The Boy Next World

The hate is NOT deserved!

First of all, this is my first ever review, but I felt the need to write one for this title, because of all the hate I see here on MDL!
I gave this a 10 just to increase the overall rating. Also, not liking something, does not mean you have the right to hate!
Now let's begin. Also, I did not read the novel, so this is only based on the series.

**ACTING**
Tbh I`m a fan of BossNoeul so I may be a bit biased here, but I just wanted to point out that their acting improved a lot since LITA. The series deserves at least an 8 for their acting alone. Not to mention this is only their 2nd series! and they already can hold their candle compared to other BL-acting couples. It is sometime ppl should acknowledge.


**MUSIC**
The music isn't really worth mentioning. It was not bad, but it also didn't stand out to me. There were 2 english songs I felt like didn't fit, but that is my personal preference. The only song worth it is the title track/intro in my opinion.


**STORY**
Now to the main part. The story is a supernatural romance focusing on the topic of parallel worlds. Personally I`m a big fan of time travel/isekai and that sort of stuff, so I was happy about BossNoeul having a series in that genre. In general I had no problem following the story!

(short breakdown of the story, contains spoilers)
The story is about Cir who is secretly in love with Phu since their school days and suddenly gets sucked into the world of parallel worlds after getting hit by a car after protecting Phu's car from some criminals. After being hit, he is able to see another world in which he and Phu are a happy couple. After waking up he is confused at first, thinking he and Phu are actually dating. He runs to Phu's home and tells him he is from a parallel world and that they are dating.

Phu first does not believe him, but they slowly get closer and as Phu believes in superstition he slowly begins to believe Cir as well. By that time Cir realizes though, that he was only confused, thought he was only dreaming. He realizes that he lied to Phu about him being from a parallel world, but does not tell Phu because he is scared of Phu leaving him after finally being together.

In the meantime Cir 'dreams' regulary about being in a white room and meeting another Cir (Black!Cir). He realizes that parallel worlds exist and that his dreams are actually snippets of other worlds.

At the same time, Phu slowly falls in love with Cir but feels guilty because he thinks he has no right to love this version of Cir. Things get emotional and Phu sees it in himself to send Cir back. After avoiding being in conflict with Cir, Phu was saved by Cir from a running car and gets hit by it yet again.

Another Cir from another world gets switched in and stirs things up, not believing in parallel worlds also. After some time he gets back to his own world, because the Cir from this world gets pushed by by Black!Cir. CirPhu finally come together and admit their feelings, but the happiness does not last long, as Phu finally finds out that Cir lied to him. Long story short, after some emotional drama, they finally have their happy ending.

I left out the Bitch!Mom and Bitch!Fiance because it didnt give the story much. Anyways....

The story introduces us to 4 worlds (the nicknames I gave mean no harm lol):

1. World - Stalker!Cir:
Basically the 'main' world / the world in which the mainstory plays in. Cir is in love with Phu since their school days and takes care of him from afar and protects him from harm to the point in where he gets hurt himself. After getting hit by a car, he sees World 2 from an outsider perspective, but thinks it was a dream. He wakes up confused, goes to Phu and tells him he is from a parallel world even though he isn't. Phu slowly begins to believe him and their love story starts.

2. World - Black!Cir :
The world Stalker!Cir sees after he got hit by the car in EP 1. Cir and Phu are happily dating since their school days, we don't know what happend to them but considering what Black!Cir said, it seems like they didnt have a happy ending. The series didnt give more details to his world even though its the world we see most from. I suspect him being 'the first Cir' and just acting as if he isnt, because from my experience when it comes to parallel worlds there is something called the butterfly effect, which is hard to breake through. So he can not give his other versions details about either his own world or their world or what they should do to get their happy ending (the one he himself didn't have), because of certain restrictions he is bound to.

3. World - Glasses!Cir:
The world in which Cir and Phu only meet after 10 years. Cir seems to be Phu's boss and treats him really badly. He is called 'the one that treats Phu in the meanest way' by Black!Cir. He was stabbed by a man, which caused him to see the parallel worlds. He changed afterwards. There are no more details about their story.

4. World - Payu!Cir: (cause of the hair)
Payu!Cir is the one that appears in world 1 after Stalker!Cir gets hit yet again by a car. After having a high fever, he suddenly woke up in world 1 and stirs things a bit up. In the meantime Stalker!Cir is held back in the white room and cannot escape. There are no details to this world yet, but there will be a Bonus-EP about it. The only thing we know is, he does not know Phu at the time he gets switched out. Phu from world 1 tells him about parallel worlds, but he isn't believing him. He gets back to his own world when Stalker!Cir is pushed back in by Black!Cir. I believe it is Black!Cir that triggered the exchange of them, so the story of Payu!Cir can begin.

5. The white room - my assumptions
It's the 'neutral time zone' in which Black!Cir meets his other versions to trigger the parallel worlds to find his happy ending with Phu. He can do and tell things to a certain level with or without triggering the butterfly effect. His goal is to have a happy ending with Phu, favorable in every world because he promised Phu to love him wherever they are.
By the amount of snippets we have seen of other worlds and the things he said about the bad endings that already happend, my guess is, it's his domain to find the perfect balance to not trigger the butterfly effect and he finally succeeded with Stalker!Cir. My guess is, its because Stalker!Cir never really visited another world, he just saw snippets of the other worlds, so he never interfered with them personally.


**DIRECTING**
First of all, like I already said, I had no problem following the story in general, but all in all the plot came a bit short, mostly because of the limited episodes. I think it would have been better for this to at least have 20 episodes, it would have given enough time for everything to develop on a normal pace and also explain things more clearly. For example the reason why Jin can read minds and how Cir is able to even jump/see between different worlds or how the original Cir was even able to create the time space to meet his different versions. Also, the possibilities of different plotlines is endless. In the end its a huge pity, considering how much potential the story has.

There were some directing decisions I really did not understand, for example (and the most triggering for me) cutting an emotional scene into 2 parts and splitting them between episodes (talking about ending of Ep 8 and beginning of Ep 9). By the time you begin watching the next episode the feelings of the previous episode are gone. So watching Ep 9 was a whole wtf moment for me tbh.

I also did not see the need to include the mom and fiance into the story line. The amount of episodes was so limited, it took away most needed space for more details in the main story. Same for the death anniversary episode. They focused way too long on it and it didnt really give anything to CirPhus relationship.

Another thing that might come unexpected for most, but the nc scene in Ep 10 came out of nowhere and didnt fit the feeling for me.

But those are really the only things I feel worth mentioning that could be considered directing mistakes.

All in all you can overlook those and still appreciate the story as a whole. The acting makes it worth it for me. They also did a great job with the effects. The series as a whole looks high quality and you can see that they put a lot of effort into it. From what I have seen from the bts, the actors all seem satisfied with the ending product and I think its cute how much they love Mame. We should respect that, so pls don't spread hate towards Mame.


**CONCLUSION**
Is it worth watching? Definitely a yes for me. I think you will enjoy watching it if you are a fan of BossNoeul and also the fantasy/supernatural genre.

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I don't understand the hate at all

Ik the whole plot seems confusing and all, but it was different than most Bl dramas I've watched and that's what made me love it so much. I want to compliment BossNoeul's acting but especially Noeul's because I felt like he improved a lot and i felt every emotion of the character through his acting. He deserves more praises for his acting in the series. As for the music, i don't think I've ever obsessed with a series music playlist this much. i keep listening to all TBNW songs in Spotify in repeat and the OST is my absolute favourite. I will definitely rewatch it once i get some free time. And let's talk about ForthDonut, I think they were amazing ,i honestly didn't expect myself to love them so much ,but i absolutely do love this duo now. Their chemistry is definitely my favourite after BossNoeul. If I have to choose which one i love the most about the series, i would say first one is definitely BossNoeul. secondly all the songs , and the third one is the aesthetic of the series (like the different color tones for CirPhu, the small details they added, Phukan's cardigans etc.). Phukan is the cutest character I've ever seen.

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This is not that nice

So, I started this drama when it stopped airing cause by watching the trailer I was not really convinced, later my friend asked if we could watch it together since she loves the Love in the air couple.

First Episodes:
I would say that the first three episodes were just akward for me to watch and I kind of felt like, dude what's happenening in the other world, like even tho I didn't want to watch it I needed to know

Central episodes:
Between episode 4 and 8 the plot was moving alright and everything seemed fine, well the in episode 8 where Cir wakes up was to only comfirmation that another world exists (since the Cir from this universe had a scar on his head)
then later I realised that the guy who woke up in that episode was someone from another world, cause then later Phu finds out that Cir gas been a pshyco STALKER like whyyyy
So moving on the original Cir comes back and everything seems fine till...

Final episodes(I wished I didn't see those):
So Phu finds out that Cir has been liyng to him about the whole parralel world and stuff, and in reality he was actually a STALKER like dude I get why Phu decided to dissapear (like he's already traumatiesed from his fathers death now thiss)
Also like why is everyone telling him to hear Cir out like he has a reason to do that???

Let's be clear Stalking is not okay if someone is stalking someone else and you know it please tell the police since people like that need therapy!!!

In the end his reason was not reasonable, like I get it he had a difficult time growing up, and Phu made somethig come back alive deep inside him but thats not a reason to stalk someone, litte tip for Cir if you like someone talk to them PLEASE, in the end I did like the pair ups like the chemestry between is defenetly legit.

The jin and Wim couple was personally the best and I need more of them as main leads, they were just so cute.

For me they souldn't have made Phu and Cir end up together because for me Cir is a psycho that belived that his own immagination of begin together with Phu meant that he is in another universe, cause of what he was seeing in his dreams could've been part of his imagination.

End thoughts:
Personally most of the drama was not understandable for the multiple reasons I've given you, but also the confusion during the whole drama was simply there and most of the times me and my friend looked at each other and where like wth is happening?
Probably not worth watching and I don't really recommend it if yiu wanna stay sane in mind

DISCLAIMER
English is not my first language so I am sorry if I misspelled any words or made any grammar errors
Also this is my personal opinion and I am not saying that everyone else is crazy me and my friend defenetly won't rewatch this, hope this was helpful have a nice day🙂!

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Got me feeling all kinds of emotions but I fell in love in the end

I'm seeing LOTS of negative comments about this show but I personally don't agree with them. This was fresh, new concept and I personally think it was executed quite well! The actors did so good, the characters were lovable and I personally couldn't take my eyes off the screen at all!

The story builds up really well, hooking the watcher in with multiple twists. I did get confused few times but caught back on quite quickly. We're also moving in the gray area with few parts of the story, like P'Cir's choices etc. but I personally didn't mind it. All was handled pretty well towards the end of the story.

I also like the fact that the other universes are left unfinished, them not being completely clear gives the watcher similar confused feeling that the characters are going through in the show, which I personally liked since it immersed me deeper into the show. And I don't mean confused as in "I have no idea what's happening in the story" but the kind where everything is uncertain, without anything completely sure to cling on to. It makes the experience super interesting!

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The series that just missed the mark.

Already here is my think piece on this series.

I genuinely enjoyed watching this drama! I am a sucker for parallel universe tropes...that of course is if it was actual about parallel universes...or was it?

That is what frustrates me the most about this drama. There honestly is no telling if the parallel universes are actually real. To my understanding, they ARE real it's just that the Cir WE know wasn't actually from one...? I think....? it's unfortunate that even after completing the series, it still remains a question.

There is a lot of talk about the parallel universes simply being Cir's mental battle between the toxic life he was raised in and his love for Phu. Which yes, the "purgatory" every Cir went to after the car crash was Cir's mind but that still means the other timelines existed, right? Because how does that explain the scar missing when the third no-it-all Cir comes? Was it because Phu also wanted to believe that these universes existed? We also heard from Jin when talking with Wim that Cir wasn't lying when it came to these other timelines existing. So, the question still stands. What was real and what was not?

I wish this would have been more clear. In a perfect world, I feel this series should have either focused on one of the two. 1. It all being in Cir's head and it being a coping mechanism to his trauma or 2. There being ACTUAL different timelines. These two share such different outcomes that could have been wonderful on there own.

Personally, if I was Phu...I would be freaked the f**k out if I found out someone had been stalking me for four years. Whether they were dangerous or not. I'm not a big fan of this kind of plot. If they would have stuck with the different timelines, there would have been more depth to the story of their relationship. I think sticking to the story of every timeline being made up of the same timeline except every little action they didn't take played a role in what happened in each universe would have been so awesome.

I think Jin being more involved could have been cool too. Him being able to read minds felt a little out of the blue with there being no real explanation as to why he can, when he started to, and an overall reason for him to have these powers. I still enjoyed seeing him and Wim's relationship unfold. It was very cute.

Now, I do believe this series gets a little too much over-the-top hate. It's funny because the inconsistency was the reason I was so hooked! Not knowing what was truly going on made me crave to keep watching and find out the real truth. While it is very frustrating that the real outcome is still unknown, I believe BossNoeul did a perfect job with what they were given and I enjoy seeing this pair work together!

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Boss and Noeul have amazing chemistry, but plot falls flat

This drama had a lot of potential. because Boss and Noeul have chemistry OFF THE CHARTS! I was happy to see them in another BL because they're so perfect together, but story-wise.. meh. It got too confusing and the whole parallel universe thing didn't make sense, especially towards the end I was ??? the whole last episodes. The only thing worth is the strong leads, otherwise no one would watch or remember this. The side couple wasn't interesting either. The NC scenes were incredible though and looked real which is a plus. I don't think I've seen such scenes in BL before and the upgrade of NC scenes recently is just.. *chefs kisss* but other than those.. this isn't much of story.

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A Disappointing Approach for a Stellar Casting!

Undoubtedly, this would have worked much better as a fantasy. Instead, they tried to fool us into thinking it is and then wildly twisting the plot into making it fit into our ‘reality’ only to fail miserably on all fronts. This series is a complete mess, regrettably.

Initially, it captured my imagination. Thinking Cir (Boss Chaikamon) was indeed transported from a parallel universe into our world, hooked me. In that world, he was deeply and completely in love with Phu (Noeul Nuttarat). However, in this world, he was hit by a car and was hospitalized. When he awakens, he imagines (I think) that he comes from a parallel universe. Phu has no idea of who Cir is when he knocks on his door, dripping wet in hospital attire. Cir seems to know a great deal about him. I mean an unhealthy amount of information that would indeed indicate what other option would there be but to at least consider Cir is from a parallel universe. Otherwise, would he be a stalker?! However, the idea that they are lovers in that other universe is beyond any level of logic yet certainly is intriguing.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2025/05/15/the-boy-next-world-series-review-ep-1-to-10/

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Gets a little interesting towards the end but a wasted potential

As a huge BossNeoul fan I feel a little frustrated because they honestly deserved better. The acting was perfection, saved the drama.
The plot had really great potential to develop into one of the best dramas of the year but the abrupt ending and the lack of flow made it unenjoyable. They had a great idea but none sat to develop it so it ended up having too many plot holes and no depth. What saddens me the most is it had potentials.

The acting is phenomenal and we can truly see how much Booss and Neoul has grown since LITA. They embraced the characters well and showed apt emotions in each scene. They truly gave life to the characters. They truly deserve some better storylines.

The sorection was good. It felt really high maintained and well drafted. Even with the lack of plot the cinematography and direction gave it atleast some dimension.

I hope to see more of such plot but with better quality.

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Unexpectedly Fell In Love With The Boy Next World Universe

Let me start off by saying that I feel extremely compelled to write this review. I started this series with so much hesitation because of all the negative reviews, but thank God I was desperately in need of a captivating story or gripping chemistry and held onto my expectation that MLs (Boss & Noeul) would deliver at least that, if nothing else. I have to say that going into this with so much trepidation, I was completely hooked from the first episode and binged the whole thing in a single day.

Talking about the storyline, I honestly do not understand the people who said they couldn't comprehend it because to me it was a completely solid plotline. Whatever was relevant to the story of Cir & Phu, they showed it perfectly. Whether it was related to the parallel universe or the unrequited love, though I do get that maybe an additional three episodes would be better with more focus on the supernatural elements, as we don't really get an answer on why and how some characters have these extra abilities. It was a complete story for me otherwise. The production was really good too, and honestly, they can definitely do more and build this universe.

My favorite part of all of this was the chemistry between the leads; they were an absolute delight, and not to mention the side characters were amazing too. I truly did fall in love with this universe and honestly would love more stories within this universe.

It was a great watch for me, and I honestly don't get the dislike. All I would say is give it a try and see if it is up to you.

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