This review may contain spoilers
An interesting concept that I felt wasn't portrayed properly
DisclaimerWhat I am writing here are my views and thoughts about this series. Some of you may not like it. That does not give you the right to try to come at me with your opinions on why this series should get a higher or lower score and why it is better/worse than I think it is. You have your own opinions, and I have mine. Kindly respect that.
Don't get me wrong – this series was addictive and had me coming back weekly every Tuesday and Wednesday, as I wanted to know what would happen next. The concept was interesting, as we found out, along with one of the main characters, the things that he forgot, as well as how and why he ended up this way. And I will admit that the way and reason why all of this occurred was a new and interesting concept to me because I personally did not accept it. I just personally felt that it wasn't portrayed in a proper way, and that's why it lost some marks with me. I mean, I know that it is only an eight-episode series, but still I felt that it was personally rushed at the end, as everything had to be revealed in that last episode.
I feel like I am in the minority with the acting of the actors, as I personally didn't have an issue with their acting skills. I mean, I have seen worse generally, and they just weren't that bad to me (I'm not saying that they were stellar either). They were okay. I am grateful that I decided to give this series a watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
I LOWKEY ENJOYED THIS ONE
surprisingly i really like the storyline, the plot twist was really unexpected imo. i thought it would be predictable at first because of the whole enemies-to-lovers + amnesia trope, but the way they revealed the truth and connected everything in the later episodes actually caught me off guard.i also like how the drama tried to explore more than just romance. the whole memory loss situation and their past as rivals made everything more complicated, and you can really see how their relationship is built on both pain and love at the same time
tho i feel like they could’ve done much better with the acting :)) there were moments where the emotions didn’t fully hit, especially in scenes that were supposed to be really intense. BUT i will say, there are still scenes where they did well, especially during confrontations or emotional breakdowns.
overall, it’s still a good watch for me. the plot and concept really carried the show, and even if the execution wasn’t perfect, it’s one of those dramas that keeps you thinking about it after finishing.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Beautifully Tangled Love Story, A Pure Reflection of Life and Love's Complexities
This was so much better than many of the comments made it out to be. Yes, it's jumbled, but so are Ha Neul's memories. They're all jumbled up in his mind, which had been protecting him from guilt which was never his to carry. Sae Byeok's enduring love was beautiful to witness. From the beginning, he desired Ha Neul's presence and love above all things and, in the end, that's what brought Ha Neul fully back to himself-- the pain, the loving connection and the clarity.Also, the cinematography was STELLAR.
Great job, all around, everyone.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Enough to keep you satiated
This series is good if you are looking to watch something that is short enough but has substance to keep you engaged. There were some reviews that highlighted where flashbacks can get choppy when integrated with the timeline but I think if the production worked on the colouring a bit more consistently when flashbacks occurred it would make the viewing experience a bit easier but I also understood they used it to set the mood of the memory itself. Some flashbacks had years written but mainly for moments which were considered milestones in their relationship growth from the past 7 years.Ep 7 is when things really start to tie to one another and you can see when Ha Neul accepts his current reality and moves forward from his situation. Sae Byeok is your Grade A yearner but with these type of characters their overprotection tends bring harm to the relationship due to leaving their partner in the dark of things. Up until mid way of the plot I had assumed SB had actually done something really wrong which led to his hesitance in unveiling more towards HN but his crime was just loving too much.
Their chemistry, well, I was well fed for a series of this amount of episodes.
Lee Ja Woon's acting did fall a bit flat in the facial expression but his expression in his voice did make up for it. I believe they have the potential to go further.
Was this review helpful to you?
The potential was there but somehow lost...
The story was textbook one. The characters were childhood friends with somewhat of an enemies to lovers arc.However, the connection of the audience with either of the characters or their history was not solid. It needed more time and flashbacks felt planted to make the story move forward rather than add meaning or depth to the story or characters.
The chemistry between the leads was most definitely there but the acting was not on par in certain scenes. It was mostly delivering lines or an attempt to not overact. The main character took it surprisingly well that he was in a romantic relationship with his best friend at the time when he hated his guts 😅. However, the scenes where an outburst of emotion was needed the characters acted surprisingly mature despite the intensity of situation.
It was a good attempt that fell at certain points but did fairly well in others. However, not really to underplay any series but Thundercloud Rainstorm felt similar to this series but it was an amazing watch despite the production value.
Was this review helpful to you?
Lost memory - but Sae Byeok will love enough for two!
Sae Byeok's love for Ha Neul was consistently evident in every scene, every lingering glance.His devotion was unwavering and so strong and for that alone I was locked in from the first episode.
I seriously love this kind of male lead. I felt as though he carried their entire relationships delicately on his shoulders, holding it together with barely sticky sellotape.
I’d be doing a disserve to any BL fan if I didn’t make a note in my review about Sae Byeok's luscious lips – They were just so there, my eyes were trained on them each time he spoke!
I’m a fan of the amnesia trope if it’s done well. And for the most part, it was in this show. I wish it had been more developed, but given there are only eight episodes, I grasp why the storyline occasionally seemed superficial. At times, the constant toggling between past and present events made things unclear. I would have preferred more time dedicated to the present to witness the boys working through their relationship, particularly since one was mentally dwelling in the past due to losing his memories of their life together as adults.
I had a hinky feeling about that barista fella right away – I’m glad my hunch was correct!
For two new guys to the industry, I was impressed with their acting and would watch more of their projects in the future. I'm sure their skills will go from strength to strength with each new job.
Would I recommend the show? Absolutely. The ideal amount of emotion holds your attention and keeps you suspended, without being devastating. No K-trauma here! Hoorah.
A love story that delivered through the ups and the downs.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Should be a psychological thriller
It’s a fun series, the actors have excellent chemistry, and the story flows well enough, despite the first few episodes being a bit stiff.The problem is that the narrative becomes somewhat repetitive and even forgettable, which is a shame because episode 7 is incredible.
And this shows that the series would be amazing if it were a suspense BL. The entire plotline of the obsessed fan who wants to destroy their relationship at all costs is simply perfect.
It would be a much more interesting and unique story within the BL universe. The series desperately needed a more original plot that actually explored these points better.
Because unfortunately, Gi Haneul's amnesia isn't strong enough to drive the narrative, and the series tries to fill that gap with excellent kiss scenes and a Yeo Sae Byeok desperate to win him back.
But something is missing, and that something is the madness, the mystery, and the flavor of a psychological thriller.
It's a good series to pass the time, but the script is shaky, the characters are a bit shallow, the motivations are poorly presented, and the technical aspects—direction, cinematography, and acting—though decent, aren't surprising.
A little more courage would have made this series catch fire.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Editing and acting needed a bit work
Overall i loved the show. It had a strong story and a pretty good cast. The thai influence was pretty obvious with the NC scenes. This was my 1st time watching NCs in KBL. I really liked everything about this show except some cuts that just felt too abrupt. At times i couldn't tell if it was the current timeline or past cz their styling hasn't changed at all. If they didn't wear their uniforms i couldn't tell.Ja Woon's acting was really good but Jun Su kinda missed at times. His crying scenes were really good but then acting coy, first love and such kind of romance related scenes he seemed off but then when it came to NC he did a good job.
Thats the reason it's an 8.5
Was this review helpful to you?
Messy, chaotic… but it worked
This drama was honestly all over the place, but it worked for me. The storyline had some really interesting ideas, mixed with moments that were fine and others that didn’t fully make sense, but overall it was still engaging. The editing was sometimes confusing, which didn’t help with the already messy structure, but I just went along with it. It’s one of those dramas you don’t overanalyze, you just take it as it is. The chemistry between the leads? Insane. That alone carried so much of the story. The acting wasn’t always consistent, but it didn’t bother me enough to ruin the experience. In the end, it felt like a refreshing "KBL" after a long time, imperfect, a bit chaotic, but still interesting.Was this review helpful to you?
acting
8 like the concept of this drama a person loosing his memory. and this review may be shortthe cast is very good looking the the steamy parts are probably the best Korea have done when it comes to BL. Hwang Junsu who plays the role Ha Neul, really knows how to cry his emotions is so good and the acting is very good loved his acting. Lee Ja Woon played as sae byeok, he is good but he needs to work on his emotions it was to straight face not that much expression in his face, he looks like a good kisser but Junsu took that part over for it to look more natural, Jaewoon needs to work a little more with his acting.
but overall I enjoyed watching this show
Was this review helpful to you?
Loved This Series
I know there are people who have complaints about this series, but I’m just not one of them. Although I suppose if I had to pick something the keeping track of what time. We were in was a little confusing but overall I loved this show. I thought it was just long enough . I loved all of the actors the main couple clearly, but even the supporting actors were all excellent. I thought the cinematography was beautiful. I thought the music surprisingly was very well done especially in the NC scenes this light piano music was always very lovely. I just thought it was great.I wish there was more Korean BL of this caliber. Just loved it. I think it was a gorgeous love story even with the sadness of some of the plot points, which I will leave out because I finished it on fast track so lots of people haven’t seen it yet. In any event, I would rewatch this absolutely, and while I’m sure there are some valid criticisms, when I finish a show and my first thought is wow that was great then I want to give it a review right away. Kudos to the main actors, really really enjoyed them.
Was this review helpful to you?
BL not really Friends to Lovers, more about amnesia and mystery
PLOT: The MC, Haneul, wakes up after an accident thinking he's still 19, and he's furious with Sae Byeok (his inseparable childhood friend, who just stole his first girlfriend). However, he fast learns he's 29 and has been living with Sae Byeok, now his lover and a star actor, for seven years.+++ The two leads are excellent. They have great chemistry, and the kisses and intimate scenes are believable.
+++ Coherent and realistic story, with interesting character development and clues given at the right time.
+++ Perfect direction: beautiful cinematography; framing, lighting, pacing, and the alternation between present and flashbacks are well-crafted. It's worth noting the excellent use of a seemingly modest budget.
+++ Korean OSTs (as always, excellent).
### You have to accept the director's "pointillist" style (story told in small strokes).
=> Good BL, short, effective (showing the toxicity and obsession of sasaengs in Korea). Not memorable, but remarkably acted and directed.
******************************************************************
Story pas vraiment Friends to lovers, plutôt amnésie & mystère
PLOT: Le MC, Haneul, se réveille après 1 accident pensant qu'il a tjs 19 ans, et il est super furieux après Sae Byeok (son ami inséparable d'enfance, qui vient de lui a piquer sa first girlfriend). Or, il apprend qu'il a 29 ans et qu'il vit depuis 7 ans avec Sae Byeok, son lover, devenu acteur star.
+++ Les 2 leads sont excellents. Ils ont une bonne alchimie et les scènes intimes sont crédibles.
+++ Story cohérente, réaliste, avec une évolution des personnages intéressante et des indices donnés au bon moment.
+++ Réalis° parfaite : belle cinématographie ; cadrages, lumières, rythme et alternance présent / flashbacks, bien travaillés. A noter, une excellente utilisation d'1 budget visiblement modeste.
+++ OSTs coréennes (comme toujours, excellentes).
### Il faut accepter le style "pointilliste" (histoire racontée à petites touches) du réalisateur.
=> Bonne BL, courte, efficace (qui montre la toxicité et l'obsession des sasaengs en Corée). Pas mémorable, mais remarquablement interprétée et réalisée.
Was this review helpful to you?
