bea

Let me start by saying: I have never disliked a drama this much. Ever. And I sat through all 12 episodes, every painful, mind-numbing, chemistry-devoid minute of it. I had hope. I tried. I even put it on 2x speed, but honestly, that wasn’t enough. By episode 9, I was begging for a 4x speed option just to get it over with.

From the very first episode, My Dearest Nemesis set itself up to be a rom-com, but let me tell you, there is neither romance nor comedy in this show. The so-called comedic moments felt like they were written by someone who had only ever read the Wikipedia summary of what humor is. The jokes weren’t just unfunny—they were awkward, forced and seen so many times. Wow, boyfriend doesn't know how to drill and that becomes a comedic moment. Oh, how funny. Plus, the lack of chemistry between the leads makes every interaction feel like a chore to watch.

Let’s talk about the main couple first. They have absolutely no spark. Zero. The drama tries to convince us that their constant staring contests are romantic, but there’s nothing behind those looks. If someone told me Moon Ka-young and Choi Hyun-wook had just met on set five minutes before filming, I’d believe them. I think they were just hoping the script would do the work for them. Spoiler: It didn’t. Chemistry isn’t just about locking eyes dramatically—it’s about connection and banter. I believe if the show focused more on genuine emotions like the arcade montage scene, rather than Ju-yeon just tying Su-jeong's shoelaces and then, them looking at eachother for 10 mins, the show would have been miles better. I don’t mind clichés when they’re done well, but here? It’s just one predictable, uninspired scene after another, with absolutely no unique depth to the characters. Oh, you think you can guess scenes? Babe, in this show you can even guess the dialogues, to a T.

Choi Hyun Wook (whom i loved in TW and 2521), completely falls flat in this role. Maybe it's because he’s not used to this kind of character, but his performance was painfully underwhelming. And then there's Moon Ga Young. Look, she’s undeniably pretty, but her acting? Mid at best. She struggles to emote beyond a limited range of expressions, which is especially frustrating in a drama where she has to carry emotional scenes. Her upcoming project with Lee Jong Suk? I fear for it. Truly.

Another thing that really irked me is that, Juyeon is supposed to be a 30-year-old man, yet the writers insist on infantilizing him. Drinking chocolate milk all the time? Really? I get that he’s supposed to be immature, but there are better ways to show that than making him look like a literal child. Also, the show tries to push this idea that Su-jeong is more mature because she’s older, but a four-year age gap means absolutely nothing once you’re in your 30s. They act like she’s some wise adult and he’s a clueless kid, but at their ages, that dynamic makes no sense.

Now, onto the second couple. They were supposed to be the saving grace, right? Wrong. They start off kind of promising, but then it gets weird. The male lead of the second couple jumps in to sleep with a person immediately after breaking up with his ex. Like, sir, did you even take a second to process that breakup? His feelings for the female lead start purely from lust in my opinion, how much ever he tries to convince me of "love at first sight", its not going to work. Then, suddenly, after seeing her maybe 5 times total, he’s in “love.” Where’s the emotional development? Where’s the depth? Nowhere to be found. And then—because this drama refuses to make sense—he’s ready to MARRY her after knowing her for what… a few months? The show doesn’t even provide a clear timeline, so we’re just expected to accept this rushed, shallow romance.

The Grandmother. One of the worst characters in the drama. She literally blamed a 15-year-old child for the death of her son and tormented him for years, forcing him to become this ‘perfect’ being. And then, at the very last moment, the writers try to give her some five-minute redemption arc? I don’t know who that worked on, but it did not work on me. She’s a disgusting character, and no amount of forced sentimentality can change that. She single-handedly drags this show down by at least two points.

And let’s not forget the writing. The dialogues are so painfully awkward, the plot moves at a snail’s pace while somehow feeling rushed at the same time, and the whole thing is just riddled with small, irritating flaws. Even the cinematography and editing are uninspired. There’s nothing visually unique about this drama—no aesthetic choices, no interesting shot compositions—nothing. It just exists.

I believe if a drama is marketed around gaming, it should actually embrace gaming aesthetics and themes, not just drop a reference here and there. The first episode gave a tiny spark of that potential, but then they just abandoned it for generic "nerd culture" without making gaming an actual part of their dynamic. If they had leaned into that—like showing them teaming up in a game after getting into a relationship, having a moment in a virtual world, or even some pixel-art-style editing choices—it could have made the drama feel more immersive and unique. The gaming aspect should have been a stronger foundation for their relationship rather than just an excuse to throw in nerdy collectibles. That would have made it feel like a real gamer romance rather than just another rom-com with a sprinkle of gamer buzzwords.

To be fair, the final episode was the best one for me. Most people who watched the whole drama felt it was dragged out, but honestly? It was the only time I actually felt engaged. It had a better pace, and the wrap-up was satisfying enough for those who did enjoy the show. But for me? Too little, too late.

I’ll give credit where it’s due—the OST was actually nice. That’s it. That’s all I can compliment. I’m feeling very generous giving this a 4/10, purely because of the soundtrack and maybe a few scenes that didn’t make me want to rip my hair out. But would I ever recommend this? Would I ever watch this again? Absolutely not. If I could get back the hours I wasted watching it, I would. If you’re thinking about watching it—don’t. Save yourself.

Final Verdict: If you value your time, skip this drama. Run. Don’t look back. If you’re looking for a fun, engaging rom-com, look somewhere else. Anywhere else.

Also can we talk about the blatant One Piece reference??? LMAO, that was so unserious. Just say One Piece if you’re going to do all that. "Pirate King" is literally Luffy’s dream, like come on. Show some respect to the GOAT.