The Brilliance Of This Series Is Its Omnitude
This is a rare gem that tells such an aggregate story in an uninhibited way. Not from a BL slant but from a gay man’s perspective. It is refreshingly honest, touching, and one of the most contemplatively deep series I have ever seen. The title is a bit of a misnomer to me, however. So much more than romantic love is explored in this series. It goes beyond classical definitions and allows us to see affection, devotion, attachments, friendships, and yes passion and intimacy as well with gradations within those feelings as well, all within its location of a big city only as an afterthought. It is one of the most powerful dramas of this year.Was this review helpful to you?
A quintessential story about queer life
Sometimes, life just is. This is a story of a gay man living in a highly conservative society while holding on to some semblance of life. There are no lessons to be learned or catharsis to be had from this story. You just feel the emotions the characters feel at various points in their lives. I found myself silently crying often, yet it was hopeful.Nam Yoon Su manages to make Ko Yeong an authentic gay man, more than a character. His mannerisms and body language, his relationships, his actions and reactions, all feel real.
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Heartbreakingly Beautiful
The story of our main character was so raw, it was a emotional telling of 4 loves that he had, the first being one he couldn’t reciprocate, the second being one that wasn’t reciprocated and the third being all he ever wanted but love wasn’t enough. I purposefully said 4 because to me the fourth love was that of his friends who were there for Go Young from the very beginning to end, they were the love that lasted.I gave this show a 10/10 because of not only the dedication that I know the actors had to the project or the plot that felt like a roller coaster but because of the delicate nature in which the show handled sensitive topics such as the telling of the lead’s HIV diagnosis and depression. It is all too often that I see the media look at HIV as a death sentence, I’m so happy that in such a closed society this show decided to depict it as an inconvenience that the character would have with him for the rest of his life. This illness effects so many lives daily around the world but with proper treatment, all it truly becomes is exactly THAT an inconvenience.
His depression and attempt at suicide was such a real experience, the show let us see him hit rock bottom but also let us see him in his small triumphs that always seemed big because it was a stepping stone for Go Young’s progression to learning to love himself.
The story left an impression on me that I’m not so sure I’ll be able to shake anytime soon. I’m very thankful for everyone who was apart of the making and pushing of Love in the big city, it left me wanting more with that open ending but also with the understanding that it was open because Go Young’s life is still going.
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Love in The Big City Series
I really love this drama.Raw, honest, and exquisitely crafted in both writing and direction. I've rarely seen a Korean drama capture realism this authentically. It feels like a snapshot of life-its highs and lows, the connections we build, the love we chase, and the way we drift apart.
The storytelling was masterful, following Go Young as he navigates through the complexities of the world around him, capturing the sense of belonging and alienation we all sometimes face. The narrative is heavy yet beautifully simple, a quiet reflection of what it means to be alive. I found myself laughing, yelling, feeling joy, peace, sadness, and despair. The bond between Go Young and Gyuho left me shattered.
Nam Yoonsu's performance was magnetic-it's hard not to be captivated by him. The entire cast delivered outstanding performances. I sincerely hope more shows like this are made.
And I need season 2 please.
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THE BEST KBL EVER
I am not exaggerating when I say this is THE BEST KBL ever produced. I am actually appalled at quality,run time and no of episodes. For years and years I have kept asking for KBLs to have good budget,run time and episodes and my dream has finally been accomplished. The plot is so good and refreshing. Most of the time or almost all of the time,we are given two pairing and the universe will make them work out together. But here the main character is going from one person to another in search of his eternal love. You wouldn't know who it is cause every one he dates seems like it would be the one. Which makes sense irl too. I loved this concept. The acting is off the charts too. The main lead is an exception actor. He managed to have a good chemistry with every guy he was paired with. I am actually amazed. That I had to stand up and give a standing ovation. The series didn't dragged even though it had a fair amount of run time and episodes. And the kisses and r-rated scenes was top notch. It was sexy and hot. KBL says GOODBYES to dead fish kisses. Damn i could go on and on about this series and I would never run out of praises. A bijilion out of 10. Literally perfection!Was this review helpful to you?
Best bl ever
This was not just the best bl I have ever seen, but one of my all time favorites series in general. I cried so many times. I felt validated. It was literally life-changing for me. It was so beautiful, so realistic, so emotional, full of messages and it dealt with a variety of topics. The first 3 eps were a bit more meh for me because I still couldn’t understand where this show was heading. But I found myself getting more and more attached and I said out loud “masterpiece” many times throughout the show. 10/10Was this review helpful to you?
A slice of Life is F*** hard
This is less of a romance and more of a slice of life, the people we meet, the people we love, the pain of loss over and over and over and over again...Numbing it all with smiles, alcohol , dance and jokes... Lauging away the pain.
In 8 short. episodes we get to see a whole range of emotions and relationships getting knocked down, getting up again just to get knocked down or doing the knocking down as it is easier than facing some truths.
The cinematography is great, the acting spot on and dialog is top, top. I am not an expert but something tells me that nothing was left for chance. As there is not a single shot, prop or angle that was there as a filler.
This drama is definitely a feel things rather than a feel good type of drama , A meaningful story that sticks out and is sure to be remembered by those who view it.
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TOO MUCH EXPECTATIONS ABOUT LOVE
First of all I want to congratulate all of the people who created and participated this drama, it was awesome , kuddos to all of you guys, specially those who starred and brought life to the characters, it was such an amazing drama and super relatable and timely drama.I have so many thoughts and emotions about this drama, I really thank those who created this because the drama shows that no matter what your sexual orientation is whether gay or straight or whatever you wanna call yourself , life can be as fuck as it is for everyone , it only means we are not alone.
Every Break up of Go Young is also a heartbreak of mine, I did not know what was the main issue but I hated Go Young's character even more than of hi exes, he's like he only focuses on what he wants and his expectations in a relationship or in a person when I guess every person whom he had relation ship was okay enough and so he always ended up alone.
The Story was quite painful for having a 3 times break up and even parent dying , if I were Go Young I would have ranted how cruel the world is , Go Young's First boyfriend is probably the one I will choose, in fact that kind of guy is on his looking for his settlement in life, i would be even more secure with that guy, and you can even see that he tried to improve and be what Go Young expected , it was so so bad for him. the Second guy was i guess the finest one but not ready for everything and I must say he was an ass for making Go Young expect that he loved him , and finally the last guy who was exactly the same as he is , but I really did not know what happened to both of them that they ended up breaking up, maybe career is much more important or maybe as what I am saying at the headline is too much expectation on relationship and love that sometimes everything becomes toxic. It was indeed too lonely for Go Young that first his best friend married , and then multiple break ups .. and his mother, only people who remained was his friends that seems he is not so open to them also. they re just like friends in happiness.
And the HIV part or Kylie , it was so amazing that they have added it in the story , coz even I did not have the life that Go Young have .. I mean sleeping to random guys, having an HIV is such a sensitive issue , I later on realized that some of scenes I did not understood was actually pertaining to the fact that Go Young have an HIV, it was also hard for him too and Gyo Ho about that fact coz somethings are needed to be adjusted about their relationship and this also brought heart ache on me .
Maybe People like Go Young are what kind of people we have now in this generation, I admit I am like him too , want to explore many things, not ready for commitment and expects too much about life and if not meet , we'd say how fuck like is ! funny but true. I am still heart broken right now , I am honestly looking for some light dramas to watch after this but my heart can't take it yet, I need time to cope up. So Yeah this is the lesson I learned here , that we should not expect too much , sometimes what we are looking for is already in front of us , but with too much expectation and so many things we needed we wanted .. sometimes those things just fly away ..and we are being distracted , in the end we lost them .. we just have to have a little bit of adjustment, and a little bit of patience and a little bit of understanding and we'll be where we should be.
Absolutely a recommendable drama , not for everyone but everyone who can relate must watch this , so this is the reason why this drama is a talk of the town. two thumbs up !
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Beautiful Growing Pains
More than a BL, this felt like a realistic portrayal of LGBT / queer life with all of the complexities of growing up and the challenges of loving others and also yourself.There's so much beauty in the story telling: the longing, the desperation and oh the loneliness of finding your own way in life. And the poetic justice of things not being perfect in the end, because isn't that truly l i f e? Sometimes the happily ever after is only in the acceptance of yourself and the capacity to find your own beat in the world. There's joy in that too, joy in the discovery that mundane days with a lost lover could be what you crave most.
This story truly is perfect in all of its imperfections.
Major kudos to Nam Yoon Su for bringing a needed story to mainstream media in South Korea. I give him major applause for choosing to fiercely charge ahead with leading this project, knowing that South Korea has such a long way to go as far as LGBT acceptance. He has faced backlash and has stood his ground, and I think he is exactly who was needed to tell this beautiful story.
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intense and lovely
What a beautiful drama, full of emotions, friendships and super real cases, the beginning was beautiful and the ending was sad but necessary.It was an incredible drama where we can see the evils and wonders that love/relationships can bring us.
I highly recommend this drama and it is certainly one of the best of the year without a doubt.
Think about a good performance, Nam Yoon Su and the entire cast presented a very refreshing drama with correct performances from beginning to end, it's great to be able to see something where the actor didn't show any fear at a certain point in the story, in addition to talking about several important issues.
Korea always gets it right and this is one of the big hits, a drama of this quality where despite boycotts from conservatives it never lowered its head, a great attitude that was quite worth it.
I loved it so much.
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Why does no one ever have the courage untill it is too late!
A heartbreaking and yet beautiful tale of flawed people. Also, a stunning gay-themed show from Korea after a rather long time.The story meanders through Ko Yeong's life and struggles as he goes from one love interest to other, failing the first one, love-hating the second, and loosing the last one, which ultimately makes him find himself in ways....
If you are a gay man (or even a woman) growing up or living in a big city in Asia, you'd find so many characters that will seem familiar...the story, while depending on some of the usual cliches of gay-besties gang (girl gang) and that hallowed chosen family support, does deliver a rather realistic and relatable story of a sort-of-closeted gay man from a conservative family, weighed down by the pressures of being the good son, the fabulous gay man, and also living that 'I dont give a shit bitch-will have fun' big city life, while pining for love that feels like home....all at the same time.
Yeong abandons the first one that loves him dearly, Kim, the most dedicated and stable one, because he isn't cool enough...(haven't we seen that happen like every other day in the gay dating scene!!).....fast forward the next one he falls for, No Yeong is, no surprises, the emotionally unavailable one, deep into the closet, with several unresolved issues and baggage...which expectedly, can only end in a traumatic way, and it does (again, a story that we see happen all around)....fast forward.....Yeong grows some....and then comes Gyu Ho, the real deal, the one he loves and the one who loves him back, the way he is...and I thought Yeong's confession about his being HIV+ to Gyu Ho was plain beautiful....the vulnerability, emotions, and desperation is portrayed so beautifully....but off course feeling loved as your authentic self is the most difficult and scary thing there is, right? The fear of losing makes us leave them before they do....but here the story is slightly less predictable, Yeong and Gyu really understand how strong their love is, and really try to work things out...but the fear.....THE FEAR...never goes away.....and that makes Yeong almost force separate from Gyu Ho.....in other words, he runs away from that one love that made him feel like he's safe and home.
The story, delves deep into the layers and nuances of a queer life...there is the obvious references to homophobia, struggles of living with HIV, the trauma of enforced closets and dual lives, the lack of love, care, safety and often betrayal by family, the contempt from society, and how religious dogma can turn people into monsters,...and then the beauty of finding support and love from your chosen family and finding a space that you can belong to.....it takes you through many a familiar feeling that is validating in ways.....at the same time it flags the lack of courage to accept ourselves and all others around us, as their everyday, non-glamorous, non-thrilling selves that is ...it definitely touches upon the all-too-familiar pressures of having that perfect and fabulous relationship, reaching the pinnacles of unrealistic standards of 'romance-that stuns and outdoes everyone'......and how the everyday mundane comfort around each other, the snoring, the stains that stay, and the 'don't have mind-blowing sex most of the time' familiarity, end up being no match for that....that is, until you find the courage to be just yourself, warts and all, and find beauty and comfort in it....find the courage to allow yourself to love and be loved with all your flaws, failing, and shadows........but, by that time, it is usually too late...or is it??
The series has a bit of an open ending, which one can interpret the way they want ...with a passing allusion to the possibility of Gyu Ho coming back to Seoul, hope floats.....just may be, Yeong moves out of his old apartment and moves into a new one...it ends as fireworks light up the sky, with Yeong and his gay-gang, seemingly happy celebrating their own selves....
But the question lingers, why does no one ever have the courage until it is too late!
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