The rom-com kdrama Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale follows Cha-min, the son of a chaebol family, who doesn’t believe in love. We learn that he has inherited wealth and a social club from his father. On the other hand, our female protagonist, Jae-rim, has lost her father and is struggling to live peacefully with her step-family. Furthermore, Jae-rim is looking for a prince charming to help her escape her mundane life and find love. [Our article “Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale (K-drama) Review” contains major spoilers.]
When Cha-min and Jae-rim meet, we witness how the concept of fairytale love repulses Cha-min. However, as the season progresses, Jae-rim proves to Cha-min that true love exists. On the other hand, Cha-min helps Jae-rim realize her worth. This leads to a compelling journey that is both entertaining and wholesome.
Positives
The premise of Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale is interesting and entertaining, giving the traditional fairytale trope a modern twist. The storyline updates the fairytale Cinderella to a more contemporary setting, making it more relatable to viewers.
Furthermore, we see how Cinderella’s storyline is reinterpreted to demonstrate how often we are our own worst enemies (step-family). This was a particularly fascinating concept, and the kdrama did an excellent job exploring it. For instance, we see how Jae-rim’s stepfamily genuinely loved and cared for her. However, her perception of them and herself was tainted.
The show also does an excellent job of balancing humor with serious themes. Cha-min is a particularly funny character, and his antics are amusing. However, he has depth and is a complex and troubled character. As the season progresses, we learn about his troubled childhood and his reasons for rejecting love. This makes the plot not only entertaining but also complex and moving.
The kdrama also features some excellent actors who perform admirably in their respective roles. The performances of actor Lee Jun-young as Moon Cha-min and actress Pyo Ye-jin as Shin Jae-rim stand out. They aren’t just great at delivering comedy, they also excel at evoking emotions and making us empathize with them. Furthermore, actors such as Song Ji-woo (Ban Dan-a) and Song Young-joo (Kang Hwa-jin) are extremely eccentric in their roles and excel at providing comic relief.
Negatives
While Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale was an entertaining ride overall, it did have some flaws. Reimagining a classic fairytale, such as Cinderella, may not appeal to all viewers. This is especially true because Cinderella’s story inspires young girls to one day find their prince charming.
In the final episode of Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale, the storyline attempted to make Jae-rim independent for a short while, which was unnecessary. This is especially true because she eventually ended up with Cha-min, so why force the independent storyline when it doesn’t even add to the Cinderella fairytale?
While the show excelled at humor, some jokes didn’t really land. This is especially true for the opening episodes. However, as the season progressed, it improved significantly and delivered excellent humor.
Our Verdict
As a whole, Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale adds a modern twist to the classic Cinderella storyline. The kdrama delivers excellent humor, explores meaningful themes, and has lead characters with palpable chemistry.
That said, the show received valid criticisms for reimagining a classic story like Cinderella and occasionally falling short with its humor. Despite these flaws, Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale demonstrates that true love and self-worth can be found in the most unexpected places, making this kdrama a pleasant and heartwarming watch.
Did you enjoy watching Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale? Do you agree with the views in our article “Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale (K-drama) Review”? Let us know in the comments below.
