Love in the Big City

It was more deeper than I expected

One step ahead from other KBL . I never watched queer shows before so I had no idea but now I am touched . This is definitely an exception .

Disclaimer - This is my personal review from my own feelings . Thank You . ( Ahead Spoiler !!! )

OVERVIEW ~ Go Yeong , a gay man who is being unable to escape from this homophobic society . Trying to make his bore life slightly better by involving sexually with so many strangers . He is HIV positive but it was never revealed . The story is centered in his life . He tried to escape from this filthy situation but failed . He met Nam Gyu and both of them involved with each other, Go Yeong though Mr . Gyu was his true love but suddenly he realized this was not ' true ' love but familiarization . His best friend Mi Ae always supported him but after her marriage Go Yeong again became lonely . Then one day he met Gyu Ho and they fell in love with each other . After staying with him so long , Yeong finally realized he never felt so happy in his life which he is feeling now .

POSITIVE -
Acting - Top notch acting of every actors . The way Nam Yoon Su expressed the character perfectly is remarkable .
Visuals - Visuals are always best in Korean BL dramas . Here is no exception .
Cinematography - Definitely top tier .
Story - This is more deeper than common BL dramas . I am so glad that they have not showed the traditional romance
here . They tried to make this drama different and obviously they have succeed .
Scripts - The every sentence of Go Yeong is heart touching . The writer created the character Gyu Ho with so much
positive thoughts .
Music - I liked the light music at the end of the drama .

What I liked - I liked mostly the hugging scene in ep 6 in the bar . The hug tells so many emotions . And also every scenes of Go
Yeong and Gyu Ho including lying under the rain on the street , the lantern scene on ep 8 etc .
The ending is definitely heartwarming . When both of them made a wish with the lantern and caught each others
hands ohh this is definitely one of the best romantic and heart touching scene in the entire drama . The
friendship between Mi Ae and Gu Yeong is so lovely . When she encouraged Yeong at her wedding with singing
that funny but emotional song is really made my day happy .

What I have not liked -There are some scenes which are repeatedly . They showed the intimate scenes many times as I am not
into it so I felt uncomfortable sometimes . First two episodes are kinda boring for me . But honestly 95%
scenes of this story I liked .


OVERALL - I think this drama will be one of the best re watched KBL . Everything of this drama has deeper meaning , many learning things , what a gay man's life looks like in real life . Overall a solid 9.5/ 10 for me . ( ｡•ㅅ•｡ )

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i love it so much

Love in the City is a beautiful and heartfelt drama that explores love, loneliness, and self-discovery with honesty and depth. Nam Yoon Soo is brilliant as Go Young, bringing vulnerability and authenticity to his character. The story feels refreshingly real, offering a nuanced look at queer love and modern relationships without resorting to cliches. The stunning backdrop of Seoul adds to the charm, making the series visually arresting. I cried a lot during the last few episodes, but they are well worth it. This is a must-watch for anyone looking for an emotionally resonant and thought-provoking drama.

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A Realistic Portrayal of Queerness in Conservative Places - NOT a BL

To elaborate on the headline, the story follows a realistic journey of a gay man in a very conservative & bigoted environment such as SK. Despite the curated places in which queer life rejoices, our MC deals with bigotry and prejudiced outlooks on various aspects of his queer experience. Therefore, if you go into it expecting a BL cliché, disappointment will await you. The show has its ups and down, let's dissect.

TRIGGER WARNINGS !!!
Homophobia, Internalized Homophobia, Sexism, Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Abortion, Prejudice Against HIV Patients, Sexual Assault (IMO), Cancer, Death.

- MC, aka Ko Yeong:
to put it simply, he's a dynamic character. he can be a bit frustrating at times although I personally didn't feel bothered by those situations. for example, when he aggressively turns down the photographer guy, I couldn't help but think he was being needlessly cruel during the act. however, upon observing the following sequence of events, I understood why he choose to be bluntly honest, to the point of cruelty.

Additionally, I loved how unnerved as a person he is. despite the social dilemmas and often times, outright traumatizing experiences he went through, he remaind optimistic. Watching him grow up and mature was such a delight, albeit gut wrenching at times. His growth regarding love and romance was very relatable as most queer people in conservative places struggle with imagining a happy future with a romantic partner, but that doesn't stop the yearning and loneliness which often feasts on the failures of meeting said yearnings.

- Social Commentary:
I'm impressed with how packed the show was with social commentary on several topics within the show, which is mainly why I think it would be unfair to call the show a BL. no offense to BL fans, I like a fair share of them. However, it's undeniable how facetious and fetishising the industry is as a whole. what sets shows such as Love in the Big City and I Told Sunset About You is that they deal with queerness as a reflection and portrayal of real life rather than arbitrary fiction. that aside, the show deals with a plenty of social taboos, not only concerning queerness, for example:

* Feminist issues: the show has a healthy dose of discussion regarding sexism and feminism, from the shaming of sexually liberated women to abortion to misogyny. although I think more could've been done, the little we got was appropriate and left space for discussion and reflection. ~8/10

* Religious bigotry against homosexuality in a way that mainly focuses on queer people's truama rather than exposing the hypocrisy of religious bigots, which is what I encounter more often. interestingly, we've encountered two very different portrayals of homophobia caused by religion. the first instance being the editor boyfriend whose shame and internalized homophobia pushed him into living a double life. in one, he doesn't deny himself the carnal pleasure of sexual intercourse with Yeong whereas in the other, he viciously contributes to the abundance of bigoted ideologies cemented in academic spaces, something that I personally think is sinister considering SK's hyperfixation on education and pretentious academic achievements. The second instance is Yeong's mum who went from sending her son to conversion therapy to slowly accepting him. Although there was no scene in which they talk it out, I am satisfied with that since change doesnt happen overnight and she clearly didn't have the time to sit it down and deconstruct her prejudice, yet she did give her son the closure he needed in a final act of love. 9/10

* HIV:
This one might be the heaviest imo. the show fleshes out the soical reception of HIV's patients and how prejudice against them is integrated into the fabric of every aspect of life, even queer spaces. we see how Yeong's diagnosis affected his relationship with almost everyone and everything, from potential lovers to friends to work to travel. I think this one is an enough reason to watch the show. so incredibly well done. ~10/10
(regarding the sexual assault trigger warning, proceeding to have unprotected sex with someone and giving them an STD/STI while knowingly being actively reckless with others, is sexual assault in my opinion.)

*Mental Health:
there was an attempt. I don't think it's one of the most impressive or well-done I've seen but it was good enough to deliver the point and delay the emotions of the characters to the viewer. I think they quickly moved from the suicide of the photographer, although they did a good enough job addressing Yeong's attempt. I'm unsure whether i would've liked it better had they spent more time delving into the mental stuggles that queer people go through in a highly difficult environment such as Seoul, nonetheless, I'm satisfied with what we got. 7/10

- The Friendships:
MC's friendship with Mi Ae is quite impressive considering that majority of depictions of the friendship between gay men and straight women almost always fall into either fetishising the man or simplifying the woman. Contrary to that, Yeong and Mi Ae's friendship showcases a true bond and platonic love for one another.

Yeong's squad, although I wish we got a closure of them reflecting on their prejudice against HIV patients, I loved their bond and how they showed up for each other. In places where queerness is condemned, having a safe space and safe people who share, love and relate to one another in crucial and it shows during the series.

- The Romance:
very realistic which is why I think the show dropped in ratings here lol. we didn't get the rosy, once in a lifetime love story which we're used to in BL and other queer productions, instead we went through the motions of a young gay man's search for love and companionship. there were times when honesty might've saved the situation but it also might've created a deeper resentment between them. it's a series filled with "what if". I found myself wondering what if Yeong did this or his partners did that, hoping for a "better" outcome, which is sadly very reminiscent of real life.

ultimately, I think the outcome of each of Yeong's relationships was realistic, although depressing.
*the photographer: he can't force himself to love someone even if in his mind, he knows that person is good for him.
*the influencer: ironically, Yeong reaped what he sowed.
*the editor: Yeong can't fight the editor's battles with internalized shame and homophobia for him, it was a dead-end from the start.
*Gyu Ho: even if on paper, they could've worked, it was a bundle of social systems that wrecked their dyncamic. I think of their relationship as an example of "the one that got away", they both weren't growing in the same direction unfortunately.
*Habibi: idk how to describe their "relationship" other than a rebound.

Honorable mentions:
- the acting is very good! I can't wait to see more from Nam Yoon Su.
- love the T-ara songs lol.
- the cinematography is good.
- explicit scenes aren't a cringe fest, hooray ig.

THE ENDING:
open ended. I have no problems with open ended projects if done well, which is what we have in this case. some might be unsatisfied with where the events stopped. However, I enjoyed the growth and developments that we witnessed and as I think the show is realistic, it was yet another aspect of realism. we can't conclude the story just yet, life continues.

OVERALL:
such an amazing show where more could've been done but it ultimately left the door open for interesting conversations. it might be disappointing if you look at it idealistically, but realistically it is very well done.

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This show may be one of the most realistic we've seen so far.

I kind of never will forgot this bl. It portrays life in such a realistic way, with several approaches that will destroy you. 😭 Literally EVERYTHING is perfect on this show, from the filmography to the actors, conveying feelings in such a beautiful way. Its quite impossible to not cry or to not feel involved/part of the mc, especially for us - lgbt community - life can be not easy for us and maybe we will have to deal with this loneliness until the end. I cried over all episodes, im not even joking, this really touched me and made me reflect on things i never had before in a deeply way. (religion issues yk, it hits so much hard when Fable song was released lol...)
TRUST ME!!!! It is worth it. gente nao sei mais o que falar serio to destruida brasil ptbr aqui é nois galera tmjjj pai que tanto de linha

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when love leaves you, but loneliness stays

This drama? It’s not just a story—it’s an emotional gut-punch from start to finish. From the very first scene, it pulls you into Ko Yeong’s messy, heartbreaking life. He’s the guy who’s always out, chasing the nightlife—bars, dancing, drinking, and one-night stands. On the surface, he’s carefree and fun, but deep down? He’s terrified of being alone. His life feels like this endless loop of trying to drown out the silence, and it’s painful to watch because you can tell he’s running from something he can’t escape.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Ko Yeong is a walking contradiction. He craves connection but pushes people away. He wants love but fears what comes with it. It’s like he’s caught in this perpetual tug-of-war between what he needs and what he thinks he deserves.

And isn’t it funny how the grass is always greener on the other side? He surrounds himself with noise, people, and distractions, hoping it’ll fill the void, but you can tell he’s longing for something quieter—something real. Yet, when he gets close to it, he bolts. Fear of commitment, fear of rejection, fear of being seen for who he really is—it’s all wrapped up in the way he navigates relationships.

His parents’ messy divorce didn’t do him any favors, leaving him with a skewed idea of what love looks like. Add Kylie—his nickname for HIV—into the mix, and it’s no wonder he struggles to let people in. Kylie isn’t just a condition for Ko Yeong; it’s a shadow that follows him everywhere, whispering that he’s not worthy of love or stability.

Mi Ae, his roommate and best friend, is like his emotional anchor. She’s the one constant in his life, the person who knows him better than anyone else. But let’s not sugarcoat it—anchors don’t float. When she gets married and moves on, Ko Yeong is left to sink or swim. Spoiler: he starts sinking.

Then there are his relationships. Nam Gyu, bless his old-soul heart, was a shot at something tender and genuine. But Ko Yeong wasn’t ready, and Nam Gyu’s tragic end only adds another layer of guilt to Ko Yeong’s already complicated life. Then there’s Youngso, who deserves a medal for Worst Human Ever. He uses Ko Yeong, hides their relationship, and has the audacity to call homosexuality a sin. The betrayal cuts deep, and you can feel how it makes Ko Yeong retreat even further into himself.

And finally, Gyu Ho—the love that could’ve been the love. Their relationship starts off sweet, almost hopeful, like maybe this time it’ll work out. But life doesn’t work that way, does it? The spark dims, the fights start, and the weight of reality crushes them both. Even their trip to Thailand, a place meant to rekindle their connection, is overshadowed by Kylie and all the baggage that comes with it.

Here’s the kicker: Ko Yeong’s life isn’t about grand epiphanies or neatly tied-up endings. It’s about the slow, painful crawl toward understanding yourself. After Gyu Ho leaves for China, Ko Yeong throws himself into writing. It’s his way of processing, of making sense of the mess. But even when he revisits Thailand with someone new, it’s clear he’s still haunted by what he lost.

Love in the Big City doesn’t hand you closure on a silver platter. It’s raw, messy, and brutally honest. It captures the discomfort of being stuck between who you are and who the world expects you to be. It’s a reminder that love, no matter how fleeting or complicated, leaves its mark. And sometimes? The grass isn’t greener—it’s just a different shade of heartbreak.

Heartbreaking, unforgettable, and absolutely worth the emotional wreckage. Watch it. Feel it. Then sit with it, because it’s the kind of story that stays with you, whether you like it or not.

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Go Young's Life is Someone in the LGBTQIA+ Community's Life

Love in the Big City might have been labeled as a Boys Love Series because of the many man to man relationship Go Young had encountered, but personally, I think that this story might have been better labeled as what does an ordinary gay man's life really is.

The plot revolves around Go Young. His character was introduced as someone who's sex positive, gay, and club goer. This series was directed by multiple directors. Each director focused on each of Go Young's relationship respectively.

The first relationship/situation ship of Go Young is with Kim Namgyu. Go Young met Namgyu in a modeling photoshoot sideline, wherein Namgyu is the photographer. Namgyu became interested on Go Young, they both met at a club, wherein Choi Miae, a school mate of Go Young saw them kissing outside the club. Eventually, Go Young and Namgyu had a misunderstanding. Go Young as someone who is carefree, doesn't want to continue his relationship with Namgyu. But the latter doesn't want to stop their relationship and became obsessed with Go Young. At once, Namgyu not knowing where exactly Go Young is living, had to wait for two hours in the street hoping that Go Young will passed by. Their story is a mixture of sweet and bittersweet moments. A typical relationship between two persons, wherein one person will eventually feel out of love or want to the other person. Namgyu was a very deligent person, always abiding to every rules, but one day, the news that he died was reported to Go Young, and that is because of fast driving. This is where their story ends.

The second relationship of Go Young is with No Youngsu. Go Young met him first while jogging in the morning, but later met him more personal in something like a philosophy group discussion. Youngsu invited Go Young in a coffee shop, since he drank Go Young's coffee when he arrived late in the group discussion. There, they first started talking and bonding with each other. The next moments was a blast with Go Young not knowing if Youngsu is gay and likes him. But they eventually felt mutual understanding on their feelings with each other. I can say that this couple had the hottest NC scenes in this series. The way Youngsu manhandled Go Young in that one scene really gave butterflies to my stomach. But of course, all happy happenings have its plot twist, because later Go Young found out that Youngsu is doing a study about homosexuality and that it is a sin.

The third relationship of Go Young is with Sim Gyuho. Go Young met him in the club as Gyuho is a bartender there. There was a sudden fight and Go Young punched him, as far as I remember. They were both down and when they both sat, Go Young suddenly kissed Gyuho. After that day, they both met again in a theater. Gyuho said that he really went there because he want to talk and return something to Go Young. There, their relationship and bonding has begun.

During their scenes, one of the most important highlight was the talk about the HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In the first parts of their NC scenes together, Gyuho asked if he can take off the condom since he doesn't feel fcking if he have a condom on. Go Young said no and suggested exchanging their positions. After 7 weeks, when Go Young is in military, he was exempted immediately since the doctor detected that he's positive with HIV. There, he confessed to Gyuho about this condition. Go Young suggested of breaking up, but Gyuho doesn't want to break-up with Go Young.

In this part, Go Young thought of naming his condition "Kylie" as he said that since he will live with it forever, might as well name it something gorgeous.

Months and year had passed, many problems rose during their relationship like being late during their meetup, but the most turning point of their breakup is Gyuho having to transfer to other country.

After a year, Go Young went back to hooking-up through dating sites, wherein he met first a not so good looking guy (sorry), wherein they did the NC scene in Go Young's house. Then his next partner was introduced, which is Habibi.

Habibi is a japanese who is vacationing in South Korea. He is staying in a good hotel. There he and Go Young met-up and had NC scene. They met up once again. Went to Bangkok, Thailand, and there they stayed in a hotel that Go Young and Gyuho had stayed before.

Other characters:

Choi Mi Ae - housemate of Go Young. Her character really did bring a lot out of Go Young since she became his ally at some points of his life. Even with a bad background, they still had a very good platonic relationship with each other. I felt bad for the girl when his engagement was cut-off since they guy found out that she is living with Go Young.

Go Young's Mother - Many LGBT members will resonate with Go Young's situation. There are a lot of parents who are not proud of their LGBT children, thankfully Go Young is on the brighter side, since his mother knew about his situation, she didn't try to meddle, she did not accept, but she just understands of her son's situation.

Circle of Friends - Many will agree that we do not always need to be in a relationship, we just need our friends. Thankfully, this circle of friends is so strong that they are on each other's back through all the ups and downs of life.

The plot is really good. We can see that the 8 episodes of this series is just enough as how well written each episode was. We can see how each stories connected and resonated with each other. How each story gave lesson to Go Young and how each story gave journey to the main character.

The acting of the actors and the actors themselves are the gem of this series. They are all so good and gave their best in delivering the emotions the script needed on each situation.

In totality, this is a must recommended BL Series. Once again, viewers must watch it because we will feel that we are the main character in the story as it really depicts the story of real life LGBT members. With this series, we do not need to have a good or bad ending. You can interpret the ending in any way you want. But at the end of the day, we can all agree in the same thing, and it is that this series is the most idealistic and realistic life of a gay person.

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A slice of Life is F*** hard

This is less of a romance and more of a slice of life, the people we meet, the people we love, the pain of loss over and over and over and over again...

Numbing it all with smiles, alcohol , dance and jokes... Lauging away the pain.

In 8 short. episodes we get to see a whole range of emotions and relationships getting knocked down, getting up again just to get knocked down or doing the knocking down as it is easier than facing some truths.

The cinematography is great, the acting spot on and dialog is top, top. I am not an expert but something tells me that nothing was left for chance. As there is not a single shot, prop or angle that was there as a filler.

This drama is definitely a feel things rather than a feel good type of drama , A meaningful story that sticks out and is sure to be remembered by those who view it.

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Good representation!
It's a very high quality show, I can tell there was a budget. I liked that the narration makes you feel like you're the one living this and struggling along with the main character. It's very entertaining and some parts hit hard as a member of the LGBTQ community, it feels like good exposure of the real life struggles. The acting was also INCREDIBLE, I found myself crying just because it felt so real and genuine that I forgot it was just a show. The story is also amazing, it made me reflect a lot on life.
I wish this wasn't seen as just a "bl" because it should be a mainstream show meant for the whole world to see, its also better than the average bl that feels like it's just feeding teenage girls illusion. However, I can't help but feel empty at the end, it's sad but the truth and I personally relate a lot more than I wish I did to the character, it's fiction but it felt painfully real.

Overall, an all-rounded show with good actors, good story and expensive quality, anyone that likes k-dramas should watch.

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