The Circumstances of Pungdeok Villa Room 304 (2022)

The lure of a sexy roommate.

Roommates of Poongduck 304 (Or what I will just be calling P304 from here on out) is not perfection, but that is okay. It is okay because it is still solid and delightful, in its own right. This is to say nothing here is breaking any boundaries, or offering up something more than has been given a million times over, but the recipe delivered is like a home-cooked meal from ma, and just as comforting.

Korea, in terms of BL production, is fighting for the #1 spot with Japan, seeming to be its only competitor in creating noteworthy series, for 2022. I say this, because it is November and we are reaching the close of the year. Very soon Top BL lists will abound and I will say P304 will likely not make it on many lists or possibly any at all. Yet, that doesn't mean it was a failure. With Taiwan a desert this year, a country that normally throws out some shining top-tier stories, the Philippines, which the past two years has invested heavily in the BL market, all but fallen off a cliff, and China (which has been operating as Bromance productions and not full BL's for years) making even these type stories illegal with new laws, there has been less international competition for any noteworthy releases except in the sheer volume churned out by Thailand. And well Thailand, which still produces the largest quantity as it always has for the genre, seems unable to move outside the wheel-house, paint-by-numbers, generic retelling of the same high school/college repetitiveness with overly dramatic nonsensical stories that are already littered heavily in BL fandom. That is, "KinnPorsche" (A true let-down, mess of a series that is probably my #1 Disappointment of the Year) and "Not Me" (the ONLY Thai BL series that I will recommend or that will make it on my top list) were the largest successful offerings from Thailand that tried to bring something new to the fold. Instead we just got a multitude of series that can't truly be distinguished from what was generated years previous or even each other in any meaningful way.

But, if Thailand has been disappointing because of lack of creativity, why does P304 get a pass for being comforting?

That my friends, is simply talent. The two main leads of P304 (Rich conglomerate son Ji Ho Joon played by Kim Ji Woong and happy hard-working Seo Jae Yoon played by Yoon Seo Bin) are actors and not just young, cheap-to-pay, pretty faces found in oh so many BL's (especially Thai productions). Both of these leads gave us a former BL together with "Kissable Lips" a truly horrendous endeavor (With one of my lowest scores) early in 2022 and that BL, which again is a dumpster fire, had only the positives of the two leads showing promise and chemistry. I will say I am delighted that we got a second outing with them in a demonstrably better written, produced, and enjoyable product. (Showing just how much story-simple or not- matters).

Kim Ji Woong is stellar and dashing in his many suits, longing confused looks, and playful smiles. He also brings the gusto in his kissing and passion to his frustrations. While he still has to deal with some less than great dialogue, he walks smoothly through the show with few missteps or stumbles.

Yoon Seo Bin is wonderfully naive with soft sweet smiles in his role. His character is by far more one note than his counterpart, but he manages to make the viewer like him. He also brings some great LGBTQ+ realness to the story as he faces down his own shame for wanting men, and his feelings of helplessness when enamored with a straight man that uses his shame and attraction against him for his own needs. Something that is all too common in gay/straight male relationships.

Also of note, this is not a tale of college/high-schoolers but actual adults with the settings being apartment houses and office spaces-not classrooms, courtyards, and hallways. We can still count on two hands the number of BL's that forge their way into the "real-world" and even the bulk of those are sequel series to their college/youth first seasons, so it is-sadly-always refreshing to see a setting that moves beyond uniformed age boundaries. Something that, again if comparing why I give P304 props versus my Thai BL criticism above, not done by Edit: THE BULK: of Thai BL this year. (Even half of "KinnPorsche" cast were college students and also the strong "Not Me" was still college based as well.)

The production of P304 is, at best, mid-tier with costs cut as much as possible. It manages to still create a decent world for these characters and a believable environment of work/life. The supporting characters are also, for the most part, strong in their deliveries with none of them hogging too much screen time. The casting of the series helps alleviate the short comings of the budget and story.

As for the story it is simply an enemies to lovers trope fest. It is a BL fan favorite, and truly really just a romantic story favorite world wide. This makes the show easily appealing. While the set-up is cute, a boss living as his employee's tenant, it isn't even the first time we have seen it. "Be Loved In House" from Taiwan did this same story set-up last year. This casts a long stale shadow over the whole affair, and creates mostly expected scenes, issues, and outcomes. As mentioned, some of the dialogue gets clunky at times, though this might just be the English translation that causes this affect, for the most part the simple premise works and is, as is my overall rating of the series, solid.

However, it is the small risks, like the above example of the straight guy using the gay guys feelings for gain, that add some needed oomph to the story. Also our "straight" male lead Kim Ji Woong, may be a selfish playboy by stock archetype, but the series makes him quite an open minded softy, with a kind playfulness from the start. He isn't as harsh, mean spirited, emotionless or as ruthless as many times these characters are portrayed from the get-go. Because of this, the sudden, "until they have their change of heart" that happens mostly unbelievably, and many times at a pace that causes whiplash, in a lot of tales with this set-up doesn't happen here. Kim Ji Woong's change is slow and steady with a large portion of credibility with how his character is given and the story unfolds.

With that, there is still a large character USA backstory exposition dump in the final episode that was lazy writing, and a missed opportunity to create some taunt emotional drama through abandonment issues if shown earlier instead, and given yet another layer to the character while we watched. The relationship between the leads also jumps into overdrive and causes a loss of believably once truths are told, and the show pulls them apart suddenly to make the audience question if they can get back together, in what is some poor plotting and pacing.

Still in the end, P304 was one of my more enjoyed series of 2022 and a highlight during the time it aired. I keep finding myself turning off more and more shows, the early shine of BL's going dull as the same stories keep showing up on screen. I have a multitude that I have "put on hold" which a lot of times means they never get finished, and P304 was not one of them. I enjoyed it, even while seeing it for all its short comings.

7.0 = B-, 3 1/2-Stars. Flawed and imperfect, but still worthy of a watch.

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If you suck enough lemons they start tasting sweet

The story is very basic, but sometimes basic is good.
it was just a fun and sweet drama that was OK to watch if you are bored and have time to pass. I only have 2 problems with the drama, other than being basic it is like painting by numbers.
The story is a little different, but it follows the same old formula, we all know that they will get together, split up and then get back together for the end.
My other problem was the ending, the last two episodes just left a bitter taste in my mouth. People do things for ridiculous reasons and then it just seemed to snowball from one ridiculous thing to the next.
The two ML's are both good looking ( lots of teeth ) and work well together, the story is fine but other than that it's just an OK past the time drama.

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Hated Ji Ho Joon Then Fell For Him!

Spoiler only at bottom of review.
Ep 1-2 were written overly dramatic and a bit goofy. Ep 3 I starting liking the characters. Ep 4-6 were a 10/10! Ep 8 felt rushed and hastily wrapped up so it didn't end quite as strongly as I'd hoped. Still very satisfying overall and I will rewatch.

The confession scene actually had me tearing up and crying (rare). It was so sincere and poignant. No big scene or flowery speeches made, just taught with all the emotions that would be present in real life, followed by the relief and gentle awe/joy of reciprocation. It was beautiful.

I loved how the two lead character's competitiveness continued to be a part of their interactions even as they went from enemies to friends to more. Instead of just being used as a plot contrivance at the beginning, it transitioned from hostile to playful and continued as part of their dynamic. It felt realistic that way.

Chemistry was great and skinship and kisses felt natural. Kim Ji Woong was especially good at creating tension with physical proximity. And his eyes became more and more expressive as his character's feelings grew.

I liked how the story balanced the power a bit from the team-leader/intern dynamic with a building-owner/tenant situation. And once they had called a truce, Ji Ho Joon and Seo Jae Yoon worked very well together. I liked how the series showed their respect growing as they watched and interacted with the each other on their projects.

The soundtrack was pretty and fitting when I noticed it.

VERY GENERAL SPOILER of the ending:
The total lack of communication from one side in Ep 8 was was a little frustrating and kind of felt like lazy writing for plot contrivance.

The end solution for the familial/social/work concerns made some sense, but because it was laid out and glossed over so quickly in Ep 8, it didn't feel like a realistic resolution, which slightly reduced the satisfaction of the ending for me. I didn't get the time to feel fully re-grounded in their happiness before the credits rolled. But the last scene was funny, cute, hot, and sweet so I just replayed that a couple of times, lol.

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a cute korea BL

overall I think its a cute BL. Is it mind blowing? no but it does its work being a BL. you can tell that their budget is limited but hey they made it work.

what i like:
-this might seem weird but i like how jaeyoon IS dating the toxic boyfriend instead of being an ex
-the chemistry between the two actors
-office romance
-the usage of side characters, they really made the series not boring
-they actually kissing and not just a peck
-how they potrayed that hojoon is actually rich
-Holland. stan him

what i dislike
-the lack of places used make me feel kinda bored
-in most scenes, the camera and lighting dont really flatter the actors
-maybe its just me being needy but i want more scenes of them accidentally falling in love before they confessed bcs i dont really see it
-the acting can be better but its not so bad until the point you cringe
-the ending felt a bit rushed but its fine

i would recommend watching this in case you are thirsty for some korean BL but is it better than to my star, semantic error and blueming, not really but it does its job being enjoyabe and thats what matter

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Look, I made this account just to share my opinion about this drama somewhere and screaming at my friends did not suffice.

It's not perfect, but it's fun. It's at some points over the top ridiculous and in other moments it tries a more serious note. It's light and cute.

The leads have a lot of chemistry, their BTS kiss that tragically didn't end up in the drama made me watch this. Their acting wasn't particularly strong in the beginning, but I felt like we gradually saw them getting better each episode.

The story line is simple and sometimes even very cliche, the angst is predictable and in my opinion not properly resolved, the writing lacked in that aspect. The ending felt weirdly rushed but it was cute at least!
More couple moments would have been really nice, I think fans would have enjoyed that more and also shared it more on SNS therefore gaining more attention but oh well.

Even though I thought it was a light, no brainer drama I kept thinking about this couple the entire next day. For a niche BL drama the quality really wasn't all too bad. The chemistry is everything though.

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BL office romance: platonic and cute, with a cohabitation trope and some amusing bickering

The story is quite simple but effective: the two main male leads find themselves forced to cohabitate and work together. Despite the short length of the drama, the script manage to make the viewer care about the characters and be invested in their relationship and professional successes. The plot is not really original but it is a compelling watch with some very cute moments.

The main actors were pretty good. I found their acting totally believable and they had a good chemistry together. Maybe some of the more comedic scenes or dramatic ones were a bit overacted, but overall they did a good job conveying the feelings of their characters. The performance of the supporting cast was also quite solid even if the side characters were a bit caricatural and not super developed given the shortness of the series.

The soundtrack was really pleasant with some catchy songs even though quite forgettable. In terms of directing, I was happy that the director did not shy away from the couple of kisses, it remains rather chaste but it has the merit to exist and to be visibly showcased.

I would recommend this to people looking for a cute BL office romance. If you like cohabitation trope, bickering and secret relationship in an office setting, this one is for you!

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Ah....... poor execution. I like nothing about this really. The first 2/3 episodes were a pure torture. I even put this on hold. I tried again because the rating wasn't bad so I thought maybe I wasn't in the mood when I tried it first. But then... it was better than the first episodes but still mehhh. I didn't believe in their couple nor feelings towards each others. The plot was weak as hell. For a simple plot, I wasn't expecting a lot but I still was disappointed. I know way better BL drama with less episodes + less length-episodes and they are more well-developped than this one. A waste of potential imo

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a cute and fun series

"Roommates of Poongduck 304" was a series I was really looking forward to for a while (though I didn't have time to watch it until now).

With a duration of about 30 minutes per episode and 8 episodes in total, this is a rather short series. Because of the shortness of this drama, there were things that weren't really explored enough - for example, I would have loved to know more about the past of the characters. Despite that, the series did a good job with making the characters interesting and kinda lovely in their own way.

The chemistry between the main characters and the overall dynamic between all the characters was great. Personally, the acting was good - nothing special but not bad, just good. The story itself is simple (a typical enemy-to-lovers trope) but still tries to be original without being ridiculous. If you are in for a cute love story without a lot of drama, I would recommend this drama to you!

Overall, "Roommates of Poongduck 304" is a cute and fun drama with a high rewatch value.

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I've watched this series several times so far, not because there's a lot to discover with each rewatch but because it's a solid drama, well done within the budget constraints, and it balances well-loved tropes with some more sombre notes.

Things I liked:
* The story has two of my favourite tropes (emenies-to-lovers and accidental/forced roommates), which are are really well done. The boss/employee vs. tenant/landlord dynamics give good balance to their relationship. Overall the plot is a bit predictable but the characters' development and the interaction of the team members make it enjoyable.
* The team members were great, they provided both comic relief and an outsider's point of view for the developing relationship. They were also quite cute.
* Kang Woo Jung's acting was brilliant -- I hope he'll get the chance to act in productions of different genres, so more people will see him.
* Both lead actors seem comfortable with each other, which makes the intimacy between the characters believable. (It's sad that I have to say this -- but in some Korean BL dramas the actors seem so uncomfortable!)
* I also like that we get to see a glimpse of the struggles some gay men go through -- unluckily falling for a straight man, the fear what would happen if you're outed at work, how people will judge you for being with another man. Yoon Seo Bin was good at portraying all of these with a side of internalized homophobia. This topic was there throughout the show, sometimes just as an undercurrent, sometimes more obvious, but it never distracted from the sweetness of the romance plot.

Things I did not like:
* The acting of both main leads was a quite muted at times. Especially in the scenes when their characters argue with each other, I did not feel the emotions as much as I could have. I think stronger body language and facial expressions would help. They are both really good at expressing their emotions with their eyes, though, so it's not a question of talent -- either they just have to practice a bit more or the director did direct them that way. (Or is it something more ... chemical, at least concerning facial expressions? With the entertainment industry as it is, I wouldn't rule it out.)
* I wish the show would have made Jae Yoon's motivation for his decision in episode 7 clearer -- either by characterizing him better in earlier episodes or telling the audience outright. I think Jae Woon's actions come across as more tropey than it was intended.
* Also it would have been nice to get more of Ho Joon's backstory earlier and not infodump everything in one (though very heartfelt) speech.

All in all, one of the better K-BLs I've seen, and very comfortable to watch repeatedly.

[This is an updated version of the review I posted at Viki.]

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