Ocean Like Me (2022)

Script? What script?

I love Holland for all he has done (and represents) for the LGBTQ community, and I'm thrilled that a KBL finally has an openly gay actor playing a lead. But the production company didn't even try with the script. In fact, calling it a script might be too generous - it's a few ideas strung together with nothing connecting them. Which is a bummer, because the characters did have promise if you squint (a shy, gullible chef trying to start a restaurant paired with an outgoing, business-savvy drifter who's like, "I must help this sweet fool before he loses the shirt off his back." Aaand I just made it sound way more interesting than it actually ended up being. In reality, they just skip from plot point to plot point with no progression or logic.)

The direction must have been pretty poor because I KNOW Han Gi Chan can act, but in a lot of scenes here, it seemed like he couldn't. Holland's acting skills didn't come across too well either, but I'd give him another chance if he tries acting again, because (*gestures toward Han Gi Chan*) even a good actor seemed middling in this drama. To be fair, there were some scenes that I thought they acted out decently.

The (literal) ocean was very pretty. I also liked that this drama skipped a lot of the common pitfalls in BL - both of them were nice guys, neither of them was an alpha, they didn't sexually harass or assault each other, and no one fetishized them. Finally, I enjoyed the homophobia-free environment! But without an actual story, it was all so very bland.

Here's hoping that these actors' next projects are with companies that will invest in quality scripts and directors. Our trailblazing icon Holland deserved better than this for his acting debut.

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