“Dear X” Ending Explained and Review: A Dark K-Drama Not for Weak Hearts
- Disha Paul
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Dear X is one of those shows that refuses to play it safe. It is intense, disturbing at times, and filled with characters who carry more scars than hope.
This is not your usual romance or mystery. It is a story built on trauma, obsession, and the dangerous ways people cope when life never gave them love in the first place.
If you are sensitive to violence or unsettling character behavior, this drama will feel harsh from the start.
What Dear X Is About
Baek Ah-jin grew up in a home where affection never reached her. Her mother ignored her, and her father used her, leaving her with no sense of safety or trust.
By adulthood, she learns to survive by controlling others before they can hurt her. She rises in beauty, confidence, and influence, but underneath everything is fear mixed with ambition.
Yoon Jun-seo remains the one steady person in her life. He understands her better than anyone and stays beside her even when it destroys him.
Their relationship becomes a painful mix of love, dependence, and denial, pushing the story into darker territory with every episode.
What Makes Dear X So Dark and Unique
Dear X stands out because it mixes genres in a way that keeps you alert. It has romance, but not the comforting kind. It has thrills, but not the predictable kind. Baek Ah-jin does not love the way most K-drama heroines do. Her version of love comes from a place of fear, pride, and a desperate need to survive.
Her sociopathic behavior is not shown for shock value. It is a result of years of neglect, abuse, and betrayal. Her only dream is to rise above everyone and rule the world she feels once crushed her.
Anyone who gets in her way becomes her next target. She uses them, manipulates them, marks them as her next "X", and moves on without hesitation.
This is the dangerous charm of Dear X. You never know whether to pity Baek Ah-jin or fear her.
Characters and Performances That Make the Drama Unforgettable
The actors of Dear X deserve immense praise because portraying such morally twisted characters is not easy. Kim You-jung especially delivers one of the strongest performances of her career. She transforms completely into Baek Ah-jin. It becomes difficult to separate the actress from the character because she makes the role feel disturbingly real.
The supporting cast also plays a crucial role in maintaining the intensity of the story. Special appearances from actors like Hwang In-yeop, and Hong Jong-hyun add more layers, more tension, and more thrill. Every character, even the minor ones, contributes to Baek Ah-jin’s dangerous web.
Themes: Trauma, Power, and the Making of a Monster
One of the biggest questions the drama raises is simple but haunting. Are people like Baek Ah-jin born this way, or do we create them? Her cruelty feels terrifying, but it also makes you question society, parenting, and human behavior. If a child grows up receiving no love, only manipulation and pain, what kind of adult will they become?
The show does not justify her actions. Instead, it tries to show both sides. Yes, Baek Ah-jin is a monster. But she is also a monster crafted by years of abandonment.
Dear X, it will not give you the comfort of finding a hero to root for. Everyone is flawed, everyone carries scars, and everyone is a victim in someone else’s story.
Why Dear X Is Not for the Faint-Hearted
There is heavy violence, bloodshed, psychological manipulation, betrayal, and emotional exhaustion. The twists are sharp, and the turns are cruel. This is not a drama for someone looking for a sweet escape.
Every episode increases the tension. Every revelation makes the story darker. And every character has a breaking point.
If you are sensitive to violence or psychological triggers, this drama might feel overwhelming. But if you appreciate deep storytelling and complex characters, this is one of the most gripping shows of the year.
Ending Explained: The Mystery That Refuses to Settle
The ending of Dear X is one of its most chilling parts. It remains unclear whether Baek Ah-jin truly dies. We see her disappear, only for a mysterious figure to arrive at her funeral and leave a bouquet. So, who was it? Was it Baek Ah-jin herself? Was it someone who hated her? Or someone who still cared?
The show circles back to the beginning. Her first X, Jun Seo, somehow becomes her last X. And the one who supports her silently without question, we ignored, turns out to be the only O in her life, Kim Jae-oh. He becomes the real hero in her story, the only person who truly understands her.
The ending also highlights how every person who crosses her path ends up breaking, suffering, or losing someone. Her parents, Jun Seo’s mother, and every man she manipulated were trapped in her orbit of misery.
The saddest part is that Baek Ah-jin never realizes why Jun Seo did what he did. She never understands the pain she caused him or how he tried to end all the suffering once and for all.
It is an open ending. It leaves space for imagination. Some viewers think she survived. Some think she died. And many believe she might return someday.
Final Verdict: Is Dear X Worth the Hype?
If you want soft romance, healing stories, or simple endings, this drama is not for you. But if you love psychological complexity, twisted characters, and unpredictable storytelling, Dear X is absolutely worth the hype.
It is bold, risky, and unforgettable. It stays with you long after you finish it.
Did you feel sympathy for Baek Ah-jin, or did you see her only as a villain? And most importantly, would you want a Season 2? Let us know in the comments!