[비즈한국] The Netflix series 'Monthly Boyfriend' premieres on March 6. I watched the four episodes made available to the press in advance. The core premise—subscribing to various themed romances in a virtual world—is quite intriguing. However, the reason I feel hesitant is that Jisoo is the lead actress carrying the show. Please don't misunderstand; I love BLACKPINK. I have seen a few previous projects where Jisoo acted, and while perhaps it is to be expected, I just want to point out that her acting has not suddenly made a leap forward in this series. For some, the acting ability of the lead can be a significant hurdle.
'Monthly Boyfriend' is a romantic comedy about fulfilling fantasies where Mi-rae (Jisoo), a webtoon PD weary of real life, subscribes to and experiences love through a virtual dating simulation. Even a one-line description has a certain appeal. Regardless of the era, people dream of romance and love, but at some point, dreaming of such things in our harsh reality became an 'unattainable luxury.' There is a reason why broadcasting stations are constantly creating 'dating reality shows.' It is because the heartbreaking longing to feel vicarious satisfaction through them has given birth to the current 'Republic of Dating Shows.'
Moreover, 'Monthly Boyfriend,' the romance subscription service that Mi-rae signs up for, has a slightly cheesy name but is packed with substantial content. Once you enter the virtual world via a device, you can vividly enjoy all sorts of romantic fantasies from popular culture—dramas, movies, webtoons, and web novels—that we've read or watched. Imagine being Yoon Se-ri, the wealthy heiress from 'Crash Landing on You,' falling into a tragic, passionate love with Ri Jeong-hyeok. You could become the maid Sophie from 'Bridgerton' and share a steamy love affair with the second son of the Bridgerton family, or step into the shoes of Ji Eun-tak from 'Guardian: The Lonely and Great God' to relive an immortal bond for the nth time. Who could resist that?
There is none of the hassle that comes with real-life dating and love. As the dating matching manager (Yoo In-na) of 'Monthly Boyfriend' says, the virtual world is a space 'packed with everything you like.' If you don't like the chosen male lead, you simply log out and pick another. There’s no need to struggle with picking outfits or doing makeup. A magnificent mansion is waiting just for you, and the walk-in closet is overflowing with the latest seasonal designer clothes. You just have to pay the monthly subscription fee. Sure, it’s a bit pricey—about 500,000 won a month for the basic tier? But considering the costs of real-life dating, it’s relatively cheap. Above all, you have a truckload of the men and fantasies you desire.
In this situation, it is only natural that Mi-rae gets deeply immersed in the 'Monthly Boyfriend' service. There, she experiences a 'cringey, ultimate Cinderella-style' romance with Choi Si-woo (Lee Soo-hyuk), a wealthy man from the hit work of the webtoon artist she manages (Gong Min-jung), and experiences the fluttering heart of a first love with Eun-ho (Seo Kang-jun), a fresh and cute senior in the kendo club. Is that all? She meets a 'tsundere' senior doctor (Lee Jae-wook) who always shouts but only has eyes for her, a National Intelligence Service agent (Ong Seong-wu) met during a terrorist hijacking, a judge (Lee Hyun-wook) with whom sparks fly in court, an assassin (Kim Young-dae) who came to take revenge on her family but falls in love, and even a sexy celebrity, Park Jay-bum (Park Jay-bum)!
And so, Mi-rae devotes her entire 3 hours and 30 minutes of free time, out of the 24 hours in a day, faithfully to 'Monthly Boyfriend.' I think I would do the same. However, the virtual world is just a virtual world. One cannot ignore reality. Se-jun (Kim Sung-cheol), a college classmate who was her long-time lover, is about to marry another friend, and there is a 'high-performing colleague' Park Kyung-nam (Seo In-guk) who keeps getting in her way in a competitive mode. While the perfect fantasies of the virtual world are overflowing with dopamine, they can't do anything about the bothersome human relationships in reality.
In the content released up to episode 4, Seo In-guk, who plays the real-life male lead Park Kyung-nam, hasn't had much of a chance to shine yet. Therefore, the key to the remaining episodes depends on whether the real-life Park Kyung-nam can emit enough charm to rival the virtual world characters who provide such overwhelming excitement. Honestly, I’m skeptical. Although it requires a tremendous amount of mental fortitude, can he really surpass Lee Soo-hyuk’s greasy charm? Can we forget the cute, foxy Seo Kang-jun? Of course, this deep skepticism also means that the male characters and the setting of this drama are that attractive.
Watching the drama, one also becomes curious about the realism of a dating simulation subscription service. If such a service were to become widespread, it would undoubtedly trigger an explosive response. The resulting problems would also increase. A new type of hikikomori who ignores reality to be obsessed with this service would emerge, and since it can be used by both singles and the married, we would likely hear pleas in court about spouses having emotional affairs with virtual boyfriends. Even if it doesn't reach the level of side effects, since real-world dating is at a significant disadvantage if it has to coexist with such fantasies, I am curious about how this romantic comedy will highlight the thrills of real-life romance.
And the lingering doubt is, of course, Jisoo. 'Monthly Boyfriend' requires the actor to play characters with diverse settings according to the concept of each romance, ranging from a fresh college freshman to a 30-something office worker. It is not an easy role, as it also includes a significant amount of narration. Apart from special appearances, Jisoo has appeared in the drama 'Snowdrop' and 'Newtopia' and the movie 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint,' but she has consistently received harsh reviews for her acting, especially regarding her vocal projection and pronunciation, which are the basics of acting. As I mentioned earlier, it seems I shouldn't attach too much significance to Jisoo's acting in this project either. Still, her facial expressions seem slightly improved compared to her previous works, and I only hope she shows more development in the remaining episodes. There have been many cases where actors who were called 'bad actors' in the beginning overcame it after persistent effort and time, so I hope she does. Again, I like BLACKPINK.
Anyway, if you're tired of the harsh reality today, it would be fine to lose yourself in the fleeting fantasy offered by 'Monthly Boyfriend.' Just imagining what kind of fantasy you would enjoy while watching it might be fun enough.
Who is writer Jeong Soo-jin?
I have worked for several magazines, reporting and writing about film, travel, and popular culture. I don't want to fall behind on trends, but I’ve become an 'old-school' person who watches the latest dramas and predicts only the most obvious clichés for the next scene. I am trying to regain my edge while drifting through the vast world of OTT, and my current wish is for an integrated OTT subscription plan.