It’s a Small World ride…cute and memorable music
What happens when straight actors and idols play BL with a Disney-esque references? The mermaid. Dreams. The songs.
In a cancel-culture and scandal-averse South Korea, I’m genuinely impressed by actors and idols who are willing to step outside their comfort zones and take on roles that may not necessarily fit the image their fans have created for them. Whether an actor is straight, gay, or somewhere in between in real life is really none of our business. What matters is the character they are portraying.
And honestly, doing something different when you know a portion of your fandom may scrutinize every move takes guts. So I applaud these actors and idols for taking the chance. Idols especially, because let’s be honest, not every idol is naturally an actor.
The premise of Play Me is very simple and very direct: a love interest from our youth, a misunderstanding, and a reunion years later. No complicated plot twists, no tortured souls, no unnecessary angst. I only wish Korea could reunify as easily as these two did. Imagine what that country could accomplish!
I still remember how Brokeback Mountain changed our perception of straight actors playing gay roles forever.
This isn’t the kind of BL with NC scenes or even particularly graphic kissing. There are clearly limits to what their agencies and companies are comfortable allowing. Instead, Play Me caters more to the yaoi-loving female audience who can get giddy simply watching their favorite idols in a BL situation. And let’s be honest, this is also what sells merchandise.
And yes, I admit it: we’re here for the ride.
Personally, I enjoyed the ride. This wasn’t some rough-and-tumbling roller coaster. It was more like It’s a Small World at Disneyland…cute, colorful, uncomplicated, and over before you know it.
The production quality is good, the acting is decent, and the music is surprisingly memorable. But what really worked for me was the chemistry between the leads. You can tell they either genuinely get along, or they’re simply very good at making us believe they do. Either way, it works.
I wouldn’t mind seeing these two together again.
In fact, I think we should encourage idols and actors to take on more BL roles. Not because we need to speculate about their real lives or sexuality, but because it’s entertainment. That’s all it needs to be.
Sometimes we don’t need a complicated story, tortured characters, or a masterpiece.
Sometimes we just want two pretty boys, a cute story, good chemistry, memorable music, and a reason to smile.
And Play Me gave me exactly that.Cute. Sweet. Easy. And a fun little ride.I’m glad I got on.
In a cancel-culture and scandal-averse South Korea, I’m genuinely impressed by actors and idols who are willing to step outside their comfort zones and take on roles that may not necessarily fit the image their fans have created for them. Whether an actor is straight, gay, or somewhere in between in real life is really none of our business. What matters is the character they are portraying.
And honestly, doing something different when you know a portion of your fandom may scrutinize every move takes guts. So I applaud these actors and idols for taking the chance. Idols especially, because let’s be honest, not every idol is naturally an actor.
The premise of Play Me is very simple and very direct: a love interest from our youth, a misunderstanding, and a reunion years later. No complicated plot twists, no tortured souls, no unnecessary angst. I only wish Korea could reunify as easily as these two did. Imagine what that country could accomplish!
I still remember how Brokeback Mountain changed our perception of straight actors playing gay roles forever.
This isn’t the kind of BL with NC scenes or even particularly graphic kissing. There are clearly limits to what their agencies and companies are comfortable allowing. Instead, Play Me caters more to the yaoi-loving female audience who can get giddy simply watching their favorite idols in a BL situation. And let’s be honest, this is also what sells merchandise.
And yes, I admit it: we’re here for the ride.
Personally, I enjoyed the ride. This wasn’t some rough-and-tumbling roller coaster. It was more like It’s a Small World at Disneyland…cute, colorful, uncomplicated, and over before you know it.
The production quality is good, the acting is decent, and the music is surprisingly memorable. But what really worked for me was the chemistry between the leads. You can tell they either genuinely get along, or they’re simply very good at making us believe they do. Either way, it works.
I wouldn’t mind seeing these two together again.
In fact, I think we should encourage idols and actors to take on more BL roles. Not because we need to speculate about their real lives or sexuality, but because it’s entertainment. That’s all it needs to be.
Sometimes we don’t need a complicated story, tortured characters, or a masterpiece.
Sometimes we just want two pretty boys, a cute story, good chemistry, memorable music, and a reason to smile.
And Play Me gave me exactly that.Cute. Sweet. Easy. And a fun little ride.I’m glad I got on.
Was this review helpful to you?

1
1
