Dear Hyeri (2024)

Hmm.. NO

I loved the first couple episodes because SHIN HYE SUN (obviously, I will watch everything she's in because she's incredible), the cinematography is actually amazing, and to be fair the premise is good. I like that FL is average, just like most of us out there (she's probably being portrayed a bit below average tbf), she's not amazing, a bit broken and struggling. She's also definitely depressed even before the DID came into picture.

It has so much potential and the first few episodes brought my hopes right up there. But it's not going good at all. Maybe we'll slowly find out how FL deals with her illness and maybe it will get better but well.. I'm just bringing my hopes back down now.

This drama is just too slow to my liking.. yeah yeah a story about growth bla bla..

Very few things happen in each episodes though..

It hints at a mature adult relationship but their behaviour and actions are all very irrational and dramatic for no reason.

I wish they explore the illness more, and i don't know - like take it more seriously? Is it really DID or a severe form of depression? You don't just says yeah I've got DID and made those mistakes when I was this other person? And then keep pretending to be Hyeri although that was what resulted in the dissociative identity in the first place? And the 2ML just wants to be with the other personality knowing its born out of an illness? ML over-exaggerating his situation and trying to 'protect' FL from the 'troubled life' with him is also absolute nonsense. And then they (FL and ML) just stare out at each other in every single episode for no reason instead of actually talking like real adults.

Honestly, I'd rather she doesn't end up with either MLs and could just be happy being herself (not Hyeri) without either men.

I will keep on watching because, like I said, Shin Hye Sun.

Add on after finishing:

Reduced the rating from 8.0 --> 6.0

The last two episodes was like a completely different drama. Her trauma, depression and dissociative identity was completely cured because she got back with the toxic ML. Throw in a random new issue and that too get solved with a hug, all is happy and well. My god, what a disaster.

Shin Hye Sun did her best but nothing could have made this better when the story itself is a shamble.

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It has potential to become one of the best kdramas but they ruined it

starting with the relationship of the protagonists, who at first I have to admit that I was able to empathize with them. But as the chapters passed, it stopped being a romantic relationship and became a sentimental dependence on the part of the protagonist.

I didn't like at all how they treated Kang Ju Yeon's character, his ending, although he did learn things, it seemed very sad to me, and the relationship with his friend seemed too forced, for both of them to have a "happy ending"

Not to mention the lack of development that Baek Hye Yeon had, I felt that I never understood how she lived her life, she wanted to give the air that she lived her life freely and didn't know how to take advantage of how crude the working life of a young woman in a world can be. workplace where the majority are men. She was always optimistic and that made her see too far from reality.

Jung Hyeon O seemed to me to be a person without emotional responsibility, he does not measure the consequence of his words and actions.
He spent the entire series treating the protagonist badly, when he finds out about her illness, his first thought is that she was with another man and after that, he blames himself for the situation, positioning himself in the position of victim, when there is nothing further away. of that.
He feels pity and guilt, but his actions still feel empty.

In conclusion, they have too much potential in secondary love interests, they missed the opportunity to demonstrate what personal improvement truly is. Where the protagonist does not need a useless man at her side to "easily" overcome her illness.
I don't recommend it, I wouldn't watch it again, although it has quite a few funny scenes, which at times made you forget how bad the drama was, that doesn't mean it was too disappointing.

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Trauma Dumping at its finest

This show attempts and maybe even succeeds at traumatising its viewers. The genre of this show is not realistic romance but rather psychological horror disguised as a slice of life!

The male lead Hyun Oh is a psychopath. He likes to control Eunho and he is mentally abusing Eunho no matter whether he knows this or not. He does not respect her and treat her like a person because his mom abandoned him and uses it as an excuse to not be attached in a relationship because she may leave her. He also gets back with her not because he loves her but out of jealousy and does not trust her when she goes out on last date with Ju Yeon.

The female lead Eun Ho is acting like a sociopath, she is entirely dependent on Hyun Oh for even cooking, cleaning, etc. She has no self respect for herself. Her sister disappeared years ago. She has forgotten her sister and moved on with her life but when Hyun Oh does not reciprocate or understand her emotions, she pretends to be alright. She is also possessive and Hyun Oh is controlling her. She is easily convinced. She becomes crippled without him and becomes functionally impaired.

Ju Yeon is similar to Eun Ho because his brother disappeared and he is going through sorrow.
Hye Yeon offers herself to sleep with anyone. Much is not said about her except she likes Ju Yeon and she has hidden worries which is not revealed.

This show is about only one word 'HAPPINESS' or maybe another word 'TRAUMA'.
Every characher is selfish in this show. It has been attempted to portray it as self preservation efforts.
Even though the viewer pities the characters, it is frustrating to see no character development. They are all stuck in their past and force themselves to be happy. This show is not about characters progressing and learning from their mistakes but rather pretend that nothing ever happened.

Hyun Oh is possessive and Eun Ho interprets it as love. Hyeri is kind and Ju Yeon interprets it as love.

Female lead thinks love can cure everything, heal traumas, and is the ultimate source of happiness. It can even erase the past. It can solve all her problems. And for her that love is Hyun Oh and she can't give him up. And when he is gone, she creates Hyeri so that she can be happy. Hyeri is a manic pixie dream girl.

There is no other show where all the four leads are obsessed with being happy. At some point the viewer could care less about the show. The cliffhangers are there to torture the viewers that one will wonder when will this pain or show will end.

The show is sadistic towards its viewers. It makes people hate god, universe, etc. It is filled with negativity. The show makes viewers akin to Ju Yeon. It makes us hate our emotions. Similar to EunHo. It equates selfishness with self preservation.

It makes the world seem cruel and it makes us desperately want the characters to be happy and it defeats our hope that things would get better soon.

All the main characters are bad. Except for Hyeri's Friend and Eunho's Senior. All others are abnormal or having mental instability. And those two characters do not have enough screen time. They barely make the show watchable.

In this show, most leads do not have a family, they have lost their family members either death or they have gone missing. There is masonic? sun? field? one eye? satanic? jinn possession? symbolism everywhere which also a viewer is expected to crack their head on. How the poster repeatedly shown in the office says open the door to the new world? new world order? references to monarch mind control programming? The show seems to be made by asking ai or search engine, all the previous shows on dissociative identity disorder and mixing it into a melting pot. The show is inconsistent and makes one wonder what just happened. If you are addicted to dramas then definitely try this one, it will make you hate all the dramas and even life.

This show is not a healing drama. One would be better off watching a documentary on Dissociative Identity Disorder or read any book on any subject matter. All shows are somehow a waste of time but this one would leave you with disappointment.

This show is also about grooming. Hyunoh grooms Eunho and Hyeri grooms Juyeon. Characters who are starving for affection are ready to do anything for it. Especially Eunho and Juyeon. They are attracted to the other person. They are also ready to sacrifice everything. They both believe that this behaviour is love rather than clinging. And they need love to stay alive. In case of Eunho it is creepy fixation, she misses Hyunoh's smell, voice, face,fingers and toenails. She seems to like his features more than his character and thinks no one can understand him better than her because they both are orphans. they both treat each other like their prized possession rather than as human beings. Most of the characters are shallow, interested in others for their gain and benefit which includes company and trauma bonding.

Hyunoh is a overt narcissist and Eunho is a covert narcissist. All symptoms from all disorders are sprinkled here and there so as to confuse the viewer and gain sympathy or empathy so that we would watch the next episode. Attachment disorders are used to justify their actions. And if we do not accept the narrative, it kind of tricks the viewer into making us think that we are lacking and we are the ones at fault for not sympathising or empathising with their situation.

All main characters loath themselves and probably their existence. They all are unhappy because they are not moving on. They can help others like children who have gone through even more pains and suffering. They can choose to make this world a better place. They can work for noble causes and help humanity. But they all simply want love, love and love. Cry over their trauma and ask others to understand their worries without ever sharing it.

There is war going on. Many people have lost everything. Compared to other serious issues on this planet this drama tries to be imply that the lives of the four leads are serious than everything on this planet. To put it simply all four leads want some person to revolve around them and they want attention from this one person and they want to give everything up for this one person. And when things don't go their way, they are upset.

The last episode has male lead and female lead have a happy ending. She seems to have learned to control him. Pain brings you happiness was emphasised rather than trying to see where the pain came from and accept it and find solutions. Pain does not always bring gain. And saying pain is like jewel is nonsense. Pain is something we should not be proud or ashamed of. But in the end the sudden happy ending is ridiculous. It would feel eerie if they had used different colour filters. But they won't, they want to make good things look bad and bad things look good. Order out of chaos.

This shows makes me wonder whether viewers have become a part of a mind control experiment? Is it supposed to make us lose our sanity? Does it attempt to make us dissociate? The scenes where the eyes and face are distorted may make a person dizzy or have a headache. Whatever it is this show has been filmed and aired. And it is left for the viewers to make sense of it.

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Whispers of the Past: Hye Ri's Enduring Presence

A Review Guide to Dear Hye Ri: No Cause for Disappointment and Far from Toxic"

This guide is recommended for those who:

- have already seen the series, or
- are hesitating to watch it due to negative opinions,
- haven't seen it yet but don’t mind learning some insights as guidance.

This drama is a true gem. I say this even though, like many K-dramas, it suffers from an imperfect ending.

The 12 episodes can be divided into three acts, each with a meaningful title:

The Appearance of Hye Ri (Episodes 1-4)
Longing for Hye Ri (Episodes 5-9)
The Legacy of Hye Ri (Episodes 10-12)

Prologue: Joo Eun Ho and Jung Hyun O
Joo Eun Ho (played by Shin Hye-Sun) is an announcer who spent eight years in a relationship with her colleague, the renowned star anchor Jung Hyun O (Lee Jin Wook). In relationships, balance is rarely equal, and in this case, Eun Ho’s deep dependence on Hyun O is clear. After eight years, during a conversation where Eun Ho again brings up marriage, Hyun O abruptly ends the relationship. He conceals his reasons, viewing the breakup as an act of self-sacrifice. In truth, Jung Hyun O deeply loves Eun Ho but doesn’t want to involve her in his challenging family life. Hyun O lives his life like a martyr, caring for elderly ladies as a form of repayment after his parents left him and his brother burdened with debt. These women, in exchange for this care, provide him and his brother with a sense of belonging. It is only by the end of the series that he realizes he’s gained a loving family, even if they aren’t his blood relatives.

Since Eun Ho is unaware of the true reason behind their breakup, only that Hyun O refuses to marry her, she’s denied the chance to decide whether to share the burden of caring for these elderly women with him. Hyun O’s decision, made for her, is a profound act of selfishness masked as sacrifice.
Both of them suffer from the breakup, as they continue to work together. In a vulnerable moment, Eun Ho confides in a friend, Moon Ji On (Kang Sang Joon), that the only way she can cope with the loss of Hyun O is to try to hate him.

Jung Hyun O seems to be going through something similar, often behaving coldly toward Eun Ho during their shared work. Lee Jin Wook takes on the challenging role of playing Hyun O, a character who is difficult to empathize with in the series. This makes it puzzling why Eun Ho remains drawn to him even after the breakup—a realistic portrayal of how such attachments often linger in real life.

Before their breakup, Eun Ho was already burdened with a heavy guilt—the disappearance of her sister, Hye Ri. Her sister dreamed of working in a parking garage, believing she could find happiness there.



### First Act: The Appearance of Hye Ri


It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when Hye Ri appears. It seems to coincide with the moment Jung Hyun O breaks up with Eun Ho. Following the breakup, Eun Ho takes up a position at a parking lot near her workplace, thanks to the understanding of the parking lot boss. She wants to grasp why Hye Ri, her sister, would have found happiness working in such a place. Eun Ho believes that if she understands this, she might also find happiness.

However, things take an unexpected turn as Hye Ri—the name of her sister, which she adopts when she introduces herself to a female coworker in the parking lot—begins to take on an independent personality within Eun Ho’s body, without Eun Ho’s knowledge.

A year after the breakup, Eun Ho becomes aware that something isn’t right when she wakes up one morning with bruises on her legs, with no memory of how she got them. She decides to consult a psychiatrist, Dr. Lee Seung Yoon, brilliantly portrayed by Ahn So Yo, and tells her about her constant fatigue and the unexplained bruises. So, although limited, Hye Ri's presence exists during the following three years. Eun Ho’s second personality carries her sister’s name, Hye Ri, as her subconscious projects her sister’s personality based on how she remembers her.

Hye Ri leads a routine life: she wakes up at 4 p.m., goes to work in the parking lot, and holds a parking spot for Kang Ju Yeon (played by Kang Hoon), her platonic love interest. While Hye Ri (both Eun Ho’s sister and her second personality) appears simpler, she realizes her love for Ju Yeon is one-sided and purely platonic. This doesn’t bother her. Hye Ri is modest, kind, helpful, quiet, and at the same time wise—unrestricted by social conventions. According to her (as she confides in her coworker, Kim Min Young), she gains her wisdom from reading comics and webtoons.

At the end of the first episode, Hye Ri's life takes a new turn.

Kang Ju Yeon , a well-respected announcer at the affiliated company, is attacked inside the building by viewers offended by a broadcast he hosted. They assault him with a pickaxe in front of Hye Ri. Hye Ri, unshaken, steps in and saves Ju Yeon, escaping with him to the machinery room.

From this point, Hye Ri becomes the focal character until the end of the fourth episode, shining through a series of captivating scenes where Shin Hye Sun showcases her talents. Hye Ri charms everyone, including the viewers, with her keen insights, straightforwardness, and simple wisdom, guiding those around her—long troubled by deep emotional scars—toward healing. With the same determination, she protects those close to her from new harm.

This act closes with a poignant conversation between Hye Ri and the psychiatrist. Hye Ri is immensely happy; her relationship with Ju Yeon is unexpectedly blossoming. As she puts it, “I am happy. Everything around me sparkles, doctor. I’ve never been happy before. But now I am.” The doctor shares in her joy, reassuring her that her symptoms will likely improve as a result.

This quiet scene is a highlight of the series and holds essential clues to understanding the unfolding events.

In a moment of stunned realization, Hye Ri asks the doctor if, now that she (Hye Ri, the “symptom”) is happy, she will disappear. The doctor grasps the harsh truth that Hye Ri has inferred from her well-intentioned words.

At this moment, viewers might encounter the question for the first time, as the doctor does through Hye Ri: If two souls inhabit a single body (even if labeled by a clinical diagnosis), which soul has the right to that body? The original, suffering soul (Eun Ho), or the later, happy one (Hye Ri)?

True to character, Hye Ri immediately finds a solution. She writes herself (Eun Ho) a letter, leaving it by her bed.

And so the first act ends.



### Second Act: Longing for Hye Ri


Eun Ho learns from the letter that she doesn’t just have memory lapses; she has a second personality. The letter unsettles her, but she doesn’t give it much thought. A rapid sequence of events follows, the essence of which is that, after a panic attack, Jung Hyun O begins to care for Eun Ho. In reality, Jung Hyun O eagerly seizes the opportunity to be close to Eun Ho. She also visits the doctor and confronts the reality of Hye Ri’s existence. Everyone at the clinic knows Hye Ri, greeting her as Hye Ri, even the doctor. Eun Ho realizes that her other self is genuinely happy.

But Hye Ri has disappeared. The reason is clear: Jung Hyun O. Their relationship appears to be settling until Eun Ho realizes just how dependent she has been on her former lover—and she’s unwilling to go down that path again. She breaks up with Jung Hyun O, who envisions their future in a selfish, uncommitted way. Here, we can see for the first time that Hye Ri has influenced even Eun Ho herself.

In the episodes that follow, Eun Ho is confronted with everything that Hye Ri set in motion. A series of dramatic, sorrowful scenes shows the impact Hye Ri had on those around her, and the sadness stems from her absence. In this act, everyone misses Hye Ri, including the viewers. Hye Ri’s disappearance has left a vacuum, but since things are already in motion, the characters try to navigate the void she left behind on their own.

This struggle is painful, especially for Eun Ho and Kang Ju Yeon. Eun Ho feels guilty about the disappearance of Hye Ri, her second personality, but she has no power to let Ju Yeon see her. At this point, Eun Ho also disappears, and for the rest of the act, we observe the changes in the others’ spirits. Jung Hyun O is one of the last to discover that Eun Ho has another personality—Hye Ri. And what a surprise it is: Hye Ri found someone noble, understanding, and, incidentally, handsome—Kang Ju Yeon.

And so the second act ends.


### Third Act: The Legacy of Hye Ri

Eun Ho reappears after a month. On the outside, she resembles Hye Ri, but it is implied that it is Eun Ho, not Hye Ri. The tenth episode is a series of wonderful scenes imbued with deep emotions. Among the gems is the encounter and conversation between Eun Ho and Ju Yeon. It is essential to understand that what was outlined in the prologue remains valid throughout. No matter how much Ju Yeon might seem to be the 'good solution' that Hye Ri found for herself, Eun Ho is bound to Hyun O.

From the conversation between Eun Ho and Ju Yeon, we learn where Eun Ho has been for the past month. We won’t reveal more, as this two-part conversation is one of the most sensual parts of the drama. Long, uncut scenes demonstrate why Shin Hye Sun is one of the best of her generation. Here, the audience sees Shin Hye Sun's real tears.

However, what Eun Ho does not know, but the viewer does, is that in her loneliness, Hye Ri appeared at least once before Eun Ho—though Eun Ho cannot remember it. The screenwriter and director added a thought-provoking yet beautiful detail to the events with this. It's a clever trick because we cannot be sure, but that particular gesture from Eun Ho has never been seen in the series. This small detail, which could easily be overlooked, has significance during the conclusion of the events at the 'last supper.'

What exactly is Hye Ri's legacy? She has vanished, and perhaps she hasn't. After all, she was with Eun Ho all along. I mention this because after the tenth episode, relationships around Eun Ho suddenly seem to settle, including her connection with Jung Hyun O, which is least favored by the viewers.

Importantly, Eun Ho's behavior shows a similarity to Hye Ri. Not in her kind and humble appearance, but in her insightful views on what and how to do things right. This is what the last condemned episode is about. What Jung Hyun O successfully hid for eight years, namely his 'step-family,' Eun Ho confidently embraces, just as she did with Kang Ju Yeon's mother. She turns the old ladies' home into the place where the others can say goodbye to Hye Ri.

Hye Ri's simple, wise, and effective solutions now reflect Eun Ho's actions. This is the colorful trace left behind. Is this truly Hye Ri's legacy? Does the conversation with Kim Min Young, her parking garage colleague, hint at this? The farewells that took place seem quite shabby, but the conversation with Kim Min Young is anything but. Was it the director's intention to highlight this detail? I think so, and that’s why the colorful trace of Hye Ri’s appearance in the forest was also necessary.

In the 12th episode, from the 60th minute and 35th second to the 62nd minute, instead of saying goodbye to Hye Ri, Kim Min Young is preoccupied with food. When Eun Ho urges her to finally say something to Hye Ri, she responds, 'Next time, order dumplings too, Hye Ri!' Then she confesses, 'You know what? I don’t want to say goodbye to Hye Ri.' The director and actors have placed significant emphasis on this scene. Such things are done for a reason. This is no longer the old Eun Ho, because Hye Ri has become part of her. That’s why I find it likely that this was the closing scene's message in the old ladies' home. This is supported by Eun Ho’s last conversation with the doctor. We should listen to how the doctor says goodbye. But to whom did she say, ... do you remember?

The common feature of each act is the wonderful execution – we can witness a beautifully crafted drama. The cinematographer skillfully handles the camera, while the sound engineer amplifies the impact during critical moments. It's masterful work in every respect. The actors are fantastic, with Shin Hye Sun delivering an unforgettable performance.
I’m happy that I understood enough of it to perhaps help you enjoy this drama.

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This movie was a big disappointment

This movie is absolutely rubbish. This is on the writer of the movie and Director not the actors they did well especially the female character, she was phenomenal in portraying the split personality. However the story is shit. In this present year of 2024 we are still pushing the story of a toxic male character that literally degrades a person he supposed love because of "he own personal feelings". Let's not even talk about the bullshit of an excuse they used as a cover up for the story. It's a shame the writer and director chose this direction for the movie to head to. It had a great opportunity to write a beautiful love story and a realistic female lead, representing every woman out there who actually buy the idea of marriage and not changing themselves for someone thinking it's love. Yes love is about compromise but never ever is it about eradicating one's principles and heart desire. Compromise in a relationship should always be both ways and not side ways else you loose your self before realizing. She wants marriage he doesn't then they both go their separate ways and find peace. But no the write made her hung up for 4years and still, even when two perfect men presented their self to make her know she is validated for wanting what she want, they go ahead and make it all shit and horrible. The writer and the director should be ashamed of their self for should a horrible story and mindset to put someone (even though fictional) in such a condition. Even if this movie ends on a happy note (I haven't watched the ending) if it was reality the female lead happiness will definitely be short lead. It only took 8years the first time, how shorter it will last this time. Tuah on the writer and director. What a disgrace.

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A severe but interesting mental case turned into a brew of nonsense

After all the good things I wrote about Dear Hyeri, while watching it, I can finally say only one thing - don't bring it on yourself!

A drama that had amazing potential and great acting from Shin Hye Sun, for which she deserves both a nomination and an award, was shamefully killed in the last two episodes. In episode 11 I wasn't even sure what was going on, and episode 12 spoiled the story definitively. Something that had depth and layers finally took on a trivial appearance, topped off with a crown of total pointlessness. It's rare for me to get so angry at the writers. They would have been better off coming up with something with a heavy but meaningful ending, rather than the concoction we were served at the end.

Until episode 10 my personal rating was 9, after the last epiosde is already 7.5. I would even give 7 but there were actors who acted very well.

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Good, but a challenging watch

I watched this because I like the main actress, and this drama does provide a vehicle for her to in effect play two characters, which I thought she did well. The cinematography and soundscape I thought might've been the most artistic I've seen in a K-drama. In short, the drama is about people having to deal with emotional trauma and poses the question "What makes a person happy?" I gave it a low rewatch rating because it's such a challenging watch. If you like shows that are real heavy for the vast majority of the show, then maybe you you'd like to watch it more than once. I'd rather rewatch something fun. I did like this drama, but it wasn't fun to watch.

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A Profound Exploration of Emotions and Exceptional Performances

This drama masterfully delves into the depths of human emotion, portraying the delicate and fragile nature of the characters' feelings. Eun Ho's journey to balance the search for her sister, the complexities of her past relationship, and her new romantic entanglement with Ju Yeon is handled with a sensitivity that resonates deeply with viewers.

Kang Hoon's portrayal of Kang Ju Yeon is particularly noteworthy. His exceptional acting brings a nuanced vulnerability to the character, making Ju Yeon's emotions and struggles feel authentic and deeply moving. His chemistry with Shin Hye Sun adds layers of complexity to their relationship, keeping the audience emotionally invested.

Overall, this drama is a beautifully crafted exploration of love, loss, and identity, driven by powerful performances and a well-written narrative. It's a must-watch for anyone who appreciates character-driven stories with profound emotional depth.

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