Kim MC

The cast delivered phenomenal performances, but the writing is where things fell apart for me. Dangerous Liaisons is, at its core, a story about upper‑class boredom, greed, and the redemption of a man who finally understands the purity of genuine human love. Unfortunately, this adaptation tries to humanize the female antagonist, Lady Cho Yun, and ultimately pushes the viewer to sympathize with her. Writers, please understand: audiences can grasp a character’s motivations without having their darker traits softened. When you blur those lines, the story loses its bite — and I hated that.

And then there’s the ending. Cho Won (played by Ji Chang Wook) throws himself off a boat because he’s torn between two women and sees no escape from the life he’s built or the desires that trap him. That choice undermines what could have been a powerful redemptive arc — one where he chooses innocence and sincerity over manipulation and sadistic games.

This show had so much potential, but the muddled storyline really derailed it. The only reason it earned a 7.5 from me was the acting, which was a solid 10. Otherwise, I’d probably still be ranting.