Dear Hongrang: Spoiler-Free Review
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Title: | Dear Hongrang (2025) |
Platform: | Netflix |
MDL & IMBD Rating: | |
Genre: | Period (Joseon) Romance/ Mystery/ Horror |
Episode Count: | 11 |
Parental Guidance Rating: | MA: Graphic violence (aka hands chopped off, bloodshed from sword fights), general occult weirdness, harm to children, obscene tattoo shown, fade to black scene For more info: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27554348/parentalguide/ |
Starring: | Lee Jae Wook (Alchemy of Souls) Jo Bo Ah (Destined With You) Jung Ga Ram (Love Alarm) Uhm Ji Won (Little Women) |
RBTS Rating: | 3.6/5 Stars (If you are a sensitive viewer, this is not for you. Cinematography and chemistry were great, but could have done without the weirdness. I recommend with caution.)  |
Cast From Left to Right: #LeeJaeWok, #JoBaAh, #JungGaRam, #UhmJiWon, #ParkByungEun
Synopsis:
In the late Joseon Dynasty, a family rises to wealth through the art trade. However, a mysterious event unfolds when the son, Hong Rang, returns after a decade-long disappearance with no memory of his childhood. His half-sister, Jae I, who has been close to him since childhood, now seeks the truth behind his sudden disappearance. Jae I, intelligent and beautiful but with a troubled personality, lives with an abusive stepmother and neglectful father. She had relied on Hong Rang, but her life took a difficult turn after his disappearance. Hong Rang, who had grown up in luxury, returns to find his true identity, which is a mystery to all. @MDL
Spoiler-Free Mini Review:
Dear Hongrang is the most crazy and unhinged K-Drama I have ever watched, and I watched Link: Eat, Kill, Love. This is a love story inside a twisted horror drama starring my least favorite Drama trope: "Suitor or Sibling?" That was a whole layer of uncomfy. From the poster, it's easy to guess that the leads are in fact not siblings, but the characters have never seen the poster in the drama. Couldn't they have been supposedly cousins?
The story explores themes of identity though family, romantic relationships, and status. The cinematography was goregous, as were the costumes. The sets felt very authentic and the music, though it took me hot minute to adjust to the Bollywood-esque vibe, was a real banger. I still listen to the music score. The director committed to a slightly creepy and dramatic atmosphere and I think it really paid off.
The narrative had me hooked, but then it got real weird and real occultly. I’m talking animal blood and human sacrifices in a cauldron. Just know, it’s pretty dark. The action sequences were epic, but again, there was so much blood. 'Flesh squelches’ is literally a subtitle describing sounds. Chills. The audio for the Female Lead went a bit wonky at moments, but it didn't take away from the drama.
The romantic relationship between the leads was compelling, but the question of if he is really her brother stopped that ship from setting sail in the earlier episodes. The Male Lead was such an interesting character and Lee Jae Wook really nailed the role. He is made for period dramas. This was Jo Bo Ah's first historical and she did a good job. She didn't shine as much as the Male Lead, and had a case of the bug eyes (I say this with love, she is gorgeous), but her character's anxiety gave me anxiety, so kudos. The couple was a bit mismatched in terms of casting, but they pulled through thanks to the writing and Lee Jae Wook just doing his thing.
In conclusion, Dear Hongrang was crazy and then really weird when the villain began to rear his weirdo head. I did have to skip/ffwd a bit due to the intense content because that's just not really my thing and I am a wuss Some of the storylines didn't make a lot of sense, but I think it's because they deviated too far from the source material. But I was just here for the vibes.
Story=3 (Logic, where art thou? And the weirdness), Acting= 3.75 (Fine, evil step-mother left no crumbs), Production Quality=4.5 (Great fight scenes and cinematography), Ending= 4 (...Satisfying...?), Enjoyability= 3.5 (I binged watched this but out of confusion..), Would I rewatch= Yeah
Trailer:
Director: #KimHongSeon (Mousetrap, Decoy, The Guest, Black)
Screenwriter: #KimJinA (Dr. Brain)
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