In Your Radiant Season 2026 Full Review

A fashion designer has spent the last seven years in mourning after the death of her first love. When she meets a cheerful animator who comes to her company to work on a collaboration, she feels a strange pull of familiarity that threatens to pull her out of her self-imposed prison. But as the secret of their tangled past begins to reveal itself, they will both be forced to face the wounds that bind them together.

Lee Sung Kyung as Song Ha Ran

Song Ha Ran and her sisters lost their parents in a car accident when they were young. They were taken in and raised by their grandmother, who is the head of Nana Atelier. Now Ha Ran and her younger sister, Ha Yeong both work at Nana Atelier. And their grandmother hopes Ha Ran will eventually take over the business. When Ha Ran is in college, her boyfriend, Kang Hyeok Chan, moves to Boston, and they continue their relationship long-distance. But when he is killed in an explosion at his university, Ha Ran is once again pulled into the grief of losing someone she loves. And this time, she refuses to be pulled out of it. 

It has been seven years since Chan's death and she still lives in a state of mourning. One day she meets Sunwoo Chan, who is an animator. He has been recruited from the US to do the animation for a project with Nana Atelier. From the first moment they meet, Ha Ran is drawn to the bright, cheerful animator. When he offers to date her for a trial period, she is taken aback. As she spends time with him, she begins to develop feelings for him. But when she finds out that he was involved in Kang Hyeok Chan's death, her temporary happiness is threatened once again. 

Song Ha Ran is overwhelmed by the traumatic deaths of people close to her. Although she was able to eventually heal from the death  of her parents, Chan's death brings all of her uncertainties back. And this time she refuses to even try to move on. Her once sunny disposition becomes one of emotional distance and coldness. I always enjoy Lee Sung Kyung, and as she has grown older, she has become very good in these quiet, serious roles. I liked her performance as Ha Ran and I can't imagine anyone who could have played her better.

Chae Jong Hyeop as Sunwoo Chan

Sunwoo Chan is the roommate of Ha Ran's boyfriend Kang Hyeok Chan. He is a social outcast who has suffered from childhood trauma. He and Kang Hyeok Chan do not really get along, but when Kang Hyeok Chan starts asking Chan to answer his girlfriend's texts, he agrees to help out. And the more he interacts with Ha Ran, the more he feels a connection with her. And when one of Ha Ran's messages saves his life, he feels extreme gratitude to her. So when she says that she is on her way to Boston to visit, Chan rushes to the university lab to warn Kang Hyeok Chan. But when he opens the door, the lab explodes, killing Kang Hyeok Chan and seriously injuring Chan. 

Once Chan recovers from his injuries, he decides to live his life on his own terms, always remembering to appreciate the life he was spared. He remembers pieces of the accident, but he doesn't remember everything that happened. He combines his current studies with his love for art to become an animator. And when he gets a job offer from a fashion company in Korea, he is happy for an excuse to go home. But when he meets Ha Ran at the company, he immediately recognizes her and wants to repay her for saving his life. So he proposes that they date temporarily, hoping to help her recover her joy. But when he begins to recover pieces of his memories, including the incorrect idea that he was the one who caused the accident, Chan is afraid that telling Ha Ran the truth will make him lose her for good.

Sunwoo Chan was abandoned by his mother when he was a child. And after she left them, Chan's father couldn't stand anything that reminded him of her, including Chan himself. His father's anger causes Chan to pull further and further into himself, leaving him to feel hurt and lonely. Luckily, Chan's accident helps his father realize how much he has hurt Chan, and although things aren't exactly perfect between them, Chan's father is trying. Chae Jong Hyeops puppy dog energy is perfect for this bright, happy kind of character. I loved him in this role.

Lee Mi Sook as Kim Na Na

Kim Na Na is the maternal grandmother of Ha Ran and her sisters. She is a famous fashion designer, known for her cool personality and immaculate designs. She founded Nana Atelier and serves as the CEO. But she is beginning to feel her age and hopes to be able to step down soon.

 Kang Suk Woo as Park Man Jae

Park Man Jae owns a local cafe where Ha Ran likes to hang out and where Chan ends up living. He is a mentor to both leads. Man Jae actually grew up in the same neighborhood as Na Na, although she has changed her name. When they meet by chance, they rekindle their relationship and fall in love.

Han Ji Hyeon as Song Ha Yeong

Song Ha Yeong is Ha Ran's younger sister. She works at Nana Atelier as a junior designer. She is outspoken and confidence, and often challenges their grandmother. Especially if it means protecting Ha Ran. Ha Yeong develops feelings for her grandmother's COO, Tae Seok, but he pretends not to return her feelings because he doesn't feel good enough for her.

Sisters

The family relationships in this drama are fun. The sisters seem very realistic. They may disagree and bicker, but when it counts, they are always there for each other. The romances were good, but I thought the family dynamics were the heart of this drama.

Mystery

The mystery in this drama was unusual, which I really liked. The way they reveal the "truth" is well-done and they keep the twists coming. I couldn't have predicting what really happened that day at the lab, and I liked the way the story continues to unfold.

Older Cast

The older cast was terrific. I especially loved Kim Seon and Man Jae. They each brought a level of warmth and wisdom that the younger cast was in sore need of. Of course, Na Na is also included in this list. I really enjoyed the love story between Man Jae and Na Na. It was a touching second-chance story that they both earned.

Ha Yeong and Tae Seok

I loved Ha Yeong and Tae Seok together. But I wish we could have seen more of their budding relationship. Even after the time jumps, they seemed to have not made any progress. And I really wanted to see how the rest of the family responded to finding out about them. 

Su Jin

I couldn't understand why Su Jin insisted on trying to guard Kang Hyeok Chan's reputation. Chan and Ha Ran were the obvious victims in all of that. And especially after Su Jin found out about Chan's medical condition, it felt cruel that she would continue to mislead them.

 AI Art

I've seen many people complain that heralding Chan as a famous artist and animator, and then using weak, obviously AI graphics just felt wrong. With the obviously high budget, they should have used a more elaborate, well-designed picture instead of some lazy AI slop.

'In Your Radiant Season' wraps up with happy endings all around. After repairing Chan's tablet and talking to Su Jin, Ha Ran finally knows the truth about the lab explosion. But Chan has already left town, leaving a note for Ha Ran that their trial period is over. Luckily some social media research uncovers a traveling artist signing his photos with Chan's trademark effervescent cloud. Ha Ran finds him, but just as Ha Ran finishes explaining everything, the shrapnel in Chan's brain shifts and he passes out. And with that shift, they are finally able to remove it and Chan's full memory returns. 

We shift forward to a wedding that feels like it might be for Chan and Ha Ran, until we see the bride and groom are Na Na and Man Jae. But all the sisters are there with their significant others. And we get one last check in with each couple individually. Ha Ram and Yu Gyeum have realized they don't need to get married to stay together. Ha Ram is going to med school while Yu Gyeum made it onto a local minor league team. Ha Yeong and Tae Seok have gone public as a couple and are still playfully flirting around.  And Chan and Ha Ran have also started their day to day life together. The final scene shows Chan proposing. I think it's safe to assume she says "yes".  

'In Your Radiant Season' is a an emotional romantic drama with a surprising mystery twist. The drama is cinematically beautiful and the characters are interestingly complicated. The secondary cast is strong and the themes of family and the inevitable seasons of life are well integrated through the overall plot. The story felt unique and the unpredictable.

But the plot is pretty slow moving, particularly in the middle. And although I enjoyed the leads, many felt like their chemistry was weak compared to the supporting cast couples. There are also a large amount of flashbacks, which can make the pace feel even more slow and repetitive. But if you like a slow burn love story with an unusual twist, this one is well-written and emotionally satisfying. I give 'In Your Radiant Season' 3 out of 5 ramen.

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