Theory of Love

Not Perfect, But Perfect For Me – My Love Letter to "Theory of Love"

After watching Theory of Love three times over the course of five years, I can say with full confidence: this is my favorite drama. It is far from flawless – in fact, it has plenty of weaknesses – but love doesn’t grow out of perfection. Love grows out of authenticity. And that’s what this drama gives me: something real, warm, and endlessly comforting.

Whenever I’m sad, Theory of Love consoles me. When I’m anxious, it calms me down. When I’m happy, it amplifies that happiness. It’s not just a show to me – it has become a safe space, a piece of comfort I know I can always return to.

The plot is built around film and cinematography, which makes it a true treat for movie lovers. Third, a third-year film student, is secretly in love with his best friend Khai. The problem? Khai is completely oblivious – and worse, a notorious playboy who changes girlfriends like clothes, all right in front of Third’s eyes.

The first episodes hit hard. We see Khai at his worst: selfish, careless, and utterly blind to how much Third is hurting. These early chapters are drenched in pain, disappointment, and hopeless love. They capture the cruelty of unrequited feelings in a way that is brutally honest.

Then the perspective shifts. Third finally gives up on Khai – and that’s when Khai’s world changes. For the first time, we see through his eyes. Slowly, painfully, he realizes he has always loved Third too. His womanizing was nothing but a shield, a distraction from the truth he didn’t want to face. Now that he sees it, he must fight to earn another chance. He doesn’t deserve it, and yet Third’s love hasn’t truly died. Against all odds, Khai is given one more chance – and this time, he takes it.

The ending is simple, symbolic, and unforgettable. It leaves us with a line that will stay with me for the rest of my life:

“For me, you're not a movie. You're real.”

The casting deserves its own essay. Every character feels perfectly chosen, every relationship carefully built. Off and Gun’s chemistry is legendary – electric, tender, and painfully believable. Supporting characters also shine, adding depth, humor, and warmth to the story without ever stealing the spotlight.

The emotions are delivered with raw sincerity. You believe every heartbreak, every smile, every glance that lingers too long. The secondary relationships are beautifully crafted as well: natural, gentle, and incredibly human.

The soundtrack deserves an award of its own. “Fake Protagonist” in particular captures the exact essence of the story – bittersweet, yearning, and powerful. The cinematography is filled with little filmic details and references, creating a world that feels both realistic and dreamlike. Altogether, the visuals and music build a space that feels warm, safe, and deeply immersive.

Objectively, this drama is not a 10/10. The pacing can drag, some character choices are questionable, and parts of the plot don’t live up to their full potential. And yet… for me, it is a 10/10.

Why? Because Theory of Love isn’t just a drama. It’s comfort. It’s a story that feels like home. It’s something I will return to over and over again, no matter how many flaws I can see – because love doesn’t care about perfection.

And I love this show. Truly.

Read More

How far is too far?

Things that I liked about the series:
- There are a lot of classic movies referenced throughout this series, and the fact that each movie coincides with what was going on in that moment was brilliant. A perfect way to tell a story about film majors.
- Gun, who plays Third in this drama, is a stellar actor. He's one of the more popular actors in this genre, and now I can see why. This was my introduction to both Off and Gun, and I was impressed by what I've seen. Gun, like Fluke in UWMA, was able to express all emotions perfectly. I sympathized with him when he was at his lowest, and I was proud of him when he started fighting back.
- The music throughout this series is one of my favorites. It was so beautiful and perfectly captured the show.
- Two, played by White, is my favorite of Third's friends. Once again, I see White playing the supportive friend to the main characters. My first introduction to him was when he played Tul in A Tale of Thousand Stars. Also *snorts* I can't help but make a comment about how he and Mix both had Earth lol. Tian, keep Pupha away from Tul!!
- Speaking of which I kindof like the whole side story between Two and Un, played by Earth. They were honestly my favorite ship in the entire series. I loved how Two was secretly crushing on his high school sweetheart, but then P'Un walks in and turns everything around. I felt for Two's dilemma, and I was so glad they got together in the end.
- Bone I felt was the most mature character of the series. Okay, that's not saying a whole lot and I'll explain why in my dislikes. Finding out the girl of your dreams is your college professor was like a slap to poor Bone's face. While he did have his moments of immaturity, I like how he had a moment of weakness where he could've kissed her, but didn't. In addition, he put his own feelings aside and allowed his crush and her fiance the chance to get married without any conflict. I honestly felt bad for him, but I was also proud of how he handled himself in the end.
- Khai....oh Khai...I have a lot to say about this guy, and unfortunately a lot of it is bad. HOWEVER, I did enjoy that his quest towards redemption did not come easy. The guy had to work his ass off for it, and rightfully so. It shows that he is willing to change for the better, and I appreciate that Third didn't cut him any slack.
- I love how we were able to get the POVs of both Third and Khai. It was unique from any of the other BLs I've seen so far. Being able to know what both parties were thinking about helped flesh them out as characters.
- In terms of realism, this show has it in spades! The concept of Unrequited love towards a supposed straight guy, and how this show portrayed it, was so realistic it hurts. I've lived through this concept myself. I was Third many times, which is probably why I related to him so much.

Things that I didn’t like about the series:
- Oh boy, I feel like this is where I'm going to piss people off lol. Okay, there's one thing that I seriously dislike about the show. Or rather, one person I seriously dislike. One word...KHAI! I'm sorry to all my TOL fans, but I freaking hated Khai's guts. I hated him so much, I wanted to punch him. I felt so bad for Third, and for the first time, I was honestly hoping that the main couple DID NOT end up together. We're constantly told that he's a good friend, but we never see it. Khai was never a good friend to Third at all. He treated Third like his little servant, which pissed me off even more. Yes, he may have had a great redemption, but that still doesn't erase the fact that the guy is a total asshole. I mentioned how very realistic this show is, and I stand by that. Including Khai's behavior. But it's also because Khai's character is realistic that makes me want to punch him even more. I've met guys like guy. I've crushed on guys like Khai. I've been hurt by guys like Khai. I hated Khai!
- Now I can't put all the blame on Khai. While I think Gun's acting as Third is stellar, I do also have a problem with this character as well. I relate to Third a great deal because I've been in his shoes. That also means I can be frustrated with how much abuse he was willing to put up with, and the poor guy put up with a lot. But some of the blame for his misery falls on him too. Is it hard to get over someone you love so much? HELL YEAH, IT IS! I would understand his dilemma more if I actually saw the good in Khai, but as I already stated, Khai wasn't even a good friend to Third. What good qualities does this man have? I will say Third giving Khai the cold shoulders during the second half of the series was so satisfying.
- Since I'm passing blame around, I have to put some on Bone as well for his part in Khai's ploy to find out if Third really likes him or not. That whole stunt was what made me lose any and all respect in Khai, but Bone had his own hand involved too, which was not cool. You don't pull that kind of stunt on someone you deem as a friend.
- Khai's sudden sexual identity reversal was poorly done. Am I really supposed to believe that all of a sudden he has feelings for Third just like that? I get what the writers were trying to do with it, but the fact that Khai just accepts it and goes along with it is not believable in the slightest, especially given how much of a womanizer he was. If he was a closet case, that would've made it more sense, but that wasn't what we got.

Overall Thoughts:
Admittedly I struggled with how I wanted to review this show. I originally gave this a 6.5/10, but I saw a lot of comments that made me really think the show over. The show is great, I admit. I love the storyline, I like the idea of showing the hardships of unrequited love, I love Third as a lead protagonist, I love Two as a supportive best friend, I like Bone as a character, and I love the soundtrack. However, the biggest thing I dislike about this series is the main love interest. I hated Khai. Just because you give him redemption doesn't mean you suddenly forget all the horrible things he's done. And Khai has done a lot of horrible things for most of the show. He's arguably the worst love interest I've currently come across in a BL. In a show where I'm wanting to root for the main couple to get together and get their happy ending, I was hoping Khai would stay away from Third. That said, if I were the look at this show in terms of demonstrating the toxicity of an unhealthy unrequited love, I'd say this show perfectly demonstrates how destructive it can be. I will agree with a lot of fans that not all relationships are butterflies and rainbows. Some are quite messy, I agree. Some are toxic. That being said, we're also supposed to root for the characters to be together, and I didn't find myself doing that.
Despite all that, I admit I found myself continuing to watch the show because I was really hoping for a well deserved happy ending, so it did grab my attention. And Khai's confession to Third at the final episode was corny and sweet, and reminiscent to Third's confession to Khai.
With all of that in mind, I am raising my ranking a bit, but not that much. I still wouldn't watch this show a second time, and I still hated Khai.

Rank: 7/10

Read More

good series

While writing this i still haven't read anyone else's reviews but i think the show deserves an 8 or higher.

Coming in to this i thought i knew what the plot was going to be but was completely taken by surprise when Third didn't confess first episode. Then the whole thing with the fake girlfriend was an interesting plot twist. It is pretty cliche with the whole 'one best friend in love with the other and soon the other falls in love too' trope but i think they did a pretty good job of adding other elements. The side characters were extremely interesting and i still think the professor knew exactly what she was doing when she kept going to the coffee shop but then wanted to act confused.

There were definitely times where the characters annoyed me but thats pretty much normal in every show on the planet, they're eventually going to do something stupid that upsets you. The last episode defiantly did that for me because why would you keep rejecting him?????

anyways solid show, give it a watch!

extras:
my favorite character: Two
my least favorite character: the professor

Read More

offgun have the potential but lack the opportunities

i feel like this could’ve been their grand breakthrough as a bl couple and actors but the plot is just not executed well… sometimes Off doesn’t even appear to be acting, and Gun carries the whole scene. i wish they’d make a remake of this because i loooved the plot! there’s a lot to unpack but also there are plenty of cliches which i love!
i suggest you give it a try if you like offgun off-screen because they’re almost not acting lol
i remember watching and waiting for the episodes and getting bored as each episode got more tedious, so maybe it’s recommended to skip a few unimportant parts

Read More

it's so worth it to watch

theory of love is amazing and the way off turned into a green flag so fast I'm so into it offgun are so cute together I've rewatched it 10x lol anyways love the chemistry love the acting and the iconic crying of gun in the shower and the friendship of 4 of them are so good I really like how two and bone are so supportive of there friends I hope someday I'll find friends like bone and two and even tho I ship earthmix I think two and us has chemistry not gonna lie with y'all I kinda ship them and I'm kinda sad about bone bc he found out that his crush is getting married and what hurts the most is he's gonna edit the wedding video I don't know what's it called but anyways I love the chemistry it's so worth it to watch and I really enjoyed watching it for the first time I still have sparsk even tho I haved watched it a lot of times and I'm so proud this is my first ever bl series offgun is my happy pill😁

Read More

I must admit I was ready to give this show 7 stars, being veeeeery nice because I love the actors in it. Up until episode 7 I was seriously thinking about dropping it. Thankfully, after episode 7 there weren't as many cry scenes and we finally started seeing some character development. I think the acting itself improved as episodes went by. All plot lines were interesting to me and I didn't get bored while watching the four couples' stories. I'm glad I finished it because the concept of the whole drama really made sense by the end and the character development (which to me was the best part) was very obvious and warmed my heart. I'm happy I stuck with it.

If you're thinking about watching it, I say you should. But give it some time because it gets better after the first half/two-thirds.

Read More

just saying my opinion

This is my personal opinion. as a person who is not interested in sad dramas, I don't like this. but I think there is more to the story. I am dropping this at episode 3.i just can't take drama's like this. like whenever I see p'third, I feel sad cuz I'm also somewhat in his shoes. but not too extremely. one-sided love is powerful yet hurtful. while watching this drama I couldn't concentrate. but from my other pov, I think this is also a good drama, especially for people who are single and is not in love rn. I'm not a person who is patient enough to watch this drama. but if you're someone patient enough, i reccomend this drama.


and as you can see I gave the casting a 10. it surely has a nice casting. I hope you don't take this review seriously. it is just my opinion.

and my type is cheerful when it comes to bl

Read More

It feels like 11 episodes of the breakup scene from movies and then the last episode

The concept for the show is very interesting. Somewhat basing each episode on a famous romantic movie could allow the show to explore different cliche as scenarios without it feeling forced. But I feel that Theory of Love actually kept repeating the same type of plot in every episode. We got 11 episodes of the breakup/disappointment/sad part of every time tic movie and then things moved forward in the finale. We got: main character finds out they are in love with a jerk; main character overreacts and the couple fights because of miscommunication; main character doesn’t trust their other half… I expected a bit more range with the plot.

Third and Khai’s story kept repeating itself over and over. Khai was a jerk in many moments, but I feel like Third could never be satisfied with anything. The scene at the beach with Jam, for example. He was unhappy because Khai was cold with Jam and said that past relationships are difficult. I understand that it made Third think that he’d loose the friendship if the romance was over. But I’m certain that Third would be complaining if Khai was friendly and talked nicely to Jam. He’d complain that he’s still a player, never changes and blah blah.

The only character’s plot I liked from beginning to end was Bone’s. He’s the best character on the show. He’s a good friend, he’s a good guy and does his job well. I felt it a bit forced for the show to give him a girlfriend in the end, but I understand how it fits the tone of the series. Two is a nice guy and White is always great. But his story with Un was SO forced that I cannot feel any spark of chemistry there. Was that supposed to be an enemies to loves story? White and Earth worked together in Waterboyy, and had good scenes together, so I think it’s weird how the show couldn’t make them click better.

Read More

Okay, wow, this drama. I didn’t expect to hate it in any case, but I definitely love it way more than I thought I would. It’s absolutely one of my favorites, which - admittedly - isn’t saying much considering that I’m rather new to Asian dramas, but whatever, we’ll go with it.

I don’t have too too much to say about this without spoiling it a bit, but holy shit. Everything about this was for the most part pretty good; nothing really stood out to me as completely awful. However, there were a couple of things that stood out to me as really, really good.

One, the set. I know this probably isn’t what you’re looking for, but the set is wonderful imo. The color palette is beautiful, and it’s just a really gorgeous show to watch. It’s sometbhing you can’t help but noticing either; the difference in the rooms of Third and Khai, the unique colors of each individual set piece, the colors of sad scenes versus happier ones, all of it. Absolutely gorgeous. I just had to acknowledge that.

As far as the storyline goes, it’s a pretty simple one. Guy’s in love with his best friend but best friend is straight/a player/ oblivious/ all of the above. Not many complex things going on here. I’ll admit there were a couple of times I got confused, but for the most part, it was a simple storyline that was easy to keep up with.

That being said, even within such a simple premise, the acting and the characters still managed to blow me away. The one thing that really got me was how easily my emotions were manipulated by this show. Generally with shows like these, I’m very critical of the main character. I don’t tend to understand why they refuse to try and get over their love interest, and I end up disliking the show because it just doesn’t make sense. But with this one, they did it amazingly imo, esp in getting me to feel what Third was feeling.

The entire time I completely understood everything Third said and did and felt, and I felt the same exact way. Yes, Khai could be a bit of a dick sometimes, but the show did a wonderful job of showing the times where he wasn’t; it made me fall in love with him in the exact same way Third did, and I could easily get why despite Khai’s mistakes Third couldn’t help but forgive him. I couldn’t help it either; he was just one of those characters. I cried when Third cried, I felt hopeless when he felt hopeless, and I was happy when he was happy. And that right there is what will keep me watching this show. I adore how easy it is to understand and empathize with Third, and I his relationship with Khai is portrayed perfectly, though I’ll admit there were times where I wondered if they had anything keeping them friends other than their shared love for film. Luckily this was rectified almost immediately.

10/10 will definitely continue watching, and I can’t wait to see the next episodes and what becomes of Third and Khai. Only reason this wasn’t 10 across the board is because I don’t want to jump the gun too soon. If you’re hesitant about watching this, I say go for it.

Read More

I JUST COULDN'T FINISH IT...

I'll be honest. I'm probably the last person who should be reviewing this drama as I gave up on completing it. But I have my reasons. First of all, as someone who enjoys the romcom genre, this drama did not appeal to me in that sense. The first three episodes had no comedy even though it was advertised as such. It was overly dramatic to me, which is distasteful to me personally.
Then comes the romance part of this series: NONE whatsoever. I did not see even the slightest bit of reason why Third would fall hard for a scumbag like Khai. You feel bad for Third to a certain extent until you realize he's a complete idiot for falling for the dude who makes a less-than-ideal boyfriend, let alone a good friend. Like seriously?!
What has Khai ever done for Third to pine after his dick for three whole years? Third takes a beating for this petty fucker while this guy thinks his little date with a girl is more important than a friend like that, to the point of even lying. In my personal opinion, this relationship felt doomed from the beginning. So it felt even worse seeing Two hyping up Third to continue. NO! Two knows how much of an ass Khai is.
I agree with Third. this 'movie' should have ended after he got his heartbroken. Or at least maybe find someone who appreciates him. So whenever I see him cry, I can't help but think that you should not be crying for being a cuck in a relationship that never even existed to begin with. Maybe these issues got resolved as the story continued, I don't know.
and for the things I liked about this drama:
The cinematography was nice.
The trope of them being film majors was pretty great, as these uni dramas are mostly engineering, law, dentistry or architecture majoring cliches.
The acting was pretty good but I hated the styling of the characters, especially Third's hairstyle.
well, other people may have enjoyed it but it was a miss for me.

Read More