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This review may contain spoilers
Miss Out on Soulmate?
Very interesting how this show has thrown us into a moral dilemma so early. The second couple, Kelvin and Archie were not part of Episode 0 and so we were not sure what to expect upon meeting them in Episode 1 except now we've learned they've known each other since they were in high school and formed a connection then which continues to this day except Kelvin has a whole entire family. A woman and a child. We've watched enough dramas to know the reasons for this.This is what brings me to the question - should he miss out on his soulmate just because he is married? No one is wrong here. Kelvin did not ask for the society he was born into, neither is it his fault for being born the way he was. Archie is not wrong for falling in love. The woman is not wrong for imagining she found a husband and they will grow old together.
Ultimately, this is an example of how obtrusive love can be. Such a disruption and unfortunately, it cannot be ignore. It seeps out in the most insidious ways and makes itself known. Love is the villian here. 😮💨
We are in for a ride and I personally, am terribly excited.
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This review may contain spoilers
It Really is Complicated!
Geez, was I big relieved that this movie ended at the point at which it ended. I was sitting on the edge of my seat praying that a line wouldn't be crossed. What a relief!Let's get the admin out of the way. The directing was impeccable, the script flowed logically, the cinematography very catchy and satisfying in the sense that you got a good grounding on both international locations and the living conditions. The casting was just as great because the actors met the characters where they were and they delivered brilliantly. I know the male lead from other productions and I didn't feel at any moment that they slipped out of character. That was satisfying to see as it meant full immersion into the story could be achieved.
The characters themselves were complicated; these were not easy people to watch. The young years revealed to me what I felt were character flaws in the sense that one was willing to give beyond what was required and the other took without reservation. This they carried into adulthood and such imbalances frequently lead to resentment. The immigration was difficult for her. We see the struggle to integrate, there are language challenges and although this is not her decision and what is happening is out of her control, she clings to what she knows - hard work and a possible dream. In that process she abandons who she imagined herself to be and is hyper driven by ambition. He makes an attempt to move on, but is held back by the promise made by memories.
Twelve years later, married to a Jewish man and living in the East Village, his visit is a resurrection of the little girl who left South Korea and I don't think the memories are welcome, but in the same breathe they cannot be disputed. So, this creates this state of limbo where the husband is a reflection of what is present and real and the male lead represents loss and an identity she would rather not deal with. There's almost this push and pull between how far back South Korea is and yet how unreachable New York is.
I was struck by the maturity of the husband and brought to feel that this is a reflection of how relationships should be. Not afraid to show vulnerability, not afraid to ask questions and not afraid to sit quietly and wait for the whirlwind to pass. There's also the recognition that our beginnings are not the same; we carry the differences even today, but there's a point where we can meet each other and create something warm and new and wholesome together. However, there's this threat hanging over everyone's head called destiny. The husband feels in the middle because in many ways, he's a romantic. They themselves are grappling with how much control to give to destiny. Should we allow destiny to dictate the direction of our present lives or recognise that perhaps our story is for another lifetime past or in the future.
I strongly recommend the movie if you are into all things Korean, but also all things English.😁😁
A mature, romantic drama that showcases just how complicated human beings truly are. Thank you to the Bestie for the recommendation🥰. This was completely off my radar.
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Movie VS Series - A Case of Perspective!
Having watched the series earlier this year and now the movie, you can see that they come from the same source material, but there are stark differences between the two productions.The series tells the story of the male lead and his struggles to find love in the big city. It takes us through his different encounters in the gay scene. It shows you his life and friendships in the city and it also takes you through his growth and development as a writer. It does this in detail, because it has 8 episodes and has the time and space for exploration, which the movie cannot do.
The movie tries to tell the same story, but places more focus on his friendship with the female lead, ending sweetly with her wedding. The series continued past her wedding and showed what happens with this friendship when she is now in her marriage era. I enjoyed seeing her husband’s character in the movie which I feel I missed in the series.
I also feel the audiences may have been different for the series vs the movie. The series was indeed a queer love story and was enjoyed and treasured by those who consume the media. As a fan of BL, I found the story was steeped in realism and didn’t have time for fluff, leaving many of us breathless.
Oops, I think I just gave myself away. I absolutely prefer the series. It gave me a glimpse into real gay lives which I deeply appreciated.
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This review may contain spoilers
Full Story in Six Episodes
Six episodes for a series will always leave us feeling unsatisfied. The advantage of course, is that we get to the love story fairly quickly. Filling up the series with characters walking up and down the stairs, or showing scenery is not needed. It is not necessary to avoid the fact that we are watching and waiting for the love story. We get to the point. However, what we gain in pace , we lose in character development and the implications are that we are unclear on what motivates our love interests, why are they attractive as love interests and who are they in the great scheme of things.Love Class is a short BL about two boys who are desk mates at university. While this is not a new theme, we've not seen it in a university setting, or at least I have not. The story is about how the affection develops from such proximity. The story is believable, but what was unprecedented was how one of the characters suddenly leaves when their dream is about to become a reality, that felt a little unrealistic to me and therefore a let down.
The biggest let down for me was the kiss and this is not just with this drama. Many dramas are steeped in conservatism that it becomes rather difficult to believe the actions leading up to the kiss. How are you NOT passionate for the one you love after a long absence?
Besides all that, this is watchable on a Sunday afternoon when you have nothing else going on.
Thank you for reading my review.
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Was it Art or Love?
The finale showed some really lazy writing. A massive let down for a series that showed great promise. The first four episodes were titillating, then it started showing cracks.The visuals were amazing, the male leads were great but I struggled a bit with the chemistry, because it felt a little forced. They had moments when I thought they're steaming hot then they turned into brothers again.
The second couple had zero chemistry and we didn't really get to find out what they liked about each other. It was smart of them to assign the role of brother to the other blonde. Otherwise, it would have gotten really complicated.
It was refreshing to see a BL come out of China. We appreciate the warrior spirit that fought for its return. The setting was different, the casting solid. Overall a sweet love story for us to enjoy. Recommended for the slow moments in the calendar when nothing else is going on to binge and enjoy.
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