Heart Stain

Could have been better but it lacks chemistry so badly...

I'm not the biggest fan of a love triangle but I'm even less a fan if the chemistry does not match the story.
While we all know this is a low budget effort, they should have at least tried to have at least good chemistry to elevate the story. But they failed miserable.

It felt all detached and shallow and for me neither Doha nor Woohyun gave me the vibe that they long for each other. For me they felt steril and they could not convince me at all. I don't care about a high polished production but even in the worst thai productions at least the chemistry between the couples comes through even when everything else fails. First Woohyu loves his teacher and when he get rejected (of course), he seems to turn to Doha. But never ever I had the feeling this was the pivotal moment when his feeling changed. It just happens because the script said so. And of course they are together even when they are 8000km apart... yeah for sure.

In this series they fail with everything. While not cringe or stupid, it's just boring.and unbelievable. Cute/handsome actors can't make up for the story if there is no chemistry at all. I expected more from a South Korean series, but not every series can deliver. So this is the first big disappointment in 2025 and if you have skipped it, you don't miss a thing.

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Cute, as only teenage love stories can be...watch it for the feel good

A simple, and emotional teenage tale that I really enjoyed ....the boys are uber cute, and so is their story....err, a lil too 'photoshopped' yes, but then that's most KBL for you...:D

Bl-needle score: 8.5, Very high BL-ness

Woohyun has a crush on his homeroom teacher but knows that it can lead to nothing, and hence suppresses it, only confiding in his close friend Park Doha....following which Doha confesses that he likes Woohyun and proposes that they go out to see if that helps Woohyun get over his impossible crush. What follows is a simple and emotional teenagey tale of cute possessiveness, jealousy, heartaches and love....with a happy ending :D

The actors and the script makes it believable...but more importantly, it just makes you feel good...reminding of your first crush from school and the likes

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Cute but uninspiring and forgettable! Same old, same old!

This is cute and everything, but it’s pretty much the same stuff I have seen before. It follows all the typical tropes, so while it's fun to watch, there is nothing to run home about.

Park DoHa and Woohyun had chemistry but it felt very fragmented and lacking in depth.
While they did tried to capture the essence of first-love jitters and the youthful charm that often accompanies the first teenage crushes, it didn’t feel convincing or genuine enough. There wasn't just enough chemistry on the table for me to ignore the plot holes.

As for Woohyun’s crush on his homeroom teacher, it came across more as a plot device than a meaningful subplot. There was little to no emotional depth in that storyline, making it hard for me to care about.
Also, I'm still not sure how or when Woohyun fell for DoHa. The pacing felt off and it seemed like they needed to be together just because there were only two episodes left. The pacing felt all over the place especially in the last 2 episodes.
Honestly all the connections felt very surface-level and superficial.

That said, I did enjoy the friendship between Woohyun and Sori even though their friendship wasn't explored much. The banters were cute.

This is my first time seeing the actors and with what is given, I think they did a decent job. The problem for me was more on how the characters were written than acting here.

Overall, this was enjoyable for a one time watch, but it doesn’t really bring anything fresh or stand out in any way. It's cute but ultimately forgettable in the end.

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This Was So Cute!

I just finished watching this, and honestly, it was such a heartwarming journey, even though the last few episodes felt a little rushed. Let’s break it down.

The story follows U Hyeon, a high school boy secretly crushing on his homeroom teacher, terrified his best friend Doha would judge him if he found out. But to his shock, Doha not only accepts his feelings but confesses his own—asking him to date until graduation. Hoping to move on from his impossible love, U Hyeon agrees… but what he didn’t expect was to actually fall for Doha, too.

First off, I absolutely adored Doha’s character. He was so cute and just radiated charm. His energy was undeniable, and every time he was on screen, I couldn't help but smile. His dynamic with U Hyeon was just too sweet, especially with their height difference, which made Doha look even smaller and added to the adorableness. Their physical moments, like hand-holding and hugging, were some of my favorite parts – they were so genuine and gave off such a warm, fuzzy feeling.

The support from friends was such a highlight. I loved seeing how the group rallied behind each other, It was nice to see the positive energy in the friendships, and I was thrilled when they all ended up finding their happiness.

The OST? Wow. I can't stop listening to "Mirror" by Hamin and Kim Ji Oh, and “Moon Dream” was a track I definitely replayed a lot. They really set the tone for the more emotional scenes, and the music was the perfect backdrop for the blossoming relationship.

Now, about the teacher – I think he was meant to be a kind, supportive figure, but honestly, he came off a little creepy, which took me out of the story sometimes. It didn’t quite hit the mark on what it seemed to be going for, and I was left feeling uncomfortable with how that relationship was portrayed.

Another thing that felt a bit off for me was the "going abroad" trope. I’m just not a huge fan of that plot point, especially because it often feels like a way to add unnecessary drama. However, the emotional payoff was there, and I appreciated the resolution even if it felt a little too quick.

And I'll have to add I like Jun su's character too, he had chemistry with Doha with just a small screentime. Liked his reaction to Doha coming out. Though he did make some mistakes but still was not able to dislike him.


Overall, I started this show because I’m a fan of Hamin (Doha) from BXB/TRCNG, and I'm so glad I did. The series had its flaws, but it also had a ton of heart. The romance between U Hyeon and Doha, the adorable moments, and the supportive friendships made it totally worth watching. Definitely one of those shows that brings a smile to your face, even if the last few episodes were a bit rushed.
In the end, this show was super cute, and while there were a few bumps along the way, the journey was definitely heartwarming!

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needed to center on the leads (watch suggestions)

Overall: needed more focus on the leads' relationship development and for both of them to not be so wishy-washy. 8 episodes about 20 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala (not in US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Columbia, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Spain, Portugal, Japan or South Korea) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5085/heart-stain-2025-e01 ; iQIYI (guessing most of the countries not covered by Gaga) https://www.iq.com/play/ouzi1rg5sc and Heavenly (South Korea).

Content Warning: bullying, homophobia

Watch Suggestions
- watch episodes 1 & 2
- episode 3 watch 1:30-4, 14:30-15:50 and 18:15-23
- episode 4 watch 10:50-12:40
- episode 5 watch 20:45-end
- episode 6 watch beginning-13 and 19:15-20:10
- can skip episode 7 or watch 3-4:40
- episode 8 watch 10:30-15:40 and 20-23:55 (can watch until the end but I think their plan is stupid/sad)

What I Liked
- clear premise
- supportive friend
- fast pacing
- sweet moments
- he knew it wasn't good/would cause problems
- no dead fish lip press

Room For Improvement
- not a fan of the intro for episode 1
- exposition dumps
- spent way too much time on the teacher and so bizarre the teacher didn't respond clearly right away, he gave creepy vibes but I don't think he was supposed to
- throwing in the bully character instead of focusing more on the main leads, also didn't understand why the bully waited to say something for so long
- a trope in episode 6
- one character came across as desperate and the other came across as cruel/insincere, he was even hot/cold in episode 7 where one scene he says he doesn't know if he likes him and the next scene he says he really likes him
- refusal to answer calls/texts/communicate
- the time jump and their "plan" at the very end of episode 8

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verry pleasant

So overall it was pleasant, but much much much too vanilla. I understand that it's a first love, a high school love, but it's as if everything was held in place, restrained. And when U Hyeon accepted his feelings for Do Ha, he seemed to hold back, and when they met again after 1 year, I expected so much more explosive feelings, I mean, they weren't in high school anymore to think that they must be innocent, right? ... they were already after a year of college and the hugging and the discussion at the table it was as if they were 2 bored people, or without passion, as if they had seen each other 1 hour before.
But I must admit that the character DO HA brought a lot of warmth to the film, and somehow it seems to me that the whole series was somehow around him, although it should have been the other way around (U Hyeon). Maybe it was because of the misunderstanding of U Hyeon's feelings that he was so restrained, but the character DO HA really delivered emotion, warmth, security, friendship, just about everything. And what I liked was that he managed to convey emotion with his eyes. I hope to see him in many films from now on.

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For the most part, this was a sweet and simple story about different kinds of teenage crushes and first loves (the supporting characters also have their crushes). The characters all suffer from the usual misunderstandings, self-denial and teenage angst, but it always stays light and low-stakes.

Woo Hyeon's journey from a crush to understanding the feelings of first love (which, of course, turns out to be "true love") is at the centre of the story -- and the other characters' love stories serve as a nice background, so we can understand Woo Hyeon's own story better. Kim Ji O was excellent in portraying the character, and I hope we'll see more of him in the future.

Another thing I liked was that they didn't push aside the question of what it might mean to be gay in contemporary Korean society (it was addressed a few times, and one of the supporting characters had internalised homophobia); but they also didn't make it a big part of Woo Hyeon's journey.

The longer part of the drama takes place during their last year of high school -- and I found that the passing of time stayed a bit too vague -- the shorter second part four years after. While I appreciate the slow story telling of the first part, with it's journey of self-discovery, I think the second half would have profited from tightening the script. Here, the desperation of both Woo Hyeon and Doha felt not intense enough and it got a bit lengthy. I also don't think the short jealousy story arc added anything to the story.
However, I know that the drama was based on a Manwha. So, it's likely that the script writers followed the manwha's structure here.


Was it good? -- Yes, it was a sweet and straightforward teenage love story, with all the usual tropes and ood characterisation.

Did I like it? -- I liked it well enough, and I was entertained. However, it wasn't eough for me to say I'd watch it again.

Who would I recommend it to? -- For people who want to see a teenage love story, this will definitely hit the spot.

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I'm sorry honey, but you just couldn't act

I'm sorry Ha Min, but acting is not for you. There were moments where you might have accidentally portrayed the correct emotion for a scene, but the rest of the time... stick to kpop. Thanks for the attempt. Actually, no. Next time, can you let someone else do it? We still love you!

Casting directors? I swear we're not watching BL because there's a chance a kpop star is in it. Actually, quite the opposite for me. I want good acting and good storylines, and I don't want to worry about the actors. I don't want to worry they were pressured into it, and I don't want to worry about any negative backlash from fans or non-fans - whether it's about their acting abilities or just for being in a BL at all. I just want them to be safe and happy.

It's sad because the rest of the cast's acting was really good! Especially the main character's. It looks like this was his first role, too (the reason why I didn't give acting a 1. Sorry again Ha Min).

The story could have been good also, but it was surprising how much Ha Min's lack of acting left me unsure of the plot. What reaction did __ provoke? Shouldn't he be jealous? Is that a smile or a frown? Is he friends with __ or is he not? Just the show's summary was enough to get me through the show. I knew what he should have been feeling there, and could add my own context if I stopped the show and thought about it at other points...(though the teacher made me feel slimy. You shouldn't touch a student that much OR INVITE HIM TO A CAFE even if he is your favorite student. It felt like he was encouraging or basking in the main character's affection.)

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Cute Disappointment

What started as a cute coming of age series soon turned into a snooze fest around episode episode 4. Other than waiting to see the evolution of his initial attraction for his teacher, there was nothing interesting to see. There was no drama to propel the story or keep the viewer engaged. UH revealed his feelings for his teacher, who after a brief flight, gently turned him down in the most caring way possible. After all UH was his favorite student. It's at this point an overwhelming urge to sleep took hold of me. I actually felt at some point this series was pulling a Benjamin Button. Two teenagers in their final year at school before college with as much exuberance as that of 80 yr olds. Seriously. Writing this, I actually yawned. Yes, it was that dull. The emotions expressed were so contained and soft that even the ending held no real happiness for the viewer beyond them being together. So Ri, his friend, called him clueless and he lived up to it. Very quietly.

DH, his friend and eventual partner, made a bet with him. They would date until graduation with the hope that UH would get over his feelings for his teacher and fall in love with him. The only issue I had with this was that DH was setting himself up for failure and when this happened, proceeded to act very hurt by UH's confusion. Who among us can turn their emotions off and on like a switch, was never in love in the first place or very fickle. Let's go with the former. Their reunion later held no impact. Their admissions of missing each other saw no passion or desire beyond a light kiss.

Was the story told in entirety? Yes, albeit very serene. Did the actors make the roles believable? Yes, again, very softly.
Was anything learnt that wasn't done before? An underwhelming, no.
Will I rewatch? In keeping with the tone of the series, I will gently write, no.

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A Story That Fades Before It Begins

What initially drew me to this series was the promise of emotional complexity—an introspective journey through forbidden love, friendship, and the difficult choices that come with growing up. The premise held so much potential. But what unfolded was a frustrating experience—an emotionally flat story that stumbled under the weight of its own promise.

The plot, though seemingly rooted in the familiar setup of a high school romance, had the potential to carve out something unique. Yun U Hyeon is a student nursing feelings for his teacher, Nam Jeong Min—feelings he knows are impossible to act on. Instead, he chooses to date his best friend, Park Do Ha, who genuinely cares for him. On paper, this could have been a beautiful emotional dilemma: a young boy caught between an unreachable love and someone who loves him wholeheartedly. But from the second episode onward, the narrative becomes a tangled web of loosely connected events. The original premise feels like a fleeting thought, mentioned and then swiftly forgotten.

What disappointed me the most was the lack of emotional depth. I was hoping to see Hyeon torn between loyalty, guilt, desire, and self-discovery. But the series never lets us into his internal world. Park Do Ha’s love for Hyeon seems unchallenged—there's no vulnerability, no tension, no emotional tug-of-war. And Hyeon’s relationship with Jeong Min never evolves into the kind of quiet torment or subtle longing that such a storyline deserves. Their chemistry, or lack thereof, leaves the emotional core of the series hollow. Jeong Min, the teacher, barely makes an impact. His presence is so minimal that the central conflict feels undercooked.

Technically too, the series falters. The background score is jarringly out of sync—often too loud, intrusive, or mismatched to the tone of the scenes. At times, it drowns out the characters entirely, pulling you out of the moment. Supporting characters, especially Kwon Jun Su, are introduced with the promise of depth but are abandoned without resolution or payoff. It’s a shame, especially considering the show had only eight episodes to work with—and even that time wasn’t used wisely to develop the characters we’re supposed to care about.

In conclusion, Heart Stain had all the ingredients to be something heartfelt and stirring, but poor execution, lack of chemistry, and surface-level emotional writing leave it forgettable. It's bingeable if you’re looking to pass time, but don’t expect much in terms of storytelling or emotional investment.

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Felt too short for the story to really develop

This plot of being in love with an teacher is sorta tired but the interesting thing thrown in there was the bet that Doha and Wyuheoon made, until it wasn’t mostly because I felt that Doha wasn’t really doing enough or acting genuine enough to get Wyuheoon to authentically fall in love with him over Mr Min. When Doha broke up with him that was the turning point that Wyuheoon needed but it being followed up with Doha studying abroad and wouldn’t be back for a number of years felt unbalanced and he only returns after a time skip; your telling me these characters never thought about dating or seeing anybody else in that span of time? Then it jumps to them becoming a couple again but the biggest breaking points for me was neither of them getting the closure they needed cause they both decided not to attend Mr Min’s wedding and also that by the end they’re together in an LDR where they say they’ll visit each other occasionally but also say that they’ll see each other once a year is the only guaranteed. How would a realistic relationship last that way?!

In all a cute story but could’ve been paced better to where the time skip would’ve meant more and didn’t feel just last min

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