Dear X - K-Drama

Picked Dear X as K-Drama for the weekend, and have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it’s a really interesting look at Korean society and the prevalence of bullying. On the other hand, it’s a bit cheesy.

Ah-jin is a sociopath that grew up in an abusive household, her mother physically abusing her while drunk, and her dad looking the other way. Until one night the dad had enough, and throws his drunk wife down the stairs. Ah-jin walks up to him, and he reminds her that if she snitches (at 5 years old, like wtf), she gets thrown down as well.

Fast forward to high school, where Ah-jin is a model student. And a master at manipulating people. She makes up schemes that ultimately lead to the downfall of her target, or Dear X, as the show puts it.

This is like if Sherlock Holmes were an asshole, and instead of solving crimes, he creates them in elaborate ways. I mean, it’s not un-entertaining, but it also has a big daily soap vibe. I don’t know if I can fully recommend it. It’s definitely worth it for a look at Korean society, and how bullying based on class or status seems to be a normal occurrence.