Our Universe (2026) is a rom-com series from tvN, available streaming on Viki.com or HBO Max, that tells the story of a brother-in-law (Bae In Hyuk, At A Distance Spring Is Green, The Story Of Park's Marriage Contract, XX) and a sister-in-law (Roh Jeong Eui, Crushology 101, Dear M, Our Beloved Summer) who don't get along well because they have such different personalities, but they are forced to come together to co-parent and raise their 20-month-old toddler nephew after the couple's married brother and sister die prematurely in an accident, only three years after their marriage.

Leads Roh Jeong Eui and Bae In Hyuk 

Although Roh Jeong Eui cares for the boy too, honestly for me the highlight of the drama was the electric chemistry between male lead Bae In Hyuk and child actor Park Yoo Ho, a chemistry that steals every scene they are in together, and they become the perfect comedy pair. The series expertly combines comedy, warmth, and family drama. Not too heavy, but it has enough weight to draw you in emotionally as each of its twelve episodes continue. This is essentially an Enemies-to-Lovers series, mixed with realistic child-rearing challenges, one that is guaranteed to make your heart full and keep you addicted.

Adorable Park Yoo Ho in his first drama

The only thing I would have changed was to edit the drama down to eight episodes instead of twelve. The writers, Su Jin and Jeon Yu Ri, could have worked harder to not drag out the story too long, especially with a predictable second male lead (Park Seo Ham) possible love interest for the female lead inserting himself into the mix, when we feel all along how the series will end, even by the first two episodes! Especially experienced Korean drama audience members would feel the drama's end to be predictable.

The Story:

Hardworking Woo Hyun Jin (Roh Jeong Eui) who is a practical contract worker at a busy food company, and rebellious photographer Sun Tae Hyung (Bae In Hyuk) wouldn’t normally cross paths, but fate intervenes and their lives are forever intertwined when their older siblings (Ha Joon, Park Ji Hyun) decide to get married, making Hyun Jin and Tae Hyung in-laws. Whenever they have to get together for family events things just don't go well between them.

Their relationship starts to change dramatically three years later after their married siblings die in a terrible car accident together, leaving Hyun Jin and Tae Hyung the sudden caretakers of their late siblings' orphaned toddler son, Woo Joo (Park Yoo Ho, what a scene stealer!). Because they don't want him going to an orphanage they try out a tentative living together arrangement so they both can share the hard work of raising him.

 

While Hyun Jin and Tae Hyung initially struggle to get along, they gradually manage to develop an unconventional co-parenting relationship for the sake of their nephew, and their previous hard feelings toward one another begin to thaw. The more time they spend together, Hyun Jin and Tae Hyung begin to realize that their relationship might change yet again, and for the better – if they can figure out how to navigate a fledgling romance while taking care of a kid .... and even when an old boyfriend of Hyun Jin's named Park Yoon Seong (Park Seo Ham) makes a reappearance in her life and wants to start dating her again. This distraction causes Tae Hyung to grow even closer to Woo Joo and they become a real comedy team. I often found myself laughing out loud at their relationship.

Bae In Hyuk as Tae Hyung exceeds expectations. He naturally conveys a fussy but orderly young man who hides deep wounds inside. Every scene where the uncle and nephew are together is full of very organic humor. The child acted naturally, as if he did not know or follow the script. Facial expressions, gestures, the emotions of a real 2-year-old are all perfectly captured in the series.

Roh Jeong Eui as Hyun Jin does a good job as a girl who has to deal with personal grief plus changing career and romantic situations. The chemistry between the leads, even though it starts with a fight, is not annoying. Instead, it makes me want to cheer for both of them. It's been a long time since I've watched a series and laughed out loud and felt bright throughout the episodes. Our Universe may be predictable, and may risk going into a sweet and greasy direction, but it's too cute to be a bad series. The fussy uncle and the bright-eyed little nephew are a magic comedy couple, and the heroine is still not unpleasant, even though she fights a lot in the beginning with Tae Hyung. We can sympathize with her a lot.

This series is suitable for Korean romantic comedy series fans who want to watch something light and heartwarming. You don't have to think too much, but you can both laugh and be touched at the same time. Our Universe creates a sweet family dimension perfectly.

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Just A Bit Of Trivia From Jill:
In Episode Four A Familiar Scottish Actor
Shows Up In A Cameo Role, Mitch Craig.
He Plays An American Here. :)
I Looked Him Up, He Has Been In A Bunch
Of Korean Dramas! Including Six I Had Seen
Before, Including Bon Appetit Your Majesty!
Handsome Fellow! :)