The Eighth Sense (2023)

A cuddly piece of euphoria

So apparently you can summon your distant lover by playing a Conan Gray song to him. I'll make sure to try that out. Happy Valentines, my single friends!

?No matter how much you're lost in life, if you are with the right people everything else will come along. This incredible, thoughtful, sensual and inspiring work of art is a rare collaboration between a Korean and a foreign director Baek Inu and Werner du Plessis. It is coming-of-age genre, and explores such themes as adapting to the new environment (Ji Hyeon in Seoul), processing traumas (Jae Won and his depression), trying to live up to someone's expectations and finding your inner strength. You can tell right away that creating a safe space for queer people was the priority for this BL. There are no triggering scenes, hate speech, rejections based on orientation, but instead there are many understanding friends that support the main characters along the way. You can safely watch this drama. Without a single explicit frame, sexual tension and intimacy flood the screen in all the right moments. I'm hypnotized.

Stunning, stunning performances of Lim Ji Seob and Oh Joon Taek! Their expressions are so subtle, and you can feel little electrical sparks lighting between them on screen. From now on, I demand to see these actors in big successful projects only!

?The drama feels especially real because it's not isolated from the real world. It is full of references to such movies as I'm a Cyborg, But That's Okay or Hedwig and The Angry Inch, or the influential needle drop The Story by Conan Gray. Several quirky characters like the English-speaking bartender or the cheerful cashier with the K-Trot USB are always surprising and bring diversity to the table even if their influence is insignificant. I imagine this richness is the result of the collaboration. In this case, I'd love more international projects in Korea.

?As for the title "The Eighth Sense", I think it's nothing more than an homage to the creator's favorite movie The Sixth Sense. The plot is not even vaguely resembling the 2001 thriller. The only thing they have in common is the main character having counseling sessions about his mental struggles. From the other angle, the title doesn't make any sense as well. Eun Ji, the supporting character, says: "I realized the five senses weren't everything. Just follow your senses. Who knows what might happen?" But what are the other seven senses then? I feel like this particular line just appears out of nowhere to justify the title.

But hey, now I finally learned how to spell "eighth"!

?The Eighth Sense is by far the most vibrant and living K-drama (not just as a BL) that doesn't have that manufactured TV production touch. I actually felt a little bit high watching it (hahah) from how much I related and how bad I wanted to be in that campfire circle with the surfing club folks. I wish the cast and the crew good luck and a big success in the future!

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Great Acting, Confusing Motives

I loved the first few episodes and really enjoyed where the story was going. It is shown that one of the main characters goes to a therapist / psychologist and gets some sort of medical treatment, also his behavior shows that of someone who is mentally struggling. The confusing part is that when the 2 main people meet, it is fine, then it gets deeper and the guy shuts down. He feels guilty about some story stuff and in the end, obviously, they get together, but the guy doesn't seem to be specifically unwell anymore? What I mean is, I do not understand at all why and at what point he decided to open up to the freshman sweetboy and stop closing off and being careful etc. The switching point made little sense to me. I feel like the younger guy got mistreated way too often and while I enjoy the two, I feel like they have a lot to work on as a couple. They didn;t even state that they can always show their worries with them, which is important as half the drama is about mental health struggling mainboy.

Either way, the characters were good and entertaining. sweetboy had good friends who took care of him, listened to him and guided him. richboy kinda has friends he doesn't share his problems with, a friend thats super jealous who he cannot seem to cut off, and thats about it. The sufing club theme and the theme with the barbecue drinking place was fun, I enjoyed watching the scenes with the lady who owns the bar sweetboy works at. I enjoyed every episode, I was just mad at several of them in the middle for the motives, mostly richboy and female ex-love interest making things unnecesarily confusing.

What I will say is that the entire thing is probably the most realistic depiction of a BL I have seen. I don't know about the friends accepting them as gay (or just liking guys, its not defined) because there is a large conservative sentiment but maybe some are cool with it? If you think of the drama more realistically it is more appreciable. Both actors are handsome and they did a good job with this one. I also enjoyed the length as Korean BLs can be super short.

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TRUST YOUR EIGHT SENSE!

Now that I watched this masterpiece several times(I have lost count), I have more deeper understanding of the story. T8S is in a league on its own - you can't compare it with any other BLs.

First, both Ji Hyun and Jae Won were attracted to each other right from the moment they met. It was evident - their body language said it all. It was love at first sight. I am not much of a believer of love at first sight. I always thought one might get attracted to someone and they might label that attraction as love. But this drama proved that could happen. The Eight Sense is all about following your guts. Your subconscious mind knows what it wants more than anyone else around you, even including yourself. Ji Hyun and Jae Won acted upon their instincts. They didn't say 'I had always liked girls' or 'I don't like others. I only like you' or 'How can I like a guy?' or 'This is wrong. How will people judge us?'. They only cared about each other's feelings. They were true to their emotions and didn't disregard them. They never doubted why they were having such feelings. In fact, they never confessed love to each other - they both knew they were in love and started dating.

Unlike other dramas, there was no dramatic scene to make them fall in love - like clumsily falling in the arms, one main lead doing something that impresses the other, etc. They met, they tried to avoid(ep1 Ji Hyun goes to his dorm even after seeing Jae Won is having a hangover; Jae Won avoiding Ji Hyun after the incident), they tried to approach(Jae Won approaches Ji Hyun with an excuse of an lighter when he had one; Ji Hyun joins surf club because Jae Won was there), they became intimate, they got separated but then their hearts couldn't bear it and they end up together.

In most BLs, the main obstacles would be homophobic family and friends, society judgement and pressure, ex returning suddenly to reunite with one of the guys or one of them already being in a relationship. But, internal trauma becomes the backdrop in this drama. The fear of losing another loved one haunts Jae Won and he tries his best to let go off his feelings for Ji Hyun, but couldn't. They didn't 'Fight the world to be together' instead they chose to 'Be together and fight the world'.
Ji Hyun being an introvert was courageous than Jae Won when it came to love. He did things that he usually wouldn't do - he joined surf club, he went with Jae Won to the beach not knowing any details, he put Eun Ji in her place. He was determined to win Jae Won back. After watching this drama, I have started believing in my guts more. I think all we have to do is trust that inner voice and believe that it will lead to the right path. Be bold and listen to your heart. No matter how you are treated badly by people for your guts and decisions, trust that you are doing the right thing.

I know many would be annoyed by Eun Ji and Tae Hyung. But, don't we all have one or two people who annoy us in our lives? Don't we have people who are ready to laugh and mock when we fall down? Don't we have people who don't regard our own happiness? So, don't drop or avoid this drama because you don't like the side characters. At least the couple has got Ae Ri, Yoon Won and Joon Pyo who didn't judge their love.

The song choices Ben Goldstein's I Can't Lose It All and Conan Gray's The Story - they were just perfect choices for the couple. I hope we all get a love as pure and magical as Jae Won and Ji Hyun's. I don't get why the ratings are dropping for this masterpiece. Why nowadays people aren't appreciating good stuff?

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the live actor

I love the show so much the characters the acting was amazing I need season two to come out I hope in the future they can release it.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Warning: Dont read this review, if you liked this drama

Okay, so after listening to the rave reviews on MDL and Discord that this series was the epitome of a BL production, I sat to watch this series. The cinematography, the acting, the OST, the story - everything was considered to be awesome about this series. By everyone.
So it was with a fair amount of expectation that I sat to watch this series.
To say it was a disappointment is an understatement.
Let me start by saying that I watched this drama on kisskh, which means the quality ain't HD, and that I haven't crossed 3 episodes in this drama.
The series starts off with a huge wet blanket and a downer by showing the main lead, who apparently only has vicious sticks as friends around him, sitting in a bar listening to his friends, spew jealous logorrhea about him... I mean, I take into consideration, that maybe they showed it that way, to show what a blockbuster life the ML has, but I still disapprove. It just makes me feel very uncomfortable and it's very off-putting to me as a viewer.
Alright, never mind. Maybe at least the MC might be a fresh breath of air, I thought.
Turns out he is a mighty prick, who doesn't have friends, but wants some, but still manages to do all things that would lead to the opposite. he is gloomy, unnatural, and absolutely has no friend-making skills whatsoever, which isn't as bad a thing as I make it out to be, to be very frank. I might have forgiven him for that if he could have been a little less pricky about it.
By the end of 1st episode and the start of the 2nd, we are shown that the boring, pompous, gloomy boy decides to start surfing all of a sudden. In my opinion, it doesn't sit right with his character... I mean, surfing? he doesn't have a single hobby or characteristic that would make us think, "Oh, it's natural for the MC to go surfing... it makes sense..."
No, it doesn't.
So that's another downer.
The two characters speak, but it's mostly Jae Won helping and Ji Hyun sulking. Just imagine this rolling for a few episodes and then out of nowhere, Jae Won kisses Ji Hyun... I mean, why? how? And seriously, whyyyy??
Oh god, was that flirting up until now?? Thank you The Eighth Sense, for making me feel better about my flirting skills...
But for your welfare, I would suggest you make the actors wear placards that state "Oh I am flirting ight now", cause otherwise we wouldn't know.
I didn't watch it beyond that... the dead fish kisses were the last straw for me, which allowed me to close the curtains on this boring shitshow...
If I have offended anyone with my review, I apologize.

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Too slow paced and overrated

After 3 episode of pure boring storyline and characters without much personality, finally in episode 4 something cute happens. I wish there was more scenes between the two of the boys :( especially in the beginning. They barely have any scenes together in the first half of the drama! which makes it hard to see/feel any chemistry or romantic connection between them... Way too much focus on the other side characters. I liked the owner of the bar lady tho :) I watched and waited for it to get interesting. At least it got romantic, but the story itself doesn't get interesting enough... They try to make it about mental health a bit, but don't touch upon it as much as they should. The problems they did face, are accurate with mental health issues. But his therapist is a just bad psychologist :( Sometimes the boys act toxic towards each other. Which I would also blame on mental health issues in relationships. Been there done that, it gets messy and that was very accurate in the story. At least the actors have chemistry in *some* scenes but I don't know why I had to enter my pin to watch this drama... Viki said it's 18+ lol.

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BEST KOREAN BL MADE YET.

I've watched alot of films in my lifetime, and alot of BL movies too (whether it be thai, japanese, taiwanese, etc..). But trying to watch Korean BLs was quite difficult. I could tell that in most casts there was a sense of comfortability preventing the chemistry from showing onset. And being a Kdrama lover this was very sad since i really enjoy hearing the korean language, and i know they're talented when it comes to plot lines and romantic situations; yet this wasn't being showcased in their BLs as nearly as good as it could've been.
I thought Blueming was the best of this... UP TIL NOW!!!
I'M SO BLOWN AWAY FROM THIS SERIES
THE CAST, THE QUALITY, THE CINEMATIC FEATURES.
Genuinely feels like a REAL KDRAMA.
The incredible plot too, it takes you on such an emotional journey which is just what viewers want!
I made this and an IMD account just to write reviews about this series but i'm seriously so thankful that such a BL was made..
The scenes feel so raw, so realistic. I really feel so blessed to see this - i thought the day would never come.

If you're looking for a hearty BL, that you isn't just a shallow mess of comedy and whatnot, then this is for you. It properly digs into the plot and really showcases what Boys Love really is.
Amazing.
Thank you for reading.

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cant wait for ep 3 its so good

literally ep 1 and 2 already has me SCREAMING, the tension, omg the chemistry is crazy and it has barley even started, honestly i cant wait for the next episode, some people say that this series is gonna have a sad ending but truly if they give me what to my star s2 gave me for the whole show ill start crying cuz please lets have hope for this couple. if u haven't watched it yet, start watching it already cuz WHAT ARE YOU WAITNG FOR (but i know waiting for episodes is trauma). anyways have to give this show a 10/10 early because i am fully committed to this couple. lets pray for that happy ending (PLEASE!!!!!)

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Its only been 2 episodes and I already know this gonna be in my top 10 shows of 2023

The main thing I seem to like is the colouring, cinematography and the way its filmed. The show shows a lot of thing abaut korean culture, the drinking, restaurant with the food and sticky notes on the walls... But it has this style of filming and camera movements that feel very European. Music is very important to me in tv and this show has such a great soundtrack. The song choices also feel different from other Korean shows. I like how the show has this coming of age vibe and the music adds to it. Acting is very good. I like the characters and the main character isnt potrayed as this lonely guy who doent have friends even though he is quiet. He just simply dosent want a lot of friends or people around him. Jae Won is this social person but I like the idea that later on even though he has many friends and gets attention he still will feels that Ji hyun is very special. Also Jae Won is so boyfriend material!!! I want to note out that Jae won realizes what kind of person Ji hyun is and makes him not dissapear in the surf group.
The shower scene... It shows how Ji hyun is nervous to be naked in front of other people. Jae won realizes after a while that ji hyun feels uncomfortable so he leaves. The camera moving and being so close to Jae wons face adds the feeling of uncomfortable. Also the camera isnt very close at the begining but gets closer as the conversation goes on. But obvously they were checking each other out.

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