Roommates (2024)

A drama sure to check off many people's boxes for their "ideal type" of drama

This was such a refreshing firework of a drama! The two leads, in particular, made it crazy fun to watch with their so-far-out-there-they-might-as-well-be-floating-in-space personalities that were only heightened when they shared the same air. And they were consistently predictable yet unpredictable, leaving me either correct in my predictions while also being pleasantly befuddled at the path taken or both puzzled beyond belief and amused. Meanwhile, the side couple offered something unique with the often overlooked issue of financial inequality in a relationship and the myriad of ways it can affect it, including self-inflicted shame, pressure, and guilt.

It was a true delight tuning into Boys Be Brave. I highly recommend giving it a go! Especially if you're into "quirky" characters and dramas.

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The perfect mildang: "The further I move away, the closer we get"

In the context of "tug-of-war" romantic relationships, in South Korea it is common to hear sentences like: "내 남자친구가 항상 나를 밀당하는 것 같아", which in English would be something like: "It seems that my boyfriend is always trying hard to be with me."
Is your crush acting cold one moment and hot the next? One minute does he pursue you and show his feelings, and the next, he suppresses his interest and distances himself?
It is precisely in these circumstances that Koreans use the phrase "acione Mildang." That is, this person is doing "mildang," a term used to describe someone's behavior when they intentionally create a "push and shove" dynamic with another person.
In the drama 'Boys Be Brave', directed by Lim Hyun Hee, the story revolves around the "mildang" of two couples who are stuck between confessing their feelings and holding back, portraying the cute and agonizing tug-of-war of unconfessed love.
We will see the story through the eyes of Jin Woo, a naive and insecure character with a perfectionist tendency who lives his life according to the plan he has drawn up. However, one day, she falls in love with Ki Sub, a determined and popular boy, owner of a relaxed and confident nature.
And this playful and daring push-pull dynamic begins when Jin Woo reveals that despite having a crush on Ki Sub, he's not her type at all.
The entrance of Jung Ki Sub (Nam Shi An) to Kim Jin Woo's (Kim Sung Hyun) apartment not only announces that the living room sofa will be occupied indefinitely by the visitor who was never invited, but also the beginning of a beautiful love story between two friends who have suddenly become roommates.
Despite being reluctant to share a roof, you will soon discover that this may be the ideal opportunity to be close to the person you love.
I find it interesting to see how between Jin Woo, a young perfectionist who dreams of having the perfect relationship with the perfect partner, so he even makes a checklist of the ideal lover, and Ki Sub, the type of person who can seem Just another attractive and popular guy who has to get what he wants, but is actually a gentle soul who wants to be loved, they manage to change for each other.
Likewise, I love how Ki Sub, who doesn't like complicated emotions and situations, so he often resorts to portraying a positive image, at first shows one-dimensional awkwardness, but as the story progresses, he learns to express his feelings. own emotions and find their identity.
The series allows us to see how the actions and emotions of the characters change, all thanks to an endless aegyo attack by Ki Sub against Jin Woo, which in turn brings fun and hilarious moments.
On the other hand, the narrative also explores the love relationship between Choi Balg-Eum (Jung Yeo Jun) and Ji In Ho (Ahn Se Min), who keep a secret from their high school days.
Adapted from Seok Young's webtoon "Roonmates," the LGBT+-themed youth romantic comedy showcases the unique images and charms of the main characters, each with distinct personalities. The free spirit Jung Ki Sub, the seemingly perfect Kim Jin Woo, the mysterious Ji In Ho with a hidden secret and the charming Choi Sunny will entertain the audience through a funny, charming but meaningful and touching drama as the four continually reflect: "Why doesn't the person who loves me confess to me?"
After the success of the acclaimed series 'Our Dating Sim', with which it won multiple awards at the "2023 Heavenly BL Awards", such as the "Grand Prize" and "Best Drama" sections, director Lim Hyun Hee teams up with music producer Hwang Sung Jin, known for producing popular songs like See Ya's "Lovely Sweet Heart" and Gummy's "We Should've Been Friends," to carry out this project that, in his own words, "captures so much eyes like ears." Because? Because stories like these not only entertain us, but also offer us valuable lessons and insights into life and human relationships.
With a solid plot and well-developed characters, the emerging writer Lee Sin Won manages to change conventions and break clichés, and delivers a narrative text on which the series is built, in which she gives substance to the conflicts and stories that intersect, Because the four boys are united by friendship.
I like Nam Shi An's performance in portraying a character who is popular and constantly receives love confessions from those around him. However, intrigued by Jin Woo, who likes him but has not confessed, he impulsively invades his house and begins living with him, determined to make him confess.
The viewer will love the character played by Kim Sung Hyun, a seemingly perfect and meticulous young man. However, her life begins to fall apart after her crush breaks into her apartment. Thanks to Ki Sub, Jin Woo discovers that he has been living a gray existence, without love and without dating experience.
Based on their friendly love-hate relationship, the romance between the two, which begins when the former literally knocks on the doors of the latter, will delight the public. He will be waiting for the moment when the bond between these young people crosses the thin and fragile line of friendship and gives way to love after a confession.
The film text explores how the empathy between Ki Sub and Jin Woo becomes the basis of a lasting romantic love, highlighting how the deepest relationships are often born from friendship.
On the other hand, Ji In Ho has not been able to forget the romantic relationship between him and Choi Sunny during high school. That is the reason why he abruptly returns from the United States where he is studying and introduces himself to Sunny, who rejects his advances. Undeterred, Ji In Ho asks her to go on three dates with him. We will soon learn the reason why Sunny decided three years ago to put things on the line, despite being in love. Could a true romance arise within the framework of these encounters?
Lastly, Jung Yeo Jun takes on the role of Choi Sunny, the extremely optimistic part-time worker. Choi Sunny, as brilliant as her name suggests, is a person who has also not been able to forget the boy she loves and whose memory she still keeps in her heart. His life is shaken when his friend shows up again.
The story of these two characters details how an event from the past tests the relationship of the two friends, but its resolution, which teaches us about forgiveness, understanding and personal growth, ends up strengthening the bond, demonstrating the resilience of friendship and How romantic love can arise from this.
As these young people navigate their feelings for each other and come to terms with their own hearts, a tender romance blossoms that will satisfy all of your BL needs.
Why do I recommend the series?:
- For its cast with its attractive visual effects and its visual chemistry.
- For being a fan of the webtoon on which it is based.
- For following the work of Lim Hyun Hee, who has captivated me since his previous drama, 'Our Dating Sim'.
- For the promise of combining stunning dramatic elements in the beloved original work and enhancing the immersive experience through a sophisticated visual style.
- For the guarantee of the entertainment factor.
- For bringing us credible and genuine characters, with human emotions and reactions that feel real and resonant.
- Because it allows me to follow the work of Ahn Se Min, an actor with a simple charisma and an air of mystery, who has caught my attention since his participation in 'Youth On The Road', 'The Red Sleeve', 'School 2021', among others dramatized. With his expressive eyes and pure appearance, I recommend following this actor.
- For the reappearance on screen of Kim Sung Hyen, a perfect boy who wins the hearts of fans with his unique charms. Those who have followed his artistic career will remember him for his roles in 'Love After School' (seasons 1 and 2), '100% Era', Hospital Playlist', 'Brain, Your Choice of Romance Season 2', and many other works that They leave a lasting impression on viewers, raising expectations about his future as a solid actor.
- For the possibility of reunion with rookie actor Nam Shi An who has gained a lot of attention for his attractive looks, outstanding physique, subtle sensuality and acting skills shown in KBS Joy's 'Love Naggers' and the web drama 'Woman Playbook', as well as the independent short film 'Mutation'.
- For having the possibility of seeing Jung Yeo Jun's work again, after discovering him in 'Like Flowers In Sand', 'Arthdal ​​Chronicles: The Sword of Aramun', 'Rookie Cops', among others, since this rookie actor has a distinctive and irresistible charm that captivates the hearts of viewers. With her imposing figure, I love her explosive chemistry with Ahn Se Min.
- Because the series exposes two stories of love and friendship that have the power to open doors to a world where emotional ties are intertwined with life lessons, leaving indelible marks on those who discover them.
- Because stories like these have the particularity of touching two of the purest and deepest feelings of human beings: romantic love and the selfless affection that characterizes true friendship. The mixture of these affects in a single narrative creates a rich and multidimensional film story that speaks directly to our hearts. That is, stories that weave love and friendship reflect the full spectrum of our emotions.
- Because it is a drama in which we will see our own triumphs and challenges in relationships reflected, which makes these stories so personal and moving.
- The conflicts represented are reflections of the complications of real life.
- Being able to witness the performances of four male actors, each with different and combined charms, taking on their first BL drama challenge.

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so much potential

Overall: this series could have been a 9.5 for me with the amount of potential but the writing didn't deliver. 8 episodes about 25 minutes each, 2 episodes per week. Aired on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/40439c-boys-be-brave and on GagaOOLala (in Macau, Hong Kong & Taiwan) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4231/boys-be-brave-2024-e01

Content Warnings: harassment, punch/fight

Watch Suggestions (I will update tomorrow with a complete list)
episode 7 watch 3:40-5:40, 26:30-27:25
episode 8 watch 7-9 minutes, 24:30-25:25

What I Liked
- the friend relationship
- direct communication when it happened
- funny moments
- switching perspectives
- character growth with main couple
- end of episode 3
- one of the best hugs ever

Room For Improvement
- what we saw at the beginning of episode 5 needed to be shown much sooner so I could have rooted for the main couple's relationship, it felt like the 1 guy was playing games
- needed to get rid of the mostly cliched female character and family drama to focus more on the two couples
- the second couple had wasted screen time, also 1 character was cruel in the past and in the present and the other was content to be a doormat, needed a better explanation in the past and more/faster character growth in the present, then an unsatisfying ending
- 'because the writer said so' stuff, why would a character be so open to a woman he just met when his characterization up to that point has been more closed/prickly, why does a character go from punches/hate to being a simp
- most of episode 7 was wasted on family drama, episode 8 had a ton of wasted screen time too
- beginning of episode 8 was extremely choppy with a multitude of flash backs/forwards, characters in different locations

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Simplicity with a twist that will keep you engaged.

Technically speaking it’s a really simple story with a simplistic presentation of complex issues, and yet it works so well and it does not feel boring thanks to the refreshing and fun characters.

What you think you’ll get is a shy nerd who does not care for romance and a confident playboy who will try to win him over. What you get is a confident and at times sassy nerd and socially awkward “playboy” psycho who cannot say no. These two gave me some of the most enjoyable and unexpected chemistry.

Personally I loved Kim Jin Woo from the start, but Jung Ki Sub is a sneaky one, slowly making me fall for the character more and more. There was something irresistible about this character, it does not matter how annoying he might have felt, you kind of craved more of his screen time.

While I understand the appeal of the supporting couple (who does not like some angst in their lives?), I was not quite sold on their journey. I really like Balgeum, I did not care much about In Ho. That said, even if I was not that into them, the couple did deliver one of my favorite scenes in the whole show.

Plot wise - simple is the best. Were the issues at times presented in a comically simple way? Yes. The message was clear though, the story was not confusing and all the aspects got a closure. With short dramas like that, I could not ask for more. I appreciate the introduction of the topics like unintentional neglect, trying to please people and losing yourself in the process, being scared of your own feelings/not understanding your own feelings. The shame one can feel about their economic situation and how it can affect all aspects of a person's life.

The acting… I’m definitely a can of both Kim Sung Hyun and Nam Shi An now. Kim Sung Hyun did great with presenting both being rather cheeky and confident, and completely vulnerable with his feelings. Nam Shi An just… what an emotional journey we witnessed with the character he was presenting and how he slowly put away the positive mask and started to show more and more real emotions - that progression was perfect.

What’s more? The ost is just amazing. Silent goes straight to my playlist and I’m gonna play it on repeat for quite some time. Do It Over? Fun song perfect to start your day on a good note. I Will delivers great vocals and Isolation the best melancholic vibe.

Overall, I kind of want to rewatch it right away. It was sweet, fun and really entertaining. The characters were great and I would not mind either second season or a longer version (with the same cast, obviously).

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a mixed bag.

I didn't like the forced living together in Episode 1. Where does something like this fly today? Even if you would like that person, you would not start living together out of the blue. The rest of the story for the main couple was ok-ish. The side-couple was more or less wasted with too little in depth storytelling. They should have the flashbacks for both couples in the beginning which would have helped tremendously. The drama of Kim Jin Woo daddy was there to support the point that he's afraid of not connecting with the people he loves. Contrary he did connect with the girl in Ep 4 which didn't make much sense to me. If you are a loner, reclusive you don't connect with people in no time.
I wish they would have just concentrated on the lead couple and had a series for the side couple, maybe with even only 6 episodes per series.
The friendship between Jung Ki Sub and Choi Balg Eum was the highlight of the series for me. Overall it was an ok-ish series, not earth-shattering story-wise with some fluffy moments, but also not bad.

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Emotionally distant

Don't get me wrong, I love lighthearted shows where we sort of know what we are getting into in terms of story and episode length. However, this just didn't work out for me.
Usually I get into shows like these easily and enjoy them for what there are, however nothing drew me into the story or couples. If I were to describe what I felt about everything I'd use the word "shallow".
The second couple had me curious and I was really hoping to see and understand more about these two, but the episode length and lack of screen time caused a lot of drawbacks. The main couple was pretty cute and there were some well done scenes, however nothing really draws you into their story.
A good show to me is one that can draw me in and make me feel empathy for the characters, but I mostly felt nothing in terms of these ones. All in all, it's unfortunate to say that this show was overall quite boring and distant, I think it actually had a lot of potential. Either way, the actors did well with what they were given which is always commendable and appreciated.
*As a warning if you start watching for the second couple, I feel like you'll be really disappointed with the screen time and emotional connection if that's something you prioritize and enjoy.*

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cute, but didn't get any emotional connection to it

Boys Be Brave! had the potential to be a sweet and heartwarming BL drama, but unfortunately, it falls short in a few key areas. While the concept of friends-to-lovers living together is cute, the execution feels lackluster. The pacing drags, with the story meandering instead of building emotional tension. The central conflict - Ki Sub moving in uninvited - feels contrived and frustrating, hindering any real connection between the leads.

Adding to this disconnect is a lack of emotional depth with the characters. Despite strong performances from the actors (especially the second lead couple), the main couple's chemistry feels forced. Their expressions often fall flat, failing to convey the genuine affection viewers crave. This is particularly evident in crucial scenes where their relationship takes a step forward.

However, the drama isn't a complete wash. The soundtrack is a bright spot, with catchy tunes that enhance the viewing experience. The cinematography is also well-done, creating a visually pleasing atmosphere. Finally, despite its shortcomings, Boys Be Brave! succeeds in delivering a light and feel-good vibe. If you're looking for a casual watch with no emotional heavy lifting, it might be worth checking out. But for those seeking a BL drama with a powerful emotional connection and well-developed characters, Boys Be Brave! might leave you wanting more.

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Although I rate this drama with "only" 7 stars, it isn't bad at all. 7 is for me a light, fun watch, where I don't have much to criticize, but where I also wasn't that much enganged. :D

What I liked:

First of all, I was suuuper excited for Ahn Se Min, but found his perfomance the weakest.. Therefore Kim Sung Hyun surprised me. I really liked his acting/his character and he made me smile here and there. Overall, all the characters were pretty much likeable and entertaining.

The ending OST is a bop! Love it.

I actually liked the haircuts and the fluffy pastel sweaters. :D Jung Ki Sub was such a fluffball and endlessly adorable. Some scenes were really cute, funny or just nice to watch.

Room for improvement:

I agree, the writing was weak. The story felt choppy here and there and it was rather shallow. Some circumstances could have been used in a more emotional engaging way. I just didn't care too much about the characters, buuuut I really enjoyed one scene in episode 7 and a lot of episode 8. So..in the end, I was actually happy about the outcome. :D

It's just a classic, light korean BL. I don't think you miss a lot if you skip it, but it's also not a waste of time watching it. It's just nothing that hooked me emotionally or made me really feel connected to the characters. But I love korean BLs in general, so I don't miss out on them. :D

Additional thoughts:

I think a lot of people lack psychological understanding to get the characters at some point - based on what I read in the comments and where I absolutely can't agree with. I started the show, read some comments and were pretty bummed, because I expected the worst. :'D But yeah, it's not bad and for me the, the actions were all logically and understandable. I won't elaborate any further, because I want to keep my review spoilerfree. :)

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It was ok, but could have been better

I placed a spoiler at the end of this review.

This was not a bad series, but had an odd mix of moments that ranged from cute to cringe. The script just needed a little more tweaking to help make it better. It did a good job introducing the characters, but not the setup of events and the main storyline. There were also aspects of the script that didn’t make sense. It introduced some key things too late that would have helped the likability level of the main couple storyline. Because of this, the character Jung Ki Sub comes across as a very unlikable person in the first few episodes. However, their storyline became better overtime. I continued watching this series due to the second couple storyline. For me, their storyline was better developed script wise with one exception. I just wish they had more screen time. The actors did a very good job with their characters considering the script was lacking in some areas.

Random Notes:

They could have tone down Kang Hye Jin’s character a bit. They gave good reasoning behind her actions, but went a little over the top with them.

I immediately developed second couple syndrome with this series. I just found their story more interesting.

This is one of those series you can wait to watch until you have some time to kill and have nothing better on your must watch list.




******Spoiler Alert******

The second couple received an unresolved ending which was annoying. However, they can make this up to me by doing a second season focusing on them. If this does happen, it better have a decent script.

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JUST A CUTE AND FLUFFY LOVE STORY

First of all, I feel like I am watching Yeo Jin Goo or Yoon Chan Young and Im Si Hwan doing a BL here coz Kim Jin Woo Looks like Yeo Jin Goo and Yoon Chan Young and Gi Seop Looks like Im Si Hwan for me !!
About the not able to admit or confess to our crushes, everyone feels the same I believe, coz I remember way back in my High School days, I was not able to confess to my crush too, but my friends confessed for me , so here it just happened that a certain guy who can't say no to everyone happened to meet a person whom he knows actually likes him but does not go out with him, and he began to became curious of finding out and as he do it, he fell with the guy ! That plot is not really new for me, in some ways I find the story and the situations on this drama really nonesense but a POV of a madly inlove guys, but why did I gave it a high rating? Its because It was very cute and fluffy, watching it makes you really feel good, that's what I like about it ! Given the great visuals of the leads and how they portray the characters was really entertaining and soothing in my eyes. Jeong Gi Seop and Kim Jin Woo lead me to their world, Jeong Gi Seop's character was something really new to me, he is innocent and soft while I think Jin Woo is strong and at the same time he was a baby, all they ever did here was to make me jealous of their beautiful faces, beautiful lovelife and the fact that they are rich and living in South Korea ! The Drama was easy to watch, not too heavy, it was so funny also, just beautiful from start to end. About Choi BalGeum. I LIKE his name by the way, his love story was a bit sad and dark for me, korean BL always has this plots where an ex lover comes back and shake a certain character, anyways I am not really a fan of that, I actually skipped Choi Bal Geum's love story , I am sorry , just happy with Jin Woo and Gi Seop here , my favorite part was when they finally confessed to each other and they were sticking like a glue on the street, that was so funny, I am happy by the way that it was not too short so the run time was enough for the story, not rushed. ONLY I hated that I am confused with the ending ! Was it that they are not able to recognize each other after a long time or was it before they actually met ? Like the very beginning ? I don't know how can I move on with that coz I so love them , I am thinking that maybe there might be a season 2 ? Anyways , so happy with this drama, Gonna re watch this many times in the future and a recommended one and Gi Seoo is so Pretty , I like his voice so gentle, he is really gifted with that appearance !

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