There is so much about this drama that I absolutely loved.
Cinematography, music, actual engaging plot, good acting and very good chemistry between both couples.
The cons on the other hand...
Yikes the violence and SA is never okay. It doesn't matter if it's a gay or straight relationship, you should never EVER be okay with this kind of treatment. I feel like the production team just wanted drama and 'spice' but violence, verbal harasment and SA is not it. And there could have been so many other options other than violence to show that the MLs didn't get along in the beginning. The SML's actions somewhat explained themselves by the intense internalized homophobia (somewhat implied but mostly understandable from his monologue) but you can't use the same motivation for THREE characters in a drama this short. You certainly can, but should you? The motivation of three characters is sensitive but here becomes redundant without even having a proper insight into each characters background.
I think internalized homophobia and fear are very good and sensitive subjects that should be disgussed in kbls. BUT Tae Yi's motives are written VERY lackluster and he is supposed to be the other male lead. His reaction to Seheon kissing him was way too much if you're not going to justify or explain his reaction at all. SA is not normal and I'm quite horrified over how this scene was written in here without any proper concequenses. The drama is also so short that the emotional payoff from Taeyi's realization isn't there at all.
I can't help but feel more for Jooha since we somehow got more insight into his head than Taeyi's, at least when it comes to pushing his crush away. At least Taeyi's thoughts were coherently cinematized and as a viewer I finally got to understand his character from that scene in ep 7. And then there is the trainwreck of Taeyi's reaction to the kiss immediately after and I can't help but feel very disgusted over Taeyi's reaction. This direction and the timing of these scenes aren't ideal, at all. And it feels like we are watching Jooha's and Doyoon's kiss again, but Taeyi isn't even supposed to be the cold bully.. ? His reaction isn't justified and I'm sorry that I have probably said that multiple times already but no I'm not actually sorry. His reaction was not it.
Despite everything I enjoyed the plot and found it very engaging at times but this drama still had a ton of things to improve. I'm quessing that screentime and budget plays a big role on how much and what they could do and film.
BUT there is no way that a professional director could fuck up a fake kiss that badly. That kiss scene between Jooha and Doyoon was the worst fake kiss I've ever seen. I would have preferred a thumb over the lips kinda kiss over this awful camera angle fail but I'm not blaming the actors. Doyoon's actor is an idol so I'm not very surprised if he was adviced against a real samesex onscreen kiss. That's okay, I guess. Kisses aren't everything to a romance drama. The ep 7 hug scene on the other hand was incredibly impressive and emotional. So much so that I felt very connected to the characters. Can't help but want more from the side couple.
I'm sad that the director and writing team seems to be the root of all the problems in this drama.