Summary
A conceptually interesting and well-executed fantasy romance.
Here is our review of the 2023 Netflix K-Drama series Destined with You Season 1, which contains minor spoilers.
Set to a colorful City Hall backdrop and laced with gripping undertones of fantasy, Destined with You is a show that manages to mesh its genres together with a zippy effectiveness.
The nimble, occasionally relatable storytelling, coupled with characters who steer clear of hyperbole amidst the fantasy-imbued elements of the show, makes for a brisk watch and do plenty to give this series a hook.
Destined with You Season 1 Review and Plot Summary
At the core of proceedings are two protagonists who find their lives increasingly entwined following an initial metaphorical butting of heads over a shrine demolition.
On one side is the well-dressed, forthright lawyer Jang Sin-yu, an ambitious man suffering from apparently incurable brain abnormalities, but someone who holds out hope of getting better in time (all while refusing to slow down in his work).
Then, there is Lee Hong-jo, a jovial civil servant (unfairly) isolated from her team due to prior overzealousness, though nonetheless the type of person one would want in their corner.
Central to this pair’s initial acquaintanceship, perhaps surprisingly, is an antique wooden box. Located at the aforementioned shrine, a shaman by the name of Eun-wol had told Sin-yu that his “pain and curses” would cease now that the owner of the item had been found.
That owner, it appears, is Hong-jo, and as we come to find out, the contents of said box may very well contain the solution to the lawyer’s health problems.
All of the above ingredients make for a generally fun ride here. Destined with You is the type of show that feels both simple and layered, combining the typical romance formulas with a carefully unraveling fantasy storyline that is authentically engaging in the way it is laid out.
Sometimes the more grounded plot components can become slightly lost in the shuffle, but that’s only a minor critique considering how tight No Ji-sul’s script is on the whole.
Is Destined with You Season 1 good or bad?
Similarly, the acting on the show helps uplift the series further. Rowoon is excellent as Jang Sin-yu, affording his character an enigmatic quality that makes the moments of outwardly displayed emotion all the more potent.
In the same vein, Jo Bo-ah shines as the everywoman-like Lee Hong-jo. Kindhearted and relatable, Jo brings a vibrant polish to the screen as the civil servant and plays off her more reserved counterpart seamlessly.
Add to that some impressive special effects that complement the supernatural side to proceedings, affording it a greater sense of believability, and you have a series with plenty to praise.
Is Destined with You Season 1 worth watching?
Buoyed by its supernatural foundation and a strong leading cast, Destined with You certainly does enough to earn merit with prospective viewers. So, while it isn’t a perfect series, it is a more than worthwhile entry into the fantasy-romance genre and one that’ll undeniably find a willing audience.
What did you think of the Netflix K-Drama series Destined with You Season 1? Comment below.
