This has been the most visually stunning and plot heavy BL series that I have seen so far and it was a pleasure through and through. Nothing about it spells like a regular BL series until we reach the last episode and that is just to tie all the things up neatly. This series deals with darker themes around trauma, death, betrayal and self-discovery. These are all important topics that are often overlooked in BL dramas, and I was glad to see them tackled in such a thoughtful way.

The story revolves around Kim Ji Hyun, a freshman studying arts who embarks on a new journey in bustling Seoul, and Seo Jae Won, a popular student and son of a wealthy businessman returning from military service. Through the journey of these 2 characters, we get to see the picturesque beauty of the beaches and the noisy capital city with its variety of restaurants and pubs.

One of the things that makes this so special is the way it tackles the topic of mental health. Jae Won is a character who is struggling with trauma and depression, and the show does a great job of portraying the challenges he faces. It is refreshing to see a BL series that addresses these issues in a realistic and sensitive way

Beyond the breathtaking sights and sounds, the heart of this series lies in the compelling story of these two characters. We find Jae Won suffering from a trauma for which he is seeking psychiatric help and has been suppressing his true feelings and emotions to appear to be someone that people like. On the other hand, Ji Hyun is going through his own journey of discovery in this new city. As their paths cross, Jae Won finds comfort in the company of Ji Hyun while Ji Hyun himself is trying to make sense of his feelings towards Jae Won. The story moves along at a slow pace thereby giving you an opportunity to immerse yourself in to the lives of our main leads. You get character introductions, back stories and their flaws and inhibitions.

The creators of this series have made some artistic choices and most of them work in their favor. The lighting style used here has been exceptional in creating the mood and atmosphere. In multiple scenes you will find the character faces have been lit up in different colors giving depth to the scenes. During one scene at the beach with our main characters, the color scheme changes completely. There are multiple drone shots which used specifically to end a scene and although it works in many cases but sometimes feels a bit overdone. Similarly, we find excessive usage of hand-held camera with shaky footage. In fact, we get a sequence of drone shot followed by an establishing shot to shaky cam.

The performances by our main characters have been phenomenal. Jae Won's emotional wounds are vividly portrayed, and Ji Hyun's longing is beautifully conveyed through his eyes. The exceptional performances are undoubtedly one of the series' greatest strengths.
In conclusion, The Eighth Sense has set new standards on how to make a BL series with a good storyline and strong performances with visually appealing cinematography. It stands as one of the best BL series of 2023 thus far, making it a formidable contender to surpass.