Well if he's a murder suspect, he's not really living the idol life anymore is he?
Does it seem like it ended quietly? I thought they made it a big deal with the protests telling to execute the idol who killed Woosung.
I get what you’re saying if you’re expecting external action. But Idol I isn’t treating “idol life + murder” as a thriller or chase narrative. Once he’s accused, his idol life does end quietly and that’s kind of the point.
The tension shifts inward. The drama is about what happens when a public figure loses the stage, the noise, the protection of fame, and is forced to exist as an ordinary person under suspicion. Instead of action set pieces, it focuses on psychological pressure, reputation collapse, and emotional fallout.
Slow doesn’t automatically mean boring. It just means the stakes are internal rather than kinetic. If someone wanted a fast-paced investigative thriller, I agree this wouldn’t hit. But given the themes, I think the stillness is intentional rather than a flaw.
Plus, within the story’s own timeline, the investigation is actually moving fast. The murder happens on May 24 and the indictment is on June 24. One month for a homicide case isn’t slow I think?
What feels slow is the experience of being investigated, which the drama chooses to show rather than skip over because our ML is the one investigated. If the protagonist were the prosecutor or detective, this would likely be far more action-packed.
From the FL’s side, her role is to defend the ML, not to run around solving the case. Finding the “truth” is the prosecution’s job even if she agreed to help with the truth just because ML wanted to know. Though it wasn't officially her job since at the time, the case was closed and his bandmate was branded as the culprit. Now that the ML has been indicted, her role naturally shifts again, which is why the case begins to move differently in later episodes.
I get that this pacing won’t work for everyone. Personally, I found the psychological focus very relatable, even though I’m obviously not a murder suspect. It captures how time can feel distorted when your life is on pause while the world keeps moving.
The ML treating the FL’s house as a kind of escape, and then being forced back into reality when he leaves, felt intentional rather than indulgent. With him now facing reality again, it makes sense that only now the final stretch will be more intense and action-driven.
how's the romance? are they together? how long have they been together? spoil away please!
To me, this show does good slow burn romance, exploring the characters (especially the male lead) in depth with healthy conversations, then the slight romantic scenes (which start around late episode 4, then proceeds to have at least one romantic scene per episode) and makes their romance feel worth it once they confirm their feelings in episode 10.
No, if you don't care for the characters at this point, then it would be normal to get bored. This is a character-driven story more than a plot-driven one.
Another drama that could have been told in 6-8 episodes but is stretched thin.Can we focus on the case, please,…
I came to this drama for the plot, stayed for the characters. I think eventually you realize Idol I is a character-driven story. You say you're confused about the genres and that its all over the place, so I get why you might be confused. Think you just came with different expectations.
Since I watched the interviews I knew what I was getting into. The host assumed it was a romcom when the synopsis was about a fangirl defending their idol. But the actress was like "You think so? It has ELEMENTS of romcom, a BIT of mystery and romance. But as we kept filming, it really started to feel like it was a love story at its core"
So she's right, there were little mysteries scattered throughout the episodes, but the real focus has always been the character's growth and developing relationship. So I think the murder is only the catalyst to explore the characters related to it, especially the two leads. Idol I isn’t structured as a tight procedural where the case is the sole engine. The case is a pressure cooker, not the destination. The side characters and “detours” exist to show how isolated Raik actually is and how the idol system hollowed him out long before the murder happened.
A lot of the criticism you have will be addressed in later episodes.
That he's been selfish this whole time, thinking that he had no one on his side and only he was the one with problems and issues when his friend had been sacrificing a lot for him too.
And in ep 10 he does realize that he hasn't contributed and has only been protected. That's why we see him for the first time, stepping up to defend Sena. And he also helps with the investigation more than just simply telling Sena what really happened.
Also I had a similar critique, that he wanted people to see the real him but at the same time only presented the product version of him. How could his fans love his real version when he was fake. I think that's one of his many character flaws that feel real. Most people want others to try see their REAL self despite what they present is different. Still held back as an idol, I think he has been very real as much as he could. His anger and all his unhealthy ways of expressing his emotions. But he hopes people will still like him despite that because there is more to him than that.
But FL eventually tells him in episode 10, that she realized he had been honest this whole time, whether on stage or not. That's why he's always been the one embroiled in attitude controversy, not the other members.
About his mental illness, I don't know if realistically if one could heal from just "sitting around." I'm no psychiatrist/therapist. But it's not like the show hasn't addressed what happened to his mental illness. ML has said that being in her house, "in this fence you built for me, I have felt lighter than I have in a long time." He tried treatment and meds, but ever since being in her presence, he hasn't relied on them.
In my opinion, what he needed the most was a BREAK. Or at least a change in environment. His dead friend, in episode 9, apparently had tried hard to convince the manager and CEO to give him a break, because his physical condition was poor and yet they still wanted him to go for a solo tour.
I don’t think the show is saying his mental illness “disappeared.” What changed is his environment. Raik’s panic was tied to constant performance, pressure, and not being allowed to exist as a person. Once that stopped, his symptoms naturally eased. He’s not cured, he’s regulated. Sena doesn’t fix him, she gives him safety and boundaries. That’s why he seems calmer, not because the writing forgot his illness. If he goes back to that environment he could go back to how he was before. We'll see in the last 2 episodes now that he isn't living in Sena's house anymore. But he hasn't always been chirpy. Was he supposed to be depressed the entire time? He had moments where he grieved, and moments where he was happy, and that was usually with the FL.
Ok I’m gonna sound crazy but I think it’s Sena’s assistant at the firm. The way she wanted to take on the…
wow you're the first person I've seen to suspect sena's assistant. but wooseong was either killed by someone who was very good at handling knives or someone wooseong trusted. unless sena's assistant is secretly a skilled serial killer, i don't think it's her.
my answers change every time but my first suspect was the manager because of his reaction when raik was held in prison going all weepy like "why did you do it, raik?" like idk it seemed fake
but i wouldn't know what his motive would be other than working under raik sucks and he hates his guts.
I checked it out and am horrified. I lost respect for this actor if he wants to do stuff like that. Generally…
Kim Jae-young is an actor that is just grateful he still gets offers for roles because he had a point in his life where he was unemployed for like 18 months. I don't think he has the luxury of turning down scripts. Especially since his company isn't that big.
The lip bite when he was teasing Sena about missing him? The clips are viral on insta. And the lip bite kiss scene…
Does he lip bite every time?? I didn't notice. But that lip bite after explicitly teasing her if she missed him was too noticeable (and unfortunately attractive) to be overlooked.
He's basically the prime suspect until the end. I'll post spoilers below this.
Exactlyyyy did I not watch enough murder mysteries? I thought the killer being exposed way at the end should have been expected. A big chunk of the show is very character-driven
I guess you already read the synopsis, so instead I can tell you they focus more on the romance part than on the…
you're right, the show initially starts off with a murder case, but as you go into it, you realize it's core is the main character's developing relationship as they overcome their grief and trauma.
@Kaypee_007 if you come into the story expecting a tight murder mystery plot, you will be disappointed. the actors have said, as they kept filming, they realize it's really a romantic show after all. mystery, thriller, suspense and just a tad bit of comedy are all sub-genres.
I guess you already read the synopsis, so instead I can tell you they focus more on the romance part than on the…
he did not forget, just because he's happier with FL around doesn't mean he forgot. he grieved his friend in ep 9 after finding out what his secret was that he hid before his murder, talked it out with the FL, and even visited his other member in coma in ep 10. and these events happen very closely, like in just a few days. how is he forgetting them?
this show started with the murder mystery, but throughout the show other mysteries are involved that is related to the characters possibly involved in the murder. it's more character-driven than plot-driven.
I guess you already read the synopsis, so instead I can tell you they focus more on the romance part than on the…
no you're right! this show is more character-driven, the murder is a foundation to explore the characters possibly related to it. i'm not surprised that the killer is yet to be revealed, many shows with 1 murder mystery is like this.
Something I really love about this drama is how Ra Ik started to like Sena on his own. It's sweet cause Sena kept…
Yesss tbh he was always the one crossing boundaries T__T besides asking to stay at her house longer, then hugging his lawyer...if it wasn't Do Raik I think Sena would have been more strict like not to touch her but she just held it in and kept him from arms length one-sidedly
I get what you’re saying if you’re expecting external action. But Idol I isn’t treating “idol life + murder” as a thriller or chase narrative. Once he’s accused, his idol life does end quietly and that’s kind of the point.
The tension shifts inward. The drama is about what happens when a public figure loses the stage, the noise, the protection of fame, and is forced to exist as an ordinary person under suspicion. Instead of action set pieces, it focuses on psychological pressure, reputation collapse, and emotional fallout.
Slow doesn’t automatically mean boring. It just means the stakes are internal rather than kinetic. If someone wanted a fast-paced investigative thriller, I agree this wouldn’t hit. But given the themes, I think the stillness is intentional rather than a flaw.
Plus, within the story’s own timeline, the investigation is actually moving fast. The murder happens on May 24 and the indictment is on June 24. One month for a homicide case isn’t slow I think?
What feels slow is the experience of being investigated, which the drama chooses to show rather than skip over because our ML is the one investigated. If the protagonist were the prosecutor or detective, this would likely be far more action-packed.
From the FL’s side, her role is to defend the ML, not to run around solving the case. Finding the “truth” is the prosecution’s job even if she agreed to help with the truth just because ML wanted to know. Though it wasn't officially her job since at the time, the case was closed and his bandmate was branded as the culprit. Now that the ML has been indicted, her role naturally shifts again, which is why the case begins to move differently in later episodes.
I get that this pacing won’t work for everyone. Personally, I found the psychological focus very relatable, even though I’m obviously not a murder suspect. It captures how time can feel distorted when your life is on pause while the world keeps moving.
The ML treating the FL’s house as a kind of escape, and then being forced back into reality when he leaves, felt intentional rather than indulgent. With him now facing reality again, it makes sense that only now the final stretch will be more intense and action-driven.
Since I watched the interviews I knew what I was getting into. The host assumed it was a romcom when the synopsis was about a fangirl defending their idol. But the actress was like "You think so? It has ELEMENTS of romcom, a BIT of mystery and romance. But as we kept filming, it really started to feel like it was a love story at its core"
So she's right, there were little mysteries scattered throughout the episodes, but the real focus has always been the character's growth and developing relationship. So I think the murder is only the catalyst to explore the characters related to it, especially the two leads. Idol I isn’t structured as a tight procedural where the case is the sole engine. The case is a pressure cooker, not the destination. The side characters and “detours” exist to show how isolated Raik actually is and how the idol system hollowed him out long before the murder happened.
A lot of the criticism you have will be addressed in later episodes.
That he's been selfish this whole time, thinking that he had no one on his side and only he was the one with problems and issues when his friend had been sacrificing a lot for him too.
And in ep 10 he does realize that he hasn't contributed and has only been protected. That's why we see him for the first time, stepping up to defend Sena. And he also helps with the investigation more than just simply telling Sena what really happened.
Also I had a similar critique, that he wanted people to see the real him but at the same time only presented the product version of him. How could his fans love his real version when he was fake. I think that's one of his many character flaws that feel real. Most people want others to try see their REAL self despite what they present is different. Still held back as an idol, I think he has been very real as much as he could. His anger and all his unhealthy ways of expressing his emotions. But he hopes people will still like him despite that because there is more to him than that.
But FL eventually tells him in episode 10, that she realized he had been honest this whole time, whether on stage or not. That's why he's always been the one embroiled in attitude controversy, not the other members.
About his mental illness, I don't know if realistically if one could heal from just "sitting around." I'm no psychiatrist/therapist. But it's not like the show hasn't addressed what happened to his mental illness. ML has said that being in her house, "in this fence you built for me, I have felt lighter than I have in a long time." He tried treatment and meds, but ever since being in her presence, he hasn't relied on them.
In my opinion, what he needed the most was a BREAK. Or at least a change in environment. His dead friend, in episode 9, apparently had tried hard to convince the manager and CEO to give him a break, because his physical condition was poor and yet they still wanted him to go for a solo tour.
I don’t think the show is saying his mental illness “disappeared.” What changed is his environment. Raik’s panic was tied to constant performance, pressure, and not being allowed to exist as a person. Once that stopped, his symptoms naturally eased. He’s not cured, he’s regulated. Sena doesn’t fix him, she gives him safety and boundaries. That’s why he seems calmer, not because the writing forgot his illness. If he goes back to that environment he could go back to how he was before. We'll see in the last 2 episodes now that he isn't living in Sena's house anymore. But he hasn't always been chirpy. Was he supposed to be depressed the entire time? He had moments where he grieved, and moments where he was happy, and that was usually with the FL.
my answers change every time but my first suspect was the manager because of his reaction when raik was held in prison going all weepy like "why did you do it, raik?" like idk it seemed fake
but i wouldn't know what his motive would be other than working under raik sucks and he hates his guts.
@Kaypee_007 if you come into the story expecting a tight murder mystery plot, you will be disappointed. the actors have said, as they kept filming, they realize it's really a romantic show after all. mystery, thriller, suspense and just a tad bit of comedy are all sub-genres.
this show started with the murder mystery, but throughout the show other mysteries are involved that is related to the characters possibly involved in the murder. it's more character-driven than plot-driven.