The second couple made me stay.

Plot's predictable. It's one of those shows wherein you know what's going to happen from the first 2 episodes. But hey, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's easy to watch.

What irks me the most is the way Gongchan seems to have the same expression in every single frame. He has the same squinty, doe-eyed expression. I can't seem to ignore that when he's the main character so he's in almost every frame. The other actors are quite good though, especially Taemin and Seowon. Seowon nailed the confrontation scene.

The second couple deserves more screentime. They're barely even in the episodes. IMO, their chemistry is more palpable than the main couple. Their storyline is more mysterious too. Too bad it was handled poorly until the end. The source material has side stories focused on them though. I wonder why they didn't include that.

All in all, is it atrocious? No. Do I love it? Also No. It's ok. It's fine.

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An unforgettable experience.

If there's one BL (ok, bromance because the country is home of phobic) I would always recommend, it's this one. It's everything and more.

First, the characters are perfectly cast. Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo embodied their characters so well. They became their characters. The same goes to the supporting cast.

Second, as with most danmeis, the story is extremely complex and creative. It's very interesting and you're always at the edge of your seat.

Third, the chemistry is palpable. There is absolutely zero explicit scenes but it's still romantic. Their gazes, hand touches, and their obvious attraction can't be subdued by all the censorship in the world.

Next, the music. The songs are unforgettable. WUJI is legendary. The mere first 3 notes of the opening song bring me to tears. Hell, the mere sight of that lotus brings me to tears.

Overall, it's a masterpiece. The only criticism I have is the CGI. Some scenes were rough.

Please watch this, everyone. Bear with the names, bear with the confusion. Trust me. By ep 5, you would want to binge all 50 episodes.

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Yes, this is the best KBL to date.

I'm an angst lover. I love painful series and dramas and I'm partial to sad and moody stories. All these considered, I also appreciate some light moments to keep me engaged. The Eighth Sense ticks all my boxes.

First, the cinematography is great. It's not shot like a standard BL, if you know what I mean (yes, I watched Blueming. I prefer this). It's more reminiscent of queer indie cinema. I love how the colors are dark and muted, but also vivid at the same time. I also love the wide shots throughout the episodes. There are lots of beautiful, detailed close-up frames as well. I even love the very interesting opening sequence. The fonts and colors are so different.

Next, the OST. The songs are so perfectly utilized that they add so much to the scenes. Wetter's "You N Me Us" is now a staple in my playlist, as well as Ben Goldstein's "I Can't Lose it All". You can't help but feel ✨things✨.

Now the cast. I think this is an example of impeccable casting. The main actors fit their roles well. They also have immaculate chemistry. Just them looking at each other induces tons of butterflies. It's indescribable. It's amazing. The side characters are great as well. The ex girlfriend and Jaewon's friend really make your blood boil. They're so effective. And of course we love our angel Aeri.

But even with all of those excellent points, if the story is trash, it still wouldn't work. But thank goodness the story is great. It's interesting and complex. It tackles sensitive issues like loss and mental health. The writers did an great job in handling these delicate matters.

One of the cons I can think say about this series is that there are times when the editing was questionable. There were a few scenes where the cuts were so sharp and jarring. It may have been a stylistic choice but there were times when I just wasn't able to ignore it. It clearly needed work.

Also, not everyone needs to be forgiven. Endings don't need to be all sunshine and rainbows for all characters. Toxic people should be pulled out from the root. Jaewon's friend has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
He shouldn't have been forgiven.

The 10 episodes went by like a breeze. It was a roller coaster of emotions. We were kicking the air in glee at one point, and then screaming like banshees out of frustration the next. It was so, so good. Watch it. You won't regret it.

Jaewon and Jihyun, goodbye my lovelies. You both are now a part of me ♥️

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An unexpected gem

Dove right in without seeing anything remotely related to the series. Didn't see the trailer. Didn't know the summary. Hell, I didn't even clearly see the actors' faces.

I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed this. As an "angst is paramount" person, I didn't think I would love a light, fluff-filled drama. But this drama wasn't only a cheese fest; the element of longing was clear and forward. You can feel it through the screen. And yes, mutual pining is one of the ✨elite✨ tropes.

It's also incredibly well-acted. I didn't cringe once, which is very rare for this type of show. They suit characters very well. Great casting.

The only con I think this has is that the plot is very simple and straighforward. You know what's going to happen. You can predict the flow of the story. Also, being a KBL, the episodes are so short. It felt rushed in some aspects.

Overall, it's one that I would be rewatching often. It fills your heart with butterflies and is an instant mood-lifter. You will thoroughly enjoy this. I assure you.

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Cinematographic masterclass

Right off the bat, I can say that this is one of the best looking BLs out there, regardless of country of origin. The cinematography is, as I said, a masterpiece. Each frame is well thought out, with beautiful lighting and gorgeous, punchy colors. It is a visual feast. The story tackles sensitive matters like insecurity, anxiety, and loneliness well. Extremely relevant and relatable. There is so much to love.

However, I felt the performances from the leads were lacking. There were some stale moments, especially the heavy scenes. During those emotion driven scenes, it seemed like they weren't committed enough. On the other hand, they were fully committed during the intimate scenes. They did a great job.

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The forefathers of KBL

There are a lot of dark, angsty BLs from different countries out there but this is one of the few that actually made my heart hurt.

A big contributing factor to this drama's greatness is its OST. The songs are amazing and I still have them on my daily playlist years after I first watched this. The songs are too good.

The acting. What can I say? They embodied their characters perfectly. You believe the brattiness. You believe the guarded sensitivity. You believe it all. Their chemistry is seriously one of the best. So magnetic. Their longing gazes? Damn.

A con is how there's actually very little character development. With so little time and so few episodes, everything can't really be explored. Another con is the dead fish kiss. Really. I'd rather have no kisses at all than a dead fish one. Their chemistry without this is enough to carry through.

Overall, it's one of my absolute favorites. Watch this. You won't regret it. It's painful yes, but it's also beautiful.

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