Dynamite Kiss: A Review
Dynamite Kiss is Netflix’s latest Korean rom-com, filled with a whirlwind of coincidences and misunderstandings. In fact, by the end of the first episode, you might feel a bit dizzy—yet the central premise hasn’t even been fully introduced. Let’s delve into it.
Opening Scene: We see a woman entering a building—first her high heels. She’s a CEO, and on her very first day at work, a handsome stranger pops into her office, asking her to marry him.
Key Details: Go Da Rim (Ahn Eun Jin) finds herself daydreaming on the train headed to a vocational school lecture. She’s over 30 and has been striving for a civil service job for five years, earning the nickname “zombie” from her teachers.
Meanwhile, Gong Ji-hyuk (Jang Ki-young) is a young consultant who helps startups grow. A bidding war is heating up for a company he’s involved with, potentially selling for ten times its asking price—if top AI programmers can be secured.
Da Rim’s sister has been spinning tales about Da Rim’s employment status to her future in-laws. In light of this, she thinks it’s better for Da Rim to skip the wedding. Instead, she invites her sister to Juju Island, which Da Rim has never explored. Gratefully accepting, Da Rim hopes it will provide a distraction from her recent heartache, especially since that ex happens to be Ji-hyuk’s sought-after programmer.
In a twist, a tipsy Da Rim accidentally tackles Ji-hyuk just as he’s about to leap off a cliff. They end up in the hospital, where he confronts her about the bill. Upon discovering they’re staying at the same hotel, tensions rise. But soon after, Ji-hyuk realizes that she’s connected to the programmer, prompting him to propose to her.
Comparable Shows: Dynamite Kiss shares similarities with other Korean rom-coms, like It’s Okay Not to Be Okay.
Overall Impression: The first episode is packed with coincidences—so many, in fact, that listing them all would take ages. It’s an intriguing start, but there’s little clarity about the storyline itself.
Interestingly, Ji-hyuk doesn’t believe in love until that electrifying kiss with Da Rim at the episode’s end. Fireworks literally erupt, and she vanishes before the spectacle ends. Later, she finds herself working at a baby products company and pretending to be married to her friend Kim Sun-woo (Kim Moo-joon), claiming to be the mother of his son, Joon (Choi Ja-eun).
As mentioned, this show is full of coincidences, hidden identities, and mix-ups. While there are plenty of Korean romantic comedies out there, Dynamite Kiss offers its own unique twists—making it quite a spectacle. Romantic music plays frequently, and one character sees the other from a fresh perspective, leading to a disjointed viewing experience that doesn’t fully explore either lead.
Standout Performance: Ahn Eun-jin, as Go Da-rim, shines the most among the cast, fully embracing her quirky character.
Content Advisory: There’s no adult content or skin onscreen.
Final Thoughts: As previously mentioned, when Da Rim and Ji-hyuk kiss, it literally sets off fireworks.
Hidden Gem: Choi Ja Eun, who plays Joon, is a delightful standout thanks to her charm.
Most Memorable Line: After breaking up with Da Rim, the programmer harshly referred to her as “a limp lump of overcooked spinach.” Quite a cut, right?
Recommendation: My suggestion? Skip Dynamite Kiss. The plot takes too long to unfold, and the abundance of coincidences becomes exhausting—making even a show like Three’s Company seem subtle by comparison.
