This review may contain spoilers
Do not watch this drama if you're not ready
If you want to watch men kissing and being romantic with each other, this isn't the drama for you. If you want more adult content or stories that resolve quicker, then this isn't the drama for you. If you want a perfect BL fantasy in which all characters are magically gay and nobody questions their sexuality, this isn't the drama for you. If you're not going to watch this drama with an open mind, then this isn't the drama for you.I had been excited about this drama for the past 3 years and I must say, I was not disappointed. Was this drama just like the original WebToon? No. It is an adaptation afterall. Was it a perfect adaptation? Not that either, but was it good? Yes.
When the trailer dropped, the reception from Korean and non-Korean audiences was very different. Many Korean fans were simply excited about it, whereas international fans were ready to hate the drama. Thus, I ask you, if you're not open minded, you're only going to see the flaws in the drama. Actually, not the flaws, but the things that you wanted that were never going to be there. Most comments kept talking about this drama being another heteronormative straight washed Korean drama, and I was so confused. I've seen many Korean BL's and none of them have ever been straightwashed except one. Spring of Crush. That drama was a huge disappointment. The original is BL but the drama was changed to bromance and completely eliminated the romantic storyline. But apart from that, I've never seen any Korean BL's actually straightwash their content. So I was confused, to say the least.
In preparation to this drama, I had read the Webtoon years ago and one thing that I loved about this webtoon compared to other BL's was that it wasn't exactly a BL drama. As a gay man myself, also having lived in Korea for many years, one thing that I liked about BL's is the fantasy aspect that helped me escape reality. But on the other hand, I didn't like how the genre of BL fed onto this fantasy that every man is magically gay, there are no female characters at all in many BL's and the fact that they're attracted to men is never addressed nor of importance. It just is that way. That bothered me because it was just too perfect and I couldn't fully feel a connection to the characters at times. It was simple fanservice. But Heesu in Class 2 was different. The fact that they had their friends hide their lovey-doveyness because being gay in high school like this would be an issue, the fact that Heesu is in love with his straight best friend and he stays straight the whole time. He wasn't magically gay or bi all along, nor does he suddenly realize he actually likes bi. This isn't exactly a queer Webtoon, but it's the closest BL to seem really relay the queer experience in a light enough way without taking away its meaning. This is the main reason I loved the webtoon. So much so that I thought the author was a gay man, not a girl.
Now did the drama deliver on the main essence of webtoon? Yes. Completely and fully, yes. The thing that annoys me the most about most hate is people calling it Chanyoung in Class 2 or a straightwashed drama with BL characters as side characters. Which I think are huge exaggerations and I stand by what I said. If you want a perfect BL fantasy in which all characters are magically gay and nobody questions their sexuality, this just isn't the drama for you. This drama isn't actually about Seungwon and Heesu, nor is it about Heesu and Chanyoung, nor Chanyoung and Jiyu. This drama is about Heesu. This drama is about love, and its many many forms. So the main essence of the drama is still very much present.
Heesu's journey with accepting himself. With his world that revolves only around Chanyoung and no one else. His immaturity, his determination not to lose Chanyoung and actually try to confess to him, to be with him. Him learning that he really doesn't know what he actually likes, only what Chanyoung likes. Seungwon being the one who wants to know HIM, for who he is. And him for the first time having someone take interest in only him. This all is still very much present. This isn't simply a BL story, the main focus was never Seungwon and Heesu getting together, but Heesu learning what love is. Heesu maturing and growing. And Heesu did just that, the whole drama. He learned to let go and let Chanyoung be happy. Him learning to take initiative, to take courage. Learning love through the experience of his older sisters. Him feeling insecure in being himself and coming out and seeing Seungwon with two moms giving him that reassurance that no matter what, he at least wouldn't hate him for being gay.
The important and subtle message of the drama stayed the same. In no moment in the original webtoon (which I read in Korean, so I don't know how it was translated to English) did they say the word gay outright from what I remember. The drama kept that. They don't say the words because they aren't needed. The fact that we get a scene in which Heesu can come out to one of his sisters? That was powerful. The fact that we get to see Heesu cry and get the courage to accept himself and eventually come out? That's powerful. This isn't a BL where you get to see the main couple get together and be cute together. This is a coming of age story in which we get to see two gay teenagers learn to accept themselves, take courage and take a chance on love despite everything. I actually also loved the change with the drama in which Heesu is interested in the things related to space. The metaphors really added a lot to the story.
Now I don't think it was all perfect. Honestly in the original, I actually kind of had wanted Jiyu and Chanyoung to get together, but Chanyoung not succeeding in love for once was something that added to the story in the webtoon. But we get a music arc with Jiyu and a tennis arc with Chanyoung that really did add to the characters to a degree. I think saying the drama was about them is a huge exaggeration. However I do think they kind of messed up the characters of Chanyoung. Chanyoung was originally aware of Heesu's in crush and wanted someone to come and take over to save him from his own heartbreak. Making him unaware changed the dynamics of the drama and did a disservice to the character. I do like the ending in which we get to see him show up for Heesu and say he'd be there for him no matter what, which is important for Heesu. However I do think that he could've apologized and that was portrayed in a more selfish and self-centered way. But a good looking guy who's popular and in high school? I want to say that isn't a little more of a realistic take on how a real high school good looking guy would react? I do think he was selfish and lacked accountability though.
I do however like that all the characters were flawed in many ways and immature. They got to grow and learn a lot. I loved the love arcs with all 3 of his sisters, which really served to show Heesu learning and growing while relating to his own love life and struggles. All female characters in this drama were great. Even the slight bullying that happened over instagram was an interesting addition to the plot. Seungwon standing up for Heesu as well.
So again, I'll repeat. Is this a perfect adaptation? No. Is this a straight washed heteronormative Korean drama? No. This isn't a story that's supposed to be fanservice to please the fantasy of gay men relationships. This drama was from the beginning to the end about love and about Heesu. Heesu's growth, coming to terms with his sexuality, coming out and finding love. It was about that while we got to see the growth of everyone else around him relative to him as well. I loved every bit of this drama and would highly recommend it to anyone who's willing to watch it without comparing it to the original source material too much and without expecting a BL fantasy.
One last thing, the acting. This is by far one of my TOP 5 BL dramas overall and of the best in terms of acting. None of the actors gave weak acting deliveries. Until the end, every emotion, every scene was done with superb acting. Unlike many other BL dramas in which there are many new actors who were unable to deliver the emotional depth of queer characters or even have basic acting skills, this drama had none of that. Ahn Jiho's portrayal of Heesu was a bit manlier than the original, but he kept the bratty, innocent, dreamy and loving good hearted nature of the character. And that boy can cry like no other. I keep replaying the confession part of the last episode over and over just to see them act. Do I wish there was more of the main couple? Yes, sure. But it was never about them. It was about Heesu's growth and if you actually stop looking for a fantasy of gay relationships and watch through the eyes of Heesu as a character, this drama is really good.
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