This drama exceeded my expectations so much and is definitely a new favorite of mine. This is less because of the story, even though a romance involving a robot is an interesting premise, and absolutely about Seo Kang Joon as Nam Shin III. This is a character that I won't forget, and his performance is amazing!

"Are you human too?" is a sci-fi drama that plays brilliantly off of the current AI trend. The story explores the idea of androids blending into society, to the point of being mistaken for actual humans, but it does it in a unique way that combines thriller, romance, melodrama, and even comedy. I won't go much into the specific plot, because I think it's fun to watch all the elements unfold, but expect to laugh and cry and swoon. Even the melodramatic and completely unrealistic parts of this story work well because the acting and storytelling are that good.

I've already mentioned how brilliant Seo Kang Joon was as Human Nam Shin and Android Nam Shin III, but it's worth repeating. He manages to make both characters so different that they felt like they were played by completely different people. His leading lady is Gong Seung Yeon as Kang So Bong, which is a part as weird as it may sound, but she manages to make this story seem completely plausible, and their amazing chemistry helps. There were moments when Kang So Bong got on my nerves, but that was because of the character, not her acting. Just like there were moments when I completely loathed Nam Shin because Kang Joon plays a jerk so well. The rest of the cast is pretty brilliant too.
Lee Joon Hyuk as the Secretary was definitely one of my favorites in the cast, and I got my villain fix with Park Young Kyoo and Yoo Oh Sung. Then there's Kim Won Hae who's always good for comic relief. I think there was only one character I couldn't stand at all, and that was Reporter Jo, but maybe that's because her acting as a pretty awful friend was just way too good.

I was tempted to give the story a higher score because it kept me engaged and excited for each new episode from start to finish, but some parts of the story are so over the top ridiculous that sometimes the story felt silly when it wasn't supposed to. The entire drama has a comic book feel, with over the top characters and scenes, so it does work. I just felt like some plot moments were a bit too much.

For romance fans wondering if they will get their romance fix watching this, I say yes, especially if you are willing to be open to what romance can mean. One theme this show explores is human emotions and relationships. Watching an android navigate through this theme definitely made me think about how we connect as humans and what feelings actually mean. This gave even the seemingly superficial moments in the story much more depth and gave all the characters' choices more depth too.

I will also admit that I needlessly worried the entire time watching this about how it would all end, afraid that the ending would be too corny or make no sense, but I actually liked how it ended. There was no rushed or convoluted ending or glaring plot holes, and the story never lost its momentum. It was also emotional without feeling too melodramatic, even with over the top character choices and just a few tropes. I just decided not to think too hard about the logistics of what would happen after the ending. Sometimes thinking too hard about "reality" ruins the magic of the drama.

Overall, I definitely recommend this one to sci-fi fans, romance fans, or any drama fans looking for an interesting drama to watch, and a non-traditional character to root for. Of course, this isn't the only android themed drama out there, but I would dare say that it's one of the best.
I'd certainly watch it again, just for Nam Shin III, because he's that likable. I'm even a little curious to know what a sequel might look like, but I was satisfied with this drama just as it is.

This was definitely some good programming! Get it? *hangs head in shame* Sorry.
Now what will I look forward to at the start of the week... *sigh*


Side note: Korea really should do something about their white truck problem... I'm just saying...