers, actors and the rest of the cast as well as people involved with this drama in any capacity, for their hard work. Thank you.

As I have finished this drama mere minutes ago, my thoughts might seem jumbled and out of place in some parts, but please bear with me as I do have a lot to say.

Let us start off with the good. I have been one of the most fervent advocates for more morally grey/villanous FEMALE leads in dramas for years now. Some of my favorite dramas and movies("Hyena", "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance") sport this exact type of lead and I am always glad to see a representation of this type of character, when done well. And in "Dear X", it was done exceptionally well. I do genuinely find the character of Baek Ahjin intriguing, beguiling, eerie and frustrating at times. And I want MORE. Kim Yoo Jung, an actress I, admittedly, dismissed for most of my KDrama watcher timeline, proved me wrong and came back swinging. Whether that was a pun or not, you decide. Her abilities shine here in ways most other of her projects don`t warrant. She should really consider building a core audience in this genre, for it does test her limitations and plays around with her talent. And what we get as a result is a brilliant depiction of a broken person, a survivor and a sociopath. Almost everyone`s acting across the board is great, they do really bring their A game to this project and the direction, especially in the first four episodes, is tight, fast paced and exceptional.

Kim Young Dae has been getting flack for his lackluster acting for years now and, in a general sense, I would agree with the sentiment. He is also often typecast. In some ways, his character of Jun Seo follows his well practiced lines of stoic behavior, often dry delivery and all that. And yet...his interpretation of a deeply flawed person with a savior complex, twisted enough to follow Ahjin, no matter the level of toxicity their relationship entails...is absolutely awesome to watch. With very small tweaks to his formula, the male lead of this drama becomes someone emotionally stunted with good intentions and a flawed way of implementing them.

As for Kim Do, he has his usual shtick of charisma and it is always a joy to see him on my screen. His character, Jae Oh, a good guy coming from a broken family, yearning to protect his younger brother, and thus ending up a convict, is a tragic one. But a lovely addition all the same.

Technically, this whole drama feels like a character study of its lead character Baek Ahjin, a commentary on the state of the entertainment industry as a whole, and a SOMEWHAT soapy intepretation of a problematic lead. Baek Ahjin is the Sun. And depending on who you are in this story, you either breathe for her or get burned beyond recognition. Honestly, I could write a dissertation about damn near every relationship Ahjin has with one character or the other, and how at times, it reminded me of Junji Ito`s Tomio in the way people revered or hated her. Ahjin can become an obsession, your own personal monster or a goddess you serve. And that`s the tumultuous beauty of this project. The directing, as I`ve mentioned before, is on point for about 80% of this drama and this is something I don`t often comment on. But here it should be commended. As for the OST, it is aptly dark, dripping with a sense of unease and ferocity, thus setting itself apart from the other contenders in its genre. I will be listening to several songs long after I forget about this drama. Some of the visuals present are absolutely haunting in the best way. First few minutes of Episode 1 prove that beyond doubt. This is one of those dramas I`m confident about being one of my favorites of 2025. This doesn`t free it from some of my criticism, so let`s get into it:

For one, I do absolutely dislike the presence, and the lackluster exploration of Baek Ahjin`s husband, CEO Moon Doo Hyuk. I find his addition waning and flat and the arc surrounding him beyond forgettable. Which is strange, once you take into account how much time we actually spend on him and his relationship with Ahjin. He needed backstory, as he lacked charisma to rely on mystery and enigma alone. I understand what they were going for with him. It just didn`t pan out.
Secondly, the last few episodes do lose the magic first...eight hold? Some plotlines feel rushed, some feel unnecessary and drawn out(Jun Seo`s mom) and some are downright left hanging. That is to say, this drama should have had 16 episodes. And this is my first time saying this. There are some moments of overacting I didn`t find believable, mostly coming from Kim Ji Kyung, who plays Seong Hee, one of Ahjin`s high school frenemies?bullies? Who`s to know. There are also some instances of overly convenient timing and convenience, but all that falls into shadow if you buy into the premise of the Baek Ahjin`s world. And I did.

For my closing thoughts, I find this drama utterly entertaining throughout. Carnal and fastidious, yet electric. Despite its flaws, it`s one of the few that kept my attention and repaid the time I invested. I would recommend it to everyone looking for something different, especially if you like your leads just a tad...twisted.