In short: Looks fantastic, but is bland as hell. In kdramaland, one can forgive over-the-top dramatics or weirdness or-- er, pretty much anything -- but it's impossible to forgive bland.

The leads were never the most interesting members of their respective groups but they're charming enough as themselves in their idol "day jobs." However, as actors in this drama they're both pretty much dead on screen. They're not awful actors, but their limitations are painfully obvious in every scene,

Minho doesn't do much beyond stare into the middle distance and maybe take off his shirt once in a while. Sulli is pretty much playing a piece of cardboard: she just stands there looking astonished a lot, and every now and then has a really overblown crying scene. They have the combined chemistry of wet chalk. I was so embarrassed for them that I finally had to stop watching the show.

Lee Hyun-Woo is apparently the only cast member capable of evoking real humor and emotion. The girl who plays the viperous Han-na is forgettable, and is playing a badly written character besides. Kwanghee is always hilarious, no matter what.

SM has clearly thrown a lot of money into the "look" of this show. From every carefully framed HD shot of Sulli's tear-stained face to the hilariously unreal fantasy dorm rooms, this show looks great. But as with most SM efforts, throwing a lot of money or pretty at something doesn't actually make it... good.

Read More