This review may contain spoilers
Dear X: A Brilliant Psychological Study of an Unpunished Villain
"Dear X" is a drama that, from its title onward, subtly deceives us. For those seeking a story of redemption or healing love, this is not the place. This drama was never about romance; it was, from the first minute to the last, a fascinating and audacious portrait of a sociopath in action.
The protagonist, flawlessly portrayed by the dazzling Kim Yoo Jung, is a master manipulator. The drama clearly shows how she uses every tool at her disposal: her circumstances, her calculating personality, and, most notably, her beauty. Kim Yoo Jung is not only gorgeous, but her character wields that beauty like a precise weapon to disarm, confuse, and dominate those around her.
Watching her operate was a source of perverse satisfaction. Every time she got away with it so cynically, I couldn't help but smile in astonishment. However, the narrative is so powerful that on multiple occasions I thought, "Someone has to stop her!" That's where its brilliance lies.
I'm no psychologist, but the character is constructed with chilling precision. Beyond the "bad" label, we see a narcissistic, egocentric woman with a deep tendency toward victimhood (Yes, adding that he had a terrible childhood). Her greatest disorder, perhaps, is her absolute inability to see the damage she causes; she feels no remorse because, in her distorted reality, her actions are never wrong. Even the ending, where she ends up with a man who is her pathological reflection, demonstrates this: instead of taking responsibility, she throws a tantrum and blames life, never her own decisions.
I love psychologically complex characters. She's a pure villain, who will never love anyone but herself (perhaps the one he showed the most consideration was Kim Jae Oh, but that's because this character gave everything, even his life, without blinking and without morally questioning it, unlike the other boys) and the drama has the courage to maintain that until the very end. That's why the ending seemed perfect to me: she survives and never pays for her actions. It's the logical and coherent conclusion for someone whose only morality is self-interest.
In short: "Dear X" is a bold, unsettling, and brilliant drama for those who enjoy dark psychological analysis, an unethical yet irresistible protagonist, and a story that dares to break all the molds of the "fair ending." Highly recommended if you're looking for something out of the ordinary.
The protagonist, flawlessly portrayed by the dazzling Kim Yoo Jung, is a master manipulator. The drama clearly shows how she uses every tool at her disposal: her circumstances, her calculating personality, and, most notably, her beauty. Kim Yoo Jung is not only gorgeous, but her character wields that beauty like a precise weapon to disarm, confuse, and dominate those around her.
Watching her operate was a source of perverse satisfaction. Every time she got away with it so cynically, I couldn't help but smile in astonishment. However, the narrative is so powerful that on multiple occasions I thought, "Someone has to stop her!" That's where its brilliance lies.
I'm no psychologist, but the character is constructed with chilling precision. Beyond the "bad" label, we see a narcissistic, egocentric woman with a deep tendency toward victimhood (Yes, adding that he had a terrible childhood). Her greatest disorder, perhaps, is her absolute inability to see the damage she causes; she feels no remorse because, in her distorted reality, her actions are never wrong. Even the ending, where she ends up with a man who is her pathological reflection, demonstrates this: instead of taking responsibility, she throws a tantrum and blames life, never her own decisions.
I love psychologically complex characters. She's a pure villain, who will never love anyone but herself (perhaps the one he showed the most consideration was Kim Jae Oh, but that's because this character gave everything, even his life, without blinking and without morally questioning it, unlike the other boys) and the drama has the courage to maintain that until the very end. That's why the ending seemed perfect to me: she survives and never pays for her actions. It's the logical and coherent conclusion for someone whose only morality is self-interest.
In short: "Dear X" is a bold, unsettling, and brilliant drama for those who enjoy dark psychological analysis, an unethical yet irresistible protagonist, and a story that dares to break all the molds of the "fair ending." Highly recommended if you're looking for something out of the ordinary.
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