Some cute chemistry and a straightforward short story
What strikes you as soon as you start watching is the sizzling chemistry between the two men. The show is very straightforward about its purpose: showing how the two boys who have been friends for a very long time become overwhelmed with feelings and desire for each other.The casting is perfect, and both the leads have given a wonderful performance. Han Gi Chan shines as Tae Joo with his charming persona. The style of the drama is like other kdramas, aesthetics are great and the colour palette just right.
UPDATE: I somehow found the last two episodes kind of cringey, their acting seemed to lack as they were forced to show more emotions. The kiss wasn't necessary if it wasn't going to be convincing... they could have just added an implicated kiss or a hug.
Either ways, fans of BL will definitely enjoy this short web drama. Well worth 80 minutes of your time!
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Good story
Nice story ,so clean one .too much emotional .Acting is good , supporting actors were also good ..I hope one day this society totally accept them ,so these people never feel embarrass ,never feel that they are doing something wrong . Such drama helps the society to understand them .they are normal human beings and they should get total support.My favourite part of the drama is last one ,when they kiss eachother and then smile .
Smile shows that now they never get separate ,they are meant to be together .
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This review may contain spoilers
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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Short but Direct
What I LIKE most about this show is that all the moments are important moments. I would rather have a short BL series with important, impactful scenes and storyline than a long BL series with a lot of unnecessary side story. The storyline is quite unique for a BL series, The actors were pretty good in acting and I like that there were no cliché moments used, it was so real and relatable.What I DONT LIKE about this series is that I wanted more romantic moments from them but I understand as I feel it’s one of the first BL series in Korea.
Overall this is a very good BL Series, would highly recommend it!
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A beautiful and poignant story of two childhood friends who fall in love with each other, the plot despite being a bit KDrama-ish at the end was more than I could have asked for. The characters were written excellently and Jung Eui Soo's and Han Gi Chan's portrayal of Gook and Tae Joo was just marvelous. What with their undeniable chemistry, I cannot imagine anyone else in their roles.
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I'll recommend this series to every single one of my friends. *Viki girl-- stop being selfish lol I subscribe just for this series*
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For the amount of script, and time this drama had to convey its message, it's a complete 10/10. They nailed every aspect of this, and made this such a beautiful little gem!!
Even if the concept was a standard cliche South Korean chaebol drama, the added element of it being gay is the cherry on top. If you're expecting a story that breaks new ground, ask yourselves if KBS, SBS, JBTC are STILL giving you the chaebol cliche dramas??? Then thank your lucky stars that, in a nation that STILL stigmatizes this topic, the producers put this out for you. Let's break the ground first and worry about full length trailblazing screenwriting later!
Baby steps... and, again, for what this drama had to work with, this was fantastic. Best part is that, unlike other newbie LGBTQ actors in dramas, these two newbies have some serious acting chops, and not one time did I feel cringed out by them.
Thank you to the producers for finding this talent and giving us this treat!
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in most BL drama they wrote the show as boy and girl and make one of them act girly -_- in this drama this didn't happen the boys have clear characters as boys and even the cute one "Han Tae Joo " we see him protecting Kang Gook in first scene and clearly pushing the relationship since the start, it was amazing point.
the story not that new (the bodyguard /friend to lover) but it was made so well with details of characters and how some react different to their own feeling. and the use of Sexual tension between them and the react of small touches in some places like ear and again use the same touch that cause discomfort to show jealous. the push and pull between them and how they know each other weak points well..
this drama being short is plus if you want to watch it in one shout it will be like move and if you watch it already it's easy to rewatch and enjoy it again and again.
acting was great the talk with eyes, the way they look at each other was believable. can't wait to watch more of those actors.
the ost was so good too.. Again kdrama please give us this kind of drama again.
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This review may contain spoilers
The story gets 7/10 because I don't find it extraordinary - as it's a project, you can't really expect much. So it goes to the cast's acting to alleviate the story and make it watchable which they did. That is why they get a solid 8.5/10. Han Gi Chan is a newbie and he really gave in his effort to make this project work. I am sure he will learn and grow in the industry, he is more of a director's actor type. He neither underperformed nor overdid, just right to complement Jang Eui Soo. Jang Eui Soo, has appeared in a lot of dramas so I was expecting nothing but the best from him, which he delivered.
The music is a 10/10 for this drama, it played a serious role for me to get into the drama and the scenes. The best of its kind music scores between scenes and the OST always made me sing along.
The rewatch value is 6/10 because I don't think I will feel the same emotions as I did while watching the drama for the first time. I was excited, expectant, confused, frustrated, fearful, doubtful - there are so many emotions to handle. I can't speak for everyone though, some may want to watch it over and over again.
My favourite character is Jung Seo In playing Hyemi's mother. She has got the fujoshi's eyes and watching her rooting for the boys was refreshing. My second favourite is character is Jeong Jae Hyun playing Pil Hyun, because he sold them off to Han Tae Joo's dad and that is the reason why the story took a beautiful turn in the end.
For those who craved and starved for skinship beyond the bout, they kissed! I won't say when but they did, it made me cry because this drama has the least amount of physical contact romantically.
The monologue of both Tae Joo and Kang Gook was touching and makes the most of the drama - I was very emotional over it. It is a lovely drama and a great recommendation for light love story.
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This review may contain spoilers
The writing of this show was so good, it delivered the right emotions despite the episodes being only 10 minutes, with this great ending a season 2 would be great, we saw how the relationship began and I'd love to see how it evolves! I loved season 1 so much, the acting was so good! The directors and actors were meticulos in the smallest things such as slight face expression chenge to accurately potray the feelings. I really want to see their relationship evolve now that they are finally together! But I am also curious of their stories, particularly TaeJoo's mum, it seems like she was special to him and I'd really lime to know more! Was this review helpful to you?
