Fast cases & Flat emotions
I am currently on episode 32 of Coroner’s Diary, and I have to admit this drama has been a letdown. What started as an interesting concept slowly became more and more dull. I was initially drawn in by the historical setting, the promise of forensic mystery-solving, and the female lead playing a princess. Unfortunately, the execution left a lot to be desired.
The more I watched, the more I realized this is not really a case-driven mystery drama. Instead, it leans more toward being an idol romance drama centered around the main couple. I can understand why it’s rated higher by some if people love the lead actors as a pairing, that might be enough for them. But for me, it lacked substance.
From the beginning, the female lead is handed opportunity after opportunity without much effort. She saves the Empress Dowager once and somehow becomes a princess by episode 24. The male lead, too, faces little to no struggle. They are both portrayed as near-perfect characters with no real depth or conflict, which made it hard to stay invested in their journey. I am like at this point why watch this show?
The biggest issue for me is how quickly the cases are solved. Each investigation is wrapped up with little to no suspense or buildup. There is no time for the tension to grow or for the stakes to feel real. Everything happens so fast that it becomes repetitive and predictable. It started to feel like background noise rather than something I was excited to keep up with.
The female lead’s performance felt flat. No matter the situation, her emotional range stayed the same. Her reactions rarely changed whether she was solving a case or experiencing a significant moment. It made it hard to connect with her character or care about her journey. I expected a stronger presence from someone playing a royal role.
The romance was also disappointing. There was no real chemistry or meaningful development between the leads. Their connection felt shallow, and their scenes together lacked emotion. It felt like the romance was just added in without much thought.
Side characters felt forgettable and underdeveloped. Many of them seemed like they were added to fill space rather than enhance the story. I had trouble remembering who was who because they made so little impact.
Visually, the drama has moments that look decent, but the lighting and styling often felt awkward. It did not give me that immersive period drama feeling I usually enjoy.
Overall, Coroner’s Diary had all the right ingredients on the surface, but the rushed pacing, flat performances, and lack of emotional and narrative depth made it a very boring watch for me. I kept hoping it would get better, but by episode 32, it just never did.
The more I watched, the more I realized this is not really a case-driven mystery drama. Instead, it leans more toward being an idol romance drama centered around the main couple. I can understand why it’s rated higher by some if people love the lead actors as a pairing, that might be enough for them. But for me, it lacked substance.
From the beginning, the female lead is handed opportunity after opportunity without much effort. She saves the Empress Dowager once and somehow becomes a princess by episode 24. The male lead, too, faces little to no struggle. They are both portrayed as near-perfect characters with no real depth or conflict, which made it hard to stay invested in their journey. I am like at this point why watch this show?
The biggest issue for me is how quickly the cases are solved. Each investigation is wrapped up with little to no suspense or buildup. There is no time for the tension to grow or for the stakes to feel real. Everything happens so fast that it becomes repetitive and predictable. It started to feel like background noise rather than something I was excited to keep up with.
The female lead’s performance felt flat. No matter the situation, her emotional range stayed the same. Her reactions rarely changed whether she was solving a case or experiencing a significant moment. It made it hard to connect with her character or care about her journey. I expected a stronger presence from someone playing a royal role.
The romance was also disappointing. There was no real chemistry or meaningful development between the leads. Their connection felt shallow, and their scenes together lacked emotion. It felt like the romance was just added in without much thought.
Side characters felt forgettable and underdeveloped. Many of them seemed like they were added to fill space rather than enhance the story. I had trouble remembering who was who because they made so little impact.
Visually, the drama has moments that look decent, but the lighting and styling often felt awkward. It did not give me that immersive period drama feeling I usually enjoy.
Overall, Coroner’s Diary had all the right ingredients on the surface, but the rushed pacing, flat performances, and lack of emotional and narrative depth made it a very boring watch for me. I kept hoping it would get better, but by episode 32, it just never did.
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