Boyfriend on Demand

Great idea, terrible execution

I waited for this kdrama for a good while, and was really expecting a good story but it did not deliver.
It's almost the same as the anime "Rent a Girlfriend", but better. Has similar aspects such as going on dates with a pretty person.

I didn't have any feels for the main character Seo Mi-rae. Jisoo is beautiful, her visuals are good, but her acting skills in this show are like watching cardboard try to cry. I didn't have one spark of feels for the character. Every time the character is supposed to be heartbroken, in love, and so on, she just has the same look. It's hard to have feels for the character when the actress looks like she's just thinking about nothing inside her head.

The chemistry between the two main leads were non-existent. Seo In-guk was doing all the heavy lifting, but you can't have fire without two matches. Their romance was so forced.

At first I thought the idea of an AI Boyfriend IRL was interesting. But the whole thing with the AI Boyfriend started getting old after episode 3. We get it, he's perfect, he's fake let's move on please?? The drama spent way too much time on virtual dates instead of actually making the real life characters likable.

And don't get me wrong, all the comedy aspects in this drama was great, and actually funny. But it really just got boring after a while and I wanted it this drama to just end.

LIKES:

- The Cameos: Honestly, the only reason to watch. Lee Soo-hyuk and Lee Jae-wook actually looked like they wanted to be there.

- The Music: The OST's are great. The songs managed to deliver more than the script itself.

- The Aesthetics: It looked expensive, it looked nice. Shame they spent all that money on lights and none on a better script (guess one of the reasons why they didn't put the screenwriter).

DISLIKES:

- Jisoo's Acting: I'm sorry, but she just was just mediocre. She's too stiff. No range, just vibes. She's better of than just being an idol instead of trying to force into being an actress. But she still did manage to pull of some scenes though. Tbh, she should've just left it at Newtopia and focused on singing and dancing.

- Zero Logic: Why is she a "genius" producer if she can't solve a single basic problem without her VR boyfriend? She was written to be “strong” but came off as totally helpless.

- The Ending: After all that waiting, the payoff was so weak. It felt like as if I was robbed of my time.

OVERALL:

Boyfriend on Demand is what happens when you have a huge budget, big stars, but no soul. The drama is really not wow worthy but just, fine. It's pretty to look at, but it's garbage on inside. If you want to see Jisoo look pretty, watch her music videos. If you want to watch a good drama, skip this.

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!! A drama to break free from stress !!

Before I watched, I was worried that what if it becomes flat with just famous actors’ cameo because I didn't like the drama like 7 first kisses. But luckily it was not. I like the way Female Lead always turned back to reality and the plot which makes her turn to it.

I really like how they portrayed a love story between the leads. Some scenes are just simple but romantic. I especially enjoyed the confession scene. Even thought the story is somehow fantasize about AI, I really like they did not take it too far. Because some drama took it too far and include so much plots which they end up badly.

I have seen many comments about Female Lead’s acting. But the actress did an amazing job and I feel this character is exactly for her. But there are also some weakness but I can pass. I enjoied the Male Lead's character here. The Male Lead did a great job to portray his character.

I would say this is a good drama to watch in 2026 compared to other dramas we got so far in similar genere. It might have weakness but those are just minors.

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Don’t Judge It Too Early! A Lovely Drama ?

Honestly, I don’t understand why some people are judging this drama after watching only the first one or two episodes.At first it may seem slow, but once the story starts developing, it becomes really interesting and emotional. If you stop early, you’ll completely miss the charm of this drama.
Jisoo did a great job with her role.Finished watching bod it was so good 😭
Every episode is exciting the chemistry of jisoo and inguk is through the roof Cute romcom moments and
If you’re looking for a cute, bingeable K-drama with a fresh twist on romance, this is definitely for you. You will laugh,
you will smile, you will swoon, and you also get to see some of your faves.

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a weak actress with a whole list of great actors in a waste script and story

What a waste of time and talent. a few established, talented actors in a meaningless drama. manipulation of young women on a grand scales. sexy actors that take the eyes for views. the story and the script is mediocre. in the last year a lot of good actors have acted in mediocre dramas. what is happening in korea? so much talent ruined by a very bad script.

Ji soSoo you have to take some acting classes. Your eyes don't transmit anything. Sorry but you did not touch any centimeter of my heat with your acting. I dont hate you but you are not my cup of tea as an actor.

AI implants and propaganda, disempowerment and fake life. Manipulation and sale of souls.

Anyway the new generations no longer have any self-worth, and life values. it is easy to fall prey to an artificial life. Better watch the movie HER and learn something. you really don't learn anything from here.

I loved to see Seo In Guk & Yoo In Na but they deserve a good script.
I cant recommend this. is my second worst drama after our universe (her universe) in 2026.

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CHARM CANNOT SAVE A SHOW THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT WANTS TO BE

Okay so I have been sitting here for the past hour trying to figure out how to even begin writing this review because I genuinely have so many conflicting thoughts and feelings about this drama and I don't even know where to start. I did not hate it, but I absolutely did not love it either. And honestly, that in itself is the biggest problem and the most frustrating outcome I could have walked away with. Because with a premise THIS relevant to the world we are living in right now, you should not be finishing a drama and just feeling… nothing. You should feel something. Anything. Happy, sad, devastated, giddy, obsessed... I don't care. Just SOMETHING. And the fact that I closed out the final episode and essentially just shrugged my shoulders and moved on with my day tells you everything you need to know about where this drama ultimately went wrong.

I want to be fair though because there were aspects of this show that I genuinely enjoyed and I don't want to be one of those people who just trashes something without acknowledging what worked. So let me try and break this down properly.


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GENERAL OVERVIEW:

Seo Mi-rae is a webtoon producer whose entire existence has basically been swallowed up by her career. No romance, no social life, no time, no energy, nothing. Just an endless cycle of impossible deadlines, demanding creators, and a workload that would break most people. After going through a painful breakup she has completely checked out of the idea of dating and has zero interest in pursuing another relationship. She is just existing at this point, running on fumes, and pouring everything she has into her job.

Then she gets selected as a beta tester for this revolutionary virtual reality dating platform called *Boyfriend On Demand* and honestly the concept alone had me sold from the jump. The app drops you into this fully immersive digital world where you can interact with hundreds of AI-generated romantic partners and every single one of them is specifically designed to fulfill a different fantasy. You want sweet and supportive? Done. Dramatic and brooding? Right there. Impossibly wealthy and devoted? Say less. Mysterious and protective? Already waiting. The app is essentially a choose-your-own-adventure romantic experience where the risks of real relationships don't exist and every single boyfriend is literally designed to make you feel chosen and special and loved. And as a concept? I mean… come on. You cannot tell me that is not creative and timely premises. In a world where people are lonelier than ever and technology is increasingly filling in the gaps of human connection, this idea had so much to say. SO much. And that is precisely why what they actually did with it hurt as much as it did.


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COMMENTARY:

The virtual dating sequences? Honestly iconic. Genuinely hilarious. Completely unhinged in the most entertaining way imaginable. Every single time Mi-rae entered the simulation I was on the edge of my seat wondering what kind of fantasy scenario was going to unfold and which celebrity was going to pop up as her newest AI love interest. The sheer unpredictability of it kept me watching way longer than the actual quality of the writing deserved and I am not even remotely ashamed to admit that. That is just the truth.

The AI boyfriends themselves were so exaggerated and over the top in the best possible way. They were basically walking parodies of every romantic archetype you have ever seen in a drama and the comedy that came from Mi-rae having to navigate their ridiculous levels of devotion and dramatic declarations of love was genuinely some of the funniest content I have seen in a while. Her reactions alone carried so many scenes. There was a real self-awareness to these sequences that I appreciated because the show clearly knew how absurd the premise was and leaned into it rather than trying to play it completely straight.

And the celebrity cameos... okay listen. I understand that for some people the cameos were maybe a bit of a gimmick but for me? Every single one felt like an event. Like a little gift. You genuinely never knew who was going to show up next and that sense of excitement and surprise genuinely kept the momentum going even when other parts of the story were dragging. In a weird way the cameos became one of the show's most defining and memorable features and I think that says a lot about how well executed they were individually even if they contributed to a larger structural problem that I will get into later.

Seo Kang-joon appeared as one of the AI boyfriends and I am telling you right now, this man had LIMITED screen time. We are talking a handful of episodes at most. And somehow, SOMEHOW, he left a bigger and more lasting impression on me than the actual main love interest of the entire drama. How does that happen? HOW? The chemistry between him and Mi-rae was so immediate and so natural and so effortless that I genuinely sat there with my mouth open thinking "why are you not the lead of this show?" Like their interactions felt lively and easy and genuinely fun in a way that the central romance never quite managed to achieve despite having 10 entire episodes to build itself up. Some of the scenes they shared together were easily among the most memorable of the whole drama and he was barely even there!!!

It genuinely made me a little sad watching it because you could see what the show could have been if that same energy and chemistry had been channeled into the main relationship. I need someone to cast Jisoo and Seo Kang-joon in a proper drama together with a strong script and a fully developed love story because after watching this I am convinced they would be absolutely electric together. Someone please make this happen. I am begging.

And the truly frustrating thing is that his cameo character, a character with almost no backstory, no real development, no space to breathe, somehow felt more emotionally present and engaging than characters we spent the entire drama with. That is not a compliment to the cameo. That is an indictment of how badly the writing failed the main cast.

Park Gyeong-nam, played by Seo In-guk, is supposedly the love of Mi-rae's life. He is reserved and intimidating on the surface but secretly harbors genuine feelings for her and gradually becomes more important to the story as it progresses. In THEORY this relationship should have been the emotional beating heart of the entire series. The thing that grounds all the virtual chaos in something real and meaningful. The anchor. The reason we are watching.

In PRACTICE it felt like an afterthought. A side plot. Something the writers remembered existed between virtual dating sequences and celebrity cameos.

For the majority of the drama Gyeong-nam is essentially sidelined while Mi-rae runs around the simulation falling in and out of fantasy scenarios. He lingers in the background. He shows up occasionally to look meaningful and feel things quietly. And then by the time the show finally decides to actually commit to building their relationship there is genuinely not enough runway left to do it properly. Important moments feel rushed. Character development arrives so late in the game that it cannot possibly land with the emotional weight it should have. And the conclusion of their romance feels hollow as a result because you cannot make an audience invest in something you spent most of the drama not investing in yourself.

This is especially painful because Seo In-guk is genuinely talented. Like properly, undeniably talented. He has this natural screen presence that allows him to communicate entire worlds of emotion through a look or a quiet expression or the way he holds himself in a scene. Some of Gyeong-nam's most effective and moving moments involved no dramatic dialogue at all, just a lingering glance, a subtle shift in expression, a moment of quiet disappointment that he does not allow to show on his face. The performance was there. The actor was fully present and giving everything he had. The script just did not meet him where he was standing and that is the part I genuinely cannot forgive.

Because here is the thing. He tried so hard with so little. And you could feel it. You could feel him reaching for emotional beats that the writing kept failing to set up properly and honestly it just made me respect him more while simultaneously making me angrier at the show for wasting him the way it did. Seo In-guk deserved better material. Full stop. No argument. The character needed more and the actor was more than capable of delivering it if only the drama had bothered to do its part.

Okay let me talk about Jisoo because I think she did a genuinely good job with what she was given and I want to be clear about that before I get into the parts that annoyed me.

Carrying a drama with a premise this unconventional is not easy. It requires a particular kind of energy and presence, someone who can be funny without being cartoonish, emotional without being melodramatic, relatable without being passive. And for the most part Jisoo delivered. Her comedic timing was strong throughout and her expressive reactions became absolutely essential to some of the show's funniest and most entertaining moments. She was watchable in every scene and there is a natural charisma to her that kept the series moving forward even when the writing was letting everyone down. That counts for a lot and I do not want to minimize it.

Mi-rae herself is also a genuinely interesting character on paper. She represents an entire generation of young professionals who are running themselves into the ground trying to build careers while quietly falling apart on the inside. The exhaustion, the loneliness, the uncertainty about where her life is going... those feelings are real and they are relatable and in the right hands they could have been deeply affecting.

The problem is the writing kept undermining her. Her character development was inconsistent throughout the series and there were multiple moments where her decisions felt poorly motivated or just straight up immature in ways that made it difficult to stay fully invested in her journey. Like I understood her on a surface level but the drama never quite gave me enough of her interior world to make me truly feel for her the way I wanted to. And when you have a show that is essentially built around one character's emotional evolution, that is a significant problem.

This is not a Jisoo problem. This is a writing problem. The actress did her job. The script did not always do its job. Those are two separate and distinct issues and they should be treated as such.

At its core *Boyfriend On Demand* is not just a romance. It is a story about loneliness. About emotional fulfillment in an increasingly disconnected world. About what it means when technology becomes better at meeting our emotional needs than other human beings. About the seductive danger of preferring a controlled fantasy to the messy unpredictable reality of actual love. These are themes that matter. These are conversations worth having. And the framework of this drama was the perfect vehicle for having them.

The show even sets up genuinely fascinating territory around this, as Mi-rae grows more attached to the virtual world, reality starts to feel less satisfying by comparison. The idealized perfection of the app creates a standard that no real relationship can match. That tension between fantasy and reality could have been the foundation of something truly thought-provoking. A serious examination of digital dependency, emotional avoidance, and what we lose when we choose simulation over genuine human connection.

But every single time the drama got close to actually exploring one of these ideas, every time it approached a moment of real depth or genuine complexity, it retreated. Pulled back. Cracked a joke. Introduced another cameo. Jumped to another virtual scenario. It was like watching someone sprint toward something important and then stop just before reaching it over and over and over again for sixteen episodes. And eventually you stop believing they are ever actually going to get there.

The tragedy is that the comedy was good! I am not saying the humor was bad or unwelcome. The problem is that it kept coming at the expense of the story's more meaningful ideas. You can have both. Dramas do it all the time. But you have to be willing to let the weight of your themes actually land sometimes and this show consistently refused to do that.

If I had to identify the single biggest structural failure of this drama it is the imbalance between the virtual world and the real one. The show became so utterly fascinated by its own simulation, the rotating cast of fantasy boyfriends, the celebrity appearances, the increasingly elaborate scenarios, that it completely neglected the relationship it was supposedly building toward the whole time.

The virtual world got everything. The real romance got scraps. And no amount of rushing in the final episodes could compensate for 10 episodes of neglect. By the time the show tried to make me care deeply about Mi-rae and Gyeong-nam together it was already too late. The emotional foundation was not there because the drama never bothered to lay it properly. Their connection never gained the depth or the weight it needed to carry the conclusion and as a result the ending felt not just rushed but genuinely unearned.

This is the kind of structural imbalance that no amount of good acting or charming moments can fully fix. It is a foundational problem. A storytelling problem. And it is what ultimately prevented this drama from being what it could have been.


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FINAL THOUGHTS:

If I had to sum this drama up in one phrase it would be "wasted potential," and I want you to understand that this genuinely hurts more than if it had just been a straightforwardly bad drama from episode one. Because bad dramas are easy to dismiss and forget. Dramas that waste genuinely strong premises stay with you in a different and more frustrating way. You find yourself thinking about the version of the show that could have existed. The version that actually committed to its own ideas. The version that gave the real romance the time and care it deserved. The version that was brave enough to sit with its more complicated themes instead of running back to safety every time things got emotionally interesting.

That version of *Boyfriend On Demand* would have been genuinely special. Instead what we got was entertaining enough in the moment but ultimately forgettable once the novelty wore off. The celebrity cameos were fun. Some of the virtual dating scenarios were genuinely hilarious and I laughed out loud more than once. Jisoo worked hard and brought real energy to the role. Seo In-guk was quietly excellent with material that did not deserve his effort. Seo Kang-joon showed up for five minutes and somehow became the most memorable thing in the whole drama. These are not nothing. These things count.

But a collection of entertaining moments is not the same thing as a good drama. And good performances cannot carry a story that the writing never properly built.

Overall I am giving this a 5.5/10.

THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ARE SUFFERING AND WE DESERVE ACKNOWLEDGMENT!!!

Anyway, thanks for reading! ❤️

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Boyfriend on Demand: A Perfect Blend of Romance, Chemistry, and Cinematic Beauty.

I genuinely enjoyed this drama from beginning to end. What impressed me the most was the chemistry between all the characters. The relationship between the main leads felt very natural and effortless, and their interactions never looked forced. Jisoo and Seo In Guk portrayed their characters with such comfortable and realistic romantic acting that it made the emotional moments feel very genuine and romantic moments were🤭🤭🤭☺️☺️ I felt like I am intruding them😁.

Another thing I really loved about the drama was how even the cameo appearances blended so well with the storyline. The interactions between the female lead and the cameo characters added freshness to the narrative and made the story feel more lively and interesting.

Visually, the drama is absolutely beautiful. The locations were stunning and added a dreamy atmosphere to the story. The cinematography captured these settings perfectly, making many scenes feel almost cinematic. The direction was also very smooth, and the pacing of the story was well balanced. The editing kept the flow of the episodes engaging without feeling rushed or dragged.

The production quality deserves special mention as well. The VFX were used subtly but effectively, enhancing certain scenes without looking exaggerated. Everything felt polished and carefully put together.

I also really loved the OST. The music complemented the emotional tone of the drama perfectly and made many scenes even more memorable.

Overall, Boyfriend on Demand is a very enjoyable drama with a charming storyline, beautiful visuals, and great performances. The chemistry between the actors, especially Jisoo and Seo In Guk, is one of its strongest points, and it makes the romance feel warm and believable. It is definitely a drama I would happily recommend to anyone who enjoys romantic K-dramas with strong character connections and beautiful production quality.

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Fun binge

This really was a fun drama. I love it when men really melt into their loved one's touch, and yearn for them without the other knowing. Seo Inguk really did this. Tbh, his caracter wasn't really deep (even though there was a part where we started seeing his ponit of view and his thoughts. Which I LOVED, Idk why but I love it when we see the male pov) but i feel like if it wasn't for him i wouldn't like his caracter. He played it really well, it really shows how good of an actor he really is. If it were anyone else, i wouldn't have liked it. Also, all of my favorite actors in one drama, AMAZING. It felt weird, but also was very refreshing. I loved the side caracters as well, they were written very well, have to congratulate the senarist, they did a really good job.

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The past can hold you back from better things.

Lately I haven’t been watching any new kdramas since I haven’t seen anything that had caught my attention but when I saw the trailer for this drama. I was very excited to see a something different and not the same concept as other shows.

In the show the FL had given up on dating because of a heart break. Through the boyfriend on demand VR experience she started to feel feelings she thought she had once lost but even though she had realized that she knew that at the end it wasn’t real. Once the VR experience and reality started to become similar and her feelings became complicated. She had to make a choice between starting something new with someone who was real and at the end maybe get hurt or be in the VR world where she knows there doesn’t need to be an end but it won’t be real. When she made her choice to be with the ML she was afraid at first and she knows that everything won’t be perfect but she wanted to do her best with someone who she likes.

Our lives are based on every choice we make and we shouldn’t let past experiences hold us back from greater things from happening.

I honestly really enjoyed this drama it was something different and even unique in my own opinion. I really loved the acting and the cast.

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I Expected a Romcom Popcorn Flix and that's what I got.

It's a typical Romcom, nothing special.
The VR(AI like Dating sim) is definitely a timely topic. I mean South Korea and Japan birth rate is all time low and this is one of the many reason( If you dont have much money and you dont want to get stressed out then u do this.

For example Dating Sims, Visual Novels, even the gaaaccha ones. Wether you like men or women.

As for the story its simple and relatable.
Its something I could watch on the get go as theres not much thinking to do.

POPCORN ROMCOM FLIX. 🍿
Biased opinion from a romcom lover like me.
Watched all the Harem or Romance Anime. Prob one of the reason I liked this.

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I almost forgot how i liked watchig this drama after readjng all those hate comment.

I really hate the fact that all you do is hate Jisoo. They say that they don't like her acting at all, looks stiff, no emotion at all. If the haters were asked to point out where they don't like her acting,can they really do it? I cringed when she acted cringe . I laughed when she acted happy . When she cried ,I also cried . I sincerely felt the story through their acting . I know the chemistry didn't show from the start and started a little late but that's because of the storyline and overall the drama was short. But i would say I could feel the chemistry despite that . And overall i like the story

I would love if the couple showed more screentime but the story focuses on 'boyfriend on demand'

Lets discuss the topic 'boyfriend on demand'
It helped Seo mi rae in healing from the wounds her ex boyfriend gave. I would say it played a major role on her until the end.
- Eun ho sunbae (character in boyfriend on demand) made her think of her ex and actually help in healing her
- her ideal boyfriend (the character she made) helped her in realising her feelings for park kyeong nam and at a bit point giving her tips on getting her better when her boyfriend (park kyeong nam ) found out she used 'boyfriend on demand' and overall when he saw his face being a character on it.
What i really liked about fl is that her character.
-i catch on her competent nature from her little habit on walking ahead of people. Esp in front of ml. That made me giggle as i see the chemistry beneath all those enemies troupe or should i say (hating each other acts).
-She hates cheaters and she is not herself. I catch on that even virtual characters count. Her attachment on one charater points out that she wants true love and know the meaning of it.
She analysed her true feelings when she started to like ml using the virtual ideal bf.
-and to those haters yelling on the character that she doesn't fit that genius producer (she won't have to need on the 'bod' guys please she was wounded and was in the phase she thought she was better alone . She forget all those romantic moments . How could she get the ideas when she was dull herself? She got those ideas from the fling moment. And webtoon ...that's all about puting your feelings into . With no emotions ,how could one ? Huh .
I like the ending when she said goodbye to the virtual character
I was on my toes how would the story of the couple would end but i was satisfied when she said
Now it's 'us'
So i was rest assured they would last long and endure together . Let me say this 'I love HAPPY ENDINGS.
And one thing why I like this drama is they tried to show how different individuals use the 'bod'
The webtoon artist and her freind.
Let's end this . If you stayed reading this upto the end I really appreciate it. This is my first review on drama. That's the dedication pulled out when one truly loves the drama and the cast and haters went on hating
ONCE AGAIN HAPPY ENDING!!

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A Cute Rom-Com That Surprised Me: delulu to trululu

I enjoyed watching Boyfriend on Demand because it was light, fun, and easy to follow. At first, I was a bit confused and wasn’t sure Iwould keep watching because I hadn't seen the trailer to see what the drama would be. But when Seo Kang‑joon appeared, I started to enjoy the drama more.

The concept of having a customised boyfriend is interesting and made the story feel fresh for a rom-com. Honestly, it made me a little delulu while watching—I even wished we had something like that in real life.

Some moments genuinely surprised me, making the drama less predictable than I expected.

The chemistry between the leads was cute and natural, and they were naturally funny as well. Overall, the drama had a comforting and entertaining vibe. If you’re looking for something romantic, lighthearted, and easy to binge, this is definitely a good watch.

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It's definitely something

Honestly this drama isn't for the faint of heart if u don't like AI futuristic near horroe shows don't watch this. The story follows a woman who uses a virtual reality boyfriend simulator to go on dates with picture perfect men but feeling she's part of a commodity of women and just another number she goes a steo further and creates a perfect ideal man who a large survey but then this giu she created looks exactly like a coworker who she then dates and he finds out and within 2 episodes forgives her and continues the relationship?

Well this is very weird,i know it's a tv show we can't take it and apply it to the logics of the real world but it's very creepy. Imagine if that concept was gender bent or happened in the real world ?
the backlash? the horror? the disgust? i would even pursue criminal charges.

But it's a show that's supposed to be romantic and carefree so we can't take it to heart. I think the story wasn’t that bad no need for 10 episodes tho could have been 8 because it got draggy in the end. Furthermore it's an okay show would never rewatch it under normal circumstances tho. Also i think i am one of the few people ho thought Jisoo did a good job? she wasn't bad at all pretty good and I'm an ARMY . In the end i think inrated it high because i enjoyed the fact it was a different concept then what we were used to.

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