This review may contain spoilers
So Many Tropes So Little Time
I tend to write notes as reminders so I can come back to write a review. I wrote so much for this one I decided it was long enough for a review.Story: "Oh, My Trope" should be the title of this series.
1. Co-habitation
2. Love contract
3. Change yourself to catch a love interest
4. Perfect romantic love interest list
All that & it was the lead couple.
The 2nd pairing:
1. Family bankruptcy
2. Income gap - inferiority complex
3. Excessive delivery jobs as fodder [1-2: Ok. This kid had 5.]
The tropes are on overkill.
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Acting/Cast: Overall, the actors were pretty good. They conveyed the story well. I felt that the one playing Jung Ki Sub (2nd MC) needed a touch up, but then I found out this was his 1st job; kudos to him for holding his own.
Jung Yoo Hyeon, was a star. She played Kang Hye Jin, only significant female presence. If only there were more episodes b/c her story is great. She's the first bisexual/would be lesbian storytelling in a Korean series & there was nothing. I would like to have seen the girl's face.
I feel Choi Balg Eum & Ji In Ho could have made a great story & far more interesting story than the MCs. I was left upset, wanting & dissatisfied. These two were matched so well & I felt their chemistry but their story had no cohesion & felt so sloppy. I know what they might have wanted to do but the beginning, middle, or end didn't match. You really sat there thinking it was the ex who was the problem, then you find out it was MC2's friend all along who was the jerk.
I really wished the story was 16 eps so the writer could have given justice to Kang Hye Jin, Choi Balg Eum, & Ji In Ho. The second pairing in particular.
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Production: Horrible shaky cams - I'm not sure if they were trying to be artistic w/ the coloring but they would do beauty effects from soft to sharp - be inconsistent w/ focus, lighting; in appropriate usage of these elements.
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Music: Not much in their arsenal. They had about two REAL songs & I only liked one of them. So....yeah. I believe that song is called Silent & was only played for the Lead Couples having an intense moment.
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Rewatch Value: None whatsoever.
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Thanks for all the hard work
The storyline really leave a big impact on me, i love how each actor display well the emotion towards their acting, but its not enough for me because i'm hoping that boys be brave will have another season that more focus about the second lead and the main lead love story. Anyway, big applause to the director who put much effort for making this masterpiece, and for the actors i love you allWas this review helpful to you?
An Astonishingly Touching Series!
This is a monumentally touching series that intensely affects you in ways long after you have finished the series. When you watch it, you know you are being moved but its extent does not fully grasp your inner thoughts until you have had a chance to contemplate what the story is fully about. In essence, you keep rewinding the series over-and-over in your head until its full meaning grabs you. And then, perhaps just with me, I suddenly burst into tears over its power and significance. There is something haunting about the lives of the two men that become intertwined, partly by design and partly serendipitously. This is a great series. Although the series is short in duration, it does have some very intense momentsWas this review helpful to you?
Cute and quirky, a fun watch !!
This is one drama which started out as a bit weirdly confusing to me because of the very unconventional kind of main leads and very different storyline.Its not a usual thing to find such a quirky pairing - of a crazy introverted yet cute boy with another crazier, a bit innocently stupid and all over the place boy.
Even the styling and appearances are very different from any BL we might have already seen. And all of these makes this drama a very fresh watch with different kinds of characters and settings.
The actors have impeccable chemistry, the kiss scenes are probably one of the best I've ever seen in a korean BL. Its so well done, passionate and cute.
The second couple made me tear up a bit, but they are really cute too.
There are a lot of heartwarming scenes . The music score and cinematography is cool too.
A good watch and definitely worth your time.
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Opposites Definitely Attract
I think when you start watching this series, you need to give it a chance to grab you. It starts out funny and unrealistic, but along the way it gets series and loving later on, so just be patient, you'll b be glad you did.Four extremely different people, all facing different issues, but eventually help and bring out the best in each other.
I think the character of Ki Sub, played by Shi An was just great. So well performed. It was fun watching him mature to such a responsible and caring person in such a short period of time.
Great series to watch if you just want to relax and enjoy
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This review may contain spoilers
Cute BL love story
Cute 🍭🍭🍭 I liked the story and especially the playful acting of Nam Shi An. The ending was a very good one, i am satisfied. Some people are disappointed because of the second pair, but it's not a bad ending, it's only that they needs more time.Cute 🍭🍭🍭 I liked the story and especially the playful acting of Nam Shi An. The ending was a very good one, i am satisfied. Some people are disappointed because of the second pair, but it's not a bad ending, it's only that they needs more time.
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Lovable Characters
Another great kbl for 2024. Lets go over what i liked and what i didnt rlly like.Liked:
· Giseops terminal illness was not the forfront of his character, it was in tje background and motivated his decisions but wasnt given an indepth medical history montage which i appreciate. People with terminal illnesses can live the same life as one without!
·Characters as a whole were really fleshed out.
·Couples didnt always end up together, and thats okay! not every couple needs a happy ending right this second.
·Jinus hair?? like weirdly enougg throughout the whole series i was just admiring his cute hair and fringe.
·canonically bi and maybe aro characters? I'm headcanoning giseop as aro IDC!! or at least demiromantic
ok things i wasnt so happy about:
·the plot was a bit.. skew wif? like i felt a little lost at times but hey thats me.
·I feel like the side couple could have been fleshed out a little more
·MORE OF THE BACKGROUND WLW ROMANCE PLEASE????? HELLO??
Overall i think a rlly good watch, something i might go back to if i feel a little down, but a staple of kbls? no. But it doesnt have to be revolutionary to be good. Not every bl can be eighth sense sadly.
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pretty cute! ...but..the tattoo though?!?
This is essentially a Korean version of 10 Things I Hate About You, it's a pretty cute series that leaves you with a nice fuzzy feeling and a satisfied smile.....well except for one teeny tiny detail.
Boys be brave is a sweet youre-really-not-my-type-but-for-some-reason-i-love-you story. Jinwoo is particular about everything, and he doesn't do anything he doesn't want to-- that includes asking Kisub, the guy he likes, to date him. It's clear that Kisub isn't cut out for a monogamous relationship, he's a carefree guy who dates whoever he wants, and though he likes his girlfriends, he's never been in love. But things are different when he's around Jinwoo, and we watch their story evolve from tart bickering to sweet kisses.
While the story itself isn't terribly original and feels a bit thrown together at times, its good enough to keep you interested. They did throw in a confusing health complication in which never really fully resolved or addressed, but it didn't make much of a difference to the story. There was the tiniest detail that felt wildly unresolved at the end, as Kisub is vying for Jinwoo's attention, he ends up GETTING A TATTOO FRECKLE RIGHT UNDER HIS EYE TO MATCH JINWOO'S-- this was done in order to become more of Jinwoo's type, but the fact that he actually got the tattoo and it was literally never brought up again was like WHAAATT?!
Overall this was a cute watch though, the characters are sweet and the scenes are well done, production quality is high too. Its a nice easy watch to binge on a day off.
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This review may contain spoilers
Boys Be Brave! And Adorable All The Time!
Okay, this might seem like a simple story on the surface, but don’t let that fool you—this show had me giggling, squealing, and melting from start to finish. It’s the kind of rom-com that just wraps you up in a warm hug of chaotic charm and slow-burn sweetness. What made it so special? The characters. Oh my gosh, the characters.First up, we have Jin Woo—a confident, no-nonsense nerd who’s not afraid to stand his ground. He knows what he wants, and even more impressively, he knows what he doesn’t want. (Or at leat that's what he thinks.) Watching a character so in control of his boundaries was honestly refreshing, but also hilarious when life (and Ki Sub) keeps testing those limits.
Then there’s the lovable disaster that is Ki Sub. Socially awkward “playboy” , and the literal definition of a golden retriever—he says yes to everything and everyone. At first, I was just amused by how clueless and naïve he was, but the more I got to know him, the more adorable he became. His efforts to change and mold himself to fit Jin Woo’s “ideal type list” (yes, he really moves in with him—chaos ensues) had me rolling, but also rooting for him so hard.
Their dynamic? Absolute gold. From Jin Woo trying to kick Ki Sub out, to the slow realization of their feelings, to the soft, clumsy confessions, to the actual dating era—it was everything. I loved watching Ki Sub, who once believed he couldn't love, learn to understand his feelings, speak up for himself, and start saying no to the things he didn’t want. His growth felt so real and earned.
And can we talk about Balg Eum? My hard-working little part-time worker! He’s zooming around delivering everyone’s mail and emotional support. I loved his bond with Ki Sub—it was such a wholesome friendship, full of teasing and loyalty.
Now, the second couple—Balg Eum and Ji In Ho—brought in the angst to balance all the fluff. Their relationship was more quiet and emotional, with those heartbreaking moments where Balg Eum opened up about his insecurities and why he had to step away. That scene where he asks Ji In Ho to wait for him until he becomes a better person? Yeah, I cried. A little.
And shoutout to Hye Jin! She’s Jin Woo’s ideal type, and he’s hers — but instead of romance, they build this amazing friendship. They’re basically the male and female versions of each other, and their mutual comfort and honesty made me love their platonic bond even more. They’re totally meant to be besties.
Also the OST tracks were great, would listen to them again!
Overall, Boys Be Brave! is a heart-fluttering, laugh-out-loud, healing ride. It’s cute, it’s chaotic, it’s full of silly moments and real emotions, and it honestly deserves all the rewatch love. If you’re looking for a show that feels like a cozy hug with a side of butterflies, this one’s for you.
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This review may contain spoilers
It was okay, I would like a special episode of the second lead couple.
This was my second Korean bl series. Overall it was okay. I personally liked the second lead couple Choi Balgeum and Ji Inho. I liked watching their story. I really felt bad for Balgeum especially in ep. 6 iykyk. Granted yes, Balgeum could’ve done something with Inho that wasn’t a lot of money. But I think it just made Balgeum feel bad. I also think it was an insecurity of Balgeums’ to because his family was in debt meanwhile Inhos’ family was wealthy. Definitely episodes 3 & 6 were my favorite.Was this review helpful to you?
What a waste of time
There's little to say about this bl: it's ugly! I didn't like anything, from the story to the characters I found everything handled very badly. It's the first Korean bl to which I give such a low rating, but here they really produced a flop series. I feel like I wasted my time on a story that's leaking all over the place, and I'm talking about the one involving the main couple. Their story makes no sense, the two of them are awkward and I didn't like the actors even a little. Maybe I'll save the second couple who had potential but... never mind! The Koreans with this bl, for the first time, got everything wrong and created a cringe series regarding the main couple and an inconclusive one for the second couple.Was this review helpful to you?
Flawed in terms of romance but some elements of the story resonated with me...
An enjoyable Korean BL from which I expected maybe too much. I enjoyed the very different dynamics between the two couples as well as the way the series showcased characters flaws and explained why they acted the way they did. However, I wish the secondary romance would have gotten more screentime as it was the most interesting to my eyes. I also found the romance arc of the main couple a bit too expected and forced.The acting was okay overall but once again, I clearly found more believable the chemistry between the secondary couple rather than the main one. They looked cute but it felt a bit lacking somewhat. I enjoyed the variety in the character as well as the female role, a bit more atypical than the usual BL formula but still quite superficial (which is understandable given the short length of the drama).
Regarding the production, I found it pretty good with some nice clothing choices for winter. It was rather low budget but fitting the context of college romance. The soundtrack was good, quite relaxing but not memorable.
I would recommend this to people looking for a BL in a college set up. It is a bit unbalanced in the way it approaches some topics: it feel sometimes deep on some aspects as well as totally unrealistic on some others. Despite its flaws, it is still a nice watch...I just would have loved for it to leave me with a more durable impression.
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