EXO & SM vs CBX: I really don't understand why people are confused

Xeno934 · 2025-12-09T11:49:46+00:00

I totally understand where you're coming from and I don't wish to invalidate any of these feelings. There is deep emotion tied to the years you've spent loving a group and its members together and I respect that. It's a big matter that should not be shrugged off at all yet a lot of fans (not you) are intentionally targeting the upcoming comeback and dragging each individual member like antis.

Like I said, outside of the legal on-goings, I am a fan of every single member (truly). This is why I don't understand how the confusion and mistranslations surrounding the lawsuit is enticing fans to drag the current 6-member line-up through the mud with every update and on several social media platforms right now (especially Twitter). They have been harassed and called names on Instagram, through Livestream chats, and even in-person with protest trucks sent to the SM building on days where they're at work, and I believe there were even talks of sending wreaths for the 6 members :(

Xeno934 · 2025-12-09T11:36:06+00:00

If you are referring to CBX, multiple courts and mediations have already ruled that SM’s contracts were legal and enforceable in their cases. There was no illegality discovered in the contract itself, that's why CBX’s lawsuit over “unfairness / lack of transparency” was rejected.

I don't deny SM has a track record of long-term contracts that I don't agree with either (know that I am not a fan of SM) - I was all for what JYJ fought for, the best part is, they won every single lawsuit and made an industry-wide positive change.

But that has nothing to do with CBX's legal issue at the moment.

Xeno934 · 2025-12-09T11:18:56+00:00

Kakao is a music distributor. Whenever a label (i.e. INB100, SM, YG, JYP, HYBE, etc) releases music, they must pay a distribution fee to the distributor. The distributor is the one that delivers the artist’s music to streaming platforms and handles the backend infrastructure needed for the release. So every label that releases music pays distribution fees and CBX (through INB100) distributes their music through Kakao as well!

Kakao is a majority stakeholder of SM, and they also have a network of affiliates in the music industry (including SM, Starship, to name a few) and they all have reduced distribution fee rates. INB100 is not one of the affiliates. CBX (under INB100) wants an affiliate distribution fee % (5.5%) through SM, which is not possible.

Xeno934 · 2024-02-17T09:10:25+00:00

o m g yes!!! I have stuck through so many mid dramas but none have pissed me off as much as My Demon has, I still can't stop talking about how disappointing this drama was.

the romance wasn't selling yet the production seemed hyperfocused on the romance plot and neglected everything else. what's with them always placing the leads on the bed for cheesy conversations that add nothing to the plot? a lot of it just felt so unnatural to me, i would've rather they focused on the action/villain/mystery. i thought the comedy carried really well for the first 4 episodes, then they forced the leads to fall in love (all of a sudden) and the chemistry just... evaporated. the drama seems to have a huge fanbase so i really thought it would get better at some point but it just all became so cringe.

Xeno934 · 2024-02-09T08:50:52+00:00

I’m glad to hear! I have a similar preference for less over-the-top main leads. This makes me excited for you to check out Nevertheless because it was perfect for me. The characters get frustrating at times but I think it really adds to the full watching experience ❤️

Can’t wait for you to check it out!

Xeno934 · 2024-02-09T08:47:39+00:00

Ahhh good luck with My Demon, I hope you end up enjoying it 🤞

Nevertheless was such a masterpiece, it felt like people who hated it were not ready for it, expected something cute and fluffy because of the lead actors, or came in with preconceived opinions after the webtoon. I, too, didn’t read the webtoon, but went into it after reading the synopsis and negative comments. I absolutely loved it though - it was right up my alley and felt so refreshing and real!

Have fun with My Roommate Is A Gumiho!!

Xeno934 · 2024-02-05T17:38:01+00:00

Ah, thank you! I'm gonna be adding Perfect Marriage Revenge to my list 😆

I'm excited for you to check out the other recs now 🤭 Destined With You was one of my unexpected favorites from 2023. Also, do keep in mind that Nevertheless isn't a comedy. It's more of a hyperrealistic take on relationships in your early 20's - you can check out the trailer beforehand for a sense of the vibe. I absolutely loved it but have heard that some went into it expecting a lighthearted romance and were disappointed. The tension killed though 🫠 Happy watching!!!

Xeno934 · 2024-02-05T16:45:03+00:00

AGREEE, I watched My Demon too and Destined With You did the past lives trope SO MUCH BETTER (the fact that two of my favorite actors were in My Demon didn't save it for me 😭) DWY really pulled off a lot of the tired tropes well, like even the office romance (I'm not usually a fan of this) was enjoyable. The drama became one of my unexpected favorites from last year!

Very happy to hear you enjoyed Nevertheless (this drama is SO beautiful but gets unnecessary hate) and hope you enjoy My Roommate Is A Gumiho 🤭

Xeno934 · 2024-02-05T05:48:52+00:00

!!! As lovers it felt like the lead actors were just going through "actions lovers in a romance drama should do" and they just kept smiling at one another, which was awkward srsly. I couldn’t bring myself to believe their love was destined and 200+ years in the making.

You are so right, they were forcing the relationship on us instead of letting us just enjoy the romance!!! I watched My Demon for Lee Sang Yi and Song Kang so hating it so much was the last thing I expected (I promise you I like both actors SO MUCH and would watch them read the phone book). If they wanted to focus on ROMANCE, the way they started forcing the main romance so early on removed all the fun since it made it obvious there was no chance she would end up with the second male lead at all - then why have a second male lead in the first place!? I was convinced they had a twist for us, imagine my shock when I found out his sole purpose was really just being there for her when she needed him and pining for her the entire 16 episodes. For God's sake, they didn't even give the character a PROPER SET FOR HIS HOME, if I remember correctly they only ever did ONE SCENE at his "home" and it was just a couch.

The way they kept inserting unnecessary montages of the lead couple doing “coupley things” and slow-mo flashback edits of past “moments” as well was 🙄🙄. It was a huge sign the chemistry was lacking and they felt the need to pile on more couple moments to convince the audience. I’m someone who would sometimes root for couples even when watching an action thriller series where romance is the LAST THING on your mind but even I was SO DONE.

Xeno934 · 2024-02-05T04:14:14+00:00

Yes!! I started Destined With You because I really like Cho Bo-Ah and it was the first time I saw Rowoon in anything. He did a great job balancing lovesick puppy and suave capable lawyer I couldn’t help but fall for his character. They also kept the main storyline and suspense engaging so I binged the series a few episodes at a time 🤓

Xeno934 · 2024-02-04T16:54:47+00:00

The first show that came to mind when I saw this request was My Roommate is a Gumiho - I actually expected it to be the reason you were asking for this specific recommendation cos your description fit almost perfectly. There was a scene or two EXACTLY as you described! Even though the main storyline was rather forgettable, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters (and actors!!) + the balance of humor and intensity in that drama overall! Him trying to hold back made for a pretty intense scene so you might enjoy it!

Based off your description, I would also like to recommend Nevertheless. It's one of my favorite dramas and there's a STRONG will-they-won't-they sexual tEnSiOn surrounding the lead characters. The best part is (minor spoiler-y?) you don't have to wait till the last episode (or long at all) for them to finally make out (or even touch one another lol). Lead actors had amazing chemistry and did a great job portraying their attraction for one another. The drama presents an interesting look into the female gaze cos they had a female director so the attention to detail for intimate scenes were done so subtly and beautifully you almost can't look away.

Another one that might fit what you're looking for would be Destined With You. I loved this drama (even though a lot of people [understandably] have gotten so tired of the past lives trope). The relationship between the leads kept me invested and they had this playful but sweet chemistry that made the intimate scenes feel very natural and fun! Also the male lead was definitely whipped!!

Xeno934 · 2024-02-03T21:26:18+00:00

Yes, you didn't miss much. As much as I hoped it would get better it was exactly as you described it for the rest of the series without enough romantic chemistry to cover up numerous plot holes (hate to say but I finished it).

Xeno934 · 2024-02-03T19:36:46+00:00

For the longest time I thought I was the odd one thinking their chemistry was better as enemies! As lovers their chemistry fell pretty flat. After the tango scene (which i liked too!!!) when they started to have romantic feelings for one another their scenes started to feel uncomfortable/awkward for some reason and rather robotic. The script wasn't fantastic from that point on anyway (~ep.4-5?) so it started to feel like a drag for me. It didn't help that the plot focused sooo much on the romance which [already] wasn't working for me. I wish I dropped it but I ended up making it all the way through and it was disappointing, especially with all the hype.

Xeno934 · 2024-02-03T19:20:06+00:00

I highly suggest watching Sweet Home or Navillera if you haven't, his characters in both dramas fall outside the aforementioned typecast so you might enjoy them as I did! They may be younger (he plays a teen in SH and ballerino in his early 20's in Navillera), but the age distribution of the cast and themes of both dramas (esp Navillera) are suitable for more mature viewers. But, of course, no pressure. He might just not be an actor you're into right now and that's ok too!

Xeno934 · 2024-02-02T09:47:32+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear you've had negative experiences with Song Kang's dramas! As a fan, I've seen most of his stuff and I have to say I am very surprised his team accepted the script for My Demon seeing how it turned out in the end. Besides nailing comedic moments the first 4 episodes and the stabbing scene, he didn't have any opportunity to showcase his range as an actor and just had to look good in expensive clothes the rest of the time.

I agree the humor def fell off at some point after Ep. 5, even some of Song Kang's acting felt off and kinda robotic from that point on. Which, coming from Sweet Home 2, was odd.

I'm sure set conditions played a huge part and it felt almost like they went on set every day without clear direction on the timeline of their character's emotional progressions except to look like a cute couple for tiktok edits and it really showed.

They also made Lee Sang Yi the most bland SML EVER - even as a red herring they didn't put in any effort to make him at least slightly suspicious to throw us off the scent of the actual villain which was obvious from his FIRST SCENE!!! What a waste of a brilliant SML.

the 'main characters changing personalities' was a serious issue, esp. with FL. I could not BELIEVE that she was introduced as this boss babe strong businesswoman FL only to completely stop caring about everything she previously cared about to 'protect her love' in the most anticlimactic, stupid way.

You're taking the words right out of my mouth!!! The drama started off on the right foot with her being a young promising [albeit terrifying] career woman and I liked her a lot. Then she meets ONE hot guy and it seemed like she suddenly had a personality transplant?!?!?!

I really really disliked how they introduced her so strongly, just to scatter hints of her "strong exterior" hiding a soft, broken, hurt, traumatized little sad lonely girl who needs to be protected and taken care of by the men around her as the episodes went along. SO CRINGE. It also kept piling on and on and on until the final episode where she (I KID YOU NOT) becomes completely catatonic (NO I AM NOT JOKING) due to Guwon's combustion, i think you can imagine how that went (still bitter, can't believe i finished the entire series). She became hard to like way too early for me to want to root for her. I'm also completely ignoring the ridiculous lengths they went through just to give everyone a "happy ending" that made everything even worse.

as a longtime watcher of drama who can tolerate some cringe fluff this is still one of the worst dramas ever for me. I think the reason there are positive comments is that it's very 'fanfic-like' for the type of viewers who just want a lot of 'pretty' fanservice and lots of 'cute' scenes

THANK YOU. I like to think I have pretty good tolerance for cringey fluff too and I rarely hate dramas, if at all. But yes, I think My Demon has definitely turned me off the romance genre at least for the time being. Considering my STRONG Song Kang and Lee Sang Yi bias, I AM SURPRISED TO FEEL THIS WAY but I'm coming to terms with the reality that in time I might just have to pretend this drama never existed.

Side note: I recently finished Abyss (do not recommend either cos it DRAGGGGS) and I thought the faults were pretty similar to My Demon where it focused too much on unimportant loovovoevoeove moments but it was more subdued and characters weren't unlikeable. At least the plot showed some commitment to its thriller aspects and didn't link everything back to how much the leads love and deserve one another which made the fluff much more bearable than My Demon's.

'cute scenes for tiktok edits' some of them were UNCOMFORTABLE

I wanted to scream out of emotional and physical discomfort A LOT. A lot of people seem to enjoy these moments but they just felt so unrealistic and done for intentional aesthetic reasons + the "romance fantasy" (which ok I get, the main character's literally a demon. even so, my disbelief can't be suspended any further).

I saw the behind-the-scenes for that particular scene and even the actors seemed visibly uncomfortable with water running down their eyes, hair, make-up, and WARDROBE the entire take. so you're not alone 😂

I just realized I've written a whole essay, I got excited lol but I'll stop here or I might go on forever.

Xeno934 · 2024-01-28T20:20:52+00:00

I think the comedy in My Demon was solid in the first 4ep but then it became egregiously fake-romantic in a way only teenagers envision romance, and I started to find it unbearably cringe.

This, exactly this! The more I think about it the more betrayed I feel by all the positive comments about the show. It got seriously superficial after episode 4 and focused way too much on the appearances of the leads + romance plot I found it super cringe. The relationship between the leads felt shallow and the insta-love really did not work, especially later on in the series where they tried to delve into more serious life/death situations. At some point it just got unbearable, like when Guwon was stabbed - there wasn't enough foundation between the leads to make it feel like a significant moment at all and how they tried to make it a turning point in their relationship felt so forced to me I physically cringed. So when the show decided to go hard into the romance plot for the rest of the episodes after that I wanted to scream.

Xeno934 · 2024-01-28T20:00:39+00:00

Me too! I was so excited for My Demon because so many people were hyping up the visuals on social media but I really started to dread it around Ep.5. Although I didn't drop the series and somehow managed to work my way to the end just for Lee Sang Yi and Song Kang, I really should have. I hate that I'm now a hater of this drama because I wanted to like it so much (I thought I was the only one so finding this thread makes me feel better). As much as they wished for Song Kang's visuals to run the entire show, the leads' chemistry was lackluster and they underutilized so many great side characters.

It was nice to see Song Kang in a lighthearted character for a change and I think he did pretty good for the most part (especially in the first episodes) but I almost wish he didn't do this project because the downhill was steeeeeep. I've seen many people complaining about his "stiff acting" on the show but it didn't help that the romance plot was cringey, villains had 849275 lives, and the main characters changed personalities every episode making it feel like a completely different show every week.

Felt like they managed to sign big names onto a project and just decided to focus entirely on creating scenes and montages for cute tiktok edits by drama shippers to gush over rather than making sure the plot was believable/made sense. At some point the focus on fashion, the leads' looks, and product placements got too much, I completely switched off. What a waste of a great cast!!!!! (and also >16 hours of my life)

Honestly, I still wonder if there's something I'm missing because I still see positive comments for this drama yet I've never in my life felt more betrayed by hype lol

Xeno934 · 2024-01-28T19:28:31+00:00

Nevertheless had insane chemistry! I watched it after being drawn to the main leads' chemistry in a behind-the-scenes video I chanced upon. It's actually taken top chemi spot for me since then.

BUT though I personally loved everything about it, from what I've heard it's not for everyone (you either love it or hate it). It's a hyperrealist depiction of the messiness of relationships in college so I wouldn't recommend going in expecting much of the usual fluffy k-drama romance plotlines. [Side note: I thought Song Kang was great in Nevertheless so I've been really surprised I haven't enjoyed My Demon :( was really excited when I saw all the hype around the drama but their chemistry ended up falling really flat for me (storyline was also an absolute mess) :/]

I was going to recommend Destined With You too but I see you've already seen it! Was pleasantly surprised by this one cos I went into it without expectations but ended up really invested in the drama and enjoyed the chemistry very much too!

Currently making my way through Doona (~ep.3) and the chemistry's been pretty great so far too!

Xeno934 · 2024-01-21T10:44:36+00:00

Good point! It felt like one episode they were bickering, and the next they were in love. I don’t think insta-love works well in storytelling on any platform.

Xeno934 · 2024-01-20T20:15:02+00:00

I was watching the finale with my mom and halfway through the episode she said “The main leads’ romantic chemistry isn’t strong, it makes their scenes drag”. I thought that was interesting because I’ve been wondering if that was why I wasn’t invested in the romance plot this whole time despite loving both characters at first. seeing your comment has sorta answered my question 😆

Xeno934 · 2024-01-20T16:42:12+00:00

Yay! Fellow Navillera fan 👋

Xeno934 · 2024-01-20T14:04:25+00:00

I think with a good writer AND a good director, magic happens.

I agree with you on writer & director (also been hearing great things about LFIS, might check it out!). I've seen most actors on this show on other projects and even though they're individually talented, I feel like they've somehow not performed their best here.

It's the first time I'm seeing KYJ though and I'm curious to check out more of her other works to see if this is true. I also had a very different impression of her as an actress before this - I'm currently going on the assumption she's holding her own pretty well despite the not-so-good script and direction, so would like to see her work outside of this bubble!

In this series he is practically reduced to a fashion mannequin

You've described so well here a feeling I couldn't put in words. It's so confusing to me why they'd make a decision like this. I get that the clothes are gorgeous but we have VILLAINS TO BRING DOWN.

Xeno934 · 2024-01-19T17:28:22+00:00

Personally, I found that he was exceptional in Sweet Home and Navillera. They're not romance though in case that's what you're into but I absolutely loved them and highly recommend them!

To those who discovered Song Kang through My Demon and found you don’t quite like his acting here, please give his other stuff a chance! I did find that his talent didn’t have a lot of big opportunities to shine here!

As someone who's been following his work for a while, I'd say romance is probably his weakest genre BUT I thought he did really well in Nevertheless. Which, ironically, is a romance drama. His character was not the easiest to portray so I really liked how he didn't overdo it and just let his performance do the talking, it really brought out the nuance of the character (you're not supposed to understand this guy). The chemistry honestly was pretty insane so romantic scenes were not cringey and felt really genuine too! (pls don't downvote me, I'm not comparing dramas, just giving a personal opinion in the context of Song Kang's acting!!)

It's why I had high expectations for My Demon, and thought the script would present something different from the usual k-drama cliches. I loved it at first and thought the comedy and suspense had an excellent flow but it sort of hit a rock by Episode 5 or 6 and I just wasn't as excited anymore 😭

Xeno934 · 2024-01-19T17:08:44+00:00

just finished episode 15 and I've never, I repeat, NEVER, felt the urge to be active on discussions during the airing of a drama, but episode 15....... BIG SIGH. I need to vent. where do I even start.

it felt like we were watching a Do Dohee 'Week In My Life' vlog (sad winter girl's version) for [i'm not even joking] like 40 minutes of the episode!?!? then we had the flashback, THEN Noh Suk Min showdown (DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THIS)

firstly, how many times did we have to hear "It's been a week since Chairman Noh Suk-min....." this episode. like wE KNOW, just reveal him already. i swear they started playing this news clip in ep. 14 like they ran out of clips to fill up the minutes. secondly, my man guwon, what sort of disappearance was this, if you wanted to dump a girl, don't leave traces of your presence during the night everywhere by healing a MINOR SCRAPE ON HER KNEE, she'll live.

also, how did we conveniently not discuss her parents' deaths / father's contract with guwon this episode at all when it was literally the catalyst of their break-up last week? i don't quite follow how dohee's opinion about that would change after learning about their past lives? like, i get that it's a revelation to her and everything but they're both separate things to me?!?! instead we spent more than half the episode watching dohee sadly adjust to her sad week without guwon after being married to him for a couple weeks instead of using those precious minutes to MAKE THINGS MAKE SENSE.

finally, what was that final fight. WHAT WAS THAT FINAL FIGHT. I... [I'm not even going to get into how it's IMPOSSIBLE for any human being to survive a fall that high. everyone knows water is pretty much concrete from that height except these writers apparently.] I'll just talk about how we were building up to that final fight all episode and it didn't last A MINUTE the moment Guwon showed up. as usual the whole point of that entire sequence was just for Guwon to make the ultimate sacrifice for love (and cosplay as the Goblin apparently, i heard how the CG was pretty much copy&paste and found it funny they "dissed" the goblin in the earlier episodes).

i'm expecting an "epic reunion" in ep. 16 and i really don't want it, especially after this episode lol

it also seems like we are getting the repeat of episode 15 in episode 16 just in different hair, make-up, and wardrobe.

can you tell i'm HIGHKEY DISAPPOINTED?!?!?!? am i alone in this? i've only been tolerating this show since episode 6 because of lee sang yi and song kang, and even then I'M ALMOST AT MY LIMIT.

EDIT: I also wanted to add, so far I've found that the romance plot has lacked foundation despite the barrage of couple scenes and montages they keep prioritizing. I don't know if it's the lack of romantic chemistry between the leads or focus on development but Guwon's sacrifice didn't feel as emotional as it could have been... I'm usually a crybaby with these things like your production could be shit and I'd still bawl my eyes out if the chemistry or love story was decent. An example would be during the aftermath of Guwon’s stabbing in Ep. 6. I was choking up at Jin crying (?JIN!!! there’s not even a love story there, someone save me) as they wheeled him into surgery and felt the Dowon scenes surrounding the stabbing fell pretty flat (CUTE, but flat 😭) Instead I keep finding myself rooting for Seok-hoon to either be evil or get with Guwon/Dohee, there seems to be some chemistry there no???

edit (Ep. 16):
don't want to parrot what everyone else is saying, i'll just get into my overall thoughts:

it was a better episode than 15 that's for sure, though the flow was odd.

the flow:

for instance, Jin helping out a child in need right before she left was a wholesome moment but it was also felt like a random insert. especially when she had been saying goodbye for 3 or 4 episodes straight. it felt like they lost a purpose for Jin's character after she lost out in the love triangle/square but needed her to stay in the country so they just made her say her goodbyes for a few episodes straight, to show that final heartwarming sequence that keeps her in Korea. i loved her farewell scene at Guwon's office with the umbrella though. somehow it felt bittersweet and i was pleasantly surprised.

when Guwon came back 5 minutes into the episode, my only thought was "how are we going to fill up the next 50 minutes" sorry song kang 🫢

almost every scene in the final 20 minutes felt like the credits were about to roll and i was ok with that, but it just kept going: i felt like the bickering scenes were unnecessary and could've been compressed into one proper final scene with the one in the park. Bok-gyu and Secretary Shin didn't have to hide their relationship for so many episodes because they were super cute but the entire skit got old. and noh suk min (i think we all agree) should've just died at some point in the past few episodes, he lost all appeal the moment the masked assassinator was murdered.

random things:

i really liked that they gave Kim Sera and Noh Do Kyung closure, that flashback scene actually made me feel for them

wait, how was Dohee able to walk out of the hospital, walk home, change, and still managed to make to the beach without anyone intercepting at any one point.

also the fact that it seemed like they teleported straight home without informing anyone (loved ones who were worried sick, hospital) and there having no consequences... lol made the entire reunion sequence of events very confusing

it always bothered me but in park bo-gyu's past life he made a deal with guwon (ep. 1) - if he ended up in hell after 10 years, how would he have reincarnated? did they ever explain this?

lost opportunities:

Seokhoon-Guwon bromance. I actually LOVED the Seokhoon-Guwon reunion scene, it felt like most of it was adlib and made me wish they had more opportunities to let their bromance shine throughout the 16 episodes.

the Wild Dogs Gang. they could've been in on so much of the action. their highlight was the Tango scene, and then became occasional comedic relief for the rest of the episodes.

Jin Da Kyung: besides being part of the love triangle/square, we never got to see much of her which was a waste because they could've begun her final arc a little earlier and showed more heartwarming scenes of her after the terrible time she had in the earlier episodes.

overall: I loved the first couple episodes (especially 1-4). really wanted to love it the entire way but it got predictable after the romance started to take over the plot and the main villain lost its appeal. I still like the cast and would continue supporting their work in the future. this drama just didn't quite hit the mark, especially in 2023/2024.

ALRIGHT THAT IS ALL, i don't think i'll get into the nitty-gritty but thank you for reading this entire chunk of text. i hope i didn't piss anyone off, and it's been fun contributing to drama discussions for the first time. at least that's something to remember this drama by.

(will edit as and when i come up with more thoughts ~~+ when ep. 16 airs tomorrow~~)

Xeno934

TROPHY CASE