“Surely Tomorrow” Premiere Roasted for Excessive Editing: Viewers Feel Like They’re “Inside a Steamer”
The highly anticipated K-Drama “Surely Tomorrow,” starring Park Seo Joon and Won Ji An, debuted on December 6, 2025 (KST), but the premiere episode has sparked widespread criticism for its heavy-handed editing techniques. Viewers are taking to social media to express their dismay, with many claiming the visual effects made the show appear “literally steamy” and obscured the actors’ features.
Attempts to De-Age Lead to Blur Effect
The production team seemingly employed a significant blur effect, potentially in an effort to portray the 36-year-old Park Seo Joon as a younger version of his character. While the intention may have been to minimize the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles, the result has been widely panned as an overdone “beauty filter.”
One viewer commented, “I see the world like this when I’m wearing my glasses and a mask.” Another stated, “It’s so blurry it feels like a flashback scene lmao.” The effect has led to a viral comparison: “POV: You’re a steamed bun in a steamer.”
Viewer Reactions Range from Confusion to Concern
The overwhelmingly negative response highlights the potential pitfalls of excessive post-production manipulation. Many viewers reported feeling visually strained while watching the episode.
“Watching this makes me feel like my vision’s going bad,” one viewer shared. Others expressed similar concerns, noting the dim and blurry visuals made it difficult to follow the storyline. “Omg, I can’t see,” one user wrote. “Yikes. What’s with this picture quality?”
Despite the criticism, some acknowledge the challenges of casting for roles spanning different age ranges. “I do think it would’ve been ridiculous to cast someone different for a college version of the character,” one commenter noted. “These scenes in his 20s don’t last long, and soon enough, he’ll be playing the late-30s version.” However, they conceded, “yes, the whole episode was very blurry.”
Age Gap Concerns May Have Influenced Editing Choices
The excessive editing may be a direct response to pre-release backlash surrounding the 11-year age difference between Park Seo Joon and his co-star. JTBC may have been attempting to preemptively address concerns about the believability of the romantic plot.
Park Seo Joon recently addressed these concerns directly, offering his perspective on the casting decision. The premiere’s editing choices, however, have inadvertently shifted the focus from the age gap to the show’s visual presentation, creating a new wave of discussion and debate.
