Never Forget Your Enemy

An uneven experience: sometimes frustrating, but still engaging enough to keep you watching

Never Forget Your Enemy starts with a premise that immediately grabs your attention, but over the course of its eight episodes, it becomes clear just how much that initial idea is both its greatest strength and its biggest limitation. The combination of rivals to lovers and amnesia works well as a starting point, creating an engaging emotional conflict between past and present. The reveal that the protagonists were never truly enemies, but rather victims of misunderstandings and poor communication, adds a more human layer to the story. Even so, the development doesn’t always live up to its potential, and what begins as something compelling gradually becomes uneven as the series progresses.

The non-linear structure, shifting between different moments in the characters’ lives, is an ambitious choice that adds depth but also creates confusion. At times, the flashbacks genuinely enrich the narrative, showing how the relationship evolved and giving more emotional weight to the present. At others, the execution struggles to clearly distinguish between timelines, which hurts the flow and requires more effort to follow. This sense of disorganization becomes even more noticeable toward the final stretch, when the series expands into thriller elements, introducing more extreme conflicts that clash with the original tone and feel exaggerated or underdeveloped.

The writing is, without a doubt, the most problematic aspect. There is a solid foundation built around themes like memory, identity, and emotional reconnection, but the way these ideas are handled raises several issues. Amnesia, which should be the emotional core of the story, is treated inconsistently, both in how characters react to it and in how the protagonist’s journey unfolds. On top of that, the series tries to juggle too many subplots for its limited runtime, including stalking, revenge, unresolved secrets, and family conflicts, without giving any of them the depth they need. As a result, the narrative often feels rushed, messy, and at times even illogical.

The acting delivers mixed results, but not without clear strengths. The leads have strong chemistry, especially in more intimate scenes, which end up being some of the most convincing moments in the series. There is a natural ease in their physical interactions and an emotional sincerity that helps carry the relationship even when the script falters. However, technical limitations become more noticeable in heavier scenes, where the emotional delivery doesn’t always reach the depth required. One actor shows more confidence, while the other can feel a bit stiff at times, with a more limited range of expression. Even so, considering these are relatively early leading roles, there is clear potential for growth.

In the end, Never Forget Your Enemy comes across as an ambitious series that doesn’t always manage to support everything it sets out to do. There are undeniable strengths, such as the engaging premise, the chemistry between the leads, a memorable soundtrack, and well-executed intimate moments. At the same time, issues with the writing, narrative inconsistencies, and uneven execution keep it from reaching its full potential. It works best when approached as a romantic drama with touches of mystery, without expecting strict realism. It may not stand out as one of the most memorable entries in the genre, but it’s far from forgettable. Ultimately, it’s an uneven experience, sometimes frustrating, but still engaging enough to keep you watching until the end.

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A thai production which is not bad at all...

When I hear Thailand., WeTV and BL I just asume it will be maybe an ok show but this time even a thai production can surprise me. With actors from Korea (and from a korean web novel and filmed in Korea) they did create something different this time around.

While a tropé of enemies to lovers or even amnesia is nothing new, the premise starts quite different and the title is misleading. They were never enemies, they just had a rocky road to be a couple. Some misunderstandings did prevail in their relationsship and the amnesia is an outlet to also solve them.

There are some inconsistencies with the amnesia story plot, because it seems the way from his rejection of his past and becoming a couple again happens to fast. Amnesia does not work like that. Also in the production I felt the café and the bar were lifeless which reminded me of Sukfilm/Truefilm productions when only two or three characters are in the scene at an made up location. It breaks the immersion and should have done better.

For their first main roles the MLs did a very good job, they had chemistry and worked very hard even when sometimes it felt a bit off. But compared to most other thai shows where characters are shallow, their characters had a story and personality. They both excelled at the silent moments and even with the kissing and NC-scenes.

So overall this was a good show. It's far from perfect but it's a pleasant departure from most of the other thai shows. While there is a high school part in it through flashbacks, it's a mature story. A story to grow together again and with some thriller elements (because it was not an accident). If you are tired of the same old, same old, this is a refreshing series to watch. One recommendation: You should binge-watch this series, watching one episode per week or even two epsisodes per week could make you confused because they have flashbacks through out the series to explain the past. For me it was not hard to follow but you will forget some things when you take a break for a longer time.

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Better Than Expected

This was an ambitious project and it worked for the most part. Relative newbies given the task to portray layered characters. Jun Su shows his experience when tackling the difficult heavier parts. Ja Woon a bit stiffer and restricted needs more practice to be more engaging. Together they did well. The story was a good concept.

Sae Byeok's adoration for Ha Neul was always felt. He had a single minded devotion that kept everyone out except the enemies. His care and protection to keep him safe fell short at the important times. The excruciating pain he felt in the fallout and ensuing aftermath was palpable. The reconciliation as it should be.

Their bodies felt natural together. They do have chemistry. The lack of acting skills were glossed over when they looked at each other. Their nc scenes were tastefully done. Intimate without being exploitative.

The pacing of the script was good as well though the unbelievable did occur. How does a convicted felon continue to send death threats from inside without authorities intercepting? A convicted deranged fan convinces her brother to join a deranged plan for no explicable reason other than them being siblings. How does someone get access to a stars hospital room without opposition.

The honesty of Ha Neul's mother in protecting her son above Sae Byeok's was touching. I usually hate when characters sell out to progress a script. She allowed her son to process at his own pace.

There were cut corners. Some worked and some glaringly didn't. The vocal delivery wanting most times. The light scenes more rewarding than the heavy. The radio announcer relaying that Never Forget Your Enemy would be Sae Byeok's last project was funny. For reality's sake, I hope not.

For what it became, I would recommend for someone looking for light viewing. The newbies did good.

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I don’t usually write reviews, but for this one I had to because I honestly felt tricked into watching this drama for nothing. You can’t hype a bad storyline just because it has a lot of nc scenes.
I do agree that the two actors have incredible chemistry.... their kissing scenes were so good and probably the only good thing of the show. However, their acting... especially their dialogue delivery was quite awful. I could ignore it most of the time since I was reading subtitles anyway.
Well, since both actors didn’t do much dramas, there’s definitely room for improvement in their future projects.
The biggest disappointment was the story. It just didn’t make any sense. The first episode was actually good and I had expectations, but unfortunately it didn’t live up to it at all.

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A Captivating BL That Blends Youth, Mystery and Emotion

Just finished Forget Your Enemy and I have… thoughts 😭

At first, I was ready to give this a solid 9.5/10. The premise alone? So good. A man wakes up after an accident with his memories stuck in his teenage years, only to find out his biggest high school rival somehow became the love of his life?? The emotional tension, the confusion, the potential?? I was LOCKED IN.

And the drama really pulls you in from episode one. The mix of high school flashbacks and present day is actually so compelling… in theory. You get to see how everything started while also dealing with the emotional fallout in the present. It adds depth, it adds angst, it gives everything more weight.

Ja Woon and Ha Neul? Amazing chemistry. Like genuinely. Their dynamic feels natural, layered, and sometimes painful in a good way. The enemies to lovers progression hits, the emotional beats land, and both actors really sell it.
Visually, it’s also really pretty. The cinematography is soft, polished, very emotional. For a miniseries, it feels complete and impactful.

BUT.
Why did the plot suddenly decide to lose its mind after episode 6???
The first few episodes already had me slightly confused because the timeline keeps jumping like it’s doing cardio, and the two male leads looks the same so I’m just out here guessing the year based on hairstyles and vibes.

And then we get… her.
So this girl is a fan, obsessed, fine. Then she finds out the actor is gay and instead of moving on like a normal person, she goes full crime thriller. Grabs a knife, tries to kill him… MISSES… and kills HIS DAD instead. Not her target. His dad. Wrong target, wrong everything. I had to sit there and process the level of chaos.

And somehow it gets worse.
She’s clearly unwell, so naturally the system’s response is: jail. But not just jail. Jail with unlimited stationery because she’s sending out threatening letters like she’s running a subscription service. Who is funding this??
Then the brother enters the chat. The ONLY family member left. You’d think he’d bring even a drop of logic into this situation. Absolutely not. He agrees to help plan a hit and run like it’s a casual weekend activity.

BUT WAIT.
This man really applies for a job at the SAME cafe as his target… gets hired… learns how to make coffee… befriends him… all just to plan running him over??? Sir, this is not a revenge plan, this is a full-time career commitment. You’re out here steaming milk and doing latte art for vehicular manslaughter???

Like in real life do you have to go this far. You’re telling me you filled out an application, passed an interview, worked shifts, and smiled at customers just to commit a crime later?? The dedication is insane, the logic is nonexistent.

Anyway. I had to deduct a full point for this absolute mess of a plotline because WHAT was going on.

BUT I will be fair.
Bonus points for the NC scenes because wow. Episode 2 and episode 8?? I was NOT prepared. Korean BLs usually play it safe but this one said no, let’s be bold. And the peach scene 👀🍑 I’m still recovering.
Episode 5’s car scene is also wild. Intense, emotional, slightly unhinged in the best way, especially with how it blends reality and Ki Ha Neul’s imagination. Short but VERY memorable.

So final rating: 8.5/10. Deduct one point for plot chaos, add points back for boldness and those scenes that had me staring at my screen in shock.

Messy, confusing, slightly unhinged… but I was entertained, I won’t lie.

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tried to do too much

Overall: there were way too many characters/plot for 4 hours as well as multiple timelines which made it confusing. A protagonist also had a giant flaw, which made me not support the romance. This is based on the web novel of the same title by Hwacha. 8 episodes about 30 minutes each. Aired on WeTV

Content Warnings (SPOILERS): past (stalking, murder, blood), present (attempted murder, blood, manipulation, blackmail, non con kiss)

What I Liked
- initial premise (even though it's not realistic, it is a bit different)
- physical intimacy
- sweet moments
- characters who did terrible things did have consequences

Room For Improvement
- too many characters/plot, we had: past stalking/murder, current stalking/attempted murder, amnesia, lost dream, job troubles, love rivals, as well as plot that took place in high school, the years in between and in the present
- not all flashbacks were clear and added to the confusion of when/what was happening
- I am very upset with Yeo Sae Byeok if I understand correctly (and I might not because it was confusing)
- in the past he didn't tell Ha Neul about the stalking/threatening letters or go to the police which led his dad to be killed and then Ha Neul to blame himself
- in the near present he didn't tell Ha Neul about the threatening letters or go to the police which led to his boyfriend almost being murdered and missing a large part of his life which I would imagine would be extremely traumatic
- in the present lying by omission and still not cooperating with the police could have easily led to his boyfriend being actually murdered

- super stupid plan in high school with the poor communication trope
- did not feel the emotional intimacy between them, part of it was their past relationship was developed in a 6 minute montage
- there was a ton of writing nonsense, a few examples: no medical professional checked on him for a long time after he woke up, the police were fine not interviewing the victim and taking someone else's word for it, a person in jail was able to obtain a ton of red envelopes and mail them out of jail and they weren't even sealed

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Poor acting, Amazing kisses, Plot holes, Awful Makeup

Subjective Gut Rating; 6.75 (rounding up to 7.0 coz of the kisses. That’s how I roll…LOL 🤣)

I was looking for an easy and light binge to end the work week, and I thought “Never Forget Your Enemy” is the right pick. Well, I was wrong. I thought it would be a fluffy and cute romance, and maybe even a second-chance romance when the leads are given another chance to work things out. Instead, the plot is a little more serious and darker than I initially thought. This is also not a big deal, because I’ve seen quite a few really good Korean BLs that cover some darker/angsty topics, e.g. “Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo” or “Secret Relationships” or “Love for Love’s Sake”.

Unfortunately, this Thai/Korean co-production isn’t up to par with the dramas I listed. There are 2 things that this KBL got from their Thai friends - poor makeup and great kisses. There’s so much makeup on the two main leads that I couldn’t look away. This is especially bad for Lee Ja Woon, whose acting is already bad (a little better in the last couple episodes, but distractingly bad). Coupled with poor makeup that makes his face look a little weird, it greatly decreases the enjoyment factor. But don’t worry, these guys can kiss! And who doesn’t like a couple wet dreams, right? I haven’t seen some great BL kissing in a long time. The actors, god bless them, are not afraid to open their mouths and go for it (without looking like they are going to eat each other’s faces). They are passionate and sexy, sweet and affectionate. Props to them!

How about the plot? Well, there are too many loopholes and things that don’t quite make sense. No one seems to have a sense of urgency to help Ki Ha Neul recover his memories. I’m not saying they need to force him, but they didn’t help at all. What about the creepy barista at the coffee shop? Given who he really is, falling in love with Ha Neul seems quite convenient and also what he did in the end. What about the contents inside the box? Why would Yeo Sae Byeok keep the contents if he’s not going to tell anyone or do something with it? Just burn them!

I don’t think I am going to recommend “Never Forget Your Enemy” to you, unless you are interested in checking this Thai/Korean co-production. The mystery is not too bad, and the drama is quite short (8 eps, 30 mins each). There are many better BLs out there, like the three I mentioned in the first paragraph.


Completed: 4/3/2026 Review #681

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Attempt of Emotional Melodrama Falls Flat

I can’t even explain all the ways that this story lost me, it was just that inconstant. It tries so hard to be this captivating melodrama, but misses the mark so badly at times that it nearly comes off as being a parody of a BL instead of a true BL.

There was also just so much laziness baked into the story that it becomes hard to take seriously at times. Getting hit by a car once is already tragic and sucky, but having the same character get hit by a car twice is just poor imagination.

The intimacy scenes were decent, but the placement of many were questionable as were some of the more emotional scenes. Was really excited for the premise of this show after watching the trailer, but the execution was lacking to say the least.

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Beautiful People, Beautifully Shot, with Solid Writing

I’m impressed. I don’t think they spent huge amounts on this, but they spent every penny well. The production was slick, and really well filmed. The direction was good, the acting was naturalistic and quietly human. The locations were very minimalist and nicely lit. The story and writing were sound. The music wasn’t intrusive, but was evocative. I might be over-rating this, simply because it did everything reasonably well, but I feel like it’s one of the most consistently polished things I’ve watched recently, and it’s nice to have no complaints. Even the nut job sasaeng was rendered with restraint and style. If any BL series represents the South Korean Aesthetic it’s this one.

I feel like this production sets good precedent, because despite having a very tired central conceit (amnesia from head trauma), it made a lot of sense, and was admirably restrained, while keeping me interested. The added melodrama of the sasaeng plotline wasn’t overdone. Nothing distracted too much from the core romance, keeping it as a love story, despite the genre blending, and the annoyance of the third party trope wasn’t dragged out too long. I think they balanced the various threads of the story well, resolved the main tensions, and resisted the temptation to fill in too much detail on some things.

That said, it’s neither groundbreaking or even hugely original. I’m not rating it as high art. I’m rating it for what it is: a polished, budget queer romance with a very mild thriller element, and free of irritants. I give queer content a head start on ratings, based on the fact that it rarely gets the budget or production standards that straight content does, and gets treated as second-rate very often. As a result I’ve really piled on the stars for this one. It’s nice to see our demographic so well served by talented people. Recommended.

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"You actually watch this s**t?"

This is the kind of BL that, if one of my normal, non-BL friends IRL watched it with me, they would turn and ask, "You actually watch this shit?" lol

By far, the best thing about the show is the love/sex scenes.
From acting, to blocking, to cinematography, they are feature film level.
Which is why I suspect a director other than the series's credited director handled them. Not kidding, they are that different and that much better.

There are far too many ridiculous plot holes and inconsistencies to mention, so I won't. If you choose to watch, skip ahead to the sex scenes. I think there are only three and a half of them, though.

As for the MLs, they'd do better to establish a co-OnlyFans account and stop inflicting their non-sexual acting upon us.

4/10 (For the four sex scenes.)

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Spicy but lacked taste

This KBL had an interesting plot and had all the things to make it a good series but it lack certain elements to make it good. First of all, the acting. Gawd that was the most awful acting that I have seen in a while. Ja Woon needs to stop serving face and serve acting lessons first. He literally had the same expression on his face the entire series that it was starting to become funny and the dialog delivery was just as awful. It was so obviously when it was time for an emotional scene. It made me uncomfortable rather than sad. Next, the plot. This series had a interesting premise imo. But the execution was so awful. Especially in the last few episodes. Because tell how does it make sense for Sae Byeok to just put these 'secrete letters' that ruin their relation in the first place to put it out in the open. Mind you this has happened two times. Also the force angst of the main characters. Tell me what will Ha Neul achieve by self isolating himself. He wasn't even threatened or had any misunderstandings. He just did that for shits and giggles. The stalker wasn't even out mind you. She was in jail. So yeah they could have gone about it in a better way. Now the chemistry was good. I like the NC scenes. I am always happy to see good kisses and not kisses where it seems like two dead fishes are making out. So yeah. Ultimately, I only stayed cuz of that. If not this would have gotten an even worse rating from me.

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