Nelly

There are a few things I generally steer clear of in life, like surprise pop quizzes and, in the drama world, anything heavy on time travel or fantasy tropes. Yet, as a card-carrying member of the Seo In Guk fan club, my radar is always pinging for his latest ventures. So, as you can imagine, Doom at Your Service and I had a bit of a dance, with me mostly doing the dodging. But, wouldn't you know it, I finally caved. And let me tell you, my friends, I'm genuinely happy I did, because it's been ages since a drama earned a solid 5 stars from me.

Now, time travel. It's a tricky beast, easily fumbled into a confusing mess that leaves viewers more distressed than entertained. But this one? It was handled with such a soft touch, it felt less like a brain-twister and more like a gentle stroll. I particularly appreciated that the writer didn't get twisted down in the mechanics of crossing worlds, instead pouring their efforts into truly developing the heartwarming romance between Doom and his fated counterpart.

This story, was so utterly captivating that other dramas I was watching got unceremoniously shoved aside. My brain willingly sank into its depths. It’s packed with life lessons, cleverly exploring intricacy between divinity, humanity, and the curveballs life throws our way. Choices, sacrifices, it's all there. But the absolute biggest takeaway? The sheer, undeniable power of love. Turns out, love has the capacity to transform even doom itself into a mere mortal. Who knew?

On a separate, yet equally delightful note, I’ve been on a personal quest to find a drama where Lee Soo Hyuk isn't playing a demon, a villain, or, heaven forbid, a vampire. And voila! My search is over. He’s ridiculously funny and witty here, without even breaking a sweat. As for Park Bo Young, this was my first rodeo with her, and I'm pretty sure she's about to join my ever-growing list of favorite actresses. And let’s not forget Kang Tae Ah, Shin Do Hyun, and Da Woon, they were impressive and brought a much-needed splash of fun to what could have been a rather weighty topic.

All in all, I genuinely adored Doom at Your Service. It's even made me reconsider my staunch opposition to time travel and spiritual world tropes, a crack in the armor created, perhaps, by The Eternal King: Monarch and Goblin (which, confession time, I still haven't finished). My only gripe, the singular thorn in an otherwise perfect rose, was the second lead's love triangle. It munched on precious screen time that, frankly, belonged to our main couple.

For the fantasy-phobes and time-travel skeptic like me, who usually find these tropes as appealing as juggling three balls blindfolded. Trust me, this show was practically written with you in mind. 10/10 recommends.