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Why Nice to Not Meet You is the Success We Didn't Expect
If you’ve been keeping up with the K-drama scene lately, you know that Nice to Not Meet You was basically the talk of the town, and for a lot of different reasons. It just wrapped up its run, and honestly, it left a much bigger impact than I think anyone expected when the first teasers dropped. I think the reason this drama ended up a standout, despite its rocky start, is that it is a drama that breaks prejudices. It’s a powerful reminder that we often decide who people are before we even know them. The core message is clear: love and human connection aren't limited by age or public image.
When it comes to the acting, it’s really a masterclass in how to handle a risky pairing. Rather than playing it safe, the lead actors leaned into the awkwardness, making the performances feel incredibly grounded despite the plot's sitcom-style chaos.
After years of intense, high-stakes roles like in Squid Game, seeing him in a rom-com was unexpected, but it worked shockingly well. He played Im Hyun-jun with this weary, I’ve seen it all energy. He didn't just act like a star; he acted like a star who was bored with being a star. He was brilliant at portraying a celebrity's toddler tantrums while keeping the character likable. His eyes did most of the work. You could see the genuine panic when he was recognized in public and that soft, almost nostalgic longing whenever he spoke to his anonymous Soul Inside partner. He portrayed Hyun-jun not as a suave hero but as a slightly out-of-touch man seeking a real connection.
I must say, she had the more challenging job. She had to transition from a serious political reporter to a chaotic entertainment journalist without making it feel like a caricature. She brought a sharp, prickly intensity to Wi Jeong-sin that we loved in her past villain roles (The Glory), but softened it with incredible comedic timing. Her portrayal centered on the internal battle. She portrayed Jeong-sin as someone physically pained by having to care about celebrity gossip. The way she gradually let her guard down, moving from "I hate the man but fangirl the TV character" to "I’m becoming a fan of the man," was subtle and didn't feel like she lost her edge. She proved she’s just as good at making you laugh as she is at making you fear her.
Of course, I cannot write this review without addressing the age gap controversy. When the casting of Lee Jung-jae (52) and Lim Ji-yeon (35) was announced, the internet had thoughts. Some people were downright nasty about it, acting as if older men aren't allowed to fall in love or that this doesn’t happen in real life. However, the drama totally flipped the script. Instead of ignoring the age difference, the show leaned into it. It portrayed a mature, adult romance that didn't rely on youthful tropes. It focused on two professionals in their respective fields dealing with midlife crises and career fatigue. By the time the finale aired, the ratings proved the haters wrong. It consistently topped its time slot, hitting peaks of over 5% to 6% (solid for a cable rom-com) and dominating the Top 10 lists on Prime Video internationally. People stopped seeing the age gap and started seeing the characters, and that is what success looks like.
Finally, I have to talk about the supporting cast, who made the show that much more enjoyable. Jeon Seong-woo, as the writer/director, Park Byeong-gi, was a highlight. He was often the only rational person on screen, and his deadpan reactions to the leads' drama were comedic gold. Then there was Choi Guy-hwa. His chemistry with Lee Jung-jae as the long-suffering manager was perfect. He portrayed a manager's loyalty with the perfect mix of exhaustion and genuine affection.
In closing, what made Nice to Not Meet you shine is the brilliant performances; the actors took a script that could have been a "so-so" rom-com and turned it into a genuine character study. By choosing to be authentic rather than pretty, Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon proved that talent and chemistry have no age limit. They didn't just play the characters; they humanized the entire industry. I highly recommend this drama to those who are open-minded and are interested in a genuinely good work of fiction. It challenges you to look past the surface and appreciate the storytelling for what it truly is.
When it comes to the acting, it’s really a masterclass in how to handle a risky pairing. Rather than playing it safe, the lead actors leaned into the awkwardness, making the performances feel incredibly grounded despite the plot's sitcom-style chaos.
After years of intense, high-stakes roles like in Squid Game, seeing him in a rom-com was unexpected, but it worked shockingly well. He played Im Hyun-jun with this weary, I’ve seen it all energy. He didn't just act like a star; he acted like a star who was bored with being a star. He was brilliant at portraying a celebrity's toddler tantrums while keeping the character likable. His eyes did most of the work. You could see the genuine panic when he was recognized in public and that soft, almost nostalgic longing whenever he spoke to his anonymous Soul Inside partner. He portrayed Hyun-jun not as a suave hero but as a slightly out-of-touch man seeking a real connection.
I must say, she had the more challenging job. She had to transition from a serious political reporter to a chaotic entertainment journalist without making it feel like a caricature. She brought a sharp, prickly intensity to Wi Jeong-sin that we loved in her past villain roles (The Glory), but softened it with incredible comedic timing. Her portrayal centered on the internal battle. She portrayed Jeong-sin as someone physically pained by having to care about celebrity gossip. The way she gradually let her guard down, moving from "I hate the man but fangirl the TV character" to "I’m becoming a fan of the man," was subtle and didn't feel like she lost her edge. She proved she’s just as good at making you laugh as she is at making you fear her.
Of course, I cannot write this review without addressing the age gap controversy. When the casting of Lee Jung-jae (52) and Lim Ji-yeon (35) was announced, the internet had thoughts. Some people were downright nasty about it, acting as if older men aren't allowed to fall in love or that this doesn’t happen in real life. However, the drama totally flipped the script. Instead of ignoring the age difference, the show leaned into it. It portrayed a mature, adult romance that didn't rely on youthful tropes. It focused on two professionals in their respective fields dealing with midlife crises and career fatigue. By the time the finale aired, the ratings proved the haters wrong. It consistently topped its time slot, hitting peaks of over 5% to 6% (solid for a cable rom-com) and dominating the Top 10 lists on Prime Video internationally. People stopped seeing the age gap and started seeing the characters, and that is what success looks like.
Finally, I have to talk about the supporting cast, who made the show that much more enjoyable. Jeon Seong-woo, as the writer/director, Park Byeong-gi, was a highlight. He was often the only rational person on screen, and his deadpan reactions to the leads' drama were comedic gold. Then there was Choi Guy-hwa. His chemistry with Lee Jung-jae as the long-suffering manager was perfect. He portrayed a manager's loyalty with the perfect mix of exhaustion and genuine affection.
In closing, what made Nice to Not Meet you shine is the brilliant performances; the actors took a script that could have been a "so-so" rom-com and turned it into a genuine character study. By choosing to be authentic rather than pretty, Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon proved that talent and chemistry have no age limit. They didn't just play the characters; they humanized the entire industry. I highly recommend this drama to those who are open-minded and are interested in a genuinely good work of fiction. It challenges you to look past the surface and appreciate the storytelling for what it truly is.
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