REVIEW: ‘Kiss Sixth Sense’ Balances Sexiness And Humor

WEBTOON and webnovel adaptations have been amazing, especially on Hulu. With Kiss Sixth Sense, audiences get a rom-com with drama and just a little bit of sci-fi, based on the webnovel by Gatnyeo, directed by Nam Ki-hoon, and written for the screen by Jeon Yoo-ri.

In this Korean drama series, audiences meet Ye-sool (Seo Ji-Hye), who has the gift, or curse, of foresight. Since she was little, Ye-sool would see the future of other people as soon as her lips touch someone else. Whether it’s a peck on the cheek, a kiss on the hand, or even sharing a coffee, she is able to see that person’s future. While this comes in handy with her work in advertisement, romance is a different thing together. Not knowing if her premonitions are years in the future or an hour away, Ye-sool has sworn off romance because every time she gets close to someone, she sees his future without her in it. While she loves her job,  she hates her boss Cha Min-Hu (Yoon Kye-Sang). He’s straightforward, uncaring, and looking to just get work done even if he makes his employees feel bad in the process. Then, one day by accident, Ye-Sool’s lips make contact with Min-Hu’s neck and she sees them naked in bed together.

In a will-they-won’t-they story that turns into a workplace romance, the series manages to capture all the endearing moments in workplace awkwardness. Kiss Sixth Sense also manages to expertly handle a tried and tested romance trope: the love triangle. Ye-sool’s power manages to move her between the men with romantic conflict but not in a way that ever feels too toxic. Instead, there is respect and love from Min-Hu and Pil-yo towards Ye-Sool, and she has to manage it. Not because she doesn’t know who she’ll end up with, but because she can see into the future exactly who will make her happy.

But this knowledge doesn’t necessarily make anything easy; in fact, it makes it harder. Her interactions with Cha start as choreographed moments of her telling him the future and him trying to understand. Over time though, it evolves into her accepting that she can be happy and that he can believe her too. That said, they have to grow in their romance together and once the series hits its mid-point, its all about communication, happiness, and learning to trust. Even with the tropey home invasion which is the flare of the dramatic K-drama fans have come to expect.

When it comes down to it Yoon Kye-sang as Min-hu and Seo Ji-hye as Ye-sool are a stellar pair who manage to lean on each other slowly, each breaking down the other’s walls. It’s a romance that is both over the top when you take into account Ye-sool’s foresight but also grounded in how the two approach intimacy. Min-hu and Ye-sool’s happiness and their physical touch is captured in such a natural way that you can believe the actors fit naturally together off-screen as much as on-screen.

Additionally, Kiss Sixth Sense is equal parts hilarious and sexy While the series leans in on the sex appeal in the first two episodes, its wholesome moments and large bouts of humor manage to strike a balance between adult romance and a made-for-television one at the same time too. This allows the audience to see something more than just a single at the end of the series of yearning and instead tackle the pressures to settle down and start a future with someone.

The only fault in Kiss Sixth Sense is the same that happens with many other adaptations, pacing. While the first half of the season is well-paced, with character development and plot growth matched well across episodes, it ends up hurtling toward the finish line too quickly. Kiss Sixth Sense isn’t the worst when it’s moving fast, but it does wind up taking some of the weight out of emotional moments. That said, the chemistry between Min-hu and Ye-sool more than makes up for the speed of the last couple of episodes.

Ultimately Kiss Sixth Sense is a hit. It has everything you can want from a rom-com while also adding just the right amount of drama and the sci-fiesque twist of foresight helps keep the story moving. With chemistry for days, this Hulu Original Korean series is something to add to your queue immediately.

Kiss Sixth Sense is streaming now exclusively on Hulu.