It was something new, even if it got a bit messy

I had quite high expectations for the series. The trailer looked interesting, even with all the red flags it threw at us. The plot was good, it made sense to some extent, but there were still some plot holes left and many, many stupid decisions. Not that anyone expected anything else. It did get a bit messy at times, especially with so many characters that each had their own plot.

Now, for the omegaverse aspect of the series. I, as most other fanfic readers out there, have at least a little bit of an idea what omegaverse is and how it works. It’s not usually my cup of tea, I’ll admit that, but it’s something I can deal with when it’s not too in your face. I didn’t mind it too much in the series, I even missed some elements of it. So, while certain things were hinted at, I wish they were clearer, especially the whole enigma-alpha relationships.

Charlie & Babe: I am not a fan of how the two started, and I only got less impressed as the series progressed and more things were revealed. Both of them are big red flags, but somehow, they made it work. They both have past trauma and find it hard to easily trust people. But while Charlie tends to make plans and then act on them, Babe tends to rush into things with not much thinking. He’s very hotheaded. Communication? We don’t know her. The two were very quick to forgive each other and forget about everything that had happened, which is both good and bad. Bad, because a lot of very problematic things were just swept under the rug. Good, because the story would drag on too much otherwise. I liked the chemistry between Pavel and Pooh, and I really liked how Pavel handled the more emotional scenes.

I feel like this is a good space to mention Way. He made me go through so many different emotions. His story is one of the major plot holes and unsolved situations of the series. I feel like his story did not get a proper closure, but it was the lazy way out. Nut was great in portraying Way’s emotions, especially love and jealousy.

Alan & Jeff: They were such cuties! Even if there were a lot of lies and secrets between the two at some point, they talked about it. Jeff is a loner and very reserved, which is very understandable with his upbringing. And Alan is just full of love that he is always trying to share with his boys. In a way, he collected a group of lost boys and gave them love and a chance to thrive under his guidance. It’s no surprise started to melt around Alan at some point. I found their height difference adorable. I also liked the chemistry between Sailub and Pon.

There are a lot of other possible and hinted at ships throughout the series. But if there is one that I am fully on, it’s the North and Sonic ship. The two were a breath of fresh air. There was the least drama surrounding them. I loved their little bickering moments, vlogs, and them trying to be helpful but not really managing to do that.

As for the other characters, Tony is horrible. Kenta is… hurting. He doesn’t know how to quit being Tony’s right hand, no matter how much he hurts him, humiliates him. Pete was a surprise; I wasn’t really sure what to expect from him. Similarly with Kim, and even Dean. Winner is not worth the trouble of talking about him. But all the actors played their characters well, even if some of the villains felt a bit cartoonish.

All in all, it was a good watch, but I think it needed something more to be amazing.

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Want to camp? Rent a mate!

It was slightly confusing. Pai gets dumped by his girlfriend, while Third and his girlfriend are on kind of a break. The thing is, Pai and Third’s girlfriend are travel companions while their partners are not. So, Third hires Pai to travel with him, saying he wishes to understand his profession more. The two end up at the same camp as their (ex)girlfriends. How unexpected! There was no passion between the two boys, I am not even sure if there was supposed to be. I found the girls cute though. But there are certain things that could have been done differently.

The plot is kind of lacking. Nothing much actually happens, and what does is not really well connected to other scenes. The acting was okay, but it also felt weak at times. The comedic aspect of it was not really done well either.

I don’t think we can say this is a two-part series. Why? Because the breakup scenes have been played like 3 times each! Instead of giving time for the story to develop, to maybe flow a bit more naturally without all the weird scene cuts, we get to watch the breakups (time apart) speeches and arguments again and again. With no changes. And the first few minutes of the second episode are the same as the last few minutes of the first episode. A waste of time.

Things were left pretty up in the air in the end. Certain things were hinted at, but if they actually used up their time wisely, things could have concluded a lot more nicely. And in a way that made sense with the story progression they could have included. Now, it just seems rushed and not really making much sense.

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… And to where your eyes stray to

Bodyguards falling for whoever they are supposed to guard is a trope I have always loved. So, it’s no surprise I have really enjoyed this drama. The plot was simple, but I didn’t mind it. Seeing the series is quite short, I think anything more complicated would have a lot of shortcomings as there would be no time to properly address everything.

Han Tae Joo & Kang Gook: The two of them are very different yet similar. They come from different backgrounds, have different outlooks on life, and while one seems to be a trouble-making womanizer, the other is a problem-solving and always single bodyguard. But the two do share some interests. They both seem to deal with problems in a similar way, sacrificing their own happiness to keep their loved ones safe. I was ready to dislike Tae Joo and his spoiled self, but I really liked him at the end. Gook carried his emotions on his sleeve, even if he was trying hard to hide them. He knew it would only bring trouble to say it out loud. I think the two actors had nice chemistry, even if the acting was a bit weak at some points.

As for the bad, I really wish we had seen more of the main leads being a couple. I really missed at least a few scenes with them just being lovey dovey with each other. Han Tae Joo’s father was a very unlikeable character. And while I wasn’t bothered by him being all high and mighty and who knows what else, I absolutely hated his behavior and attitude towards Hang Gook. It just didn’t sit right with me. Maybe it’s because of how short the series is, but his motives were not believable. Nor did they make much sense.

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It had a lot of potential, but it sizzled out by the end

The basic premise of the plot was very cliché – rich man falling in love with a poor woman who is working for him. Seen about a million times, but it can still be great. I liked the added complication of Vee’s missing mother and Mirin’s involvement with it. It added an extra layer of possible complications. I was, however, not a fan of how it all played out. They were really building up with all the problems, the way all relationships were becoming more and more complicated, the issues were pilling up… and then it just kind of fizzled out. It was very anticlimactic.

Veekit & Mirin: They were trying to make Vee cold, unreachable, and grumpy. He was just childish and kept throwing tantrums left and right. I am glad they dropped that act fairly quickly, even if his sudden change of character was a bit unexpected. Mirin was sweet, even if a bit too honest at times. I liked that. She matched Vee fairly well and didn’t let him trample all over him. I found the two cute, but I didn’t really feel the sparks. Which is a shame. Dew’s acting did feel a bit bland at times, I just don’t think he handled the emotional scenes well. I liked Kao’s acting better, it was more believable.

As for side characters, I think Chanon had a lot of potential. There could be a lot more done with him, his ambitions, and his mother’s plans. But they took the easy way out in the end. And he became another thing, another complication that just kind of sizzled out. Ewes was sweet and loyal, even if there were times where that loyalty might have brought her to the wrong side of things. Thanya was just plain annoying. She didn’t really have any personality beyond being rich and wanting Vee.

As I said, it had a lot of potential. But it was wasted as they decided to take the easy way out when it came to solving all the issues that arose through the drama.

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Wasted potential

The plot seemed interesting, and it had a lot of potential. But due to the shortness and weird cuts between the scenes, it ended up being messy and hard to follow. There were some flashbacks and then jumps back to the present, but it was very hard to distinguish when one ended and the other started.

There were also quite a few plot holes. Some that weren’t given enough background information and some that never got a proper conclusion. One such plot hole is also Shao Jie, who Wu Zheng is apparently getting closer with. I am not sure if this happened before the series, but we get to see very little of her, so it’s really hard to say anything about the two.

Wu Zheng & Yu Shi: I have so many issues with the two of them! A lot of their intimate moments felt very forced and non-con. The thing is, Yu Shi looked extremely uncomfortable most of the time, like he doesn’t really want to be intimate. And Wu Zheng kept pressing on, was very pushy on the topic. Which I disliked. And then there is also the fact that Yu Shi suffers from a dissociative disorder which in turn makes one of his personalities have the mind of a five-year-old child… that made those “intimate” scenes so much worse in my eyes.

They tried to address some serious things, but I don’t think they managed to do so with any of them. From trauma, to exploring one’s sexuality, it was all just so glossed over. It wasn’t really given proper depth.

However, I think the actor who played Yu Shi did an amazing job switching between the personalities. The glasses did help in distinguishing between the two, but it was also in the mannerism, the way he talked… it really showed.

We also got a second couple… who I don’t really know much about. I guess they have a past. And that’s pretty much all we get to know. Which again adds to the choppiness and unexplained plot holes.

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It had potential but it didn't deliver

The plot was very predictable, which is not a bad thing. It had a lot of potential to be great, to go deeper and really develop the relationship between the two main characters. Sadly, the execution is where the series fell short.

The pacing was very confusing. I was never sure how much time has passed between the scenes, how long have the characters knew each other, etc. It made the story progression and any possible relationship development hard to follow and understand. There are also some plot holes that leave a lot either unfinished or without any prior explanations. And all that just added to how patchy the series was.

Kang In Soo & Yoon Sang Yi: I didn’t really believe their love. I think it has a lot to do with how patchy it all was. They simply weren’t given enough time (on screen) for them to make their love easily understandable, believable. Separately, I found each of them very sweet. Yoon Sang Yi is a little awkward and gets tongue tied when he is close to his crush. It is endearing. Kang In Soo seems closed off and is someone who doesn’t necessarily trust easily. At the same time, it seems easier for him to connect with people through music.

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Can we get them a gangster manual or something?

I didn’t have super high expectations after seeing the trailer, but I was still expecting more story wise. The plot seemed simple enough, but there were so many plot holes that I was left with more questions than answers in the end. I think a lot of time was taken up by other characters instead of giving more screen time to Tew and Guy, so they could properly develop their relationship. The gaming aspect was nice, but we only got one (maybe two) proper scene related to it. Which is a shame as it appeared to be quite a big element of Tew’s and Guy’s relationship.

Besides all the cliché complications and poor decision, the gangster element was very questionable. I couldn’t take Tew seriously as a gangster because of his baby face. I loved the styling; they went for the classic Italian mafia man outfits that looked absolutely incredible on him. But that was not enough. Don’t even get me started on how he was the worst gangster to ever live. Which says a lot because no one in this drama made for a decent professional criminal. Seriously, couldn’t they find a gangster manual or something? It might have helped.

Tew & Guy: Leaving aside what a terrible gangster Tew is, I actually found them quite cute together. Tew is more mature and doesn’t trust easily, while Guy seems to be deeply wanting friends and is ready to trust anyone. I don’t necessarily think they are a perfect match, but I think they are both adaptable enough to make it work. I was a bit bothered how Tew was someone who was always true to what he said, yet that is not something that is carried through the whole show. Guy was a bit too naïve at times too. Meen and Ping have a good chemistry, but there is something about Ping’s acting that always throws me off. I am not sure what it is, but he just can’t handle emotion heavy scenes.

Wahl was so annoying! He was incredible unlikeable character and I was rolling my eyes whenever he was on screen. I did like the game friends; they were quite different from each other, but they were great together. Tul was always loyal to Tew, even if some of his decisions are a bit questionable. Boss left me mostly confused. Not about his feelings, but about his reasoning behind a lot of his actions. It made absolutely no sense.

And then we got to Kenji. He was very cartoonish. He didn’t feel like a real villain, but more like one you’d find in a cartoon. All of which was even more exaggerated by his style, the way he talked and reacted to everything. I just don’t think this was the way to go if they wanted to create a good villain.

The ending was okay, I guess. It was only half of what I was hoping for, but it is also something that the series was leading towards since the 3rd or 4th episode, so it is what it is.

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The title is fiting - it's a very impactful series

Viewer (reader) discretion is advised. The series with some very triggering topics which I will also mention in my review. Some such topics are rape, bullying, homophobia, violence, suicide. It has some pretty graphic scenes and it’s not for everyone.

For only having three parts, this is a very impactful series. Going into it, I knew what the story was going to be about, but I didn’t expect them to be this transparent about it. This is not a love story, far from it. It’s a story about a man who is obsessed with another and will go to any lengths to have him. The series addresses a lot of important topics and they do it quite well.

I honestly didn’t expect the rape scene to be so graphic, so violent. Not that it is a good thing, but sexual assault and non-consent are very common things we see in BL series. But they tend to romanticize both, make them gentle and with a lot of persuading. The Effect didn’t go that route. They made it violent, hurtful, traumatic. And that really had a big impact. The dialogue that accompanied the scenes were heartbreaking, especially considering that rapists who rape those that are close to them do see this as an act of love. It is not. It’s an act of violence, of needed control, of showing their dominance. And they point that out too, which is really important.

The trauma Shin went through because of Keng was portrayed very well. Not just his physical trauma through the bruises he carried on his body, but also his mental trauma. Shin’s bruises were in a way symbolic. They were a symbol of his pain, but it seemed like as they started to fade, people around him started to forget how traumatized he is. There is a scene in which Keng begs for forgiveness and offer money, and the fact that Shin’s parents agreed to that, shows that they didn’t understand his pain. I am so glad that Shin had friends who were there for him, who supported him through everything and who protected him when needed.

Social media is toxic, by now we all know that. However, that doesn’t mean that we are not impacted by what happens on social media, by what others say and post about us, even by what we post ourselves. And that is something that this series really pointed out. People always take sides, and they usually take the side of the more popular person. Be it the right side or not. Be it the truth or not. And the worst part is that once it is over, people tend to forget about what happened on social media. They treat it like it’s not reality simply because it happened online. The effects it has on a person are often times not acknowledged.

Homophobia is something that not only followed Shin and Keng at school, but also something that was coming from Keng’s parents who wanted him to protect their reputation. That’s a sad reality that many LGBTQ+ youth still face today. They either cannot be who they are due to fear of what will happen to them or because they are forced to conform to the norm of “normal behavior” that are set by the society.

Both main actors were absolutely brilliant when it came to portraying the emotions, no matter how good or bad those were. I felt their pain. They were on point with their gestures, facial expressions, body movements, even tone of voice. It was so raw, yet amazing.

I do think the story was very rushed. I wish there would be more time to develop the characters and their storylines. And to address some things a bit more in depth. To give Shin a chance to heal before our eyes. And I wish for the ending to be cleared. I am still unsure what exactly happened.

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Nothing really stood out

The whole thing was very mediocre. I don’t think there was anything super outstanding about it, except maybe their dancing and singing, but we didn’t really get that many such scenes. There also wasn’t anything so horrible that it would make it unwatchable.

I guess its biggest selling point was the fact that we are talking about a BL done by a k-pop group. As someone who doesn’t follow OnlyOneOf that doesn’t mean much to me. However, I know what a big step this is, especially considering how very little talk there is about LGBTQ+ community in k-pop (except for a few artists). I know this is also not due to the artists, but due to other factors.

One of the major downfalls was the length of the drama. When dramas are this short, it’s very hard to get a consistent, plot-holes free and logical plot done well. A lot of things were rushed, the cuts between the scenes were weird, the timeline of the story crashed, the characters weren’t properly developed. We also missed a lot of background information and were left without actual conclusions on many occasions.

Gong Ji Hoon & Kang Eden: I feel like I don’t really know what happened with them. Neither of them was good at communication, what a shocker, which lead to very typical plot twists. Ji Hoon did appear to be colder and more reserved, but also very caring. Eden was naïve and a bit friendlier, but still quite reserved. It showed that the two actors are comfortable with each other, but there wasn’t much chemistry between them. I think the acting was quite weak. Actually, that’s true for pretty much everyone in this drama. A lot of the time the emotions didn’t really translate well through the screen and the scenes felt quite awkward at times.

The side characters were a mess. Very little things got resolved or explained. Which is probably due to the shortness of the drama. A lot of it also felt unrealistic or just not needed.

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Better than expected

The amount of lies and sneaking around they did to avoid telling the parents whose wedding it is… it’s ridiculous! The weird part? I’m not even mad about it. I was ready to hate it, but I ended up enjoying it more than I thought. Is it the best? No. I think the plot and characters could use some more work, but I also understand there are only two episodes, so they can’t develop everything as detailed as they should.

I like both Boss and Tob. The fact that the two are already in an established relationship is great, we usually only see the chase part of the relationship in such series. Neither of them is good at tackling the problem at hand (aka the parents), but I guess that’s one more thing the two are a good match in. The actors had great chemistry, I loved the looks and soft smiles they shared.

Also, how many more real, fake and wanna-be boyfriends can Mei have? She’s a fun character, even if she can be a bit too much at times. As annoying as I sometimes found Emmy, the self-proclaimed fujoshi, she is actually a really good person. Although a bit noisy.

I think the main plot points actually tackle some important issues many people face in real life, especially in countries where being in a same-sex relationship is not recognized by the law. I am not sure how I feel about the comedic approach to it. On one hand, I like that they tried to go the lighthearted way with it and had fun with it. But on the other hand, it feels very dismissive of the experiences of those who go through something similar in real life.

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The characters were super relatable

Let’s be honest, the plot was not anything new or exciting, but I think the execution was done well! The plot was given time to develop, the friendships had time to form, and love had time to blossom. It’s definitely a slow-burn with a sprinkle of love triangle, maybe even a love square. The cinematography was beautiful, the locations were very picturesque. The music, the lightning, the camera angles… Korean series have definitely mastered that.

Noh Shin Woo & Woo Tae Kyung – the two are a hot mess. I think they are both so relatable. Tae Kyung is an introvert, does not have any friends, and doesn’t do well in social situations. He does often come across as cold and closed off, but I think it was often just his nerves and not knowing how to act in given situations. Shin Woo has a crush, and he does not know how to handle it. He has been hurt in the past, so he built walls to protect himself. He is awkward and comes across as rude, but in reality, he simply doesn’t know how to act around his crush. I really like how they take things slow, going from enemies to friends and only then to lovers. It is not rushed. This is a first love, first relationship for both after all.

Shin Da On – he is an over achiever and a people pleaser. He is friendly, approachable, always smiling and hiding his true feelings. I think his struggle to maintain his status, the idea of him that others have, has been done nicely, especially in the latter episodes. It really showed the painful reality of trying to achieve the expectations of others. Da On trying to be good and helpful to everyone did contribute to certain people feeling like he was leading them on, like they meant more to him. And I really appreciate how that was pointed out.

I do think that Shin Woo and Tae Kyung were not given enough time as a couple. I really wished everything would have been resolved sooner and we would get to see them being all cute and lovely for a bit longer. I also think certain people were forgiven too easily. What that person did is horrible, especially considering the society and the school environment. Another thing that bothered me is how it was implied that we can decide who we will like. That’s not how it works. Just because someone is being nice to you or has feelings for you, you can’t just say “I am going to like that person too” and be done with it. I found that very strange and not really making any sense.

I think it was good that they addressed and showed negative aspects of being gay in all boys’ school. It is definitely not all sunshine and rainbows and people are not nearly as accepting as we would all like them to. So I think it’s important that such things get addressed from both the positive and negative side.

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The ending surprised me

I don’t even know what I liked about it. There was a lot of things I didn’t like, I can tell you that, but I am finding it hard pointing out what I liked. The music was nice. The basic plot was interesting, but the execution was not good. The production value and acting were not the worst I have seen, but they weren’t amazing either.

As I said, the plot had potential. But they didn’t really develop the characters enough, both the main two characters and the side characters. There was a lot going on that either didn’t make sense, was not properly addressed or it was just added in without any explanation. The flashback being shown a few times was unnecessary, especially for such a short series.

Kim Jun Ho & Choi Min Hyun: one is a vampire who is dying for killing a human, and the other is a human with pure blood that can turn a vampire into human. Jun Ho is someone we are supposed to feel sympathetic towards, but I found him very unlikeable most of the time. He had some good sides, but he was very hot and cold towards Min Hyun. I also hated how he strung Hae Soo along for hundreds of years. Min Hyun was sweet, but extremely naïve and with no regard for his own safety. Even after knowing the truth, knowing everything, he would still do whatever he felt like doing. I can understand why his brother wanted to know where he is 24/7.

The ending was not what I expected. And I really liked it, it made a lot of sense due to everything that has happened both in the past and present. I do wish it would have been done a bit differently, but I am not going to complain too much about that.

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One fell first and the other fell harder

This has been on my PTW for a while, and I am so happy I finally got around to watching it. The plot is nothing special (unrequited love rivals to lovers), but I really loved the execution. The pacing of the story was very nice as well, it didn’t seem rushed, and it didn’t drag on. The twists were nicely placed, allowing the story to progress at a consistent pace.

Gao Shi De & Zhou Shu Yi: their dynamics are interesting. They both appear to be talented and intelligent, sporty, but also quite competitive. They come from different backgrounds, but that didn’t really play a big role in their story. I liked their dynamics, because even if Zhou Shu Yi tried to pull pranks on Gao Shi De, none of them would cause serious damage. And Gao Shi De just went with it, knowing full well who was behind them. He fell first, but Zhou Shu Yi was the one that fell harder. They say you realize what you have once you lose it, and we would see that. Their relationship developed at a nice pace. I like the fact that the two have know each other for a long time. The two actors have great chemistry and I think they are both great at portraying emotions.

I liked their friends a lot too. They might have not had that much screen time, but they really showed themselves to be supportive and understanding. They had good advice to give too. Peu Shou Yi was an interesting character. I really want to learn more about his story, there seems to be an intriguing past. And Gao Shi De’s mom is so sweet! I really liked her too.

The locations were beautiful, as was the OST. While some of the scenes take place in dark places, the screen didn’t get too dark and I was still able to see everything that was going on, which is an aspect that is often overlooked.

I do think the series was a bit short though, but it wasn’t too bothersome.

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Is it love or is it obsession?

I like the plot, it’s something interesting and new, but I feel like them leaving a lot of things unsolved at the end (not sure if season 2 was planned in advance) was a bit annoying. I also think that the shortness of the drama leaves a lot of important things out which did make it hard for me to understand certain events and actions of the characters.

Go Yoo Han & Choi Yeon Woo: I am not sure how I feel about their pairing. They both have things they have to deal with – conditions, family drama, obsessions. Go Yoo Han appears as someone who doesn’t really care about his future, is not very sociable and can be very persistent. Choi Yeon Woo is an introvert, and I believe that had a lot to do with the fact he is a mono. Monos are known to kidnap and even kill their probes, so he is doing his best to avoid meeting his probe and turning into a monster. The focus is on the development of their relationship, which I really liked. We saw how they both struggle (especially Choi Yeon Woo) with what their relationship could potentially turn into. I think the actors did an amazing job portraying the characters. The visuals were on point as well, I just couldn’t take my eyes off Go Yoo Han, his eyes were so captivating. And him wearing the mask only directed the attention to his eyes more.

I am a bit confused on the relationship of monos and probes. Are they meant to be like soulmates? Is that something that both of them feel intensely or only the mono? Is it even love or just an obsession in most cases? There are a lot of questions that I am not sure how to answer and I wish would have been addressed more in the series.

There have been some heavy topics addressed in the series, but they were not given much thought after they were mentioned, done. I am guessing it’s due to the shortness of the series, but with what Choi Yeon Woo has done towards the end… I really wish it would have been talked about more. And for Go Yoo Han to not take it as lightly nor as something almost positive.

I found the locations and OST beautiful. I found the color rush effect with the colors flashing around the screen distracting though. And the fact that the first few interactions between the two main characters were almost a copy-paste of one another seemed like a waste to me.

It was a nice watch, but I feel like it had the potential to be much better.

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A fanservice episode

I really liked how the story in the special episode was a continuation from where we left of in the main series. And the fact that they didn’t go for the cliché wedding scene was even better. I did find the audio a bit weird at times, the background noises being too loud. But I wasn’t too bothered by it as I use the subtitles anyways.

There was no real character growth or much plot progression (which is fine), but there was a lot of fanservice moments throughout. The special episode felt like it was meant to be just that – fanservice, with the two couples getting frisky whenever possible. The friendships between Rain and Sky and Payu and Prapai were shown too. I really liked how the scenes between the two friend pairings were incorporated into the story, especially the gossiping between Rain and Sky while the other two just observe them. This also opened the possibility for flashbacks that got to be incorporated into a story in a very clear and fitting way.

Am I annoyed by the lack of communication and misunderstandings as plot drivers for the special episode? Yes, I am. It could have easily been avoided and the boys could have just gone to a joint vacation. No extra drama needed.

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