It is rare for me to watch a drama while it's airing, mostly because I am very impatient and I can't bear having to wait week after week for new episodes. Even if I am interested in a drama that is airing, I usually wait until it's over to watch it. Extraordinary You was an exception. Its premise was so interesting and original that it made me break my unspoken rule of not watching on-air dramas.

The beginning of the drama was good. It plunged you into a world that looked odd for the protagonist, who wished desperately to change her fate, and be permitted to live. The FL was independent, funny, and chipper, it made you root for her. I wanted her to find answers, to be able to defeat the (quite sadistic) writer and be the writer of her own destiny.

And then... the second half of the drama came. The interesting questions raised morphed into more questions that would never be answered. Why wasn't Danoh able to change the stage when she was trying to do it alone, but when Haru helped her it worked? What are the mechanics of the world they live in? If background characters have nowhere to go, why is Haru the only one skulking at school when it's nighttime? Why are some characters gaining self-awareness, but others never do?

Nothing is ever answered, as the story devolves into a love triangle that nobody needed or wanted. And it's not like love triangles are bad or unenjoyable on principle. They can be exciting if done well. But in a love triangle where the heroine has reiterated multiple times to the second lead that she loves ML and doesn't care much for anything else, why are the writers so hellbent on perpetuating a triangle where the second lead has no chance? It would have been better to develop and answer the questions they never answered.

Danoh was a hoot to watch initially, and I thank that to Kim Hyeyoon, who imbued the character with this cheerfulness that wasn't annoying to watch. It endeared you to her, and even as Danoh descended into a character who was obsessed with Haru (even though there were so many people that cared for her and loved her), Kim Hyeyoon managed to still make her somewhat likable. But she could not save the character, try as she might.

Haru only existed for the female lead, and while that could sound like something romantic for some people, it's especially boring for me. He has no hobbies of his own? He doesn't try to make new friends? I don't know. I mean, he was likable as well, but too one note for my taste. Still, Rowoon managed to do well with the character, so kudos for that.

Despite my praise, Danoh and Haru's love story got so boring to watch that I started focusing more in the side couple of Dohwa and Juda, who I liked, as they seemed actually more nuanced than our main leads (especially Juda). Imagine my anger when Juda, out of nowhere, decided to stay with Namjoo. To be honest, I wasn't angry because she didn't end up with Dohwa, but I was mad that it was never really explained in a way that made sense for Juda as a character. She had spent so many episodes shit-talking Namjoo, and all of a sudden, she decides to end up with him? I would have liked to see Juda's thought process to get to that point, but instead we spent the time watching our unwitting love triangle.

I really loved the OST, had to look for it while the drama was airing.

Being honest, I don't think this has much of a replay value, unless you like high school romance drama, though if you're looking for that, there are much better dramas out there.

In conclusion, this was wasted potential, but if you're still interested in watching, the fast forward button will be your friend in the second half.