Dear. M, which evokes the romance of campus and memories of first love, has been at the center of word of mouth since its first week on air.
The KBS Joy new Monday-Tuesday drama 'Dear. M' (written by Lee Seul, directed by Park Jin-woo and Seo Joo-wan), which premiered on the 14th, features a relatable performance by the actors and a story that delicately depicts the love and friendship of youth, growth and conflict, along with various drama elements combined organically to enhance viewers' immersion.
Shaking friendships, 'unexpected flutter' between 12-year friends Majuah and Cha Min-ho.
Majuah (played by Park Hye-soo) and Cha Min-ho (played by Jung Jae-hyun) have been longtime friends and are 'true friends' who stabilize the central theme of the story. In particular, Park Hye-soo and Jung Jae-hyun realistically convey the subtle emotions of friends who care for each other while bickering like real college students, garnering favorable reviews from viewers.
A subtle change began to unfold between the two when 'Handkerchief Man' Moon Joon (played by Lee Jung-sik) appeared. A chance encounter on the bus, his gentlemanly manners, and his soft smile created small ripples in the heart of 'forever single' Majuah, and Cha Min-ho, who watches his female friend fall in love, could not hide his inexplicable jealousy and concern, foreshadowing changes in their relationship.
'The spark of a love triangle' blossoming between the ideal campus couple Seo Ji-min and Park Ha-neul.
Seo Ji-min (played by Noh Jung-ui) and Park Ha-neul (played by Bae Hyun-seong), known as the 'celebrity couple' of SEOYON University, evoked smiles from viewers with their visually pleasing appearance and sweet chemistry.
With the beauty and consideration of a true campus goddess, Seo Ji-min, and a sweet lover, Park Ha-neul, who shows love through actions rather than words, the two are often seen walking hand-in-hand on campus, and their couple date photos becoming envy-inducing highlights, generating buzz on social media and school communities.
However, Seo Ji-min's high school classmate and cheerleading team member Choi Ro-sa (played by Hwang Bo-reum-byul) ignited the spark of a love triangle by approaching Park Ha-neul. Particularly, her dual actions of throwing Seo Ji-min's cheerleading uniform in the trash and changing her schedule to get closer to Park Ha-neul while comforting Seo Ji-min introduced tension into their otherwise peaceful campus life.
It's me, the scene stealer of SEOYON! Gil Mok-jin, Hwang Bo-young, Moon Joon, Min Yang-hee.
Gil Mok-jin (played by Lee Jin-hyuk) and Hwang Bo-young (played by Woo Da-bi) actively contributed as scene stealers in 'Dear. M,' adding laughter and realism to the story.
Gil Mok-jin's obsession with cleanliness and his TMI-like chatter made for unique roommate chemistry with Min-ho and Ha-neul, while 'dating master' Hwang Bo-young, who steps up as Majuah's love counselor while being single, continuously portrayed her cool and confident charm, capturing viewers' attention.
Additionally, the warm seniority exuded by Moon Joon and computer science queen Min Yang-hee (played by Kwon Eun-bin) added vibrant episodes of realistic relatability through an omniburst style from various perspectives, vitalizing the drama.
Not trivial, but each character's struggles and growing pains.
In the 2nd episode, a painful family background was revealed when Cha Min-ho, a work-study student balancing academics and part-time work, disclosed that both of his parents had passed away, revealing a deeper side of him distinct from his usual playful and mischievous demeanor.
Furthermore, Majuah, who is always bright and unwrinkled, also gave hints of having been admitted to SEOYON University through equal opportunity admission, foreshadowing that the growth pains of youth, each with their own stories and struggles, will be depicted.
Mystery surrounding the confession letter, intensifying the love triangle.
Above all, the process of finding the author of the anonymous confession letter that heated up the SEOYON University online community and the protagonist acts as a major mysterious element in the drama, amplifying tension and curiosity in the campus romance.
Speculation abounds over who wrote the confession letter and who is the protagonist of first love, creating waves in the students' daily lives and emotions, as each character interprets the confession letter in their own way, reflecting on their feelings and relationships, delicately portraying the typical exhilaration, anxiety, and growing pains of youth.
Meanwhile, from the next week's 3rd episode, the love triangle involving Majuah, Cha Min-ho, Moon Joon, Seo Ji-min, Park Ha-neul, and Choi Ro-sa will officially unfold, drawing attention to upcoming developments.
[Photo provided by KBS Joy]
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