Love in the Big City

Creating a movie or series based on a novel always comes with risks. How do you convey a story from hundreds of pages into a few hours, will the readers depiction of the characters align with the casting, and how far can you sway from the thread of the original story and still make it work?

Being gay myself, and spending some time in Seouls gay area of Itaewon, my mind already had very clear images while reading the book. Spending time in Korea also made me understand the culture and social constructs more. Understanding these things made reading the book a joy, but it also made me a bit sceptical of this production. Considering above mentioned, I feared that a series would be dull and lack details not seen as "appropriate" for Korean TV. But I was wrong: this is a total homerun!

The series conveys the story of the novel in a beautiful way. It's packed with details and direct quotes, only leaving out things that really does not impact the thread of the story. Even tho I did not really recognize the main characters physical features from the novel, it did not matter one bit. His bright but somewhat melancholic energy is on point, and all the other characters were depicted amazingly well. I found myself feeling a lot more watching this compared to reading the novel, which to me is quite unusual. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece when it comes to cinematography, but it does punch way above most other LGBT productions. Well done, hats off!

Firstly,the plot gives the feeling combination of romance ,realistic , good chemistry and acting. The actor is also one the reasons to watch this serie. It may not overwhelm with only romance, you can also see the nature of gay dating and struggles of be a gay. While watching this serie, the reversible cycle of relations the lead actor had made us to think of ourself. Seeing the friendship between him and his roommate, is heart-touching. I wanna finish my review with the line in the serie I adore most" The things those we thought together-eternal is apart at last".

If you wanna watch a movie on holiday, the serie should be ontop of the list.

RAW. REAL. UNFILTERED. GAY LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, and LIFE in the BIG CITY

This kdrama is unfiltered, raw, and completely genuine. It conveys the feeling of being broken, mended, and then broken again. Each emotion resonates deeply, capturing the full spectrum of human experience.

The narrative is lyrical and brutally honest, drifting through life's different moments to intimately depict emotional peaks and valleys. At its heart, this is a profound exploration of love, identity, and perseverance in a world that often enforces strict limitations on personal freedom. It examines what it truly means to love and be loved while grappling with the difficult reality of being gay in Korea. There's no sugarcoating, no idealized portrayal-it's just reality, presented boldly.

Go Young's journey is full of hardships, and like many, we rooted for him to have the happy ending he deserved. However, life isn't always kind, especially for women or gay men. The fact that the Korean culture ministry invested public funds in this production is commendable; it's more than just entertainment-it's a form of education. And because this isn't a typical BL drama, there is no neatly packaged happy ending for Go Young, though he undoubtedly deserves one.

Despite some flaws in the storytelling-certain subplots, like the relationship between Go Young and his mother, could have been expanded-the show remains one of the best gay dramas ever made. The performances, especially by the lead actors who had never portrayed gay characters before, were outstanding. The visual direction was stunning, and without question, this is the most realistic K-drama portrayal of gay life I've seen in a long time. It authentically depicts the relationships, friendships, and struggles within the queer community.

Go Young's life was a whirlwind, always in search of lasting love. The series covers four significant relationships in his life, two more casual, and two serious. He even found his soulmate in one of them, making it all the more heartbreaking when they had to part. Life, however, goes on, and so does Go Young's quest for love. While I hoped he would reunite with Gyu Ho in the end, we were at least given beautiful moments between them in the final episode.

Nam Yoon Su's portrayal of Go Young was exceptional, making his character feel authentic and relatable. The series struck a fine balance between light and heavy themes, with emotional moments giving way to lighter tones in the following episodes, crafting a complex emotional experience. What I admired most about Go Young was his resilience. Despite the loneliness and longing he faced, he remained hopeful, always searching for genuine love. While he found that love with Gyu Ho, their relationship was not destined to last. Their chemistry was undeniable, and they both lived life fully, overcoming obstacles together until Gyu Ho eventually left for Shanghai.

Apart from his romance with Gyu Ho, Go Young's friendship with Mi Ae and his close-knit group of gay friends stood out. I was disappointed that Mi Ae disappeared after the first two episodes, especially since her absence was felt during key moments, such as when Go Young's mother passed away. Their bond felt so deep that I wished she had been there for both his highs and lows. His three gay best friends were among the most memorable characters in the show. They supported him through everything, and one of my favorite scenes was when they caused a playful commotion at the hospital during his recovery. The show captured the reality of gay life in Seoul with a lot of authenticity.

I hope this series isn't reduced to being categorized as just a BL, it is a GAY series, It's so much more-a narrative about growth, loneliness, and the complexities of life. Even those who might not typically be drawn to the genre should give it a chance.

This was a raw and realistic journey that has the characters plucking our emotional heartstrings. The tenderness of relationships, contrasted with the agony in lessons of self awareness breathes life into this series. I haven't read the original material and so I can only comment on the series itself. Our main lead did a beautiful job illustrating the cycle of growth within young love, attachment, ignorance, maturing and the painful art of reflection. The visceral nature of the content allows the viewer to reflect on their own life journey and relate to the characters - ah yes, I remember that stage of life. I loved the stationary thread of the group of friends that allowed us to weave in and out of the story of lovers, love, attachment and relationships - death, loss, regret and still come home to friendship. So many beautiful reflections that ultimately brings an appreciation back to how much we go through as humans exploring love, life and death. Wonderful acting, fantastic writing, beautiful story and well worth the watch.

"I wonder why you sleep in utter silence like you're constantly on tiptoe. As if you're never home, no matter how long you've lived here. "

You can't imagine how deeply those words resonated with me.

Raw, honest, and exquisitely crafted in both writing and direction. I've rarely seen a Korean drama capture realism this authentically. It feels like a snapshot of life-its highs and lows, the connections we build, the love we chase, and the way we drift apart.

The storytelling was masterful, following Go Young as he navigates through the complexities of the world around him, capturing the sense of belonging and alienation we all sometimes face. The narrative is heavy yet beautifully simple, a quiet reflection of what it means to be alive. I found myself laughing, yelling, feeling joy, peace, sadness, and despair. The bond between Go Young and Gyuho left me shattered.

Nam Yoonsu's performance was magnetic-it's hard not to be captivated by him. The entire cast delivered outstanding performances. I sincerely hope more shows like this are made.