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!

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.

Love In The Big City is the best drama I've seen this year. The first of its kind to come out of a conservative and homophobic country like South Korea. A coming-of-age slice of life lgbtq drama that promises to entice viewers with its unique plot and outstanding cinematography. With an outstanding lead actor Nam Yoon-Su who portrays Ko Young and once again proved just how talented he is as an actor. Outstanding Casting and writing love in the big city is indeed groundbreaking. Absolute cinema that deserves accolades. I enjoyed this drama and it's on my rewatch list. Congratulations to the author for his creative work and success.

"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.

I couldn't found another word other then masterpiece. Love in the big city was such a rollercoaster of emotions; while watching I felt every single of emotion such as happiness, sadness, anger, sorrow, love, regret, as if I was the one who's experiencing those events. It was so much different from other kbl dramas, it has such a deep effect on me I can't say nothing but thousands of thank you for the whole cast who was working on this series. As a queer person who's struggling to adjust society this series mean so much to me.

In conclusion, love in the big city is a masterpiece about struggling of personal growth, struggling of queer people who live in judgemental, heteronormative and conservative society, struggling of people who are in searching of eternal love, who are searching stabile life, series about love, traumas, ups and downs, happiness and regret, series about the people who are just trying to live their lives. Nam Yoon Su's acting was something phenomenal, I just want to meet him and praise him for delivering such a powerful and great acting. Thank you for every person who choose to act in this masterpiece, because in the conservative society such as Korea it's such a pain to act in queer drama; thank you for despite being protested and criticised you chose to act in this drama. Thank you for Nam Yoon Su who rejected two big projects for love in the big city when producing wasn't even confirmed. You are making a history. Thank you as a person who wants to change discriminative society and thousands of thank you as a queer person who is struggling to live in a heteronormative and judgmental society. I repeat, love in the big city is a masterpiece.