Look, let’s be honest. The title screams late-night rendezvous and stolen kisses, right? But this drama? It’s more like a slice of life with a side of awkward flirting in the teacher’s lounge.
Don’t get me wrong, some moments had me swooning (Episode 5, anyone?), but overall, it’s a 6.5 out of 10 for me.
Here’s why:
Overall Rating: 6.5
The Midnight Romance in Hagwon is like a cozy night with your favorite comfort food: heartwarming and familiar but lacking the spice to truly tantalize your taste buds.
But while the premise is promising, the execution feels like a K-pop trainee learning Japanese – slow and a little underwhelming. The plot stumbles along at a snail’s pace, with filler episodes more frequent than pop quizzes.
The drama misses that spark of excitement and plot twists we K-drama fans crave. It’s a decent watch, but nothing that will leave you desperately hitting refresh for the next episode.
Plot/Story: 6.0
This drama about Lee Jun Ho and Hye Jin’s hagwontastic love story wasn’t all it cracked up to be. The premise had potential, but the execution fell flatter than a kimchi pancake that forgot the batter.
The plot meandered slower than a hungover sloth, and filler episodes were more common than students acing their TOPIK exams. The villain’s motives were about as convincing as aegyo from a grumpy ahjussi.
Acting/Cast: 7.5
The acting is one of the drama’s stronger aspects. Wi Ha Joon and Jung Ryeo Won deliver solid performances as the main couple, bringing charm and likability to their roles.
Wi Ha Joon, in particular, stands out with his portrayal of the awkward yet earnest Lee Jun Ho. The supporting cast includes notable performances, especially So Ju Yeon and Seo Jung Yeon.
However, the lack of development for many supporting characters limits their impact.
OST/Music: 6.5
The music in “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon” is a mixed bag. The recurring song used throughout the series initially adds emotional depth but becomes monotonous due to overuse.
While the musical montages are a hallmark of director Ahn Pan Seok’s style, they fail to resonate as strongly in this drama. The soundtrack is decent but not memorable.
Rewatch Value: 6.0
Ugh, this drama was a one-and-done kind of situation. The pacing was slower than a snail on sleeping pills, and the side plots went nowhere faster than a deflated soufflé.
Don’t get me wrong, the main couple’s love story was cute and had swoon-worthy moments, but overall, the drama wasn’t exciting or deep enough to rewatch.
Maybe I’ll revisit some scenes for my OTP [One True Pairing], but nah, the whole series lacked that addictive quality we K-drama fans crave. Sadly, this one gets a 6.0 from me.
Final Verdict
The ending was like a rollercoaster ride…but one that stopped way too soon. The main couple finally achieved their dream #relationshipgoals, but the villain’s whole arc felt rushed. Like, what happened next?
Did they just skip out of town or something? And don’t even get me started on the side characters! They were all so interesting at first, but then their stories just fizzled out. So much wasted potential!
Look, if you’re looking for a chill watch with your favorite actors, this drama might be okay. But if you crave a plot that’ll leave you wanting more, skip it. It doesn’t quite live up to the K-drama hype, especially considering the director’s past work.
This one could have been a total winner with a stronger script. Hopefully, the next drama will be a return to form!
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