Sunoo

Surprisingly wholesome and not what I expected

I'm writing this as someone who hasn't read the manhwa and tbh I liked it a lot. I was afraid that they would make BDSM into something that's only funny and weird but I liked how there were characters who treated it normally and not just like it's a weird kink. I liked both leads a lot like how Jiwoo was a strong woman who won't take shit from anyone like her misogynistic boss also she was really sexy in the scenes where they did a play especially the one in the red room (I screamed lmao). Jihoo was really vulnerable and honest with his feelings which I really was touched by especially when he said that Jiwoo was the one and only sun to him (I may have cried a lil). It's refreshing to see how he also owned up to his preferences in front of the disciplinary board/bosses unlike others who usually would keep quiet and let the girl/their partner take all the blame because of their pride. It also showed the proper way of BDSM as well as the wrong way so people will be educated on the difference and the importance of consent. It also showed that not only men could be problematic but women (Jihoo's ex) could also be toxic and manipulative which is not shown a lot in media. The only thing that I have a complaint about is that I feel that the development of their feelings into love could have been shown more if this was a series but alas it's a movie (unless they have a part 2?). Anyways, it's worth the watch! Just don't watch this with your parents because it is really suggestive (though there was no nudity so incase they walk in you're safe on that aspect lol).

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Better than Where Your Eyes Linger

As this was by the same director of Where Your Eyes Linger and To My Star, I was excited and had high expectations for it. I really enjoyed the cinematography here especially at that beach kissing scene and bed scene though I was like "Ms. Hwang Daseul please turn on the light a little I wanna see the action?!") It was still shot so beautifully and artistically that you could still see and imagine what was happening! Really liked the shots at the end too where they came back to the hotel. I'm impressed with how Kang Eunbin who played Cha Siwon is a rookie actor, yet he made me cry so much along with him (maybe it's because I could somehow relate to his story? yup probably) because you could really see and feel his hurt and trauma from the divorce of his parents and how he was pressured to lose weight by his mother so no one could judge him. Not a good thing even though she was "doing it for his own good" but I appreciate how they somehow forgave each other. Jo Hyuk Joon who played Hyeong Daun was really charming when he smiled too, and his voice is really nice to listen to. There was no internalized homophobia from both leads so that's refreshing. Also, anyone notice the guitar has the initials D.B.W on it? I feel like that was a clue that it was that guy who Do Banwoo liked playing the guitar. Overall an 8.5 for me because it's not that much of a unique plot and I felt a little cliff hanger from the ending. Compared to Where Your Eyes Linger, this had a better cinematography but To My Star is still the best story wise for me for sure.

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Unique plot with meaningful life lessons

Unlike others, I actually liked this, and it had meaningful life lessons that I could relate to, and for sure others can with how we should strive to do what's right with our choices and that everything has a consequence tied to these decisions, among other things. The plot for me is not your typical K-drama, and I really like how the FL (Kayoung) was strong on her own and was not some damsel in distress, while the ML (Iblis) was someone who fell in love first despite being an evil genie and was someone who was more emotional, to the point where he even cried more than the FL because of his love for her. I also really liked the lesbian representation with Minji, though I really felt bad for her when she discovered she fell in love with Pangeum instead of a normal woman her age and then proceeded to make her deal with her death because she saved her and then Kayoung immediately after. Lastly, the relationship of Kayoung to her grandmother was really touching to me personally since I could somehow relate to it. I hope, just like how Kayoung made happy memories with her grandma when she turned young, that all our grandparents can also experience the same thing before they have to go. Overall, this is a 9/10 for me for the great acting, especially the last 2 eps, and the unexpected happy ending.

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Healed my trauma from Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

I watched this with the expectations of getting broken hearted with the ending as how Moon Lovers made all of us cry but I'm glad the ending was one of the best parts of this drama aside from the rom com start of the drama. I liked Jiyoung and the King's interactions at the start since it was entertaining how much they bickered. The cooking scenes were really good and made me want to try those dishes in real life.

What I didn't like was too much focus and episodes wasted on the cooking competition with the Mings. I feel they could have not dragged it on with so many episodes which could have been used to develop and show us more of Jiyoung and the King Yi Heon's attraction into love. I felt I cried more at the ending not because of them getting separated but because of Lee Chaemin's acting/crying. It would have felt more heart wrenching if they developed the romance and let us be more hooked on it. Chaemin really did good with his acting and proved the doubters wrong with how he pulled this off with only a month to prepare for it.

The ending is just as what I somehow predicted or hoped to happen, which was that he really came to the future, but the nice thing is he remembers he was king and everything that happened before. Overall, 8/10 since at least it was a happy ending, and the acting and production were good.

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Unique concept but poor execution

I was initially excited for this because it was a unique concept unlike other BLs I've seen. I decided to check it out because the ex member of The Boyz (Hwall) was here. This could have been a great story because the concept was new but the execution was just poor. The visual effects were cheaply done I feel like. The acting was okay but the acting of Hwall (Hur Hyunjun) was lacking which made me cringe at times. The kiss scene could have been done and shot better which was disappointing. The ending also left unanswered questions like what happened to Yeonwoo's mom like is she dead or just missing?

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The best Korean BL I've seen so far

I was so excited to see that this BL would have 16 episodes even though it would only have about 20 to 30 minutes running time per average but it's okay since it aired twice a week. This is one of those dramas where I found myself wanting for it to be Tuesday and Thursday faster so I could watch an episode. I'm so glad I watched it while it was airing even though I usually wait for dramas to be done because the happiness the story and characters gave me was worth the wait! The story first of all is your typical trope of discovering your sexuality in high school but it had something new to it like how I didn't actually expect that the main characters with the exception of Daon at first, accepted that they were gay without showing us too much of them having internalized homophobia. Shinwoo I think is misunderstood at first because he acts cold to Taekyung but its understandable since he had a bad experience in middle school when he first liked a classmate which led to his "friends" bullying and blackmailing to out him. I loved the character developments of Shinwoo who became more open and not caring what people think of him because of his love for Taekyung as well as Daon who after getting rejected by Taekyung still kept being friends with Shinwoo and Taekyung and it wasn't awkward at all at the end especially. Daon was afraid of letting people down as he is a model student after all and his parents are powerful people so I can understand the hesitation at first but at the end he started to learn to say no to others and to not care about what they think of him. The ending kiss scene made me scream for real. It was so sweet though I was kinda hoping it would have lasted a little longer but I understand since it's their first kiss and they're still in high school, I'm satisfied with it. Also a special mention to Namgoong as the best support role and friend as he was always supportive without judgment to all of them even Sohee who he encouraged to go make up with Daon even though it was implied that he liked her. Overall, this is very much worth the watch if you're looking for a somewhat light drama but with a great lesson too! I wish there would be a second season as I want to see how Shinwoo and Taekyung's relationship develops until college and maybe even have a love interest for Daon.

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Another side of Keita Machida (in terms of BLs)

I'm sure lots of people watched this because of Keita Machida. I myself really loved Cherry Magic so much before, and this one somehow is the total opposite of that BL lol. Sugiki and Suzuki were really sensual and less restrained in their attraction through their body language and how they looked at each other. As for Keita Machida, he plays Kurosawa, who is a total green flag in Cherry Magic, but here he is totally the red flag one between him as Sugiki and Takeuchi Ryoma as Suzuki. His acting was as expectedly great, but I have to say that Takeuchi Ryoma (who I'm watching for the 1st time) captivated me more with his character and acting. He really looks majestic while dancing, but also when he cries, it really makes me empathize with him. I found them being inspired by eachother to keep dancing on 2 separate occasions (without their knowledge) when they were both thinking of quitting to be quite beautiful. But also wanting to be the best in the competition was also the one to tear them apart just as they were sure they liked eachother, which is ironic. Personally, I can understand Suzuki more with his want to pursue a relationship with Sugiki even if they were rivals. For me even if they were supposed to be "rivals", they could have made it work if they really liked/loved eachother. I can also understand Sugiki was too focused on his goal and thinking he can't have a relationship with someone he will be competing against. Him being in that mindset won't do their relationship any good, so even if it sucks (for us as viewers especially) and is painful, he had to leave Suzuki and prove to himself that he could win the competition first. The ending with Sugiki as the guest performer means he reached this goal and has proved himself. I really loved that Sugiki and Suzuki did a 10Dance as the special performance, and he has opened his heart to Suzuki with that ending kiss and the promise to see eachother in the real competition in the future. Overall, an 8.5/10 for me as I liked their acting and the characters of their dance partners, who supported them and made them realize things they were missing. One thing I wanted to see was their relationship progress more during the movie, but the ending has left hope that there might be a part 2, as the manga this is based on is also not finished.

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Perfect adaptation and one of the best Korean BLs in terms of quality

First of all I have read the manhwa and I can say that they stuck to the manhwa as much as possible and tweaked some parts for the better! In the beginning, the story looked like it wouldn't get to the part where they would even confess at all or get together but by ep 7 and 8, it turned out that I was wrong. I wish we could have had more eps to explore their relationship though. The story isn't all that new but for me as a person who studied film in college, I tend to watch critically while enjoying it and I think the editing, lights, music and even subtle symbolisms was perfect! There was never an awkward cut or continuity that I've observed, the ost perfectly fits the story which is "Romantic Devil" by Coldin ( best bl ost for me ever), everything was well lit and they made the scenes in the night still somehow bright like for example by adding those bisexual neon lighting in ep 7 which I'm sure was intentional since Jaeyoung is bisexual (there are more subtle symbolisms but I will leave that to you to find) . You can definitely see that this had a high budget. For acting I think Seoham and Jaechan really did great for newbie actors especially in the kissing scenes. They totally looked immersed into it and like they want to kiss eachother bc in almost all the Korean BLs I've seen, the actors kinda look awkward or restrained. They just give us pecks which is cute but I've seen enough of that in straight K-dramas like cmon give us more! Kiss like you're actually in love? In the case of Seoham and Jaechan, you can really see they adore each other off screen so it translates well on screen with Jaeyoung and Sangwoo. For idols like them, they really are trailblazers on that regard. I can talk more and more about this but this would be too long. The ending was really good and I would like to see a season 2 when Seoham gets discharged from the military and there are more chapters from the manhwa that they can give us longer eps or more eps. Anyways, overall this really climbed up the spot to my 2nd most fave BL just next to Light on Me which had longer eps and more character development. This one is definitely worth the watch.

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