Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo

The man who makes you cry and the man who makes you smile

Being completely honest, I thought I would end up rating this a 10/10 however, really the first three episodes are the 10/10.
Something about the younger versions of these characters hit so hard that each moment felt meaningful and dazzling. I admittedly cried the most at the beginning.
The later episodes were good but I felt a bit of emptiness toward the end/middle, it was also a bit confusing (however, the details clear up as you go on). Despite this, I have no regrets watching the series. This is one of the most beautiful things I've spent my time on and I think I'll always miss it.
A good show makes you contemplate life a bit I think, and honestly, I'm left wondering and reflecting on a lot now. There was such a unique beauty to this show that I won't be able to forget.

Read More

To My Star (Taekwondo Version)

Hwang Da Seul is undoubtedly one of the best directors of BL series. And here is yet another proof of her competence and talent in creating such captivating stories with impeccable production, acting and cinematography.

However, I feel that this is a series that ends up repeating many of the arcs and narratives used in To My Star (also directed by her). It is the story of a witty, lively man who refuses to succumb to his problems and ends up moving in with a serious, bad-tempered and cold man. Little by little, he manages to break down the walls of this cold man and they fall in love. Until this man disappears without much explanation and years later they meet again because the cheerful man never forgot or stopped loving the cold man who begins to treat him in an indifferent and cruel way.

And that is where the problem lies. I feel like the first 3 episodes are perfect and contain such a unique and well-constructed narrative about two abandoned, lonely, and pain-filled boys who build a friendship and love that can withstand the pain and give hope about a better future.

That's the best part of the series. But they decide to do a 12-year time jump and the reason why it happens is the worst possible. I would understand if Ju Yeong had killed DoHoe's father and spent that time in prison. Or if they had met in college and the story focused on DoHoe trying to get into college and having to maintain a lie so that Ju Yeong wouldn't feel guilty.

But the story of their adult life is so weak and even boring. The dialogues are excellent, the acting is very good, but all this drama and DoHoe's distant and cruel behavior simply hurts the narrative much more.

I understand that the series tries to create this more complex, adult and conflict-filled plot, but the reality is that none of these conflicts really work. The whole issue of DoHoe forging his diploma or the problem with his mother who mistreated her son has little impact on the story.

The ending fixes a lot of things and manages to bring a resolution that warms the heart. But the series is too confined in the same space, repeating the same fights and this ends up greatly impacting what could be one of the best BL series of 2024.

It's an excellent series and gives a show in the technical aspects, but I really wish they had kept and explored the story of these characters' adolescence. The formula for a perfect story was all there.

Read More

Life

First of all, let me say that the acting and the story itself are at the highest level, the actors did an excellent job. I really enjoy watching the series exactly when someone is telling their life story.

we have a life story between two completely different characters. A do ho who is unhappy is somewhat negative and endures everything only to one day disappear from an unhappy environment.
Yeong, who has a dysfunctional family, but is always positive, willing to help everyone. he always looks at everything around him with a big smile.
Do Hoa just needed someone like Yeong. To give him some joy and positivity of a track of hope in the blackness in which he found himself. and Yeong succeeded. Do hoe finally got the light he needed in his life with someone he can rely on who is there for him whenever he needs it. Until the day he had the exam to get revenge for Yeon, he thought of hurting his father. Yeon was picked up by his family and no matter how hard he tried to get to Do hoe, he couldn't. Do Hoa left him. Yeong came back not only to take care of the coach but because he was waiting for Do Hoe to come back the whole time. 12 years later I know they still love each other but to leave someone for so long without a word. to hurt a person who has never hurt you. I know they still have feelings for each other, but I can't get over it. In all of this we have the proud and arrogant Hyeon who was either in love with Do hoe who bullied him throughout high school and you become friends with him. Do Hoe is a bird with broken wings and Yeong is a bird whose wings have been broken. Do Hoa said that he is finally free, maybe he is free, but he still has a noose around his neck.
you can't run away from problems and the past, they will catch up with you when then. I think that when Do Ho arrived, he couldn't believe that Yeon had been waiting for him in the same place for 12 years.that he took care of his father. not only that Yeong lost his love, his coach, but he also lost a home and a job. I honestly don't know how the story will unfold, but honestly I couldn't get over everything. if I don't know what was in the story, one sorry is not enough

Read More

it's so warming

It was a total Rollercoaster like the starting got me giggling and kicking air - the innocemt romance and their playfullness made my heart flutter too
and then after timeskip i was like pissed at mc and their poor communication it'd have been great if they got together back quickly
- but then it got bit emotional and I had a good cry. The ml was such a good character I smiled whenever his face was up and cried with him.
i really liked his acting.
the ending was so warm I really love how shin communicates so well. the ending was satisfying I really loved the couple.
truly the masterpiece I'm sad that it's underrated.
I'd surely rewatch it again though I'm sure Noone will read this but eh the ml ,I forgot the name , the shin guy - he's my type I want him so bad imma cry after looking him up on Google and discovering the drastic age gap.

Read More

Dont mind me gushing and rambling

First of all, I’m a big fan of the intro. It feels comforting and nostalgic. Cinematically speaking. I also really like it, it feels light and soothing.
About the characters. I adore them and their personalities. The ML seems so sweet and caring. But I also love how the MC opens up and becomes happier.
The first few episodes take place in the past and therefore there are different social norms and expectations. I think this drama incorporates this very well (TW).

In general, this BL seems so realistic. In the beginning, their kisses and romantic interactions seem so innocent and you can feel the awkwardness between them, because it probably is their first interaction with a man. But they do look out and care for each other and I love the both of them.
Due to the actors' amazing acting, they genuinely seem like lovers/friends.
After the 4th EP, there is a time skip and the MLs mood changes and you can see the look of hurt in their eyes. Their interactions hurt (but in a good way). You can feel the pain, but also their longing for each other and you can just feel it tickling in the air between them.
It’s painful to watch the differences in their behavior in the past and the present.
In my opinion, the topics in this BL were rather unique but so real at the same time. The characters were complex and I think it has one of the best ending scenes. This BL also reminded me of why I love KBLs so much.

Read More

The reality of love when everything isn't sunshine and rainbows

Had I been a true film head and done my research on the director before watching this show, I would have been comforted knowing even though I was heading in blind (there was literally no advertising I saw for this series, it just popped up on one of my IQIYI searches) I would have my heart broken regardless. Hwang Da Seul is the screenwriter and director of this series, and is the same to "Bleuming," "To My Star" 1 & 2, and "Where Your Eyes Linger." These are all OG BL's that were not only some of the most well-wrote content of their time but remain what I would dare call this generation's KBL classics (minus "Where Your Eyes Linger of course.) I left this show feeling how I felt after watching "The Eighth Sense"; my heart mended in a way that made it different from who I was before, and knowing this would be a comfort show sad overtones or not.

Hwang seems to constantly be pushing societal boundaries as well, with there being more affection in this series than I expected, even some barely fade-to-black moments that had me wide-eyed wondering how far was she gonna let this go. I applaud her for consistently providing top-quality media and ensuring length is not a minimizing factor that dumbs down a story. Originally a film released through Bucheon's International Film Festival, I hope to God she got the acknowledgment this series deserved.

On a personal note, this show broke me in all the right and wrong ways. From the jump, the lighting, music, scenery, shot-blocking and angles, intonation, EVERYTHING told me this show was going to be very good and also extremely sad. Do-hoe and Ju-yeong's storyline is the epitome of making the best of what life hands you as a child when there are so many things out of your control, but also how impactful one's family can be when it comes to the grand scheme of the what makes up the fibers of our being. There were a lot of tear-jerking moments where I felt like my heart was just being squeezed in pain. The ending is positive and not bittersweet at all but still had me in tears because of how emotional of an experience this series was to witness.

Read More