Right away: this first episode of Last Summer gives you three things that are hard to argue with — a sleepy countryside, a heroine who’s emotionally exhausted, and Lee Jae-wook wearing glasses. Of those, his glasses win me over every time. Still, the show’s love of secrecy makes the K-drama episode feel oddly… shy. It hides too much, too long. As a result, it sometimes forgets to make us care.
Quick recap
First, we meet Song Ha-kyeong (Choi Sung-eun). She’s 29, doing local government work, and clearly miserable. Next, the drama flashes back to her childhood and shows her growing up next to Baek Do-ha (Lee Jae-wook). They lived in a divided house — two units under one roof. They were close as kids. Then something happened. At her father’s funeral, Ha-kyeong screams that she never wants to see Do-ha again. After that, they don’t talk for two years.
Cut to present: Do-ha is now a famous architect who returns to town right as summer starts. Ha-kyeong wants to sell the childhood house. Trouble is, Do-ha legally blocks the sale. He claims his half. He also keeps sending “child support” money for their dog, Subak (yes, “watermelon,” and yes, it’s adorable). They trade terse messages. A lawyer shows up. They sit. Sparks and tension fly. Then we end with a forced cohabitation setup because Do-ha chooses to stay in his half. And yes — still no obvious twin in sight.
What the episode does well
- Lee Jae-wook presence: He’s shot like a walking moodboard. The camera loves him. The show clearly wants you to fall for him, and it mostly succeeds.
- Tone: There’s a light, slightly whimsical feel to it. It hints at an old-school romance vibe. That’s comforting if you’re in the mood for gentle K-drama pacing.
- Emotional hooks: The dog, Subak, functions as a small but effective emotional tether. It softens edges and connects the leads in believable ways.
- Cohab tension: Immediate setup for long-term conflict: shared house, unpaid quarrels, and unresolved history. That’s classic and reliable.
Where it trips up
- Too mysterious, too soon. The episode withholds key facts. It wants to be clever, but sometimes it’s just confusing. If viewers need to be curious, they also need just enough grounding to care.
- Twin subplot feels absent. The drama’s official description teases twins, yet Episode 1 gives zero signals. That mismatch creates whiplash.
- Jargon clutter. Bits about government roles and contracts wiggle into the story in ways that don’t always land. Simplify or explain them; otherwise viewer attention drifts.
- Emotional distance. Because the show refuses to explain what broke them, Ha-kyeong’s anger can feel like anger for anger’s sake. We want context, not mystery theater.
A few smart choices worth noting
- The use of summer as a motif is neat. Summer = memory triggers for Ha-kyeong. That seasonal idea gives the series a natural rhythm if the writers commit to it.
- The contrasting adult images — Ha-kyeong’s hot temper vs. Do-ha’s cool veneer — is a classic and effective emotional pairing. It sets up slow-burn friction.
- Small-town setting helps the show breathe. It opens space for intimate moments, not just plot mechanics.
New insights (stuff the show should lean into)
- Make the summers mean something. If Ha-kyeong’s trauma ties to seasonal events, use sensory storytelling. Smells, heat, cicadas — these will sell emotional flashbacks faster than cryptic lines.
- Turn the house into a character. A divided house is a strong visual metaphor. Show more of its quirks. Let rooms hold memories. That gives viewers context without dumping exposition.
- Use the dog smartly. Subak can be the gentle reveal device. Dogs don’t lie; their reactions can foreshadow or soften reveals.
- Drop the twin cliffhanger until it’s useful. If the twin plot is coming, plant subtle clues now — a stray photograph, a different handwriting, inconsistent timelines — so the eventual reveal lands, not feels cheated.
Pacing and watchability
If you like slow-burn K-drama with gorgeous lead shots and unresolved tension, you’ll be happy. If you want crisp plotting and clear emotional beats, this episode may test your patience. The show trades clarity for mystery. Sometimes mystery pays off. Other times, it’s just an excuse for vague drama.
Point of view
I’m intrigued but not sold. Lee Jae-wook’s charm covers a lot of sins. The cohab angle and the dog make this easy to keep watching. However, the writers need to decide what they’re hiding and why. If this is a character-first story, give us a few emotional anchors now. If it’s a puzzle-first story, then lay down clearer clues. Either route works — just pick one.
In short: it flirts with being addictive. But right now it flirts while wearing a bandana over its mouth.
Who should watch this?
- Fans of romantic slow-burns and character friction.
- Viewers who don’t mind waiting for payoff and love cinematic shots of the lead.
- Not great for people who need tight plotting or immediate emotional clarity.
Final verdict
This premiere has charm, eye candy, and a promising setup. Yet it also holds back too much. That restraint could become a signature if future episodes reward patience. Or it could become an endless tease.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 / 5)
