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Love in the Big City korean drama review
Completed
Love in the Big City
25 people found this review helpful
by Mike Üpsilon
Oct 27, 2024
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Watching a lovable asshole struggle will touch your heart and soul

Let me break it down into some random categories:

BL?
No, not a BL. But it is marketed as one in some places. I totally forgive them :) They should get all the views!

Does it support the gay agenda?
Oh, so very well! So fabulously! Is it a rainbow? It is a DOUBLE RAINBOW! This is so refreshing, even on an international level. But even more so as it is Korean. Everybody and their mother loves a good Korean queer-baiting bromance. But sometimes it is nice to get the real deal. And this is so unapologetically gay. Every time they delivered a line or story aspect where I imagined the backwards protesters lining the pride parades in Seoul (who were watching for sure) to gnash their teeth in anger, I couldn’t help but loudly laugh in blissfulness. And the main actor unapologetically and publicly not giving a shit about the haters is better than any fan-service ever could be. Especially as he absolutely MEANS it. A mainstream Korean actor who plays a role that says – and I quote here – “Fuck me deep!” – oh the joy! At times it felt that they really wanted to tick off every item from the things-that-gays-suffer-from list and I can’t have been the only one thinking “What is it now? Can’t you give this guy a break?” I was surprised we didn’t get assault during an app hookup or a good old gay bashing in the streets. Remember the olden days, when gay characters could only exist as a joke or in depression? I felt that there were traces of the latter in this too (but probably unintentionally).
And I wrote gay agenda and not queer agenda on purpose – diversity is not a forte of this series. This is a story about stereotypical gay guys only (the first lover is a bit of an exception, but he doesn’t get much love). And of course all the actors are super hot. This is Korea after all. Shut up and lust after them!

Acting?
Great. Except the Japanese guy. One thing all the reviews can agree on :)

Creativity?
Hm, not sure. The storytelling was pretty standard for a story that isn’t really plot-driven. And for a story that in its core is about one character only, character development was quite limited. And I had a hard time understanding some of the character’s actions. I feel there was some symbolism that went over my head. And the hints of reality and fiction being mixed were a bit too vague for me. But maybe I’m just too stupid. Or didn’t focus enough.

Should you watch it?
If you liked my review: yes. If you didn’t: yes.

Take-home message: Two men eating pasta in public is gay. Seafood is fine!
Also: Life can be struggly.
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