Love for Love's Sake

Emotional Lava

my only complain about Kdramas always has been the coldness ..every character comes as uptight and cold.. but WTF here the melting is real.. the process of turning ice to emotional lava through the 8 episodes were amazing and glorious. and all this came in a video game format is the strangest ever ..
because the unique narration of this drama and following the lead (game) instructions to the big reveal they didn't lose me for a minute ..I was there with him and I loved it
I must confess that "the eighth sense" is my least fav. drama and I don't understand the hype. the treatment of sadness and loneliness is better addressed here.. maybe that emptiness and robotic feeling can also be consoled by love and finding true friends. while I cried my heart out in "a shoulder to cry on" (no. 1 for me ever and ever) I didn't cry here cause I think the makers wanted that. They wanted to illustrate how hope is not cruel at all, and nothing is hopeless you can start again every time.
the acting superb the music was good but the handling of the story was something else.

Read More

What a Ride!

I must admit that this series is an astonishingly sophisticated and complex story to navigate. This story may also be the beginning for the creation of fictionalized BL worlds blending video gaming with reality, an interesting new format to say the least. Since I do not play ‘video games’ and had no idea of the lingo or the rules for computer gaming, this was a challenge for me to traverse. I had to stop and find definitions to terms I am unfamiliar with, admittedly. Additionally, this series uses a combination of allegory, fantasy, and twists to realities in an almost Avante-Garde fashion. And the story itself is oblique and sometimes enigmatic. This is not your standard BL series by any means.

Read More

One, if not the best KBL

I've watched LFLS two weeks ago and already rewatched it twice. And I'll be forever thankful for that tiktok account that recommended this absolutely fantastic show.
The plot is both simple but innovative: talk about the school life of Myungha but INSIDE A VIDEO GAME??? DAMN.
And do we wanna talk about the acting? YEOWOON HELLO??? Loved how he gradually changed and found his smile, how his eyes changed and opened up the more he got to know about Myungha. I also enjoyed the other two guys, they were sososo cute.
So yeah, definitely recommended.
I hope that whoever created this BL lives a HAPPY DUCKING LIFE CAUSE THANK YOU, YOU MADE MINE A LOT BETTER

Read More

Creative, fun, but incosistent

This drama is a Korean BL, and by that, we all know what it means - it's simple, the acting is mostly okay, but it has technical problems and script inconsistencies. It's no surprise that this drama became popular; it was fun to watch. The plot is really creative, and you will have a good time watching it if you can ignore some plot holes (that honestly are so small they become unimportant) and the awful pace and cuts.

The major problem with the script is how inconsistent the characters are. Myungha is the only character that, I believe, the writers put some effort into. Sangwon is a plot device, and so is Yeowoon. They both change personalities based on Myungha's conflicts. Sangwon feels like an NPC, not the main love interest. And then there are the siblings. What's the point of them, exactly? What did they even add to the story? For the girl, is she just the quota female character? (something that always annoys me in BL because most of the time they create a female character only for the sake of a female character, and they NEVER give them any development, or they are just annoyingly obsessed with the main character).
The characters were just lazily created. At least Sangwon should have more of a personality, but following the BL recipe, he went from "I don't like you, and I don't like people" to "obsessed with you, I will do anything you want" really quickly. His character is incredibly boring.

After saying all that, people will probably be angry already (because the drama is popular and I bet people will get angry), but wondering what's with the high score I gave this show. First: it was good, like I said, for a Korean BL. We don't have a lot of interesting things in the KBL industry. Second: fantasy is always fun to me, and the high school setting is good (so we can justify some actions as "they can be annoying because they are still teenagers").

The story also had some lessons about loving yourself that, again, is only about Myungha. He was the only character with real development. It gave some RuPaul's "if you don't love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else." It also mentioned about finding happiness in a simple things (but the whole plot was nothing but simple, come on. He was made to play a game, and the other guy falling in love with him was literally his mission).

I believe if the characters were better written, this show could become Korea's best. At this point, after so many examples of it, the KBL industry should realize that people don't want the cold CEO character type and their dumb naive bottom; people want relatable characters like Myungha.

Read More

This was personal!!!

Cause it hit me from a very personal point, I've never cried so loudly in anything I've watched or read. I don't think I'll ever experience something similar again. The series really touched me from a very personal point and deeply. It was a very good, sweet series that made my heart move until the 8th episode, and I was not expecting the slap in the face in the 8th episode. Myungha's suicide gave me goosebumps and made me gag from crying.

Since I am someone who is suicidal and struggles with depression, I saw myself in Myungha. I have seen other suicidal characters, but Myungha made me feel like I was looking in the mirror, I felt her loneliness to my bones. While I was stopping the episode and crying, I was always thankful that I had my sister with me. Despite my sister, I feel so alone and once again I realized that I don't get support from anyone emotionally, if it wasn't for my sister, I would be as lonely as Myungha...

It made me think about my own life, what I have. It made me feel grateful and made me say "I still have my chance". Her saying that this life is a chance really impressed me. Myungha'a getting a second chance after committing suicide made me say to myself "You won't have such a chance in real life". It made me think that I should appreciate this chance, that is, this life of mine, and I think this is very important.

The fact that "sunbae" said "I thought if you learned to love, you would love yourself too" hit me hard. I always say that I am a "hopeless romantic", I really want to experience love, but months ago, I realized that I don't know how to love anyone because I don't love myself. And the fact that Myungha said "I want to disappear", it really made me feel like Myungha was me in another universe, because I always say this sentence when I'm at the bottom. The fact that he wrote "like minded friends" to the question about happiness and said "I want someone" while looking at the stars really destroyed me.

Myungha is the character I can relate to the most, no matter how long I write, I cannot adequately describe how the series made me feel, it also taught me a very good lesson. People who experience or feel similar things will understand me.

Read More

Pure Bliss!!!

I made the dire mistake of deciding to check out just the beginning of this drama late at night on a work night. I did not sleep and had to stumble through presentations and meetings like a zombie today but still coming here to write a review because I loved it.

Honestly I've watched so many great dramas in the last few weeks (I Hear The Sunspot, Bad Buddy and now this) that I think I have to take a break to reset lest they blur together in my head. But this drama was pure enjoyment from start to finish. I loved the sci-fi/fantasy aspects of it, the learning to accept love and love yourself message and the wonderful actors. It was one of the rare dramas where I enjoyed all the side characters as well as the leads. It starts out seemingly cute and fluffy with the two leads having an age gap that makes you wonder whether their relationship will really take off. Just past the halfway mark it takes a turn and becomes darker, sadder but never 'traumatic in the K-trauma' sense. But the ending is a sweet reward which celebrates friendship and self-love and second chances.

Yes cheesy as hell but it is the good stuff, melted gruyere on a bowl of French onion soup yumminess. I don't recommend staying up all night on a work night (I did feel some regret during my harrowing day) so if you are the type to get caught up in a drama and binge watch then plan your start time/day accordingly. You have been warned, you will want to binge.

Read More

Nothing is topping this

I was so incredibly moved by this story that I'm writing a review months after watching it and failing to find another series that has made me feel the way Love for Love's sake did.

The cinematography and interesting video game concept reels you in initially, and you'll find yourself thinking about how cute these two high schoolers are for the first few episodes. Soon, you come to find that this story is not just a simple high school romance. Rather, it's a story about depression, loss, and the way we so freely love others when we can't even seem to love ourselves.

By the end of the show, you might be confused and hoping the story truly did have a happy ending.

Either way, I think the show's lesson is that even if you don't have the full picture, you can still choose to be happy. You can still have a second chance.

Read More

Overrated - The Ending Was Abrupt, misuse of the other main actors

I have to say, Love For Love’s Sake left me baffled by the hype surrounding it. I’ll admit I’m not a fan of open endings, but even setting that aside, I struggle to understand the praise this BL drama receives. The production quality felt underwhelming, and the storytelling left much to be desired.

Character Inconsistencies: First, the MC is isekai'd, until he is not. He is actually given a second chance, by death? or god? Idk, but is he death or is he not? IMO Taevin wasn’t convincing at all, he felt forced. Another thing is that for me it seemed that Cho Joo Wan either struggled with the role, or the character itself was poorly written. One moment, Yeo Woon is shy, mad and scared of everything; the next, he’s confidently kissing a stranger and becoming the center of attention. The inconsistency in his character arc made it hard to connect with or root for him.

Plot Issues: The storyline was riddled with inconsistencies. For example, at the beginning, gang are swooning over Sang Wo, but within minutes, he’s an outcast, and then suddenly, everyone loves him again. It’s a rollercoaster with no logical progression, leaving the story feeling disjointed and superficial.

Production Missteps: The production didn’t help matters either. The overly loud crickets in the last episode completely shattered any mood the scene was trying to create. Moments that should have been emotional or meaningful were ruined by poor sound design. Also, they underutilized Oh Min Su, to the point that Min Su has followed all his costars, and doesn't want to be associated with the series anymore, because how they simply ignore his wishes to be paired with Chongki.

Unnecessary Scenes: Some scenes felt so out of place and unnecessary that they detracted from the overall experience. The exaggerated running scene, smoking scenes and the "end of the world" were jarring and added nothing to the story. These moments seemed to exist purely for shock value rather than serving any narrative purpose.

Pacing Problems: The pacing was another significant issue. While the story started with decent momentum, it quickly lost steam. Entire episodes were dedicated to events that didn’t add anything new, like half the drama focusing on taking tests. It felt like padding rather than meaningful development.

Final Thoughts: I fail to see how Love For Love’s Sake deserves the acclaim it gets. Between the inconsistent characters, poorly executed production, and filler-heavy storytelling, the show falls far short of delivering a quality experience. I’d rate it closer to a 3 than the glowing 7 or higher that others seem to give it. It’s overrated and a disappointment overall.

Read More

Loved it!

The casting for 'Love for Love's Sake' is undeniably superb. Lee Tae Vin's portrayal of Tae Myung Ha is solid, fitting seamlessly into the role. Cha Joo Wan brings a delightful charm to Cha Yeo Woon, though some moments may come off as cringy, his genuine approach adds an endearing quality to the character. Meanwhile, Oh Min Su and Cha Woong Ki deliver commendable performances as Chun Sang Won and Ahn Kyung Hoon, respectively.

However, the love triangle involving Myung Ha, Yeo Woon, and Sang Won could have been explored further. It felt as though the resolution came too abruptly, leaving much potential unexplored. Additionally, the decision to portray Sang Won and Kyung Hoon as cousins rather than potential love interests reflect South Korea's hesitance to fully embrace BL narratives.

Despite these shortcomings, the acting throughout the drama remains authentic, with no forced moments evident. While some scenes could have benefited from a longer runtime to allow for deeper exploration, the overall execution is commendable. Although the game concept could be further developed, the production team utilized their resources effectively, resulting in a satisfying drama experience

Read More

flawless amazing beautiful spectacular inovating (MAJOR SPOILER)

I only started watching the show because of Cha Woongki and I didn't expect it to be my favorite BL of all time. I loved the whole getting-inside-a-game thing in such a sad reality. I love how you just think he's there to change the story of the side character of a book he read through a dating game but there's a BIG plot twist at the end: everything was about -his- happiness.

The love between Myungha and Yeo Woon was so pure. I fell in love deeply with Yeo Woon and his little puppy face. He was in such a depressing situation and when he smiled was the best thing ever. I was so happy to finally see Myungha be able to love others properly and let himself have a second chance in this new life at the end.

It was all so emotional and a some things were hard to watch because it got dark sometimes, but it was all part of the construction of such a great story. I just loved everything about the drama since is was so well written and put together. All the time it made me feel so many things and I highly recommend the experience.

Read More