This review may contain spoilers
A Journey That Never Truly Began
I started My Lovely Journey with high expectations since slice of life is my favourite genre, and with both leads coming from their popular projects Karma and The Judge from Hell, Gong Seung Yeon and Kim Jae-Young’s pairing instantly caught my attention.
On paper, it had all the right ingredients for a heartfelt, emotional story: a former idol struggling with unfulfilled dreams, a mysterious wealthy male lead hiding something beneath the surface, and a touching, almost father-daughter bond between the female lead and her company’s CEO.
It could have been a beautiful exploration of personal growth and connection, about each character’s journey and the one they take together. I truly believe that’s what the show intended to do, but unfortunately, it just never got there.
I understand they’re setting things up for Season 2, but even so, there has to be something in Season 1 that makes viewers want to come back. I kept watching every episode, hoping this one would finally kickstart the story, but I was disappointed every single time.
The pacing is painfully slow, and instead of feeling introspective, it often just feels empty. The subtle hints of romance that go nowhere made me feel silly for expecting anything to develop. Even the acting felt flat, leaving nothing memorable to hold onto by the end.
That said, the show did have a few moments that genuinely moved me. Whenever the female lead traveled on behalf of other people, discovering their stories and helping them find closure, those scenes carried an emotional weight that felt sincere and touching. Those little stories within the story were some of the few parts that actually captured the warmth and heartbreak a slice-of-life drama should have. Other redeeming qualities are the beautiful cinematography and stunning visuals, but without a meaningful story or standout performances, it all feels like a waste of potential.
Still, I’m rating it a bit higher because I’m clinging to the hope that they disappointed us with Season 1 only to make it up with a much better Season 2.
On paper, it had all the right ingredients for a heartfelt, emotional story: a former idol struggling with unfulfilled dreams, a mysterious wealthy male lead hiding something beneath the surface, and a touching, almost father-daughter bond between the female lead and her company’s CEO.
It could have been a beautiful exploration of personal growth and connection, about each character’s journey and the one they take together. I truly believe that’s what the show intended to do, but unfortunately, it just never got there.
I understand they’re setting things up for Season 2, but even so, there has to be something in Season 1 that makes viewers want to come back. I kept watching every episode, hoping this one would finally kickstart the story, but I was disappointed every single time.
The pacing is painfully slow, and instead of feeling introspective, it often just feels empty. The subtle hints of romance that go nowhere made me feel silly for expecting anything to develop. Even the acting felt flat, leaving nothing memorable to hold onto by the end.
That said, the show did have a few moments that genuinely moved me. Whenever the female lead traveled on behalf of other people, discovering their stories and helping them find closure, those scenes carried an emotional weight that felt sincere and touching. Those little stories within the story were some of the few parts that actually captured the warmth and heartbreak a slice-of-life drama should have. Other redeeming qualities are the beautiful cinematography and stunning visuals, but without a meaningful story or standout performances, it all feels like a waste of potential.
Still, I’m rating it a bit higher because I’m clinging to the hope that they disappointed us with Season 1 only to make it up with a much better Season 2.
Was this review helpful to you?
