Dream to You Episode 1 Review: Charming Reunion

We all love comforting drama where a couple reunites after years. Dream to You is going to be the very story that brings familiar faces back together and builds on the trope of unresolved feelings. From its opening scene, the drama gives a warm, nostalgic atmosphere that immediately pulls you in.

Dream to You Episode 1 has a runtime of 70 minutes.

Dream to You Episode 1 Review

Hyeri and Hwang In-yeop’s Chemistry

The main leads are uniquely paired, as we’d have never expected such a duo. Hyeri as Yi-jae is instantly likeable. Her emotional vulnerability is grounded, and she also portrays the character’s stubbornness well. Then we have Hwang In-yeop, who once again proves why he became one of Kdrama world’s most dependable actors. As Woo Soo-bin, he has already proved that the romance is going to be oozing.

Also read: The Husband Episode 4 Review: Disturbing Villain and a Cold Past

Woo Soo-bin returns to Yi-jae’s life after ten years without shame, as his confidence is high. He flirts openly, teases her whenever he gets the chance and behaves as though no time has passed between them. In-yeop has done a fantastic job in conveying the arrogance of the character; it legit gets under your skin.

Their chemistry is immediate, and nearly every interaction between them has a vibrant energy. Yi-jae’s headstrong personality, shunning Soo-bin’s shameless flirting, creates exactly the kind of romantic tension this genre works on.

Familiar Tropes Done Well

Korean romances always follow a similar pattern, and this one has the two people reuniting after a long time trope. So we immediately understand that the main leads had their fun as teenagers, got separated, had their years of healing, and now have a strong reunion, but things just aren’t as they expected.

How is this series different from? Well, it immediately doesn’t explain why Soo-bin disappeared from Yi-jae’s life, so we have the mystery still breathing around for us to find. We haven’t yet explored the leads’ childhood connection, so we have the emotional conflict plots to slowly grow on us.

There Has to Be More to the Story

The premiere shows why Soo-bin had to leave, but we still don’t know the whole story. We know he left for career reasons and broke Yi-jae’s heart, but could that be the only reason? As a human, of course, career growth is important, and his decision doesn’t make him a villain. But Yi-jae has stayed behind and abandoned her ambitions. Could that be entirely because of Soo-bin, or did she really have hope he’d return?

Soo-bin himself claims he “stole” Yi-jae’s dream, a statement that raises some questions. If leaving for his career was the only issue, why does he carry so much guilt? Why does Yi-jae still seem deeply hurt after ten years? Did he promise her something and fail to carry it out? Did she make a mistake? The drama has some days left to reveal the truth.

A Strong Supporting Cast

The first episode already dropped us with the second leads and their romance. We also have a potential love triangle, as we can see Yu-geon may have feelings for Yi-jae. So now that Soo-bin is back, Yi-jae has to choose one of those guys, and we know it’s going to be Soo-bin. But let’s hope our second lead doesn’t emotionally crank us up.

A Promising Start

The episode naturally draws the viewers, and nothing feels forced. The performances are natural, the dialogue flows comfortably, and speaking of the emotional core, it’s subtle and not too dramatic.

If the writing continues to gradually unravel the mystery behind Yi-jae and Soo-bin’s separation, instead of rushing to it, I’m sure Dream to You would be a good hit and not a flop. For now, I can see a charming and emotionally charged series that will show us how two couples who shared a connection will go about in their adult years.

Coupled with a soothing OST and gorgeous cinematography, Dream to You feels like the kind of romance that makes you enjoy the journey as you slow down.

Dream to You is streaming on Viki.