A Path to Somewhere and Nowhere at the Same Time
I’m conflicted about this movie/series. I think the problems I have with it are not as a result of flaws in the film but rather a flaw in the basic concept and what they were given to begin with. How do you end a prequel happily when the sequel starts sadly? That is the problem they were handed.We know from Unintentional Love Story that they have a history in which there was confusion on Ho Tae side over his feelings and there was never a romantic relationship between them. They have an adversarial relationship, on the surface, at the beginning of the series and grow closer with an implied ending of them getting together. This is what leads to the problem of what you do with the prequel. They mentioned basic plot points but you’re dealing with a case of they parted for two years and ever since they have met again, they have not had a good relationship. So, you want to tell a story with a happy ending, but you essentially need to retcon the original story in order to obtain that.
Also, the plot felt like it dragged on. I watched around 2 episodes at a time due to the fact that it felt like we were going around in circles or just repeating the same plot points over and over again. It’s very weird in my head because it felt like there was a development in their relationship, but it felt like we kept stuttering to get there and it felt both like we got somewhere and also that we got nowhere. Was it maybe the repetition of Ho Tae’s actions towards Dong Hee. The repetitive promises he gave didn’t really change much. They were supposed to show forward change, and it just felt like we were going back to the last time this happened and were doomed to relive similar events again. Maybe it would have been different if I had seen it as a film as opposed to separate episodes, it may have flowed better that way but that’s not what was available to me.
It kind of feels like we got both somewhere and nowhere and that I think is the fault of the original story because in that story, we started just after nowhere, so this story had to end at nowhere. The ending felt rushed and empty and that is due to the limitations of the beginning of the original. I also believe that this was a very one-sided story.
In my opinion, Ho Tae is the main character and Dong Hee felt very much cast to the side. It felt like we were watching the development of Ho Tae’s feelings and his story and how Dong Hee fit into that with only a sprinkle of plot development for Dong Hee but only how it impacted him in relation to Ho Tae. That’s just the feeling I got.
Overall, I didn’t dislike it, but I’m sitting with a lot of opposing feelings.
(I already posted this review on the movie page but decided to post it here to so people can see it)
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Well-executed and acted roller coaster ride of emotions.
*re-posting from the movie/compilation version, since this has a lower rating and I actually watched the 6-ep version*Subjective Gut Rating: 9.25 (going to be generous and rounding this up to 9.5)
Wow.. I had zero expectation going into this as I haven’t watched “Unintentional Love Story”. I was just hearing good things about “The Time of Fever”. Am I glad I watched it! It’s been a very long time since a Korean BL made me feel all the different emotions. The last one was “To My Star” Season 2.
The plot is really simple. But what this drama excels in is its execution, acting and the range of emotions that it brought out of me. I was smiling, giggling and crying throughout these couple hours. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
The acting of the two main leads and their chemistry is electrifying. I can feel their innocence, confusion, shyness, happiness, sadness, desperation and hurt. The two kiss scenes were beautifully shot and full of tension. Go Ho Tae and Kim Dong Hee are like yin and yang, and complement each other so well. Ho Tae is outgoing and wears his feelings on his sleeves. He’s not afraid to push through the thick barriers that Dong Hee put up. Dong Hee is gentle and mature, but there are moments when his teenage self couldn’t resist the temptation of touch or a teeny bit of jealousy.
The ending leaves it up for viewers’ interpretation. I would have loved to believe that they finally expressed their honest feelings for each other in the future. I am not sure if “Unintentional Love” will provide me with more happiness from this pair, but this drama makes me want to check out the other story to see more of Ho Tae and Dong Hee.
I am rating this a high 9.25, from a subjective and objective point of view. If a drama makes me feel this way, it deserves at least an 8.5. Coupled with excellent execution, it deserves high ratings and rave reviews.
Completed: 9/22/2024 - Review #489
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