Pitch perfect new BL in the now typical Korean style:

1. well defined character roles and social positioning
2. fast pacing because of the short run time
3. very small cast
4. extremely high production values and so PRETTY
5. light-touch meets strategic trope use
6. very soft bois and a weak seme/uke dynamic

A historical setting allowed this one to use some seriously old fashioned romance tropes, arranged marriage and evil step-sisters, but also modern BL stylings like fake relationship and secret identity plus some gentle gay panic. So flipping cute, their little smiles, just GAH. Bit of a dead fish kiss but I don’t care because I loved this tiny show full of soft sweethearts and no one saying anything directly (except our man with the poetry, I hope he finds his true love). Adorable.

It was a lot more light-hearted and gentle than any historical BL to date, which is Korea stamping the sub-genre with its mark and standing up to China’s darker BL traditions. It reminded me of 12th Night more than anything else which just happens to be my favorite Shakespeare play.

For all these reasons, I adored it.