This review may contain spoilers
Once a loser, stays a loser.
*Updated Review - 8 episdoes*I’ve just finished all eight episodes, and I wish this drama was longer! It’s such a warm, nostalgic trip down memory lane, capturing the essence of college life, friendships, and young love. Set in the early 2000s, it brings back memories of first crushes, late-night talks, and figuring out life one step at a time.
The four main characters make this drama shine, their friendship feels so real, reminding me of the days when friends were our biggest cheerleaders and partners in crime. They tease, support, and stand by each other, making every moment special.
And then there’s the romance; awkward confessions, heartbreaks, and unrequited love, all portrayed in a way that’s both hilarious and painfully real.
Now that it’s over, I feel a little unsatisfied. The drama captures the raw reality of young love; messy, uncertain, and fleeting, but some questions felt unanswered, especially for the boys. While I wish for more closure, maybe that’s the point. Not every story wraps up neatly, just like in real life.
Even with its bittersweet ending, this drama was an emotional ride that made me laugh, reminisce, and wish for just a few more episodes.
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4 friends experiencing love/relationships in their 20s
This is a really good short youthful rom com. 4 friends with different personalities. They are very close and care and support for each other.They are all shy and inexperience with relationships. They are very young so it is understandable. But it shows the reality of youths growing up, experiencing different relationships.
Min Gi character is so frustrating LOL is experiencing a real relationship for the first time but bro is so emotional.
Gi Hyeok, I didnt feel sorry for him because he didn't try clear up any misunderstanding before it was too late.
Gwang Jae, for me, I don’t think he is ready for a relationship.
Jun Seok - I had high hopes for him to be in a steady relationship because he seemed like the most sensible one of the bunch.
Fast forward, the 4 friends needed to grow and experience what love/relationship really means.
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This review may contain spoilers
Insecure men are the most dangerous
This was a really nice watch. It had real people, in real settings. There was actual storytelling. It didn't feel like they were trying to sell me something, be it beauty or products to get me to be a standardised beauty, be it regular products, clothes, cars, cosmetics, jewellery - I'm not buying anything!!! It was nice not to have a single packet of kopiko throughout the whole show. I do know there are production costs but the type of dramas like this one prove you can actually tell a story without it turning into a commercial.I have to say, I hated Min Gi so damn much! They were mostly losers, all of them, but he was a straight up incel. He calls Seol Ha 1 a bitch because she doesn't love him back. He then will spend his whole life chasing after this lost illusion of love because, in his mind, it's a game he lost. That's also why he tries and fails to finish the marathon, instead of dealing with the rejection like a normal person.
Insecure men are the worst kind of men.
Min Gi fell in love with a manic pixie dream girl and that obviously has no cure. He thinks he isn't superficial for not being attracted primarily to looks but he assigns a story and a personality to his romantic interests, instead of getting to know them and then gets angry and frustrated when they turn out different from his imagination. He doesn't like the women, he likes the idea of them and how they make him feel. They like him for his cuteness and effort but he then gets hung up on what he thinks it's important, even if the women say it's not or it's what they want or expect. That's what happened with the shoes, instead of listening to her, he felt his ego bruised and tried to fix that instead of focusing on his relationship.
All of the male leads have very obvious shortcomings, I believe that's the purpose of the drama. Even if the males have the main roles in this drama, the women's characters are more rounded and overall they're stronger and more complex and the men. They know what they want, they don't hesitate and they exist on their own, not in the vicinity of these men.
The one who got the girl was the one who actually did some growing. He didn't simply do his own thing, he put thought into what the girl liked and the talks they had together, the fun, the care. When she raised the issue that they didn't really know each other, he actually did the work to get to know each other. He saw her as a person. He seemed the most vain and yet was the deepest.
Kwon Gi Hyeok let his insecurities win. He took action but probably too late. He chased after her but she was long gone.
So Ju Yeon is probably still waiting for No Jun Seok to take action and will have to wait all her life. His hangup isn't clear. Probably the friendship they have shared all their life but we see he got scared when he saw that he had to spend the night on the trip to the beach with her. His insecurity will throw her again into the arms of another man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to say it. It says a lot that he valued the bro code over his friendship with the girl he loved. I can't forgive him not saying anything to her when he caught her boyfriend cheating. That's not the action of a friend and even less the action of someone in love. He didn't protect her. At the end, she is frustrated with him and that's honestly fair. But that's apparently who he is.
Overall, it was a great drama! It was fun and it reminded me of 20 or so years ago. It wasn't a heavy drama, which was refreshing but I must be traumatised because I was expecting the Korean truck of death or any other thing to happen at the most random times. I'm glad it didn't go that way.
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IT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER WITH MORE EPISODES
I didn’t have high hopes for History of Lossers, but the early episodes (1-4) really impressed me! It’s a story about a group of boys embracing their so-called 'loser' status while navigating relationships and friendships. The dynamics of their friendship were a highlight for me, I loved how they always had each other’s backs.
MinGi was easily the most frustrating character, in my opinion. Plus, it felt like the controversy during filming impacted the conclusion, leaving the story unfinished. My favorite character was Ryeoun. Despite not having enough screen time or storyline development, he stood out as the foundation of their friendship group, quietly holding them together.
That said, the biggest downside was the episode length, it was too short! The rushed ending left so much unresolved, and Ryeoun’s storyline, in particular, deserved more attention. With more time to flesh out the characters and plot, the show could’ve been so much better. Still, it offered a heartfelt glimpse into the lives of boys and how they navigate their bonds and challenges.
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