‘Dynamite Kiss’ (2025) Netflix Series Review - A Single Lie, One Explosive Kiss, and Love in the Off-Hours

Let me tell you: I went into Dynamite Kiss expecting a light rom-com—endearing, simple, perhaps predictable, and I got that, and then some extra layers I didn’t quite anticipate. On the positive side, the concept itself is smart enough to stand out amid the sea of K-drama workplace romances: a woman disguises her status to get a job at a baby-products company, then accidentally kisses the team leader and must live with the consequences. That setup gives room for comedy, tension, character growth, and a kind of “what did I just do?” energy that keeps things going. I found the pairing of the leads—Ahn Eun-jin as Go Da-rim and Jang Ki-yong as Kong Ji-hyeok, to be lively. There’s a believable bounce between them: she’s frantic, resourceful, hiding something; he’s composed, serious, professional. That contrast and chemistry make a lot of the episodes fun to watch.

In terms of writing and direction, the show doesn’t shy away from the messy middle of lies, corporate life, and romance. The office environment is one I recognized: the late-night work, the task forces, the team leader who’s always juggling metrics and human issues, it’s not glamorized to the point of fantasy. That gives weight when Go Da-rim’s lie starts to ripple outward. The cinematography also plays up the juxtaposition: quiet early mornings in the baby-products workspace, then the heightened moments when the “kiss” happens, when the secret “married mother” identity is probed. The tone shifts smoothly between everyday work worries and romantic stakes, so you don’t feel like you’re watching two separate shows. It’s a plus.

Character arcs are handled with care: Da-rim isn’t just a liar waiting for redemption, she’s someone trying to survive, make sense of her life, and then unexpectedly see someone else. Ji-hyeok isn’t just the stiff boss who softens: he has anxiety, integrity, and when the kiss happens, the fallout is handled in a way that respects his character. The supporting cast—friends, coworkers, family get enough moments to feel real, not just filler. And the pacing for the first several episodes works: the mystery of her lie is set up, the stakes in the office are established, the kiss lands, and the consequences begin, so there’s momentum.

Now, on to the not-so-smooth parts. First: the “I’m a married mother” lie is clever, but it also feels like it could have been executed with more subtlety. At times, the plot leans into the absurd simply because of the lie, and while that’s okay for a rom-com, I found myself wincing in some scenes where the suspension of disbelief required a harder shim than I wanted to use. The fact that Da-rim is single yet pretends to be married with a child to get hired felt, occasionally, less like a character choice and more like a plot convenience. The writers do try to explore the moral and emotional tension (and they do succeed in showing Da-rim’s guilt, discomfort, and fear). Still, there are moments when the show tiptoes into “will they find out?” melodrama instead of deeper character introspection.

Second: the office romance trope is well handled for the most part, but because the setting is somewhat specific, a baby-products company, and the “Mother TF team,” a few of the workplace subplots drift into generic territory. The team leader vs. temp narrative, the “I must prove myself” storyline, the looming career risk—those are familiar. The show does freshen them with the lie-twist, but once that twist is in place, the hazards of the lie become the dominant engine, and some of the workplace dynamics start to fade and blend. I would have liked more exploration of the actual corporate landscape—competition, marketing of baby products, internal power plays—rather than mostly focusing on the romantic fallout. It’s not a disaster, but given the promising setting, it felt like a missed opportunity.

Third: the tone sometimes flips too quickly from humour to a serious emotional moment, and the shift can feel jarring. For example, a scene might have us laughing at a misunderstanding over diapers or product prototypes, and then suddenly we’re plunged into Da-rim’s regret or Ji-hyeok’s moral panic. When done well, it’s effective, but in a couple of places, it felt as though we didn’t get enough emotional buildup before the serious moment hit. That reduces some of the emotional payoff. Also, while the leads are strong, the antagonists or obstacles feel a bit underwritten at times: the “other team member who spots something,” the “company rumor mill,” the “fake husband friend” subplot (with Kim Mu-jun) get screentime but sometimes lack depth. They exist as functions of the plot rather than fully fleshed individuals.

Despite those criticisms, I’ll emphasise what works because I enjoyed this show. The lead performances shine: Ahn Eun-jin gives Da-rim a bright spark of vulnerability and mischief, which makes her twin missions of survival and love compelling. Jang Ki-yong imbues the boss character with enough charisma to make the “can he relax?” question meaningful. Their chemistry is the kind that keeps you rooting for the relationship despite the lie-driven premise. The direction by Kim Jae-hyun and the writing team (including Ha Yoon-ah and Tae Kyung-min) has crafted the tone of the show so that it never drags. It remains visually polished—the locations, the wardrobe, the production design reflect a world that’s somewhat idealised but with grounded moments. For a rom-com pivoting around both a lie and a workplace, that balance matters, and this show largely nails it.

The pacing, too: episodes build logically. The opening scene in Jeju sets the mood—two people meet, something ends, and fate unexpectedly reunites them. Then the lie kicks in, the workplace tension builds, and the kiss moment becomes the fulcrum. From there, the show keeps layering: will the truth be revealed? Will feelings grow? Can trust exist when the relationship started on a lie? All good questions. And the show asks them without being too heavy-handed (at least in the first half). It manages to maintain lightness while still hinting at emotional stakes.

In summary: if you are in the mood for a K-drama that gives you laughter, swoonable moments, workplace hijinks, secret identities, and a romance you can lean into without losing your brain, then Dynamite Kiss delivers. You’ll happily binge several episodes. Just be aware: there will be moments where the premise strains credibility, the workplace setting could go deeper, and tonal shifts might make you pause. But for what it sets out to do—romantic comedy with heart and a little bite, it succeeds more often than it stumbles. It’s not the most groundbreaking show of the year, but it’s a very good time and one I’d recommend to fans of this genre.

So yes, I laughed, I rooted for them, I groaned a little at the lie’s ramifications, and by the end of episode five, I was still engaged and curious where it would go. If the writers keep up the character honesty even while the secrets spin, this show could be one of the more satisfying rom-coms of the season.

Final Score- [6/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times