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It had potential
Honestly it has some decent potential if only they had added a few more episodes or made the episodes a little bit longer it would have made a big difference. Also I feel like since there was a kiss halfway through the series they shouldn't have stopped their final kiss from happening. It felt a little rushed but it was to be expected. I actually really enjoyed Mill's acting and I hope he pursues it more in the future! It was a cute watch overall.If I'm not mistaken it's the first time for a kpop group to make a bl and I'm here for it I hoping that it isn't the last. A round of applause to ooo for their effort and guts to continuously break the "norm". I'll be tuning in for future endeavors.
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K-BL, but make it a clumsy theater club project
(╭☞•́⍛•̀)╭☞ Disclaimer:This review is based on my personal opinion/experience, it's not meant to sway yours, feel free to agree/disagree with it.
If I thought Unforgotten night was hilarious, this takes the cake for the best so bad it's so good series. Hear me out, I love my OOO boys to bits and pieces, especially my boy Yoojung , but you can't tell me this series wasn't the most hilarious shit you've ever seen, I kid you not, two minutes in and I just about peed myself from laughing, this series gave me serious war flashbacks, it honestly felt like I was seeing LOONA's First love story all over. This series had soo many issues, but to name a few:
>Slapstick comedy and Plot from the early 2010's.
>Sloppy camera work, bad editing, low quality ost, and recycling of the group's MVs and performance outfits because frugality I guess.
>Hilariously one dimensional, flattest of flat cardboard acting, and while the cast did improve a bit after the third episode or so, the acting was still one of the weirdest I've ever seen (especially Junji, his acting in the first episode had me wheezing for a good three minutes, followed by Rie and KB).
>The MLs and their dying bud of romance, don't get me wrong, I really love Nine and Mill, and I have no doubt that they have amazing chemistry, but you cannot tell me that these Nine and Mill are the same ones who acted in beat and beyond, I'm sorry, it's just not happening.
>Unintentional comedy 101.
>Mill and Junji's guide to looking like a little adorable puppy.
>This series is brought to you by low-key second hand embarrassment.
If you couldn't already tell by now, I'm not really writing a "review" here, this is more of an afterthoughts typa thing, but I felt like I should write something considering this is one of if not the very first K-BL with a whole K-pop group acting in it, and the fact that OOO are one of my ult groups. From the moment I saw the short character introductions the company uploaded on YT I just knew I wouldn't be able to take this seriously, specifically that one snippet of KB practicing his evil laugh, holy mother of gay that was hysterical, not even he could take himself seriously lol, so yeah, don't watch this with sky high expectations, this was obviously done on a veeery minimal budget, with amateurish acting and no thoughts put into the script, so if you're not bothered by that and have an hour or so to spare, I say give it a watch, it might not be the greatest thing you'll ever see but it'll definitely make you laugh. I genuinely don't know what else to write cuz honestly I'm very much out of practice and my head is a bit too empty, if you're looking for a more detailed review I suggest you check out the other reviews, they probably will provide you with a more insightful review than mine.
Have a nice day/afternoon/evening peeps. <3
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Buyer Beware!
We have an American expression that adroitly sums up this BL. ‘What you see, is what you get.’ The title puts in a nutshell what the series is all about. It is a story of two K-pop stars who are joined together to form a “Business Gay Performance”. I must further admit I was intrigued by them and its story. Perhaps because their acting is surprisingly entertaining and good and while I am guessing it is not much of a stretch for them to play K-pop stars since that is what they do, they were still rather convincing on screen. Honestly, this series overall is entertaining. It could have been better had it been longer and had a greater commitment to its message. For when it came to the actual fulfillment of the relationship, there was none. My further warning to viewers is: Buyer Beware!Was this review helpful to you?
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Another no kiss, exploitative fanservice drama
I didn't know anything about this drama or the actors, so I gave it a fair objective watch and it's so disappointing. If the actors cannot commit to fully playing gay characters that includes even one plain kissing scene, then they should not be playing the leads of a gay romance. If they did at least commit to that minimal professional extent, then it would at least give the drama some sort of legitimate artistic grounding, but since they didn't it just makes it so many meta layers of bad, undermining any possible critique of the hypocritical kpop industry of making money off the the appearance of a gay romantic actions without any support for any actual gay rights or artists by literally embodying the hypocrisy.The premise itself is a very real issue of using gay as concept to attract attention which the character Ji Hoon plays lip service to being against. Using skin ship and other actions as fanservice to pander to real people shipper fans that many idols are forced to do that have now gone from the once ubiquitous homophobia laced pocky game to non committed queer roles with no kissing. The in drama company so clearly is using the "Business gay" concept but also having their artists staunchly deny and have to avoid the media questioning their shady tactics like the media is wrong to question them. This is playing into the delusional fantasies of real people shippers that idols that are denying relationships are lying to them.
The in drama ceo is also quick to sell her artists to J who wants to work with his first love, and Hyun Bin who has roofied both Ji Hoon and Eden and had them both assaulted by an actress. He took photos of it happening to Ji Hoon and almost tanked his whole career. That's a huge criminal deal and the drama just brushes past it just like it has with everything else that's also a disturbing very real thing that kpop idols have to contend with, their management selling them for sexual favors. There are so many heavy industry things that the drama is lamp shading but does nothing with.
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I liked it
I didn’t know this pop group. But I will listen to their music now. So many reviews have said how bad the acting was but I think they did a great job. I agree, their English was bad. But I thought they pulled it off great using all members of the group in drastically different roles. And, yes, Nine is beautiful.I would have liked at least one episode after their confessions. The ending kind of left me a little unsatisfied. But I enjoyed this short series and was thoroughly entertained.
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This review may contain spoilers
Really liked it but
The story was greatHad potential to be a really great series
Nine and mill are my 2 favourite members so I was happy to see them as the leads.
The other member of only one were also great in there roles but the script let them down.
Overall the story felt rushed as each episode was only 15 minutes long and only 8 episode.
There was too much story line going on to really focus on 1 idea.
There was so many things happening
Trainees debuting
The duo forming a group
An obsessed ex
Drugging someone for picture for what ?? We don’t know
Fear of water
Fear of flying
Childhood crushes on boys
The denial of being gay
1 drunk kiss that was never talked about
The ex drugging eden for photos
Doing solo activities so quickly
Then a quick I love you and it ended 🤦🏻♀️
So much filler nonsense could have been left out and more depth could have been added to the actual point of the show which was gay business service turning into real love. That’s all the story needed
The side plots and back stories weren’t necessary.
I would like to see mill and nine in another show together.
This show left me with so many unanswered questions like
Why didn’t they show the water skiing event?
How did Ethan get over his fear of water so quickly?
Why didn’t jihoon like to fly?
What happened between the X and setting him up with the girl
Why was the ex so obsessed
Just a whole bunch of WHY WHY WHYs
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A Rush Job with Potential
Bump Up Business is a short South Korean BL series adapted from a webtoon by RK Studio, airing on iQIYI. With 8 episodes of around 15 minutes each, it offers a unique glimpse into the K-Pop world, mixing fanservice with the realities of the industry. The plot revolves around Eden, a rookie idol about to debut, and Jihoon, an older celebrity in the same agency. As a pair, they’re marketed as a "business gay performance" couple—a premise meant to boost their popularity, but one that quickly blurs the lines between reality and performance as they grow closer.The first thing that struck me was the series’ K-Pop setting, which I found refreshing, though I’m not the biggest fan of the genre. Music lovers will appreciate the soundtrack, but the drama itself struggled to fit its 40-chapter webtoon source into a limited runtime. This was perhaps its biggest weakness. The pacing felt rushed, with too many subplots crammed into too little time, leaving key relationships—especially between the leads—underdeveloped. By episodes 7 and 8, I found myself checking the clock, sensing the show’s desperate race to wrap things up.
Despite these pacing issues, the actors—many of whom are idols in real life—delivered charming performances. Nine, in particular, reminded me of a young Seo Kang Joon, managing to be both endearing and amateurish. There were moments where I almost connected deeply with the characters, but the story didn’t give me enough time to truly care.
What stands out in Bump Up Business is its subtle critique of the K-Pop industry. The show highlights the performative nature of fanservice, a reality that most K-Pop fans are aware of but perhaps don’t always acknowledge. The tension between pretending to be gay for fame while not being accepted as truly queer is poignant, especially in a conservative society like South Korea’s. The series flirts with these deeper themes, but never fully explores them, leaving us wanting more.
The ensemble cast, featuring members of OnlyOneOf, was solid overall, though some, like Rie and Junji, didn’t get much screen time. KB, who played the antagonist, was particularly memorable—so much so that I found myself genuinely disliking his character, a testament to his acting.
The show, while not groundbreaking, has its moments of entertainment. There’s light-heartedness in the way the leads banter and tease each other, and the music, composed by the idols themselves, is a highlight. Still, the absence of a proper kiss scene, for instance, left me feeling a bit cheated—especially when it seemed like the series was building up to one.
In short, Bump Up Business is a decent watch. It’s not perfect by any means—the rushed pacing, underdeveloped plotlines, and missed opportunities hold it back—but it does offer a fun and interesting take on K-Pop and BL. If you’re into K-Pop or BL dramas, it’s worth checking out, if only to see how the genre is evolving in South Korea.
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Average
This drama was ok to have seen once, but that was enough, i won't watch it again.You can see it's a low budget drama. The visuals were good and the music was ok.
The actors weren't very good, the only two who did a good job were Nine and the lady director (short hair).
There was no real chemistry between the leads.
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It’s Not Great Art, but It’s Fun to Watch
The drama Bump Up Business is more fun to watch than the reviews suggest. I watched it because the actors are members of the K-pop boy group ONLYONEOF (온리원오브). The members of the group played the major male leads and many of the supporting roles, both as protagonists and antagonists. It’s not a great production, and the acting isn’t worthy of Shakespeare, but I didn’t care. It fits into my definition of “entertaining”. Forget about the BL genre controversies, rushed storyline, and obviously limited budget; I needed something that wasn’t too stressful (a necessity at the moment because our hate-oriented political situation has me seeing ghosts of concentration camps). The actors have experience working in front of the cameras, strong stage presence, and they understand how to use their sexuality while cleverly maintaining an ambiguous kind of androgyny. They brought their “idol” background to the drama, but they aren’t experienced actors yet. A few of them may eventually shine as actors. Some viewers may be curious about the sexual orientation of the group. I loved that they committed to a POV for the drama, but that doesn’t mean it’s autobiographical. My opinion about someone’s sexual orientation is, “frankly, my dear, who gives a damn?” (If you’re not a classic film fan, that’s an homage to “Gone with the Wind.) It’s a shame some people are still so invested in gender issues. My preference is to respect someone’s privacy. Everyone has the right to make personal choices as long as their choices don’t take away someone else ‘s right to choose. So, although gender is an issue in the storyline, unless someone wants to share their private life with me, it’s none of my business.The writing, directing, production values, wardrobe, and music were OK. They didn’t distract from my enjoyment. But, since this is a well known musical group, I would have liked a couple of scenes showcasing their talent as a group. There were some thought provoking moments. I particularly got a kick out of them adding a hint of reality to a plot about the “glamour” of fame. Instead of painting the entertainment scene as a “Disneyesque” world of lights, glitter, and excitement, the story tells us what we already know about the entertainment industry. It’s a super-toxic, overly-heartless, and ego-dominated environment. The plot recognizes that fame is hard work if you’re committed to learning, practicing, and constantly improving your craft. It made me think about the pain of being a celebrity in a culture where fans have the power to control their lives. Apparently if you give some Korean fans a rumor, they’ll happily destroy someone’s life with it. Ignite their ire and they’ll burn you to ash. Misinformation, minor mistakes, or unpopular personal choices can end a career, even without any evidence of actual wrongdoing. Maybe the problem is that some fans don’t have any power over their own lives, so they abuse their power as fans. If a “fan” can’t accept a few normal human flaws, and forgive occasional mistakes with compassion, then they aren’t really “fans,” are they?
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They made the best of a mediocre script & deserve another chance to showcase their acting potential.
Valiant effort by OnlyOneOf in their first drama but the script was not favourable and there's a large range in acting skill displayed. The series was very short which did not leave them with a lot of room to really explore their characters, with some members having very little screen time at all. Would love to see them in a longer series with a better script that would allow them to really showcase their acting skills like we've briefly seen in their Underground Idol music video series.Was this review helpful to you?
manage your expectations
okay disclaimer, yes I'm a kpop fan, no I'm not a lyon (nothing against the group, I just haven't even listened to their music yet beyond the music shown in this show, so I have no particular feelings one way or another)this show has a TW for attempted SA (nothing graphic but it is done to main characters)
I enjoyed watching this show. was it perfect? no. it had a budget of $15 and a dream but considering what they had, I thought the show was fun! other reviewers felt like they were reading off the script -- I never particularly felt that way while watching, maybe a bit looking back but idk I just didn't notice anything like that. clearly these guys aren't skilled actors but I thought it was fun seeing them gain a bit more confidence as the show went on, especially the main two guys. there were some moments they had that I thought were pretty good, honestly -- you can see that they have chemistry together. they did kiss only one time, with multiple fake outs/kissblocking moments happening, which... was a bit frustrating! but like my headline says: I was managing my expectations. I've seen much more produced BL shows have zero kisses so I'm taking that one we got as a win. (it helps that it was cute)
there were definitely parts where the writing felt off (such as the end where a character says he's going to stay for a while, then immediately turns out not to be with no explanation?). I also noticed the bgm would come on and off really abruptly at times and it was a little distracting
while I didn't mind the 15 minute episodes (*cries in 5-min episode Chinese GL shows*) I wish there were more episodes total, maybe 10. the relationship is a bit of a fast burn and it would've been nice to see more of the emotional build up, or emotional fall out of some of the things that happened in this show. relatedly, I really didn't expect what I thought would be a cutesy BL project have serious topics like toxic relationships, scandals, SA, etc in them. it was a nice surprise for me bc while I don't mind cutesy BL, the more drama the better
my fave trope they included was definitely the protective sunbae/hyung/group leader + sunshine/naive dongsaeng!!
would I rewatch? maybe. honestly I would be more interested in seeing another project done by this group, this show felt like their first steps into the acting world and I saw potential in them to get better and do bigger and better things in the future
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Interesting Plot but not enough time!
So i really love the plot idea tbh, i would've loved it to be way longer ofc and deeper, there were a lot of subplots that could've been explored more in depth & i would've liked more screen time of the MC's and their chemistry. I'd like to see such a similar plot in another serie~I was also shocked to find out that the MC's+ side characters are in a real Kpop group together hahaha🥰
the acting is okay, its the first time! (KB seems like a good potential to get into acting i think? with more practice he could get very good!) i would LOVEE to see more of the MC's maybe in another drama? :3 their chemistry is really good
overall you can watch it for passing time, its cute and short ♡
if any of the group members read through reviews, you did great! fighting💞!
support the irl group! they're great :)
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