Viki | My Dearest Nemesis
Hiding Who You Really Are?
As someone who’s devoured manga for years, I’m always curious when a new webtoon adaptation makes its way to the screen. Yet somehow, My Dearest Nemesis completely escaped my radar — and honestly, I blame the title for that. It’s based on the webtoon That Man is Black Salt Dragon — a name I probably would’ve scrolled right past without a second thought, assuming it wasn’t in my usual reading lane.
What ultimately pulled me into the drama adaptation wasn’t the source material — it was the cast. Specifically, Choi Hyun-wook, who left a lasting impression in Twinkling Watermelon with his portrayal of a deaf character — loud, strong, and sociable. His performance lingered long after the credits rolled. So naturally, seeing him take on a new role in My Dearest Nemesis caught my attention immediately.
True to form, he brings subtle callbacks to that previous role — including a small but striking moment where he casually uses the "I Love You" sign in American Sign Language. Given the timing after Twinkling Watermelon, I wouldn’t be surprised if that gesture wasn’t even in the script — just something he carried with him into this story. It’s the kind of detail that stays with you — as an actor, and as a viewer.
The story itself unfolds within familiar territory at first — classic high school drama layered with the anonymity of online gaming. Su-jeong, a senior navigating the usual pressures of student life, ends up joining an online game (after helping her younger brother) where she encounters a mysterious player known only as "Black Dragon." What starts in the virtual world soon bleeds into reality — especially when she later discovers that Black Dragon isn’t just anyone... he’s her new boss.
From there, My Dearest Nemesis builds on themes of identity, rivalry, and unexpected connection — exploring both who we perform as online and who we reveal ourselves to be offline.
While the setup isn’t exactly groundbreaking, My Dearest Nemesis knows exactly what it wants to be — a character-driven story about masks, vulnerability, and the ways we navigate spaces where we feel both seen and unseen.
And honestly? That hits close to home. I grew up that way — a gamer, a comic book nerd — constantly shifting parts of my personality depending on who I was with or what space I was in. Watching this play out on screen feels relatable… yet oddly distant. Like I understand it — I’ve lived it — but it doesn’t quite move me the way I hoped. Maybe I’ve outgrown these stories. Or maybe this is just what growing up feels like — watching versions of your younger self play out while knowing you’ve moved past them.
Either way, My Dearest Nemesis did what good stories sometimes do — it sent me spiraling down a rabbit hole. Choi Hyun-wook’s performance had me binging his previous work, Weak Hero Class 1 — which, conveniently, has Class 2 (Season 2) premiering in just a few weeks.
What ultimately pulled me into the drama adaptation wasn’t the source material — it was the cast. Specifically, Choi Hyun-wook, who left a lasting impression in Twinkling Watermelon with his portrayal of a deaf character — loud, strong, and sociable. His performance lingered long after the credits rolled. So naturally, seeing him take on a new role in My Dearest Nemesis caught my attention immediately.
True to form, he brings subtle callbacks to that previous role — including a small but striking moment where he casually uses the "I Love You" sign in American Sign Language. Given the timing after Twinkling Watermelon, I wouldn’t be surprised if that gesture wasn’t even in the script — just something he carried with him into this story. It’s the kind of detail that stays with you — as an actor, and as a viewer.
The story itself unfolds within familiar territory at first — classic high school drama layered with the anonymity of online gaming. Su-jeong, a senior navigating the usual pressures of student life, ends up joining an online game (after helping her younger brother) where she encounters a mysterious player known only as "Black Dragon." What starts in the virtual world soon bleeds into reality — especially when she later discovers that Black Dragon isn’t just anyone... he’s her new boss.
From there, My Dearest Nemesis builds on themes of identity, rivalry, and unexpected connection — exploring both who we perform as online and who we reveal ourselves to be offline.
While the setup isn’t exactly groundbreaking, My Dearest Nemesis knows exactly what it wants to be — a character-driven story about masks, vulnerability, and the ways we navigate spaces where we feel both seen and unseen.
And honestly? That hits close to home. I grew up that way — a gamer, a comic book nerd — constantly shifting parts of my personality depending on who I was with or what space I was in. Watching this play out on screen feels relatable… yet oddly distant. Like I understand it — I’ve lived it — but it doesn’t quite move me the way I hoped. Maybe I’ve outgrown these stories. Or maybe this is just what growing up feels like — watching versions of your younger self play out while knowing you’ve moved past them.
Either way, My Dearest Nemesis did what good stories sometimes do — it sent me spiraling down a rabbit hole. Choi Hyun-wook’s performance had me binging his previous work, Weak Hero Class 1 — which, conveniently, has Class 2 (Season 2) premiering in just a few weeks.
