Drama Review: S Line (2025)
I have never been so confused* yet intrigued by a drama in my life lol
On one hand, S Line has an interesting premise: what would happen if you could see a red "S Line" that connects each individual on this planet to all the sexual parters they've had by wearing a special pair of glasses? On the other hand...how did this drama go from serial killer thriller to bullying revenge fantasy to critique of celebrity culture to Law & Order: SVU Korea to paranormal teen love story to...whatever this is?
(Seriously, are they members of a demonic cult? Souls stuck in purgatory? Aliens visiting from another dimension?)
While there's something to the idea that people's insatiable desire to know the most intimate details about others' lives is so strong that it can conjure a mystical figure whose sole purpose is to wreak chaos and violence in the fallout of that knowledge, the drama doesn't seem to offer a perspective on what would be a more measured approach to navigating sex in our disenchanted, overly-connected world. What starts as a potentially provocative examination of shame, privacy, and surveillance only leaves us with confusion by the finale.
That said, S Line has a great sense of style and atmosphere. Its imagery is simple but haunting and the way the drama alternates between dark comedy and thriller means we're always on our toes. It might be unclear about the story it wants to tell but it's definitely never boring.
Final Verdict: Good for a weekend binge where you can debrief with friends about what the hell you just watched. The ambiguity works for the show until it doesn't but in the meantime there's some creepiness and well-placed shock value as well as social commentary to get you through. Also, special shoutout to Lee Da-hee. Girl always kills it. Literally.
*Could also have been partly caused by the atrocious ML-generated subs.
