4 different stories with different vibes
Overall: the production value is good for what I assume is a very indie series (it got a .5 indie bump). Aired on GND Studio's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UjFgW8TJEf0j62oTEJudvgjvIT1uTqc&si=VJ9NKGmGyWH6mMs2 GND also made My Damn Business and Fake Buddies.Content Warning: see my spoiler comment for a large one for episode 6
1st Story (Riding a Bicycle eps 1/2) - friends faced shifting feelings. Enjoyed the sweet/caring moments. The bike/trip may have been symbolism for things going differently from how you initially envisioned. Very much a slice of life story with an open ending.
2nd Story (Friendship Bracelet eps 3/4) - quirky vibe with a supernatural element. Wish they had let it play out sooner/had fewer times.
3rd Story (The Last Diary eps 5/6) - back to a somber/slice of life vibe with two strangers that start off on the wrong foot. Suggest stopping at episode 6, 7m25s
4th Story (Sunset Boulevard eps 7/8) - two guys reconnect at work after they knew each other in university. Wasn't a fan of the non con kiss in the past or non con touch at work, but I was happy with how it ended.
Was this review helpful to you?
4 Love stories in bite sized pieces!
This 8 episode BL anthology was short, sweet and honestly, pretty refreshing. Each story was wrapped up in two episodes, each around 20 minutes long. It wasn’t a lot of time, but it was enough to capture the vibe and give away those warm fuzzy feelings without dragging things out.What stood out to me the most was the overall tone of the stories. There was no unnecessary drama, no toxic love triangles, and thankfully, no cheating plots. It was simply a collection of heartwarming short stories about love. It felt refreshing to watch a drama that stayed light throughout without resorting to overused dramatic twists. Somehow it gave just enough time to catch all the different vibes of romance.
The acting was genuinely good. Every actor brought a lot of heart to their roles and it made it super easy to get attached to the stories, even with the limited screen time.
The production quality seemed pretty solid too- clean visuals, nice editing and it all felt put together really well for a mini-series. The storytelling stayed focused and didn't try to do much, which made it a really easy watch.
Obviously with such a short runtime, there was not much room for deep character development or heavy emotional storylines. The focus was more on capturing those fleeting moments like the start of a crush, the awkward excitement of first feelings rather than diving deep into the characters' lives. For what it set out to do, I think it pulled it off really well.
Overall, I thought this was a very well done mini-series, charming, easy to watch, and honestly better than many of the bigger, mainstream Korean BL dramas out there. If you are looking for something light and do not mind short episodes, I would definitely recommend this!
Was this review helpful to you?
low budget, but quite good except the final...
Sorry, I'm late for this review, because Weak Hero Season 2 took precedence in my time-budget :)Here we get four different love stories in one series. The first was typical what you would expect from a BL, childhood friends growing into love. The second one is the most interesting one as it involves time-travel. The third one was a very sad one and last one was so weak I asked myself why to include it and "ruin" the series with it.
While the budget was low, the episodes short, the acting was good except the last one but overall miles ahead of most of the thai BLs we "have" to watch. So even the independent small studios can produce a good series with a low budget. I would suggest you skip the last two episodes and enjoy the first six episodes.
Was this review helpful to you?
Short, Sweet, Simple
This is a showcase of 4 different genres of first love youth, sch-fi, tragedy and office all of which seem to be slightly obsessed with the number seven.The delivery is simple and so are the different settings, there is a sense of longing and bubbly meets introvert in all four couples but other than that each story takes very different paths and turns. The delivery is decent for a low budget production as I could feel the emotions even if I wouldn´t count on any of these boys winning any awards any time soon.
An okay watch, but nothing really special either.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Beautiful Anthology of Brief but Sweet BL Stories | 8/10
Close To You is a breezy and heartwarming Korean BL anthology that offers a sweet glimpse into four different love stories, each capturing the delicate moments of unspoken affection, shy glances, and emotional firsts. The drama introduces us to eight male leads, and let's just say—every single one of them is absolutely stunning and gorgeous. The casting is definitely a visual treat, and each pair brings their own unique charm.Since it's an anthology, each couple only gets under 20 minutes of screen time, which does feel a bit rushed. While the format keeps the pace light and engaging, a little over 30 minutes per episode would have allowed for deeper plot development and more time for the chemistry to fully bloom. As it stands, the stories are enjoyable but leave you wishing for just a bit more.
What really works in Close To You is its positive and non-toxic tone. There’s no angst-heavy drama or manipulative characters—just four different narratives of love in its many early forms. From school crushes to workplace pining, each story brings something different to the table, which helps the series feel fresh throughout.
Overall, Close To You is a feel-good, easy-to-watch BL that delivers on visual appeal, sweet moments, and variety. With just a bit more runtime, it could’ve gone from great to unforgettable.
Final Score: 8/10
Was this review helpful to you?
One very good story and 3 mid ones
Among the 4 stories, three of them were pretty much the same; average acting, cliche plots, nothing much. But that one story - the second one - was on a whole different level. Great plot, very good acting and it was hilarious. I was so excited after watching that one. Also I won't be surprised if I knew the second story was written by someone different than the other 3's writer. It's such a shame they couldn't make more like that.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A Nice Anthology Series With Substance!
This anthology is like the first warm summer breeze that sweeps over you after a long cold winter. It is refreshing, gentle, and so enveloping that it makes you feel good all over. This anthology is composed of 4 unrelated love stories told so delicately that you might miss the intensity that lies underneath each of their love stories. Overall, these stories are nimbly told with no overused drama, no destructive love triangles, or cheating plots. It is solid stories with excellent acting in each. All four-love tales are different in terms of poignancy and message. Some are meant to be quite powerful while others are presented as examples of slices-of-life contextures. Each saga is composed of two episodes of about 10 minutes in length each, which makes for easy viewing.Read the complete article here-
https://the-bl-xpress.com/2025/05/21/close-to-you-series-review-ep-1-to-8/
Was this review helpful to you?
Four short, cute Korean feel-good love stories at a slow pace - but haven't we seen it before?
"Close to You" is a collection of short stories in series form, each offering a tender exploration of love between two young men. The series consists of four distinct stories, each of two episodes.The series shines with its simple yet deeply emotional narrative. The stories are all rooted in love. A shy confession, an unexpected bond and a slow-burning romance. The show has a delightful feel-good atmosphere that captures the heart, largely due to its slow pacing and focus on emotional connection.
It’s easy to see how some of the stories could have been expanded into their own full-length series. The characters are well-written and have enough depth that viewers are left wanting more of their stories.
The performances are generally heartfelt, with the cast capturing the innocence and vulnerability of young love with authenticity. Visually, the series is charming and understated, complementing its focus on character over spectacle. While "Close to You" doesn’t venture into highly dramatic territory, it is a satisfying and comforting watch for anyone seeking a heartfelt and slow-burn LGBTQ romance.
That said, one downside of the show is that it doesn't offer much new in terms of concept or execution. It's very similar to several other recent Korean series on the same theme, which makes it feel less innovative. I almost felt like I had already seen the series. While it’s a charming and enjoyable watch, it lacks the fresh approach that could have made it stand out more in the crowded genre. It's not a series that I will remember much of afterwards but it's a perfect series for those who enjoy sweet and relatable love stories with a feel-good finish.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not very special.
This drama was ok, but not very special. Just 4 short stories, for me the last two were the most interesting ones.The kiss in the second story was bad. If you are only pressing lips together in a was that has no chemistry at all, then just leave the kiss out... The kiss at the very end of this drama was a good kiss.
I won't watch this again, there are plenty really good short drama's to rewatch.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Edging Ritual (Not in a weird way)
First story had wanting more, second story had me wanting more, third story had me wishing there was less, and fourth story had me wanting more. I know they're short and I shouldn't expect a whole story written in like 8-10 min per episode but I lowkey just wanted to know more about what happened next, the first one had me wondering if they ended together or not, I mean maybe they did? IDK the way they spoke to each other like yeah probs. Second story was like yeah yay they like each other but like now I wanna see how their life goes after they start dating and also life before, third story had me wishing I never saw it that shit was so sad omg like make it stop, and fourth one was also making me wanna see more after they start dating and before, tho the kiss was chefs kiss! Once again I know they're short so obviously they're not gonna be like a whole 2 hour movie, but yeah! Regardless of this it was decent, the stories are short and simple and they're very soft and wholesome. Just like someone said in the reviews, it's like a bite sized story!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A short and sweet BL anthology
Close to You – a short and sweet BL anthology that's all soft winter vibes, warm cups of tea, and just enough feels to linger. No drama, no toxicity (well… mostly), just eight men across four bite-sized stories that all hit differently but flow together like a cozy snowfall.1st story – The Bicycle Ride
Two just-out-of-high-school boys, a sleepover, and a peaceful morning bike ride. That’s it. That’s the magic. This one feels like a slice of life captured in soft light, no big declarations, just two adorable friends slowly leaning into something more. I loved all of the caring and sweet moments. The open ending left me smiling and kind of wanting to go bike riding myself.
2nd story – The Time Loop & the Bracelet
This was fun! Starts with a drunken on the phone confession (classic), and the next day, the regret hits hard. Cue: magical friendship bracelet and a wild loop of “what if I answer differently?” Seven tries later, honesty wins… but wait! Turns out both of them had been looping — the friend tried six times too?! That twist gave me chills in the best way. And the random laptop guy in the background, mirroring their convos like some chaos spirit? Gold. Quirky, funny, heartfelt — loved it.
3rd story – The Diary
This one hit me right in the gut. Starts like a chill forced cohabitation trope — his mom’s friend’s son is staying over — but then they bond, feelings quietly blossom… and then he’s gone. The twist? He was sick, and now he’s passed. And he gets to know it a year later.The diary entry that says he’ll come see him again? I was not okay. Beautiful, tragic, soft. I adored their dynamic. Possibly the strongest emotional pull of the four.
4th story – The Office Romance
Okay, this one was kind of messy. A senior and junior with a shared past, including a not-okay kiss that didn’t sit right with me. It leans more into tropey tension and miscommunication. That said, it was still fun in a quick-watch kind of way. Not something I’d want as a full series like the others, but the last scene — the kiss timed perfectly with the coworker walking out — was a mood.
Overall:
Short, satisfying, with one emotional punch and three shades of sweet and strange. It’s rare to find an anthology this balanced in tone, with each story holding its own voice and a wintry warmth that ties them together. Would recommend.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Four stories - first story was good, second one was tame
This comprises of several stories, each one unlinked form the other. I liked the first story. If you are up for some quick, quirky fluff, you can watch it...won't hurt.Story 1: The first story was quirky, and fluffy, with a tiny time loop thrown in
BL-needle score- 8.5. High BL-ness
I was thinking, oh, yet another predictable, super-photoshopped KBL.....and then I saw that each episode is roughly no longer than 10 minutes, which made me binge-watch all 4 episodes and change my mind.....while it still is quite 'photoshppped', it's damn cute, with good production values, and has a time-loop plot to boot...I must admit I was pleasantly surprised...:D
Two uber-cute Korean boys secretly crushing over each other for a long-ass time without confessing...nothing new in that....but their moments were cute .....and then when they grow up and get into that confession time loop, it was super cute and funny....and that background guy , apparently minding his own business, but actually being the audience's voice all through the 6 time loops...lol...that was a clever and quirky insert that I really liked.
Will add as I watch the rest of the stories.
Was this review helpful to you?
