Reviews

might contain spoilers?
okay, so everyone applaud kim yoo jung for basically carrying the show, I'll be fr, i lowkey fell out of it around episode 10 but I solely watched it cuz I love her portrayal of baek ah jin sm. If you ever plan on skipping on the drama please watch till episode 4 atleast and skip. I have read a little of the webtoon, I will say, young daes acting wasn't it, yes it was more promising than his previous roles, but the whole time junseo had one tone of voice. However his acting was bareable but flat. Jae oh is such a good character and at first I was confused as to why he was essential to the plot, and oh he was. In gang's character was tbh perfect, hwang in youp has the eyes to play this role, i could tell through them how geniune he was about ah jin, and it was all the more heartbreaking to see his end. My major criticism on the plot however is it's quite incoherent, like how easily everyone forgot Lena was meant to be a bully character, i will give it to this drama tho, they never make a bully have a redemption or something in any other drama. Seung hee's character felt irrelevant after the first episode, like why was she suddenly living with ah jin, how did she find a way to work at moon do hyuks mansion, it's very random and confusing tbh.
The ending *sigh* i kinda liked it, i was expecting a light yagami but ah jin lowkey has plot armour, it's not bad, just very badly executed. However the drama is worth a shot, also, honorable mention; in ep 11, when ah jin has to reenact the rooftop murder case, i forgot that this is an actress playing an actress, it felt so phenomenal.

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Watch to meet a group of Psychopaths

This series is a frustrating mess of unnecessary drama and disturbing, poorly-written characters. The plot suffers from relentless dragging, simply placing the Female Lead (FL) into one escalating predicament after another, only for her to predictably "overcome" and "destroy" her enemies.

The most egregious flaw is the alarming number of characters who are arguably psychopathic or severely disturbed. Characters Who Are Utterly Reprehensible:

1. The Mother: An abusive figure who physically assaults her own 5-year-old daughter.
2. The Father: A man without a backbone who not only fails to stop his abusive wife but later marries a new woman and actively plots to sell his own daughter.
3. The Coworkers & Classmates: The series is saturated with relentless, one-dimensional bullies, both during her school years and in the workplace.
4. The Husband: Perhaps the most terrifying of all—a genuine psycho who resorts to drugging the FL.
5. The Male Lead (ML)'s Mother: An utterly insane and deplorable character. Her presence adds nothing but unhinged toxicity.
6. The ML's behavior is frustratingly inconsistent: he acts like a confused jerk who clearly knows the FL's father intends to sell or kill her, yet he is too much of a coward to take action, making Jaeho's death meaningless by not destroying Do Hyeok and instead assuming the FL is the manipulator. Unbelievably, he has learned nothing from the video of his Grandmother's death, culminating in the psycho move of trying to kill the FL himself.
7. The Female Lead's motivation is unclear. While she claims she wants a normal life, she had the perfect opportunity to achieve it with Ingang. Her decision to dump him seems inconsistent with her stated goals, leading to a portrayal where she always defaults to playing the victim.
8. Police Officer
9. Ingang and his band friend stupid story.
10. Teacher affair

Plot Points That Fail to Land:
Ingang's Suicide: The portrayal and justification for this suicide felt completely hollow and unjustified by the narrative.
The Supposed Supporter: The person who is ostensibly meant to be the FL's ally ends up destroying her for an unclear reason. His question about asking her to "stop" makes no sense in context, and his character arc is reduced to that of a perpetual crybaby. (And his plan to commit suicide and murder FL is absurd nonsensical)

Conclusion: The series is built on a foundation of cruel and nonsensical character actions, making it an emotionally exhausting and ultimately pointless watch. Do not waste your time.

PS: Not expecting a happy ending , however its need not to be pathetic.

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Aylin and Luna Standout

The best way I can describe 23.5 is as sweet. It captures the joys and awkwardness of young love. I really loved the concept of the Sun and the Earth. It was a creative way to illustrate destiny. The series made me laugh, cry and even left me stunned at times. I think it was a good start to the MilkLove journey.

I believe the leads had good chemistry for the characters they were meant to play. The acting could have been better, but it was good enough for how the show was written. For me View (Aylin) and June (Luna) had far better chemistry than Milk (Ongsa) and Love (Sun), but I must admit I am a little biased because their storyline in the series was my favorite part. Their love seemed genuine, not to mention View did and excellent job playing Aylin and June did a good job playing a very understanding and caring character.

23.5 is a cute-feel-good watch. It is very low threat if you want to just have a good time.

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A twisted fantasy - One we rarely get

Before starting any review, I do like to thank the writers, producers, actors and the rest of the cast as well as people involved with this drama in any capacity, for their hard work. Thank you.

As I have finished this drama mere minutes ago, my thoughts might seem jumbled and out of place in some parts, but please bear with me as I do have a lot to say.

Let us start off with the good. I have been one of the most fervent advocates for more morally grey/villanous FEMALE leads in dramas for years now. Some of my favorite dramas and movies("Hyena", "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance") sport this exact type of lead and I am always glad to see a representation of this type of character, when done well. And in "Dear X", it was done exceptionally well. I do genuinely find the character of Baek Ahjin intriguing, beguiling, eerie and frustrating at times. And I want MORE. Kim Yoo Jung, an actress I, admittedly, dismissed for most of my KDrama watcher timeline, proved me wrong and came back swinging. Whether that was a pun or not, you decide. Her abilities shine here in ways most other of her projects don`t warrant. She should really consider building a core audience in this genre, for it does test her limitations and plays around with her talent. And what we get as a result is a brilliant depiction of a broken person, a survivor and a sociopath. Almost everyone`s acting across the board is great, they do really bring their A game to this project and the direction, especially in the first four episodes, is tight, fast paced and exceptional.

Kim Young Dae has been getting flack for his lackluster acting for years now and, in a general sense, I would agree with the sentiment. He is also often typecast. In some ways, his character of Jun Seo follows his well practiced lines of stoic behavior, often dry delivery and all that. And yet...his interpretation of a deeply flawed person with a savior complex, twisted enough to follow Ahjin, no matter the level of toxicity their relationship entails...is absolutely awesome to watch. With very small tweaks to his formula, the male lead of this drama becomes someone emotionally stunted with good intentions and a flawed way of implementing them.

As for Kim Do, he has his usual shtick of charisma and it is always a joy to see him on my screen. His character, Jae Oh, a good guy coming from a broken family, yearning to protect his younger brother, and thus ending up a convict, is a tragic one. But a lovely addition all the same.

Technically, this whole drama feels like a character study of its lead character Baek Ahjin, a commentary on the state of the entertainment industry as a whole, and a SOMEWHAT soapy intepretation of a problematic lead. Baek Ahjin is the Sun. And depending on who you are in this story, you either breathe for her or get burned beyond recognition. Honestly, I could write a dissertation about damn near every relationship Ahjin has with one character or the other, and how at times, it reminded me of Junji Ito`s Tomio in the way people revered or hated her. Ahjin can become an obsession, your own personal monster or a goddess you serve. And that`s the tumultuous beauty of this project. The directing, as I`ve mentioned before, is on point for about 80% of this drama and this is something I don`t often comment on. But here it should be commended. As for the OST, it is aptly dark, dripping with a sense of unease and ferocity, thus setting itself apart from the other contenders in its genre. I will be listening to several songs long after I forget about this drama. Some of the visuals present are absolutely haunting in the best way. First few minutes of Episode 1 prove that beyond doubt. This is one of those dramas I`m confident about being one of my favorites of 2025. This doesn`t free it from some of my criticism, so let`s get into it:

For one, I do absolutely dislike the presence, and the lackluster exploration of Baek Ahjin`s husband, CEO Moon Doo Hyuk. I find his addition waning and flat and the arc surrounding him beyond forgettable. Which is strange, once you take into account how much time we actually spend on him and his relationship with Ahjin. He needed backstory, as he lacked charisma to rely on mystery and enigma alone. I understand what they were going for with him. It just didn`t pan out.
Secondly, the last few episodes do lose the magic first...eight hold? Some plotlines feel rushed, some feel unnecessary and drawn out(Jun Seo`s mom) and some are downright left hanging. That is to say, this drama should have had 16 episodes. And this is my first time saying this. There are some moments of overacting I didn`t find believable, mostly coming from Kim Ji Kyung, who plays Seong Hee, one of Ahjin`s high school frenemies?bullies? Who`s to know. There are also some instances of overly convenient timing and convenience, but all that falls into shadow if you buy into the premise of the Baek Ahjin`s world. And I did.

For my closing thoughts, I find this drama utterly entertaining throughout. Carnal and fastidious, yet electric. Despite its flaws, it`s one of the few that kept my attention and repaid the time I invested. I would recommend it to everyone looking for something different, especially if you like your leads just a tad...twisted.

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"It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero..."

—What did she do for them?
*Nothing.
—What did they do for her?
*Everything.
—Why?
... 

What. A. Brilliant Drama!

She was flying up so high, that when she fell, she kept falling until she crossed the path of the bottomless pit of hell. Then she rose from the ashes of misery! This was an unusual story of an anti-heroine who fought and crawled her way out of hell to make you believe that when darkness persists, daylight will not come until you let it in. So it remained dark, without any hope of light.

It's been a while since I enjoyed a thriller/ suspense drama after Strangers From Hell. Witnessing the rise of Baek Ah Jin from one traumatic past to another, they kept me on the edge of the seat in every single episode. I couldn't fathom how far she would go for her success, even if it endangered people's lives.

Ajin, single-handedly, carried the show on her shoulders. She made me despise her every action because she never wanted to play safe. Her creepy smile made my skin crawl! If she doesn't get the best actress award for this, I don't know who will.
Other characters, Jun Seo and Jae Oh, were her constant partners through thick and thin as her life proceeded, even though they knew how little they meant to her. Kim Ji Hoon as Jeong Ho was outstanding.

Honestly, I kept this review as vague as possible because I want people to enjoy what I enjoyed. It's better if you know very little about it. I loved it but it wasn't without flaws. There were several plot holes which weren't solved, even addressed. But I cannot let go of that eerie, restless feeling that I got from this drama. Often I found myself deeply moved by this storyline, definitely not in a positive way. Regardless of all the negative points, I liked it more than I expected because it's a drama I didn't expect anything to be "good" because I shamelessly expected it to get worse for a character who's beyond the fixing. Let's say when she hit the rock bottom, you can't expect fighting, surviving and crawling the way up can't be anything fairytale like. She must trample to achieve the throne, that was all she knew.

Overall, it's a must-watch if you want to be entertained throughout the series. I ensure that your sudden dopamine rush will keep you thinking about it for a long time.

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Close to perfect in the romance genre of fantasy KDramas

DELIGHTFUL!! No disappointments from this drama as far as I'm concerned. A true fantasy tale that delivers on romantic comedy needs. It was extremely satisfying to watch and funny in so many different ways. While additional time (by way of 2 more episodes) spent explaining foundational points of the first 3 episodes and tying up loose ends on the last 2 episodes, I still give this 10🌟‼️ as it was a close to perfect romance drama,

Ok Taec-Yeon and Seohyun had a chemistry so real, thrilling and tender it covered up any gaps in telling such a unique and fun story. Some inconsistency around supporting characters caused a bit of plot anxiety. Heros become villains, villains become heroes for no other reason than to direct the story to a satisfactory end. Yes it worked! Some months ago in writing another K-drama review I mused that some viewers want a happy ending that takes you with the characters into their everyday future. Just to see what it looks like. IMO it would make a drama so much more memorable and enjoyable to see the outcome some time in the future. What was the family life like? How many children did they have? Are they happy? And so forth. Instead of the old "and they lived happily ever after" with a 30 second wrap up. Let's just say, I found the ending to my personal taste.

Below are my spot check ratings:

Actors Chosen. 10/10 (100% 👍🏾)
Characters as written 9/10
Story/Plot 10/10
Story as told 9/10
Art Direction/Cimematography 10/10
Music OST 10/10
Costume 10/10
Entertainment Value 10/10
Fantasy Story Resolution 10/10
Length of drama 10/10 (even though it could have had an extra 2 episodes to refine the tale telling.

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One of the best phycological drama

It has been a long time since I haven't a drama like this. After watching every episode of dear x, I questioned my self and put my self in their position. I can't stop to thinking about this drama. This drama is more reality than fictional. How far a person can go for their own desires, love or obsession?? The dark side of human. There are many evil people who destroy other people but living happily like moon do hyunk.
The OST of this drama is chief kiss. I am obsessed with those OST.
The casting was on point. Every actors portrayed their character so well. Specially Kim yoo jung 🫡
The ending was so dark and I love it

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Entertaining enough to watch and enjoy especially if you like the cast of actors

Ok Taec-Yeon and Kim So-hyun are always pleasant to watch in any drama. And Keon Yul gives a bone chilling portrayal in the evil role. But the writers created two very unlikable supporting characters. At least for me the ghost busting duo were EMBARRASSING and the old monk extremely dull witted. To be honest, this made watching unappealing and I almost ditched it. Instead, I decided to fast forward through 80% of the scenes showing Cheon Sang and In-Rang's schemes.

The best part of this drama is the romance between Bong-pal and Hyeon-Ji. The writers did a good job showing how they develop and grow into happy, responsible and fairly well-adjusted young adults.

As much as I admire and enjoy actor Kang Ki-young, I couldn't endure his repulsively written role in this drama. He's an excellent actor, but the creators should have toned down the intensity of Cheon Sang's selfish personality. It wasn't necessary it be so intense. Especially since Kwon Yul's role was already intensely uncomfortable.

Overall, the story was worth getting into but for me, too much of the drama spent too much time focused on very unattractive characters (especially Cheon Sang and Myung-cheol).

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Found this by accident - a true "must watch" if you really are addicted to Kdramas

After watching all 20 episodes I definitely recommend it. It has a few flaws like misleading subtitles which cause viewer to lose some the story detail or character development; poor film quality and camera angles in a few scenes also cause some confusion. An excessive use of the melancholy OST music may create emotional overload for highly sensitive viewers (as was case for me).

As a slow burn type romance viewers might lose interest when plot bogs down after episode 10 - I myself came close to stop watching.

Actors chosen, do a good job conveying the interior emotional conflicts of their situation. Especially Jang Keun-suk, and Im Yoona who play the youthful lovers in both time periods. The actors playing their much older counterparts were a bit less vibrant and interesting except for Yu Hye-Ri. This actress nails her role as Hye Jung - self-centered, toxic, manipulative yet unable to attain what she craves as a self-destructive and ultimately pathetic human. She is a study in psychology that someone can lose decades of happiness wanting what she can't have by force, only to achieve emotional ruin for those around her.

Thankfully there are lots of funny moments and situations that make you appreciate the foibles of youth. Both the innocent and worldly characters begin to slowly influence each other. And it is a very slow process for Seo Joon once he's bitten by the love bug. His ideology that love doesn't exist slowly derails and is a slow and painful process for him and the innocent Ha Na.

At my viewing, this drama is 13 years old, and I didn't find it too difficult to enjoy. Seo Joon's "styling" as far as wardrobe was a bit much to endure but I got over it.

While there is ambiguity in how the romance is presented in the last episode the story and characters come to a happy and very satisfactory end.

The following is MY personal interpretation from each character's perspective: I could be misguided.
Seo Joon is sexually experienced and becomes careful in his expressions of affection (hugs instead of passionate kisses) due to Ha Na's innocence in this area. You can believe in his respect for her. Ha Na accepts that Seo Joon doesn't believe in marriage because of his family life. Yet with the deep love & physical attraction they have she still feels the need for caution by running away to "cool off". It's her way of never pressuring Seo Joon into a life choice she wants - marriage.

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Worth watching for the end result

Every show about bullies Should come with a TRIPLE WARNING about the level of predatory evil and violence depicted. Are there animals like this as living examples of the perps in this movie? While I shudder to think the devil has spawned such human beings, history proves they do exist. Therefore, watch at your own emotional and psychological peril. Viewer, know yourself!

The bullying behavior is unfiltered, so this has no entertainment value for normal people. And even the retribution favor is dialed back (thankfully). A difficult watch but our leading lady actress does an amazing job as always. And the head bully (Lee Jun Young) did too good a job in his role. Very frightening. I have zero desire to rewatch this. But it was worth while.

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