Summertime

Almost perfect... until the last few minutes

This was such a well-made KBL and, for most of its run, I genuinely thought it was going to become one of my favorites. I'm a sucker for the childhood friends-to-lovers trope, and this drama handled it beautifully. Watching Do Hyeon quietly love Eun Ho for years while hiding his feelings made every interaction between them feel meaningful. Their chemistry was natural, their friendship felt genuine, and it was impossible not to root for them. I also loved that the story didn't rely on unnecessary drama. Instead, it focused on the little moments, lingering glances, quiet jealousy, and all the emotions that come with realizing someone you've always had by your side might mean so much more. Those small moments were what made the romance feel so heartfelt. That's why the ending disappointed me so much. I won't spoil anything, but the final few minutes completely changed the tone of a story that had been so beautifully told until then. It didn't ruin the drama for me, but it definitely took away some of the emotional payoff I had been waiting for.
Even so, I still think it's one of the better KBLs released this year. The chemistry, the performances, and the warmth of the story make it absolutely worth watching. I just wish the ending had trusted everything that came before it.

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what was the reason?

this was not a highly anticipated watch of mine since korean BL do not have good track records in my watchlist. i was getting ready to drop this as soon as eunho's insecure nonsense came to head in episode nine. then i read the comments here that revealed a major twist. i almost cackled with disbelief and finished episode ten some minutes ago.

studio oak seems to be leading in progressing BL forward in korea but then they fall short every time. whose decision was it to make the entire plot a fcking dream? for what reason? seriously, why? i feel robbed as a viewer. even though the end was not as treacherous as i was expecting, it still was not it at all. making it a dream is not even a logical decision but then leaving it on a cliffhanger is where eyes were rolled. we are supposed to interpret the ending ourselves too? foolishness.

the kissing was fire and that was all this was worth. this deserves a lower overall score for playing in my face.

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Stagnant

"Summertime" leans into the classic childhood-friends-to-lovers trope. While the "outstanding but cold seme" archetype feels quite cliché at this point, the series earns major points for its dynamic between the leads. It is refreshing to see a pairing where both characters are masculine, breaking away from the usual cutesy uke stereotype.
​Unfortunately, the series falters in its character development as it progresses. The early episodes set up a lot of depth—particularly with a lead who is initially self-assured, comfortable with homosexuality, and proud. However, that strong foundation crumbles later on when he inexplicably regresses into deep insecurity. This inconsistency makes the character arc feel poorly executed and robs the story of the depth it promised at the start.
​Despite these frustrating flaws in character progression, it is still an enjoyable and decent watch overall.

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Summertime almost had me. And then it didn't.

The friends-to-lovers setup is genuinely one of the better ones I've seen. When Eun Ho worries that what he's feeling might just be physical attraction, Do Hyeon's response cuts straight to the point: the friendship has already changed. Whatever this is, it's already happening. That's a rare moment of honesty in a genre that usually treats the confession as the hard part.

The problem is that the series builds all this tension around two people crossing a line they can't uncross — and then gets weirdly coy about what crossing that line actually means for them. It's explicit enough to show the attraction, but not interested enough in showing what that attraction does to their dynamic. I didn't need more sex scenes. I wanted to understand what this meant for two people who've known each other their entire lives.

And then there's the ending.

I'm not going to explain it, partly because I'm genuinely not sure I can, and partly because I'm not sure I want to. What I can say is that it left me more confused than moved. An ending that needs a manual to make sense probably isn't doing its job.

Good performances, real chemistry, an interesting idea — and a series that kept stopping just short of the thing I actually wanted to see.

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Good for a watch

So almost everybodys upset about the ending but i personally think it wasnt bad, i mean honestly we already have 29293993 forgettable highschool/ university BLs where they have conflicts but obviously they make up in the end, so this felt like a breath of fresh air while still having a happy ending. When i first watched the ending i also got a little scared but if you just focus a bit on the scene you can tell that it wasnt all just a dream BUT this is the dream thats happening right now (for example how eunho already has the bracelet but dohyun doesnt) therefore to me this was a pretty unusual but memorable ending, it showed how eunho finally became confident in his feelings even tho i think we all knew by the end XD thats the only reason why i think it was pretty unnecesary and just ended up confusing many viewers whether it was all a dream or not. All in all i think this was an okay series with a few good twists, i wouldnt say it became really outstanding to me but definitely worth a watch!! dont be scared of the ending, people!! also thank you to the actors and crew for their hard work

(english is not my first language sorry for awkward phrasing)

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How to ruin your show in the final scene

This series should be studied as a case study on how to ruin an incredible story with a lackluster finale and a completely unnecessary final reveal.

I saw comments claiming that it was explained on Twitter that the ending was just Yeo Eun-ho imagining what he could have had in the past. But honestly, if it isn't in the show itself, then all that matters are those terrible final minutes that almost sank the whole series.

And I loved the show. The chemistry, the dynamic, the playful flirting, the way the romance between best friends develops—it’s all so interesting and fun.

The characters play off each other really well. One is quiet, serious, intense, and dominant. The other is immature, loud, extroverted, and feisty. And it works perfectly.

I think the series follows an excellent path, but it completely loses its way in the final two episodes. It gets boring and predictable—just the same old formula.

They run out of ideas, and the solutions they come up with are so uninteresting.

It’s still an incredible series—fun, sexy, and a joy to watch. But it could easily have ended at the eighth episode.

But then, in the last three minutes, they throw in that lame scene where he wakes up and says it was all a dream. Honestly, it’s one of the stupidest writing decisions I’ve ever seen. It’s literally asking the audience to disregard everything they just watched. It subverts expectations in the worst way; it feels almost like a betrayal of the viewers who stuck with it.

Still, let’s just pretend that ending never happened and enjoy the other eight episodes, which are a total treat.

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Good and then suddenly add in random things

First of all, everything was perfect at the start. I loved how they introduced the characters, the chemistry between the MLs, and the acting. However, after they got together and were finally happy, the story suddenly drops the f-bomb on us. Suddenly Eunho is insecure and dumps Dohyeon when he never cared about his achievements before. And maybe it was because Eunho didn’t think about the future as deeply before, but it doesn’t make sense for his character to suddenly become insecure when he was so stable before. And after all that, they also suddenly tell us it was all a dream happening in Eunho’s imagination??? Like make that make sense?? It makes no sense to build all this character development and story then suddenly drop it all with a plot twist that completely differs from what was initially developed throughout almost the entire show. It would’ve been perfect if they just ended the show after they got together and headed to college together, happily.

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Great until the last few minutes

The ending of this show pissed me off. Why was it all just a dream? It didn't make any sense in this story at all, nor was it hinted at throughout the rest of the show. I think that was a really bad story choice. Other than that, the show wasn't bad at all. The chemistry was great, I liked the two actors who played our leads as well their characters, and other than the ending I really enjoyed their story. The friends to lovers' story was done really well in my opinion, and I loved seeing Eun Ho realize that he likes Do Hyeon as more than a friend. Do Hyeon was my favorite out of the characters. I thought he was going to be a boring almost tsundere style top, but he wasn't at all. I really liked his character a lot. I do recommend this show even though I didn't like the last few minutes.

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summertime is timeless and so should this series have been.

overall, this was a great feel-good series. i loved the unforced comedy, eunho's phlegmaticism, dohyun's cockiness, their dumb friend group, when hyeon told their homeroom teacher he'd rather be anything than a pastor, the phone call scene that was practically a sex chat in eunho's ignorance, their family camaraderie, characters knowing (or not knowing) their place, our couple fucking on clear glass immediately after new year's countdown, etc.

really, this was near perfect.

however!!!

there was absolutely no need for that plot twist, and it bothers me why they had to fumble such a splendid series.

within two minutes, this really went from a 9.5 to an 8, but i had to reconsider and add a .5 to it.

moreover, is it a series i'd recommend?

absolutely the fuck YES!

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What...was that ENDING?!?

This has to be the first Koran BL and especially HIGH SCHOOL KBL where they ACTUALLY kiss! And KNOW how to kiss and are intimate and delivering the NC scenes well! I was genuinely sooooo SHOOK! So naturally it kept me expecting more. I was literally looking forward to every scene ...and they did not disappoint! The NC scenes were so bold and spot on...BUT

First of all the actor playing Cha..it's his debut..I understand..and I am NO professional. But right off the bat I felt his acting was off. I thought at first it's part of the scene like he was supposed to portray it that way..but that was just him in every setting...every scene. Like I feel like he only showed "emotion" when kissing or doing the 'perverty' stuff like eunho would say lol, or during their arguments. Or slightly in the scenes with the parents.

I went through so many emotions while watching him😭😭 at first I was confused, then TERRIFIED cuz some lines he'd deliver them as if he's a psychopath...or some obsessive creature...with some creepy AI robot looks.

The script.... The things he did that was apparently deemed normal were insane! Like what do you mean he asked eunhos classmate to literally tell him where eunho goes? And the way he always showed up wherever eunho was..the clinginess.... Like the possessiveness I get it...but did it have to be portrayed so creepily.....I didn't find that romantic or cute AT ALL...idk maybe it wasn't delivered properly....like either it didn't make sense to me, not written well or I'm the weird one for not understanding. Then some parts I was genuinely laughing cuz he was too robotic! Why did he always turn like he was possessed???????? And how does eunho keep a straight face and even SMILE when he STARES at him like THAT. Even his walks were so STIFF.

This is really disappointing...cuz what do you mean there was a whole TEAM there and no one even said anything? Were they being too lenient? Did they not take this project seriously? Why didn't anyone see anything wrong with the delivery of the lines and tried to guide him? How does one grow into a good actor without the criticism needed to grow and develop????? Now if they didn't see anything wrong with it, EVEN the co stars then that's a different tragic story....

The actor playing Eunho was good but also stiff at times...the other actors nailed their rolls tbh. Like they were simple stereotypical 'Korean highschool classmates' roles but they each owned their stereotype haha lol loved it!

But I was just confused as to how the new transfer student got "bullied" or actually picked on for a day then the next day they all went to eat lunch together???? Am I the only one who noticed that😭 cuz I saw some reviews talking about the "bullying" and how Eunho was such a good friend....bro got picked on FOR ONE DAY😭 then they all miraculously become friends and even went to play video games together...that part had me weak tbh😭😭😭

Last but not least the ending.

I saw some people say that they LOVED it...and oh my god am jealous! Good for you for understanding. But I just don't. When did he fall asleep? Where does the dream actually start? I may get the effect they wanted to create(I think) but HOW CAN ALL THAT BE A DREAM? that's why am confused as to where the dream actually starts..make it make sense?.! CHAEBAL!!!!

The reason I was even more mad because it took me a while to finish this drama just cause I was like okay now that they're together there's probably nothing to look forward to so I can take my time AND THEN THAT ENDING PISSED ME OFF.

In conclusion, we need more sexually daring K-dramas like this one, or if you're someone who actually read this review and you have one recommend me!!!..

The Chinese and Thais have been up there for so long...step it up Daehanminguk!🇰🇷

Nevertheless, thank you for creating this art!

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