This review may contain spoilers
A Short but Impactful BL
I honestly didn’t expect much going in — the vertical short-form style has never been my thing.But wow… this surprised me in the best way.
1. Way better than expected. The acting was absolutely top-notch, and the story carried more emotional weight than many full-length dramas.
2. The overall quality was good, especially for a short-form project. The pacing did feel a bit rushed at times, but it was still effective in delivering the emotional core of the story. I kept thinking how much better this would’ve been as a full-length film.
3. The ending was nerve-wracking. Yu-ho running away again, unable to accept their “abnormal” relationship and choosing to end his life… it was gutting. And Jin-gu finally letting go of the teacher who’d been his emotional crutch — but at what cost?
4. Their love is complicated. Neither of them is truly ready for a relationship. Yu-ho is still emotionally fragile and terrified of abandonment. Jin-gu has likely been used and manipulated for years. There’s deep psychological trauma at play, and no way they walk away unaffected.
Special mention to Rina, who showed genuine growth. She loved Jin-gu, but recognized that her love shouldn’t hurt the person she cares about. That level of maturity was refreshing.
“Buddy Boy may be short, but it left a heavy impact.”
1. Way better than expected. The acting was absolutely top-notch, and the story carried more emotional weight than many full-length dramas.
2. The overall quality was good, especially for a short-form project. The pacing did feel a bit rushed at times, but it was still effective in delivering the emotional core of the story. I kept thinking how much better this would’ve been as a full-length film.
3. The ending was nerve-wracking. Yu-ho running away again, unable to accept their “abnormal” relationship and choosing to end his life… it was gutting. And Jin-gu finally letting go of the teacher who’d been his emotional crutch — but at what cost?
4. Their love is complicated. Neither of them is truly ready for a relationship. Yu-ho is still emotionally fragile and terrified of abandonment. Jin-gu has likely been used and manipulated for years. There’s deep psychological trauma at play, and no way they walk away unaffected.
Special mention to Rina, who showed genuine growth. She loved Jin-gu, but recognized that her love shouldn’t hurt the person she cares about. That level of maturity was refreshing.
“Buddy Boy may be short, but it left a heavy impact.”
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