[비즈한국] Netflix series 'Monthly Boyfriend' will be released on March 6. I watched the 4 episodes provided to the press in advance. The premise of subscribing to various romantic concepts in a virtual world is quite intriguing. The only thing that made me hesitate was that Jisoo is the lead actress. Don't get me wrong. I love Blackpink. However, I have seen her previous performances, and while it might be expected, I just wanted to point out that her acting hasn't suddenly taken a massive leap forward in this work. After all, the lead actor's performance can be a major hurdle for some viewers.
'Monthly Boyfriend' is a romantic comedy about realizing fantasies, where Mi-rae (Jisoo), a webtoon PD weary of reality, subscribes to and experiences love through virtual reality simulations. Even just the one-line description is enticing. Regardless of the era, people dream of romance and love, but at some point, it became a 'pipe dream' to hope for such things in this bleak reality. There’s a reason why broadcasters churn out so many 'dating reality shows' every day. It’s because the longing to at least experience vicarious satisfaction has gathered to create the current 'republic of dating shows'.
Moreover, the subscription service 'Monthly Boyfriend' that Mi-rae signs up for—while the name might be a bit cheesy—is incredibly substantial. By entering the virtual world through a device, you can vividly enjoy the romantic fantasies found in the pop culture we read and watch, such as dramas, movies, webtoons, and web novels. Imagine this: becoming Yoon Se-ri, the chaebol heiress from 'Crash Landing on You', and falling into a heart-wrenching love with Ri Jeong-hyeok. You could become the maid Sophie in 'Bridgerton' and share a passionate love with the second son of the Bridgerton family, or take on the role of Ji Eun-tak from 'Guardian: The Lonely and Great God' to continue your eternal destiny with the immortal goblin. Who could possibly refuse that?
There is also 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 where 'everything you love is packed inside'. If you don't like the chosen male lead, you can just log out and pick another. There's no need to struggle to pick clothes or put on makeup. There, you have a luxurious mansion for yourself, and the dress room is overflowing with the latest season's designer clothes. You just need to pay the monthly subscription fee. Of course, it's a bit pricey. The basic level is about 500,000 won a month? But compared to the cost of actual dates, it's quite cheap. Most of all, there is a truckload of the men and fantasies you desire.
In this situation, naturally, Mi-rae becomes completely immersed in the 'Monthly Boyfriend' service. There, she experiences a 'cringe-worthy, ultimate Cinderella-style' romance with Choi Si-woo (Lee Soo-hyuk), a chaebol man from the hit work of her webtoon artist Yoon-song (Gong Min-jung). She also experiences the heart-fluttering feeling of a first love by becoming a college freshman and meeting the fresh and cute Kendo club senior Eun-ho (Seo Kang-joon). And that’s not all. She can meet a 'tsundere' senior doctor who is usually grumpy but secretly only likes her (Lee Jae-wook), an NIS agent met during a terrorist hijacking (Ong Seong-wu), a judge who sparks chemistry in court (Lee Hyun-wook), an assassin who came to take revenge on her family but falls in love with her (Kim Young-dae), and even sexy celebrity Jay Park (Jay Park)!
Thus, Mi-rae faithfully dedicates 3 hours and 30 minutes, her only pure free time out of 24 hours a day, to 'Monthly Boyfriend'. I would do the same. However, the virtual world is just a virtual world. Reality cannot be ignored. Her college classmate Se-jun (Kim Sung-chul), who was her lover for a long time, is about to marry another classmate, and her 'high-achieving colleague' Park Kyung-nam (Seo In-guk), who is constantly tied to her in a competitive mode from a similar position, is standing firm in reality. The perfect fantasy of the virtual world is overflowing with dopamine, but it cannot fix the irritating 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, has yet to showcase a notable performance. Therefore, the key for the remaining episodes lies in whether the real-life Park Kyung-nam can emit enough charm to match the virtual world characters who provide overwhelming excitement. Honestly, I’m skeptical. I mean, even though it requires immense 'cringe resistance', can he really surpass the greasy charm of Lee Soo-hyuk? Can I forget the sly and refreshing fox-like Seo Kang-joon? Of course, these deep doubts also mean that the male characters appearing frequently in the beginning and the premise of this drama are truly attractive.
Watching the drama, I also become curious about the realism of a romance simulation subscription service. If such a service actually becomes popularized, there will undoubtedly be an explosive reaction. The problems that follow will also increase. New types of hermits (hikikomori) who are obsessed with this service and ignore reality will emerge, and since it can be used regardless of whether one is single or married, there will be cries in court about virtual boyfriends and spouses committing mental infidelity. Even if it doesn't go as far as side effects, since real-life dating is very disadvantageous if it can coexist with reality, I am curious how this romantic comedy will highlight the excitement of real-life romance.
And the remaining doubt is, of course, Jisoo. 'Monthly Boyfriend' requires her to play characters with various settings, from fresh newcomers to 30-something office workers, depending on the concept of each romance. It’s not an easy role, as it also includes a significant amount of narration. Aside from special appearances, Jisoo has appeared in the dramas 'Snowdrop' and 'Newtopia', and the movie 'Omniscient Reader', but she has always received harsh evaluations for her acting, especially criticism regarding her vocalization and pronunciation, which are the basics of acting. As mentioned before, I don't think we should put too much meaning into Jisoo's acting in this work either. Still, her facial acting seems slightly improved compared to her previous works, and I just hope there will be more development in the remaining episodes. Since there have often been cases where actors who were called 'bad actors' in the beginning overcame it through tireless effort and time, I hope she does. Again, I like Blackpink.
Anyway, if you are tired of the harsh reality today, it might be good to fall into the fleeting fantasy offered by 'Monthly Boyfriend'. Just imagining which fantasy you would like while watching it seems like it would be enjoyable.
Who is the writer, Jung Soo-jin?
I have covered and written about movies, travel, and pop culture while working at various magazines. I don't want to fall behind on trends, but I have become an old-school person who predicts obvious clichés for the next scene while watching the latest dramas. I am trying to regain my lost intuition by drifting through the vast world of OTT, and my current wish is for a bundled OTT subscription plan to be released.