Yuri Hana

What would you have like to see? I saw the potential and I also thought it could have been better but I also am satisfied with how it turned out (except for the murder plot).

yeah the first 2 eps got scenes that went viral and ppl made captions that it was a drama that brings social awareness to idol industry's dark side. while it did have some themes like that, the first 2 eps was just to show the ML's trauma. the overall theme was finding someone to love you for who you are imo. They had glimpses of fan perspectives across the show tho, but it wasn't as in the forefront as episode 1 and the last episode.

But Idol I could be a good start for scripts to talk heavily about the idol industry. I just think they're not being made becoz the Korean public don't really care for idols.

I didn't expect it but somehow I was pleasantly surprised that the sasaengs got a redemption arc. The breaking and entering was terrible yes but I think it made sense they would redeem themselves after Raik's decision not to charge them for attempted murder. He said before, if he had charged them, it could escalate in different ways. Him not charging them was an act of kindness that could change someone for the better. And after that happened, those sasaengs never showed themselves doing anything bad again. Now, if they didn't learn their lesson and was shown behaving badly even after that, then ep 12 suddenly redeemed, that would have not made sense. but after ep 5 they literally did not bother Raik anymore. I think that was already showing growth.

I think remorse would have definitely hit them after being able to get away scot free when they could have gotten jail time, they would be very thankful to Raik ESPECIALLY after finding out he was cleared for murder. What Sena used to tell them about what true love is, may have opened their eyes a bit too.

I remembered what Sena said in episode 4. "No wonder this investigation is going nowhere. You're too busy obsessing over irrelevant crap like this." And I think that makes sense. I know it's lazy writing, but in-drama logic tells me it's that the prosecution were too busy trying to find evidence against Raik instead of focusing on finding the actual culprit. Sena's job is just to defend Raik but she had to do the police's job coz they were incompetent.

RIGHT? I was worried Sena was gonna suddenly get kidnapped or sth

YESSSS LMAOOOO THIS EPISODE MADE ME FORGET HOW ANNOYED I WAS AT EP 11 EVERYONE IS SO PRECIOUS AND REDEEMED

lmao yes! Just the killer reveal was lame, should have had her hire a killer instead of her doing it herself, it was sloppy.

I think the CEO deserved his redemption arc. After being the reason your group left your company, naturally he would have time to reflect and remorse. Plus, a murder happened. with a kid you watched grew up. I think that's a big enough reason for him to be better.

Raik's mom though, she didn't really get a full redemption which I appreciated. It wouldn't be realistic for Raik to reconcile with his mom after so many years of her treating him like shit. But Raik giving those tickets were just an attempt to thank her and free himself from resentment and the past. I don't think he actually forgave her. His mom also may have looked a little remorseful but she still didn't attend the concert anyways.

lol i thought he lied about the tour concerts being cancelled. But I thought it was somewhat realistic that there are certain points in the relationship where the busy celebrity probably would not be able to make it for their girlfriend. Plus, she's literally his fan so she understands. And she was the one who encouraged him to sing again.

Butt you make a point. I know that she's right, sometimes one line from a song can bring you comfort. She literally decided not to suicide becoz of his song. But now the guy is actually your boyfriend, whats wrong with calling lol

I think Raik didn't want to call just because if he called, then he'll miss her even more when they have to hang up lol. But does that mean they had absolutely no contact with each other for a year? Surely they texted, right?

Boyfriend Raik's biggest rival is Idol Raik and that checks out

Same...I'm streaming his songs as Do Ra Ik now lol

Lmaooo right I also felt it redeemed itself by giving pretty much all the characters, even characters that were unimportant, minor, good closure. So much growth, from even the sasaengs! Guess it really was a good idea for Raik not to charge them for attempted murder...

I'm satisfied like you. It was a full circle moment for the characters. Nobody was on Raik's side in the first episode, he didn't seem to have any healthy relationships. But in the finale, he's got a good relationship with everyone. That bit with his mother was realistic too. His mom didn't completely redeem herself, which makes sense coz why would she after all these years, but it was a start. Same with Sena, whose relationships were limited to online, and finally somewhat got along with her colleagues and they don't hate her.

The final episode was so good it lowkey made me forget the terrible murder plot lmaoooo anyways the first thing I will tell people if I wanna recommend this to them is, keep your expectations low for the murder mystery, and enjoy the feeling you get from the character growth. Still would recommend this drama! 9.5/ 10 coz i'm very biased to everything except the killer being someone i suspected but hoped wouldn't be coz it would be too obvious lol and logically wouldn't be able to kill someone according to clues from the earlier eps

if you watch the full version performance, you can hear the fanchants of other members too. i think sena also had a scene screaming the fanchant where all the members names were heard

true, the murder mystery just seemed like a backdrop for the characters to explore their relationship and the setting in idol culture

Was hoping for the culprit to literally be anyone BUT the ex lmaooo I was worried it would be like the time I watched ERASED where you have a suspect but throughout the show they kinda misdirect you and you think maybe you were wrong, turns out you were right after all!

I did learn from early on since the murder plot took a backseat from ep 5 and focused on the character arcs and developing romance, that this show's strongest point was not going to be the murder mystery. the list of suspects became longer and longer. but eventually the initial clues became irrelevant? literally thought Hyejoo hired an assassin to kill Wooseong coz how did she kill him so precisely. By accident was such a reach and a copout!

Hyejoo has motive and even tho I don't like the crazy ex-gf trope, I got that the writer wanted to show the contrast between obsessive love and "real" love. how different was Hyejoo from Raik's stalkers, not that much.

but I wish they didn't put that bit abt killing him right in the heart. And cmiiw but didn't the police mention there was no struggle? but there was! unless they explain it by saying the initial investigation was all manipulated by hyejoo's dad so even the most basic evidence wouldn't be brought to light, then I don't understand why the police were so incompetent initially.

The way Sena solved the case, I'm not sure why Youngbin didn't tell sooner that Woosung was the type to record things. How convenient. Should have explained why he liked to record things so that it doesn't seem so convenient. I liked watching Sena crack the code, showcases how hardcore fans behave but but it suddenly felt so easy. Also the password should have been REMIND95 or something with numbers. Who puts their password with 0 numbers or special characters?

ANYWAYS that being said, despite my disappointment with how the murder plot investigation turned out, it hasn't ruined my enjoyment for this drama overall. Largely because of the cast and characters. Kim Jaeyeong is a star. I'm just one of many who recognizes his masterclass acting. I feel like vulnerable male leads like Raik are so rare, Jaeyeong had to really go all out and I felt every emotion he portrayed. Especially despair and love. Both are a good look on him lol

Sooyoung brought such grace to Sena, she's such a likable female lead without needing to be too bubbly or positive, or too cold for no reason. She feels like a real person and her reactions are never over the top. I missed her happier fangirl side so I'm happy from the preview she has returned to her hobby of fangirling.

Jung Jaekwang as Kwak Byunggyun - initially I thought he was the male lead becoz of that weird enemies to lovers meet cute he had with Sena, turns out he bullied her. I had been rooting for his redemption arc until ep 7 when he made Sena cry, he came off a bit wishy washy coz he was indecisive abt following his dad or searching for the truth but as soon as the preview of ep 11 had Sena calling out "Byunggyun-ah" I thought he still had a chance. Sena has a way of setting men straight, first Chungjae, then Raik, and she managed to even help Byunggyun. His apology abt his father was sincere BUT I wish he would have apologized for bullying Sena too. Seems like Sena has forgiven him tho since he did the right thing.

I could go on but I'll wait until the last episode for my final verdict. For now, Raik's murder case got tied up simply and conveniently with a bow.

I guess it's just me saying, at least Idol I won't be considered an overrated or underrated drama, it's exactly at the position it should be. (though i would want it to get at least 5% for that ratings promise of the gold boys performing soda pop). I came in with low expectations (coz shows with an idol character can get cringe sometimes) but pleasantly surprised at how the first 2 episodes hooked me in with it's potential. think if this show was a proper procedural legal drama dealing with criminal cases related to idols it could have gained a wider audience (and romance was just mildly hinted coz i'm a sucker).

shows with multiple genres are usually risky. probably why jdramas rarely mix romance with their career-related shows like legal/medical/thriller etc.

Okay you made your point and criticism, now you can leave this drama's comment section

I understand. I wasn't expectating co-habitating tbh so once that happened I had already suspended my disbelief for most of the story regarding ethics and found enjoyment in the developing romance and chemistry.

As someone who usually get attached to romance that are subtle/show the bare minimum because they're more of a subplot or only hinted, I'm surprised the romance in this show, which I think is supposed to be the main genre, hooked me in.

Basically I would not hype up this show for great writing (I'm not particularly smart to acknowledge masterclass writing either), but hey there's a reason why it's doing just modestly in terms of domestic ratings and global rankings. I always have a strange attachment to shows that have potential and could have done better because I find the characters endearing.

Anyways fair point!

It’s a character-driven psychological drama. If you wanted nonstop action or plot twists, it was never aiming to be that. Fair if it’s not your taste. It doesn’t fail the genres. It just doesn’t cater to them the way you want.