Wholesome
What can I say about this? This series hits different as this shows the real life experience of a gay/queer man, this is so relatable I experienced the same exact experience of Go young (except having Kylie on me Im negative) in this big city. You will meet a lot of people specially guys and will experience a lot including happiness,love,pain and all of that. I just love how the series ends, it shows a true situation of a gay man who’s regretting and realized things but his hope for finding the love again is still there even if he’s tired and make a lot of wrong decisions. This is so realistic, unlike any other series that has a fictional storyline and always happy ending story. This series is not sad for having a bad story of something this is sad because it shows the real life experience of gay man, I cried because I can relate to young I felt the lost of someone bc you need to let them go, and in the end you just need to hope that someday someone will come and give you the love that you deserved. I really like Gyu and young to have a sequel even if just one special episode or movie that shows Gyu’s pov how he felt and how was he when they broke up and went to china because we saw young’s pov after their break up. And I was hoping in the end that they will be happy together I just feel bad because they love it other they deserve to find each other again after realizing what’s lacking in their relationship. Im not expecting for S2 and such because in the book they have the same ending as the series. But im hoping they could make atleast a movie or one episode that shows gyu’s pov 🥹Was this review helpful to you?
Rewatching Immediately
I just finished this series today. It took every fiber of my being to not binge it all when it first dropped. I wanted so badly to watch it in its entirety but also didn’t want it to be over too soon. This series is a masterpiece. I’ve read the book on which it is based and remember liking it but now - in addition to rewatching the series - I will immediately be rereading the book. The cast is pitch perfect, the filming style is naturalistic yet romantic, and my favorite bits are whenever the group of friends are on screen. I cannot recommend this show enough and I hope it receives all of the acclaim it very much deserves.Was this review helpful to you?
the love we think we deserve
Before its release, Love in the Big City faced a lot of pushback and controversy. I admire the production team’s dedication in bringing this story to life despite the challenges.South Korea, like many places, still harbors prejudice toward LGBTQ+ themes, and BL dramas often face additional scrutiny. But it’s disappointing that this artistic expression, which reflects real experiences for so many in the LGBTQ+ community, would encounter so much resistance. This is the reality for countless people, and I can’t understand why two men sharing a love story on screen is any different from the heterosexual stories we’ve seen for years. Why should it be restricted when it’s simply another story about connection, pain, and growth?
Nam Yoon Su’s performance is a standout and exceeded my expectations. His portrayal was nuanced, layered, and showed a clear dedication to understanding and honoring his character’s experiences. It’s refreshing to see a character like Go Young evolve in multifaceted ways, allowing us to see vulnerability, strength, and a journey to self-understanding that isn’t one-dimensional.
Nam Yoon Su didn’t just bring Go Young to life; he made him feel relatable and genuine, and it’s clear he did his homework preparing for this role.
I’d been keeping Love in the Big City on my watchlist for a while, anticipating what the series would offer. When it was finally released, it delivered the satisfaction I expect from a well-made Korean drama. I’m not someone who often reads the original source material, but judging from feedback and reviews, it seems like the production team really respected the story’s roots. They captured the essence of the characters and crafted a realistic, engaging portrayal that felt true to the lives and relationships it was representing. I’m glad they paid attention to the finer details that make characters feel real, without compromising or simplifying their struggles.
The storyline can be complex and might feel a bit chaotic to those who prefer a straightforward plot. In reality, though, the mixed pacing and emotional highs and lows added a raw authenticity. Love in the Big City is definitely a roller-coaster of emotions, from heartfelt to heart-wrenching, with steamy and even uncomfortable moments mixed in. This range, I think, is part of its charm—it doesn’t sugarcoat relationships or emotions. Each of Go Young’s love interests brings their own traumas and past scars, adding depth to the plot and enhancing the storytelling. Their baggage isn’t there just for drama; it plays a role in their development and helps paint a fuller picture of who they are.
Despite initial expectations that it might lean into a sex-driven narrative, the series proves itself to be far more meaningful. It balances intimacy and substance thoughtfully, presenting a story that is about much more than physical attraction. As someone in the LGBTQ+ community, I found certain elements hit home, especially in how Mi Ae and Go Young’s partners portrayed their relationships and the complexities within them.
There’s a rawness here that resonates, particularly in Go Young’s romantic pursuits, which examine the universal truth that overfamiliarity can slowly erode relationships. His interactions with both Gyu Ho and Nam Gyu show how desire and boredom intertwine, a reality that often mirrors many modern-day relationships.
The chemistry among the actors was undeniable; nothing felt forced or out of place. Even the sensual scenes were handled delicately, with genuine connection in their kisses—a refreshing change from the lackluster, “fake” kisses we’ve seen in the past.
One of the most profound themes Love in the Big City explores is the idea of “the love we think we deserve versus the love others are actually able to give.” We often go through relationships looking for something specific, believing in an ideal form of love. But at the end of the day, real love is about mutual understanding, and we have to learn to accept the love that aligns with who we are. My only disappointment is in Go Young’s character arc; while he found solace and support among friends, I wanted to see a more resolved arc for him—a deeper, more satisfying exploration of self-love and fulfillment beyond friendship. The series does so much right, but leaving Go Young’s development open like that left me wishing for a bit more closure.
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BEST K-BL 2024
Nam Yoon Su undoubtedly delivered his most brilliant performance as an actor. From the beginning, I grasped the depth of the experience that awaited me. A show anchored in a raw, harsh, painful, but authentic reality. The work portrays with sublimated darkness the daily life of a young gay man in Seoul, exposing the inquisitive gaze of society and his family's opposition to his sexuality. He appears as a dynamic, playful figure, at the forefront of fashion, surrounded by a multitude of friends but carrying in him a sensitivity on the surface of the skin, chaining conquests without ever finding the chosen one of his heart. The true journey of our protagonist lies in his self-acceptance and his hopeless quest for love, a quest full of pitfalls. What particularly touched me was his kindness towards his mother despite her lack of support. I was receptive to solidarity between him and his roommate, who, on the contrary, gave in to family expectations. Despite divergent aspirations, their mutual support was unwavering, and I greatly appreciated their friendship, stronger than blood ties.Each of his relationships had its charm, and each partner, in a somewhat strange way, revealed new facets of our heroes, creating a captivating dynamic where exchanges enriched them, sometimes without words, simply through a visually striking and disturbing carnal relationship for those used to seeing Nam Yoon Su in more reserved roles. I was fascinated by the wisdom of life transmitted through the dialogues of the characters, their erudition, their questions about identity and the quest for oneself. However, I would have a reservation about HIV prevention, sometimes addressed lightly: an approach like "okay for this time without protection" as if it were an option. On the cinematographic level, many scenes are distinguished by their remarkable staging. Although the entire BL is tinged with dark, often nocturnal or confined to the apartment, the shots always remain sublime. Nam Yoon Su has been able to create a synergy with each of his partners, carrying me as a time in his loneliness and pain. His interpretation deeply moved me, and I found this BL work of striking depth and realism. I can only warmly recommend it! 20/20.
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There's a reason this show blew up as it was airing!
This was fantastic! I’ve never seen a BL like this one, especially one from Korea. This story in this show is so beautiful and bittersweet. I love that it takes place over many years, so we really get to see Ko Yeong's journey through life as a gay man in Korea. It hit on topics that I think Korea usually stays away from as well. The spice was pretty good as well. This story was such an emotional roller-coaster in the best way possible. I couldn't recommend it more!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The best korean bl
After watching this series, it has become one of my favorites.It is that kind of series that when you finish watching it leaves a void in your heart, it has been a roller coaster of emotions, it excites you, it saddens you, it makes you happy and many other feelings that I can't explain.
The direction, performances and story are perfect and you can tell that they have put a lot of effort and hard work into the series, even though it has been criticized by a certain group of people, it has been totally worth the wait for the series.
It does not have a fairy tale ending, as it is a very realistic series that touches quite serious issues that anyone, whether or not in the lgbtiq + community, can identify with.
I recommend it 100%, everyone should definitely watch it. And if you liked it as much as me , you can also read the book.
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Beautiful, moving, poignant
It’s really no surprise the original won the Booker Prize—this adaptation is just so damn good. Such a beautiful, brutally honest meditation on what it means to be happily, darkly, stupidly human. The characters feel completely real—flawed, complex, lovable—and the themes hit hard without being heavy-handed. There’s a rhythm to it that just works; it gives you space to feel without dragging. The acting is incredible, totally immersive, and the directing ties everything together in this quietly powerful way. It’s the kind of thing that stays with you after it ends.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
An impactful must watch drama
If you have not yet seen Love in the Big City, I implore you to do so. This story contains so much beauty and intricacy that can only be experienced though watching it, SO GO DO IT!Anyway here’s my review:
In the ten years we follow Go Young we bear witness to every aspect of his life, from the realities of living with HIV, to dealing with his hyper-religious dying mother, to a suicide attempt. These sensitive subjects are handled with care but not sugarcoated, resulting in something that feels raw, realistic, and personal.
This drama is guided by Go Young's retrospective narration, which I interpreted as excerpts from a future novel of his. The narration is often poetic and brings another dimension to Go Young and the people around him. Go Young's narration also delivers one of my favourite quotes from the series: "In the face of a tough life and a long time love is powerless".
This line harkens back to one of the central ideas of the drama; is everlasting love real? Throughout the course of Love in the Big City we see Go Young enter various romantic relationships. They bring him moments of happiness and suffering, subsequently ending in hurt. Which makes him question whether love has an expiration date.
Another theme that stuck out to me was loneliness. We see the different ways it develops in Go Young's life and his futile attempts to quell it. Even when he’s dating, even when he’s living with someone, the loneliness inevitably sets back in. All of his solutions are temporary.
Although Go Young’s loneliness is ever-present, it isn't permanent. A beacon of light that consistently makes him feel seen is his friends. When he spends time with them he can be loud, unabashed, and confident. He can stick his head out the window as they drive around in a bright pink car. Go Young’s friends are also the only characters that stay with him from the beginning to the very end of the series, affirming their loyalty. Absent of everything else, Go Young still has his friends.
In the final episode of Love in the Big City, we see Go Young write down a wish on a floating lantern. He wishes for love. After the lantern is released into the air, it burns down and falls into the sea. His hopes quite literally go up in flames. Despite this, the series ends on a rather optimistic note; Go Young smiling as he watches fireworks with his friends. I think in this moment Go Young realizes that he is loved and has been loved this whole time. Love exists in many forms, it doesn't have to be romantic or familial. Love's versatility is an aspect of its beauty.
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This review may contain spoilers
He was given the opportunity for love twice and did not hold onto it
Okay, first off, this is not BL. As you can see from one of the tags, it's a gay romance. Do I wish that it was a happy gay romance? Of course I do! But, just like real life, we get a few frogs along the way until we can actually get to our happily ever after—and this is what this series is doing.There were times I wanted to slap the character Ko Yeong. From watching this series, I believe that he was in two out of the four relationships where his significant others actually loved him. He unfortunately was too immature for the first one, and I guess he wanted Sim Gyu Ho to live his life for himself and achieve all that he could because he was contemplating giving up an opportunity to remain with Ko Yeong. But I honestly believe that he felt something deep for him, as it seems he's the only one he ever told about Kylie, as he never told his best girlfriend and his three male friends.
With his second relationship with No Yeong Su, how did he actually think it was going to end after seeing his thesis on homosexuality? That guy, if he DID have feelings for him, was WAY deep in the closet and was not going to come out for him. With his life already being crappy at that time, it's understandable that he did what he did after their breakup, as he must have felt that he keeps being dealt a crappy hand in life. I honestly did not understand him and his fourth relationship, as I was more focused on the fact that he started this relationship a year after his breakup with Sim Gyu Ho and Habibi even took him to Thailand, where he and Sim Gyu Ho went on their first and only trip together. So, it kind of seemed doomed from the start to me, as he seemed to be thinking about his experience with his recent ex-boyfriend. And the ending is an open ending, knowing that Sim Gyu Ho is back in South Korea for a short time, which is painful for us viewers as Ko Yoeng has still not found his HEA.
I must say that his interactions with Choi Mi Ae and his three friends were one of the highlights of this series, as I liked to see their interactions with Ko Yeong.
So, all in all, it was a good telling of a story of growing up and (hoping) to find love along the way. It's just his fault that he was too blind to see that the opportunity for love was given to him not once, but twice, and he let both chances slip away from him.
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This review may contain spoilers
raw queerness is not only queer joy or tragedy
This drama is just a pure queer gem, I needed that. It talked about raw queer experience and it changes so much from your average BL. The queer friendships, gay nightlife, the complicated relationship with homophobic social circles, stigma behind hiv, internalized homophobia, closeted partners,etc. It was raw queerness without some of the pink filters because thats what raw queerness is, not queer tragedy, not queer joy, but a mix of both perhaps? It had humor, sexiness, drama, sadness, anger, I only wish it had a lesbian equivalent. Please we need more of those kinds of dramas!Was this review helpful to you?
I've been meaning to watch this for so long because i could tell it's gonna be a heavy watch. I finally gave it a watch. and I LOVED IT, just as i expected!
this was just raw and so realistic, it made me feel sooo many emotions. it is one of the very few dramas that left a huge impression on me, and i will remember it even years after.
the plot was amazing. they showed us things we don't usually see in other queer media, incolved topics/themes that we don't usually hear being mentioned in BLs. the cinematography was beautiful! and the acting...everyone did such an amazing job💕
Nam Yoon Su is an INCREDIBLE actor! I hope we can see him in more BLs/mainstream kdramas🥹
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This review may contain spoilers
What an experience. I pulled an all nighter. I have no expectations. I didn't even watched the trailer. I watched it blindly. I didn't expect it to be a gut-wretching and beautiful story about growth of a free spirited youth. I judged him by his hobbies (idk if clubbing is a hobby tho) but he has every reason to go out to express his emotions. The director has clear vision on how to make the viewers immerse on the story. It's a clever way to relate to the audience. I feel like I'm Kylie to Go Young. We share the same emotions. I feel for him. I cried for him. I was rooting for him. I want him to be happy that I want Gyu Ho to appear out of nowhere and save Go Young but no. What was portrayed is reality. It sucks yeah but that is life. I really hope there's season 2 but its not really possible. I enjoyed this. Was this review helpful to you?
