A beautiful gem
Hwang da seul has done it again .I became a fan of this director since Blueming .She is a master at this craft and she continues to impress me with her talent.How to create a realistic drama which addresses social issues that needs to be discussed thru a romantic story ? This is the main goal of this director .
U can feel how different her shows are from the other BLs which is evident from the first scene itself. Whether it be the cinematography ,music or character building ,she is a master at this art.She continues to engage the audience with her realistic touching stories .
Although it has not dethroned my fav BL of all time - Blueming .This show holds a special place in my heart.
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how to love someone when you hate the world/the world hates you
(pre-finale review)dohoe and juyeong still feel as intensely about each other after a dozen years without communication as they did when they were kids re the way dohoe immediately kissed juyeong on remembering the note he left him and juyeong going back for more right after they break apart.. squeee.. it's just that they are extremities on a spectrum with how they view and react to abuse. juyeong takes it as what it is maybe it's because he was raised religiously but he wants to reconcile with people; he steps in immediately and fights like it's his second nature but forgives and forgets just as easily. dohoe on the other hand thinks people's behaviours are fundamentally wrong and gets increasingly upset at not being able to fix it and this frustration leaks into every part of his life. he focuses on himself when other people are too much to bear but feels incredibly guilty at his selfishness (he's just like me). if they can't agree to disagree, the differences in their personalities will keep coming between their love. juyeong cares too much and is simultaneously carefree. dohoe thinks and feels A Lot. their personalities can actually balance each other's out perfectly if juyeong stops and thinks for a moment and dohoe stops thinking for one goddamn minute.
story/directing wise i do think the pacing constraints makes it seem haywire especially at first with the random timeskip and the third wheel/side love interest plot seems halfbaked and unnecessary, almost as if they gave up on it half way through.
side note: not to fujoshi out but that reunion sex scene while they were arguing paralleling with their first time is *chef's kiss* like the scene switching is perfect i want MORE such a nosebleed moment
(finale review)
tune in next week ^-^ (i literally have finals next week lolol)
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The knife from the past
JY does everything right except understanding Dohoe's relationship with his dad. JY seems to want to fix that. That's the reason why he does not wish Dohoe to sell Taekwondo place. The day Dohoe had the knife to his dad, their relationship was beyond unfixable. People are right; JY is an angel and a really good guy. He might be too good for Dohoe. But I cry for Dohoe. When you have a knife between you and your dad; I don't think anything can fix him. Your life is entirely dark. JY is only the light and happiness in Dohoe's life, but if JY keeps bringing the shadow from the past, Dohoe might cut those two things altogether and choose his empty life.And people go so hard on Hyunho, calling him a bully. Hyunho never really lies a finger to Dohoe. He never hit Dohoe. If this is in a different universe, people will call Dohoe and Hyunho's stories an enemy to a lover. Dohoe and Hyunho have something in common, as both are dying to come out from their hell. At some point, they understand each other. Even though Hyunho does not stand a chance as Dohoe's heart has already sailed for JY. However, I think Hyunho is a good example of a character present in the third person in JY and Dohoe's relationship.
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hwang daseul fez novamente!
Vi no twitter alguém comentando como essa série era muito mais sobre trauma geracional do que qualquer outra coisa, e parando pra pensar, é meio assustador como esses relacionamentos afetaram os personagens ao ponto da gente acompanhar uma passagem de 12 anos mas o trauma ser recorrente da mesma maneira que era no passado. Acho que no que eu mais me apeguei aqui é na sutileza transformadora que atravessa os episódios; detalhes que parecem simples mas tem um significado enorme por trás (sou constantemente assombrado com a cena do crucifixo dos primeiros episódios) e como tão denso tudo é mas é abraçado com uma camada de simplicidade. Os dois personagens enfrentaram coisas diferentes, e o modo como cada um reagiu aos tramas também teve aspectos que divergiam mas por algum motivo os monstros que eles enfretaram pareciam o mesmo, acho que é o resultado de você amar tanto uma pessoa que tudo aquilo que é um desafio dela acaba se tornando seu.Acho que foi uma surpresa geral que ninguém estava esperando ficar tão emocionalmente envolvido na série, com base nos trabalhos da hwang daseul era de se esperar uma boa obra mas ela ainda achou uma maneira de surpreender. Definitivamente um dos melhores do ano
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They went all out with the topics too, touching on stuff like child abuse, imposter syndrome, and fake identities. You can see the higher budget in the cinematography and production quality, and the cast did a solid job. Definitely worth watching ?
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This review may contain spoilers
Another Masterpiece from Hwang Da Seul!
In life, we’re all searching for a lifeline—a smile, a sunrise, a reason to keep going each day. For those who know only pain, that lifeline becomes even more vital.The Korean BL Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo offers just that. It brings together two young men—abused high schooler Lee Do Hoe (Kim Nu Rim) and the equally abused but cheerful Sin Ju Yeong (Lee Seon) who are both desperate for a glimmer of light in a world filled with shadows.
From the moment Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo was announced, I knew I’d fall in love with it. I’m no stranger to director Hwang Da Seul’s work, and I admire how her dramas delve beyond romance to explore the psychology shaping relationships and how people process trauma in their own unique ways, both on-screen and off.
Read the complete article here-
https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/09/let-free-the-curse-of-taekwondo-series-review-ep-3-to-8/
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Realistic consequences: This is NOT your typical High school BL Drama.
The only regret that I have is I started watching when only 6 episodes are aired. I should have waited for the whole series to be released. The story telling drives me crazy because it will leave out some details that you can only see in to the next episode. I liked how the characters developed and the outcomes of their lives because of their past trauma. The story reveals 2 realistic outcomes of what will happen to you living in those situations at home. I love that the director sets an accountability for the characters' actions. Bullying is never glorified. Lying will do no good either.For the overall rating, I had to deduct points because of the technical aspects. The wardrobe and makeup team should have changed their hairstyle for the highschool years. The makeup should be more on the fresh eyes, more yellows and reds. It should be far from what they look when they became adults.
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Good show
I like it. I do say that i hate time skips so much,so that was annoying. And a huge time skip too. Other than nice pretty nice bl. Good plot,good acting,nice chemistry, didn't feel rush at all and managed to handle the time constraints,good kissing scenes and overall it is really good. KBL keeps exceeding my expectations these days and I am hopeful that it would continue doing so.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Finally a Korean Adult BL
Wow, Korea has stepped up the game. Although it starts in high school it quickly becomes an adult BL. I love that it doesn't shy away from skinship, whether it be kissing , or just an open knowledge that these characters are having sex. It is real Finally, it showcases the complexity of not only being gay but how to navigate life with dealing with pretty much abuse from all angles. Not only does it show how different each character deals with abuse, it also shows how you can adjust and overcome just about anything. Lee Soon s character upbeat, fun but emotionally available & willing to accept people for who they are no matter the circumstances. Jang Yeon Woo beautiful to look at but played such a flawed character. Kim Nu Rim the centre figure of the drama , was just beautifully played in every aspect. It really showed how a child is affected by continued abuse . He was such closed off character. This will not be a forgotten Drama. Beautiful written directed with the correct actors able to convey the amazing range of emotion in the drama A must see for sureWas this review helpful to you?
the one who loved more..
love is a weird thing.. its never equal and there is the one who loved more.. i think that its well needed requirement for a balanced relationship.. there must be the one who fight ,the one to give comfort to the hurt ,and give love a lot a lot of it. if anyone asked me for a drama recommendation this will be it .. it gives that beautiful feel of drowning, of anger ,and the involvement in a well earned happiness.Was this review helpful to you?
Does anybody know what's going on?
Has anybody been able to figure out what's happening in this series I'm at the end of 6:00 and I'm just as clueless as can be.. the subtitles are in English but it's just random words put together that don't mean anything and he she I them you all mean the same thing and what they're saying I can't figure out what the translator is trying to do is just nonsensical is all I can get out of it so it's hard to figure out what's happening in the series without knowing what the words mean cuz there sure is not what they're putting down.Was this review helpful to you?
Refreshing plot twist and some suprisingly good acting
The story is believable for the most part. The character development for the mains was solid; and for 8 episodes, I was also happy with development of the side antagonist. I find his story quite appealing and refreshing. Also the twist was quite unexpected. This drama has a lot going for it. And in 2024, I cannot say it is just enjoyable, it actually has something to add in the oversaturated field of bl dramas.I did learn to appreciate when a relationship has a consistent character whose actions make sense on a larger scale.
We have Ju Yeong who is consistent and stable in his beliefs and truly, as Do Hoe points out, he indeed remains same after all the timetime. Then we have Do Hoe who is volatile and influenced by his upbringing.
I have to say it was an enjoyable watch. The actors were confident when the scenes demanded it and awkward when it was necessary, but their acting itself was never awkward or rookie-like. I think that made for the overall enjoyment and my forgetting of the plot holes.
The issues of the drama in regards to violence in family, the hardship as prerequisite for the success, betraying the ones you love in order to escape it -- these all are important topics and interesting questions to be raised to a viewer. And while I cannot say the drama went too deep to explore or justify them, it also did not do it injustice in sense they made it feel irrelevant. I think what saved them was clear focus on the relationship between Ju Yeong and Do Hoe. I was relieved by the confirmation that what they choose is each other at all times.
Twisty with a happy ending.
You should def watch it.
Thank you for reading,
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