BLACKPINK's Jisoo has been acting since 2021. The reviews have ranged from mixed to unkind. So when Netflix announced she would be taking her first solo lead in a new series, the response from viewers was split — half curious, half skeptical.
{img}Then came the premise. A virtual dating simulation service with 901 possible boyfriends. Actors playing a college senior, a wealthy heir, a National Intelligence Service agent, a doctor, a judge, and a mysterious assassin.
Whatever you think of Jisoo's acting, that is a genuinely compelling setup.
"Boyfriend on Demand," released March 6, follows Mi-rae — a webtoon producer played by Jisoo — who is burned out by real life and turns to a subscription-based virtual romance service. It's Jisoo's first time carrying a full series as the lead, after supporting roles in "Snowdrop" and a film appearance in "Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy."
{img}The acting debate arrived immediately. Jisoo has faced consistent criticism since her debut — pronunciation, facial expressions, emotional delivery. With this show, viewers were watching closely. The verdict so far is cautiously moderate. Critics flagged a tearful scene as one of the drama's weakest moments. Many others said the acting was "not distracting" — which, given the reaction to some of her earlier work, is arguably an improvement.
Director Kim Jung-sik defended her performance. "I think Jisoo put in a lot of effort and handled the various settings and character well. Effort overcame talent," he said. Jisoo described the role as one she hoped would feel like "a perfectly fitting outfit" — a character close enough to her own age and life that she could wear it naturally.
The numbers suggest the show's other elements are carrying serious weight. One day after release, "Boyfriend on Demand" ranked seventh on Netflix's global TV chart. By March 8, it climbed to fifth place. It entered the Top 10 in 69 countries across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
{img}That is not the performance of a show running on a lead's fanbase alone. The 901 virtual boyfriends, the elaborate world-building, and a romantic comedy format that genuinely suits Jisoo better than historical drama — all of it is doing real work here.
Whether the acting criticism matters in the long run depends on what the numbers look like at the end of the season. Right now, those numbers look just fine.