Fame shatters when idol Do Ra-ik becomes a murder suspect overnight, forcing fangirl-lawyer Maeng Se-na to face her idol at the police station, questioning his innocence.
GENIE TV original drama IDOL I finally premiered its first episode on December 22, introducing Maeng Se-na, a sharp lawyer who secretly lives as a devoted fangirl, and Do Ra-ik, an idol whose fame has spiraled out of control. Everything falls apart the next morning when a fellow member is found dead in his home, turning Ra-ik into the prime murder suspect. At the end, Maeng Se-na comes face-to-face with her idol at the police station—not as a fan, but as a lawyer questioning his innocence.
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Disclaimer: This article includes spoilers for the series. Continue reading at your own discretion.
IDOL I Episode 1 Recap: Lawyer-Fangirl Maeng Se-na
Maeng Se-na is a devoted fangirl who finds joy in her idol, Gold Boys’ Do Ra-ik, even imagining meeting him and seeing it as a miracle she still hopes will happen. By day, she’s an attorney, taking on difficult cases others avoid—and winning—despite the world’s criticism. She works tirelessly, follows a strict schedule, and avoids dating, family, or friends—like an AI with no emotions.
Outside work, she’s just a fangirl. Many think she only cares about money, but she explains, “People only see and believe what they want. No matter what I say, they won’t believe me. I just do my job because in the end, the truth always comes out in court.” She admits money matters, since tough cases pay more and let her support Do Ra-ik.
When asked what makes her idol special, she says, “Love is something that destroys any sense of logic… Just shouting his name out loud is enough to fill your whole heart. Like a flawless diamond admired simply for existing, just its presence alone makes every explanation unnecessary. To give all of yourself without a hint of regret, that is what true love is.”
Idol Do Ra-ik in IDOL I Episode 1
Do Ra-ik, a member of Gold Boys, but fame has spiraled out of control, with some fans becoming aggressive. His behavior has also grown rude toward staff, who whisper, “That lunatic is actually a total psycho,” a fact that fans don’t see.
Some obsessive fans even obtained his phone number, spamming him with messages, triggering his panic attacks and tinnitus. At his fansigning event, a fan demanded his number, making him paranoid and causing another panic attack. Later, some fans even broke into his house.
The next day, after cursing at these “stalker” fans, Do Ra-ik lost several ads, and his solo debut dropped on the charts. His CEO scolds him: “The moment you show all your emotions, you’re no longer Do Ra-ik of Gold Boys—you’re just human Do Ra-ik. People don’t want the human Do Ra-ik! You can only deserve all of this if you keep that perfect image.”
Do Ra-ik wonders when he will ever live as his true self. The CEO answers: “When the day comes that nobody loves you anymore.”
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Maeng Se-na Meets Do Ra-ik in Person
On the morning of his concert, Do Ra-ik visits a psychologist, who tells him, “To shine the brightest at the top, you must completely hide your own shadow. You have to smile, speak, and act exactly the way they want, fitting yourself to their desires. That’s the only way to be loved. And that’s how you slowly wither, erasing yourself completely.”
The doctor adds that his symptoms likely began because of this. The fear of fading, of disappearing entirely, turned into panic attacks. Tinnitus is also part of the symptoms. Meanwhile, Maeng Se-na tries to secure a seat for his solo concert but fails, so she buys one from a scalper. On the day of the concert, she confronts a scalper charging an outrageous price, but he escapes.
Later, when Do Ra-ik arrives late, his fans spot him and chase after him. Maeng Se-na mistakes him for the scalper, but he silences her to avoid drawing attention. After he leaves, she feels secretly thrilled to have been so close to her idol.
Gold Boys’ Members Got Into a Fight; Do Ra-ik Became a Murder Suspect
Before Do Ra-ik’s solo concert, tensions rise between him and Choi Jae-hee of Gold Boys. Jae-hee accuses Ra-ik of gaining the spotlight because of his tragic backstory rather than skill, saying he’d be nothing without Gold Boys. Their argument injures fellow member Lee Yeong-bin, who is rushed to the hospital, but Ra-ik continues the concert. Fortunately, Yeong-bin only needs a cast.
After the show, news outlets speculate about the fight. “I don’t know if the Ra-ik I loved is even the real him,” Se-na’s friend says, but Se-na reassures herself, trusting Ra-ik completely and believing he’s not that kind of person.
Later that night, Woo-seong, the leader of Gold Boys, visits Ra-Ik. Over drinks, Ra-ik admits he agrees with Jae-hee: “People love Ra-ik of Gold Boys, not just Do Ra-ik. So I have to remain Gold Boys to the end.” They continue drinking and enjoying themselves.
However, the next morning, Ra-ik wakes to find Woo-seong dead in his living room, lying in his blood. He instantly becomes the prime suspect. Meanwhile, Se-na, preparing for work, hears the news, rushes to the police station, and sees Do Ra-ik. She thinks to herself,
I never imagined that we would meet as a lawyer and a murder suspect.
IDOL I Episode 1 Thoughts and What To Expect Next
IDOL I episode 1 delivers an impactful opening, introducing both the plot and the cast’s stories. Do Ra-ik becomes a murder suspect overnight after his friend is found dead, leaving viewers to ask, “Did he really kill his friend?” Meanwhile, Maeng Se-na, a devoted fan and a lawyer, struggles to comprehend seeing her idol in a police station. After all, who wouldn’t feel disbelief when their idol is accused of murder?
Fans can relate to her shock—just hearing news about their idol, good or bad, stirs emotions. Also, Do Ra-ik’s rude behavior toward staff raises questions: is it really his personality? As a fan, you might wonder if the personality you know of your idol is real or just what’s shown on camera. Either way, it shows the toll his career takes.
But this is just the beginning. In episode 2, Maeng Se-na will take on the case to prove Do Ra-ik’s innocence, pointing out contradictions and inconsistencies, while Do Ra-ik struggles to remember anything and doubts whether he really did it.
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Catch Maeng Se-Na as she fights to prove her idol Do Ra-Ik’s innocence in IDOL I, airing every Monday and Tuesday at 10 PM (KST) / 11 PM (PHT), streaming on Netflix and Rakuten Viki.
Source: Studio Genie, ASTORY
