Heartbeat Kdrama Review: Vampires and supernatural beings are not strangers to any media. Some of the most favorite characters across media have been vampires (Hello, Edward). When thinking of vampires, we are reminded of the Cullens, Pitt, and Cruise doing that one interview in the 90s, the Salvatore brothers, among others.
Our dear K-dramaland has no shortage of vampires either! Be it a prosecutor, a high-school-going teenager, or even a doctor, K-dramas have seen a slew of interesting K-dramas with vampires as the lead characters. This time, the fan-favorite antagonist from Vincenzo has opted to bare the pointy fangs. Heartbeat just finished airing on August 15, 2023. The drama is available for streaming on Prime Video.
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Heartbeat Kdrama Trailer
Heartbeat Kdrama Summary
Heartbeat marks the return of vampires to the small screen. Ok Taecyeon stars as Seon Woo Hyeol, a centuries-old vampire who aims to become human. He intends to become a human so that he too can experience a love that makes one’s heartbeat. He lost his lover once when she was trying to save him from the soldiers. He wanted to unite with her after he becomes human again so that he too can feel the same emotions she did because of love.
Upon the advice of a demicat Mr Ko, Woo Hyeol goes into a 100-year in a hawthorn coffin. Upon the completion of the century, he would turn human. But as fate would have it, Joo In Hae opens the coffin a day early. She is unaware of her ancestor’s promise or the existence of Woo Hyeol. Joo In Hae is the descendant of Butler Joo who was Woo Hyeol’s faithful butler and promised that his coming generations would take care of the mansion and Woo Hyeol’s matters in Woo Hyeol’s absence. Joo In Hae has fallen on hard times.
Her father has been missing and declared legally dead, adding to In Hae’s worries. She also inherits the mansion Woo Hyeol is in. After In Hae opens Woo Hyeol’s coffin, the two are forced to share the mansion. The two bicker and banter but eventually become friends and also fall in love. Adding to their camaraderie are Woo Hyeol’s aides Sang Hae and Dong Seop. No story is complete without a second lead (or two) and of course an antagonist! Heartbeat has it all!
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Heartbeat Kdrama Review
Ok Taecyeon shot to newfound fame as the antagonist in Vincenzo. His portrayal of Jang Jun Woo is undoubtedly marked as one of the most bone-chilling yet fan-favorite antagonists. With Heartbeat, he seeks to add a new dimension to his acting portfolio and succeeds brilliantly even. Taecyeon’s Woo Hyeol is a lovable vampire. He is smart, funny, and has an odd yet polished sense of style. His comic timing with In Hae or his aides, is quite delightful to see.
Won Ji An has had notable dramas like D.P. to her credit, but Heartbeat was probably the first time that she got to be a lead in a mainstream drama. Her portrayal of Joo In Hae is wonderful indeed. Hae has fallen on hard times but does she submit to a fate neither does she be a damsel in distress seeking a prince to come and help her. Whatever curveball life throws at her, she tackles to the best of her abilities with the resources and intellect at her disposal.
The drama’s secondary and supporting cast add great value to the story. Park Kang Hyun as Shin Do Shik is righteous to a fault. Like any guy who cares deeply for a woman, he wishes to solve all of In Hae’s problems for her. But it is good to see that even after his confession was not reciprocated by In Hae, he maintained an amicable relationship with her.
He did not force his feelings onto her. A classic second lead characteristic even. Though, even after the drama has concluded, one might raise a question about what exactly was Do Shik’s ailment or what even was the curse on his family? But well, one can suppose that all is well that ends well.
Go Gyu Pil and Yoon Byung Hee as Dong Seop and Sang Hae are just the funny side characters you’d want to see in a drama. Their flaws aren’t flaws but rather a point to poke fun at. They are silly, adorable, loyal, and extremely supportive of Woo Hyeol. Antagonist Lee Man Hwi is a classic 2D character who only has two goals in his immortal life – do anything for money, do anything to anyone for one’s survival. While his acting might seem forced in places, Lee Man Hwi’s character served a decent purpose in adding content to the story.
Yoon So Hee’s Na Hae Won sees the classic trope of ‘good person turned bad when miffed’. While her emotions towards Woo Hyeol seem surface-level or plastic only, it does motivate her to take drastic measures for her gains. Her and Woo Hyeol’s romance was doomed to fail from the start and it did. One might not even call it a romance, but rather just a companionship of convenience. Yoon So Hee is a brilliant actress, but this role somehow felt like going on a flatter line with each episode.
Verdict – Heartbeat Kdrama Ending | Heartbeat Review
Is Heartbeat Kdrama Worth Watching?
Overall, Heartbeat is a K-drama to watch if you are missing vampires, Ok Taecyeon, a catchy opening theme, or all of the above! The pacing of the drama might seem slow in places, and some scenes perhaps a few seconds short, but it does not take away from the overall entertainment factor of the show. The show opens with a promising and something new happening almost every quarter of the hour. As it progresses, it takes a slower pace as the reality of Woo Hyeol’s situation settles in. JAL gives Heartbeat a drizzling 4 out of 5 blood drops for its entertaining story and indulgent humor.
Have you watched the Heartbeat Kdrama? What are your thoughts on the drama? Let me know in the comments below.
