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I just had to write this review because Bad Romeo hit me square in the chest with ALL the feels. This drama took me on an emotional bungee jump—from the giddy sweetness of falling in love, through the agony of betrayal and death, passed the fire of revenge and hate, and ultimately to the tearful catharsis of forgiveness and a happily ever after. It was a ride, folks, and I was not ready.

Kaokla: The Handsome Tsundere with a Tragic Past
Let’s talk about our leading man, Kaokla. Whew. What. A. Man. He starts off as the sweetest dreamboat, only to transform into a walking red flag wrapped in trauma and resentment. But, honestly? I loved every second of his descent into his brooding, vengeance-driven self. He had every right to be angry—what happened to him was horrific—and his pain was so raw and real that his bitterness toward Saikim was heartbreakingly justified. And yet, even in his darkest moments, he could never really bring himself to hurt her. That level of emotional complexity? Absolutely captivating. His transition from a golden-hearted dreamer to a revenge-fueled force of nature was mesmerizing to watch, and Mario Maurer delivered it with every ounce of intensity and nuance possible.

Saikim: Sweet, Sad, and (Eventually) Stronger
Then we have Saikim, our soft-spoken yet deeply wounded heroine. I just wanted to hug her and shake her at the same time. Raised in a loveless home with a controlling, gaslighting and toxic father and an absent mother, Saikim grew up starved for affection and riddled with self-doubt. It’s no wonder she clung to the love Kaokla offered like a lifeline. But girl, why oh why did you keep believing your father’s manipulative nonsense?! So much of her suffering—and Kaokla’s—stemmed from her giving in to her father’s lies over and over again. So frustrating. But through Kaokla, she slowly learned self-worth, courage, and how to fight for herself and her happiness. Her journey was real and raw, even if I wanted to throw things at my screen half the time.

The Villains: Evil Parents and Their Bizarre Choices
And now, the ugh part: the villains.
Saikim’s father was pure poison—manipulative, power-hungry, and outright cruel. But what really ground my gears was his rushed redemption arc in the final episode. I mean, really? After everything he did, all the lies, crimes, abuse, and destruction, we’re supposed to buy into a last-minute change of heart? Sir, no. There were no real consequences for his actions, and that left a gaping hole in the narrative’s sense of justice.
And don’t even get me started on Kaokla’s real mother—his “stepmom”. Yeah. That happened. This weird, soap-opera-level plot twist could have been compelling if handled better, but instead, it was just yuck. Although Kaokla's “stepmom” ultimately killed herself due to her guilt, I still felt that such punishment wasn't enough. I mean, she wasn’t feeling guilty about the murders and crimes she’d committed or anything, she was feeling only guilty about thinking dirty thoughts that she shouldn’t have about Kaokla... She should have paid for her crimes and truly suffered for what she did to Kaokla. The whole thing was messy, unrelatable, and unrealistic.

The Supporting Cast: The Breath of Fresh Air We Needed
Thankfully, Kaokla’s adoptive father and sister were the balm to my irritated soul. They were loving, supportive, and provided the warmth that this drama desperately needed to counterbalance all the toxicity elsewhere.
On the other hand, I wasn't really impressed with Saikim's best friend, Lita, and Kaokla's best friend, Khem. Both betrayed them, and Saikim and Kaokla forgave them too easily.

The Romance: A Masterclass in Chemistry
Let’s get to the heart of this drama: Kaokla and Saikim’s relationship. Whew. The passion. The longing. The pain. Their love was epic in every sense—sizzling chemistry, heated arguments, and moments so tender they made my heart physically ache.
Mario Maurer and Yaya Urassaya Sperbund owned their roles. Mario’s ability to shift from ice-cold resentment to soul-deep devotion was a sight to behold, and Yaya’s portrayal of Saikim’s quiet suffering and eventual strength was so moving. And the way they looked at each other? I swear my screen was steaming. The hugs, the little touches, the kisses, oh the kisses! Pure, unfiltered magic. And when they fought? It was like watching fireworks in a thunderstorm. Their push-and-pull dynamic was electric and deeply believable.

The OST: A Dreamy, Emotional Soundtrack
The soundtrack? Absolute perfection. It made me fall in love with Kaokla and Saikim all over again, every single time.

Final Verdict: A Flawed Yet Unforgettable Masterpiece
Was this drama perfect? No. The villains could have been written better, some plot points felt forced, unrealistic, and just plain gross (cough stepmom cough), and Saikim’s father’s redemption arc was laughably weak. But did this drama wreck me in the best possible way? Absolutely.

At its core, Bad Romeo is a beautifully tragic yet deeply hopeful love story. It’s about pain, healing, and the idea that love—real love—can endure the worst storms. Saikim and Kaokla are the epitome of star-crossed lovers who were ripped apart, burned by fate, and yet, against all odds, found their way back to each other.
This drama has permanently cemented itself in my all-time favorites. Would I watch it again? Unequivocally, I would emotionally devastate myself again.