My two cents on peoples interpretations

As with all art - films and so on, people will interpret this series in their own way. As we are humans we pull from our own closest experiences and empathy to understand the characters on screen. I feel this is why there are such hard black and white lines with the like or dislike of this series.

I feel both characters were portrayed amazingly by each actor ( I was very excited to see Jae Bum from Choco-Milk in a dark dramatic series and am really really looking forward to what else Wooyoung will do ). Many people say the story line wasn't clear, or the whole series is confusing. I don't agree, you just have to pay attention, they are telling you everything you need to know. Because I want everyone to love this series I will spell it out for you haha. Or more so..this “review” will be "what was their relationship at the beginning" and Yoondae in general, since most people seem to dislike him the most. Get ready for a whole character analysis baby.

It was clear from their "first interaction" that SooHyuks mom was marrying YoonDaes father, who is abusive (aka- for a time they were step brothers - this is why he calls Soohyuk "hyung" at the beginning. He explicitly says so in the scene. The direction of shots that portrays the abuse Yoondae goes through is beautifully done, from the scene where Soohyuk sees the bruise on his neck, to the band aid seen with the cut and soon to be black eye. I prefer and LOVE when shows don't spell everything out in complete dialogue, because that is not realistic. The scene of Yoondaes father at his school saying to just drop out, the fear that Yoondae portrays as he's backed into a corner, waiting for the other shoe to drop. The emotional and physical abuse that Yoondae experiences and still does is clearly shown- there wasn't a need to show a literal scene of the abuse.

So although he "got away" by moving out and couch hopping, abuse like that does not leave you. Like Yoondae shows, you are lost, not knowing the next step to take since it was always decided for you. Yoondaes habit of lying is clearly driven from this, since even if it's pity that is given to him, at least it is some sort of love and attention. This in turn makes him want to test his boundaries in a twisted way, pushing people to their limits somehow makes sense to him. He wants someone to care and to fight for him, but everyone just leaves. His inherent loneliness is clearly shown with his constant hang outs with his friends, not wanting to leave his friends job because he wants to wait for him. His friend even says "you know that's weird" and Yoondae agrees and clearly knows he has attachment issues. Although it is not said or portrayed, the LACK of Yoondaes mother tells us all we need to know. She is either dead or long gone from their family, this most likely is a reason for his attachment and abandonment issues. She is neither spoken of or seen in things such as photos etc. This all circles around to why, as they say in the series, Soohyuk has become Yoondaes "home".

Soohyuk out of his own free will and kindness saw Yoondae for who he was and what he was going through. Yoondae didn't need to lie or tell him anything because Soohyuk understood. Unprompted love and care when he said to sleep in his room so Yoondaes dad won't hit him. Even Yoondae is confused by his kindness, but they show how he starts to understand that they are both similar and "not like their parents' '. He finally had someone who cared, loved and wanted him to be okay. Yoondae has friends of course but they never seem to grasp the complete toll Yoondaes father had on him. Don't get me wrong they understand and have done a lot for him but they never actively tried to help him in high school ( they're kids of course ) but Soohyuk did, I think that's why the impact of it was so great to him. Never mind the obvious attraction he has for Soohyuk *cough the bandaid scene cough*.

Some people may think his advances / attraction ( in the present timeline ) was out of left field or a way to manipulate Soohyuk to let him stay since Soohyuk clearly stated he likes men. I again do not agree. I think it was clearly shown in the past timeline that Yoondae was not interested in girls. His avoidance, annoyance and sabotage of the "double dates" his friend was making him go to was your first hint. The subtle things such as choosing to wear Soohyuks shoes even though they were falling apart. His upset and anger he had when Soohyuk "ran away" in the past timeline. The shock and longing he shows when he first sees him again. It's all there. But he had a girlfriend? Yes, a girlfriend who let him live in her house "after the first date because he was handsome" as his friend stated. Obviously this was a means to the end, and not any sort of attraction or love. ( not cool but it is what it is, haven't you grasped that Yoondae has issues lmao ) Even with Yoondaes track record, I don't believe him kissing Soohyuk was a way to manipulate him into letting him stay. I think it was his love for Soohyuk and his abandonment issues. He even says he doesn't want to leave because he doesn't want to say goodbye.

Yoondaes character invokes pity and frustration, "just get a job" you think- "just stop saying bullshit and say how you feel" you think. You want him to succeed, you want him to do better because he has had a hard life. But yet, he doesn't. instead he drinks every night and sleeps all day and does it again. Why? Because he thinks he deserves it, after all the hardships he's been through, his subconscious thinks, ah I deserve a break - just for a bit. I'm sad so I'll drink, I'm lonely so I'll go out. He does not think in future tense and that is his biggest current problem. Even other people understand, that's why it's not said to him at all in the series to "get a job" . His girlfriend literally was working overtime and he was just at home playing video games. When she spoke to Soohyuk about their break up you can hear the pity and emotion in her voice, as Soohyuk pointed out, she didn't even want to talk bad about him.

Yoondae is a slow drain, because he is a good person but over time he sort of...sucks the life out of you by his stagnate state. They didn't portray how long he was living with the girlfriend ( therefore how long he has been out of his fathers house ) but it doesn't seem like it was very long so I can't really blame him. Bro needs therapy, but no one is really telling him what he needs to do, they are just placating him. Even with the emotional scene with his friend where he, with tears in his eyes, asks his friend "what do I do" his friend just sits in silence. I think that's why Yoondae starts to get more and more desperate about Soohyuk leaving him, to some peoples disbelief, I think Yoondae knows his flaws. He knows Soohyuk will soon find out he inadvertently lied about his dad being dead, he knows that the "only reason" Soohyuk asked him to live with him was because he had “no one else” ( although that doesn’t appear to be the only reason in reality ). He knows that Soohyuk will “run away” and when he does, and stops sleeping at home Yoondaes abandonment issues kick into gear in full force. The scene where he lies about inviting friends over, breaking a window and cutting his hand is such an obvious display of his issues, the fact that he knows he uses pity and emotional manipulation to get love and affection. But what really breaks your heart is that he says “just kidding” in the most heartbreaking way because Yoondae KNOWS Soohyuk knows he’s lying anyways. But then he says “but i'm not lying about the broken window” as a last ditch effort because Yoondae doesn’t know any other way..(again therapy plz) Soohyuk then hangs up because again, he knows this is how Yoondae works. Thats why it is so gut wrenching when they go out to dinner and have the “home” conversation. Because even the audience felt the hope, we felt what Yoondae felt. Then for Soohyuk to “deny” him, it hurt really bad. But, yet you are happy that Soonhyuk knows his worth and knows that Yoondae needs to get himself together before they can move forward. Soonhyuk didnt deny his feelings or his want, but finally someone is telling him that he needs more time - they both do.

Now, why would Soonhyuk put up with this? Well, that's how he is, he already deals with type of person with his parents, he’s caring and extremely empathetic, he loves too much - gives too much and it has broken him down. His dad specifically…there are a scary amount of similarities with Yoondae and Soonhyuks father, the over drinking, the borrowing money, the spinning the wheels in one place. The series shows us that explicitly. So when Soonhyuk finally sticks up for himself to his father - I think a lightbulb clicks then that even though Yoondae is not exactly like his father, the place Yoondae is in is too similar and if he keeps placating him like he is, he will never go anywhere or get better. I think this was the major decision on Soonhyuks part. Unlike his father, where he stood up for himself because he reached a breaking point - realizing how hard the dynamic was on him and that there truly was no hope of his father changing. I believe with Yoondae, he knows there's hope, like they said “they aren't their parents” he has hope that Yoondae will be better, and he will be there to love him when he’s reached that point.

I could do a whole analysis on Soonhyuk but I believe my “review” is already too long lmao. I just wanted to shine some light on Yoondaes character as I think a lot of people may have misunderstood him, just like some of the characters in the show did. Really interesting seeing that.

Overall, I think it is a beautifully shot and realistic series, watch it <3

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