Cityboy_Log Vol.1: Okinawa (2023)

An unusual beginning

This review was written after volume 5 ended, but in order to be fair, I tried to remember how it was back then, without referring to any future volume.

The most obvious thing first: the format. Afaik, they didn't tell us what this actually is until after vol 2 ended (for better or worse). Part of the fun of these two volumes was figuring out what's happening. It was mostly Jaejun/TAN's fans, thinking it was an actual vlog (which explain why Jaejun is still the most popular Cityboy even today). But then the boys started kissing... and we were like... "WHAT THE...!?".

So back then nobody got the state of mind to evaluate the plot, characterisation, etc. After all, no one was expecting a plot.

Watching it now, if you enter this show knowing what it is (i.e. evaluating it as a scripted romance vlog), it actually started rather slow-ish. They maintained a bromance-y platonic vibe for a good while, and showed stuffs that today would get called out, "why are we watching this? Get to the romance already!".

All in all, this first volume is a test of whether someone can enjoy this (unique) format at all. It's hard to compare to other regular shows. Like, when writing reviews for the future volumes, I can compare it to past volumes. But for the first volume, I really don't have any comparison point; it really is a proof of concept.

Btw, I applaud the actors for doing this. Playing as gay characters that are also "just themselves" must've been nerve-wracking.

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