really good, appreciate their acting, and their …chemistry? Not even a strong enough word

. I have watched a lot of romance shows and I’m often more convinced by one character’s love than another. That was not the case here. The whole time I could FEEL ML2’s love for the ML, but when ML fell, I could FEEL his love for ML2. I was equally convinced. This manifests both from a terrific story line, AND terrific acting. Thank you. You weren’t perfect, but you were one of the most special.

Also, since it seems like, for the first time I’m my life, I haven’t reached the word limit, I also wanted to add that I loved how both the main characters were NOT models. They were not the highest standards of beauty and that made them all the more beautiful. Especially Roah, ML 2. Edit: second time around and Ro-a is beautiful in my eyes. Indubitably. And made that way by what I feel was simply good acting (when looking at Jiwoo ?) so whether he’s physically handsome or not, I am unable to say, because it’s all blended together. ML 1 (jiwoo) isn’t pretty either, but he’s SO cute when folded in Ro-a’s arms ? and this is infinitely more important than physically beautiful actors.

More to the Edit; I’m back editing this review because I when I asked myself, what’s one of my favorite bl, this came to mind first. Why? Acting and well, embarrassingly, their chemistry. Like I’d always been suspicious of “chemistry” but for me, they … at the end, I really felt that their hearts were breaking for each other. And being mended by each other. Especially Ro-a.

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ML 1 is a wooden post, you should have left ML2 a brother and friend, ML3 ;) we love you Bi Wen Jun

ok, but with a cast full of extremely talented male actors (who were just as beautiful), why did they have to choose the acting wooden block Song Wei Long as the male lead? Bi Wen Jun was absolutely incredible and loveable. Please let it have been him instead! Even the villain, Wang Rui Chang was an absolutely incredible actor.
Of course we cant forget Ju Jing Yi herself. She and the other three male leads made up for the wooden Song blah blah, but STILL. Ugh

Also, the love "triangle?!" I wish it had just stayed with Zexin as a brother figure. He was the perfect brother, I felt the brotherly
the storyline was beautiful and the brotherly affection went beyond acting. Having him "in love" with her ruined his character and it just ruined the last couple of episodes, though I'm glad that it was barely there ( though it was bad plotting on the scriptwriter's part). It was amatanormative, it was unnecessary, and it was short-sighted. Really, none of these words do justice to how disgusted and disappointed I feel.

The only other thing is, I wish she could have become a functionary or something equally prestigious rather than a role "befitting" a woman like teaching or wife. I mean I wish the goal of all this series wasn't marriage as if that is the highest of goals a girl can wish for completely wiping out any of the progress the story made in convincing the audience and characters of a women's deservability to belong in the Yun Shang Academy.
7.75? an almost 8 but Mr. Wooden Grrrrrrrrrr and all this protection shit. hasn't she shown already she can protect herself? Treat her as an equal you fense, you post, you pot-a-potty - nah, a port-a-potty has more character than him.

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I'm... not sure this was consentual

I came here for a good love story, instead, I got something that ridiculed love stories and basically bashed gay relationships. I know it intended to bash BL, I came ready for that. I am a prodigious basher of BL (I can only watch and read it if I also recognize and vocalize its many faults and issues), but this one... it went too far. As someone who is queer, and is able to healthily bash BL, it feels very uncomfortable watching this. And it all boils down to this feeling that none of it was consensual. Like there was a higher power author playing puppet master with these men's lives ...against their will. hear me out. TMC spent 3.75 episodes not in love with anyone and very comfortable and fully in his non-BL life. Successfully fighting it with all he's got with no challenges in sight. THEN you see him confessing to a person he meets 1.5 times for a matter of seconds like a day ago, and has barely interacted with? While in his head shouting and struggling against it with all his might? Not only was it the worse love story BECAUSE IT WAS NON-EXISTENT, but it was so unbelievable he'd be in love with this stranger (who was your name?) out of thin air! And what makes it worse is this feeling that there is a higher power that is the author playing around with these men. Each of them "falls in love" instantaneously, with no pretext, no context AND there is that guy with the binoculars... and the fact that he's there in the final scene and says "you didn't escape." Ugh. But in the end, he doesn't want to fall in love, He doesn't fall in love, but all of a sudden he's confessing to someone (who is very cute by the way) protesting all the way? That doesn't seem like it's happening under his own will. And the one thing I hate most in this world is a lack of consent. Being forced into a relationship, to love, to have physical interactions with someone against your will. Nah-ah, not ok.
What's worse, is they could have made the falling in love consensual, or seem consensual. He could have actually MET the love interest. He could have slowly, obviously come to a decision that he loves the other dude and SHOWS he loves the dude for actually visible reasons or interactions, and he could have willingly, nay ENTHUSIASTICALLY come to confess his love. I came here for a good love story, instead, I got something that ridiculed love stories and basically bashed gay relationships.

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I'd watch it again

Yes I skipped over the side stories, yes the character's chemistry held it up, yes First the character had huge gaps in development, yes the story needed a stretch of imaginations (but really, what BL doesn't), yes I did feel First was coming at Play a little strong without that yes (ok, that's really not ok), yes I was there and only stayed there for Gameplay's acting. but that doesn't mean it was bad.

I enjoyed it. I even went back and watched a couple of my favorite parts. I gave acting/cast that high a rating because though the side *stories* were worthless, their acting wasn't. I particularily LOVED seeing the beautiful, glorious, and POSITIVE representation of the queer community here. Hence the 9.5. And of course Play and First were fantastic, if only there was a worthwhile story/development.

The low Story score is because of these sides stories that I had to skip. I got the impression they were awkward. If they weren't there maybe they would have had the time to make First's actions/feelings make since, patch up those gapping gaps. Skipping the side stories definitely cut down significantly on an already short story. But short can be Sweet.

It was fluffy, cute, (except for that one part in the last episode. If you're ace you know what I mean. I can't say anything more ... explicit ... or I'll spoil things) and I want Usagi for myself so I can huge Usagi too.

Recommended if you want to escape far away from the constraints of reality, if you don't want to feel bad or sad, if you've had a (terribly) long day at work and you just want rainbows and butterflies and not thinking (key) and you don't mind skipping things (it doesn't make a difference, the sides stories are so irrelavent that you don't even know you missed them).

Also, there has got to be a sequal with an ending like that; additionally, I feel that D8 is new, and... short or resources and experience? (but again, what BL production company isn't).

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Worth watching, but a mixture of good and bad

I loved the general idea and follow-through of two of the three storylines. (hopefully not a spoiler) but I'm a huge fan of the "I'm in love with my straight, oblivious best friend who makes my life all miserable" and they did a pretty good job with it. I felt Min Woo's pain, but then it became a little choppy/rushed.
I loved Lee Hyun and Kim An's storyline because of Lee Hyun's unwavering devotion to Kim An despite all he had been through, slowly showing him he can let love in. But Kim Yong Seok was (rightly) just done with his character by episode 9. His character had seemed like a strong character who was fighting through so much sh*t, and was in reach of making it out the other side, and then, well that would be a spoiler, but in general, I feel like the "weakness" and dependence shown by the character later on was out of character, and Kim Yong Seok (and I) were not fans.
The last one was just ... present? I'm sure there was a story being told, but I can't really isolate it. Nevertheless, Jung Woo Jae was one of the best actors in the show. (I was surprised that J-min was the best actor. Should I be surprised that an idol is an incredible actor? Or am I being partial)
(other?) Complaints:
Like what was it with the boom mikes floating along the top of the screen at least two different times - the first time they were in front of Kim An's house, and the second was in Ep. 9. I don't know a lot about filming, but I Can't think of anything more unprofessional and easily fixed. Like, that seems like the biggest no-no.
While I enjoyed the individual storylines, the ending of each (especially Maru and Min Woo) seemed rushed, but then they stretched out the ending also known as who-even-knows-what-is-happening-after-everyone-got-together-but-let's-make-it-as-awkward-and-poinless-as-sh*t. i.e. Episode 10 should not exist. It was the epitome of awkward cringe. I watched it because the characters' stories and actors had brought me in and I wanted to stay with them until the end. There were still little cute moments in the mix, but it still was painful to watch. You could tell Gim An/Kim Yong Seok had had enough. (somewhat of a spoiler) Forcing all storylines to converge in a nonsensical way, and have six men sit and talk in a circle about each other and nothing while glamping together? Nah, man.

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Great representation

I liked how there were no tropes. It felt like a real story. It was very accepting of queer identities, they talked about queer identities instead of brushing them behind a bush like some other BL dramas coughKoreacough. I especially liked what the dad had to say at the end and how there was a bit at the end for SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics) by the PHILIPPINE ANTI-DESCRIMINATION ALLIANCE OF YOUTH LEADERS.
I LOVED IT. It was maybe my favorite part. Imagine if a Koran BL with two members of a kpop boy group had a section on the definition of bisexuality put on by a LGBTQIA group?! In other words, let's support all the Filippino dramas! They're far ahead of other countries and their media. OMG, imagine if the US tried to make BL. I think hollywood would get razed to the ground by angry fujoshi (me included. It'd just be a capitalist move/gimmick anyways).

Good story, some plot gaps, odd scene placement, fantastically diverse characters, some very beautiful characters. Thanks producers! I got pleasure out of this show and from some of the most unexpected places.

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Really good with a little too much discomfort.

One decent actor doesn’t make up for a really bad actor and a story line that makes you severely uncomfortable. I’m hella queer too. It made me uncomfortable as a queer person. Queerness was never mentioned but kuta shuddered all the time at the thought of liking a guy. He had to always force himself. And forcing yourself to be “gay” is just like a gay person forcing themselves to be straight.it made me sick. Naoya’s really bad acting made it exponentially worse. But I do love Japanese bl. I love how noya was so respectful of his boundaries and wishes. There was just so so so much potential. That’sa huge part of why I’m grading it so harshly

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SO much better than En of Love

It was short, shorter even than En of Love, yet it was so much better, and it all came down to the pacing, directing and storyline of the show. With En of Love, you could tell they were trying to fit a longer story into a couple episodes and not only could you not do the story justice, it was butchered so badly, I almost wish they hadn’t tried. I had to scour reddit to be able to understand En of Love, whereas here, the story was clear, short and sweet, and the characters and actors (War) got to shine. I highly recommend watching this and rooting on these actors for the bigger and better things they deserve.

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It could have been done in 25 episodes

Got so bored halfway through and had to force myself to finish it and only by skipping through more boring parts. They could have made it 10 episodes (1/3) shorter. I did really like the twists and turns with Jung Hyun Soo's story and the actor that played him did an incredible job. Really all the actresses and actors did a great job. They were able to convey so much feeling, gah, I mean Ji Chang Wook and Nam Ji Hyun were the main characters. That is all that need to be said. They were the reason why I came, and the reason why I stayed (and for Hyun Soo. Bad characters are even harder to act out). I particularly loved Na Ji Hae and Eun Bong Hee's relationship/interactions. and Eun Hyuk and Section Chief Bang.
Still, they could have 100% left the drama about their fathers out.

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Blown Away by Way

THIS REVIEW IS A SPOILER AT THE FIRST SENTENCE: Normally I'd scream, "They killed their gays!" but in this story it worked. It wasn't about him being gay. It was a really creative well acted-out story, and though you could have had a facinating ending where P'Kim was always in her body alive. This still is a great story. And I wasn't suprised at how good Ohm/ Khet's acting was, but I loved how different his role was from all his other roles, and he was just as incredible. (Equally as incredible as he is in hus current role in Best Buddy, just because of how different this role is, it shows the depth and breadth of his acting skills. But what I was blown away (pun intended because the Angel of Death is my BFF and deserves a standing ovation) was P'Way/Fluke Pusit's acting. I definitely judged that book by it's cover, his character's cover at that, but by the end of the show, he was the one that had me crying. Not anyone else. And I haven't cried for a show since going on meds.

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This = gaslighting and harassment. If in a similar position, it's ok to say no and be respected

It's sad to see again how people can find abuse, stalking and gaslighting cute. This is something called romantic harassment and abuse. The end results are the same. It's when someone keeps making advances, touching you and controlling you even after you say no over and over again and all the while you feel discomfort, you feel fear, you avoid places you normally go and it affects your ability to work and be comfortable in your own skin. These are the products of abuse, clear as day, so it hurts to see this idolized. Please don't view this drama and the actions of the "love interest" as ok.

This. is. not. ok.

Put yourself into the main character’s shoes, and imagine telling a pushy person to stop invading your personal space, but that person just wouldn’t stop touching you, getting into your way and stalking you. Wouldn’t you start to get annoyed, or even creeped out?

For those shouting, oh, it’s just fiction, don’t watch if you don’t like, I respond, no! That kind of disrespect should never be considered the basis of a healthy relationship.

The main character is virtually being gaslit into a romantic "situation " by the so called love interest and the whole team of oblivious and horrible coworkers.

This is not how good BLs should be. There are already quite a few really stellar series of that genre out there that clearly demonstrate how a good enemies/rivals to lovers story should be written.

Please stop normalising and romanticising abusive behaviour. It is neither cute nor should it set an example for anyone looking into getting into a relationship, or just living their lives, as this main character was.

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Fantastic except how they treated talk of suicide and used gayness as slap-stick

I want to say that I loved this drama and watched it all in one sitting. I also had two holdbacks that kept slapping me across the face as the show went on because they never went away.
How they treated talk of suicide and used gayness as slap-stick.
Spoilers from here on.

Eun Yu travels back in time to literally kill herself. She tells Eun Gyeol multiple times, and NOT THING HAPPENS. HE BARELY REACTS AND BY EPISODE 12 IT'S LIKE SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER. IF THIS WAS NOT FICTION (AND EVEN IN FICTION), WHEN SOMEONE TELLS YOU THEY'RE GOING TO KILL THEMSELVES, COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY THEY TOLD YOU THIS TIME. I DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE JOKING, OR UNSURE, OR IT'S SPUR OF THE MOMENT.
THIS. IS. A. CRY. FOR. HELP.
I would give anything for him to have reacted appropriately once. To have acknowledged what she said, to have even checked in, "so, I hear you want to kill yourself. You serious?" Instead, by episode 12, she's holding full conversations about coming here to kill herself multiple times in an episode, and .... and.... HOW CAN THE CONVERSATION JUST CONTINUE. I'm sitting here, like, wait, dude, bro, like what? Are you at least going to ask her if she still plans to kill herself? She's talking in the present tense here and it's not the subtitles' fault.
If you were someone who has a suicidal friend or family member and saw this and even considered for a moment, "this is how people respond when someone tells you they're trying to kill themselves?" that's bad. If suicide isn't talked about in a community, and more media than not treats it as unreal, un-urgent, or even a joke... this will affect your view and behavior. You are also going to treat it that way. And if you, the reader are saying "media doesn't affect your behavior; no one's that stupid," have you seen the internet? Are you not here on this website? Have you heard of Hallyu? The Korean Government knows how much media affects people's beliefs and behaviours. They built their entire trillion-dollar economy on it.
If you are suicidal and see someone else's suicidal behavior talked about like this, you're going to be horrified. You're going to take this as more evidence that if you tell people they won't take you seriously. Also, this is Korea, one of the countries with the highest suicide rate in the world. If you think about it, it's absolutely f-cked up that they treat suicide like this. "Oh, suicide, it's a part of life. Let's pretend she didn't say anything. Everyone's a bit suicidal these days, etc."
For - using gayness as a joke was very off-putting. Each time someone accused the brother or father of being gay for the other, they both reacted like it was the end of the world (Maybe that's what the ultra-devout Christians want us to believe, so what, you want to forward their agenda) You couldn't just leave it at a friend being overprotective of a friend/family member they are afraid for? You had to say that that much affection and protectiveness between or shown by a man must mean he's gay!?!?! Wow. Just Wow. I know it's a plot device, but please. This is only a stairway landing up from killing the gays - yay, we made it into the 20th century, now let's just make fun of gay people and use them to excuse away too much male sentimentality. wow.

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Great story, progressive ish content, bad acting in 2/4 MC

The title says it all, but I want to focus on what I found progressive. This is the first time where I watched a show that (sadly still) assigned top and bottom but this time the top took on many of the “womanly traits” like cooking and maybe stronger emotions, though that equally could have been the quality of acting. He was definite The cuter one, but still was the top. It’s bad to say, “oh it defied gender stereotypes,” because it still
assigned top and bottom. Or giver and receiver. But it twisted the “top = man” bottom = woman. Idk. I found it so refreshing in the moment that i wanted to write a whole review about it.
As for the story and acting, the acting was bad, but it didn’t really take away from the overall show other than to make me feel bad/ embarrassed for the actors. I really enjoyed the storyline, and it was compelling enough that I looked forward to the show every day. I would recommend unless you don’t like bad acting. And I mean bass. I have not seen acting this bad in living
memory. But it was cute and fun. Except for that one scene on the subway tunnel by Ren

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Like literally peeling an unsensored Japanese manga BL off it's pages.

Porsche's acting was incredible, I liked his little brother, Kim was good (his voice and storyline at least. Not sure about that acting). But They could have 1) not had rape, though surprisingly they almost admitted it was rape. 2) improved Vegas and Pete's storyline to be more clear (oh, Vegas's acting (and bi-lingual-ness) was also incredible). I think they could have added a couple lines that explained that Vegas loved Pete because he really saw him and liked him for who he was, both with and without the trappings that came with being part of the minor family (dude, you can actually be someone now that you're OUT of the minor family, you're free Vegas (facepalm)), and Pete, I think ... well I'm out of my depths, but I think Vegas opened him up to his sub/kink desires and let him embrace them and not be disgusted with himself for it. But without this context, it's kinda sick... and falls flat. With Porsche/Kinn they had such the perfect opportunity to break out of the uke/seme, top/bottom, male/female stereotypes/roles, I would have loved to see Porsche top at least once. And not for titillation, but because I came here (to a BL) to NOT see romantic and sexual relationships defined by gender roles, nay, I wanted to see them FREE of gender roles. How can I describe this. I want to see the potential of society to dismiss, nay, demolish the barriers and stigmatism that uses gender as an excuse to say women are lesser, emotionally vulnerable, subservient, and dependent, and men must be powerful and emotionless and violent. You give us a show that tells us gender doesn't matter in love, but assigning "gender roles" says that gender stereotypes do matter, that they must be maintained. It's like they're saying sexual and romantic freedom is free... but only in fiction because you have to stick to your place in your gender role. Completely reversing every freedom viewers often look for in these shows. Straight women look for sex without gender roles and a place where they can play out their desires without stigma. And queer people look for queerness. So stop assigning gender roles. Nothing but straight men are looking for that, and if they're watching this, they're hopefully questioning gender roles and sexuality as we speak. And not hate-watching something. Like what is that.

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So good in so many ways...

I loved this so much in almost every way. The storyline was realistic, but cute, full of life as well as surprisingly good sage life advice. But I really just want to talk about how realistic Togawa's reaction to his own confession was. I was punched in the gut in the best way possible because that would be how I would react if I had to confess to the one person I loved more than life even knowing that would almost certainly mean they'd leave your life forever. and possibly hate you for it. It was THE. BEST. CONFESSION. SCENE EVER. Fight me. we all have our own preferences, but this was just so real, it just hit home, and it resonated with my soul.

Ok now for the two negative points that were the only reason this show didn't get a 10/10
1. the acting. There I said it. Parts were great, they gut-punched me in the best way. but... other scenes were awkward to say the least. I think it was just being forced to laugh in a scene that wasn't funny or something, but if it's' getting in the way of my viewing experience enough that I have to include it in a review, it has to be pretty noticeable.
2. this thing with pretending to be girls. I'm mixed about this, because it could be an incredible social commentary on the strict gender roles in Japan, so strict that men can't even go out to eat desserts or take pictures together. And this may be true, but instead, it came off as if rather like they wanted to make it a titillating experience for the female viewers. So, in fact, it had the opposite effect. If you had just taken the "pretend to be girls" element out, and just say, "I want to be able to go out and eat pastries and take pictures which I can't do now that I'm old and a man" and then Togawa responds with something like "age doesn't matter (like that really good quote at the end where he compares it to being from two different districts in Japan - irrelevant) and gender is a social construct," it would have... left a different feeling. But please comment and tell me that I'm wrong. I really want it to be that first option.

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