It's cute but I hate that they kept relying and endorsing AI. Also, the second lead couple's scenes are skippable. I didn't enjoy it as much as the main lead. Gonna give it another chance though.
The opening is so catchy, and it’s soooo good. But Koizumi needs more acting skills, omg. I’m sorry. The P.E. teacher is so handsome, though.
I’m sorry again, but this is not really giving me the classic, enjoyable Japanese school BL vibes. The color grading is also so yellow, and honestly, it doesn’t look that good. Yet, I still give it a chance.
Him liking BL and admitting that he sees himself as a seme is so cute, omg.
Like, OMG! The very first scene of them together already gave me goosebumps. The romantic tension was instantly there, and I was hooked from the start. Eito is such a great actor, and he looked so cute in this episode too! Even though his character is gloomy and doesn't have any friends, I already adore him so much. Confessing to your crush right after changing seats was so bold, direct, and absolutely adorable! I loved his confidence. And the little notes Asamiya keeps adding to his test papers whenever he passes them to Mayama? Super-duper cute! This drama was definitely worth the wait. I'm already loving the first episode so much. Kawaii!!
All that build-up, only for the payoff to fall flat
Payback almost became one of the best BL dramas of the year, for me, at at least. The first half was incredibly promising. The story established its revenge plot so well, building tension and making me genuinely excited to see how everything would unfold.
Then things started going downhill.
The biggest issue was how the villains kept winning over and over again. Every episode felt like another opportunity for them to get the last laugh while the protagonists kept falling behind. Instead of feeling suspenseful, it became frustrating. I kept waiting for the revenge to finally hit, but honestly, that finale was disappointing.
After everything the antagonists had done, their downfall felt way too easy. That’s it? They were simply killed off without facing the kind of brutal, public humiliation and consequences they deserved. I was hoping for a much more satisfying payoff, especially after watching them torment everyone throughout the series. The revenge, which is the very heart of the story, didn’t feel nearly as rewarding as it should have.
As for Sun… he drove me crazy. For someone fueled by revenge, he constantly made reckless decisions and kept putting himself in danger without thinking things through. Instead of looking determined, he often came across as unnecessarily careless. Thankfully, his rich, handsome boyfriend was always one step ahead, constantly saving him from his own bad decisions.
That said, I can’t deny the cast carried the show. The actors were incredibly attractive, and they fully committed to every emotional and intimate scene. I absolutely loved the trio of P’Kajorn, Sun, and Sky. Their friendship slowly became the family they all needed, and those moments were some of my favorites. Also, we were robbed of a Sky and Pakin kiss. Their chemistry was amazing, and they deserved at least one romantic and intimate scene together.
There were honestly a lot of things I enjoyed about this drama, but the final stretch left such a strong negative impression that it overshadowed many of its strengths. Even so, the production quality remained consistently impressive, and the episode-ending cliffhangers were genuinely effective at keeping me invested week after week.
It had an engaging premise, strong performances, great chemistry, and solid production values. Unfortunately, it stumbled where it mattered most: the revenge itself. A revenge story lives or dies by the satisfaction of its payoff, and this one simply didn’t deliver the level of justice and emotional catharsis it spent the entire series building toward.
As a compilation, Close to You feels like your average K-BL anthology: visually appealing but held back by inconsistent writing. While some stories stand out on their own, others lack the charm and substance to leave a lasting impression. Here’s my ranking from favorite to least favorite.
Friendship Bracelet. What an insane plot twist paired with such a remarkable concept. I only started watching this show because of Kim Jeong Seok, and fortunately, he ended up starring in the strongest story of the four. This episode had the most unique premise, blending romance and fantasy in a way that felt surprisingly effective despite its short runtime. The idea of a rainbow-colored bracelet that lets you travel back in time with a flick was both cute and creative. However, the real highlight was the reveal that the other guy had been using the bracelet first, repeatedly going back in time just to confess his feelings to his best friend. That twist was genuinely brilliant. I really enjoyed how simple yet emotionally powerful the story was. My only complaint is that dry kiss did absolutely nothing for me.
Last Diary. I am a sucker for tragic romance, and this episode delivered exactly that. It starts with a charming enemies-to-lovers dynamic, supported by solid chemistry and a believable relationship development. Then it hits you with the heartbreaking revelation that one of them has been hiding a terminal illness all along. Watching someone slowly fall in love, only to be left behind without ever knowing the truth,w as incredibly painful. In the end, he becomes the only one left to remember the brief yet unforgettable moments they shared in that house. It was bittersweet, emotionally devastating, and beautifully executed.
Riding A Bicycle. Unfortunately, this episode felt as stagnant as the bicycle itself. While I appreciated the story’s key ideas, the chemistry between the leads never really clicked. The pacing also lost momentum halfway through, making the entire episode feel flat. At least it gave us a heartfelt confession between two best friends before they went their separate ways for college. That emotional payoff saved an otherwise underwhelming story.
Sunset Boulevard. This was easily the weakest episode. Very little actually happens. It’s mostly a flashback followed by two former schoolmates reuniting after years of ghosting. Their reunion should have been emotionally charged, but instead, we get a cup of lukewarm coffee spilled on them before they casually talk about the past. By the time they finally confess their feelings, the episode is already ending. There simply wasn’t enough buildup to make the reunion feel satisfying.
Overall, Close to You is a mixed bag. A couple of stories significantly elevate the anthology, while the weaker ones drag its overall quality down. I appreciate the creativity behind the individual concepts, but I hope they move away from cramming multiple unrelated stories into such short episodes. Rather than feeling like a cohesive web series, it ends up resembling a collection of rushed short films. The potential is there, but it just needs more room for each story to actually breathe.
They successfully delivered both justice through its storyline and intimacy through its romance. With its mystery-crime BL concept, the drama carries a heavy and intense atmosphere, and the performances of the main characters elevated that feeling even more.
Ju Tae Seon started as a bully, but as the story progressed, he revealed himself to be a genuinely caring partner. Kim Yoon Sik completely captivated me with this role because it’s the complete opposite of his personality in real life.
On the other hand, Lee Chae Ha was unfortunately the victim of constant bullying from his peers. As an adult, I honestly don’t understand why people continue to bully others as if they never grew out of a childish mindset. Workplace bullying is especially frustrating to watch.
What made the story even more interesting was how the couple’s lives were connected through their fathers. One was killed, and the other became the prime suspect. It was such a messy situation, but it also became one of the strongest and most compelling parts of the drama.
The sexual tension between them was incredible, and they really took the intimate scene to another level. Especially the bathroom scene that completely shocked and gagged me.
I have to admit that crime and mystery stories aren’t really my cup of tea, so I wasn’t always fully focused on every case. Still, I had already guessed that the cute and bubbly Song Ha Neul would end up being the villain. He’s still handsome and adorable in real life, though, so he still wins in my book. I liked how the ending tied all of the crimes together and finally brought everything to a satisfying conclusion. The only aspect I wasn’t a fan of was the use of AI.
Overall, the chemistry was definitely giving, and the dynamic between the sassy prosecutor and his obedient inspector made them incredibly fun to watch. Combined with mystery and emotional backstory, made this a memorable BL drama despite a few elements that weren’t entirely my taste.
I’m sorry again, but this is not really giving me the classic, enjoyable Japanese school BL vibes. The color grading is also so yellow, and honestly, it doesn’t look that good. Yet, I still give it a chance.
Him liking BL and admitting that he sees himself as a seme is so cute, omg.
Payback almost became one of the best BL dramas of the year, for me, at at least. The first half was incredibly promising. The story established its revenge plot so well, building tension and making me genuinely excited to see how everything would unfold.
Then things started going downhill.
The biggest issue was how the villains kept winning over and over again. Every episode felt like another opportunity for them to get the last laugh while the protagonists kept falling behind. Instead of feeling suspenseful, it became frustrating. I kept waiting for the revenge to finally hit, but honestly, that finale was disappointing.
After everything the antagonists had done, their downfall felt way too easy. That’s it? They were simply killed off without facing the kind of brutal, public humiliation and consequences they deserved. I was hoping for a much more satisfying payoff, especially after watching them torment everyone throughout the series. The revenge, which is the very heart of the story, didn’t feel nearly as rewarding as it should have.
As for Sun… he drove me crazy. For someone fueled by revenge, he constantly made reckless decisions and kept putting himself in danger without thinking things through. Instead of looking determined, he often came across as unnecessarily careless. Thankfully, his rich, handsome boyfriend was always one step ahead, constantly saving him from his own bad decisions.
That said, I can’t deny the cast carried the show. The actors were incredibly attractive, and they fully committed to every emotional and intimate scene. I absolutely loved the trio of P’Kajorn, Sun, and Sky. Their friendship slowly became the family they all needed, and those moments were some of my favorites. Also, we were robbed of a Sky and Pakin kiss. Their chemistry was amazing, and they deserved at least one romantic and intimate scene together.
There were honestly a lot of things I enjoyed about this drama, but the final stretch left such a strong negative impression that it overshadowed many of its strengths. Even so, the production quality remained consistently impressive, and the episode-ending cliffhangers were genuinely effective at keeping me invested week after week.
It had an engaging premise, strong performances, great chemistry, and solid production values. Unfortunately, it stumbled where it mattered most: the revenge itself. A revenge story lives or dies by the satisfaction of its payoff, and this one simply didn’t deliver the level of justice and emotional catharsis it spent the entire series building toward.
As a compilation, Close to You feels like your average K-BL anthology: visually appealing but held back by inconsistent writing. While some stories stand out on their own, others lack the charm and substance to leave a lasting impression. Here’s my ranking from favorite to least favorite.
Friendship Bracelet.
What an insane plot twist paired with such a remarkable concept. I only started watching this show because of Kim Jeong Seok, and fortunately, he ended up starring in the strongest story of the four. This episode had the most unique premise, blending romance and fantasy in a way that felt surprisingly effective despite its short runtime. The idea of a rainbow-colored bracelet that lets you travel back in time with a flick was both cute and creative. However, the real highlight was the reveal that the other guy had been using the bracelet first, repeatedly going back in time just to confess his feelings to his best friend. That twist was genuinely brilliant. I really enjoyed how simple yet emotionally powerful the story was. My only complaint is that dry kiss did absolutely nothing for me.
Last Diary.
I am a sucker for tragic romance, and this episode delivered exactly that. It starts with a charming enemies-to-lovers dynamic, supported by solid chemistry and a believable relationship development. Then it hits you with the heartbreaking revelation that one of them has been hiding a terminal illness all along. Watching someone slowly fall in love, only to be left behind without ever knowing the truth,w as incredibly painful. In the end, he becomes the only one left to remember the brief yet unforgettable moments they shared in that house. It was bittersweet, emotionally devastating, and beautifully executed.
Riding A Bicycle.
Unfortunately, this episode felt as stagnant as the bicycle itself. While I appreciated the story’s key ideas, the chemistry between the leads never really clicked. The pacing also lost momentum halfway through, making the entire episode feel flat. At least it gave us a heartfelt confession between two best friends before they went their separate ways for college. That emotional payoff saved an otherwise underwhelming story.
Sunset Boulevard.
This was easily the weakest episode. Very little actually happens. It’s mostly a flashback followed by two former schoolmates reuniting after years of ghosting. Their reunion should have been emotionally charged, but instead, we get a cup of lukewarm coffee spilled on them before they casually talk about the past. By the time they finally confess their feelings, the episode is already ending. There simply wasn’t enough buildup to make the reunion feel satisfying.
Overall, Close to You is a mixed bag. A couple of stories significantly elevate the anthology, while the weaker ones drag its overall quality down. I appreciate the creativity behind the individual concepts, but I hope they move away from cramming multiple unrelated stories into such short episodes. Rather than feeling like a cohesive web series, it ends up resembling a collection of rushed short films. The potential is there, but it just needs more room for each story to actually breathe.
They successfully delivered both justice through its storyline and intimacy through its romance. With its mystery-crime BL concept, the drama carries a heavy and intense atmosphere, and the performances of the main characters elevated that feeling even more.
Ju Tae Seon started as a bully, but as the story progressed, he revealed himself to be a genuinely caring partner. Kim Yoon Sik completely captivated me with this role because it’s the complete opposite of his personality in real life.
On the other hand, Lee Chae Ha was unfortunately the victim of constant bullying from his peers. As an adult, I honestly don’t understand why people continue to bully others as if they never grew out of a childish mindset. Workplace bullying is especially frustrating to watch.
What made the story even more interesting was how the couple’s lives were connected through their fathers. One was killed, and the other became the prime suspect. It was such a messy situation, but it also became one of the strongest and most compelling parts of the drama.
The sexual tension between them was incredible, and they really took the intimate scene to another level. Especially the bathroom scene that completely shocked and gagged me.
I have to admit that crime and mystery stories aren’t really my cup of tea, so I wasn’t always fully focused on every case. Still, I had already guessed that the cute and bubbly Song Ha Neul would end up being the villain. He’s still handsome and adorable in real life, though, so he still wins in my book. I liked how the ending tied all of the crimes together and finally brought everything to a satisfying conclusion. The only aspect I wasn’t a fan of was the use of AI.
Overall, the chemistry was definitely giving, and the dynamic between the sassy prosecutor and his obedient inspector made them incredibly fun to watch. Combined with mystery and emotional backstory, made this a memorable BL drama despite a few elements that weren’t entirely my taste.