The Eighth Sense (2023)

Very nice icing on a mediocre cake

I wanted to watch this as soon as it finished because of the hype, but frankly I feel like I'm going insane reading only 9 and 10 star reviews, so I thought I'd contribute.

- Plot: This is frankly my biggest complaint about the series. While I appreciate that there wasn't unnecessary conflict or excessive filler, there were plot holes left and right that get brushed off by the "artsy" vibe. The gaps and cuts leave the audience to consistently fill in parts of the plot themselves. It's nice that the writing doesn't say everything, but they use this as an excuse to avoid explaining plot events and actions that don't make sense for the characters and situations that have been established. I feel like the high production value and again, "artsy" vibe distract from the actual holes in the plot and leave most viewers to assume that they simply didn't "get" it, rather than recognize this as a fault of the writing. It's the equivalent of flawlessly coloring and shading a portrait so that nobody notices the eyes are completely different sizes.
- Acting: ...and this is the highlight of the series for me. I thought pretty much all the actors did a great job with their characters. It wasn't too heavy handed or cringey (the dialogue was decent, which helps), and felt that the entire cast had great chemistry. I enjoyed watching the friendships between the characters as much as the main couple's relationship. I also appreciated the styling of the characters -- it felt like they all had distinct styles, which suited both the actors and the characters.
- Characters: The main couple definitely falls into the webtoon-BL tropes, with the perfectpopularrich love interest and the smallawkwardloser protagonist. I liked them as individual characters though, especially how they behaved differently around different people. The best characters by far were the (non-ex) female characters, which is really refreshing for a BL. They felt like they had actual personalities! It's nice to see at least some female characters the audience isn't supposed to hate. Not a huge fan of the "fat character who is always eating" trope or them suddenly pairing up the only plus-size characters, but otherwise decent.
- Mental health angle: As much as I appreciate an openly depressed main character and genuine discussion of mental health issues, there were definitely some flaws in the execution here. The "I'm just here to get my drugs" aspect and questionable mannerisms of the therapist really invalidate a lot of the later therapy scenes. It seemed to be going in a good direction with the "If your trauma is causing your relationship issues, you need to sort out your trauma first" point, but that was wrapped up way too quickly with yet another "unspoken" development (read: plot hole). As a plot device to give insight into a quiet character's emotions without weird internal monologues, the therapy plot worked worked. As a genuine portrayal of trauma and treatment, less so.
- LGBT: Interestingly enough, the reviews here seem to be split on praising this as a great LGBT story, and praising it for not shoving an LGBT agenda down your throat. While this is a step in the right direction for KBL series, it still feels very much like a BL, and I was actually a little upset at the characters' reactions to other LGBT identities. The biggest flag for me was the portrayal of drag, as a character gives a report on Hedwig and the Angry Inch while dressed in the drag style from the movie. The character is both demonized and mocked, and the audience is set up to react to the character in the same way. I frankly have no idea why they included an entire scene just to make someone in drag the butt of a joke.

Overall, I thought the good acting and high production value show through, but they can only do so much to distract from the actual issues in the plot. It's icing on a bland cake -- nice decoration, but there's nothing special underneath.

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This is what we should call a MASTER PIECE.

From the first promotional poster we felt that this was going to be something DIFFERENT. We were very hyped but cautious, because we didn't want to be disappointed later, but it was the opposite.

Each episode was better and better. We really believe that this series is a new standard for kdramas in general, because the story is not just about the romance between Jaewon and Jihyun. It is deeper and more complex, about how a totally wounded and lost young man, with an environment that couldn't help him, can begin to heal, with the understanding, sincerity and love of another person who is willing to accompany him in the process.

A beautiful, real and raw story, enhanced with the best cinematography we've ever seen, editing, music, script and a great cast. This entire ensemble literally takes you through each scene and brings out your own raw feelings. There is not a part in the story that does not make sense, in fact the details make you realize how much passion they left in this series.

We cannot fail to mention the directors Werner and Inu, with something innovative for the fans, who guide us and give us the experience of getting involved both within the series and as part of life.
Something that we both want to highlight, is like in different moments of life or situations that each one can go through, this story makes us empathize, understand or cope with some difficult moments, in addition to leaving messages that resonate with us.

It might seem like an exaggeration but we both want to thank all the team involved in The Eighth Sense. This can make you cry but also smile, it can remind you of hard times but also that we are capable of overcoming them, each person has their own story and perspective, their experiences and their scars, that everyone has their own time but we must also get up and continue. I don't know if the word thanks is enough, but REALLY THANK YOU

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Depth Beyond Romance: 'The Eighth Sense' - A Captivating Journey of Self-Discovery

"The Eighth Sense" transcends the boundaries of a typical romance drama, making it an intriguing watch for those who crave depth beyond just love stories. Personally, I found it captivating.

The narrative commences by focusing primarily on Ji Hyun, a young student navigating the fast-paced life of Seoul after moving from the countryside. He grapples with adapting to a new environment, balancing part-time work, and attending classes, with just one friend from his hometown to lean on. But when he crosses paths with Jae Won, the narrative takes an emotional turn. Ji Hyun's journey towards self-discovery begins, and the plot increasingly shifts its focus to Jae Won.

For me, Jae Won shines as the star of the show. His character exudes a magnetic appeal, revealing layers beyond his initial portrayal as the popular guy who recently returned from the military. He appears to have it all—friends, admirers, affluent and influential parents, and an extroverted demeanor that seemingly simplifies his life. However, as the story delves deeper into his character, we uncover unhealed wounds and a complex, multi-faceted personality.

Both characters undergo significant transformations throughout this relatively short drama. They mature and gain a deeper understanding of themselves. While the romance is beautifully portrayed, organic, well-paced, and masterfully delivered, it's the individual character development that truly stands out. The story goes the extra mile in creating characters who are more than just a pair, ensuring they are fully fleshed-out individuals with their own stories, social circles, and interactions outside their romantic relationship.

"The Eighth Sense" also deserves applause for its portrayal and handling of mental health issues. It provides one of the most realistic and sensitive representations in the world of Korean dramas. It delves into the complexity of mental health problems, highlighting how people often conceal their struggles, the importance of social support, and the multifaceted nature of healing. It underscores that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but recovery is attainable, even when it seems impossibly distant.

As for the acting, there are no complaints. Im Ji Sub and Oh Jun Taek do justice to their characters, delivering performances that are realistic and believable. The drama boasts a superb supporting cast, with Yoon Won and Ae Ri's friendships adding charm and humor thanks to the exceptional acting by Lee Mi Ra and Seo Ji An. Conversely, I loathed the characters Eun Ji and Tae Hyung with intensity, a testament to the compelling portrayal by Park Hae In and Jang Young Joon. It serves as a reminder that imperfections exist in us all, and learning to coexist with them is a crucial part of life.

In summary, "The Eighth Sense" is highly recommended, but it might not suit those seeking a romance-centric narrative with minimal distractions. This series doesn't feature as many scenes with the leads together compared to other dramas in this genre. It's more about the characters walking alongside each other, with individual detours and paces before they reach their destination. This complexity and depth make it a worthwhile watch for those who appreciate character-driven narratives.

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So much chemistry they could teach AP classes

omg, ok so I'm only 6 episodes in and I can get over the chemistry between the two male leads. The way JiHyun just becomes a total safe place for JaeWon where he doesn't have to be anyone but himself, a person he can go to when he needs genuine comfort and care not just the lip service and thinly veiled jealousy his so called "best friend" provides.....don't get me started on him, 🤬.
And for JieHyun, JaeWon helps him find the confidence to face his fears and try new things. They truly compliment and enrich each other the way partners are supposed to. I can't wait to see where the last four episodes take us.
As for the music, so many amazing songs that capture and enhance the mood and the moments that are being played out on the screen. I can't wait to get my hands on the OST! 🥰😍

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The Quality of this amazing masterpiece

When the poster came out, I didn't expect much. After watching ep 1, I became completely obsessed. The chemistry between the two male protagonists is so deadly. The casting choice is very good, especially Jaewon's character. Lim Jisub's voice, his look..overall, he is Jaewon himself .The
cinematography, sound, editing (although there was a little loose (cut)in some places but still ok)It's really cool, and the bgm are also masterpiece , especially op song (wetter's who)
The tension between the two main characters is the main reason for watching this movie. It's different from any other story, any other BLS.I haven't seen this kind of tention since ITSAY & TNEIYH. It has been only the beginning of 2023, but among all the bls currently released, The Eight Sense is the 1st also have high expectations for the remaining 4eps.

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amazing. my favourite bl and one of my favourite shows in general. it is so amazingly done, so well written and so beautifully shot. highly highly recommend it. I fell in love with the characters and the story. the way it was filmed was amazing, the play with the light and the attention to small details. everything about this show is amazing, it reminded me of Blueming but if Blueming had a chance to be longer and further developed. It shows the intimate details of the relationship and focuses in all the beauty of falling in love without sexualizing the characters at all. it found the perfect balance between soft and hard and it had me waiting for the next episode to come out every week.

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Just....wow,,,,!!!!!!!!!!

At the time of writing, I've watched this series start-to-end three times, with some extra repeats of my favorite scenes.
This was such a phenomal show that I'm truly struggling for words to describe everything I'm thinking and feeling.

To deal with the easier items first:

1) Music: Fantastic. Mix of English and Korean songs. Poignant when needed, and hyped up when required. The cherry on top of an amazing show.

2) Acting: Top notch. Each and every actor brought their character to life. I believed them all. Kudos, congrats, and THANK YOU!!

3) Cinematography: In a word? Beautiful. Watch it and see for yourself ;)

4) Story.....

So!
This is where I hit the -.50 in my rating.
The first few episodes leave you interpreting a lot of what you see.
You need to guess, infer, and make intuitive leaps. Normally that's fine, we don't need to be spoon-fed everything, but in this case the show took it a bit too far. Making the audience think is one thing, but leaving them confused is another. And while the confusion did not turn me off the story, (I pushed through it), I'd have much rather preferred some clarity over making my own conclusions - which I was forced to do in order to continue watching, otherwise nothing would've made sense. (Meaning, you can't leave those moments hanging in the air; you need to come to some conclusion in your mind regarding what they mean and how they happened because otherwise the story literally can't be continued.)
That's my one and only complaint on the entire show, and my reason for the 9.5 rating.

As for everything else?

OH MY GAWWWWWWDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you hear my screaming? Because I am!!!! That's how amazing, terrific, insightful, and engaging this story is.

The connection between the two ml's is on another level, physically and emotionally.
The subtlety of the acting- a glance, a fleeting touch...wow...
The nuances of the characters, what they think, how they behave, what they chose to do and why...I've never seen anything like it and I'm addicted!!! Storytelling at its finest.
What's your cup of tea? Emotional connection? Physical intimacy? Well, you get them both in spades.

I don't think I'll ever get over this story, or ever get bored of watching it again.

Okay, so...let me see if I can summarize the story itself.
(**Spoilers ahead!!**)

1) A rich, popular senior dealing with depression and long-buried trauma.
Family pressure issues.
Cheating ex-girlfriend.
A jealous 'frenemy' whom I wanted to strangle through my screen on multiple occasions.
Meets a shy freshman and takes him under his wing.
Feelings develop.
Tragedy occurs, leading to trauma being triggered.
Major free-fall.
Avoidance + relationship breakdown.
Healing.
Reconciliation.

2) Painfully shy and introverted freshman.
From a small town, dropped into the vast ocean of Seoul, struggling to find his way.
Approached by a kind senior and falls at first sight? Fascinated at first sight? IDK, watch and draw your own conclusion lol.
Starts feeling comfortable, happy, safe, around Senior.
Catches feelings.
Tragedy occurs, leading to an unwanted relationship breakdown.
Steadfast with silent support and active encouragement throughout time apart. Respectful of boundaries, and patient. Consistent with support.
Reconciliation. Communication. 'Happy for now' / HEA ending.

3) I love the friends. Shout out to Ae Ri and Joon Pyo.
I hate Park Tae Hyung. It's one thing to appreciate honesty after dealing with two-facers but this guy is an entirely different matter. You should expect basic respect and support from your friends. See Yoon Won. This guy ain't it. (Watch to understand my rant lol).

4) The evil ex-girlfriend...a bit over-the-top sometimes. But not too much/often? Idk...I lived through those moments without rolling my eyes too much so I'll rate it "ok".

Which leads me to the combined acting + storyline.
Nothing was overdone or overdramatized.
You know how you can watch a show where everything is a caricature ? Either the acting is overdone (no one has those expressions or reactions in real life) or the story is overly dramatic (ie completely unrealistic)?
Well, aside from the ex-gf on a few (minor) occasions, this show was perfect in its execution of reality. Acting was real. Story was realistic. This could happen IRL. Everything was so natural. The flow was amazing.

Overall, a masterpiece.

If you've read this far, congrats and thank you !! LOL.
Now go watch the show (pleaseeeee!!!)!!!!! It's fantastic and you won't regret it <3

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Dived right in

After watching the 1st two episodes:

This is something that triggers all the most intriguing feelings in me. After watching these episodes I am all mushy in a billion different ways. But I will try to sum it up as short as possible:

Length - so we will probably have a bit more time for character development which is not so often in Korean BLs

Plot - I just find military comeback stories very interesting. Characters are mostly full of melancholy, or if I put it plainly, they are mostly depressed. So, starting all over again with a changed mindset sounds promising…

Characters - Full of insecurities and yet so brave…

After finishing it:

I loved the pace of the story, the music, the chemistry...

I did not adore the extreme mood change of the main lead because it seemed a bit rushed. However, I really love the way it ended. If it were me, I would make this into at least 12 – 50-minute episodes (like Koreans do with they romances) so nothing would seem sudden and rushed, and I would be able to enjoy it to the fullest.

Overall:
I am all ⭐️10/10⭐️ because my heart was in the right place, and the anticipation for every Wednesday was just fine by me. It made me excited and I am all about emotions that raise the heart rate!

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A classic series for sure!

Has to be this series will be a classic that is watched for many years to come if not for eternity. I was moved, engaged and totally with this series. Congratulations to the staff and the actors. It was awesome to see someone with mental health issues from a trauma appear as normal as anyone else. Also, to share their therapy experience is a break thru in my opinion. Done with grace compassion and integrity. The cast was probably the strongest I can think of. The leads (Im and Oh) were amazing, Yeong Woon and Jung (Boss) were the most excellent females. So where the 2 freshman friends especially Ae RI. The roommate/childhood friend was amazing too. The music was top notch and was noticeably great many times. Cinematography, setting, pacing....The only thing is I'm wondering if Ep 10 was an add-on. I at frist thought the end of episode 9 would have been a more complete and dramatic ending. Awesome, experience and enlightening series. Again, congratulations to all involved.

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The Eight Sense is a strong 9+

South Korean BL shows have been impressive lately, and 'The Eighth Sense' is no exception. It excels at delivering emotion and depth that sets it apart from the rest. Im Ji Sub (Seo Jae Won) and Oh Jun Tae (Kim Ji Hyun) make a stunning on-screen couple, exuding a natural chemistry that's truly captivating.

What sets this series apart is its exceptional storytelling. The romance unfolds organically, without any forced elements. In addition, 'The Eighth Sense' sensitively highlights the importance of mental health, which is seamlessly woven into the narrative. Credit goes to Inu Baek, one of the creators, whose track record includes such notable works as 'To My Star' and 'Where Your Eyes Linger'. His talent for creating compelling love stories shines through.

Overall, 'The Eighth Sense' is a masterfully crafted show that's a must-see for BL drama enthusiasts, and even rivals 'Semantic Error' for the title of best Korean BL drama in recent memory.

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Excellent Execution of a K-BL

Gosh, so many Korean BLs are surprising me this year with their quality, their production value, their longevity, and their importance. I won't say all of them have, but the majority of them that I've enjoyed have, and this one is not shy of it. The Eighth Sense is gorgeous, it's truly a beautiful piece of art from the bucket of K-BLs we've gotten this year, and I'm proud of the story it committed to telling and the clear and concise ending to a perfect drama.

Let's Dive In.

Now, because I saw that this series had so much hype and popularity around it, including that it's much more dense and intricate than others, I will be very nit-picky, just an FYI. But I'll start with what I really liked.

The setup of everything was just absolute perfection. What I love most is such a natural introduction of the characters in their natural habitat that doesn't feel awkward or forced. And the chemistry, urgh, the chemistry is breathtaking. I love slow burn, I love tension, I love strangers to friends to lovers. Now this was probably the fastest slow burn I've seen (and a complicated one), but nonetheless, I yearned for them to be together and I got that and that's all I wanted.

I can say without a doubt that all the side characters played an important role in this series and weren't just added-in characters to take up screen time. They helped move the story along, get our leads together, and did so also having their own personal character growth. Aeri, Joonpyo, Yoonwon, and even smaller characters like Bitna were so involved with the overall objective of the show that it all flowed smoothly.

Urgh, again, just so much good chemistry, so much good physical contact, so many beautiful moments. The writers did an incredible job showing the details of their relationship, but did an even better job at diving below surface levels to give our mains actual motives and objectives and obstacles and development. My favorite of them obviously being Jaewon who's so friendly yet facading all of it with hidden trauma that we see him actively working through with the therapist. I immediately loved his portrayal of being the shoulder his friends can lean on and that the surf club can trust, to seeing him in therapy and his eyes weaken and even his posture exhausted. Jihyun is the only one who's able to see through it when they get closer, and you can see Jaewon change and grow with the way he smiles as they interact or make eye contact. And I loved all of it. Down to the very end, actually, especially the end because I definitely needed power bottom Jiyun's energy and he gave just that. (the writers are HELL for giving us that "let's-put-on-our-surfing-suits" scene! the sensuality of it all, like I was literally biting my nails it was so fucking good)

Conan gray music?????? 1000000/10 already. And even besides that, I love the soundtrack in TES. It was hippy and happy-go-lucky and feel-good music, not the typical ballads I'm used to hearing in K-BLs and I loved it.

Okay, so moving on to what I'm choosing to be nit-picky about. Eunji. I get it. She was here to play the evil ex-girlfriend who wants her boyfriend back and will do anything to get him back no matter who she hurts. Okay cool. Except, I didn't hate her, I only felt sorry for her. But my problem with this character is not her actions, but that none of her actions had a genuine motive other than the repetitive ones I'm used to seeing. This K-BL is deep, it's complex, is complicated, and yet they only scrape the surface of her character and I hate it. Really? The only reason she's bitchy is because she wants Jaewon back? It's just too simple for me. I almost wish that Jaewon maybe did something to her, or maybe we see her backstory as to why she tried so hard to get him back, family matters maybe, or something deeper than that. It just looks lazy and tacky to me for her not to have some more complexity to her overall objective. And then try to throw a redemption arc on us? No, thank you.

While I love Jihyun and Jaewon, there is so much from their relationship that showcases it won't last very long and I mean communication. It all starts at the beginning when Jaewon kisses Jihyun on the beach, and then from there on we don't get an explanation as to why or Jihyun never asks, and it's aggravating. They move past it and go through a little conflict, then almost kiss, go through some more complicated feelings, then get intimate on a beach, some more deeper conflict, and boom , it's fixed with a kiss. I wish we heard more from Jaewon, cause we see so much of Jihyun trying, but for Jaweon it is up to him and it's his decision on whether or not to avoid Jihyun or just one day decide he wants Jihyun and runs to him. To me, that's not fair to Jihyun that communication is only gifted through Jaewon's decision. Then they get together and all of the conversations they desperately needed to have were pushed aside for lovey-dovey dialogue. Jihyun doesn't know that Jaewon suffers from depression, which I'm sure he gathered, but I would've loved a conversation with Jaewon explaining it to him. Just the little things that you can detect in a relationship and know that it'll potentially be the couple's downfall.

Something really nit-picky, but in episode 2 or 3, Jaewon and Yoonwon go to a bar and there's a non-Korean bartender who asks Yoonwon her order in English and she answers in Korean, and he looks confused and says, "Sorry?" in which Jaewon had to order for them in English (great English btw). But my problem is that if you're going to work in Korea, especially in a bar/restaurant, then knowing enough to get by seems important. I just hate how confused he looked at someone speaking Korean to him when he works in a Korean bar in Korea.

Ratings:

Story: 8/10 - Amazing. Truly. I was entertained episode by episode, and didn't want to miss a single line of dialogue. some nit-picky things that don't give the overall score of the series higher than an 8 for me, but nonetheless, really really good.

Acting: 9/10 - Really great acting. Some great character depth from Jisub (Jaewon). Jihyun was a tad lackluster going against Jaweon, but still really good.

Music: 10/10 - Conan freaking Gray!! nothing else to say!

Recommendation Value: 7.5/10 - the only reason the score is not high is that this series does have a sense of sadness to it even though it's not a tragedy, so I personally wouldn't recommend it to everybody unless they want something deep and complex and kind of sad. but it's highly recommended for anyone wanting something intricate as it is!

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Too serious, I don't get the hype

I decided to watch this because it just finished airing and it was getting a lot of 10/10 reviews, but I have to say I think it's overrated.

What I liked:
- Higher budget than most BLs
- Good acting
- Good ending

What I didn't like:
- The drama felt a bit forced
- No humour at all, takes itself way too seriously
- Most characters felt two-dimensional
- A lot of filler, some episodes felt too long
- Editing was a bit weird, music randomly stopping, etc.

I think overall, it felt a bit too serious. Not bad, but not my cup of tea.

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