Em00Mima

Wow, I don’t know why I never watched Reply 1988 when it first came out. Such a masterpiece. I finished watching it and I can’t stop crying. Every time I watched the show, not only did it make me miss my childhood, but it also made me miss my parents and want to call them. As children, we should really be kind to our parents and do our best to take care of and protect them, just like they protected us.

The scene with Bora and her dad after her wedding completely broke me. It was so heartbreaking. The ending was just wow… I couldn’t stop crying. I felt every word in my heart when Deok-seon talked about youth and how our youth is not only ours, but also the youth of the people and things we love. The scene of them turning back into children at the end shattered me too.

What hurt me the most was realizing that our parents are human too. Sometimes we grow up seeing them only as “mom” and “dad” and forget that they were once children themselves, that they also lost people they loved, had dreams, fears, and moments of loneliness. The scene of Sun-woo’s mom crying while calling out for her mother was so touching. And the scene of President Kim missing his mother who passed away was also so painful to watch. It made me realize that even though our parents are our heroes, they also don’t have their parents anymore to call, cry to, or talk to. That thought made me really sad.

The scene of Deok-seon’s father crying for their late mother together with his siblings was heartbreaking too. Seeing them cry together made me realize how precious siblings are and how grateful I am for mine. No matter how old we become, losing a parent will always leave the child inside of us hurting.

One day we will become adults and our parents will become old. That thought honestly scares me. I’m scared this will become Gen Z’s reality very soon. Parents are truly heroes. They sacrifice so much quietly without us even noticing until we grow older ourselves. Watching Reply 1988 made me feel so much empathy for parents who have lost their own parents, including mine. It made me appreciate and love them even more.

Thank you Reply 1988 for becoming part of my youth. Even though I watched you later than everyone else, you still found me at the right time in my life. Thank you for reminding me to love my parents harder, cherish my siblings more, and appreciate the small moments that one day become memories we cry over. I’m so grateful for my youth, for all the memories, love, and people that shaped me into who I am today. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the feelings this story gave me.

Where are all the people who were bashing William and Izaya, saying they were fake and would not last?
Last time I checked, they are the only ones who actually took this seriously, and Izaya even met William’s family.

Especially since they already had history, which explains why things were intense, emotional, and messy from the start.

Meanwhile, Jobu and Taeheon are not together, and Bomi and Huwei are not together either. They are just hanging out.

I have seen people say they do not like William and Izaya because they did not give them butterflies.

But The Boyfriend is not a BL show and not a drama. It is not fiction where everything magically works out.
It is a show about real gay men’s lives, living in a world where not everyone is supportive and dealing with real life problems.

I also see people saying they do not like them because William ghosted Izaya and cheated.
Yes, that was wrong. No one is denying that.

But let us be honest. Almost everybody has ghosted someone at some point, even in complicated relationships.
Ghosting does not mean you do not deserve love or growth.

Almost the whole cast and the panelists were okay with the concept of cheating and the way cheating was talked about.
I realized that this reflects Japanese dating culture, which I personally find messed up, but it is not my culture.
So if people are uncomfortable with it, they should be just as mad or weirded out by the cast and panelists, not only William.

Also, It was a kiss, not sex. Still wrong to me, but he acknowledged it, learned from it, and took responsibility.
Once a cheater, always a cheater is not always true.

Izaya chose to forgive him. If you are not okay with that, that is your opinion. But you are not in a relationship with William, so inserting your opinion into their relationship makes no sense.

At the end of the day, I am happy and proud of them.
I am happy that they let us into their relationship and were authentically themselves, showing both the good and the bad, and reminding us that not everything in a relationship is rainbows.

I am proud of William for working on himself, learning to trust, and becoming a better boyfriend for Izaya, and I hope he keeps working on himself.
And I am genuinely glad that Izaya gave William a second chance.

I’m happy that William and Izaya found each other, and I hope they last. I also hope that William keeps working on himself and becomes a better person and boyfriend. I’m so sad. I watched this show for them. I’m going to keep watching just for Jobu and whoever he ends up with. If Jobu leaves too, I’m not watching the remaining episodes because I find Bomi and Huwei boring. I usually skip their scenes since I couldn’t care less. Jobu fighting!!!

I think there’s a misunderstanding. I’m not saying trauma makes it okay to hurt people, and I’m not excusing William’s behavior or my own. I fully agree that everyone is responsible for how they treat others, and that healing is a personal responsibility.

What I was doing was explaining a pattern I recognize, not defending it. Avoidant behavior often comes from fear and self-protection, but that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable or that the other person doesn’t get hurt. That’s exactly why I stepped back from serious dating instead of continuing to hurt people.

You’re free to see William as fake or selfish. I just see someone who is flawed, scared, and still accountable for his actions. Understanding why someone behaves a certain way doesn’t mean approving of it.

And to be clear, I do not agree with the way William is handling things either. Some of his choices are frustrating and honestly make my blood boil.

At the end of the day, I hope he takes the time to heal, grow, and make better choices, because accountability and effort are what really matter.

I understand where you’re coming from, but the same thing that happened to you also happened to me. Even though it didn’t traumatize me as much since I was a kid (5), I still understand William because I relate to him a lot. I don’t think he is selfish, and I don’t think I am selfish either. I think we are just cowards in love, acting out of self protection.
I am the type of person who has trust issues. I don’t fully trust people, not even my best friends to an extent. When we love someone and realize how deep it is, we get scared. We start thinking that the person will break our heart, and we begin to find faults in them as a way of self protection and to leave the relationship.

I am a ghoster like William, and I don’t intend to ghost people. It’s just that my fear gets the best of me. That’s why I stopped dating seriously. I’ve ghosted so many good men, and I’m now just having flings for fun, with no strings attached. I’m trying to heal before going back into serious dating.
I don’t think William is selfish. If he’s selfish for ghosting than all of them are selfish too since the other person ghosted Huwei. So why people are not coming for him too. I understand they were in a relationship (William and Izaya) but still. I just think he needs to stop letting his fear and trauma take over and understand that it’s okay to trust people, not everyone is bad.

As for the cheating part, I don’t fully get it either. But Japanese culture around cheating is different from Western culture. Many Japanese women say they wouldn’t mind if their partner went to a strip club or even had sex, since they see it as just releasing stress. The cheating scenes made me uncomfortable, but if that’s their culture, what can I do? I see on TikTok that many people are saying he is a cheater and that he would cheat on Izaya, but I found it odd that they would say that, since I don’t believe in once a cheater, always a cheater. They act like he committed a crime. It was a kiss, and although that is cheating to me, I’m still glad it didn’t go further. Besides, we don’t know what was happening in their relationship for him to do that. Who are we to judge?

For example, if I were with a trash and mentally abusive man and someone else showed interest, after hanging out a lot and him treating me like a princess, if he tried to kiss me, I’d probably let it happen, then realize afterward that I cheated and break up with my boyfriend, because staying would be disgusting and me kissing back shows that the love I had for my boyfriend is no longer there.

At the end of the day, William is the only person who can heal himself. I’m happy that he’s starting to trust Izaya, and I hope he keeps putting in the effort, because if he doesn’t, he will hurt Izaya and they won’t last in the real world. He really needs to be careful, because if they break up, I’m choosing Izaya’s side, unless Izaya cheats. Izaya is a good man, and anyone who ends up with him is a lucky man.

By the way, I don’t think trauma should be measured or compared. It’s not a competition. Everyone processes trauma differently.

Honestly, I’m only watching this show for Izaya and William. I really hope William doesn’t hurt Izaya’s heart. We still have six more episodes left, so hopefully William doesn’t mess it up. He makes me blood boil sometimes. Izaya is such a kind person, and William reminds me of myself, since we’re both avoidant in relationships and have trust issues. which is why I like him too and this makes me worry for Izaya. I hate myself for being that way and we don’t mean it when we break people hearts. I now understand why people don’t like avoidant attachment people. I myself hate my kind.

I feel uncomfortable watching Bomi and Huwei’s scenes, so I just skip them. I think Bomi is forcing it, and the same goes for the guy who left the show for a business trip when he asked Huwei out. Didn’t he say he didn’t like him? So why ask him out or ask him to do the shift? I also just find them boring. I know people would say Izaya did the same thing with William, but that’s different because William was also interested in Izaya, which is why he wrote him a letter on the first day. The reason William was acting like that is because he’s an avoidant person with deep trauma and trust issues. As someone who’s similar to William, we don’t mean to be that way. I’m just happy that he’s trying to be better and face his feelings, and hopefully he keeps doing that.

I also think Izaya is moving too fast with the future questions. If someone asked me that, I wouldn’t even know how to answer. Even in interviews, when they ask me where I see myself in five years, I don’t know how to answer either. I can’t even remember what I did yesterday.

I also don’t like that Taeheon is back. It would be kind of awkward and embarrassing if he can’t find a partner by the end of the show. I’m also worried about Jobu and anyone liking Taeheon, because I wonder if they like him because of who he was last season or because of who he is now. People change, and the Taeheon from season 1 might not be the same Taeheon in this season.
Btw, the panelists are sooo funny 😭

I really like William and Izaya together. I could already tell that William is going to be the death of me, and will raise my blood pressure this whole show, just like Shun. He reminds me of Shun 2.0, but with better communication skills. I love William and Izaya together, but I also like them individually too, and I hope William does not hurt and break Izaya heart, he is so nice and also hot 😭. Huwei is a cutie patootie, but I don’t know, the fact that he knows two guys makes me think that he is not as innocent as I thought, and that he has games. I just hope he doesn’t turn out to be a red flag. Cause although men are hot and I love men but most of them are 🗑️🚮

Thank you 🙏🏾

I tried to look for it but I can’t find it. Do you perhaps know??

Where can I read the novel. I want to know what happens next. This show is so good!!!

I’m on episode 4 but the lawyer guy is suspicious I don’t know why. From the first time I saw him I feel weird about him. Maybe it’s my experience of many crime and thriller drama but yeah. I could be wrong though.

I did and it’s good. Old one in my opinion is better but I really like how they show(focuse) also the 2 couple instead of the old show. For now it’s a 9/10. Chi Cheng is also fine so that’s a bonus 🥰

I gave it a chance and I liked. Took me while to not be to critical but it’s good. Stayed for the 2 couple only because the old show didn’t really showcase them and ended up liking also the main couple. I still think the old one is better but this is good to. So far 9/10.

Idk because based on some TikTok clips, the scene are similar, word for word. so what’s the point. I already know what’s going to happen. Also I’ll just start nitpicking everything, to the looks, acting etc… cause I am bias. I think this actors deserve viewers that are open minded and not already biased or ready to hate from the start.

By just reading the synopsis and watching some clips on TikTok out of curiosity, isn’t this literally the same show as Falling in Love with a Rival but just different cast and better screen quality. If it is than this show is a hard pass for me. I don’t think this show can beat Falling in Love with a Rival, as it always been my favourite and comfort show.

think they’re afraid that Mirae might seek revenge or reopen the case. Remember, the director was supposed to get promoted, but he didn’t because Mirae reported what happened. The higher-up even told him that if he succeeds in this project, he’ll finally get his promotion. He’s worried that Mirae will ruin it for him again, just like last time. That’s why they moved her desk to face the wall and started ignoring her because she was a whistleblower. No one likes a snitch.

But Mirae isn’t the quiet, silent girl anymore. She’s now Miji, stronger and more confident. Even the guy mentioned that she’s changed. And now they’re afraid that her new attitude could jeopardize the director’s promotion all over again. That’s what I think.

I’m lowkey mad that they changed almost everything from the book. I get that the book didn’t have a lot of drama, so they wanted to spice it up, but come on. There were some scenes I wish they didn’t add or remove. For exemple, In the book, Pharit (Kawin) was intrigued by Armin when they first met, not because he liked him right away, but because Armin gave him honest advice about his acting. Pharit had played a homeless man, and Armin pointed out that it didn’t feel realistic. The fact that a lesser-known actor had the confidence to say that really caught Pharit's attention. I wish they kept that scene in the show. It was such a good moment that showed how their connection started. I don’t remember the book being a murder mystery. Wasn’t it a romantic drama with elements of personal growth and emotional healing? This is why a book is always better than the movie/series. Lowkey disappointed. I’ll wait until episode 3 to decide if I’ll drop it or not. But the acting is great, pond is kill it as always.

Yo why are they all handsome!!! I keep pausing so many times to admire their beauty. 1 minute I’m like Pete is so fine, than I’m like no it’s Kim, Charlie, Chris, babe, Alan, Dean, Tony (even tho he is probably the same age as my father) etc… Anyway I’m happy that I finally got to see Kim. I don’t know but this episode convinced me that they all can act. Every scene I’m like damn they are good at acting, especially Charlie and Jeff.

😂😂 Bruh, the way I kept pressing the skip button, skipping those tennis scenes and the straight couple scenes, you’d think I’m a mad woman 😂💀

Nope, no can do, yall are on your own with this nothingness of non-confession 😂😂💀 Good luck tho, cause yall gone suffer, yall gone suffeeeeeer!!