The ENA romantic comedy Dream to You delivered its fifth episode on July 27, 2026, and viewers are talking about one thing above all else—the second lead couple is running away with the show. While the main romance between Woo Soo Bin (Hwang In Youp) and Joo Yi Jae (Hyeri) hits a complicated patch, the growing bond between Shim Yoo Geon (Baek Sung Chul) and Oh Ha Na (Lee Yul Eum) has become the highlight of the series.
Second Lead Couple Takes Center Stage
Episode 5 shifts significant focus to Ha Na, a top actress who finds herself at a High Value Donor Club Members’ Day celebration with her mother. Struggling under the weight of harsh online comments criticizing her acting skills, Ha Na decides to meet Yoo Geon at the restaurant where he works.
The episode delivers one of its most powerful moments when Ha Na overhears restaurant patrons mocking her acting and questioning her ability to date anyone. Yoo Geon hears the same conversation and steps in to intervene, but Ha Na rushes out of the restaurant. He quits his job on the spot and follows her.
What follows is an emotionally raw scene where Yoo Geon takes Ha Na on a bike ride, allowing her to finally release her pent-up emotions. The two sit together and open up about their struggles. Yoo Geon reveals that despite trying for ten years, he has not made a name for himself in acting, and his father gave him an ultimatum to return after a decade—a promise he could not keep.
Ha Na, instead of judging him, offers emotional support and shares her own painful story. She has been on television since childhood, forced by her mother to perform even when she struggled. She compares her life to The Truman Show, where everything felt fake. The way the episode depicts Ha Na’s past struggles has resonated deeply with viewers.
According to Leisurebyte’s review, the connection between the second leads feels more powerful and relatable than the main romance. Their chemistry feels effortless, with every interaction coming across as charming and authentic.
Main Romance Hits a Rough Patch
While the second lead couple flourishes, Yi Jae and Soo Bin’s relationship takes a complicated turn. The episode begins with the pair navigating an awkward situation following their kiss at the end of the previous episode.
Soo Bin belatedly learns that Yi Jae was involved in a traffic accident 15 years earlier while searching for him after he broke his promise to make a film with her and left for the United States. The revelation adds a heavy layer of guilt to an already strained dynamic.
Dramabeans’ recap notes that Soo Bin’s abusive father becomes a central source of tension in this episode. When Soo Bin finds himself at his father’s hospital after helping a collapsed elderly woman, his father traps him in an elevator to psychologically torment him. Soo Bin flashes back to being locked in as a youth, sliding to the floor like the scared child he once was.
The emotional storytelling in the main couple’s arc has drawn criticism for relying too heavily on misunderstandings and guilt rather than honest communication. As one review puts it, the complexity needed to make their reunion feel authentic is starting to feel overdone.
Ratings Continue to Slide
Despite boasting a star-studded cast including Hwang In Youp and Hyeri, the drama’s viewership numbers tell a worrying story. According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 5 recorded a nationwide paid household rating of just 2.1 percent, marking the series’ lowest rating so far.
The numbers represent a 0.6 percentage point drop from Episode 4’s 2.7 percent. The series premiered with 2.7 percent, saw slight growth to 2.8 percent and 2.9 percent for Episodes 2 and 3, but has been on a downward trend since.
French entertainment outlet AltSelection noted the disappointing performance, calling it a “cold shower” for a drama that was expected to be the season’s major romantic comedy appointment.
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What Episode 5 Delivers
The episode runs approximately 70 minutes and is directed by Yoo Sun Dong, with screenwriting by Jeong Eun Bi. The original Korean title is 그대에게 드림.
The cast continues to elevate the material even when the writing feels uneven. The cinematography has been praised for creating a soft, cinematic atmosphere that gives the series an early K-drama vibe, reminiscent of hits from 2016.
For viewers invested in the second lead romance, Episode 5 offers plenty to enjoy. The organic growth of Yoo Geon and Ha Na’s relationship provides a counterbalance to the main couple’s struggles. Their dynamic has become one of the drama’s iconic strengths.
Episode 6 aired on July 28 at 10 p.m. KST. The production team has teased that a new variable will emerge in the relationship between Soo Bin, now burdened by overwhelming guilt, and Yi Jae, who is left with regrets over giving up on her dreams.
Dream to You premiered on July 13, 2026, on ENA and is available for streaming on Viki.
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Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on Dream to You, cast interviews, and the latest K-drama news from Korea’s entertainment scene.
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