Yuri Hana

love the ML's jealousy but I hope they don't spend too much time together. Tastefully Yours really ruined me with the ex being cameo to supporting cast.

Fair enough~ this drama is character driven so if you don't like the characters, you end up not liking the drama itself. Because we're aware the plot itself is thin and relies on character growth to keep it going. It worked for me. How did you keep watching? For me if I don't like the characters I end up dropping unless the plot is really intriguing (like Death Note).


As a fangirl Sena is relatable. Not perfect as seen from her reaction to the dating in the past, but she stands out for her restraint imo and that restraint helped her to see Raik as just a human being who's full of flaws.

She doesn't feel like your typical girl boss. I like my girlboss female leads that has a lot of iconic moments as much as the next viewer but there's something quietly strong and admirable about her, in her restraint especially. She's not a theatrical female lead despite her profession, and to me that's unique in its own way.

(I personally enjoyed Dynamite Kiss because the identity fraud aspect gave the restraint aspect that I enjoy, if it weren't for that, I think it would have been boring given the ML fell too fast for the FL because he saw she was kind one time and had an explosive kiss with her).

meee I am the audience. The murder aspect isn't too complicated to follow unlike proper legal/crime dramas. Still would have liked it to be less illogical.

The romance buildup wasn't overly romantic, felt kind of real to how most (introverted) people approach a new romance. Kind of subtle, more rooted in trust than physical attraction (like cough cough Dynamite Kiss) and the eventual romantic pay off wasn't over the top that it makes you just bored seeing them lovey dovey. This drama was made for people me lol

Oh wow I actually saw the poster and didn't expect a romcom vibe, coz they weren't in a "romantic" position, just standing side by side on different spectrums. It just looked like an alliance.

I do like to imagine an alternate universe where the FL didn't have to hide her fangirl identity (especially since I'm also watching the anime Tamon's B-side, that one she was full on fangirl mode, even self sabotaging at the thought of "romance" with her idol coz he's for "everyone")

but at the same time I think after seeing him in such a terrible state, even almost suicidal, being all fangirly would feel a bit insensitive? Well unless it shows that she still listens to his music while working or something. She probably did that until Raik asked her to work at the dinner table where he can see her lol I personally admire her restraint and not mixing her hobbies with the work. Once Raik was at her house, it was pretty much work 24/7. At least if he wasnt there, she wouldn't have to take down her merch.

Although I will say throughout the drama, since her fangirling was subdued, I commented that I miss her fangirling era. Coz even though after Raik found out and they made up, and she's shown to be happier. It's like the soft kind of happiness and not the crazy fangirl happy (which goes to show how much she's grown from seeing him as an idol that made her crazy happy and squeal-y to just a guy who can make her smile and heart flutter sometimes). So I thought since she dropped his idol image, maybe she could find another hobby or obsession to be crazy about lmao (and Raik can low-key be jealous about it).

Hence why I was happy towards the end, she returned to fangirling. Sena shows that just because you age, doesn't mean you have to let go of the things that made you happy. Plus, it's never affected her professionalism before so yeaaa

Anyways basically I think her restraint is admirable, and is necessary for growth. As Raik said, he wouldn't have relied on her as much if he knew she was a fan. While I do think eventually he would still like her given her kind nature, it would be an even slower burn since his perception of fans has been terrible.

But I totally get you about misleading dramas! I watched the interview with the actors before I started the drama and when the host suggested it seemed like a romcom judging from the synopsis, Sooyoung mentioned that they "have romcom elements" "mystery" but as they kept filming, it really was a love story at it's core. So I had an idea of what I was going into. Especially since they said the characters heal and grow together.

I think keeping the comedy on the subtle side was a better choice considering murder happened. A lot of knetz were already criticizing how ML could even think about love while being suspected for murder. Though I will say the heavy tone in the first 3 episodes had me surprised yet hooked? I knew someone was about to be murdered but the events before that was super dark. Surprised yet intrigued. Not expecting to feel so sad yet I did, (I think his acting sold it for me). I really felt sad for both the ML and FL, even if the ML had a terrible personality in the beginning. Hard to hate him when he deals with crazy fans almost everyday. It would make me pissy too.

Dramas with these mixed genres tend to get this criticism (I can understand why jdramas avoid their serious genres like legal/thriller with romance). Love Next Door yesss they surprised me with the dark tone. Still made me cry tho at the reveal of her illness. But I was expecting full romcom even tho I don't really like childhood friends trope.

But yea I also get you about how all this could have been avoided if the idol wasn't throwing hurtful words to the people around him. But I don't wanna be like the killer who blamed him, saying this happened because of him 😩 But it wouldn't be as interesting if he was a "perfect" victim, like no one should have a reason to frame him for murder. Him saying the list of people hating him is long, was good for the whodunnit aspect of the show.

lmaooo my obsession for this drama is definitely a 10/10 but becoz of the illogic forensics I gave it a 9.5/10. I was going through hoops defending Hyejoo because physically she wouldn't be able to stab Woosung in one go, plus "no signs of struggle" like don't give us that clue if it was just gonna be dismissed!

I know the scene with Youngbin apologizing was also supposed to be what Jaehee feels, plus Jaehee going back to the place during their debut stage and putting wishes saying "Forever one" was trying to show he loved the Gold Boys the most, it showed me he was actually a softie BUT yes I still think him apologizing would have been better than Youngbin, even tho I know he was in coma. But like, he only asked to see the prosecutor when he woke up? He should have apologised to Raik as soon as he woke up. (Also not you naming yourself Raik Akgae 😭😭 )

This show is more character-driven than plot driven so if you don't feel like rooting for their character growth, you can drop it early. For me, early episode 4 felt like it was slow until the FL's monologue about hoping she could like him from afar. the last 20 minutes was fun because the ML became more likable after having just one person trust him and he became more cooperative too.

I thought episode 4 was pretty slow until the last 20 minutes! The last 20 minutes of him turning around and FL giving it to the prosecutor was fun to watch

I think people were just rooting for him to do the right thing at least. Because he had been wishy washy about it from the beginning, whether to follow his father or follow his own conscience. I didn't like that he didn't apologise about the bullying, but I wonder if that bucket scene was a one-time event. Coz if she was bullied for a long time, I think she would recognize the prosecutor from just the name. But she didn't really recognise him until she saw the mole. I think that means he wasn't that big of a trauma in her life, it was his dad who put her father in prison in the first place. And she mostly blamed herself for not believing in her father.

That's why when ML asked about the prosecutor, she only said he was an unlucky classmate she had to be stuck with, instead of saying he was a bully.

Besides the prosecutor's father and the killer and ML's mom, I think the biggest villain is that reporter. He at least didn't get a redemption. Though I still would have liked to see Jaehee and everyone else apologise to ML for not believing in him.

Watched 2 eps , love it so far! I'm a sucker for storylines where parenting/babysitting is involved, it's so chaotic (I'm a babysitter). Also enemies to lovers trope is here, loving that too. I don't mind love triangles coz it gives more chances to see the ML jealous BUT i hope it doesn't go overboard that it affects the screentime of the two leads.

me too. if you aren't a critical viewer, i think this show is good to bingewatch casually and it'll give you good feelings towards the end. if you watched it ongoing and theorized too much on the killer, you might be disappointed lmao

exactly if i watch a drama tagged as romance I expect them to get their happy ending. if they weren't gonna get together don't put the romance tag lmao anyways give this a shot!

I was so pleasantly surprised by the development. coz in the first 3 episodes they were struggling to trust one another as lawyer/client so I was thinking if they just have a good platonic bond, with him realising she's a supportive, healthy fan, that would be nice too. then episode 4 towards the end hit me with some potential feelings on the ML side and suddenly I'm rooting for their romance lmao

lol that's what they wanted you to think in the cliffhanger for episode 11 but turns out, they do end up together!

maybe the people who didn't want romance for the ML and FL would be unsatisfied with the ending, but for me, I had never been more happy seeing the leads end up together lmao (usually when the leads get together I get bored coz I prefer the chase but these two somehow are the exception. probably coz they didn't get together too early).

It was a pretty satisfactory enough ending, wrapped up the characters arcs very nice. Maybe the time jump was a bit surprising but hey, at least it's not only 10 mins of happiness in the last episode. The final episode is like an epilogue dedicated to all the characters going on their own paths.

Aww thanks! Makes typing all that worth it lmao though I do like to imagine an alternate universe where FL was just a lawyer who thought he was a spoiled brat idol and she just defended him for fame/money! probably would take an even longer time for them to like each other though. then again we already have that enemies to lovers storyline with So I Married the Anti-fan (which was pretty good!)

That's too bad! I was a tad bored during ep 4 until the last 20 minutes coz it seemed like he was finally catching feelings lol

He was annoying for like 4 eps, is that most of the show? he becomes so much more likable from ep 5 onwards no?

unless ur talking abt the time he was upset at her lying. and even then it only lasted one episode. I was glad it didn't last long BUT now that the show is over, I realize the only visible yearning was in episode 7 when they were separated. the yearning after they got together happened off-screen during the 1 year time skip which was disappointing.


Personally I won't say it shouldn't be watched as a romance. This show I think is for people who usually love romance as a subplot or subtle like me. Not overly romantic to the point it gets cringe or overly sweet. Where they kiss again for the umpth time. Scenes where they actually try to get to know each other like him suddenly curious about her becoz she never talks about herself, asking her hobbies or going to his school for a nostalgia trip coz she doesnt know him beyond what he presented to the media, felt very real. That's how most people bond. In such a simple way.

It gets to a point that you wonder if their romance doesn't happen, like a will they won't they. Even though kdramas once it tagged as romance, the couple is usually endgame. But these two had that jdrama subtle romance feels (where the couple is left on an open ending). Even with the heavier romance from ep 10, you also kinda wonder if they won't last (coz ethics, and they both have their issues, Sena's retrial and him overcoming the murder charge and the aftermath).

So yeah it's not romance of the century! But I think the buildup was simply heartwarming enough to be believable despite the unbelievable circumstances of murder.

I would have preferred she was anti-fan so it's enemies to lovers but I think what warms me about this drama is that, even though she likes him, it was in a parasocial way. because her fantasy was shattered seeing him curse and lose his temper, when he had always put on this angel persona (he even said he would never date to his fans rip). she didn't like him for the REAL him.

she had no greed to get close to him at all. I thought it was admirable that she only wants to love him from afar. she even said she was even happier that way in ep 4. hence why I dont believe she liked the guy romantically and was just hoping he would return her feelings.

she helped him in a lot of ways sincerely without expecting anything in return. now, if she were a fan and helped purely because she wants to defend her bias against all costs with hopes she could get close to him, then she would have had so many ulterior motives and made her love beyond pathetic. but she defended him purely because she believes in the human do raik and the investigation clearly was sloppy (plus his bad acting).

And the result of that sincerity is the ML falling for her because all he ever wanted was someone who could see him for who he truly was. He was burdened becoz he kept lying to the world abt himself, worried that ppl refused to see anything beyond what he presented. And when FL was honest that, it wasn't so much that she believed in him, it was that she believed in herself who believed in him. I think that honesty showed her sincerity. Coz who would trust someone they barely knew right?

And while I would have loved them being complete strangers to each other, this show's main message had always been the relationship between idol and fan (the good and the bad). so many fans have gained strength from music, during their lowest time. realistically, most people become fans during their teenage years, when they develop love for music outside of their parents preferences. so even tho I also hate the childhood connection trope, I think it works in this drama. 1. because they didn't just randomly meet by "fate" and liked each other becoz they once shared the same popsicle or sth. he saw her by chance and CHOSE to follow her. and they didn't meet again "by fate" after so many years pining for each other from memory only. She saw news of his debut and followed his career. which is how most fans follow their faves. there's agency in that, not just the script forced them together and it was a "coincidence/fate"

I mean if it was about the relationship of two people, one who's an idol and one who was just a lawyer, I don't think the show would be called "Idol I." It wouldn't hit the same if she just met him, and she never knew him as an idol, and started liking him for who he truly was. The growth for the FL seeing him as just a fantasy idol to just human was kind of admirable to watch. Especially initially once she let go of the idol image, she saw ML as two separate beings. It makes you understand why she was mostly calm the entire time her idol was at her house.

Then he said he liked her, so she was understandably confused. because she had separated the two this whole time, and never let herself be delusional into thinking she could be his love interest.

Basically, her restraint is the reason why this couple doesn't seem pathetic, cringe and unrealistic. She's just being her sincere self and that made him fall for her, which felt very rewarding (to me) as a viewer.

I thought ep 4 was a tad slow too until the last 20 minutes. he's trusted her completely after finding her note that she believes he's definitely not the culprit. and they finally start to have nice bonding moments in ep 5. his character growth has been the best in the show looking at the finale comparing to when he first showed up

Idol I also climbed back to #9 on Netflix Global ranking (Non-English) with 800,000 views! I'm glad it managed to climb back on it's last week airing. 4 weeks in the top 10 is not too bad.

need a season 2! This time Sena starts getting a girl crush on an actress/idol and has to defend her! I think defending a woman would be even harder. Even though Raik was charged for murder, I think he still had a lot of shooters in the beginning, even if they were quiet. But a female actor-dol? The witch hunt would be INTENSE.

And she's also working on her dad's retrial too! Loving support from Raik who said he's gonna always be there for her from now on. And besides his role supporting Sena, him navigating being CEO to his own company and leader for his now trio boy band. More dark side of the idol industry. Him almost getting caught up with shady things, things higher ups of entertainment companies inevitably face. His gf is a lawyer though, no way he can do anything shady. But his company is also growing with junior artists under him. Something like that?