Dynamite Kiss: How Netflix’s Best Rom-Com of 2025 Fell Victim to K-Drama Tropes

Despite a strong start, the K-drama Dynamite Kiss ended with a somewhat disappointing finale. The 2025 Netflix romance, starring Jang Ki-yong and Ahn Eun-jin, was initially praised as one of the year’s best, offering a modern and unique twist on familiar K-drama themes.

Despite a fantastic beginning, the K-drama Dynamite Kiss became a surprising success, with many viewers considering it one of the best shows Netflix released this year. Its unique love story – based on a past relationship, workplace drama, and strong chemistry – felt fresh and original. Unfortunately, the series lost some of its momentum in the crucial final episode.

Dynamite Kiss Saved Its Happy Ending For A Series Finale Montage

A Last-Second Conflict Derailed The Main Romance

The K-drama Dynamite Kiss quickly became popular because it felt fresh and new. It immediately challenged typical K-drama conventions, starting with a kiss between the main characters before the opening credits even finished. After hooking viewers with this bold move, the show continued to cleverly subvert expectations, leading many to believe it would only improve from there.

The show explored the typical relationship between a boss and employee, but with a surprising catch: Da-rim pretended to be a married woman to get the job, and Ji-hyeok was unhappily engaged in an arranged marriage. As they spent more time together, they gradually started to connect. However, Dynamite Kiss made them work for their eventual happy ending over the course of the first 13 episodes.

Despite building a promising romance, the show Dynamite Kiss unexpectedly threw in a frustrating plot twist right before the main couple could reunite. Just as Ji-hyeok and Da-rim were about to reconcile, Ji-hyeok was seriously injured in a car accident and slipped into a coma. After faithfully waiting for him, he woke up with amnesia – a common trope in Korean dramas.

The events of the drama faded into distant memories until Da-rim recreated the famous kiss from the very first episode. After that, the show quickly revealed their future: Da-rim and Ji-hyeok moved in together, got engaged, started a new business, got married, and had children—all in the final ten minutes.

K-Drama Couples Rarely Get The Follow-Through They Deserve

The Emphasis Stays On The Build-Up

The ending of Dynamite Kiss left many viewers disappointed. The show had built a dedicated following who were invested in the romance between Da-rim and Ji-hyeok, and most expected a typical happy ending. However, the finale rushed through important moments with a quick montage, ultimately failing to deliver a satisfying conclusion for fans of the K-drama.

The series finale unfortunately relied on predictable and overused plot devices, with Ji-hyeok’s sudden amnesia feeling especially forced. Up until then, Dynamite Kiss had been fresh and engaging, attracting viewers worldwide, but the finale left everyone disappointed. Even more frustrating, after investing months in watching Da-rim and Ji-hyeok’s relationship grow, the show only offered a brief glimpse into their life together.

It’s frustrating for fans that even beloved K-drama couples rarely get a truly happy ending. Often, just when things seem perfect, a plot twist – like a breakup, a secret, or an outside problem – interferes and prevents them from staying together. It feels like K-drama romances are always cut short before they can fully flourish.

Most K-dramas end with a touching scene that suggests the main couple lives happily ever after, often with a kiss or a hint of an upcoming proposal. While Dynamite Kiss showed us a surprisingly detailed and clear resolution for Da-rim and Ji-hyeok, the drama could have been even more satisfying considering how engaging the story was leading up to the finale.

How Dynamite Kiss Could Have Fixed Its Finale

The K-Drama Ignored Some Glaring Plot Holes

Dynamite Kiss would have been even stronger if it hadn’t included the dramatic breakup towards the end. Instead of putting Ji-hyeok in danger, the show could have become truly unique by dedicating the final episode entirely to a sweet and satisfying romance. Da-rim and Ji-hyeok deserved a genuinely happy ending, free from unnecessary plot twists.

The show Dynamite Kiss could have revisited the passionate romance it started with by showing the couple finally giving in to their feelings in the last episode. Throughout most of the series, they fought their attraction, so a final intimate moment would have felt earned. Focusing on their relationship would also have allowed the story to naturally progress to important life events – such as a proposal, wedding, having a baby, or changing careers – and given the writers enough time to develop those moments fully.

The series could also have delved deeper into the family relationships from the original K-drama. Da-rim took the job at Natural BeBe to help her mother after her sister ran away to avoid debt collectors, but this storyline was largely unresolved, with only a brief mention in the final episode. The show also left the fate of the secondary romantic couple frustratingly uncertain.

The series finale of Dynamite Kiss could have truly satisfied viewers if it had continued the positive momentum from the previous episode and focused on its characters. Allowing those characters a genuinely happy ending would not only have been more enjoyable, but it would have also been a fitting conclusion, protecting the show’s already impressive reputation.

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2026-01-02 23:09