The romance element feels tacked on and arguably weakens the storyโs core, which is actually about self-growth, healing, and teamwork.
Hereโs a deeper take:
1. Why the Romance Feels Unnecessary
Asukaโs arc is strongest when focused on her personal recovery.
Sheโs a woman rebuilding her life after failure, and her bond with the 8LOOM boys โ especially as a mentor and a kind of "dorm mom" โ is wholesome. The sudden hint of romance with Dan, her former student, feels like it dilutes that theme.
Danโs growth doesnโt need romantic motivation.
His struggles as a leader and idol already make for compelling drama. Tying his emotional progress to a crush on his former teacher feels like lazy writing rather than earned development.
Age/power dynamics feel off.
Even though theyโre both adults now, the teacher-student history adds an awkward dynamic that wasnโt fully addressed. It makes the romantic angle feel more uncomfortable than sweet.
Friendship and found family were already strong enough.
The best moments of the drama come from the group bonding scenes โ dancing in the dorm, pep talks, goofy cooking sessions. Those emotional beats didn't need romance to feel meaningful.
*Would it have worked better without romance?
Most likely, yes. If they leaned fully into healing, music, and platonic affection, this couldโve been a standout slice-of-life drama. Sometimes, less (romance) really is more.