Glitch K-Drama Season 1 Review – An imperfect but delightfully unconventional drama

By no means a perfect TV show, Glitch is a Korean sci-fi drama that takes you on a delightful journey. If you’re into conspiracy theories, sinister religious organisations, and mysterious white lights in the sky — Glitch is for you. While the show never delves too deeply in the ideas it brings forth, it blends these elements with two quirky female leads to create an engaging story.

Glitch follows the life of Hong Ji-hyo, a woman with a seemingly perfect life whose world turns upside down when her boyfriend disappears off the face of the Earth. As she looks for him, she finds herself drawn into conspiracy theories about aliens and UFOs. She joins a UFO forum and ends up reconnecting with Heo Bo-ra, a UFO enthusiast and live streamer, who was once her friend in school.

The 10-episode drama is not what you expect it to be. While the trailer suggests the presence of aliens and otherworldliness, the show’s sci-fi elements are quite toned down and the payoff only comes in the finale. Still, new clues and discoveries keep the viewer hooked. Meanwhile, the charm of the story lies in the set of interesting characters, each one with their own idiosyncrasies. Their antics, dialogues and motivations are what power the script.

Ji-hyo and Bo-ra form an entertaining pair of investigators, with each person’s quirks complementing the other’s eccentricities. It’s safe to say, their friendship is the show’s main attraction and also its crowning jewel. Glitch makes a refreshing change in the K-drama industry by putting forth a story about two different but feisty women, where romance is relegated to the backdrop.

The downside is the pacing and the blend of genres. The first few episodes spend too much time setting up Ji-hyo and her world, taking too long to get to the meat of the story. The rest of the show is also victim to uneven pacing, with some episodes pulling you into the mystery and with others dragging on while not much happens.

Similarly, the comedy and mystery elements of the show work well individually but don’t always gel together. The show also avoids getting emotional. A few more emotional beats with characters being sincere and honest would have only elevated the story.

Glitch tackles a number of themes although friendship is the one that stands out. The reconnecting of two friends, the treatment of their past resentments, and the slow rebuilding of their friendship are one of the best aspects of the show’s writing. Without going into spoilers, other themes include belief, religion and the line between the real and the unreal. They are a captivating set of ideas but the show doesn’t explore them too deeply. It doesn’t unpack the layers as it could have. Instead, the conspiracy-laden plot gets preference.

All the actors in Glitch have done a good job with Jeon Yeo-been and Nana, of course, taking the cake. A special shout out to Kim Myung-gon, who was a pleasure to watch as one of the primary antagonists.

The editing and visuals of the drama come together well, particularly during the scenes that question Ji-hyo’s reality. The music too complements the show’s various twists and turns.

Overall, Glitch dares to be different and that’s its biggest virtue. In a sea of remakes, biographies and office romances, this drama brings strangeness and thoughtfulness together. It’s flawed and not very rewatchable. It may not be of cinematic excellence or up for award nominations, but it has heart and it’s fun. And isn’t that what entertainment is all about?