The Love Never Sets (2025)

Problematic But Brave

As other reviews attest, it is far too easy to "punch down" in reviewing this series: its flaws are many and criticism is warranted. And yet, I didn't give up and actually looked forward to each week's episode release.

The script chose to tackle and address issues that many stories (BL or not) pretend don't exist: mental health, therapy, institutional/authority figure predation (and the willful ignorance around these predators), and forced prostitution and victim-shaming. I think art, even flawed art, that chooses to speak to power should be praised for what it gets right as well as criticized when part of the execution falls short.

The early episodes did a tremendously deft job in taking us on Ice's journey as he continued to heal. Some of the most outstanding scenes during the characters' workshop sessions were understated and they let the subtext speak volumes that the script did not. Their workshop scenes were heartbreaking and hopeful, and watching two fractured people attempt to create connection (while one is still reeling from the trauma of sexual exploitation) was masterfully done. In fact, I might go out on a ledge and say those scenes in particular are some of my most memorable from the 2025 season and the best acting executed by the leads.

Yes, the second and third acts piled trauma on top of trauma, trope on top of trope, to the detriment of the story that was offered in act one. To me, it felt like the production team had tremendous courage to tell a unique story as they started, but got scared and retreated into genre semantics and syntax as the story progressed. If they had had the courage to keep the story smaller, the plot contrivances fewer, they had a chance to tell a very aching redemption story for our two leads.

And the reviews citing Ice's toxic boyfriend as an unnecessary element, in my opinion, miss the point of that subplot. Ice still feels unworthy and "tainted" when he chooses that relationship- there is a part of him that wants to wallow there as those feelings are at least familiar. He specifically chose a partner that would create the feelings in him he felt he deserved. Moving past Warm was a sign of growth and healing for Ice. Too often, survivors feel unworthy of real, sustained happiness and will continue in relationships that keep them in their "normal" state of stress, self-loathing, and self-doubt. Did the writers take that arc too far? Absolutely. This is just one example of courage in act one that retreated into trope by the end of the series.

Overall, this definitely is not a "seek it out" kind of show. But if you're in a generous mood and looking to watch a flawed but brave series, indulge your curiosity.

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When the GL subplot is better than the BL itself...

"Ja" had something different in mind, when he left GMMTV. I do not care much for Mr. Ja, but I was happy to see "Tae" again, after his role in "Between Us" in 2022. But sadly the script was more crap than I could have imagined. First, if you know that someone was raped and abused, you would not cast him in a role which has an similar plot in the student short-film project. But even if you don't know all the details, the actor himself would not take that role when his trauma still lingers and has not healed. The more problematic part is, that Mr. Ja has no clue how to act in dramatic or sad scenes. He looks statuesque with no facial expression at all. There is no energy, anger or something else. It's like it does not matter to him. It seems the workshop did not really work. Besides looking handsome there goes nothing for him.

With such a poor acting performance his counterpart can't balance the performance. He tries his best, but it does not work. That's why this series is soooooo bad. The only highlight are the two girls, but if you watch because it's a BL, you won't care about the GL stuff. This may sound harsh, but it's the reality. I'm not a fan of mixing but normally it does not matter that much too me but it's even more sad, that this subplot made the most sense and was acted well.

I don't have to tell you there is forced drama in it, with the cliché "bad" father and house-maid which turns then 180° in a matter of minutes which does not make sense at all. Production quality is good, even the music is good, but the script/acting can't deliver. So sorry, I don't like this show at all and overall it's a waste of time.

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