Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Quite a good start, shaky mid stretch and ultimately a bland finish.
THE GOOD:- The show has an overall 'niceness' going for it in terms of production, budget and casting.
- An interesting opening with a main character who had some emotional hang ups after a bad break up that he needed to get over, a simple but very realistic story line that had the potential to unfold in many ways, especially when a new admirer entered the scene.
- I liked the female friend/coworker. Nice to have a normal female character in the picture.
- Ha Ram is very grounded and doesn't overreact to every little tropey problem that would usually lead to a predictable misunderstanding to drag out the drama.
THE (kinda) BAD:
- It got boring fast. Like, the date mate thing was lame, because it's still literally just dating, so that seemed pointless. Then even when the ex showed up, I was just waiting for Lee Jun to tell him to simply f*ck off and be done with it because I didn't want to watch anymore scenes of Do Kyung (in general) and Lee Jun staring silently for too long and not actually standing up for himself. I was just over it.
- The kiss in the final episode between the ML's actually made me blink, and then laugh...and then cringe. The director decided that extending the length of the scene would account for the awkwardness and NO. No thanks. Let them not kiss at all. It was just weeeeaaaaak. It was worse than Unintentional Love Story's final kiss, which was weak, but thankfully much shorter.
- I'm not a fan of the 'simp' story line and Ha Ram was walking that line 9 times out of 10 while Lee Jun just didn't seem worth the effort to me. If you're gonna' have a character simping over a love interest, that love interest better be XIE LIAN or WEI WUXIAN levels of worth it, or else I'm not buying what you're selling.
- In the end, it was so blah. I'll forget about this pretty quick.
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
- The guy that met up with Lee Jun in Ep 1, the one from the app. He was only briefly there, but I would have taken him as a MC or ML easily, any day.
- In episode 7 when Ha Ram goes to comfort Lee Jun at home, there was an instrumental song playing which sounded like Damien Rice's song Cold Water, which incidentally really suits the tone of episode 7.
That's it from me. If you don't watch it, you're not missing anything. It's pretty sleepy. ✌️
Was this review helpful to you?
Sometimes stalkers are cute ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Love Mate has a strong old school rom-com vibe, leaning into exaggerated set ups, and one either likes it or not. Both Haram and Lee Jun were the extremes in their behavior. The introduction of the characters made both seem rather unreasonable and unprofessional in the best and most entertaining way possible.Lee Jun tried to use his workplace and project he was working on to vent his annoyance, anger and trauma related to love - not really caring if the project makes sense. Ha Ram went full on stalker mode, always taking 5 steps too far in how he was approaching Lee Jun. Both frustrating, but so entertaining if you accept the over exaggerated set up as a stylistic choice - this drama does not try to be a realistic and relatable slice of life.
The chemistry was one of the best aspects, especially after the initial clash dies down. I do think Lee Jun’s change of mindset came a bit out of nowhere, but at the same time, it’s not exactly completely unrealistic - some people make fast decisions and switch their behavior accordingly.
While I enjoyed laughing about the characters’ antics and push and pull dynamics, I wish the writer did a better job with presenting the conflicts. What we’ve got was one internal and one external conflict happening one after the other. What would work better (especially since these conflicts were actually connected) is making them happen at the same time. It would make the external conflict feel less rushed and the whole context the characters were in more complex.
The acting was mostly good. Loved Cho Hyun Min’s performance - really natural facial expressions. Random thought, but I also loved how he said 완전 twice in the show. At the same time, while Cho Han Gyeol did a better job in comparison to many other kbl actors, he did not stand out with his skills next to Hyun Min. Some emotional scenes felt flat and forced.
Production value was nice - nothing too outstanding, but also nothing so bad it would be distracting. There were a few scenes in which I liked the composition.
Overall, a fun drama, probably better as a binge watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
WELL.... I Liked It!
I enjoyed this show, and I have to say - I don't agree with the harsh reviews, lashing out about sexual harassment.It's a bit of a mix of seriousness and fluff, but nowhere near as bad as the reviews state. Pursuing someone you are interested in, when they have built walls around their heart is about breaking down those emotional barriers. Most of what occurred in this story was not overly aggressive - and the male he was trying to win over could have resisted much more forcefully and could have avoided some of their encounters had he really wanted to. The boys are both cute, they played their parts well considering the story is not an in-depth one. But I was entertained, and that's all that matters.
I have seen very few bl's in 2023 that I enjoyed, so while this isn't one at the top of my favorites list, it's nowhere near the bottom. At least the kisses were not just lips pressed together, that's a plus in my book. It's relatively short, but mostly sweet.
I don't try to make my reviews sound like I am an expert at picking apart a show, I just express my personal opinion based on how I felt when watching it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Take at face value, otherwise....
It's cuteness is obvious and its protagonists are adorable and you want them to succeed. I am guessing it is a 'comedy' but underlying it has some dark undertones and a lot of pain is obvious. A word of caution about this series, however. Take this series at face value. If you delve into it too deeply you will find it to be an ugly story, full of fragile and vulnerable individuals with harassment all around. So, only look for the humor; otherwise, you might want to weep at its sadness that also surrounds them. One scene in particular is hard for me to get over as a intensively dislike use of physical hitting for no reason other than anger. That seems to be 'ok' in BLs and it is time for that to stop and for it to be called out.You can read my full review of this BL at BLBliss.com.
Was this review helpful to you?
Weird music
One of my first thoughts watching this was that the music is extremely weird and distracting in some scenes, especially in the first half of the show. Odd choices were made in that department.The two MLs were really good but the rest of the cast was a bit weak. It felt really low budget when other characters were present.
The story was okay but I feel like one of the MLs did a complete 180 in episode 4 and the rest of what happened was kind of trivial. The drama in the last two episodes felt tacked on just to make the show longer.
Overall, it was pretty cute and funny, but a lot of it was really over the top so you have to suspend your disbelief just a tad. I've seen other people mention harassment in the first few episodes, and I get where they're coming from, but I didn't get the feeling that the ML felt threatened, he just seemed annoyed, so in my opinion, it wasn't as bad as people are making it out to be. Worth a watch if you're bored.
Was this review helpful to you?
Barely finished it
The theme of the story was interesting, but that's the only good thing about this series, I'm afraid.The plot had good potential, but the pacing and the portrayal of the characters ruined everything. For the first three episodes things were more or less stable, then from episode 4 onwards I found myself unable to follow the thought and emotional patterns of the characters. The way they changed their mind about certain situations or even about each other were not shown properly, so I found myself thinking "wait, how did we get here?" more than once as I watched. It felt like the writers were more concerned with showing Ha Ram's cute pursuing of Lee Jun than actually putting some care in their emotional growth and the development of their relationship. Things got even worse during the last two episodes, where I actually struggled to finish the whole drama (which is the reason why it doesn't even reach a 6 out of 10 for me).
The acting was decent from Lee Jun, but unfortunately I can't say the same for Jeong Ha Ram, who often looked like he was just faking his personality. Since Ha Ram wasn't explored in the least as a character, I was fully expecting some incredible plot-twist about him, but that didn't happen, so I guess that's just poor acting. Yun Do Kyung was the worst of all as he really looked like he was reading his lines out loud rather than acting.
The chemistry between the two main characters is not there either. The two of them never really bond with each other, so I wasn't impressed.
The production is nothing impressive, and the music isn't anything worth noting either.
Overall it felt like a waste of time. Can't recommend watching it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Missed Opportunities and Familiar Tropes
his series falls short of leaving a lasting impression, as it relies on the familiar clichés and tropes seen in many average BL series. It's high time for producers to take more creative risks and offer unique storylines that set them apart. Iconic BL series like "The Eighth Sense" and "DNA Says Love You" come to mind as examples of pushing boundaries and delivering fresh narratives.The story follows Lee Jun, a team leader in a media company who is disillusioned with love due to a past failed relationship. He becomes the target of relentless pursuit by a new employee named Jeong Ha Ram, who falls head over heels at first sight. Exhausted by Ha Ram's persistent advances, Lee Jun reluctantly decides to give him a chance, embarking on a month-long trial period to determine their compatibility. However, as Lee Jun finds himself drawn to Ha Ram, his unresolved past resurfaces, posing a threat to their budding relationship.
Regrettably, this series is saturated with clichés and predictable tropes. Ha Ram's persistent pursuit and borderline stalker-like behavior raise red flags rather than romantic intrigue. Despite Lee Jun's initial reservations, he succumbs to Ha Ram's advances, only to have his trust broken when Ha Ram disregards their agreed-upon boundaries. This lack of character growth and reliance on stagnant dynamics becomes a hindrance to the overall narrative. Ha Ram remains infatuated with Lee Jun throughout, while Lee Jun's growth is not thanks to Ha Ram, but rather his personal journey of letting go of the past.
The series falls short in character development, particularly with Ha Ram. We are left with unanswered questions about his background, profession, and the true motivation behind his instant infatuation with Lee Jun. Strong character development is crucial in any series, even in a mini-series like this, as it helps viewers relate to and understand the characters' actions and choices. Without this connection, the audience's interest wanes.
In conclusion, this series offers nothing new to viewers who have already experienced the typical romantic love story formula. While the cast is visually appealing, that alone cannot salvage a series lacking fresh ideas. With a wealth of impressive BL series released in 2023, I recommend exploring those and giving this one a pass.
Was this review helpful to you?
This = gaslighting and harassment. If in a similar position, it's ok to say no and be respected
It's sad to see again how people can find abuse, stalking and gaslighting cute. This is something called romantic harassment and abuse. The end results are the same. It's when someone keeps making advances, touching you and controlling you even after you say no over and over again and all the while you feel discomfort, you feel fear, you avoid places you normally go and it affects your ability to work and be comfortable in your own skin. These are the products of abuse, clear as day, so it hurts to see this idolized. Please don't view this drama and the actions of the "love interest" as ok.This. is. not. ok.
Put yourself into the main character’s shoes, and imagine telling a pushy person to stop invading your personal space, but that person just wouldn’t stop touching you, getting into your way and stalking you. Wouldn’t you start to get annoyed, or even creeped out?
For those shouting, oh, it’s just fiction, don’t watch if you don’t like, I respond, no! That kind of disrespect should never be considered the basis of a healthy relationship.
The main character is virtually being gaslit into a romantic "situation " by the so called love interest and the whole team of oblivious and horrible coworkers.
This is not how good BLs should be. There are already quite a few really stellar series of that genre out there that clearly demonstrate how a good enemies/rivals to lovers story should be written.
Please stop normalising and romanticising abusive behaviour. It is neither cute nor should it set an example for anyone looking into getting into a relationship, or just living their lives, as this main character was.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
My boy is an uber duper walking green flag
*happy ending*Ha ram, my man. You are now in my list of BL leads that I wish my future boyfriend would be. My gosh he is such a green flag that it is almost unrealistic, but how I wish this is real... Somewhere out there haha.
I love Lee Jun's acting the best. Very expressive eyes. The least acting in this series is DK. My gosh, its like he just memorized the whole script and read it out loud. Almost ruined Lee Jun's scene with his poor acting.
This series also has the longest kiss scene so far of all korean bls i have watched. Too bad they still kiss like birds.
For a short series, this is one of the best. Very sweet and something that you would rewatch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Best drama
It was really cute and simple drama no much conflicts and filled with sweet moments and well yes I agree compare to Thai or Japanese drama but we korean dramas has another way of perspective when we watch normal korean dramas with boy and girl it looks cute and same goes with bl dramas they have a way of making drama very cute and it will definitely make us blush so I don’t have any regrets of watching this drama if you are fan of korean dramas sweet moments then it’s for you if not you can happily move with another college drama of Thai that’s all I can say but just it a shot to korean bl they will improve the duration and scripts but anyway actors were really cute and acting was awesome they slayed their roles I’m with the drama actors and scripts too all the best teamWas this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
