Idol I is a very quiet character-study disguised as a mix of murder mystery and romantic comedy. And while the fun twists keep the audience in constant suspense and well-engaged, the drama’s social commentary of the kpop idol industry, the depth of the characters and their search for their own identity, as well the calmness of life away from loneliness that the world has given them, is the real heart of the story.
Because alongside the tension of a rather well-executed “who done it” mystery, the drama also offers critique about the idol industry, that unhealthy one-sided intimacy and connection that often forms between kpop fans and their favorite idols that make products out of these people and the companies that use that for their own benefit. And unlike some other dramas that have attempted such an approach or similar social commentary goes Idol I deep enough within the topic for it to be satisfactory within the story.
It is this social criticism that is the driving force of the story; drives the plot forward and sets key events in motion until the end where it hesitates a bit too suddenly. But at its core, the center of the story is these two lonely individuals who manage to find trust and hope in each other, in different ways and under different circumstances, when all else fails.
These characters seem very real and tangible, interpreted with a real emotional maturity and heart that makes their struggles recognizable and heartbreaking. Despite the great tension and stakes that the mystery highlights, the characters stay firmly grounded and never get too clichéd.
The narrative is effective and sharp but seems to also knows when to slow down for good, important character moments. The pace serves the emotional depth of the drama rather well and therefore manages to tackle both the theme of the story as well as the twists within the story with good sincerity and without relying too much on predictable tropes.
The romance is there, but it mostly simmers quietly in the background and never rises to a general rolling-boil, which fits very well with the story that this drama is trying to tell. The tone is rather melancholy but manages to strike a light chord from time to time, giving the audience enough time to reflect on the characters’ loss of identity, the pressure, and the emotional cost of being an idol without it feeling too depressing.
Raik’s feelings for Sena are perhaps a little too quickly revealed, making their romantic relationship a bit hasty within an otherwise rather coherent story – but that’s probably because of how few numbers of episodes kdramas get these days.
In general, Idol I strikes a strong balance between dramatic events, the emotional weight of the characters and even the light humor without having too much tonal change within the story. The story therefore has a lot of heart, keeping relatively good pace with a clean, concise narrative and a well-structured plot despite the limited number of episodes it gets to tell its story. Each episode offers an exciting storyline that makes the viewer excited for more and despite the interesting mystery, the story never forgets to focus on the inner conflicts of the characters and the heart of the story even if it does falter on the theme during the second half.
Because alongside the tension of a rather well-executed “who done it” mystery, the drama also offers critique about the idol industry, that unhealthy one-sided intimacy and connection that often forms between kpop fans and their favorite idols that make products out of these people and the companies that use that for their own benefit. And unlike some other dramas that have attempted such an approach or similar social commentary goes Idol I deep enough within the topic for it to be satisfactory within the story.
It is this social criticism that is the driving force of the story; drives the plot forward and sets key events in motion until the end where it hesitates a bit too suddenly. But at its core, the center of the story is these two lonely individuals who manage to find trust and hope in each other, in different ways and under different circumstances, when all else fails.
These characters seem very real and tangible, interpreted with a real emotional maturity and heart that makes their struggles recognizable and heartbreaking. Despite the great tension and stakes that the mystery highlights, the characters stay firmly grounded and never get too clichéd.
The narrative is effective and sharp but seems to also knows when to slow down for good, important character moments. The pace serves the emotional depth of the drama rather well and therefore manages to tackle both the theme of the story as well as the twists within the story with good sincerity and without relying too much on predictable tropes.
The romance is there, but it mostly simmers quietly in the background and never rises to a general rolling-boil, which fits very well with the story that this drama is trying to tell. The tone is rather melancholy but manages to strike a light chord from time to time, giving the audience enough time to reflect on the characters’ loss of identity, the pressure, and the emotional cost of being an idol without it feeling too depressing.
Raik’s feelings for Sena are perhaps a little too quickly revealed, making their romantic relationship a bit hasty within an otherwise rather coherent story – but that’s probably because of how few numbers of episodes kdramas get these days.
In general, Idol I strikes a strong balance between dramatic events, the emotional weight of the characters and even the light humor without having too much tonal change within the story. The story therefore has a lot of heart, keeping relatively good pace with a clean, concise narrative and a well-structured plot despite the limited number of episodes it gets to tell its story. Each episode offers an exciting storyline that makes the viewer excited for more and despite the interesting mystery, the story never forgets to focus on the inner conflicts of the characters and the heart of the story even if it does falter on the theme during the second half.
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