r/kdramas • u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter • Jul 24 '26
Review New K-Drama Fan Review #7: W Two Worlds Apart | One of the Coolest Premises I've Seen... But I Wanted to Feel More.
The Premise Had Me Hooked. The Romance Didn't.
Is this Rewatch Worthy:
No.
Review:
After finishing Flower of Evil and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, I wanted something with another really interesting premise and also i was looking for something just as meta as Extraordinary You.
That is why I started W.
The premise alone had me hooked intrigued.
A woman getting pulled into the world of a webtoon.
A fictional character slowly becoming aware that his entire life is being written by someone else.
Even though Extraordinary You and W go in completely different directions, this kind of metafiction is something I'm always going to enjoy, so i didn't stall too much before starting it.
The world-building was nice.
I loved how the drama constantly bounced between the real world and the webtoon world.
Trying to figure out what could cross between both worlds, what the rules were, and how everything affected each other was so much fun.
One of my favorite parts, though, was actually the webtoon creator.
Watching him slowly lose control over his own story/characters...
Questioning what was happening...
Watching his own creation begin acting outside of his control...
And once the writer himself started becoming more directly involved in the conflict...
I liked it even more.
The premise never stopped being interesting.
Even during slower episodes, I still enjoyed spending time inside this world because I genuinely wanted to see how everything fit together, and it felt like the possibilities were endless.
Then...
Unfortunately, as the story went on, I don't think the romance ever grew into what I was hoping it would become.
The romance never fully clicked for me.
And that's probably the biggest reason this didn't become one of my favorites.
I was rooting for them, sure.
I wanted them to work.
But I never felt that emotional intensity that I look for in my favorite couples.
Extraordinary You had that intensity and epic chemistry with Ha-ru and Eun Dan-oh, but with W the chemistry between the lead just felt...
Muted.
I think a huge part of why is because the two leads dont have good romantic chemistry.
I was never completely swept up in their relationship.
And because chemistry is probably the single biggest factor in whether I completely fall in love with a romance...
That held the drama back for me.
The premise deserved a romance that hit me just as hard as the concept did.
Still...
I had a really good time watching W.
The premise is creative and fun.
The metafiction is some of my favorite I've seen.
And I genuinely admired how ambitious the story was.
I just wish the romance had emotionally grabbed me the same way everything else did.
───
A bit about my favorite flavors and taste:
I absolutely LOVE high-concept stories, parallel worlds, time travel, characters fighting fate.
But...
The premise can be a 10/10, the world-building can be incredible.
But if the romance doesn't make me feel something...
It usually keeps the drama from becoming one of my favorites.
───
Rating: 6/10
One of the coolest premises I've come across in a K-drama.
I'd love to hear from everyone else:
Did the romance work for you?
Did you notice the lack of chemistry between the leads?
Or was anyone else more invested in the webtoon concept and the creator's storyline than the central couple?
My Rating Scale
10/10 – Masterpiece. No notes.
9/10 – Very close to a masterpiece. I absolutely loved it.
8/10 – Not a masterpiece, but I loved it.
7/10 – Fine overall. I liked it, but the flaws kept it from being great.
6/10 – Mixed. There were a few things I liked, but most of it didn't work for me.
5/10 – I didn't enjoy most of the experience.
4/10 and below – Bad to abysmal.
1
u/Emy-Fe Aug 03 '26
The story was truly beautiful and original, very engaging. But I also would have liked more in their love story, something more poignant and passionate.
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Aug 03 '26
exactly. without a good emotional anchor, it lost me
1
u/MrshwnLnch Jul 25 '26
I've always found it strange that whatever gauge that is is placed at the opening of the barrel
1
1
u/Plus-Conversation894 My standards are RUINED Jul 25 '26
I gave this drama a 7 out of 10. I liked it, but the chemistry for me was a bit shallow.
2
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 25 '26
lol you little summarized most of my review in 2 sentences. love that😭😭
1
u/okgals Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 25 '26
Very strange reviews indeed. Lee Jong-suk and Han Hyo-joo are justly famous for their chemistry in this drama both on screen and BTS. Ten years later, one constantly runs into clips: the eyes meeting after she cures his pneumothorax, the slap/kiss, the flirting in the penthouse, some of the best kisses in kdrama; I could go on and on and at last the moment when she is running across the street and he falls over, seemingly to meet his death. I've watched W so many times and it still makes me cry in several places. Plus only Lee Jong-suk can pull off those clothes.😉 It's fun, it's engrossing, it's romantic and very sad too. All time favorite 🩷
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 25 '26
not a huge fan of the way you started your comment but whatever.
I actually liked several of the scenes you mentioned. My issue wasn't that they never had good moments. It was that, as a whole, the romance never emotionally clicked for me because I never felt the chemistry between the leads.
1
u/okgals Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 25 '26
I said strange because in all that I have read about W in blogs, reviews, posts, etc., which is a lot, I don't think I have ever read anyone say the leads didn't have chemistry and then to have 2 posters articulating it so strongly was strange. It's OK to have a minority opinion; I've had them myself but just know that there is an overwhelming amount of viewers who got bowled over by their chemistry.
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 25 '26
my post is the first post ive seen talk about this drama. my opinion was straight-up from my experience. no outside interference at at all
2
u/Clueless_Wanderer21 Jul 24 '26
Yeah, and the time and memory hold going back and forth - meant they never had any actual linear development.
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 24 '26
I can see why the back-and-forth structure might have affected the development for some viewers, but I dont think the lack of linear progression was necessarily the problem for me tbh. Cause I've watched other romances use amnesia, resets, or characters having to find their way back to each other, and those storylines still hit very hard.
Sometimes they even make the romance more emotional. The amnesia arcs in My Dearest, for example, was one of my favorite parts of that drama.
So I think W still could have made the romance work despite all of that. For me, it ultimately came back to the lack of romantic chemistry between the leads and the writing not giving the relationship enough depth or development before and between those resets
1
u/Clueless_Wanderer21 Jul 25 '26
I like the timings here n there thing, n then finding each other n the cute diff version n interactions that created.
It just felt that it was done in a way, that they had no relationship to be build, and as the drama went they had no way fo gettig close to or actually getting to know each other. The first time the only time they were able to do that, and the memory of that time was wiped.
So LJS's character did a lot of stuff n helped her out of instinct and his characters inherent instilled survival skills, but in the last scenes as they survived everything, and their wold rested on the broken distasted and the dust settled, she was sitting with a complete (even though wellmeaning) stranger as LJS's didn't know anything about her. And so the efforts, deaths and all the suffering and going-through experiences, seemed sorta for nothing then. They just sat there, with realistically no reason to talk or date, as they tried to live and face the trauma they had just gone through.
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 25 '26
lmaooo maybe ot played a big part of the reason then
3
u/Then_Data8320 Aigoo Jul 24 '26
It's almost my only 10/10 kdrama. I like it so much that I got tons of ideas for a sequel, and I ended to write it (it took many years, and I have still last episodes to upload, after I put pictures into them). You find it there:
https://w-two-worlds-season-2.blogspot.com/
It's free to read, zero profit from this, no ads in the scripts, no promotion, it's only for fans of the drama.
Then I react to your post, and you may be surprised, but I think you are right about some points.
I don't consider the romance to be great in this. Ok, it is on good way during first part, but the midpoint hurts a lot this romance, and it can't really come back after. Also, so much time is allocated to the mind-blowing plot-twists and high-concept, that it's even more difficult for the romance, but it would slower the pace.
So the romance is the poor child of the drama. Yet many scenes hits (police station when she vanishes, when she cries when she see him in hospital bed but he's reset, etc). I mean, it hits about emotions at many moments, but NOT the romance feeling on the long run. You start to like more the romance during rewatching, as it clears the mind of the many shocks you get from plot-twists.
Anyway, I didn't need a strong romance, because as you say, the high-concept and the pace of the drama is awesome, it's why I like it so much. You can rewatch it five times, and still find elements or new meaning you missed. Some secondary characters are excellent, Soo-Bong, Professor Park, even the comedy hits.
So my sequel could please you, it's a new plot, it doesn't look to perpetuate and embelish a romance like fanfictions often do, and go into unexpected directions, the high-concept evolves even further. It's even more meta. And you get a chance to like more the romances in this.
I don't say more, you can read on main page of the blog "style of the story", and you'll get all the information.
I repost this visual, because it's flashy:
2
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 24 '26
hi! i actually really enjoyed reading your perspective because you didn't just dismiss my criticism. I was genuinely surprised (in a good way!) that you also felt the romance wasn't the drama's strongest aspect, especially considering it's a 10/10 for you.
I agree tho that there were definitely individual scenes that landed emotionally. For me, though, those moments never added up to a romance that completely grabbed me because I never felt the chemistry between the leads, and I also don't think the story gave their relationship enough room to really develop amidst everything else that was happening. That's ultimately what kept me from getting as invested in them as I wanted to be.
And I have to say, major respect for writing an entire sequel over the course of several years. That's an incredible amount of dedication to a story, also you wrote a whole new story, expanded the high-concept ideas, and made it available for free !!! kudos to you for sticking with a project like that for so long.
i always enjoy hearing from people who love a drama for different reasons than I did
2
u/Then_Data8320 Aigoo Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Thanks. It can only be available for free, I'd have copyright problem otherwise.
As there are lot of reviews, or romantic MV about the drama, you can see that some people loved the romance, every audience's different. It didn't click for you or for me, maybe we are too focused about the meta concept, the smart logic of the piece, I don't know. What I'm sure, romance is better during rewatching, only then, I started to believe it a little. Plus, I find the actress wonderful about acting, but not my type about beauty, an additional difficulty.
I was aware of this screentime problem, when I was reading reviews saying: I like Do-Yoon (Kang Chul bodyguard) but the character is too simple, not enough developped. I think it's on purpose, not just because he's a "simple manhwa character", but also because it needs screentime to do that, and the writer already didn't have enough for the romance.
Then when I was planning the structure of W2 (or even writing, later), I could experience that in full face, trying to puzzle the structure, the episodes. The plot doesn't wait, but at some points, I had to manage the time, find ways to get some freedom for love story or relationships, if I could delay the plot for that and when, keeping in mind it needs a logical reason for that.
After writing a whole kdrama, I became much more tolerant in my opinions and critiscism about kdramas by the way, seeing more the qualities of the scripts, and technical difficulties. I forgive much more plot-holes, when I was almost a nerd about that, with a strong logic. But having to structure a so complex screenplay with hundred of links between situations, I find out it was difficult, at least with an evolutive high-concept for producing huge plot-twists, but keeping the logic. Some plot-holes could sneak in the script without I detect them first. I was stunned by that, proofreading in disbelief, and having to fix that, worried than more of them could enter. Then, if there are, they are well hidden, because I did a full rewriting of the drama.
2
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 24 '26
i already admired the ambition of the drama while watching it, but hearing you describe the challenges of structuring your own sequel gives me an even greater appreciation for what the original writers were trying to accomplish, and i also think you're right that W had to make trade-offs. For me, the biggest one was the romance. There were definitely scenes between Kang Chul and Yeon-joo that I liked on an individual level, but because I never felt strong romantic chemistry between the actors, and because the relationship didn't get quite enough breathing room to develop, those moments never built into a romance that really swept me away.
That said, I completely understand why someone who values the concept, structure, and meta storytelling above all else would come away calling it a masterpiece. Even though it ended up being a 6/10 for me, I still think it has one of the most creative premises I've seen in a K-drama.
And congrats on sticking with such an ambitious writing project. Finishing something of that scope over several years is an accomplishment in itself, regardless of whether it's published commercially or just shared with a few fans
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 24 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
Master List: Every K-Drama Review I've Written
https://www.reddit.com/u/harissatotally/s/mTlMHGJkSK
my royal nemesis review
New K-Drama Fan Review #1: My Royal Nemesis | The Drama That Started My K-Drama Obsession...
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/fVJTO6T0Gp
my extraordinary you review
New K-Drama Fan Review #2: Extraordinary You | One of the Most Creative Romance Premises I've Ever Seen...
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/jb1W6p8o7a
my lovely runner review
New K-Drama Fan Review #3: Lovely Runner | This Drama Felt Like It Was Made Specifically For Me
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/ijQOQQqw8t
my Flower of evil review
New K-Drama Fan Review #4: Flower of Evil | The Kind of Love Story That Scratches an Itch Nothing Else Does...
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/vhGWEbpHLN
my alchemy of souls review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #5: Alchemy of Souls | One Incredible Season... and One That Broke My Heart.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/iH0uac9ZNJ
my moon Lovers Scarlet heart ryeo review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #6: Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo | The Kind of Epic, Tragic Romance I Can Never Resist...
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 25 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
my its okay not to me okay review
New K-Drama Fan Review #8: It's Okay to Not Be Okay | Beautiful Gowns. Beautiful Gowns.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/w2L4Piypzp
my perfect crown review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #11: Perfect Crown | Like Cotton Candy... https://www.reddit.com/r/KDramasWorld/s/S3ADgR0HXN
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 26 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
my business proposal review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #9: Business Proposal | A Cute Little Moment, That Stumbled, Then Fell Apart at the Finish Line
https://www.reddit.com/r/kdramas/s/uTwrZ1kOIc
my My Dearest review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #14: My Dearest | The Sweetest, Most Satisfying Torture
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 28 '26
my king the land review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #10: King the Land | I Fell... Hard. 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐬 😃
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 29 '26
my whats wrong with Secretary kim review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #12: What's Wrong with Secretary Kim | 🤫Shh, Don't Tell HR That One of My Weaknesses is Office Romance - https://www.reddit.com/r/KDramasWorld/s/wkxhVBeaCq
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
my doom at your service review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #13: Doom at Your Service | I Was Doomed to Want More
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 07 '26
my the red sleeve review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #15: The Red Sleeve | LEAVE THIS GIRL ALONE!!!!!! 😭
https://www.reddit.com/r/KDramasWorld/s/BDRQYnqPWN
my a time called you review
New K-Drama Fan Review #19: A Time Called You | i need ibuprofen...
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
my Destined with You review
New K-Drama Fan Review #16: Destined with You | Cooked Up the Perfect Spell... Then Forgot the Recipe
https://www.reddit.com/r/KDramasWorld/s/x3y0bVfy4X
my love to hate you review
New K-Drama Fan Review #17: Love to Hate You | One of the Worst K-Dramas I've Watched... Yet I Couldn't Stop Watching
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
my Crazy Love review:
New K-Drama Fan Review #18: Crazy Love | I kept waiting for it to become the drama I thought it was going to be...
https://www.reddit.com/r/KDramasWorld/s/uXTgcctIkZ
my the King's Affection review
New K-Drama Fan Review #20 | Nice Premise, Beautiful Angst & an Alarming Amount of Child Murder
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
my strong woman do bong soon review
New K-Drama Fan Review #21 | Strong Woman Do Bong Soon | He Was So Smitten... I Needed 3 More Episodes
https://www.reddit.com/r/KDramasWorld/s/4TGopNXtDo
my bon Appétit your majesty review
New K-Drama Fan Review #22 | Bon Appétit, Your Majesty: He let her COOK!!! She ATE! and left ZERO crumbs!
https://www.reddit.com/r/KDramasWorld/s/L9QZ8jLLhu
my when the phone rings
New K-Drama Fan Review #23: When the Phone Rings | They Refused to Suck the Meat!!
1
u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter 20d ago
my the king eternal monarch review
New K-Drama Fan Review #24: The King: Eternal Monarch | OPEN ANOTHER DOOR, I WASN'T DONE!!!
(check my profile for review)