Season 1 |
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Episode Guide
Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 2 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 3 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 8 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 9 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 10 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 11 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 12 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 13 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 14 -| Review Score – 2/5
Episode 15 -| Review Score – 2/5
Episode 16 -| Review Score – 2/5
Bad-Memory Eraser is the newest rom-com set in modern-day South Korea and marks the return of veteran K-pop idol and actor Kim Jaejoong to K-drama land after his stint in the 2017 show, Manhole. Well, in Bad-Memory Eraser, Jaejoong plays Lee Gun who pulls a Tashi Duncan when he goes from a promising tennis player to an accident destroying his career for good. Following the incident, Gun goes into a downward spiral as he wallows in self-pity and loses his confidence.
However, he gets a second chance, when a memory eraser is used to erase his bad memories which erases most of his adult life as they have been nothing but full of bad moments. Gun goes back to his past, happy self but becomes a gullible target when psychiatrist Kyung Ju-yeon claims to be his first love.
The K-drama stars Kim Jaejoong as Lee Gun and Jin Se-yeon as Kyung Ju-yeon. There are other familiar faces as well in this ensemble such as Lee Jong-won, Yang Hye-ji, Lee Ruby and Jang Eui-soo.
Helmed by the cable network MBN which is known for Bossam: Steal The Fate, Missing Crown Prince and Rich Man, we just know Bad-Memory Eraser Season 1 will not be your standard rom-com. With exciting themes of first love, secrets, enemies-to-lovers and self-love, it’s supposedly meant for those who love angsty yet healing rom-coms.
The whole premise has potential but unfortunately for Kim Jaejoong, his fans and everyone who had high expectations of this K-drama, it lets us down stupendously. And we’ll get it out of the way by sharing that like most viewers, we too tuned in for Jaejoong and anyone who doesn’t know his backstory should do a little deep dive as to why his return to the South Korean media has been met with such love.
However, he deserves way more than this dreary rom-com which is one of the shoddiest K-dramas in recent history. Yes, yes, the technical aspect is as always well done, as expected from a juggernaut of a country that’s known for its technology and skilled technicians.
There are constant parallels between Gun’s before and after persona in terms of mournful ballads vs upbeat soundtracks, gloomy and dark lighting vs bright and glowing CGI, sickly makeup vs chic and colourful fashion for confident Gun and all that jazz. All the actors are pretty alright while poor Jaejoong pours his heart out and gives us some Oscar-worthy moments, especially for Gun’s self-loathing persona.
But that is not enough to disguise this poorly written story with tons of loopholes, convoluted plot twists and misjudged toxicity. And this is purely because of just one character and one character only – the female lead, Ju-yeon. Nothing against Jin Se-yeon who tries to bring some vulnerability to this toxic, unlikeable character but the writers gamble so badly by making her so horrible to Gun that no amount of screentime is enough for her redemption.
In fact, Gun has chemistry with literally every character in the show including Ju-yeon when halfway, she miraculously becomes loving and wonderful. The writers really should have had a test screening and rewritten Ju-yeon’s character in the first 8 episodes to tone down the juxtaposition they probably thought was a clever move. Spoiler alert, it was not.
Okay, yes, we are being a little harsh but if you take out Ju-yeon from the picture, Bad-Memory Eraser Season 1 is not all bad. The Lee brothers have a strange but intriguing dynamic, the tennis world is tough but full of comedic drama and every time Sae-yan is on the screen, she steals the show.
Even the final conflict and plot twist involving Sae-yan and her family is a little contrived but mindless entertainment. But every time the writers have to focus on Gun’s memory trial and Ju-yeon’s cold “persona”, they come up with the most atrocious plot lines ever. A shame that this is what K-drama land whips up for Jaejoong’s long-awaited acting comeback.
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Verdict - 4.5/10
4.5/10