Idol I (2025) 아이돌아이
Directed by Lee Kwang-young, starring Choi Soo-young as Maeng Se-na, Kim Jae-young as Do Ra-ik, and Jung Jae-kwang as Kwak Byung-gyun.
Watched 6 - 12 March 2026 — 12 episodes (NETFLIX)
*This series has an interesting story premise of a renowned lawyer defending her favorite K-pop idol against a murder charge. I found the first episode immediately compelling, whetting my appetite for the rest of the show.
*Kim Jae-young (as Do Ra-ik) is very good. (I like this actor, seen him in The Judge from Hell.) He is a believable K-pop idol and totally looks the part. He makes his hurt and fear palpable. His acting skills are on a far higher level than those of Choi Soo-young (seen her before in If You Wish Upon Me and Move to Heaven), who plays the lawyer. Though I do like her, she doesn't have a lot of range and just isn't strong in her emotional scenes. She's a bit one-note, to be honest, with the same facial expression. At times I found myself wishing for another actress, thinking Kim Jae-young is much too nice for her. Yet I do like her as a fangirl. And every so often Se-na and Ra-ik are really cute together, and their kissing scenes are convincing.
*The series manages to depict the pressure many idols experience well, how they are a product of the agency and have no life of their own. It also shows how crazy fans can be. I'm not into K-pop, but this seems to be a real-life phenomenon, K-pop idols being stalked by crazy fans.
*The K-drama trope where everybody seems to have a past together is fully deployed here. Se-na and Ra-ik have a past connection where he saved her from killing herself. Se-na also has a past with the prosecutor Kwak Byung-gyun (played by Jung Jae-kwang — seen him in Connection and The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call) where she was a victim of his bullying at school.
*I liked the mystery part and hadn't guessed who the real culprit was. It was unexpected — at least for me — but also didn't come out of thin air.
*The final episode is satisfying, with no loose ends, and I like how Se-na starts the retrial of her father's case.
*Prosecutor Kwak Byung-gyun finally decides to prioritise truth over a false conviction and stands up to his controlling dad. I like his character development. It would be nice to give Jung Jae-kwang his own spin-off series, now he decides to go and work at a regional office and take care of his mother. Maybe the writer of my newly imagined show can put him in the country side where he'll meet a sweet girl, lol. I like this actor, and he deserves to have a leading role. He will, eventually. Mark my words!
*In the end, the show doesn't forget the supporting roles. We see Ra-ik's mother getting an invitation to her son's concert, and the CEO of Goldi Entertainment (who wasn't a bad guy, fortunately) having a pleasant talk with Ra-ik. Park Chung-jae (played by Kim Hyun-jin), Se-na's former tenant, starts his own investigating business. It was predictable that the fangirl/Se-na's online buddy turned out to be Se-na's colleague/assistant but it was still a nice touch.
*I love Se-na's boss, a role performed by Kim Won-hae (one of my fave supporting actors). He is so supportive of her. In the past, he was her father's lawyer, and their shared history forms a significant emotional bond between them. Love their relationship!
*The ending with the stage performance, and paying tribute to the deceased band member, was the perfect conclusion of this enjoyable drama.
*Very nice OST!
*Love Se-na's house and garden!
(Collage made by me.)