K-DRAMA FIRST LOOK: “My Dearest Nemesis”

February 19, 2025
FEATURES/K-DRAMA RECAPS

Having crossed paths in the past while playing online games, our leads developed a crush on each other only to have a terrible fallout and turn into enemies after meeting in real life, leaving a scar in their hearts instead of a sweet memory.

They reunite again after many years have passed as boss and employee and though none of them recognizes their connection, their vibe is still the same. Will their reunion make for an enemies-turned-lovers story? Or is their past grudge too strong for that?

Bunny S. watches My Dearest Nemesis on Viki

Opening Week Ratings:

My Dearest Nemesis Opening Week Story

“I can tell. But I will care for you here.”

In typical K-Drama land style, we meet our heroine, senior high schooler Baek Su-jeong (Moon Ga Young) as she gets bullied by some mean girls who are jealous of her because she is smart and got accepted into a good college. But Su-jeong is no push-over, standing up for herself and putting those girls in their place. We also learn that Su-jeong’s mother died, and she now lives with her busy father and an immature younger brother whom she has to look after on top of taking care of herself.

Though she might look strong on the outside, Su-jeong secretly wishes to find someone she can rely on. Luckily, her wish comes true after bumping into “Black Dragon” while playing video games. Taking over her brother’s account to help him level up in the game, Su-jeong crosses paths with Black Dragon during a quest to get rid of some virtual wolves. Getting off the wrong foot, they bicker for a little, yet eventually become partners and help each other fight the wolves and advance to the top level.

Touched by his heroic act to shield her from a wolf’s attack, Su-jeong develops a cute crush on Black Dragon. Likewise, having learned that Su-jeong is a woman and not a man as her game ID initially suggested, Black Dragon takes an interest in her, too. Sitting down for a quick chat, so to speak, Su-jeong and Black Dragon bond over their shared loneliness and resolve to rely on each other. The next thing we know, these two have become friends, making plans to meet in the game and chatting with each other all day.

It is noteworthy that Su-jeong and Black Dragon haven’t interacted beyond texting and meeting in the game. They don’t even know the other person’s real name. (Black Dragon knows Su-jeong as Strawberry.) So, Su-jeong is excited about finally meeting Black Dragon in person. Dressed up, Su-jeong awaits Black Dragon with bated breath, only to get disappointed when a middle schooler (cameo by Moon Woo-jin) shows up and introduces himself as Black Dragon.

Lying about his age to look older is one thing. But even if she ignores the age gap, Su-jeong can’t reconcile the image she drew in her mind of Black Dragon with the middle schooler before her. So, Black Dragon’s cheesy confession gets a big no thank you from Su-jeong though we have to say she was a bit harsh to him. Like that, Su-jeong’s first love concludes, deeming this experience a dark past she wants erased.

“If you can’t give up on it, hide it.”

Skipping ahead to 2024, Su-jeong is a team manager at the planning team of Yongsung Department Store, famous for her competence and workaholism and nicknamed Director Killer after getting 3 directors fired for power abuse. The fourth director is set to take office soon. But this time might be different as the new director is the only grandson of Yongsung Group’s chairwoman, Ban Ju-yeon (Choi Hyun-wook).

Before getting appointed as director, Ju-yeon took on several positions in the company under an alias. This time, he is using his real name and gets assigned to a key position. Yet, this is merely a stepping stone toward Ju-yeon’s ultimate goal of inheriting Yongsung group. To achieve his goal, Ju-yeon needs to get the chairwoman’s approval. Which might prove harder than he thinks as she is an insufferable perfectionist who doesn’t tolerate even the simplest mistake and suffocates Ju-yeon with her sky-high expectations.

Chaebol heirs and childhood trauma go hand in hand so it should come as no surprise that the chairwoman blames Ju-yeon for “her son’s” death. That heartless woman told Ju-yeon that he had no right to cry during his father’s funeral without any regard that the young kid had lost his father. Ju-yeon’s obedience to the chairwoman probably stems out of fear of abandonment since he lost his parents at an early age and had no one to rely on.

“You and I never met outside the office.”

To get through that stifling life, Ju-yeon leads a secretive dual life, setting up a secret lair in his house to read comics, play video games and enjoy the rest of his hobbies, and attending rock and roll concerts in disguise. During one of his adventures, Ju-yeon crashes into another car, owned by none other than Su-jeong. It is (seemingly) their first time meeting yet Ju-yeon finds her oddly familiar. While Su-jeong takes it as Ju-yeon making a move on her and scolds him.

On his first day at work, a little stain has Ju-yeon changing his shirt. Unfortunately for him, Su-jeong enters at that exact moment and spots a black dragon tattoo on his back. Acting quickly, Ju-yeon diverts Su-jeong’s attention from the tattoo. However, they recognize each other from the other night and neither seems pleased to have met again at work. Offering to forgive her for barging in, Ju-yeon suggests they forget about meeting outside the office and start afresh. But he keeps feeling wary of Su-jeong and deems her dangerous.

Ironically, Su-jeong is always around whenever Ju-yeon’s true self slips and hilariously causes him to miss out on a golden chance to buy a limited edition toy set. After almost getting caught 3 times on the same day, Ju-yeon settles to eliminate Su-jeong. If he can’t fire her, Ju-yeon will make Su-jeong walk out voluntarily. Yet, it seems Ju-yeon underestimated Su-jeong. No matter how much he picks on her, Su-jeong fights back and holds her own. Try as he might to push her out, Su-jeong will stick it through.

“You discovered the top secret and threatened me. You should have expected this much.”

Things change, though, after Su-jeong learns about Ju-yeon’s chaebol identity. Not that she will admit defeat and resign. Instead, Su-jeong shifts her strategy and tries to find fault with Ju-yeon. Spying on him, Su-jeong comes upon Ju-yeon’s dual life. Realizing he got caught, Ju-yeon changes his strategy too, offering an enticing deal to Su-jeong. In return for keeping his secret from others, Ju-yeon will guarantee Su-jeong job security. It is a win-win situation for both of them. So, Su-jeong jumps in headfirst, wholly oblivious to what awaits her.

Worried she might spill his secret, Ju-yeon keeps a watchful eye on Su-jeong all day. Even after clocking out, he has her join him at a party where Su-jeong gets harassed by a sleazy guy. When she stands up to him, the guy tries to hit Su-jeong. But Ju-yeon comes to the rescue and pushes the guy into the pool. As we end this week, Ju-yeon grabs Su-jeong’s hand and tries to leave together, getting her taken aback.

For someone who is too careful about making any mistakes, Ju-yeon threw caution to the wind to protect Su-jeong. Still, he will have to face the music for his actions next week after the chairwoman learns of what he did.

You might have guessed it already. Ju-yeon and Black Dragon are the same person. Luckily, the drama doesn’t leave us hanging and confirms that theory via a flashback. (After getting caught skipping his academy to meet Su-jeong/Strawberry, the chairwoman locks young Ju-yeon/Black Dragon out and has him watch as she burns his games as a punishment for “disappointing” her.) For now, neither of our leads realizes their connection, so we are curious about how this plotline will play out and which of them will figure it out first.

My Dearest Nemesis Opening Week Musings

What a fun watch! The enemies-to-lovers premise might be nothing groundbreaking, but the story feels fresh enough to get us invested. Also, Moon Ga-young and Choi Hyun-wook are selling it well and have good chemistry. The game sequence was a highlight, and it was amusing to have the actors jump into the game, giving their interactions a more natural feeling. Having Choi Hyun-wook play Black Dragon during the game and then making Moon Woo-jin appear before Su-jeong further highlighted the contrast between Su-jeong’s expectations vs the reality.

We like Su-jeong. She is spunky and doesn’t let anyone push her around. Even her act of going after Ju-yeon’s weakness was out of fear he might fire her, not because she wanted to harm him. Ju-yeon rather feels sorry for Ju-yeon and believes his secret activities aren’t bad enough that he will go that far to hide it. Aren’t chaebol heirs humans, too?

As for Ju-yeon, he is an interesting character and we hope the drama digs into his childhood trauma beyond the surface. Also, the last thing we want to see is a redemption arc for the chairwoman. The drama is getting started, but the sight of her makes our blood boil. She will surely give Ju-yeon hell after discovering his secret and will spare no effort to tear our leads apart. Can’t we get rid of that nasty woman already?

Photos and Videos: tvN Drama

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Bunny Sonaki

I am Bunny. Just like you, I am smitten with Kdramas and look forward to watching every Kdrama out there, but is that dream ever possible since they keep showering us with new dramas every day? For me, Kdramas are my comfort zone and a warm hug that makes it possible to face up to whatever life throws my way.

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