meaghen
Canada
I was glued to this series immediately. This one was just too fantastical; lots of motion and commotion right from the beginning of the series to the end. I liked the flow of events, and it didn’t feel like anything in particular was dragging on. I can imagine people thinking differently, and you’re entitled to your opinion, but this series to me is just like winning the lottery in drama heaven (and I will detail why). At the risk of gushing about this romcom, I will attempt to keep a review compact. From my point of view, IOTL is a brilliant piece of work, from script writing to directing, acting and music; I just loved it, and I will attempt to convince anyone to give this drama a try because it certainly doesn’t disappoint.
STORY:
Tragic. Hilarious. Endearing. One of a kind. Honestly, I cannot begin to put into words how versatile this story is. What I can say is that is it multifaceted. In those moments, the story becomes an enriching journey for the audience into the lives of those living their day to day life with an impact from mental illness or working within the field of mental health. What I enjoyed the most about this story is that it wasn’t a solely medical drama that pathologized its patients. This series exposed, explored, and discussed the often stigmatization of patients with mental illness. There were lived experiences and individuality in this story, and it made the series wholesome, often challenging social norms. I found myself more connected to it within the “meat” of the story because the characters are involved in the main premise, which is dealing with/coping with/understanding/healing from emotional/psychological pains. Within this drama, the romance and comedy are embedded in ways that the story manages to progress between leads by conveying serious social issues with a serene and genuine feel for caring about those in your life.
CHARACTERS:
Jang Jae Yeol: What a charismatic, multidimensional one. It does help that Jo In Sung gave an award winning performance consistently. But Jae Yeol, as a character, is complex: you love him some moments; question him in others, worry about him, and viscerally his own conflicting emotions with the relationship to his family, in particular, the complicated relationship he has with his brother. The hostility, and painfully evident wounds of his past of violence is something that makes Jae Yeol a person that evokes major ethos on the audience’s minds. I do think Jae Yeol’s unraveling and mysterious past (as it unveils) makes one feel, as Hae Soo would, a part of his world. Sharing a piece of his identity, and understanding how mental health and violence have impacted him; and how the two are linked and unfortunate.
Ji Hae Soo: IOTL had me at Gong Hyo Jin. I am her bias, and the reason why I watched IOTL was because 1) it was her first drama after the Master’s Sun; one of my favourite drama’s, and 2) because GHJ is arguably one of the most talented actresses in South Korea (and I would personally argue from my perspective, much deserving of global recognition). That being said, if you seen her in other drama’s, regardless of your feelings towards her, one of the reasons that drew me to the story line was because her work involves picking series that matter, that have meaning and controversy, or at least from what I know about GHJ is the ingenuity of the role. She, as far as I’m concerned, I knew this was going to be amazing before it started because she only involves herself in projects that are insightful, eye opening, and unique. Hae Soo was such a delight on screen, and GHJ was cast perfectly for this role. She was bright, independent, and not easily swayed by stereotypical male lead romancing. She has a good head on her shoulders, and given the fact that she’s flawed in this series, just like everyone else, I felt like she was quite a humane person.
The secondary characters were in no way “secondary” to this series because they were wonderfully emotionally and psychological a part of this series, and contained a lot of depth. Ohh the feels for these characters, overall just… amazing. A memorable, unforgettable cast. I can’t deny this the reason what makes this series so special, and it’s because everyone has their own story to tell. Each and every actor playing their role fit it perfectly.
SOUND/OST: It had a charming flare to it; the opening jazzy but fun opening; it made the series feel fun and intuitive. The music in the series, especially the “I don’t wanna be a hero” themed song really tied into the metaphoric element into the series. Overall, the music was conveyed well by the ocean of emotions in this series. Indefinitely, it’s heart wrenching. I do think the OST reflects the overall feel and mood of the characters, and I respect the fact that the series wasn’t overwhelmed by music; it was a nice addition to it.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: It’s just such a story that is so open minded to the point where you feel welcomed into the story. You’re invited into these people’s lives which are far from being perfect, but that’s what makes it worthwhile. This drama offers such a refreshing feel to it in the sense that the plot development is often quirky and fun, yet it can be serious and heart breaking. All the same, I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys great script writing. Because what you get in IOTL is the whole package. Well articulated thoughts and ideas, and the strong sentimentality behind the screen of what we view socially and culturally as mental health, which I think is truly important. Aside from the gorgeous camera work; the skinship in this series and romance just oozed appeal. Fireworks and screen chemistry galore between the two main leads; it was, dare I say, sometimes just too sexy (if that’s even possible), yet also very beautiful in others. Needless to say, the leads connection was not only convincing but it was definitely heated. I loved that this series has characters close and engaged with one another; there were many life lessons to learn and understand from the simplistic ways in which the world spins. In particular, how easy it is to judge as much as it is easy to accept, how much courage it takes to love or try to love, and how much will one forgive a person or the world for such pains they/it cause you. Therein lies the ability and question of forgiveness, and forgiving yourself and others. Yes, you don't want to miss this one folks!
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Sure, for some “fate” may be an elusive term, it may be non-existing in our time and space for others, and perhaps at the end of the day “fate” is for the wishy-washy people that can’t get out of a peculiar disillusionment of love (only viewing it as perfect) and would rather live dream-like state. Still, in this instance, I prefer living in a dream-like state while watching some drama’s, in this case, what FTLY you has is a combination of metaphors, life lessons, joys, emotional pains, and of course endless possibilities concerning the belief (and questioning) of true love/destiny.
STORY:
Although FTLY was adapted from the Taiwanese version, it definitely lived up to its expectations for being a lighter, more romantically charismatic series. From the beginning to the conclusion of the series, the melodramatic edge to the story filled up necessarily when needed for the plot development, and found that it didn’t drag along the story relentlessly, which was a positive aspect to this series. The humour/comedy in this series is one of the best entertaining factors in this series; I suggest that this is its strongest point for being funny even in times when there were serious moments.
CHARACTERS:
Lee Gun: You will always remember Gunnie. There are many reasons why, and I'm sure those that have seen it are probably going to agree. His bright, sometimes enigmatic appearance/expressions on screen right from the beginning brings this series into a often sweet, but charming edge. He is not the regular main lead trope that constantly berates/belittes the main lead girl. Gun is actually a decent human being. As a male lead he treats Mi Young with sympathy and respect, which I thought was commendable. Of course given the circumstances, all the characters express and act on certain things because of events, but Gun is admirable in his character. If anything, this makes this series redeemable because of the fact that Gun isn’t the stereotypical kind of male lead.
Kim Mi Young: Ahh, Mi Young, my heart bleeds for this woman. She indeed goes on an interesting journey of self discovery and independence, from a “post-it” girl to a wonderfully, talented girl that has the rest of the world ahead of her. Watching a character blossom into their own individuality, while grappling with emotional pains was visceral but also bittersweet. I really felt a “realness” with these characters, and Mi Young especially. The acting just felt natural, definitely not forced. I enjoyed Gun and Mi Young’s chemistry, so in addition to these interesting back histories of each character it was nice to see a couple on screen convince me of their bond.
Daniel: He was breath taking. His character is un-predictable, especially in correlation to Mi Young. Of course I couldn’t help myself by *fan girling* anytime I saw him or Gun on screen just smiling and of course, existing. But there was depth to his character, and I thought at least emotionally speaking, that there was nothing I didn’t like about his character. At the risk of spoiling any more details about these characters, I must say that there are plenty of reasons to watch this series. Aside from the good laughs, good cries, and overall good impressionable moments/dialogue; these characters are sure worth while watching over the course of time. I can go on and on about how wonderful they all are, but I’m pretty sure you get the gist!
SOUND/OST: Simply beautiful. I was already enjoying the music by the second episode. There was a combination of upbeat to melancholic music in terms of the atmosphere/mood of the series, which I thought was played out well. Most of all, the sound was memorable for certain moments in the series. You expected a certain theme/song for certain characters and then certain scenes with characters interacting. It was thoughtfully well done!
OVERALL IMPRESSION: From start to finish I fell in love with this series. It has a refreshing element to it in the sense that the humour and romance was balanced very well. I mean, I found myself bursting out in laughter for certain things Gun would say or do, and I'm sure if you have a funny bone that you'll enjoy it as well. Aside from the melodrama aspect to the drama, I do believe it did justice to audience members in keeping the story line engaging. I guess I was indeed fated to love this series even before it started because I still haven’t gotten over how wonderful it truly is.
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STORY: Divorce, cross-culturally can hold different meanings. In certain countries in the world, there are little to no limitations when it comes to divorce. Perhaps there are areas in the world where divorce is not applicable because of social and cultural norms. What I found interesting about Divorce Lawyers is that it contemporarily addresses the issues associated with marriages, which might not necessarily be full of romance and happiness; but at the same time, marriage can be fulfilling and wonderful. You have two divorce lawyers, Attorney Chi, and Attorney Luo, which are at two separate points in their careers, act like cat and dog at the beginning. The story traces the time they spend on cases as they get closer together. Why does a society value marriage? Why do society's devalue divorce, and in extension, divorce lawyers? There are a lot of undertones in this series, even if subtle or direct, but what I appreciate about the story is that as a viewer you can see marriage from different generations, and different experiences with their partner. There's always something new going on in someone's relationship, and that's what makes this story full of many stories within the main Attorney's lives.
CHARACTERS: The secondary characters are certainly full of life, and I certainly think they are an important mention in this 46 episode series, because the people in Luo Li and Hai Dong's life are a part of the drama's events, even if I felt some were annoying or overbearing, but it is a drama, I must remind myself. But, I don't want to digress too far from what I wanted to talk about, and that's Luo Li and Hai Dong. Luo Li is quick witted, intelligent, and she has a genuine sense of justice. Hai Dong is older, more experienced in the field, and is quite ambitious. Their personalities clash and it's quite entertaining to watch them in action. There are times you cheer for one or both of them, or you don't like or agree with what they're saying, and times you'll be happy for them. I found that they complimented each other well in the series, and the actors did a very nice job. I found them to be very mature, and aside from certain elements in this series, it was quite a mature drama to watch.
SOUND/OST: The opening song for the first forty episodes is fun, and catchy. I enjoyed listening to it because it was upbeat. The opening song for the last handful of episodes was still upbeat, but after listening to the same opener for the first 40 episodes, I couldn't love it as much as I liked the first one. The main song of this series will melt your heart, I kid you not. There are acoustic versions, English, and Chinese versions played in this series, and it is beautiful. I thought I would grow tired of listening to it over and over again, but in those moments when you feel like this song completes the moment, and it's there, and it's perfect. The few additional songs for this series flow well with the series themes, and I liked the sound very much. It wasn't overbearing, and that balanced well with the drama.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: There were certain moments I felt like it dragged on, and that's a negative point for this series. Towards the end I thought they could have wrapped it up a little bit better. At times I felt it jumped awkwardly from the main story of Luo Li and Hai Dong to others just to fill in the time. It made sense because of the transitions made in the series, but I couldn't help but sit and feel like I could skip ahead at moments. I do, however, think that despite my few complaints about this drama, I did enjoy watching it. The humor is fantastic, and I felt like the story itself was interesting. There was always something new happening, and I thought that it would get repetitive, but aside from a character or two that really got under my skin, it was consistently moving along in terms of the cases that Luo Li or Hai Dong came across. It's warm hearted in many ways, and it can change your perspective, at least in my opinion, about relationships, love, and marriage. I think any one that likes any of the mentioned above themes or issues would enjoy watching this drama. I hope you enjoy the series!
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STORY:
Pinocchio is a well known Italian tale about a carpenter named Geppetto, who crafts a wooden puppet and wishes for a son. Instead of a human being, “Pinocchio” remains a puppet. The Blue Fairy, which assisted in magically allowing this divine event to happen, warns Pinocchio that if he wishes to be a real boy, he must be honest and upright. If he lies, his nose will grow long and longer. Albeit there are differences from Disney’s version and the actual novel, Pinocchio is filled with life lessons, values, and warnings of human nature which some are folly too.
Now, why did I give this (somewhat boring) mini history session before my review? For those of you that may be familiar or not familiar with the true story of Pinocchio, there is an interesting twist to the: don’t “tell a lie” scenario or there will be consequences, and that is hiccupping in this Korean drama. Those who are “Pinocchio’s” as opposed to being wooden puppets that talk, cannot lie. When they do lie, their conscience (as substituted for a cricket here) is to hiccup. This, although I was apprehensive at first how they would take on this classic, is quite a refreshing take on an old story.
CHARACTERS:
Choi In Ha: *A standing ovation for Park Shin Hye* and it is well deserved. I had been apprehensive about Park Shin Hye’s involvement in this series, and although I adored her in Flower Boy Next Door and You’re Beautiful, she does have a few recycled roles under her sleeve, and I’m not just referring to Heirs. I do think script writing has everything to do with the success of a series as much as it does the acting. Park Shin Hye glows, she literally shines on screen, and perhaps that have to do partially with Lee Jong Suk, but I fully believe her charm as a serious actor came to light in this series. Here, In Ha is a wonderfully dedicated, but hopelessly seeking a future in investigative journalism. As a Pinocchio, she cannot lie, and has been discriminated against (and criticised) for her pursuance of this career. Although the stacks are against her, In Ha is strong minded, and a will to seek the truth. What I liked about this heroine is her integrity and strength. She has her flaws, and she admits to her faults, and that’s what makes her relatable and human. Choi In Ha and Choi Dal Po/Ha Myeong are like two peas in a pod, and I enjoyed their mutual understandings for one another, and the bond between these two.
Choi Dal Po/Ki Ha Myeong: Lee Jong Suk… bless the heavens, stars, gods, goddesses, all that is good in the universe… anything that you want to name and praise, thank you for being involved in this project, and thank you for bringing you’re A-game as usual, and this time creating a beautiful on-screen chemistry with Park Shin Hye. What more can I possibly say other then the multi-dimensionality of Dal Po is central to this tale of tragedy turned comedy, turned serious revenge, turned sort of revenge, turned now mature series drama with hints of melodrama. Complicatedness aside, Dal Po is on a journey of not only self discovery, but a journey of self-healing and forgiveness. Often ambiliventy going back and forth between what he thinks as right and wrong, and often has to reflect on his actions and thoughts. This kind of characteristic element of his makes him the Dal Po he is. The feels, the feels for his character development that I have, which is nothing but unique and roller-coaster like. Lee Jong Suk gives a memorable performance as this lovable genius.
The “Secondary Characters” were just as great, whether from MSC news or YGN news, the rivalry between each newscast station is hilariously refreshing. Though, of course, serious, there are times when it can be ridiculously entertaining. Especially the interactions between the two stations, which make this series memorable. Whether it’d be their “Cap’s” or it be their Team Leader’s calling their rookie’s out to bring in news, there’s always an interesting dynamic going on. In no way are they secondary at all to this series, but important components to the life as investigative journalists, as reporters, as people working for news companies that are presenting a version of a truth of event(s) that occur. And how objective those news pieces are often central to this series.
SOUND/OST: This is important to a series: the sound. It’s such a huge component to dramas. Every Single Day came back to to the original theme song for this series (just as they had done so for I Hear Your Voice). The music/sound is not overbearing, it is mellow or upbeat when it needs to be, and that's what I appreciate about this sound and OST (which Park Shin Hye does a song for!). There are many moments where it fits in just right, and I found that the music suited the flow to this series.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: Brilliant creativity, for taking an idea from a classic and changing it in many unique ways. Everyone is entitled to their opinion about this series, but there is one thing you cannot deny and that is the beauty in storytelling. I have praised this screenwriter plenty of times, and their work is pure art.There’s commotion, but not too much commotion. There’s connections we feel, but there’s enough distance to enjoy the drama. It just flows well. There is a complete package here, and whether or not you enjoyed it thoroughly, there is enough for one to realize how special this drama is, and how delighted I was to be able to see these characters transform over time. I like the interactions and memorable movements/actions between Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk (that were totally “Dal Po and In Ha” moments). I wondered if they were actually scripted or improvised, which I think the idea of that is quite special, and probably a secret they would keep to themselves. One of my personal favourites. *SAYS WITHOUT HICCUPING*
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Yet I'll confess... each time these series keep increasing their episode count a piece of me dreads the extensions. More often than not, drama extensions, especially those exceeding more than 2 episodes (and this one started at 40 and went ALL the way up to 65) is a turn off for me. I put a lot of dramas on hold or stop watching them because of unnecessary dragging, but this drama IS SUCH A GREAT EXCEPTION.
Initially, I was drawn to this drama because of the unique premise: bodyguard meets passionate journalist. Their two professions are polar opposites of one another, and yet, sparks fly in more ways than one. They clash in more ways than one, and sometimes Melvin Sia's robotic face made me feel like the dude couldn't act, I even warmed up to him after a handful of episodes and character development.
STORY: As I said, the premise is unique. I haven't seen a drama with this exact plot line. That being said, there are elements in here that are somewhat cliche, but at the same time, a lot of drama cliche's are turned on their heads. Especially concerning the strong women in this series who take the lead' in more ways than one. For reals strong: like emotionally, physically, and verbally. I didn't dislike any female character in this drama, and I was absolutely shocked that 65 episodes went by and there were womances, and women who supported each other. Of course there are adorable bromances as well. It was nice seeing characters supporting each other. Not too much angst, just a little here and there. You start off with introducing everyone at V-Focus, and then at Krisis, and from there their 'businesses' continue to interact. Moving forward, there are several sub-plots in this series that are neatly tied up in a bow by the end (which, surprisingly, I was pleased they didn't leave anything out). You can expect to have a few 'scandals,' and mysterious that DRQ pursues alongside her colleagues. You can also expect JZH lead Krisis and 'protect,' his clients. I don't want to spoil much here, but the plot only gets somewhat draggy around episode 50, but picks up shortly after. I can promise you there are certain steamy kiss scenes and I won't spoil who or whom, but lets just say we get plenty of that, and it's glorious. It's such a sweet romance story as well, and I hope people who are interested in this series do see that it has love stories/romances in it that are very fulfilling.
CHARACTERS:
Ding Ruo Qin: Bubbly. Smart. Passionate. A kick-ass reporter with no filter. I loved her. I found her pursuit of the truth to be a reflection of her loyalty to V-Focus and a promise she made to someone close to her. You watch her character grow, fumble/make mistakes, but continue to mature over the course of the series. I liked how she always stays true to herself, and yet at the same time, can be playful and also super caring and thoughtful of her family and friends.
Jiang Xhi Heng: Stern, but still very likable. When you first meet him you think he has a 'I'm the best,' kind of arrogant attitude, but as you learn more about his story, you can understand why he acts the way he does. I like the fact that he respects DRQ. He worries about her, but he understands her passions and dreams and is supportive of her -in dramaland, you got to love these guys.
Zhou Xin Yi: I liked how steadfast she is. A little jaded at times, but is one of the most sincerest characters in this show (like DRQ). She cares for the people in her life, to the extent that she would go through leaps and bounds to make sure they were safe or protected. She's smart, elegant. and strong. She's someone that you can get a little tiresome of, but you understand her.
Ke Guo Long: THIS SWEETIE PIE X1000. Plus KK (and you will know what I mean when you watch this!). He is like... boyfriend goals. Or partner goals. I liked the fact that he was super innocent, but also kind, and supportive, and willing to maintain boundaries so as not to upset anyone in his life. He is such a refreshing character.
SOUND/OST: Absolutely suitable for this series. The singer for one of the songs sings the main theme song in Behind Your Smile, and her voice is PERF for this series too. I liked that some characters story lines with other characters/the way they interacted with others had soundtracks to them. You expected certain songs or sounds to be played at moments. It's endearing and suited the moods very nicely.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: I can't believe this series was 65 episodes. After the first 20 episodes, I wondered what would happen to each of these characters, and I never anticipated the amount of character development on many ends of the spectrum, including supporting characters in this series. What I liked about V-Focus was its ability to keep the viewer interested. There was always something going on at Krisis or at V-Focus. DRQ was always on the move, and JZH was always involved in some newer case which (coincidentally) tied to stories that V-Focus was covering. You get to see an array of emotions, thoughts, and feelings expressed by lots of characters, and events that made this series unique. I think if you end up giving this show a try, you may end up surprised. I think the charm in this series was its balance between progressing the plot forward consistently by unraveling secrets and intentions behind people in the series, unveiling events and tensions, and managing budding romances. It has a lot packaged in this series. I think the characters are definitely worth while here. Especially Guo Long. Happy watching
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Oh, TBSC, you had me at the intriguing synopsis, and that's... it.For a Thai Lakorn, it has EVERY single stereotype evident in the dramas we either love, hate, love to hate, or hate to love.
I've watched handfuls of Thai Lakorns, and depending on the 'spin,' of what Korean dramas refers to as 'Makjang' (over the top, dramatic, plot twists and storylines and character developments), it can be a turn off, or lead you to a surprising interest in the drama unfolding. This drama barely does either of those things.
So if you've gotten this far into my review, without pushing it aside (granted, a 3 rating may seem a little harsh), but for those who are going to take a deep dive into TBSC, I have to warn you: it's a cringy mess.
And that's mainly because of the main lead, Peat. He's spoiled, petty, childish, and has no sense of shame when it comes to his actions. I literally felt like I was watching a temperamental 5-year-old who lost his favourite toy or who wants someone else's toy, and who will stomp around, cry, and pout until they get what they want and then blame everyone else because you didn't get what you like. Usually, this kind of behaviour passes when the child realizes their mistake and they learn and grow from it, but for Peat, it lasts 22ish episodes. Lord have mercy.
There were times I honestly felt like the chemistry between Peat and Kiew was genuinely wasted because of tasteless writing (because their sweet moments were really beautiful). If there was more complexity to the decisions behind Peat (he's just so 'broken,' and doesn't know how to 'love' so it's the duty of the woman to 'fix him'). Then we would have more of a compelling story. Because he just simply comes across as a jerk the more the story develops. The amount of sympathy you had for him at the beginning (because it's really a sad situation for his mother) slowly fades because of his violent outbursts and personal pity parties. No matter how much Kiew (our female lead) did to bring some semblance of justice or love or understanding to him. He wasn't just rude (I mean, some male leads can do a lot of brushing off and I get it because they were hurt). But this goes into full cruelty mode. And he uses another woman, Chaya, to get his way. Even if I 'hated,' her attitude, she literally had heart-shaped glasses on for Peat, and he used that to his advantage, which at the end of the day, even if Chaya was horrible to Kiew, Peat still let her do it all for his 'revenge.' The more sympathy I had for Chaya, and I really didn't like her to begin with (mainly, her arrogance).
It felt more of a drama about Kiew taking over the emotional babysitting of a guy who didn't deserve any of her time. Who continuously walked all over her feelings, and at the end of the day, we're supposed to forgive him because he actually really loved her all along? I've had better experiences with betrayal/revenge/love stories where even if the male lead is angry at the female lead (who he eventually falls for), where there's still level-headedness. Even if there is anger and frustration behind certain events. I've watched 'Secret,' (a really amazing Korean drama) twice now, and it amazes me how the writer-nim managed to balance such a tragic scenario (I won't spoil that drama), but it has a similar vibe to this one; it was just executed much more better. Because it actually gives the male lead times to develop, and rationalize in ways that Peat just doesn't.
And then there's the father... don't get me started on this man. For him to push Kiew the way he did: to fix the broken heart that Peat has (mind you, he was also partly responsible), and for her to get hurt timelessly, was just so sad and disappointing to watch. When Kiew deserved to be given space, time to reflect, she had Peat pushed her way, or Peat would barge into her life and demand her attention in ways that were demeaning. The more he hurt her, the more cringy it got. The more you think it can't get worse. It just does. I just wanted Kiew to be in a better situation, and I wanted her needs to me met. I wanted her to go away for a period of time to discover and find herself again, and maybe fall in love again, but no... we get a recycled so-called 'happy ending'
The only reason I gave this a 3 was because of Pa and Patha (their friends), and the amazing housekeeper who had a grip on most of the situations. I wish I could have seen Pa and Patha more. They were literally the one voices of reason. And Pa, bless her soul. Being so protective of Kiew, through and through.
I watched this until the end, despite my issues with it, because I thought it would develop more differently, and I was greatly disappointed in the end. The fact is, there are better Thai dramas, even with this kind of genre. If you want to sit back and witness the drama unfold. Unfortunately for TBSC, there's just so much heartache for any much needed 'cathartic' feelings as a viewer we might get after seeing the light after the storm.
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Short & Sweet
I normally don't like to judge a web series too harshly because of two primarily reasons:1. The time constraints it has for fuller character development (especially if there's conflict thrown into the story-line) & 2. The episode count. If it is under 5 episodes I usually feel like it can fail to capture major themes or at least have the opportunity to explore more of what is going on in the story because there's usually so much they are trying to do in under an hour and it really shows sometimes.
Thus, depending on the writing and production it can can be a hit or a miss. And can make us feel like why would they even bother making this into a series when they could have just made it into a short film. It would have been cohesive at least.
But I was pleasantly surprised with Where Your Eyes Linger.
I usually avoid Korean BL's because to be honest there's only a few series out there that focus entirely on the relationship between two men and of those series they are hard to watch because the characters usually end up unhappy or ambivalent (and with only a few of them out there among a zillion stories about hetero couples it's like... come on). We need MORE stories to encompass the complexity and beauty within the LGBTQ community and not less. So when I watched this (with zero expectation) I was shocked. For a Korean web series to focus solely on the relationship between two high school guys in a rather non-toxic way... I would say this is quite the rare gem.
Aside from the beautiful cinematography that captures you during each episode we learn a little more about what has been inside the hearts of Kang Gook and Tae Joo during each episode. After being 'friends' for nearly 15 years, we see our main characters attempt to navigate their changing relationship when Kang Gook slightly shifts their seemingly static relationship.
While getting a glimpse of their insecurities, passions, and the unbreakable bond shared between these two, I couldn't help but appreciate the story at face value and I really enjoyed watching it. Since we get to see the progression of those subtle, but affections glances transform into something so beautiful and very sweet between them, even when the conflict rose, I was left feeling very happy I watched this series.
The actors did very well in portraying their part (there was zero stiffness or awkwardness between them which quite frankly was a relief). So it felt sincere and authentic while you are watching.
I could only imagine if the episodes were even 20 minutes each instead of 10 because then this series would have easily been a 10/10 for me. But this seems like a baby step for Korean BL's... but it is in the right direction.
If you enjoy watching BL's this is definitely not one to miss. It's sweet & short, but it's definitely not void of raw emotion or character development. It did feel slightly rushed at some points (especially some plot points: like what happened to Tae Joo's mom?) but even so it felt like they did their best to make sure Tae Joo and Kang Gook's story feel in-sync at least. Although I would love a second season I'm sure we won't get it :(
Nevertheless I stayed for the solid acting and of course Kang Gook. They both deserved all the love in the world but especially our Kang Gook.
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