Love in the Big City

this show just knows how to capture attachment to material things, to your friends, to the people you love, to your house, to your fucking mattress and the stains on it... and how it soon turns into love, occupying your memories and what happens when u end up losing them or are forced to give them up, and the emptiness that follows.
it felt like a long film even tho it was a series, each chapter directed by a different director and i think that's what made it unique, felt as if i was fully immersed into his journey consisting of different phases. i cried i giggled i blushed cried again because why and how are they able to capture loss, nostalgia, romance, friendship, grief, and most importantly queer loneliness in one drama??? it felt relatable, raw and real but not in a way that made your heart heavy. truly loved the ending as well.

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Excellent drama, that stole my heart and my tears.

[no spoilers] This is the first BL drama i have ever watched and though I identify as a straight female, I' ve always had an open mind about queer/LGBTQ in real life.
So I gave it a try... also partly urged to watch because of Gyuho and Goyoung's clips on X/Twitter that went around haha.

WHOLE- HEARTEDLY, I can say watching this series was the best decision I made lately ... I think I got to witness the life of those who may relate to Goyoung's character in real life... Not many dramas/movies have made me cry in my life but Gyuho and Goyoung's story in Episodes 5-8 especially made me break down pretty badly in tears several times out of sympathy? sorrow? I also got super butterflies watching their relationship during the good too though so not all was lost 😄 I felt everything in this dramas honestly...
Would highly recommend to try this series! Amazing cast, acting, writing and production in my opinion! This work really touched on the reality of life deeply in several ways too... even ones that anyone could relate too... the life of ordinary people and love... So just prepare a tissue box! rating it 1000/10!
(ps. I wish Nam Yoonsu and Jin Hoeun get another project together again or season 2 because they had nice chemistry :))

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this is the best show i have ever seen wtf

i hate this show in a good way. this show is so good and the ammount of tears i shead is insane. i cried so much and i keep crying thinking about it. especially when thinking about goyeong and gyoho. they are literally soulmates wtf. this show is so good, the way its so realistic is actually amazing. it really shows the life of a gay guy. The fact that Gyuho still accepted and loved Goyeong even when he found out he had HIV (Kylie) was such a beautiful moment and i honestly cried so much. this show portairts so many important topics like self acceptance, religious parents/unaccepting parents, the struggels of being gay etc- the actors were so good aswel wow. the acting was absolutely fantastic and it couldn't be any better.

best drama i have ever seen.

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The series of the year!

Overly hyped about the series release! Right off the bat in episode one not even five minutes in they already had me laughing. I went into the series knowing it would stir up some buried feelings, but it did not disappoint. I felt bad for Mr. Kim, but their relationship is a prime example of liking someone but not being compatible with them or not being on the same page.

Episode 2 reminded me of one of life’s biggest lessons: cherish, love, and treasure the present and the people in it, because you can lose everything in the blink of an eye. Episode three was such a bittersweet ride of emotions. His mom is truly a trooper, and so is Ko Yeong. Despite everything his mom did, he managed to move forward, still loving her. Also, I feel that No Yeong Su and his mom share a striking similarity in their characters; they both loved him deeply yet caused him so much pain.

And holy moly, episode four was unbelievably amazing! The hospital scene hit on so many levels. I don’t have a very strong bond with my family, so seeing his friends rush to the hospital for him resonated deeply with me. Also, where was Min Jae? I read on a forum that the book and series differ somewhat regarding Min Jae and Yeong’s relationship, which might explain why she wasn’t there when he needed her most.

If you strip away the actors and focus on the story itself, you'll see the most accurate reflection of life’s path: love, discovery, grief, anger, and acceptance. This is definitely the BL of the year! I don’t think I’ve ever related to a character as much as I did with Ko Yeong. I know the book is written in four parts, so I wonder if there’s any chance for continuation. But I doubt it, given the final scene and Ko Yeong’s explanation.

I’m no expert, but it’s clear how well written this series is. It made me reflect on my own life and relationships, which is just one of the many reasons I love it. Many flowers to all the actors their portrayals were magnificently amazing.

The series was funny, joyful, sad, bold, honest, educational, and sexy. It captured friendship, loss, and the beauty and pain of life. I hope people approach it with open eyes, ears, mind and heart because there's so much you can take away from it.

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I never expected a drama like this to come out of Korea

What can I even say? This was just superb. it’s not really a BL in the conventional sense - and I don’t say that to disparage BL because I do love a good BL - this is just a bit different.

This drama delves into all the beauty and messiness of a young gay man’s life and relationships in a way I haven’t seen in a BL before. It doesn’t feel like anything is done for the purposes of “fan service” or like the intention is to make sure a couple is together at the end of the series at all costs. To me, those are hallmarks of even really excellent BL - the main couple supersede the story itself. Their romantic relationship is the most important thing. This drama isn’t like that. It’s definitely more of a character study than a romance.

I was impressed by the previews for this series so I’ve been looking forward to it for weeks, but it exceeded my expectations. I could probably nitpick some bits of the story or characters that could have been more fleshed out…but ultimately I was incredibly satisfied with it in every way.

Excellent acting, writing, cinematography, directing, characterization - just everything.

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Engaging story centred around realistically flawed and endearing characters. No BL tropes here.

This show packed a lot in to 8 episodes but managed not to feel rushed, however I wish this show had been longer so we could have spent more time with the characters through their ups and downs. The passage of time was sometimes confusing for me but this did not ruin my enjoyment of the story. The characters were realistically flawed but endearing, and the acting was fantastic all around. You will not find any of the typical BL tropes in the series so if that is something you require then give this one a miss, likewise if you are not interested in stories about same sex relationships. However, if you enjoy realistic well written stories performed by great actors then this is definitely worth a watch.

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Finally proper BL Korean drama!

It was the first real-life BL drama I had seen, and it was so good. It's not a typical, idealized love story; instead, it portrays people with flaws and the ups and downs of a relationship. In some scenes, you can recognize small details that can be found in any relationship.
The acting was great, especially Yoon Su, who did an excellent job.
I am glad that, finally, a Korean production company has made a proper BL drama, even though some people tried to boycott it. Well, it's a first step.

I loved the story of his loved ones throughout his life. Yeongs life was bot easy at first he had to deal with his mother as she would.not accept his sexuality and after that we can see his ex partners and his straggle but lucky he has a great group of the friends who are there for him.

You can feel the emotion in the last episode as we see flashbacks of his memories with Gyu Ho. He realizes that Gyu Ho was his true love, but he hadn't recognized it. It must have been so hard for him to live with Kylie, especially since he only told one person about it. I was rooting for Yeong and Gyu Ho and was hoping until the last minute that they would meet again. I think he finally realized what he lost and moved out of the student apartment, as he was never ready to do that since it was his happy place with Mi Ae and Gyu Ho.

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‘Love in the Big City’—A Raw and Authentic Coming-of-Age Story That Transcends Expectations

Nam Yoon Su absolutely delivered the performance of his life in Love in the Big City. His portrayal was beyond impressive—he brought so much depth and emotion to the role that it felt real. Honestly, he deserves every single award out there for this show. And it wasn’t just him—the entire cast and crew were phenomenal, bringing this story to life in a way that left a lasting impact.

This series is labeled as a BL, but to me, it’s more than that. It’s a coming-of-age story that dives deep into the journey from college to adulthood for a young gay man. It doesn’t just focus on romance but explores so many layers of personal growth, relationships, and the struggles of finding yourself in a world that isn’t always accepting. It handles these themes in a way that feels raw and genuine.

One area where the series touched on but could have done more is around HIV awareness. At one point, HIV is mentioned in the story, but I felt there was an opportunity to explore the topic further, especially with the introduction of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) as a prevention method. It wasn’t until I looked it up that I realized PrEP wasn’t available in South Korea until 2018, which made me question the time period or setting of the drama. Although the show’s decision to acknowledge HIV is commendable, it left me wishing for a deeper conversation or more context around this important issue.

Overall, Love in the Big City kept me engaged from start to finish. It’s hands down the best gay drama of the season. Watching the ups and downs of these characters’ lives felt so real—it was like living through their emotions with them. This series isn’t just a good watch; it’s an experience. If you’re looking for a story that will stay with you long after the credits roll, this is it.

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A story about real facts of life

In my personal opinion, Love In The Big City was exactly what I needed to see in a Korean BL. I’ve been waiting for a very long time to see something that isn’t a full-on fantasy, and this checks every box. Not only does the story have a realistic portrayal of many struggles that the LGBTQ encounter on a daily basis in life, but it also tackles emotional and psychological issues that a lot of teens, children, and adults alike go through. Many people don’t know what it’s like to live the life of a person who constantly worries about being judged wherever they go or has trouble connecting with others and creating meaningful friendships and relationships. The show inflicts tears as well as laughs, and although there’s a few things I think could’ve been added to make the story even better, there’s no denying that the producers and writers did an amazing job. The determination and dedication of the entire team to publish this masterpiece into the world with so many people against it is truly astounding. I hope the show speaks to others as much as it did to me.

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