Legendary Superstar-Chapter 177: Drama Festival (3)

The first two days of the Korean Drama Festival were a huge success. And now, on the third day of the Korean Drama Festival arrived with even higher expectations.

After a successful second day, especially with The Star's Secret going viral and dominating online charts—viewers were now more invested than ever.

Overnight, hashtags from Day 2 dramas trended globally, and reaction compilations flooded Ustube and Liklok.

Because of it, everyone wanted to see what the final lineup had in store.

3rd Day Schedule:

Kill Me Kindly – 4 p.m.

Home Sweet Debt – 6 p.m.

Reverie of the Sword – 8 p.m.

Chasing Dreams – 10 p.m.

The final day opened with Kill Me Kindly, a dark crime-comedy thriller about a charismatic hitman who suffers from memory loss. After a mysterious accident, he ends up in a quiet village where he's mistaken for a good man.

With no memory of his violent past, he starts helping the villagers and slowly becomes part of their lives. However, things take a sharp turn when an old enemy discovers his whereabouts and begins hunting him down.

The concept itself already caught people's attention, and when episode 1 aired, it didn't disappoint.

"What the heck?! This is hilarious but also dark as hell. Loving the tone."

"Okay, this is quite good. I'm so into this."

"Pff. It's funny that the MC is not the typical handsome guy. He's big and buff like a real hitman."

"The first episode was full of thriller with the guns and killing, but the second episode was funny asf."

"I thought it was going to be serious, but this drama is funny."

"The way the grandmothers fed him vegetables and he didn't like it was so funny."

"Lmao. Why is the MC so cute? Like he's big and all, but he doesn't look scary. Instead, he looks like a big bear."

The tone was refreshing. Everyone expected it to be dark and serious because of the tile and the drama's teaser. But instead, the first episodes were actually funny and wholesome.

At 6 p.m., Home Sweet Debt began airing.

The drama was a slice-of-life rom-com with a ridiculous but strangely fun premise. It follows a man who unexpectedly inherits a rundown house from his late grandmother, only to find out it comes with a mountain of debt.

Desperate and cornered by loan sharks, he's forced into a reluctant partnership with a sharp-tongued woman who works for the debt collectors. Together, they attempt to turn the house into a guesthouse to earn money and pay off the loan, all while hating each other.

The plot seemed a perfect mix of chaos and comedy. Many viewers were interested in it, expecting a light-hearted drama and quirky romance.

"Okay, not gonna lie, the premise sounds pretty fun."

"I laughed out loud when he found the will, and his grandma just said, 'Good luck with the house, grandson.'"

"It's the kind of ridiculous drama you watch after work just to laugh."

However, the charm of the story quickly wore thin due to the awkward execution of the actors. The chemistry between the leads felt stiff. But it was the female lead's performance that drew the most attention online, for all the wrong reasons.

"Does the FL have only one expression? Like literally one?"

"I'm trying to like this, but every time the female lead is on screen, I cringe."

"I'm sorry but her acting is so flat. I swear her expression didn't change from crying to laughing."

"She looks confused in every scene. I think she is too focused on looking pretty."

"The story is fun, the supporting cast is decent, the male lead is good, but the female lead just can't act."

"It would have been so much better if they could just act. The script isn't even bad."

Some viewers even joked that the house had more character than the female lead.

While the plot itself held potential and the tone was meant to be cheerful and chaotic, the lack of emotions from the female lead destroyed it. It was difficult to watch without secondhand embarrassment and annoyance.

At 8 pm, the second-to-last drama aired. Belonging to a big studio, the drama, Reverie of the night was a big-budget historical fantasy.

It was set in an alternate Joseon era where swordmasters had mythical powers. Reverie of the Sword told the story of a blind warrior who once led a rebellion but now lives in hiding until a girl claiming to be his wife shows up.

From there, a tale of political intrigue, lost, and fate began to unfold.

"This is cinematic. The shots, the music, everything's on point."

"The way the ML fights, even though he's blind? Chills. It was obvious that the lead trained for this."

"That moment she whispered, 'You promised me the world' and he froze… I'm hooked."

The tone was different from the previous dramas. It wasn't light-hearted or quirky. Instead, it was poetic, action-packed, and heavy with emotion.

The cinematography was stunning, the fight scenes were well-choreographed, and the cast gave strong performances, especially the lead actor, who managed to portray the inner conflict of a disgraced warrior with remarkable depth.

It was also clear that the production had invested a lot into visuals and storytelling. But while the drama gained praise for its atmosphere and acting, it didn't escape criticism.

Soon after it aired, netizens pointed out multiple historical inaccuracies. Most notably were the costumes.

"The hanboks look like something from a fantasy game, it's not even remotely accurate."

"Why is she wearing high heels in a Joseon setting???"

"The outfits are beautiful, sure, but they're not Joseon at all."

"They're using the wrong hair accessories. That's not how it worked in that era."

For a drama that leaned so heavily on history for world-building, these inconsistencies hit harder. Some viewers were willing to overlook it due to the fantasy elements, while others argued that blending fantasy with history still required a basic respect for cultural accuracy.

Despite the backlash, Reverie of the Sword still held its spot as one of the top dramas this year.

And finally, all that was left for the night was Chasing Dreams. Everyone was looking forward to it because it would close the start of the festival.

Even though it hadn't aired yet, the anticipation was sky-high. Social media was filled with hashtags like #ChasingDreamsasFinale, #FestivalCloser, and #KwonJihyun.

Fans of the male lead, especially, flooded comment sections with countdown posts and teaser edits.

Still, not everyone was thrilled about it.

"It's so obvious they gave it the final slot because of the idol."

"This reek of favoritism. There are more deserving dramas to end."

"Why is an idol-led drama closing the festival? Shouldn't it be based on quality?"

"Pfft. Favoritsm is so obvious, isn't it?"

With Jihyun's massive fanbase and a well-funded agency behind him, many believed Chasing Dreams had been handed the closing spot more as a publicity move than on merit.

Whispers of unfair scheduling and insider connections stirred quietly in online forums.

But even with the accusations, the numbers didn't lie. The drama had the highest number of pre-saved streams and trending mentions of any title in the festival lineup.

The pressure for it was immense. Fans hoped it would be a hit, while the haters were ready to tear it apart.

At exactly 10 p.m., the opening sequence of the drama aired.

Chasing Dreams was a coming-of-age youth drama set in the competitive world of music. It revolves around a man who had a passion for singing but was often frowned upon because of his poor background.

From the very first scene the drama captivated viewers.

"His eyes? His voice? That first performance gave me chills."

"The cinematography is so clean, and the pacing is just right."

"Jihyun's acting is nice as a first-time actor."

By the time the first episode ended, it was clear Chasing Dreams had exceeded many expectations. Jihyun's performance in particular earned praise for being decent in acting.

However, as soon as the praises rolled in, so did the criticism.

Some viewers began questioning the visual choices made for Jihyun's supposedly poor character. While the drama claimed he struggled to make ends meet and that he was from a dirt-poor family, some sharp-eyed netizens weren't convinced.

"So he's dirt poor… but he has the latest phone that costs a lot??"

"Why does a broke musician have better outfits than me?"

"Pft. That's a limited edition brand hoodie. I know because I couldn't afford it."

"The story says he works part-time and eats ramen, but he's dressed like a model."

"How is he affording skincare, hair dye, gym membership, and that phone if he can't pay rent?"

The disconnection between the character's backstory and his on-screen appearance became a talking point across social media.

While many defended the drama's overall message, others argued that these details made Jihyun's struggles feel less authentic.

Still, the defense came just as loud from fans and casual viewers alike.

"You guys nitpick too much. It's a drama, not a documentary."

"Tsk. Why are you guys such a haters? Just admit that Jihyun oppa is good. That's all that matters."

"What If he saved up for a phone, ever think of that?"

"The message is what matters. You don't need to look miserable to be poor."

"Let's not pretend other dramas haven't done the same."

Despite the backlash, Chasing Dreams quickly became one of the most talked-about premieres of the festival.

By midnight, hashtags related to the drama topped global trending lists.