Uncovering the Curse of Taekwondo (2024)

"Your hand touching mine. This is how galaxies collide.”

One of the best Korean BL drama with super charming characters . A super healthy storyline .


OVERVIEW - Do Hoe , a brilliant student who grown in a brutal and abnormal atmosphere without his parents love and care . He never felt happiness in his life like other children but suddenly he met Ju Yeong who carried the light of his love in Do Hoe's life .

POSITIVE - Super handsome and soft hearted ML with charming and cute MC . Their chemistry is unbeatable . The way they always stand side by side in each other's trouble really makes my heart melt .

The visuals , cinematography are awesome . Really felt like I was watching a high budget drama . Smiles of both ML and MC are heartwarming . The ice cream and rain scene in ep 1 were definitely romantic .Tiny slow music when they did eye contact ...ah it's ear candy .

NEGATIVE- I haven't found any negative points yet .
OVERALL- People who like to watch healthy, slow burn romance dramas then they can try it . It's really so good.

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how a painful past affects relationships

Overall: I was very impressed with the first two episodes that had a slice of life/serious vibe; however, many plot elements, the shifting characterization and editing has brought my initial 9.5 rating down. 8 episodes about 35 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala for Southeast Asia and most of Europe (not UK or Spain) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4854/let-free-the-curse-of-taekwondo-2024 and iQIYI for I'd assume the countries not covered by GagaOOLala https://www.iq.com/play/1713h09ez2k?lang=en_us&sh_pltf=4 Watch after the initial credits of episode 1 for an extra scene.

Content Warnings: child abuse, violence, beaten up, death, trauma, dub con kiss, fraud

Watch Suggestions (to get rid of angst between the leads and the love rival)
- watch episodes 1 & 2
- watch episode 3 up to 25 min
- skip episode 4
- watch episode 5 21-23
- watch episode 6 11-14:35 and 32:45-end
- watch episode 7 beginning to 4:45 and 27 to the end
- watch episode 8 6:12-8:10, 19-19:45 and 21-36:45

What I Liked
- chemistry
- caring/sweet moments especially in episode 3
- realistic nervousness/awkwardness
- good kissing
- production value (except the confusing editing)

Room For Improvement
- ominous voice overs
- wish they had established the year in episode 1 (was established as 2004 at the beginning of episode 2)
- the cut to black after a certain moment/not showing the reaction
- plot elements were not well explained, there would be a brief flash or 1 sentence about major events that the viewers didn't get to see
- the plot element at the end of ep 3/beg of 4 was too long and not seeing something very important was cliche
- flashbacks/flash forwards made things unnecessarily confusing
- love rival and other side plots (student, drawing) instead of fully developing the main storyline
- I didn't ship the 2 characters romantically, felt like the cliche 'love heals all trauma'
- the very ending of episode 8 was anticlimactic

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Thoughtful and compelling character study...with a few flaws

Definitely a worthwhile series, albeit with flaws. Below, I outline three sharp criticisms where I think the writing stumbled. None of these missteps is fatal to the story or characters. Definitely a case of falling short of potential greatness rather than a series that misfires on every level. Throughout, the acting, directing, and writing (script/diaog) are mostly high quality. These flaws owe to writing (story structure, story choices) that I believe undercut this series' chance to rank among the all-time greats.

Three criticisms:

1. The high school era was more interesting than the adult era.
-- First: Two boys wounded by family, stuck in unpleasant circumstances. Finding their way toward solace by finding their way toward one another. That is a damn good premise for a BL romance. And our young protagonists had a good thing cooking, too. Enough character, story, and emotion introduced in eps 1-2 to sustain a whole series. Instead, the writers chose a time jump prior to working through all that potential. Second: Two adults wounded by their past. Placing obstacles in the way of their own solace. That is a less satisfying premise for any romance, BL or otherwise. And our older protagonists induced this viewer to contemplate in multiple episodes whether these two humans belonged together at all.
--overall, the bipartite storytelling does work. And yet. Because the later episodes prove far less compelling than the earlier episodes, the result is a series where both timelines underperform the potential baked into the characters and story. Again, to reiterate: not fatal flaws! Still a compelling series.

2. That was the most preposterous time jump any BL series has ever foisted off on viewers.
--12 years? Really? To Be clear, the idea that high school sweethearts reconnect in their early 30s is not a problem in itself. Indeed, one could easily build a whole series around that premise as well. But during the intervening decade, the two individuals ought to have lived some life, grown into new people. Even if the reunion rekindled dormant feelings, the vibe should feel like two near-strangers starting fresh--because none of us at 30 is the same person we were at 18. Characters ought to adjust to Who Are We Now? Here, it is as if both characters have been in stasis since high school. Pining away for one another yet not reconnecting. Apparently (and we must surmise, for the writing reveals very little about how the two protagonists spent their decade apart), neither of them moved past the other. No intervening romances to provide the sort of life experience 18 year Olds didnt have. They do not reunite as older, wiser versions of their younger selves but as emotional cripples stunted in growth at 18. No more savvy about love at 30 than as callow teens. I am all for reigniting the lost flames of a youthful passion. But not for wasting the entirety of one's 20's waiting for something that did not work out. And after 12 years apart, trying to pick up where you left off? No no no. So to be clear: my gripe here isn't the exorbitant length of this time jump. It is for the illogical way in which the writing fills in the gaps.

Note 1: The series hired two actors roughly 25 years old to play the same characters at age 18 and age 30. While that tactic of "splitting the difference" does work visually in the sense these actors can believably play either age, it is nonetheless jarring to see "Twelve Years Later" pop up on screen and have the actors look as if no time has passed. (The make up folks dyed Dad's hair gray. Effort!) As much as I admire the performances of these actors, I think a time jump of this magnitude warranted recasting the parts because that would have emphasized the natural growth humans experience in transitioning from impulsive but callow youths to responsible adults. Here, the actors' non-aging just added to my sense that these two characters got stuck in high school.

Note 2: The obvious BL story that comes to mind with a comparable time jump is His The Series and His The Movie (Japan). That production team did re-cast the TV actors for the movie sequel. The film plot also depicts the rekindling of a dormant romance, one also spoiled by one party abandoning the other. But those characters had to work to rebuild trust, with no expectation of resuming where they left off. In that telling, their present-day situations mattered more than the shadows of the past. His (film) is one if the best "gay men overcome obstacles to create family" stories I have seen from any continent or any decade. Playing the time jump effectively is one reason why. The missing and unseen years had an impact on the characters that added depth to that story.

3. The fraud subplot was unnecessary.
--Sometimes writers fall victim to a temptation to layer additional challenges into their story. ("What new horrors can I inflict on these characters to ratchet upthe stakes?") Often, simpler is better; editing, warranted. Here, the fraud adds nothing to the character. His story was already compelling. Indeed, it may have become more poignant if every detail stayed except the fraud. Dreams shriveled (like a raisin in the sun) are a basis for tragedy. Explore that concept without destroying the character's moral character. If his personal demons had driven him to suffer in silence rather than to overt criminality, a compelling emotional journey is still at hand. Criminal fraud, in fact, makes any character less sympathetic even if his motives are well-explained, which these were not. Adequately explained and justified--yes. But "adequate" falls short of "well-", just as I rate Let Free falls short of elite status. The character had many burdens already, and this self-inficted gaffe demeans everything he hoped to do.

In summation, Let Free is a very good series. Certainly, worth one's time to watch. And the ending eventually proves sweet and affirming. Flaws in story structure undercut the bid for greatness, as does the too common penchant to withhold information from the reviewers via editing. Here, flashbacks in the penultimate and finale to the high school timeline fill in missing information help us to understand why each character behaves as he does after the time jump. But honestly, the middle episodes would have been far less frustrating if those details had been in the open earlier. Handled properly, the romantic story would play as a tragedy rather than the stunted, slow-burn mystery tale we got.

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The curse was gone, but messily and realistically. Though the journey was far from perfect!

The storytelling is in a very classic Hwang Daseul style—delicate and nuanced.
The drama dives deep into the complexity of trauma, self-discovery, guilt and love through the journey of DoHoe and Ju Yeong.

DoHoe's journey is filled with pain and inner conflicts, much of it rooted in the toxic environment created by his abusive father who runs a Taekwondo gym. Several moments conveyed the inner struggles of characters with small but very significant details.
Because of his toxic upbringing,he is someone who struggles to confront his past and doesn't allow or think worthy of himself to heal. His inability to face his wounds is both heartbreaking and frustrating at the same time. As a result, his relationship with Ju Yeong is complicated by unexpressed emotions, the trauma that was never addressed and the weight of the past that neither of them can escape even after 12 years.

Ju Yeong was the emotional anchor that kept Dohoe from drowning by constantly reaching out and putting in more effort despite the hurt and confusion Dohoe threw at him. There were few brief moments of comfort amidst that frustrating yet realistic push-and-pull dynamics between them. JuYeong often compromised trying really hard to bridge the emotional gap that DoHoe can't seem to cross. The imbalance does seem unfair but at the same time, their love story is portrayed as both beautiful and painful showcasing how even when people are deeply flawed and overwhelming, sometimes the connection between them can be profound and will last.

The chemistry between the actors was undeniable and their emotional journey felt raw and authentic. It mirrors the complexity of moving past trauma and being in a relationship when both of them are carrying their own and shared emotional baggage.

While the narrative is filled with emotional highs and lows, the pacing felt rushed throughout. The rapid shifts in the character arc without addressing their actual issues in detail left me craving for more. I wanted to understand them better. It felt like there was so much more beneath the surface, a whole world which just didn’t have enough time to really explore.
While the supporting cast like Hyean Ho added a new layer to the story, I am still a bit unclear on the mysterious circumstances surrounding his and Dohoe's past. They introduced him for bigger purposes, but his character felt very undeveloped.

And my biggest gripe was the editing. It seemed choppy and confusing. There were many scenes that missed the mark and their meaning relevant to the story because of this.

Overall, while the drama isn't without flaws, it keeps you hooked with its nuanced portrayal of love and healing. It's a powerful attempt at exploration of how our pasts shape us and impact our future decisions.
Sometimes addressing those past ghosts is the first step towards healing. Definitely recommend.

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Hwang Da Seul, attractions and self-acceptance in a dominant and homophobic male environment

As viewers, we know that, regardless of our inclinations, there are always authors who lead us along the path of visualizing good works that, once taken, become indispensable to us.
Someone told me, shortly after leaving my adolescence, about a romantic writer and director, author of unique audiovisuals that leave the public with the desire to see and see more. Shortly after, he brought before my eyes the youth and romantic drama 'Where Your Eyes Linger', the series with which Hwang Da Seul began his particular exploration of LGBT+ themes.
Viewing each of its frames proved my friend right. The secret infatuation and the vibrant love story between two childhood friends and classmates, today 18 years old and high school students, one of them a playful chaebol heir, and the other, his diligent bodyguard, both lovers of Taekwondo, It became a revisited work capable of transmitting new sensations.
To visualize each scene today is to return to those impacts and convince ourselves that we are facing a work of the highest resonance in the world of BL. The bond between Han Tae Joo, son of a powerful chaebol family, and Kang Gook, "hired" by the latter's rich and conservative parents to protect their descendant and prevent him from getting into trouble, is enduring.
In this way, I immersed myself in the work of Hwang Da Seul, a young woman who graduated from the Film Department of the National University of Art of South Korea, who at only 30 years old already has several awards, such as the Excellence of the 5th Catholic Film Festival for their 2018 short film 'Spring That Summer'. I needed to discover it. I still need it.
On the one hand, LGBTQ + films and series include BL, Yaoi, Yuri, GL and other additional ones about love between people who may be of the same sex or some variation.
On the other hand, in the review, I use the acronym LGBT+, if I remember correctly, on three occasions, and always in the context of THEMATICA, not film genre. Therefore, calling 'To My Star' as LGBTQ+ is, in my view, very correct in both senses.
LGBT+ themed works are those that tell stories of members of the group made up of lesbians, gays, transgenders, transsexuals, bisexuals, intersex, queer and the rest of the identities and orientations included in the +, which tells us that the group is still constantly growth. And these are represented in 'To My Star'.
Regarding your opinion of the director and screenwriter, I do not agree with you. Her work speaks for itself: In 2023, director Hwang Da-seul attracted global attention when 'Where Your Eyes Stay', considered Korea's first BL web drama, was screened for the first time in the BL genre category on the VPB (Venice Production Bridge Screening) of the prestigious Venice International Film Festival, one of the three most important film festivals in the world.
Season 1 of 'To My Star' ranked first overall in the daily section of China's Weibo and Japan's Rakuten TV, achieving good results in overseas markets such as China and Japan. After that, 'To My Star 2' was the first BL series released in Korea after being released on television, in addition to the ratings, it ranked second in the overall category on Japan's Rakuten TV monthly chart and first undisputed place in the Korean drama category, which generated a global syndrome.
The screening schedule for 'Break the Curse of Taekwondo' was published on the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival website on June 18, to generate expectations, as the public's interest was known.
Other films by this director have similar balances, such as the drama 'The Sweet Blood', from 2021, a youthful and supernatural romance about a half-vampire who must choose between family duty and the desires of his own heart for a companion. class, and the film 'You Ghosted Me for a Week', in which he places his protagonists in a terrifying scenario caused by the tragedy of Covid-19.
Sometimes only as a screenwriter, sometimes as a director, sometimes combining these two professions, in the drama '300 Year-Old Class of 2020', a fantasy comic web miniseries, tells the story of three students from Seowon during the Joseon period who travel accidentally in time and arrive in the current Seowon in 2020, while in 'Drama Stage Season 2: Push and Out of Prison' catches the viewer with a story that mixes drama and mystery, and in 'Love as You Taste' offers a collection of love and heartbreak stories combined with each character's favorite food cravings as they all fall in and out of love.
In the series 'Blueming', from 2022, Hwang Da Seul returns to the love series between boys, to tell us a romantic and youthful story about whether good appearance defines popularity, also exploring insecurities, discovery, acceptance, shame body, and brother-sister and mother-son relationships, among other topics.
The extraordinary genius made into a television series by Hwang Da Seul is demonstrated with the two seasons of 'To My Star', from 2021 and 2022, another LGBT+ themed drama, which tells us a fairy romance between Kang Seo Joon, one of the brightest acting stars in South Korea, and Han Ji Woo, a talented chef.
Starring Son Woo Hyun as Kang Seo Joon, and Kim Kang Min as Han Ji Woo, this is one of my favorite series of all time.
Throughout eight short episodes, the young director and screenwriter returns to the LGBT+ theme and explores, in 'Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo', her most recent work, sexuality, masculinity and queerness, as well as internal conflicts, friendship, first love, separated lovers who meet again in time, homophobia, internalized homophobia and the healing power of a deep love.
The story revolves around Lee Do Hoe, a serious and quiet high school student who lives with his abusive father, a Taekwondo coach in a rural area. The life of the teenager, who despises the violent and brutal atmosphere of his home, takes an unexpected turn when the cheerful and bright Sin Ju Yeung, who dreams of going to university specializing in Taekwondo, arrives from Seoul.
According to the synopsis, after the arrival of the mischievous martial sport practice partner, Do Hoe's dark and sad life enters bursts of small and big joys, which will make his world light up. However, the oppressive culture symbolized by their father finally twists the budding love relationship of the two boys and, after an unexpected incident, they both separate, only to meet again ten years later.

HWANG DA SEOUL AND THE SIX TYPES OF ATTRACTIONS

It is fascinating how, through the dynamic established between Sin Ju Yeung and Lee Do Hoe, Hwang Da Seul makes a profound study of modern social psychology, in terms of the six types of attractions, in consensus with sexology and anthropology, based on the concept of attraction as a force that brings people together and enhances the desire to interact, know, discover, deepen ties.
With extreme and masterful acuity, the series addresses the fact that if you are attracted to someone, you feel it beyond a doubt. Defining what for depends on the factors that shape that affinity. One of them is the frequency of contact, since it is more possible to develop fascination with those who you see often. Touch makes love, says the proverb, and this makes the two protagonists fall in love with each other immediately. They both feel that unique and shocking shock for someone they have just met, while at the same time they become attached to that charismatic being because they identify with his way of thinking or his image.
The truth is that a physical, sexual, carnal, objective attraction arises between the two boys, since each of them meets the beauty requirements of the other's cultural context. The so-called aesthetic attraction or sex appeal is palpable from the first moments, because one awakens a reaction in the other in their environment thanks to their image.
And this physical, sexual and carnal attraction is much deeper and enriching, since it is accompanied by other types of attractions, such as romantic or platonic, based on an emotional affinity that privileges the bond towards carnal desire, and friendship, consolidated with the tests of the lives of the two main characters from the moment their lives intersect, and based on trust, sincerity, emotional well-being... spending time with someone and growing or having fun in their company.
But the director and screenwriter also plays with the so-called sentimental attraction, an attraction that is halfway between romantic and friendly. Both Ju Yeung and Do Hoe feel intense admiration for each other since the friction between them barely begins. They even come to see themselves as part of the same family, perhaps like the brother they never had, living under the same roof, occupying the same bathroom, one preparing food for the other...
Likewise, through the bond between the two boys, sensory attraction is manifested, that which has to do with physical contact with someone. From their body-to-body interaction while practicing sports or outside the dojang, such as when one steals a piece of ice cream from the other by snatching it directly from the mouth, in direct contact of one's saliva with that of the other, as if it were an indirect kiss, or when they touch their hands when they both hold the umbrella, both in the rain, in front of the school, when Ju Yeong surprises Do Hoe when he goes to pick him up after finishing classes, or when they heal each other's injuries after sustaining combat practices of the martial art they practice.
The mere proximity of one to the other calms, happy, strengthens with their pampering and hugs... even from listening to them, seeing them or smelling their essence.
It is extraordinary how in just one hour of the first two episodes, Hwang Da Seul, outstanding in his ability to connect with the viewer's most intimate feelings, explores the sixth type of attraction, the intellectual, that fascination with someone outstanding (or no) in some branch of knowledge, sport, art... Sin Ju Young is an excellent athlete and future university scholarship holder, while Do Hoe, in addition to being a good student, excels in taekwondo training as his father's assistant. His opinions, knowledge and philosophy of life invite his training partner to follow him closely.
Each of them believes in the duty and right to care for and protect the other. Although you know you are strong in spirit, body and character, don't you feel that the other is vulnerable and fragile in the face of the circumstances imposed by life? Has one not been expelled from school and home, and sent by his parents far from home, to a remote place, to an unknown world? Doesn't the other suffer from the physical and psychological abuse of the father? Hasn't Do Hoe had to fend for himself in the face of his mother's abandonment of the family home?

OTHER THOUGHTS

Starring Kim Nu Rim in her first leading role after appearing in several series, such as 'Once Again' and 'I will go where you are when the weather is good', and in the film 'A Girl of the 20th Century', as Lee Ho Doe, and Lee Seon in his acting debut, playing Sin Ju Yeong, it is evident from the beginning that the filmmakers strove to be as authentic as possible. This is evident in all aspects of the series, as is also evident in its depiction of Taekwondo.
In addition to the excellent choreography in the sports practices, everything is satisfactorily filmed, such as the long process before or after training, where the characters are seen warming up their muscles, seeking concentration, getting rid of their sports clothing or cleaning his wounds. In this aspect, the series gives us an intimate vision of the techniques that make up the basis of the art supported by the physical, spiritual, martial and philosophical that corresponds to the name of Taekwondo. This is the second BL series in which the director and screenwriter puts the protagonists in this sports scenario. Everything seems to indicate that he likes this sport.
And there emerges another strong point of the series: placing these two teenagers who explore sexuality in a scenario in which they must challenge stereotypical notions of manhood, as that virile and combative sport is supposed to be.
In this sense, the two protagonists will live hell trying to be true to themselves, so the biggest fight is not the ones on the streets or in the training area, but the one that comes from within each of them, so that the series is also a stunning exploration of two young men's journey toward self-acceptance in an ocean of hypermasculine and homophobic pressures.
With outstanding performances and beautiful cinematography, Hwang Da Seul has created an extraordinary drama that speaks directly to all those LGBTQ+ youth trying to define their feelings, emotions, and their place in a heterosexual world that can often feel scary and strange.
None of the series authentic qualities would have worked without the commitment of its two main stars. As seen in its first two episodes, the only ones broadcast until the moment I write the review, 'Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo' follows the protagonists' journey from beginning to end, there is no scene without them and their performances in all of them.
Their roles are deeply demanding, both physically and emotionally, as the characters go through this entire hard process of self-discovery and acceptance of their sexuality, while proving the innocence of teenage love and stopping being strangers to become lovers, in a dominant male environment. , within a complex scenario of homophobia and violence exercised both by the father of one of them, the coach of the other, and by the young delinquents who frequently persecute Ho Doe and Ju Yeong.
There are plenty of reasons to watch the series, and among these the leading roles of Kim Nu Rim and Lee Seon stand out. They are one of the best performances of the year. These guys have a bright future ahead of them.

THE MUSIC AND THE SERIES

Personally, I really enjoy the songs composed for the series by the successful musician Doko and performed, among others, by the emotional singer-songwriter Gogang'. The OST, composed of five songs, allows to increase the emotions of the drama in the audience, while leaving a deeper and more persistent impression.
"I'm Still Young" captures the incomplete emotions and awkward movements of the mind as if walking alone down a road at dawn. Jo Hwan-ji's melodious, calm yet deep voice creates a lyrical sensitivity.
For its part, "Thank You" delicately expresses the emotion that is cautiously approaching. This song, which lists one by one the tremors in a moment that feels like destiny, doubles the emotion by adding the soft and sweet voice of Yura, the main vocalist of the group Unicode.
Meanwhile, "Camino" is based on a lively piano accompaniment and contains the thought: "Just as our lives are on the path of youth, there will be a time in our lives when we will all take a path that we must travel." and 'Trunk' is a simple song based on guitar playing, Gogang's charming voice represents the desire to "pack only the necessary luggage and leave in peace to an unknown place."
Finally, "Oh Camino", is a band version of "Camino", and offers something new with a different melody, arrangement and version from a different era, to frame the passage of time in the lives of the two protagonists.

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Dare I say, the best KBL released this year

Hwang Daseul, you are truly an exceptional director! You've created another masterpiece with a story that is both realistic and conventionally engaging. Your perspective on the struggles faced by youth and the queer community in the name of love is truly commendable. This narrative beautifully explores the challenge of breaking generational trauma while still embracing kindness and sincere love. It serves as a poignant reminder that love is not an easy journey; rather, it involves a continuous cycle of understanding, forgiveness, acceptance, and compromise for those we care about. For future viewers, I hope you find this masterpiece as delightful and heartwarming as I did. This show has brought me immense comfort and hope in ways I can't quite articulate, and I haven't related to a character's struggles like this in a long time. I truly hope you all see this show as the gem that it is because it really is something special.

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That 12 years gap hurt

I'm just a loser with too much pride. Even so, don't abandon me. -- Dohoe made me tear up a little when he said this. This drama had me going through so many emotions. It's one of the best dramas I've seen this year, and I've seen quite a few.

Listen, the beginning of this drama had me smiling. The awkwardness between them whrn they tried to kiss, made me go awww. So awkward, embarrassing and yet, adorable. I was sold on it already on the first episode, but then the 12 years gap happened, and I was like... huh? dafug you mean they haven't seen each other for 12 years? But they are in love. And then, when they got back together, but everything was so uncomfortable, I felt so sad for them.

Not gonna lie, a lot of things confused me in this drama:
1. Why the hell did Shin Juyeong kept in contact with Dohoe's abusive father? Sure, it would have made sense if by doing so, he got information on Dohoe's whereabouts, but he didn't, and yet he kept going back, taking care of him. Dude, he was literally beating you, and you were his student. And he did worse to his son, your lover. Like, why? what was his reason? Good people are such tree huggers!
2. Ha Hyeonho legit thought he could get Dohoe to like him. Boy, you and your friends beat him up, and your excuse was like, 'When we were beating you up you didn't cry, and, I bullied you because I like you.' Bish, did he really think that was gonna change anything? I thought for a second they were dating, and I was ready to riot.
3. Up until they flat-out showed Dohoe faking this documents, I had no idea what he did and what they were talking about. I was just nodding along.
4. If Dohoe was smart enough to fool that school to make him a teacher who was actually good, how did he keep failing his entrance exams? I thought he was paper smart, no?
5. So did he spend time in jail for that prison sentences or not? The voice over said it, then we just moved on. And what the hell happened to that boy's parents?

Yes, my fav character was Shin Juyeong because my man was such a green flag. Though, I still don't understand why he kept staying closer to that toxic father. When Dohoe showed up, and was angry with him, I understood, because why the eff would you be nice to that abuser. Not gonna lie though, when Dohoe started being pretentious and acting like he was better than Juyeong, I was so over him. Yes, you've been through trauma, but the way he kept treating Juyeong was not it. Unlike Juyeong, I almost gave up on him, and then when we found out what happened to him those past 12 years, I cried with them.

This drama was a rollercoaster of emotions, and I enjoyed every moment of it. Although in the end they seemed happy and in the process of getting there, I still wanted to know if they made it. You know, get some concrete closure. Did he finally passed the exams? Did Juyeong find a stable taekwondo job he loves? Open endings sucks, but imma just pretend they lived a good life.

All in all, great cast, the story was good and had depth and pulled you in. The actors were good and made us feel for the characters. It held my interest till the very end, so I highly recommend it to everyone who loves dramas and bls. I look forward to more from the actors in the future.

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not a BL, thank you!

What a powerful story. While it may be confusing at times, everything will get clear the closer to the finale you get.
The acting and cinematography was top notch, the story could be a bit more clear for the viewers even when you will understand it at the end.

This is not a BL, it's a drama, with gay characters. One who denies his past and his pain and the other one who is trying to help his love even when that not always works out as intended. They deliver an emotinal rollercoaster which makes you shed some tears but also depicts how hard a relationsship can be because of all the baggage you have collected in your past and how to communicate to clear the air, to solve misunderstandings, to overcome your faults and your past and make it so you will truly understand each other.

After "Love in the Big City" and "Gray Shelter" we have the third Korean series not fitting in the BL catagory. While BLs can be fun, I personally like realistic, complicated, sometimes painful gay dramas a lot more because they also educate the viewers, that nothing is black and white but shades of gray and that relationsships are complicated and not easy to do especially when your emotional baggage is huge and the world was never kind to you.

This is a must watch for everyone who can cope with painful stories and is willing to give a real drama a chance.

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a gorgeous onion of character development and storytelling

It's intriguing to me how much my feelings have changed about this story in such a short time. On the one hand I feel like they did such an amazing job building out these characters, and on the other hand the rate at which you go from wholeheartedly loving these characters to near despising them is unbelievable. Episodes 1 & 2 I fell head over heels in love, episodes 3 & 4 I lost interest, and episodes 5 & 6 sweet feelings started to sour. There are subtle hints that episodes 7 & 8 will reveal secrets that might explain why things developed to this point, and hopefully fall back in love with these characters.

The story follows the life of Do Hoe, a quiet high school student who lives under his abusive father, a the Grandmaster of a Taekwondo gym. Ju Yeong is the mischievous type, he gets kicked out of his home in Seoul and sent off to the countryside to train under the Grandmaster, and there the relationship between Do Hoe and Ju Yeong begins. Do Hoe already has a complicated relationship with his childhood friend Hyeon Ho, and as the story progresses the three of them fall into a mess of a love rivalry.

These characters and their stories are so beautifully done, what I love most about this show is the absolutely masterful subtlety they use to tell their story, it's all of the tiny little details that make up each scene, layers on layers deep, each scene peels back a new layer of the characters backgrounds and personalities. Over time some things change and some stay the same, I'm interested to see how they develop through the end.

The actors are great, each of them have a unique role to play in the atmosphere and they do a fantastic job. The production is good, each scene is intentional, and the music and editing are solid as well.

Looking forward to more, will keep updating this review as episodes come out.

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Hwang Daseul does it again

Tbh, as someone who loves Hwang Daseul's work, I was scared that I'd be disappointed but she did not let me down. The story, despite being just eight episodes, flowed so naturally, every part connected to the other seamlessly, it was a delight to watch such a show.

The characters had their own realistic complexities, and the resolution to the same was quite realistic which was a breath of fresh air. It was interesting to see how the way one views themselves changes the way they react to the world around them, how each one finds a balance between morality and selfishness. I do wish there were some topics fleshed out even more like what's Juyeong's relationship with his parents like after all these years, why did Dohoe still feel safe around Hyeonho despite their past, but it didn't take away much from the crux of the story.

I have to commend Kim Nurim and Lee Seon for making us fall in love with their character's cute personalities and cute dynamics and cute chemistry. Their characters have now become one of my favourite couples in the bl world.

A special shout out to Jang Yeon Woo, his characterisation of Hyeonho was beautiful and I genuinely want to see more of Hyeonho's story in a spin off.

The use of music/OSTs was done in the best way, it made the series shine even brighter.

All in all, this is a show that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with life; it shows you how complex self-love and self abandon can be and it's one show you shouldn't miss.

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how to love someone when you hate the world/the world hates you

(pre-finale review)
dohoe and juyeong still feel as intensely about each other after a dozen years without communication as they did when they were kids re the way dohoe immediately kissed juyeong on remembering the note he left him and juyeong going back for more right after they break apart.. squeee.. it's just that they are extremities on a spectrum with how they view and react to abuse. juyeong takes it as what it is maybe it's because he was raised religiously but he wants to reconcile with people; he steps in immediately and fights like it's his second nature but forgives and forgets just as easily. dohoe on the other hand thinks people's behaviours are fundamentally wrong and gets increasingly upset at not being able to fix it and this frustration leaks into every part of his life. he focuses on himself when other people are too much to bear but feels incredibly guilty at his selfishness (he's just like me). if they can't agree to disagree, the differences in their personalities will keep coming between their love. juyeong cares too much and is simultaneously carefree. dohoe thinks and feels A Lot. their personalities can actually balance each other's out perfectly if juyeong stops and thinks for a moment and dohoe stops thinking for one goddamn minute.

story/directing wise i do think the pacing constraints makes it seem haywire especially at first with the random timeskip and the third wheel/side love interest plot seems halfbaked and unnecessary, almost as if they gave up on it half way through.

side note: not to fujoshi out but that reunion sex scene while they were arguing paralleling with their first time is *chef's kiss* like the scene switching is perfect i want MORE such a nosebleed moment


(finale review)
tune in next week ^-^ (i literally have finals next week lolol)

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