The vertical romcom has become one of the format's most crowded spaces — and one of its most formulaic. WEBTOON's Maybe Meant to Be (2026), adapted from a webcomic with over 650 million global views, tests whether a microdrama can hold a childhood friends-to-lovers fake marriage premise without defaulting to slaps, revenge cycles, or manufactured misunderstandings. The answer changes what the ceiling looks like for vertical video romance.
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This may have become my standard for all future vertical rom-coms.
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Review by Sarah
from EscapismViaVerticals
Raising the Bar for Vertical RomComs
I have been looking forward to Maybe Meant to Be since the casting announcement a few months ago, so of course I watched it as soon as it came out.
It was absolutely worth the wait.
Those who know me know I am a rom-com girlie, and this may have become my standard for all future vertical rom-coms because it was just that good.
Earlier this month, well-known digital comic story platform WebToon launched a slate of six new short dramas based on some of their most popular stories. Among the releases is Maybe Meant to Be, a childhood friends-to-lovers, fake-to-real flash marriage romantic comedy. It was produced by Armstrong-Zhao Productions, a partnership between vertical drama veterans Kaelyn Armstrong and Tiffany Zhao, who are behind one of the best rom-coms to come out last year, Cohabitating Lover.
A caveat: I have not read the webtoon this was based on, so my judgment is purely based on how I received this as a vertical drama and not on how faithfully it adapts the source material.
And as a vertical drama, Maybe Meant to Be absolutely raises the bar.
Molly Anderson and Zachary Rist have been perfectly cast as Gia and Percy, childhood friends who meet again after years without contact and impulsively enter into a contract marriage to avoid pressure from both of their families to settle down.
Molly is such a natural for rom-coms. Her wit and comedic timing land the humor while still keeping Gia grounded and relatable. I couldn’t count the number of times I went, “OMG, she’s so me” while watching. When she yelled, “I DID NOT CONSENT TO A MONTAGE, BRAIN,” I felt that in my soul.
I have always wanted to see Zach in a rom-com! Somehow, it feels like Percy was “maybe meant to be” for Zach with how naturally he fits into Percy’s personality. Percy is such a huge green flag despite sometimes saying the wrong thing. He always means well. Unassuming as he is, it feels like he says whatever seems right to him in the moment, even when he completely misses the social cue.
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Neither of them 'fixes' the other. They simply learn how to understand each other better...
Sarah
What I loved most about their dynamic is that they are both awkward in completely different ways.
Gia hides her awkwardness, and sometimes hides in it. She has a magnetic personality, but shies away from attention, possibly because of how her past relationship has forced her to face things on her own.
Percy lives in his awkwardness. He is comfortable with who he is, but he also tends to be unable to fully read the room or sense when other people are uncomfortable.
And that is where their relationship becomes so much more interesting than a simple opposites-attract setup.
Gia pushes Percy to try to be more aware of what other people need. Percy puts in the effort to understand Gia’s quirks instead of asking her to change them. The best part is that they both acknowledge the work the other person is putting in, and that encourages them to keep showing up for each other.
Neither of them “fixes” the other. They simply learn how to understand each other better.
I loved seeing them grow up and into their relationship together. We can see exactly when they start falling for each other and how each of them handles that realization. Everything falls into place so naturally, and it is so easy to root for them.
Gabe Armentano and Shannon Timberlake are also fantastic additions to the story as Alex and Michelle. They are chaotic without being harmful, which is such a refreshing combination. They are given such a sweet subplot that it practically demands its own spin-off.
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No violence. No slaps. No unreasonable misunderstandings. No endless cycles of humiliation and revenge...
Sarah
I would usually beg for a sequel, and I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to one here, but I would actually love to see more of their dynamic with Percy through a prequel. Imagine the office banter!
I’m also so happy Zach and Gabe play besties here after watching them as toxic rivals in their last vertical together. They’re both such amazing actors, and I hated having to take sides!
I have so many favorite moments like the hilarious Kelsey Maskell cameo. I loved when we met Percy’s mother, played by Sharon Gardner, and how they decided to approach that part of the story. We get to see why Percy is the way he is, and why he needed someone like Gia in his life.
I also loved seeing Gia become friends with Percy’s friends. There is a really sweet moment between Gia and Alex that shows us just how cool Gia actually is.
And of course, there is the moment when Gia and Percy stand up to Gia’s ex. It is another reason why I would love to see a prequel. Getting more context for Gia’s past and her struggles with self-esteem would make her character arc even more interesting.
But what ultimately makes Maybe Meant to Be stand out to me is that it proves a vertical rom-com does not need to rely on the usual shortcuts to keep you watching.
No violence. No slaps. No unreasonable misunderstandings. No endless cycles of humiliation and revenge.
Just two awkward people figuring out how to love each other, surrounded by characters who actually make their lives more interesting rather than constantly trying to tear them apart.
And somehow, that is enough to make the story incredibly addictive.
As it is, this is one of the best watches I’ve had this year. More than that, it is a reminder of how high the ceiling for vertical romance can actually be when the format is given strong character writing, great performances, genuine romantic development, and comedy that does not depend on cruelty.
Everyone needs to do themselves a favor and watch this so we can get more vertical dramas of this quality.
"A reminder of how high the ceiling for vertical romance can actually be."
Sarah
Available on WebToon
Directed by Miguel Angel Ferrer
Executive Producer Freddy Lee
Produced by Tiffany Zhao and Kaelyn Armstrong
Edited by Max Warchol
Starring Molly Anderson, Zachary Rist, Gabe Armentano, Shannon Timberlake, Sharon Gardner, Milana Heifetz, Laurine Price, Victoria Martzloff, Andrew Forner, April Martucci, Christopher Ufland, Kimberley Kim, Joshua Hinson, Richmond Keeling, Kaelyn Armstrong, Jerry Yi-Hang, Kelsey Maskell, Geoffrey Beard, Amelia Pavlovska
Images used in this article are sourced from the public internet and are presented for editorial context only. All rights remain with their respective owners.
Credits
Written by Sarah
Design & Motion by VØYD
More Reviews From Sarah
- Every Sunday, Run to You — DramaWave's contract marriage vertical that raises the bar without raising its voice, showing how restraint and genuine romantic development can hold a vertical audience.
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- Life Is Not A Game — CandyJar's vertical drama that takes well-loved tropes and roots them in emotional honesty, proving that vertical storytelling can be both comforting and sincere.
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