2023 Show
Heo Seong-hee · South Korea · Korean
Eros and Psyche are reimagined in modern day Korea in this middling fantasy romcom series
With Korean dramas captivating viewers today, Amazon Prime Video finally took a step into that market with My Man is Cupid, the first original Korean series created by the streaming service. The absolutely gorgeous Nana and the charismatic Jang Dong-yoon team up in this Eros and Psyche-inspired modern retelling, complete with the standard K-drama tropes. There are times when it struggles to balance its subplots, most especially with the uneasy integration of a serial killer in the mix, but the resulting series still works as a fairly fluffy endeavor. The show could have delved deeper into the mythology, and the streamer could have made a more daring start, but fans of the genre might still enjoy the comfort and predictability of My Man is Cupid.
Star-crossed love story between a love fairy and a human girl. For humans and fairies aren’t meant to be, when he accidentally shoots himself and falls in love, their fate takes a wrong turn. The two reconnect after centuries of reincarnation. Where will this story lead?
Trapped on Earth for the past 500 years, Cheon Sang-hyuk and his fellow cupids hope to fulfill their quota in forming romantic connections between humans. However, he falls in love with veterinarian Oh Baek Ryun, who’s so beautiful but who encounters so much bad luck in her relationships.
My Man is Cupid is an okay start to Amazon Prime Video’s foray into the K-drama genre. Being the first original Korean series, it’s no wonder the series feels totally safe. Plenty of the elements in the show are familiar, with the fantastical premise, the love triangle, and even the thriller aspect, now in the form of a serial killer. That being said, in keeping things safe, the show fails to acknowledge the storytelling potential of the modern day Eros and Psyche – the show could have easily discussed ideas like consent, envy between women, and the reasons behind today’s modern loneliness. It’s still a fairly enjoyable watch, especially for fans of the genre, but My Man is Cupid feels like it could have been something more.
Okay, but has Oh Baek-ryun considered dating women? Asking for a friend.
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
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