Reviews

This drama successfully made me hate her to the core.

I will still say Dear X is a successful drama, because they clearly wanted the audience to hate the female lead, and we did — completely and intensely. Ah Jin didn’t receive love in her childhood; she grew up emotionally abandoned and already damaged, so from the very beginning, I never expected real improvement or healing from her. In fact, it would have been incredibly cliché if she had simply moved on and lived happily with Junseo, because she was never written to live a happy life at all.

The drama showed again and again how every character around her was attracted to her beauty, and in a way, that was their own fault too. These were not innocent boys; they were grown men, fully aware of their choices, yet they willingly got manipulated by her. They loved her. She used them. They were blind — especially Junseo, who stood by her from the very first moment and gave her endless loyalty, only to be treated with the deepest kind of emotional cruelty until the very end. His kindness, to me, crossed the line into stupidity, and the same can be said for Jae Oh, who also chose illusion over reality.

While many other reviewers say they didn’t like the ending, calling it disappointing or unfulfilling, I honestly think they misunderstood the entire purpose of the drama. Dear X was never supposed to be a comfort drama or a happy ending story. It was written as a confrontation — with trauma, obsession, manipulation, and moral decay.

The final conclusion I came to is that the sinners were judging the sinner for sinning: yes, Ah Jin was a sinner, but the people surrounding her were also sinners, just wearing more socially acceptable masks. In the end, Dear X doesn’t offer peace or closure — it holds up a mirror, and that reflection is ugly, unsettling, and brutally honest.

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Started strong, ended really bad

This drama was very underwhelming. For the positives, Kim You Jung's acting was amazing, she just has the face of someone that can act like a sociopath. The OST and the production of the drama were also really good. For the negatives, Kim Young Dae's acting could be better, some scenes the viewer couldn't understand his emotions at all. For the argument itself, the story is bad. A girl that was abused, abandoned, tortured since a child ends up being the bad guy of the story. It is true that she used the first man to cover up her father's murder, however the rest she wasn't the one to be blamed at all. And the end was terrible. Jun Seo acknowledged that A Jin was in an abusive relationship and still his first thought was how evil she was and how he could blame her, no sympathy at all for her situation. In fact, if we analyze the entire story, we understand that she was a victim of the circumstances. Her stepmother drowned her, her father beat her up every time he was with her. Re Na bullied and physically assaulted her, In Gang was already deep into his depression before committing suicide. Grandma fell of the stairs, her high school stalker stabbed her and Jae O wanted to die for her. Honestly, she can be barely blamed, at all.

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ThamePo: A heart that skips a beat and skips the relationship start

I took two days and some minutes to finish the series, i was expecting to be bawling my eyes out and i sure did.
first, i believe it's a pretty good series that steps "out-of-the-common" tropes , it has an amazing plot and it really puts together the "life of an idol" well

Even though there were 13 episodes, I think there was not a good narrative approach after episodes 7 or 8. The subplotabout Jun and Po was, for me, a waste of time in the series. I do believe that it kind of had to be there for more "context" about how Thame realizes he likes Po, but I don't think two episodes had to be almost completely just about Po and Jun.

When I started the series, I was scared of the angst but excited to see ThamePo as a couple, but my expectations were lowered because of the time and the timeline of the series. When Thame finally went, "I like him," I was like, "Yes!" and then they broke up... (???) I was really craving angst and drama, but I was also craving their love plot and their relationship. I didn't like how out of the blue they were all lovely without a "proper" confession. I wanted an "I like you, Po/Thame" from either of them, but well. I didn't get that moment. 😭

The plot is really good. The first 6 or 7 episodes were like a rollercoaster of emotions, and I was so excited to know the rest and how the "main problem" was going to develop. I really wanted a series to represent and give people a chance to see how the idols' "rule of love" is really deep and stupid. I wanted more realism (for example, idols aren't supposed to date, but he's still going out with this man at night without a mask or cap and being all lovely). I understand Thame didn't care, and I love that vision of him because it really portrayed how he didn't "care" about what others said but about his relationship with the members and Po. But, I think it would've been more realistic if he was more careful in that regard, but it's my opinion at the end of the day.

Regarding Pepper and Gam:
I didn't like their "breakup." I wanted something more like, "Yes, I'm with her, and I'm still going to be with her," kind of thing, but I know it was easier if it was the "we are not together and we never were" resolution. I didn't like it at all. 😭 I loved them and how pure their relationship was because they seemed like they really loved and respected each other, and I felt sad when Gam had to use her job as an excuse to save Pepper's career.

I really liked the development of both Thame and Po.

First, Po. He started with an attitude of, "I don't understand people who leave people that were there," and then he was the one leaving Thame. 😭 I cried a lot when I realized that, but after all, it's true. I really liked how he understood everyone to the point of not understanding himself. I think his plot (and actor) were good. I would've loved if his "before main story" plot was included more in the series (same with Thame and MARS), mainly his relationship with Earn and Fern. Most people from the comments I read were saying that his character was "stale," but I don't think that. I believe that to understand his character, you need to understand what he's been through with his old, toxic, and insecurity-filledrelationship with Earn. I don't think that Po is stale; I just think he is an introverted person (they exist) and just insecure about how people leave him all the time. So, when he met Thame and MARS, he was just awkward, but still made sure everyone was okay by reuniting them as a group and as a family. I believe his role is extremely important in the series. Without him, most of MARS's plans would have been destroyed, and their career would have ended forever (even Thame; although he is famous and is an all-rounder in the series, I don't think most idols that came from a group can make it, but it's mostly my opinion). So I really liked his role in the series and how his character was. I even compared myself to him. For me, he had a very good plot and storyline, but I would've loved to see his own story more deeply.

Thame; a deeply misunderstood character. I think of him as a character that always thought of everyone before himself. He always puts his friends and loved ones before himself, and that affects him. I understand how sad and angry he felt with himself when he realized MARS wasn't going to survive if he accepted his chance to go to Korea. When he told Po that he didn't agree with his opinion about "People who leave others are selfish," I was like, "He is just like Earn," but as I spent more time watching the series, I realized, it's doesn't just exist a "people leaving other people" thing, but also a "people leaving other people for their own best" thing. His character is deep in my heart, and I love him—how he was always caring about his members and Po, how he always treated them like the only ones in the world—his world—and how he always tried to make them feel seen. He knew what he and MARS went through and never let Pemika get into his life or mind. He always put her in her place and never let her say anything about his members, even if it meant that he was going to get reprimanded. I don't think he had a "development;" I think he was always a nice person, but obviously after being in too much trouble, he was always going to be depressed and mean to anyone that tried to talk to him, Po included. When he met Po, he met the opportunity to give his life a 180-degree change.

Them as a couple: Although their plot as a couple was not too long, I loved them. I believe they are the kind of couple that respect each other and love each other, just as WilliamEst are. I would've loved for them to have a little more chance to develop their relationship, and I do believe they are genuinely in love. Anything else would've been wrong.

I like how the series was not only "A gay series about an idol and this filmmaker" but a "Story about a group that finds its light at the end of the tunnel." I loved every character (NOT Pemika OR Mick; they can go to hell). I loved the scenarios, characters, music, and plot.

For the things I didn't really like (which are not many):
1. How the series kind of went down after episode 9. I don't know if I was expecting too much of GMMTV, but since the first episodes were so good, I was head over heels waiting for the drama plot and everything.
2. The unnecessary plot of Jun and Po. Don't get me wrong, I understand it was for the development of Thame and Po's relationship, but I think the "Jun probably likes Po" plot was really unnecessary.
3. The ending. It's not about how everything went, but I have too many points on this: First, how they wanted to make Pemika and Mick the "good people" out of the sudden. What do you mean the same woman that was on Thame's neck was now okay with them leaving the company? Girl, be serious. It would've been way more realistic if she just threw everything and decided to send them all to Korea. For me, her character was horrendous not only as a person but also in her plot. Second: how well the plan went. LOL. 😭 I was eating my nails in nervousness because I was thinking: Pemika is going to ruin their plan, or maybe Mick, or maybe Thame decided the best for all was just to give up. I liked how it turned out; I cried oceans of tears, but it's still bittersweet to me.
4. Maybe it's just me, but I would've loved a sad ending for either ThamePo or MARS. From a realistic point of view, them working out was kind of not possible given the K-Pop situations. I liked that in the end it worked out, but I would've like it more if it was more dramatic. LOL.
5. How at the end, Po couldn't have a stable career. 😭 I maybe didn't understand if the company at the end is managed by him, but in the case it's not, then I believe it was stupid the way he threw his career for Thame.
6. How bad the "my boyfriend is an idol but I still treat him as if he was not famous" thing went. Going to a full restaurant with him when he is famous and letting people take pics with him while you're in them? Pretty dangerous if you ask me.
7. How fast the group recovered after the drama, not only their distance as a group but also the parts with Pepper and Gam. Their having that much success was a little unrealistic since it's supposed that Joong's character (I think his name was Ice) was a "threat."
8. I would've loved more relationship moments, not only an "I bought you groceries" or "we stared at each other" but things like "let's solve all of this together, without ruining yours or my dreams."
9. How, even though it was supposed to be a series based on a boyband, there was no variety of songs. I think I listened to more songs and song-producing in My School President than here. For the final song when they finally get together, I would've loved to see how they wrote it, how the idea started, and everything.

Overall: Since I'm really biased towards William and Est, I gave the series a 9/10. For me, it's a great series, getting away from the basic university enemies-to-lovers stuff 😭 (even though I love them). And I think they kind of managed it amazingly! Loved the production and the acting of everyone on it. I do believe in more of the dramatic side of series, the ones that make you bawl your eyes out and then kick you in the face with a sad ending.

Recommendations: If you're starting with BL series or want a series to make you feel happy and sad at times, then this is it. If you have really high expectations of a series and want either too much drama or too much fluff, then this is not your cup of tea.

Rewatch Value: I don't tend to rewatch series, so for me, it's a no. But I do like to see once in a while the scenes that made me cry, laugh, or wanting to get me a partner.

At the end, it is a good series with good acting and plot. Love WilliamEst!!

-Mina.

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This damaged my last brain cells?

I watched this obviously cz i was done with all the good ones, thought I'd probably find a hidden gem. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh it was soo bad. I finished ep 1 struggled to finish 2. The direction sucks, story sucks and acting sucks too. There is not 1 redeeming thing in this drama.
I've watched some short dramas and i know they don't usually have the quality of the normal dramas but this was worse than the chinese dramas we see on tiktok, insta or those drama apps. The funniest part is you can't see the actors face like they show it for a sec and then change the shot soo fast 2 eps in and i could only see the step brothers face. Had to pause to get the cousin and the mc's face.... also the summary for the drama is that a summary or the whole story?? A sad ending?? For a horrible drama??

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Disappointed by the evolution of the FL

Three Chapters – HUGE SPOILERS

Chapter 1 : the birth of a psychopath

The origin of the FL as a psychopath who grew up being self-centered. After witnessing the attempted murder of her mother, she let her die because it was advantageous for her. Then she kept manipulating people, good ones, bad ones, anyone she can to obtain the results she wants. Very well told. I enjoyed this part where she is savage and has no empathy. Especially how she schemed and achieved the assassination of her own father and still walked freely after twists and turns.

Chapter 2 : The romance of a psychopath girl and a lost boy

FL is harassed by a female colleague. She manipulates people and gets rid of her. She decides to date her rival’s ex-bf lost in drinks and drugs. Another great load of cold manipulation. She is so good at that. She sneakily approaches him using someone dear to him of course. She clears his guilty conscience, makes him fall in love with her, gives him nice moments then tosses him aside like an old sock. She refuses to tell him the whole truth of her lies. Feeling guilty and desperate, lost boy meets his demise. She finds him and tells him “you were weak” and she lets him to rot. Her move on him was a bit nonsense and out of character for me. Plus at times, writers wanted to make her look like a nice person. Like she is the poor victim of bad people.

Chapter 3: Psycho wife VS Psycho husband

FL weds a rich handsome perfect man just to be trapped and tortured until minion 2 sacrifices himself to give her a solution but minion 1 is pissed off so he decides to reveal everything and put an end to a situation that he himself contributed to. For me that part had plot holes. Especially regarding the origin of the husband, the reasons of his actions against her and how he blends in her story. FL's new rise and downfall is rushed too.

Overall, it starts good and violent then quality drops because the characterization of the FL weakens. The end is questionable as the writer chooses an immoral ending. I do not mind revenge plots where grey characters wins but when it is a cold scheming manipulative murderer who wins… It’s not so nice. 7/10.

Thanks to the actors and crew for this drama.

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?????

This drama is SOOOOOO laws of attraction coded.. I don’t want to spoil too much but ep 2 is basically a copy of the beginning of laws of attraction lmaoooo. I loved laws of attraction so I’m sure I’m gonna like this but so far it’s pretty goodddd!! I’ll update when I’m done watching it hehe🤭🤭 update: ummm… it’s fine. DaouOffroad will make any series good but this one idkkkk. If I was Than, I wouldve NEVER forgiven pheem.. the story is decent, I just don’t understand why they had to include what pheem did, I think we would’ve been fine with Than getting mad over the store but now it’s the store and this?? I thought it was insanely unnecessary. But hey they’re such a good pairing, acting is 10/10 but the story is a bit eh. IT IS very similar to laws of attraction, like insanely similar to the point where it’s a bit concerning LOL, it’s just a little more toxic lol.

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Went from one of the best 2025 dramas to an average drama

The drama started out great and it was interesting to watch an absolutely irredeemable character who was evil and selfish to the core. I know some people think a lot of what she did can be justified but I don't believe that harming good and kind hearted people who cared for you and driving those people to death just so that you can get more famous is justifiable. It's not. No matter what anyone says, Ahjin was always written to be a selfish character. And in the original manhwa she was even worse. I still prefer the manhwa over the drama because not only does the drama deviate from the original story and make a lot of plot points and characters inconsistent, it also absolutely DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE in the end. The ending in the manhwa was also darker but sort of satisfying too since Ahjin gets her kamra but the ending in the drama makes no sense in any way. Ahjin also suddenly stops using her brains in the last 2 episodes which is so out of character for her. Overall, it was a good start but a bad finish

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After Ep. 8 I'm starting to consider dropping now... And I dropped it

This drama definitely hooked me in the beginning, but these last episodes feel too drawn out and distasteful for me. I'm surprised it goes on for 14 Episodes.

I really liked the actors but the story just isn't it. I've come to realize that I can deal with not liking the side leads. It's when the main characters become questionable that I consider dropping.

I'll think about pushing until Ep. 9 cause I do like the actors, even though at this point the only characters I like are the Natural Bebe mother team. It'll probably depend on the first few minutes...

-------—

Edit: I was too kind in my first review. I stopped at Ep. 10, thinking that pushing through Ep. 9 would redeem anything. It did not. It's a drama with unending misunderstandings that isn't even written well. I find that the choices of the ML and the FL characters are both questionable for many many reasons. Pretty sure everything that's wrong about this can be seen in Eps. 1-2. Also, the SML just irks me in a way. Everything just feels so wrong and it's also like i'm watching kids stuck in the body of 30 year olds. I'd say or rant more about this drama, but I know it's not worth the time.

HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMMEND! Well unless you're into this thing. Also, i'm sure the actors have better work that you can watch if you're here for them.

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Favorite Noona Drama - Followup Movie would be nice

Watched earlier this year and one of the few I have rewatched couple of times (continue to find things I missed). Realize late review as FYS was released in 20/filmed 19. I d'ont get all the negative reviews about Victoria Song's acting nor the 11.5 age difference given the noona story. Nor the lower rating that than "The Rational Life" 8.2 (comments also less negative about the lead, who I like, who is 20 years older in real life and played about 10 years younger). Whereas VS played her own age and Song Wei Long played older but convincingly). I enjoyed the relationship, chemistry, and skinship in FYS... made sense as FL was emotionally much younger than chronogical age). Whereas with TRL low chemistry, family was toxic mother and his likable mom... vs FYS He family (enjoyed her twin though his final GF not believable), and FL didn't have long term friendships like Fan Xing in FYS. The RL had much fewer filming locations, humor, only one family relationship that was toxic, one or two quick kisses, and a happy ending that probably won't last. Not going to happen but would love a FYS sequel movie showing two leads married... PS been using this site for year and finally did first review today :)

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A Dark Story That Falls Apart Completely

This drama tries to look bold and unique, but the writing becomes extremely cruel without any real purpose. A Jin, the main girl, is written as someone who destroys everything around her. Instead of giving her depth or a believable reason for her actions, the story just makes her more selfish and stubborn as it goes on.

Jun Seo and Jae O — two genuinely good and loyal characters — end up suffering the most because of her. Their devotion is used again and again just to create more tragedy, not to build real emotional impact. Watching good characters get thrown away for shock value becomes tiring very fast.

The acting is strong, but even that cannot save a plot that chooses hopelessness over proper storytelling. The drama focuses on misery rather than meaning, and the ending only adds to the frustration.

If you dislike depressing twists, manipulative characters, or stories that hurt innocent characters for no reason, this is something you may want to avoid. There are many revenge dramas with better writing and far more satisfying arcs.

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Had potential but kinda became draggy and round about

Sigh i really don't know when I'm gonna finish this one. I've already put it on hold it twice cz it's just like next prince. Too draggy. Every scene is dragged for no reason. For some reason bank does look kinda awkward doing NC scenes but other than that he's doing a good job playing the innocent uke role. So the problem is not the actors its the horrible writing.
For some reason bank changes his cloths had this weird NC scene effect🤣🤣 with all the blurs and music wtf that was a makeover scene.

Anyways i think it would have been a good story if they had just not dragged it and I'm already half way through the series they have not bothered to address or even hint us about the dreams🙃🙃 they just keep giving us random flashes of that dream and those flashes make no sense and are not giving us a glimpse of that story either.

I really loved the 2nd couple's story. No complaints. They have good chemistry and proper pacing too and their story is damn cute❤️❤️❤️

Overall should you watch it? Well you can watch it but it wouldn't make a difference if you didn't. You're not missing anything.

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I've never seen a character like Baek Ahjin in the whole industry

Ya'll can't blame her for doing all of these harsh things. She had the psychological predisposition, and all the situations of her childhood worked together to make Baek Ahjin this psychotic. In Gang's character was written as fragile, because of his bad luck he got played by Beak Ahjin so easily. Kim Jaeoh was so dependent to Ahjin, they both had family issues and traumas in common but he didn't deserve his ending poor him:(( although that was his choice. The most questionable thing is how did Moon Dohyeok find out about Ahjin's childhood and background??? stalker??? nah he was more than a stalker completely insane.

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I AM PISSED (this review is a little rude but I was mad sorryyyy)

I'm so irritated first ep and right off the back they wanna show me JayJay and that rat tattatattat. don't get me started.
he said I'll stop when she tells me to stop then in the beginning he literally just fucking kissed her.
i'm very mad and I don't like him I'm completely for Yuri and the fact that they see nothing wrong with doing him like this is disgusting. like come on now and then the hospital..right in front of Yuri guys really? u js gon pick her up ?? like honestly that boy right she is js like Ella idgaf u got both of them but u still can't choose like if u want to be with that disgusting thing then tell Yuri u made up ur mind and u want to be with Kiefer and hand the ring tf back so he can give to the queen, ME.
cause personal I would let him put a thousand different rings on my hands.

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Toxic Love From my Uncle

Confession time : the Wang Yiran/Lan Lan "canary" dramas are one of my biggest guilty pleasures, I keep seeking them like a hungry racoon, the trashier the better. The overall plot of this one is fine if barebone (they love each other but his sister married her dad so they can't be together, that's it that's the plot), and the actual writing/interpretation of it in this version is pretty straightforward. The hero spends more than half of the drama not taking "no" for an answer and being the sole driving force of the romance, because if we were counting on the heroïne, there would be zero action since she forbids herself from the possibility of any relationship with him. There is no cat and mouse in this game, it's just relentless chasing/escaping (and sometimes, but rarely, yielding) so if you can't stand the very, very, very dated tale of the girl who just won't admit her own desires and feelings because what about rules/family/reputation, and the boy who chooses the abuser path to overcome that, and if the (again, so damn stale) line "you're saying no but your body is saying yes" makes you vomit, just run. Okay, still there ? Hello fellow deranged souls and trash pandas, you have come to the right place. If "Toxic Love From the Mob Boss" is your preferred soap perfume, this is a good pick, he's not a mob boss but he's a territorial, forceful, sexy asshole who needs to assert dominance at every turn. He also can be defined as a deranged yandere and I know there is a public for it. I enjoyed it a lot and couldn't look away, thanks to the great casting (Lan Lan and Wang Yiran know how to sell it), a wonderful translation (honestly it makes a huge difference, I swear half of the time I'm annoyed at a vertical it's because the automated translation is garbage) and a trashy plot played completely straight, that knows exactly what its demented audience wants to see. Finally, this is the drama that made me realize I have a thing for actors who look constantly pissed off, as I loved Wang Yiran's perpetual frown and mean gaze. In conclusion this is very much a "if it's your thing watch it, if not avoid it" kind of vertical.

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