winterinjuly

I didn't think I'd enjoy this at all at first, but it really picked up and conveyed the themes in a fun, quirky way.

Virtual reality dating/idealisation seem like they can protect you from disappointment, slow-burn, trying over and over again, missed timings, meeting the wrong person, the pain of breakups, making yourself appealing to others on first dates,, etc.. Real love is awkward a lot of the time and people make mistakes while expressing themselves in the pursuit of romance, but in the end that's what love is, and these many feelings that come with love and dating make us feel alive and human. That's the message I got from this drama and my overall stance on AI.

Chemistry between the main leads is just okay, though I really like In-guk's character. The office romance part is written quite well - how ML maintains professional boundaries while expressing his feelings with small actions and relying on "chance encounters" :)

I'd recommend the movie Materialists (2025) for those who enjoyed this one, as it is pretty similar in theme.