Jazz for Two (2024)

Very well done all around.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series and everything about it: the story, the acting, the pacing, the directing. It all came together really well to create another great series to add to the growing Korean BL lineup.

The series begins with an insight to where the story is headed then we go back in time to tell the story of how we ended up there. By the time we catch up, there's still more story to come (including one of the best plot twists I've seen).

This series could have really benefitted from a couple more episodes, just because the story was that good and it deserved more ironing out. That's my main issue with KBL series; they are always so short. Sometimes it's good when the story is less involved and doesn't need all the extra filler. But when they are working with a more complex theme or multiple storylines intertwined, they really deserve a bit more time to have it come together better.

I think this series did a decent job with tying together all the loose ends though just a tiny more explanation or conclusion in some areas could have made this series perfect.

This could have been a 10 from me if they didn't use my most HATED trope ever.. The "I don't love you" excuse for breaking up instead of being honest about what was going on in their heads. I can't remember which series I wrote it in but one of the reviews I did for a series that used that, I said that there's no coming back from a claim like that and it's just as true here. Thank goodness the very next scene is someone stepping in and the couple clears the air and reconciles not even two minutes later so the unnecessary angst didn't linger.

The only other complaints I have for this series is that I wish the "side couple" (if you could call them that) didn't really end up together although they were back to being friends. But the senior kind of allowed his internal homophobia to win which is really unfortunate. It would be great to see a side story or even spin off series that explores their relationship more as I still think they had (have?) a lot of potential.

I wish there was a little more resolution with the father though I get that there were time constraints to fit in the main storyline. They needed to have a serious conversation. The dad get's told off once and he's suddenly a changed man? I highly doubt it. But I just took it to mean it would be a work in progress and that they would eventually come to an understanding, even if we don't see it.

Speaking of things we don't see... I love when a plot twist comes completely out of left field and I don't see it coming while it still fits in seamlessly with the story. I could see people saying there were too many coincidences but I think it was pretty poetic when the truths came to light. (I'm trying really hard not to give it away so I'll stop talking about it now.)

But yeah, I definitely recommend this series. It was full of heart, great storytelling and had a mixture of funny and serious moments that blended well together. The music was a nice change of pace too, giving a fresh spin on a classic formula.

Read More

Didn't meet my expectations.

I read the whole manhwa years ago, thinking the series would relive some of my memories, it does not. They change so many things from the manhwa it feels like a different story💀 i literally re-read the manhwa bcs i thought my memories wronged me, because i remember vividly that seheon's father was a young professor, and taejoon was his student. so when i saw seheon's father is a strict old man i was like ??? and taejoon being a highschooler too makes me ????? more. I thought why would they make it so extreme, an old man with a highschooler?? turns out they create a new character (seheon's brother). i kinda understand, cause maybe it's the censorship or they want to make the series more general friendly, not really mad about it but still they changed way too much.

the series explained NOTHING. the story's too complex to fit in 8 episodes. why tf are they cutting the fucking explanation to some running scene, like... at least put a voice over about the brother explaining about what happened??? ik they showed a bit of taejoon and seheon's brother story but MAKE IT CLEAR?! seheon's brother is indirectly the cause of taejoon's death, and how tf taeyi is FINE after listening to the "explanation"?? I mean this whole story is revolve around his trauma, his insomnia caused by his brother's death, he was eager to know why would his brother doing it, and after he found out, he's just like that? oh come on!?

also in the series they make taejoon and taeyi so.. idk i got the wrong vibes from them.

Next, Why's seheon's dad literally poof gone??? after seheon ran away we never seen his dad again, not even once.. he can't missed one of his practice at home before but he suddenly can participating in a whole competition?? Playing jazz?? oh ok..? they make his dad's favoritism a big thing in the beginning and make it disappears just like that🤷🏼‍♀️ the story is just really all over the place, the pace is very disorganized. But surprisingly, they kinda nailed it with the second couple's story, maybe because it's less complex??🤷🏼‍♀️

should i even mentioned the acting—? I think we all know? It's not like bad bad but it's not good. Especially the main couple, the chemistry way off bro they don't act like couple at all! Taeyi's actor got more chemistry with Taejoon's actor and Doyoon's actor than with his own partner... damn.. but some scenes are fine tho.

Taeyi's actor failed big time, he didn't conveyed any feelings, he can't cry, his smile is stiff n his expression is flat. he reminds me of bright, from the (uhmm) acting, the expression, even the stiff awkward smile HAHAHAH (sorry).

Seheon's actor is just so so, i remember him in To my star, he stands out well in to my star, but idk he lost his sparks in his own series, he's not that bad but i just feel like he's missing something from his act.

Juha's actor did fine, he didn't have much screen time but he actually did great i mean he potrayed the asshole aura/vibes perfectly.

Doyoon's actor, i love him. he acts very naturally yet awkwardly, it's his first time acting no?? Cause yea i can see it and he did great tho, he's got the potential!

the 2nd couple chemistry is super good too, maybe if maybe they got another series together.. they'll totally gonna make it big..

last but not least, the ending.. haahhh I don't have much too say, they ruined the storyline, ofc they ruined the ending too, so abrupt, and out of nowhere. Jazz for two is my favorite manhwa, and when they announced the series i was so hyped and the actors are good looking too, didn't expect those visuals are the only thing that carrying the whole series.. I'm being generous by giving this 6/10 because this was my favorite manhwa and i have a very high expectation.. should've expect nothing.

Read More

What even is going on rn

I have to give kudos to this series for being the first one to have a scene so disgusting I teared up lmao - but more on that later.
I'm tired so let's just get into it.

What I liked

- The acting is fine, it didn't take me out of the story for the most part. I think the main leads have decent chemistry, and the other couples (kind of) as well. It's watchable, enjoyable at times, super cute at others, you get what I mean. Kind of a rollercoaster, but not bad overall.
- You add domestic scenes to a series, you got me. Nothing else to add. It was so cute
- I like that they chose somewhat morally grey characters for this series, seeing how literally everyone had issues with internalized homophobia, violence or both. It's a bold choice, and I respect the team for that. And also, the emotional turmoil Tae Yi was going through after his brother's su*cide was an interesting premise.
- Some of the physical comedy is really well done. This series has some hilarious moments, I admit that
- The girl? Loved her. She was amazing and called her brother out for being a fucking idiot. She deserved better though, Tae Yi treated her like absolute shit and she was so nice.

What I didn't like

- First off, don't come for me with the "He's dealing with internalized homophobia, ofc he's going to be toxic" or even the "The show doesn't frame it as a good thing", because I've seen enough of it on TikTok and I'm so tired. I'm not mad about the main love interest (and every other man in the damn series) having this issue. Toxicity can be portrayed well on-screen, and it doesn't have to make a show worse. In this case, though, it's just handled terribly. I'm sorry, but where are the consequences?? Like at all?? Tae Yi does some God-awful things (if I need to name one, touching Seo Heon under his shirt while aggressively asking if that's what he likes, while saying he's not into it and that he's not a *girl* - I'm dedicating a separate bullet point to this one), and he doesn't really pay for them. In my humble opinion, he should have gotten his shit rocked more than once. The "bully" tries to rile Tae Yi up by essentially assaulting Seo Heon without his consent, and all he says is "I'm sorry"???? Yeah man I'm not buying it.
- Okay now THIS FUCKING SCENE. I. Am. Fuming. Maybe I'm just a crybaby lol but I had never been so appalled by a scene in a supposed romcom. Literally made my hairs stand on end. Like, the fear in Seo Heon's eyes?? Terrifying. I hated Tae Yi so much for that, and I didn't really get over it. What's worse is, the show tries to make you forget about it like ten minutes later?? As if he hadn't done THAT at all??? Like no, I'm not rooting for them to get back together, this man has slammed MC against a wall multiple times, bruised his wrist, screamed in his face, given him the cold shoulder - and now the shirt thing? Yeah no. Some scenes in previous episodes were cute but this man needs (more) therapy and a restraining order filed against him.
- Just. Every man is a red flag in this series. The bully IS a bully, and a hardcore one at that. He fucking kicks Doyoon until he bleeds, for God's sake!! And let's not forget the fake flirting and sexual harassment he put Seo Heon through just to get back at Tae Yi. He was fucking awful and I'm not going to pretend otherwise.
- The ending is just a mess. They rush to give the characters a happy ending when they don't deserve it, and it wouldn't have come naturally like that. It feels so forced. And the reveal? Like okay, the brothers were involved with each other, but why does that make Seo Heon break up with Tae Yi?? IN THE LAST EPISODE??? Do you see what I mean? There's no way that could've been done well in the span of one single (and the last) episode.

I am disappointed, especially because I really liked a couple of the episodes in this one. I'll be rewatching those because they were the cutest, most entertaining shit I've seen in months. But the rest? A mess.

Read More

Endearing

I find this short series endearing. The story contains or/& mentions bullying, mental issues, homophobia, family issues, crammed within 8 episodes of 30m each episode. Having done this, there are some issues that were left unanswered or unsettled like the confrontation with the father, the vagueness of the 2nd CP's relationship, and the suicide of one of the characters. The series felt rushed to me, or I may be just wanting more.🤷‍♀️
If you are into jazz, you'll enjoy the pieces played here and the melding of pop and jazz towards the end.
I appreciate the production for a good wardrobe selections and not recycling for other scenes, scene set-up and props.
At first, I made a mistake that one of the main actor is the same one as 8 sense. This series has also same vibe as 8 Sense which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Recommend to any BL genre fans.

Read More

It was promising but then kept going downhill

I actually enjoyed the show at the beginning and the pacing. I also liked how I knew right away who were gonna be the couples, especially with Doyoon and Juha.

Part of me like the toxicity cause it caused for very thrilling moments but I cannot ignore it.

Every character was gay but had a sense of internalized homophobia. I at least appreciated Juha’s development but Taeyi and Seheon being that way made no sense.

Also, Every relationship had assault and sexual assault and that I can not ignore either. There were so many unsolicited touching and kisses that actually wasn’t okay even if it is in the name of bls. And like I said, I get it with Juha and Doyoon, like that was actually their story, but the instance with Taeyi and Seheon outside of the jazz bar was ABSOLUTELY ridiculous. It was out of character but was looked over once again.

And lastly the conflict of Taeyi’s and Seheon’s older brothers was just poor writing. It was actually so unnecessary and pissed me off. And the fact it was resolved so quickly just proved that it never was needed.

Overall the production of the show was nice and I liked the characters stand alone but the dynamics were f’ed up and the love could have been sweeter and less aggressive.

Read More

It was GOOD until it became confusing

"Jazz For Two" boasts a standout cast, featuring talented rookie actors who inject freshness into the series. However, the limited run time of only 8 episodes feels insufficient to fully explore the depth of the storyline, resulting in a rushed narrative that struggles to allow viewers ample time to absorb crucial story details.

Backstories lack depth, with some introduced too late in the series to have a significant impact. The development of the main couple's relationship feels abrupt, lacking sufficient buildup, while the supporting couple's storyline is underutilized and would benefit from more screen time or a separate project to fully explore their dynamics.

Conflict resolutions are often too quick, leaving little room for tension or emotional payoff, such as a crucial moment where Tae Yi misinterprets Se Heon's intentions.

The series could also benefit from more exploration of the relationship between classical music and jazz and further delving into the characters' motivations.

Nonetheless, the friendship between Tae Yi and Do Yoon shines, portraying a ride-or-die dynamic that adds depth, while Do Yoon's unwavering support for Se Heon highlights the strength of their bond.

Cameo appearances from "A Shoulder to Cry On" provide enjoyable fan service and a hint of nostalgia. Regarding the "proper kiss" issue in the early episodes, it's likely a creative direction from the production team rather than a reflection of the actors' abilities. The exceptional OSTs add a magical touch to the series.

Despite its shortcomings, 'Jazz For Two' remains entertaining, with the potential for a Do Yoon x Joo Ha spin-off, which would be eagerly welcomed.

Read More

watch this drama without reading the webtoon.. or you'll be disappointed

I had read the webtoon long back.. but decided to rewatch it before starting the drama..

so basically this drama is just like most other webtoon-adopted dramas.. fast paced.. too short.. lacks development..

talking about the pace.. at the beginning.. i felt it was too slow.. the at the end it was too fast.. everything just happened too quickly and didn't show any development

also I would like to add... a few weeks ago I watch kBL Why R u?.. j read a review from a person saying that they did not like the korean version because it completely altered the original story.. well at that time (i had not seen the original drama) i was quite against this statement as I believe it's an independent drama and although it's adopted from the thai version.. it does not have to be the same...
But boyy when j saw jazz for 2 drama.. I realised the pain.. I actually liked the og manhewa i gave it an 8.5 .. so i didn't like the fact that the story was completely altered in the drama

1...for instance.. Doyoons character and personality is changed completely... but I like the doyoon in the drama more like he's more energetic and in manhewa he is calm ig
2..the past is changed completely
3...half of the events aren't according to the og webtoon.. for example the kiss??? that wasn't how the events unfolded in the webtoon
but it's alright I guess it does not HAVE to be a carbon copy of the original after all

apart from this talking about the relationship between the couples was kinda... mehh
i mean the second couple was neither given a proper closure.. nor a proper explanation of what exactly their relationship is and why are things messed up between them.. they just gave a half assed commentry(?) on their relationship

for the main couple I don't have much to argue about except that SA topic.. in the webtoon they conversed w each other properly and sorted it out(altho I didn't like the fact that seohoon forgave taeyi so quickly) but in the drama.. it was just 'sorry' and a kiss.. that kiss didn't even feel nice (usually I get butterflies)

also talking about the side couple.. like they had a lot of potential.. but the storytelling and fast pacing just wadted the potential.. both in the webtoon and drama.. well the drama was adopted from the webtoon only so if the story of side couple in the webtoon is bad.. the dramas gotta be bad too.. but i also wonder.. if they changed so much jn the drama then they could have added some changes into the relationship of the side couple too.. so that their relationship could make more sense and seem logical..

so yeah id recommend this if u wanna watch it just as a fling but not if you're seriously wanting to watch something (iff it makes sense.. and dont watch this after reading the webtton coz you'll be disappointed by the drama.. since the webtoon is beter

Read More

jazz for... idk who i'm watching for anymore

this series was a bit... confusing? i'd say, at first i thought the plot was peculiar and interesting, something maybe light as usual from kbls, but then it takes a turn, which i'm thankful for in some sort of way, because it'd have been way boring! my mind went from oh, to Oh, to oh...
and the last oh is a bad one.
i don't like the way south korean kbls have been using the same tools thai bls were using back then (romanticizing abuse, non con behavior, or bullying), so i wasn't pleased towards the end.
anyway, the actors did a good job and the piano music is chef's kiss but do read warnings before watching!

Read More