Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Nevertheless, which premiered on June 19, 2021 and became one of the most controversial Korean romantic dramas that sparked intense debates about toxic relationships, red flags, and the intoxicating power of physical attraction.
Nevertheless aired on JTBC from June 19 to August 21, 2021, every Saturday at 23:00 (KST), consisting of 10 episodes with approximately 70-minute runtimes. Each episode was released on Netflix in South Korea and internationally after its television broadcast. Based on a popular webtoon of the same name which was first published on Naver Webtoon, it tells the story of two people who are attracted to each other but are skeptical about love, owing to their past relationships. The series stars Han So-hee and Song Kang as art students navigating the complicated territory between friendship and romance.
The intoxicating charm of a flirtatious art school classmate pulls a reluctant love cynic into a friends-with-benefits relationship, creating a raw and honest portrayal of modern dating culture where physical attraction often overrides emotional wisdom. This campus romance explores the dangerous allure of toxic relationships and why we sometimes choose people we know are bad for us.
The Ultimate Red Flag Romance: Attraction Against Logic
Nevertheless follows the tumultuous relationship between Yoo Na-bi, a sculpture major who swore off love after being betrayed by her first boyfriend, and Park Jae-eon, a charming art student who treats relationships like a game he never intends to win. Still reeling from a breakup with an older man, Na-Bi is cautious, especially after she learns that Jae-Eon is the campus player — who flirts with everyone — but has never had an exclusive relationship.
The series doesn’t romanticize their connection but instead presents it as a case study in why attraction and compatibility are two very different things. Na-bi knows Jae-eon is trouble, yet she finds herself drawn to his magnetic personality and the way he makes her feel special, even when logic tells her to run in the opposite direction.
Yoo Na-bi: A Woman Choosing Chaos Over Safety
Han So-hee delivers a compelling performance as Na-bi, a woman who understands exactly what kind of person Jae-eon is but chooses to pursue him anyway. In her past, she broke up with her first love due to his unfaithful ways. After that, decided to become unswayed by love. She then meets Park Jae-Eon and develops feelings for him.
Na-bi’s character arc explores the complex psychology of why we sometimes sabotage our own emotional wellbeing by choosing partners who can’t give us what we need. Her journey shows the internal struggle between self-protection and the intoxicating pull of dangerous attraction, making her both relatable and frustrating for viewers who want to shake sense into her.
Park Jae-eon: The Master of Mixed Signals
Song Kang plays Park Jae-eon, a university student, majoring in art. He seems nice to everyone and he is usually cheerful. Yet, he is really indifferent to others and he doesn’t want to have a romantic relationship. Park Jae Eon finds dating a waste of time but likes to flirt. Even though he is friendly and cheerful towards all, he does not pursue others.
Jae-eon represents the modern emotionally unavailable man who offers just enough attention to keep someone interested while never committing to anything real. Song Kang brings nuance to what could have been a one-dimensional character, showing glimpses of vulnerability beneath his player exterior while never excusing his manipulative behavior.
When Games Become Real: The Price of Playing with Hearts
The series builds to moments where both Na-bi and Jae-eon must confront the consequences of their toxic dynamic, particularly when other people become involved and real feelings complicate their casual arrangement. Despite his mixed signals, she continued to give him the benefit of the doubt, and the episode ended with them sharing a heated kiss, showing how physical chemistry can override emotional red flags.
The most intense episodes explore jealousy, manipulation, and the moment when casual becomes complicated. The series excels at showing how friends-with-benefits arrangements rarely stay casual when genuine attraction is involved, creating emotional chaos for everyone involved.
Polarizing Reception Among K-Drama Fans
Romantic entanglements are the order of the day in Netflix Korean drama Nevertheless, set around a college art department, but this is a run-of-the-mill love story, with critics noting that while the chemistry was undeniable, the story felt familiar. However, the series sparked passionate debates among viewers about whether the show glorified toxic relationships or provided a realistic portrayal of modern dating pitfalls.
Nevertheless found success particularly among younger audiences who related to the messy reality of contemporary relationships, while older viewers often criticized Na-bi for making poor choices. The series became a cultural phenomenon precisely because it touched on universal experiences of attraction overriding logic.
A Realistic Look at Modern Romance’s Dark Side
If you love intense chemistry and realistic portrayals of complicated relationships, Nevertheless is worth experiencing on Netflix. This isn’t your typical healthy romance – it’s an unflinching look at why we sometimes choose people who are wrong for us and the emotional cost of those decisions.
Why You Should Watch: Sometimes Red Flags Look Like Fireworks
Nevertheless reminds us that attraction doesn’t always align with what’s good for us, and sometimes the most intoxicating relationships are also the most destructive. It’s a series that captures the messy reality of modern dating without offering easy moral lessons.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 10 episodes
Platform: Netflix, JTBC
Release/End Year: 2021
Current IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Genre: Romance, Drama, Youth
Status: Completed
Main Characters: Han So-hee (Yoo Na-bi), Song Kang (Park Jae-eon)
Supporting Characters: Chae Jong-hyeop (Yang Do-hyeok), Lee Yeol-eum (Oh Bit-na)