for a person who avoids political dramas like the plague, this one was different. from the aesthetics, the ost and to any scene in every single episode, it was a brilliantly artistic take in showing a well-balanced story involving romance and politics.

so, what did i love?

-the amazing cast
there are many familiar faces in this but one thing's for sure, everyone's performances in this drama didn't fall short. not even an inch.

gun really didn't pull back from giving his all in both his roles as black and white. it was as though i was watching two people play their parts and i had to blink hard as black and white truly had distinct personalities. again, i'm not surprised by gun's talent as he never failed in showing his talent on screen.

i used to be skeptical of off's acting but in here, he was able to depict a broken character seeking revenge against unjustice. those expressions of anger mixed with helplessness and those cute scenes with white, off nailed it as sean.

first didn't fail me in this drama. he was lowkey smug but at the same time, this boy knows how to break my heart into pieces. paired with fluke, they both served emotions that hit you right at your chest. fluke did well as a police officer that wants to fight against the corrupt, a person that wanted to change.

the whole gang had me in shambles for how much they cared for each other. with how good the chemistry is between all of them, it was inevitable that the friend group was shippable. despite being a serious drama, there were funny moments as well. gumpa as the father of five (including black ofc) was portrayed wonderfully by papang. even though his acting was a bit iffy at times, he definitely gave off the fatherly vibe as he trained and helped the boys out whenever trouble came their way.

i was so used to seeing sing as a silly or playful character in other dramas so seeing him play a new type of role was a surprise. he managed to blow me away whenever he showed up and his scenes with black are worthy to be applauded.

-the couples !!!!
sean x white:
as one of the well-known bl couples, the offgun duo strikes again. the angst between these two was steaming hot. before sean and white got together, the tension they had was enough to make me scream internally. once they broke the ice and started to cuddle up to each other, i saw sunshine, rainbows and thunder. white who used to not understand sean's pain slowly became sean's comfort. their love to fight and protect each other will forever be something i'm envious of.

dan x yok:
the conflict that comes along with falling for someone you laid your trust on is heavier than one can imagine. maybe, i'm masochistic but the relationship between dan and yok had so much to it that i can't help but root for them. those sentimental scenes in which they started to open up to each other and weren't afraid to show their vulnerable side.... it was purely beautiful. besides the angsty scenes, they have their cute moments that i cherish A LOT.

-the women
we don't see petty arguments or grudges. what this drama offered is women that stand their ground. namo, eugene and nuch are all clear on their views and have such an impactful character to them that doesn't make it overwhelming or underwhelming. this is one of those dramas that i appreciate for not writing female characters as stereotypes.

-the cinematography
if i wanted to screenshot every single second of this drama, i would. the camera angles and close up shots of small details in the emotional and intimate scenes were my absolutely favorites. i love how this drama was filmed and how the colorisation fitted the scenes perfectly.
also, i really appreciate that the actors looked naturally beautiful in this one. there was less makeup and it gives off this no filter feel to it.

-the important topics covered
this drama is not just a bl drama. it shows many issues that goes on in the real world as well. to name a few, it highlights:
1) privilege
2) lgbtq+ rights (marriage equality)
3) disability rights
4) political corruption

things i didn't like:
-the way the ending got wrapped up felt rushed
-gram and eugene as a couple
-the whole twin connection wasn't explored more (but then i understand it would stray far away from the drama's focal points)
-some questions left unanswered
eg. was dan let go just like that? what is todd's story? what will tawi do?

regardless of the imperfections, 'not me' is easily on my top bl dramas that i keep close to my heart.