Kdrama Humor (Backstreet Rookie Review) - CineTv Contest

When I think about **Backstreet rookie,** the very first thing that comes to mind is laughter. The kind of laughter that sneaks up on you in the middle of a random scene and makes you replay it just to laugh again. I had to see this moment drama after watching *“My Demon.”* It wasn’t perfect but It’s one of those dramas where, even if you roll your eyes at some exaggerated scenes, you find yourself smiling anyway. Sure, it had romance, heart warming moments and the usual drama conflicts, but beneath all of that was a playful, sometimes downright silly humor that made it feel so comforting.

What I fell in love with was it’s playful unpredictability. You never knew what kind of absurd situation would happen next in that convenience store. Would a customer cause commotion over expired coupons? Or Would Saet-byul chase away thugs and bullies like her life depended on it? Honestly, there were moments where the comedy leaned into absurdity, like those exaggerated slow motion scenes of Dae-Hyun(Ji Chang-wook) getting dragged into the chaos by Saet-byul (Kim Yoo-jung). The show knew it was ridiculous and that’s exactly why it worked. Watching their antics felt almost cartoonish at times, but that humor reminded me not to over analyze and just enjoy the movie.

The interesting part for me was how humor came not just from “jokes” but from everyday mishaps, the awkward customers at the store, Dae-hyun’s constant exasperation, and Saet-byul’s fearless and over the roof energy. Dae-hyun was the reluctant man, the one just trying to keep things in order, while Saet-byul had no regard for “order” whatsoever. The difference in their personalities was loud but was the source of the laughs.

One scene that still pops into my head was when Saet-byul defended the store like it was hers. The way she chased the trouble makers with that fearless glare, only for Dae-hyun to nervously try to clam the situation, was pure gold.

Performance wise, Kim Yoo-jung really left an impression. She had this wild energy that made Saet-byul lovable rather than annoying, which could’ve easily happened with the wrong choice of actress. And Ji Chang-wook’s timing, his tired sighs, and “I can’t believe this is happening” expressions, balanced her out perfectly. Every misunderstanding between them felt like a laugh out loud comedy.

Another Underrated part of it was from the supporting casts. Dae-hyun’s quirky parents were so hilarious. His mother’s dramatic reactions to the littlest things. His father’s laid back attitude that often clashed with her fiery temper, it was sometimes fun to watch them argue. I would’ve loved it if they did another season focusing on them.

What made it stand out for me was some over dramatic scenes like Saet-byul chasing down criminals or standing up to bullies with this tongue in cheek sort of superhero vibe. It was intentionally dramatic, slow motion, intense music and exaggerated stunts.
Saet-byul wasn’t funny because she told jokes or anything, she was funny because she had this bold, reckless energy that clashed with Dae-hyun’s rule following nature.

Although, not every joke landed, but even then, the willingness to lean into the silliness was there. Too many dramas hold back, afraid to look unserious or what not. Backstreet rookie is a breath of fresh air.

It reminded me that laughter doesn’t have to be clever or polished, sometimes it’s in the chaos, in the overdone gags, and in the energy of characters just being themselves. It’s in the ridiculous misunderstandings, the exaggerated reactions and “why is this so funny?” moments that catch you off guard.