Good to see the first Korean BL, but not the best by far
Another review said it perfectly: as the "first" Korean BL the short runtime and few number of episodes makes it clear that this show was really to test the waters for the fans.Good news is that the episodes are mostly 11-12 minutes, so the show is super binge-able. The story is incredibly fanfic-y, which you will either love or hate, but I really did enjoy the premise and the story for the first half of the show. I actually thought Han Gi Chan's acting was better than Eui Soo's, which surprised me. Personally, I also loved the character of a yappy brat that teases Gook, but I know other reviewers disagree and found Gi Chan's character manipulative and annoying!
My main complaint is that the ending seems SO unnecessarily dramatic and does a disservice to the first half. I think they could've ended it with the same "happy" ending feeling without ridiculous angst and drama that came out of nowhere with absolutely no build up. Also, I think the production was not super polished in terms of make-up and things of that sort (who decided to make Eui Soo wear colored contacts??), and the actors definitely feel too old to be playing high schoolers, and should probably be playing college students. Lastly, the acting chemistry between the couple was pretty good (not great), but the kiss was SO bland compared to what Korean BL shows are doing nowadays, that it seems like they really didn't want to do it, which is a shame.
Overall, it's definitely not the best BL show (or even Korean BL show) that I've seen, but I do have to give it a lot of respect as the "first" that paved the way for all the ones that have aired since!
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Beautiful and emotionally poignant drama
Ok, so when I first saw this I was a bit skeptical to start it. For one, I prefer longer dramas and I am not really a fan of the short 10 min per episode webseries.After a spell of continued boredom, I decided, why not? I’ve got nothing to lose and I might be genuinely surprised and fall in love with the series( like Semantic error or HiStory 2). Anyways, I decided to start it.
Off the bat, I wasn’t impressed. Yes, the production was cute and all but the first episode didn’t really do a lot for me. I thought it another show like Mr Heart where I would enjoy it but not have it on my favourites list.
But, as the series progressed, I found myself genuinely becoming interested in the characters and their actions.
For one, the chemistry between Han Tae Joo and
Kang cook was phenomenal. I don’t know how to explain it, but when together they could display so many emotions without actually saying anything or doing anything. For example, episode 8 before Han Tae Joo was to go to England. Them lying in the bed was surprisingly emotionally poignant and I felt myself tearing up at the most basic of things. They didn’t even kiss, for gods sake! Even their “bouts” relayed so much emotions and I think that’s just the phenomenal acting from both Han Gi Chan and Jang Eui Soo.
The cinematography was good overall and the production was crisp but I expected nothing less from a Korean BL. I’m not really keen on OSTs or musical scores, to be frank I could care less about them but I will comment that this had a good one and for me to notice it is a huge feat.
Like I said, the story really brought nothing to the table and made use of basic tropes but still, it felt fresh in some ways. The won’t they, will they fit a bit exhausting after sometime because it seemed like they always went one step forward and three steps back at times!!
On to characters. In my opinion, there were really only two characters that had character development- the two male leads. Apart from that, nothing really changed for anyone else. Hye Mi, her mother and Kim Pil Hyun basically stay the same throughout, with essentially the same convictions driving their actions. I think really the only time we see character depth is when Kang Cook was about to leave for Japan. Honestly, this isn’t negative criticism in any way. In fact, I’m glad that the writers went down this route, instead of cluttering the plot progression with useless narratives.
Rewatch value. Personally, I’m not a fan of rewatching series( except for itsab <3) but this is pretty rewatchable. It also helps that you can finish it in a little more than an hour.
Overall, this was a beautiful, emotional drama that had a near-perfect execution with so little to work it. I mean, there wasn’t many ways the plot could have developed past where it did and that’s okay!! The performance of the cast was superb and this overall was a lovely treat.
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The forefathers of KBL
There are a lot of dark, angsty BLs from different countries out there but this is one of the few that actually made my heart hurt.A big contributing factor to this drama's greatness is its OST. The songs are amazing and I still have them on my daily playlist years after I first watched this. The songs are too good.
The acting. What can I say? They embodied their characters perfectly. You believe the brattiness. You believe the guarded sensitivity. You believe it all. Their chemistry is seriously one of the best. So magnetic. Their longing gazes? Damn.
A con is how there's actually very little character development. With so little time and so few episodes, everything can't really be explored. Another con is the dead fish kiss. Really. I'd rather have no kisses at all than a dead fish one. Their chemistry without this is enough to carry through.
Overall, it's one of my absolute favorites. Watch this. You won't regret it. It's painful yes, but it's also beautiful.
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Angsty but not too much.
This is the first BL I've ever watched and I feel that if I have written this review when I just finished watching it, it would be a bit better.I don't really remember my thoughts and feelings while watching it, but I do remember finishing with a bittersweet sensation.
I did like it, but having seen everything that I have nowadays, I don't feel like this drama is one of my faves anymore.
Acting was ok, the chemistry between the actors kinda lacking sometimes tho... but overall it was really nice for the first BL I've seen.
I would recommend watching this drama anyways, specially if you like that "forbidden love" angst.
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This review may contain spoilers
Decent but Needed More Run Time
Overall thoughts was that it had a great soft dramatic ending. I really felt that last episode was well done and pulled at the heart strings.On the other hand, Tae Joo needed more development and we don't get it in this short run time. He spends the first half of the show pretty much hetero - sleeping with all the girls and make up making out with the girls, and trying to tell Gook to have dates and telling Guk that it's boring with just the two of them and being the biggest spoiled brat. Like yes, he likes Gook, but it barely seems like a romantic love. It seems more like a bromantic love. And then as soon as Gook gives in to Tae Joo's pestering and pushing and goes on a date, and describes their relationship as "Master/Servant" to a potential girlfriend, Tae Joo is suddenly madly in love with Gook? Gook would be totally valid to call Tae Joo out on treating him like a toy he doesn't want taken away.
Kang Gook however was done very well. I could feel every aching moment of his hidden love. From his very first scene, I could feel that chemistry and yearning. My only 2 issues with Gook is that he's being strung along by Tae Joo, and that he agrees to go on the date with Hye Mi at all when he clearly only has eyes for Tae Joo.
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For a start they didn't place the wrong foot forward. They are in the right direction and I hope we will see more productions in the near future. The episodes are very short not that i am complaining but i still wish they added a minute more. I am being a bit greedy 5555.
I gave it an 8 because of 2 reasons. 1 its still ongoing and it can go south in the remaining 2 episodes and also its my first k bl.
Is it worth it...YES. If you are into kdrama and Y drama this drama will give you both worlds. It has your typical eye candy which we have come to associate with kdramas and the boys are doing a good job. I recommend.
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This review may contain spoilers
Treat it like a short movie. +/- 85 minutes of BL goodness.It i best not to compare it to other BL dramas or movies from other countries. They are way ahead of South Korea in this aspect. Once I stopped doing that, I enjoyed it more. For a drama/movie that had little to work woth, it gave viewers a lot to enjoy. The acting was spot on; I did feel heartbroken when the separation we saw coming happen.
I am glad their choice of muic sparked feeling when it came down to those intense scenes.
Let us hope South Korea will take this as a challenge to improve on all of this.
Spoilers:
Hye Mi's Mom was my favourite character in the drama, because she represented every BL watcher out there who rooted for our boys. As soon as she saw them together, she knew exactly what was going on and she never stopped believing in their love T_T And when she hugged Kang Gook all on her own, oh, how I wish it was me!!!!!! (♡•♡)
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Love Requited
I thought the series was excellent. It drew me in with the storyline and the actors. I enjoyed everything about it, except that it was approximately 80 minutes long in total.I would definitely watch it again. I do not think we need a part two. Too often a second part ruins it all.
The music was okay. It did not turn me off, but it was not the kind that I felt the need to search for either.
I thought the male actors were excellent choices, but the females were a bit forgettable. That is more of the rule than the exception in this type of series.
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Don't sleep on this one. It's short and sweet and will put a smile on your face!
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I was so excited when I first heard about the show because I love kdramas and, as a member of the lgbt+ community, I love seeing queer stories being told. I know this isn't the first Korean bl, but it is (one of) the first times we're getting to see it in mainstream media, and I really hope it's not a one time thing!
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