Drama Stage 2022: XXXY (2022)

Short sweet kdrama about teenage gender

Thanks to Mio, a user on this website, I can watch the drama. Go to the links in their comment for non-sub. It is not complicate to understand and that is the first good point - the drama does not rely on voice lines to convey the story. You can understand every thing in the drama just watching it. It is a funny, soft, platonic, romance about teenagers and genders.

!!! Spoiler alert !!! Don't read "1. Story summary" if you don't want to be spoiled.

1. Story summary:

The story is about JY who is intersex and got adopted as a baby left behind in the hospital by a gay man married to a female doctor in contract. They all live happily as a surfaced couple with an adopted child and the uncle - the dad's mate. JY grow up to a teenager and experience both wet dream and period. The family WERE the only ones who knew about JY's secret with SR.

SR is JY best friend since childhood and JY now switches school to become SR classmate. WR is SR classmate and first met JY in the most kdrama way possible - touching hands while picking up something. JY joined the school wearing boys' uniform and the teachers were gossiping about JY intersex which got overheard by the class president. WR was caught off guard by JY uniform because WR fell in love at first sight.

WR bond with JY in a basketball game and began to question whether WR is gay or not. Meanwhile, JY is questioning whether JY like SR or WR. SR was jealous when other girls asked JY out. SR called JY out to meet SR and ask if JY want to date SR (kdrama pin to the wall). WR start to watch porn to try and figure out WR sexuality and did not get turned on. WR goes to the doctor for therapy since WR could not get hard while JY agree to date SR.

Lots of therapy and family time for JY - very supportive. WR family is funny and sadly, could have been important to the storyline. Most of JY classmates are open to accept genders - could have also got more storylines.

Kdrama dodgeball PE plot works out well as SR like being protected by JY in the boys and girls match while WR got hard as JY held WR from behind - physical contacts. JY refuse to kiss and only hug SR as JY like SR but is not ready. WR called JY out to confess in the night. More kdrama style when JY said WR might regret it but WR said "I only have eyes for you".

All this time, the class president hacked into JY computer and webcam, spies on JY and plan to expose JY to the whole school. SR knew this and tries to find the culprit but never did. JY got exposed and called to the teachers' room. The parents (surface couple) were called to talk about if JY wants to switch school. SR stand up for JY in class and WR protected as well as confess in front of the whole school when JY was bullied.

JY returned to class to find that their classmates were really accepting and happy ending as JY got time to figure out JY sexuality between/with SR and WR. Happy ending.


2. Personal opinions:

The main characters in JY, WR, and SR are very well written and portrayed. they have depths to the characters with many quirky moments. They are not flat out boring and obvious like many romance dramas. Although there are obvious kdrama moments to push the romance, it is subtle with logical progress and does not feel forced at all - they don't even have a definite couple in the end.

The drama got great portayal of a positive environment for gender and sex (maybe borderline unrealistic). Therapy were given, supportive family, supportive classmate, and kdrama men style - go for you no matter what. JY is so lucky to have knowledgeable parents and accepting community with true best friends in SR and WR.

It's too bad the drama is only 4 episodes because the established characters were written very well while the sides characters did okay considering their screen time - more side characters development is possible. I want to know more about SR 2 other female friends as well as the boy classmate - who could have shared something with JY. The only side character that had too little depth was the villian, but it is understandable since it is a very positive portrayal of sex and gender (as in rated G).

Overall, great drama and I hope there is season 2 (also pls get tvN a subtitler/translator because their drama is a bomb but little is exposed to foreign viewers)

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