#kim da rin

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For this week's episodes of Idol I, it was nice that Se-na was more or less aware of how delusional her views on idol relationships are, but I kinda wished the drama had stressed the fact that idols are real people with real emotions and human rights. I guess there's still more than enough time for the drama to delve into that. But the one thing I really want to highlight this time is Kim Jae Young's performance. There were scenes where his body language reminded me of a defenseless child, especially in episode 3. Like, do y'all realize how hard it is to achieve something like that when you're as tall and fit as him? We're truly looking at a career-defining performance.

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Another thing that's impressive for me about Idol I is the fact that the murder mystery is genuinely interesting. Like, they're not using it as some sort of gimmick to push the lawyer X idol romance. So far, it's been impossible to predict who killed U-seong and why. And what the hell was U-seong himself hiding? Also, the writer keeps providing spot-on insight on the way idols are treated like products instead of real people, as if they stop deserving love the moment they're not 100% perfect. This has to be ruffling some feathers among K-pop fans, both Korean and international, right?

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I started Idol I, and the first two episodes were so good! Out of all the K-pop themed dramas I've watched, this is the one that best captures the nuances of both being a K-pop stan and a K-pop idol. It's pulling no punches when showing all the dehumanizing shit that idols go through, especially in an industry where companies and so-called fans expect them to be perfect little dolls. The mystery is also genuinely engaging, and both Choi Soo Young and Kim Jae Young are doing a fantastic job. Oh, and I love the way it's shot, too; the camera angles perfectly portray what the characters are feeling. We'll see if it manages to stay at this level.

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I can't even imagine what Ra-ik must have felt like when he found Se-na's merch. It probably reinforced the idea that nobody has any interest in him as an actual person, even if that wasn't her intention at all. Dropping her as a lawyer was still a mistake, considering the mess he's in, but I honestly get it. He can't handle any more betrayals. I wonder how he'll react when he finds out about U-seong's contract tampering stuff. And in that regard, the CEO is starting to emerge as the main suspect in the murder. Or is that too obvious a resolution? Hmm, guess we'll find out in the next episode... Anyway, I'm glad Ra-ik and Se-na reconciled quickly, cause the drama is at its best when they're together. Seeing their initial meeting from his point of view, and how they gave each other the push they needed to keep going, made me all emotional.