Confusing, but somewhat not at the same time...
To start off, all the actors were GREAT and they're amazing at what they do, and couples have chemistry. They're spot on when it comes to portraying emotions and expressing their characters wants and needs.Leo made me hate his character, and then appreciate him once again.
The only thing I'm gonna be a little picky on is the kisses and editing/storyline.
Kisses don't have any feeling to them. It's like a tenth grade theatre show.
And then there's the storyline and editing. At times it was confusing, I'm not sure if it's the translations or the script itself, but at times I had to go back and pause to go over everything that was happening to be able to hang on, it got easier towards the end of the show, but at the beginning it was hard to really grasp anything.
I like to crochet whilst watching shows, but for this one I had to pay attention at all times or I wouldn't understand anything.
But the story is unique, and kbls are good at just that, unique stories we haven't seen before.
I do also wish they could clear up what that "incident" was that led to him almost being blacklisted.
But overall it's worth a watch when you're not tired and have time to give your full attention to the show!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Mess outside the fence
Jung Woo who is the center of the story that's just thrust into the story with nothing to show who he is as a person. We never see the conviction he had that caused him to be exiled from the writing world. We only see the vitriol against him. We never saw any romance of Jung Woo and Jung Hyun as a couple from any point present or flashback of the three years they were together. The drama kickstarts with a fade to black almost kiss, TWO episodes in a row between them, which is such an awful decision on top of awful decisions because they should not have cast an actor to play a gay role with a kiss scene if they were against doing so. They should have hired someone that was professionally on board to play this role in the first place. We never see much of Jung Woo's personality outside of just being miserable until mid way in the series when he finally meets Tae Yong.I like Tae Yong's enthusiasm and positive energy that he has especially for Jung Woo, but when I he said "I like you", there was zero romance energy to the point it looked so ambiguously platonic up until they do a dumb third almost kiss scene where they move in such slow motion, they are clearly waiting for someone to knock and interrupt them. This is more than half way through the series and it looks like that none of the actors were going to do a kiss scene until Tae Yong and Jung Woo finally make contact and they have a few more kisses including where they actually have a bed scene, going from -100 to 1000 in intimacy between the two. It's so jarring, it made me laugh lol. Kudos at the very least to these two actors for actually being professional. Aside from the physical parts, the two characters don't really act very in love in all the other scenes.
I enjoyed Yeong Seon's character, she has the guts to take the gamble and say what's on her mind. And I do appreciate the attempt to make a complicated antagonist that actually meant well but his one sided actions that disregarded the agency of the one he loves brought so much pain to the person he meant to protect and himself. Jung Woo chose to sign with Tae Yong, so that's nice he freely makes this decision for himself, but then the show just skips over the consequences and aftermath of his decision even though there was a whole big deal made about it. Just a time skip to sometime in the future when it's all good and all three of them work together. For a show about good writing, they never showed an example of it in world from the characters or much of it in real life with this show itself. What a mess.
Was this review helpful to you?
Okay For A Rainy Day!
It's Just Okay....One Happy, Positive Person Who Lights Up The Sky With His Smile
One Dark, Brooking, Selfish Guy Who Darkens the Sky and Everyone Around Him
One Shy, Naive, Crybaby Who Needs Someone to Look After Him
A plot that is subpar; music that is just ok
A romance that feels rushed - with no heat
It's not a hot mess like some 2022 bl's though, I guess that's something, but I prefer bl's with more going on, like suspense or action or yelling & jealousy or something that moves the story along at a fast pace.
It works, sort of. But it is lacking something, maybe some humor or action or real emotion, I don't really know.
I'm not sorry I watched it, but I couldn't sit through it again
Was this review helpful to you?
THIS DESERVES A LOT MORE LOVE
Hmm i was just really frustrated with the comments and reviews of the other people here. Like if you don't like or get something, just drop it. There's no need to leave negative reviews. We all have series we drop or don't get or make us feel frustrated, but not necessarily share the negative thoughts. We just drop and move on.So it's my second time re-watching this one, and i have to say it is totally a 10. Of course there is room for improvement, but still the last result is on top. The story is not for everyone one. Those who have been in at least 1 toxic relationship know how it is ,what it means to be in the endless darkness, and not being able to move on from it. But even if you haven't, you know at least one person who has, so the characters are really well written. The toxic relationship between the mains is something that happens in almost 55% of the people nowadays.*I wish when i was going through those times, i had someone like HTYto put me back on my feet. *
AS FOR THE CHEMISTRY I DON'T F@@KING UNDERSTEAND WHAT YOU ALL WANT.
They have such amazing chemistry together that they make your heart flutter. I don't know there are a lot of stupid dramas, not only BL that have no chemistry at all and you all leaving positive comments for no reason. As for the kiss i loved it even tho it wasn't a 'Real Kiss' like the ones y'all want as in Kissable lips or idk, BUT IT WAS FUCKING NICE, the mood before the kiss and atmosphere and the way everything led there. Not to mention the last episode that the setting was so friggin awsome and cute. All three of them did a wonderful job portraying the character given. I couldn't ask for more
And i really don't understand those saying oh there wasn't love triangle here or idk things like that. The point of this series is HEALING. WITH THE HELP OF SOMEONE WHO TRULY CHERISHES YOU, YOU CAN MOVE FROM THAT TOXIC RELATIONSHIP AND MAKE YOURSELF A BETTER YOU AND ALSO GIVE THE OTHER PERSON PEACE OF MIND.
The ending was also clear EVERYONE MOVED ON FROM THE TOXICITY AND MADE PEACE DOING WHAT MADE THEM HAPPY.
AGH, I'm so frustrated with all the negativity in the comments. I feel really bad for the actors who made such an amazing job not getting the love they deserve. I wish i could just delete them all.
😮💨
My first and last time I left a review, and also, THIS WAS MY LAST TIME GOING NEAR THE COMMENTS .
I HOPE MY OPPAS WILL DO MORE AMAZING THINGS IN THE FUTURE, WITH MORE LOVE AND PASSION!
Was this review helpful to you?
Not every drama is for every taste, so some might love it some might hate it, some might be meh.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I Didn’t Experience Any Confusion
I’ll open by dealing with the confusion mentioned by others in their reviews. I didn’t feel any. The flashbacks were not entirely conventional, but I was clear about when each scene of the first few episodes were set, and I experienced no issues understanding motivations, reasons, timing, or context. Maybe the writer, director, and editor have the same kind of funky brain I do, but these reviews surprised me. Perhaps the cues are not tuned to everyone, so watch with that in mind. I’m happy to throw out a spoiler marked comment thread clarifying these scenes if anyone wants.I agree with one of these other reviews about the kisses. Total duds. I also agree with that one about the going behind the lead’s back trope being in really poor taste, given how the second romantic interest had conducted himself. I got a good handle on the whys and wherefores of every step taken apart from that. It really annoyed me, and was the only misstep by the lead’s main romantic interest. Other than that piece of utter f***wittage he was a walking green flag.
I tend to watch these fluffy romances with my critical faculty running at a low idle, and though it’s not at the pinnacle of any of the related crafts, I loved the set dressing and lighting in this series. The decor of the tiny publishing firm ticks all my Scandinavian sensibility boxes, with the warm, beautifully designed wooden furniture, and the clear case of book hoarding that was in progress. His flat, however, felt pretty lacking. Anybody who would kit out their office with such warmth should also have a warm, cosy home. The rest of the locations were as well dressed as the wee publisher, though.
As mentioned, the kissy moments were badly directed/performed, so I assume the gorgeous leads are both straight, and/or the director is a prude. Other reviewers have used the “dead fish kiss” phrase, and it was never more appropriate than in this instance. It’s a shame, because the lead pair are both gorgeous.
This is a romance where all three of the romantic triangle of leads end up better off than they were at the start, which makes for a deeply satisfying piece of mind-candy. And this series is mind-candy. It’s not profound, logically robust, or powerful. It’s a sweet romance based around three people with similar dreams, but very different ways of seeking them, and everyone developed for the better, even if the internal logic of the writing showed some gaping holes 🕳️
Enjoy. I did.
Was this review helpful to you?
Happy Ending Romance... but where was the romance?
I honestly don't know where to start. The (very slightly) above average rating is mostly due to the acting and general K-drama feel of the show. That being said...1. None of the characters had any chemistry whatsoever. I didn't believe that Jungwoo had feelings for either of them but at least he and Taeyoung actually had kiss scenes (if you could even call them that, it was more like they were kissing a wall)
2. The storyline had potential, but was ruined by the omittance of major plot points
3. There was really no need for there to be a different conflict every episode. It was so hard to follow
Personally, this would have been better as a bromance/friendship drama. The 'romance' didn't necessarily take away from it, but it also didn't add anything. At least it did have a happy ending and, of course, stellar OSTs (thanks to Leo and Karam)
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
So insanely dull
This is the only BL I've watched where I had to fast forward through massive chunks just to get through it. It's so so soooo boring - the plot is really dull and takes ages to go anywhere, there's no chemistry between the leads, and I have no idea why it's rated 15 as there's only two or three very bad, passionless kisses (if you consider putting your lips on someone else's and not moving them at all as kissing) and one scene where they're in bed together and literally nothing happens. I mean LITERALLY nothing - they just look at each other with their shoulders exposed. The acting isn't bad exactly but it's so low key that you're in very real danger of slipping into a coma while watching it. Ha Jong Woo is the only good thing in it - he has beautiful lips. That's it. Don't waste your time.Was this review helpful to you?
Ain’t that happy and ain’t romantic at all
I get the way that they’re trying to show us some artistic vibes through literature, but obviously, they failed to give us a better execution of the concept. This is too average to become a hit and I don’t follow the angst as it was messy from the very beginning.Kim Jung Hyun is an annoying character who has an annoying attitude. Han Tae Young’s positive vibes somehow lighten up the mood but still not enough to save the entire show. The conflict presented in the story was not properly concluded in good shape. They just became co-workers in one company, sunset viewing on the rooftop while holding mugs. Ain’t a happy ending at all.
Yet, despite the huge amount of flaws and criticism, the show itself is not as bad and just plainly an average one. I don’t have any high hopes since the start but I’m hoping for at least having a nice conclusion towards the life of the main characters and not just by simply having them romanticize the present.
Was this review helpful to you?
thin novella not bestseller
Last chapter began delightfully and there were some tender moments during the drama 🩷🌈 however、considered as a whole for me the story was rather thin and after the slow-burn angst for 7 episodes the plot was rather quickly and conveniently wrapped up in the "Last Chapter"；this is also another case where the ost is nice but too intrusive maybe producers should learn you do not need to mark every change of scene with the same refrain and this is not a substitute for script and acting 〜〜or even silence。so very good but not a perfect 10 for meWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
If you love somebody, set them free
This drama is about what kind of love and life do you want? Which is kind of a deep theme for the lenght of this drama. It seems they bit off s bit more than they could chew, but they try there hardest to make due with nwhat they have and in thet resoect, they did quite well.The main characters are a love triangle, one current relationship and one (possible) future romance. The current boyfriend is a protective and somewhat cold man, who schemes and plots to keep the status quo, under the pretence of protecting his lover. He never asks him though as if he thinks his boyfriend is a child or stupid. Only at the last second does he come to realize he should be helping instesd of controlling. The new love is 100% support and positivity.. This boy adores him so much he cant stop staring. He builds him up and makes him face the world without force, but while completely having his back.
Other characters play their part around those three, and they are all complex characters, that do not get the screentime they deserve at all. I needed some more back story and more explanation. What exactly happened that waqs so bad that got this writer completely cancelled? How did that book get printed from first just being on a laptop and why is writer Cha ok with that? Who lives where? Whats going on? I could have done with 4 more episodes and make it a nice 12 eps one. But this is a SKBL, and that just hardly ever happens. Too bad. So sad.
Was this review helpful to you?
So REALISTIC and beautiful
I have not written a review in a long time because there wasn't really a series i desperately, I mean so desparately want to tell to people but here i got one. Happy ending romance. This is the most realistic (along with some other but you understand what I mean) series i have ever watched. It was not at all lovey-dovey, all enthusiasm, happy characters,nope. It had all the seriousness when it comes to working in industry though it be a literature industry. There were so many factors and sides were shown of Industry ; good and bad. So many sides of people were shown. So many sides of self was shown. The acting was all fine n good, not at all overly done. There were many characters and all did there roles profoundly, whether it be a small role or bad role. It had happy and sweet scenes which does not seemed forced. All in place.so good it was. So real it was . Well portrayed. I loved all the characters. Ahhhh this was so good. A new try and good try of Korean BLS.Was this review helpful to you?
