starlit-dramas

I feel the exact same, unfortunately. :// I can always suspend my disbelief to a certain extent with fiction, but I feel like this episode really stretched my limit on that.

Lord of the Rings could have been told in one sentence: "A hobbit travelled to Mordor to drop an evil ring in a volcano." – but if it was told with ultimate brevity and efficiency in mind, there wouldn't have been time for Tolkien to delve more into the horrors of war, or flex his linguist nerd brain.

I personally really appreciate the time this story's taken for its characters to breathe. I think it would be a very different story if they'd rushed through certain plot points. It is, at it's core, a character-driven story – and I think it's nice to have stories that tease and takes their time in an otherwise seemingly endless world of instant gratification and short-form content stripped to the bone.

I'm really looking forward to these last two episodes. I hope they live up to everything that's come before. ♡

I think it's really good! I like dramas that tend to be on the slower end / slice-of-life, but I think different elements (psychology of being an idol / a fan, the romance, the mystery) might appeal to those who don't. I'd say this is a drama that's high on angst, moderate on tension / suspicion – but it also feels very warm and grounded. A solid 9/10 for me so far; possibly a 9.5 or an 8.5 depending on how it lands the ending.

I hadn't thought about how their different levels of dating experience are showing, but you're so right! I love them; they're a couple that radiate ultimate warmth and safety to me.

I'd be very impressed if a cat or dog said in words that they liked me, I'm ngl.

I don't know why – but that one scene in ep. 9 where Ra-Ik was washing dishes, and he said "Ordinary moments are the hardest to have." really struck me. Maybe due to personal circumstances recently, but I've been feeling really grateful even when I'm able to sit down with the people I love and drink hot chocolate together – or when I'm able to go to places with friends and live my life in ways I never thought I'd be able to. When you've been in a dark place for a long time or you've felt stuck for a while, I think it's the rare tiny, perfect and ordinary moments that can really make a big difference.

My own personal prediction is that the intenal friction between the leads was resolved with the very very brief separation in ep. 7, and I think the bulk of their issues are over – but I think there's going to be another "dark night of the soul" moment for them around the ep.10-11 mark that comes from external conflict.

I definitely think the whole "idol in a relationship" thing is goimg to come jo at some point, but I honestly think – since Se-Na's used to being public lightning rod no.1, and I think Ra-Ik would give up being an idol a thousand times over if it came to a choice between her and that lifestyle – I don't think it's going to be a huge issue between them. I think it could impact public perception of the case and maybe cause some drama with that, but I think they're going to be stable in that, iykwim. I think THE major conflict will be Se-Na and the prick prosecutor's battle for Ra-Ik's freedom now.

Fr it's maddening; it feels like people are almost willingly disengaging with media across the board. I truly couldn't count the number of so-called "hot takes" I've seen about this drama that are just straight-up illogic. I think covid stunting relational maturity 🤝 widespread "just give them a screen" neglect for the past decade or so 🤝 scrolling / short form content culture 🤝 over-reliance on AI 🤝 general apathy to thinking – has all REALLY done a number on media comprehension. I do feel like there have been a good number of people ready & willing to talk about it and discuss it in earnest on here and other places, though, which has been nice.

I'm sure she won't mind your ire if you don't. 😂 Trust her though; so far in my opinion (though I can't speak for later on), it's been very good. I hope you enjoy it too. <3

I want to report to y'all that my miniature poodle is absolutely HOOKED on this drama. She's a pretty hyperactive and troublesome one year old who loves to leap into all sorts of problematic places (like tables, desks, windowsills, etc.), but her eyes were GLUED to the screen when we watched it together earlier. I wonder who she thinks the murderer is... 🤔

Oh yeahhhh, I ought to get around to those sometime!

RIP Agatha Christie, you would've LOVED Idol I 😔

That's so sweet!! Thank you. ♡

Though I'm no natural detective (more just along for the ride); I love how this drama is keeping me on my toes when it comes to the mystery 💀 I'm still second guessing almost EVERYBODY but the leads at this point

Not so far, no.

Can I ALSO just say that I love how the pace their stories are unfolding match with their characterisations? Like – we already know a lot about La-Ik, which makes sense, as the mystery is in large part found in his history; but it also aligns with how he's portrayed to be a bad actor, how he's very impulsive and acts rashly. In a lot of ways, in his personal life he's an open book. He doesn't really regard privacy (or his safety) as a given right – even the times he withheld information to his own detriment, it was often for the sake of somebody else – and it's demonstrated as well as said that he finds it hard to draw that line between his professional and personal life.

Se-Na, on the other hand, easily brushes away anything remotely touching on personal. She is a tried-and-true professional, and every single one of her personal desires are pushed way down. She'll say that she's taking on hard cases for the money – but really, it'll be because of an internal debt she feels she owes. There's a strong sense of internal obligation; every act of kindness is paid back many times over, but she would never willingly admit to that. People speculate that she's a machine because she doesn't like to let anything show. Any time La-Ik, the person who's the most likely person to tear these walls down, asks her questions, she can barely answer – I'd argue that's not only to make him comfortable, or to draw professional boundaries (though of course those are factors), but also because she also feels more comfortable that way, not letting anyone in.

I'd argue this is in large part why she got so hung up on La-Ik from that encounter when they were younger. Both that strong sense of internal obligation in what she owes kindness, mixed in with a teenage infatuation (heightened by traumatic circumstances) – and because she doesn't want to let anybody in. It was safer for her to "love" the idea of him from a distant memory than face the idea of being truly known to anyone.

At this point, I think La-Ik is the only one she really would open up to; just like I think her patience, compassion, and relentless pursuit of justice – especially when he doesn't believe he deserves any of it – will be what opens him up to being himself around her. We find out about her at almost the same pace as he does – and I don't know whether any of this is an intentional set of choices in the storytelling, but I find it all so incredibly fitting.

Not so far, but it's only midway through right now.

Obviouslyyyyy I'm obsessed with everything about this drama so far, on a technical and emotional level – but can I just pause real quick to appreciate how GOOD Se-Na's suits are? They look sooooo amazing on her. I just love them (and her).

I feel the exact same way. The hard part is the waiting – but I also like the anticipatory build that comes with the story unfolding over time. I love the characters; how rounded and flawed the mains are while still wanting to ultimately do good, and be good to someone. I agree that the drama's doing a really good job of fleshing them out so far.

I completely agree; I think her knowing him through an action of his will absolutely be key to his "People only love the idol La-Ik / Only the product is deserving of love" mentality. He gave her something very real when she needed it most, and she's returning that exact feeing back to him now. I think (hope) he's going to end up seeing it like that eventually. As an aside I honestly really love seeing your comments on here. 💯 10/10 top quality commentary fr.