It Gave Us Soft Romance, Political Chaos, And One of the Most Beautiful Endings I Didn’t Know I Needed

TV Drama Name: Snowdrop

Where To Watch: Disney+ ← *Click for direct link*

Average Rating: 8.4/10 (My Drama List)

My Rating: 10/10

One Sentence Description: Snowdrop is what happens when forbidden love, espionage, and emotional trauma link arms and jump you in the dorm hallway.

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Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕

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Just a quick heads-up: Snowdrop did face backlash in South Korea for its portrayal of sensitive historical themes, particularly its connection to the 1987 pro-democracy movement. Some viewers felt the story blurred lines between fiction and real events in a way that could be harmful. That said, my review is purely focused on the drama as a show — the plot, characters, and performances — and isn’t meant to dismiss or ignore the deeper issues tied to its backdrop. Just here to talk K-dramas, not stir the pot! 🤝

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*Want a more detailed description? click here!*

Simple Description

Snowdrop tells the story of a girl who unknowingly falls in love with the enemy. He holds her hostage, but in true K-drama fashion, ends up falling for her too — so much so that he’s ready to betray his country for her.

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The Review

The Good

Plotline Perfection (aka Genre Soup That Actually Worked)

This drama was so good for me. I loved how it blended so many genres — and actually did it well. Usually when a show tries to juggle too many genres, it ends up being a hot mess. But not this one. It had romance, action, suspense, some unexpected comedy, and a little something-something else I can’t even label.

The plot twists? Chef’s kiss. That final twist where sweet ol’ Man Dong turned out to be a spy and killed the other spies?? Absolutely unhinged — I was gagged. Who would’ve thought freedom was right there, and they missed it because of the house dad?!

Sure, it had its slow moments, but once it picked up? It kept the momentum. And let’s not ignore how naturally the romance was woven in. It didn’t feel forced or overly dramatic — it was just enough to get us hooked and keep the emotional stakes high.

Jisoo’s Acting Debut = Slay

I was genuinely surprised by how good Jisoo was in this — especially for her first acting role. There were some incredible, well-known actors in the cast, so the fact that she held her own? Big respect.

That said… I do think there were moments where it felt like Hae In had to work overtime to make their chemistry feel believable. And let’s be real — that kiss? It was more like two lips shaking hands. But I get it — first drama, nerves, the whole thing. So I’ll allow it.

Overall, she did really well. Her performance didn’t break the immersion, and that’s all I ask. Nothing worse than bad acting ruining an otherwise amazing show, and thankfully, that did not happen here.

The Romance: Chaotic, But Cute

I absolutely adored Soo Ho and Yeong Ru’s little love story. It was sweet, it was soft, and it gave me the breather I needed in between hostage scenes and chaos.

Was it awkward at times? Yes. But in a way that felt real. I appreciated that their relationship didn’t take over the entire plot or make him act completely out of pocket. He gave her special treatment, sure, but it was subtle. He didn’t lose all his brain cells for love — and that alone puts him miles ahead of some other male leads I’ve seen.

You know the ones. The ones who’d let her take long bubble baths and do spa days in the middle of a hostage crisis. Thankfully, this wasn’t that type of romance. Soo Ho stayed focused and in love. Balance. We love to see it.

The Ending (A Beautiful Tragedy)

That ending… whew. Of course I wanted them to end up together, or at the very least have him survive. But honestly? I’m not mad at how it played out. It was beautifully done and, more importantly, believable.

I’m so glad they didn’t go the unrealistic route where he jumps out the window, dodges bullets, and somehow lives. His death actually meant something. It hit hard — in the best way.

But what really got me was that final epilogue. The callback to their “what if we met under normal circumstances” convo? I was done. 끝났어요. That scene of him singing while she smiled at him? Ugh. RIP me.

Bun Ok: Annoying But It’s Understandable

As annoying as Bun Ok was, I get her. You already know I love digging into the deeper layers, and her story really stood out. Everything she did was out of desperation — her sister was dead, her family was broken, and she just wanted to survive.

Yes, she caused chaos. Yes, she was exhausting. Yes, she was a massive inconvenience to everyone. But her actions made sense. She was trying to escape a painful life and get even a little bit of control back. I can’t even hate her for it.

Also, can we talk about the quiet little thing she had going on with Comrade Joo? The unspoken understanding? The subtle stares? That moment of eye contact before everything went down? Chef’s kiss part two. I loved the way he was a little gentler with her. The softness was unexpected but very welcome. Sometimes it’s the things left unsaid that hit the hardest.

The Bad

Slow-Motion Start-Up

Look, I know dramas need a setup. I get it. But this one took its sweet time getting to the good stuff. Sure, once it took off, it soared, but the first few episodes were so slow — like, mind-wandering, phone-scrolling, “should I be watching something else?” kind of slow.

Sure, there were some cute moments sprinkled in, but overall, I was bored out of my mind. I wasn’t even fully following the plot until I started reading episode reviews — that’s how much I mentally checked out.

And don’t get me started on the wives. Their boutique gossip sessions were beyond dull — I fast-forwarded every time. I know they added some relevance (some — not much) later on, but it didn’t make up for how tedious their scenes were. The whole “13 virgins death” subplot? Irrelevant. Honestly, I think their heavy presence in the beginning is why those episodes dragged so much.

Plot Convenience (Or: The spy’s Personality Switch)

Okay, here’s the thing — I get that people change, but Soo Ho’s sudden shift felt way too convenient. While I’ve thankfully never been ruled by a dictator, I did go through a North Korea obsession phase, so I know a thing or two about how deeply indoctrinated their citizens are. From birth, their rules and loyalty are etched into their brains. And as spies? It would’ve been way more intense; I mean, you saw their training sessions.

Given that, Soo Ho and the others switching sides so quickly felt unrealistic. Comrade Joo was the only one who felt the most realistic. He was ready to die at any point and pushed that fact every chance he got. Family was so important to them, so for Soo Ho, once his sister’s life was on the line (the person he cared about most in the world), there’s no way he wouldn’t have blown himself — and everyone else — up. I mean, isn’t that what he was trained to do?

Realistically, he would’ve never risked his family’s safety for a dorm full of strangers or a girl he met a few months ago. If we’re being honest, the second his mission fell apart, he should’ve blown everyone up and called it a day. Then with Chung Ya switching and then in the end even Man Dong switching? It was too much of a stretch for almost every spy (except Comrade Joo) to be so quick to throw their beliefs away and go on the run. Plot convenience saved the day here, and while I get it (it’s drama magic), it didn’t fully make sense. That mental switch was too quick for people raised in that environment.

Can Someone Please Die Already?

Okay, hear me out before you call me heartless: for a hostage thriller, this show was weirdly… soft. The stakes weren’t high enough because no one really died. Comrade Joo? I wish he’d gone full villain and actually killed people like he wanted to. It would’ve added some much-needed intensity. Soo Ho was a softie from the jump, and while that’s endearing, it would’ve been far more gripping if the spies didn’t hesitate to take lives when necessary. I mean, I’m not saying we needed a massacre, but if you’re going to sell us a “high-stakes hostage crisis,” at least show us the stakes.

Even Gang Mu surviving felt like a stretch. He was more of a liability than anything else — there was no reason for the spies to keep him alive that long. There were so many moments where hostages should’ve been shot, but for some reason, they weren’t. It was just threat after threat after threat with no action. If I were a hostage, I probably would’ve started slacking off. Man Dong’s son had taken a gun and still didn’t die — like, what are we doing here? Why follow rules if no one’s dying anyway?

Dorm Drama (AKA “Blame Her For Existing”)

This one’s minor, but it irked me. Remember when it was revealed that Yeong Ro’s dad was the head of the ANSP? Why were all the dorm girls suddenly mad at her like she was the one out here approving torture reports? She had nothing to do with it besides sharing some unfortunate DNA. And yet, they turned on her so fast — like she personally stormed their homes and took their loved ones. I’ve seen this kind of thing in other dramas too, where people start hating someone because of what their parents did. And I get it — emotions are high, trauma is real — but let’s not act like Yeong Ro was in the torture chamber taking notes.

The worst part was when they stood up one by one, told their tragic backstories, and collectively decided to exile her from the group. Like, are you guys serious? That scene was so frustrating, and after that, the hostages all kind of annoyed me. Like be so for real — you guys have been locked up in there together for days and now suddenly she’s public enemy number one? Their misplaced anger was so unfair, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the whole ordeal.

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What I Would Do

He’d be alive and they’d reunite one day, obviously

While I loved the ending we got (tears were shed, tissues were sacrificed), I can’t lie — I couldn’t help but imagine an alternate ending — something a little happier. A tiny part of me was holding out hope for a reunion.

In my version, they wouldn’t have gone to the attic. Soo Ho would’ve fled, they’d spare Yeong Ro because of Chang Su, and years later, they’d reunite. Maybe he thought she died. Maybe she thought he died. Then boom — recordstore deja vu moment, dramatic eye contact, cue the memory flashbacks.

Whether they walked away from each other or picked things back up, I just wanted that chance for closure. A little mystery. A little magic. A little emotional destruction. Like imagine:

Option A:

Years pass. She’s in a music store, just browsing. Somewhere in another aisle, she hears the song she danced to before. Drawn to it, she walks over and reaches for the cassette (or something more up-to-date for the times) — only to touch hands with someone else grabbing it too. It’s him.

They stare at each other, recognition slowly dawning.
Two things could happen:

1. A friend calls her. She hesitates. He breaks eye contact, apologizes softly, and leaves. She’s left stunned, her heart racing, but she eventually walks away.
2. Or — their hands touch, they realize who the other is… and the show ends right there, “One Way Ticket” playing in the background.

Option B:

(Flip the roles and it still works.)
Years later. She’s in that same store again. The cassette (or whatever) is still there. She picks it up and listens to the song through the store headphones. Lost in it.

A man walks past her in slow motion. Something about him… she hesitates, then runs out after him. She shouts his real name — not Soo Ho, but his real name.

He stops. Time slows. He turns around.
Fade to black. End.

Option C:

She’s walking down a quiet street, deep in thought. “One Way Ticket” is playing softly in the background. As she passes a storefront, she notices a suit in the display — the kind Soo Ho once wore. Her heart clenches, but she keeps walking.

A man brushes past her. Nothing unusual. But she suddenly stops, something tugging at her memory. She turns around slowly.

He’s already turned, already looking at her. Their eyes lock across a sea of passersby. Both of them on the verge of tears.
And then… fade to black.

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Final Thoughts

As you can tell, I loved this drama. “The Bad” section was honestly a stretch for me, and even the things I nitpicked didn’t ruin the experience.

Sure, the beginning dragged, but once the story picked up, there was no stopping it. Each episode had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly clicking “Next Episode.” The tension, the plot twists, the romance that didn’t feel cheesy or forced — it was all there.

And the ending? Ugh. The ending. That epilogue will haunt me (in the best way) forever. I know this show sparked a lot of controversy in South Korea, which is why I focused on the hostage story and left the political side out of it. But from a purely storytelling standpoint, this was a beautifully executed drama.

The romance was mature and grounded. Soo Ho wasn’t a simp bending over backwards to cater to Yeong Ru’s every whim, and Yeong Ro wasn’t some damsel — it was just the right amount of chaos and softness.

In the end, this drama was nothing short of a masterpiece, and I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t watch it again. Just push past the first two or three episodes — you’ll see what I mean.

And if you’re anything like me, you’ll go in expecting a political thriller and come out emotionally ruined over a man who was lowkey supposed to kill everyone.

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What were your thoughts on the show? Did the ending hit as hard for you as it did for me? What about my “What I would do” section? Which option was your favourite?

Let me know! I’ll see you next week! 💕