SisaWeek — Reporter Lee Young-sil Netflix's series Monthly Boyfriend has surged up global charts and generated strong domestic buzz immediately after its release. With its premise—a subscription service for virtual romance—the show expands the romantic fantasy in ways that set it apart from conventional romance dramas, drawing keen viewer interest.
According to Tudum's Top 10 tracker on March 11, Monthly Boyfriend, which premiered on March 6, rose to No. 4 in Netflix's Global Top 10 for non-English TV within three days. The series logged 2.6 million "views"—Netflix’s metric that divides total watch time by the show's runtime—and 25.6 million hours viewed, ranking No. 1 by total viewing hours.
Its country-level performance is notable as well. The series topped South Korea’s Top 10 list and appeared on Top 10 lists in 34 countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil and Chile. On Rotten Tomatoes, it earned a 96% Popcorn Index, reflecting a positive audience response.
Industry observers say the show’s appeal lies in a premise that reimagines how viewers consume romance. Monthly Boyfriend centers on a virtual-reality subscription service that lets the protagonist sample relationships with different characters. Framing love as a service you can choose and try offers a fresh spin: it presents multiple romantic fantasies while ultimately leading the protagonist back to confronting real-world relationships, which adds emotional resonance to the narrative.
The format—introducing a succession of male characters—reinforces the series’ “pick-your-type” appeal. By showcasing a range of actors and parallel romantic fantasies, the show lets viewers gravitate to characters that suit their tastes while tying those experiences to the protagonist’s real-life choices about love.
At the heart of the series is Mi-rae. She moves through various virtual scenarios—playing a doctor, a college freshman, a webtoon protagonist and a flight attendant—allowing the story to explore how a person hurt in reality might try different forms of connection. Critics say that balance between fantasy and real emotional insight is one of the show’s strengths.
Compelling performances further elevate the series. Seo In-guk, for example, portrays both webtoon producer Kyung-nam and the virtual-romance persona Gu Young-il, demonstrating distinct charms in each role. His shifts between the casually affectionate Kyung-nam and the rough-but-sensitive Gu Young-il add texture to the show's romantic arcs.
Special cameos from Seo Kang-joon, Lee Soo-hyuk, Kim Sung-cheol, Ong Seong-wu, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Hyun-wook, Kim Young-dae, Moo Jin-seong, Park Jae-beom and Lee Sang-i introduce a broad mix of characters. That variety—men with different appeals—strengthens the show’s choose-your-type experience and boosts viewer immersion.
Domestically, the momentum continues. In Good Data Corporation’s Fundex for the first week of March, which measures TV and OTT drama buzz, Monthly Boyfriend ranked No. 1. The series also led cast buzz, with Seo In-guk placing third among individual actors, underscoring strong public interest.
As a virtual-reality romance that combines a taste-driven character structure with emotional depth, Monthly Boyfriend is being watched closely to see how far it can sustain global attention. The series is currently streaming on Netflix.
