Finale of 'Dear. X' Leaves Lasting Impression with Kim Yoo-jung's Destructive Ending

The TVING original series 'Dear. X' continues to captivate audiences even after its final episode aired on the 4th, leaving a significant lingering impact.

Praised for its intense and unconventional narrative, the series has spurred viewers to rewatch it multiple times. It impressively maintained the No. 1 spot for new paying subscribers among TVING original series for six consecutive weeks. Its popularity extends globally, achieving the No. 1 position on Rakuten Viki in the US, No. 2 on STARZPLAY, and No. 4 on Disney+ in Japan.

'Dear. X' garnered attention with its unpredictable plot twists and shocking developments in each episode. Actress Kim Yoo-jung, in particular, has been lauded for her portrayal of Baek Ah-jin, a character who hides a cruel nature behind a beautiful facade, solidifying it as another career-defining role. Her nuanced emotional performance deeply immersed viewers in the drama.

The series heightened tension by depicting Baek Ah-jin's ruthless ascent to the top, stepping on others along the way. The first four episodes revealed her painful past, influenced by her father Baek Sun-gyu (Bae Soo-bin), and meticulously laid the groundwork for her revenge plot. The scene where she sacrifices Choi Jung-ho (Kim Ji-hoon) to break free from the shackles of her father was particularly striking.

In episode 8, Baek Ah-jin, who had begun to experience familial love through her relationship with Heo In-gang (Hwang In-yeop), falls into despair again after the unexpected death of Hong Kyung-sook (Park Seung-tae). The episode interweaved the suspicion of Yoon Jun-seo (Kim Young-dae), who knew her from childhood, with Baek Ah-jin's desperate plea to save Hong Kyung-sook, evoking sympathy from viewers.

Episode 10 featured a confrontation between Baek Ah-jin and Shim Sung-hee (Kim Yi-kyung), who believed Baek Ah-jin ruined her life during their school days. The scene culminated in a bloody ending as Shim Sung-hee, after breaking into Baek Ah-jin's mansion and wielding a knife, ultimately causes her own facial injury during a struggle with Baek Ah-jin.

The final episode (12) saw Baek Ah-jin's dramatic downfall as a documentary exposing her past and truths aired during her most glorious moment at an awards ceremony. However, her gaze shining at the cliff's edge in the final scene left viewers with a profound sense of intrigue about her future path, providing a strong, lingering impact.

Following the finale, Korean netizens expressed strong reactions, with comments like 'Kim Yoo-jung's acting is insane,' 'The ending gave me chills,' and 'I hope for a Season 2.' There's significant discussion and speculation surrounding the open-ended conclusion.