Light on Me (2021)

Rare case of love triangle done right

Under the cliché high school romance full of tropes, there is a hidden depth. Don’t expect this show to change your life, but it might leave you with some thoughts to think about.

It’s a short story of finding yourself, standing up for your beliefs, improving and changing your environment. At first all the characters might seem stereotypical, but there is more to them.

Tae Kyung is not your typical introverted shy boy. While he might not be the life of the party, he is confident and honest, never scared of voicing his opinion to the people he cares about.

Shin Woo seems like a cold, distant lead? Could not be further from the truth. He is a shy, sweet and loving potato that needs some time to open up to other people. He values his friends, trying to stay honorable while not giving up on what he desires and loves.

Da On might seem too good to be true, but he is battling his own demons. The external and internal pressure to be a perfect student, friend, son took a toll on him, and we witness his slow change, as he discovers who he truly is.

Shi Woon is not just a comedic relief that is supposed to brighten up the mood. He is the most caring and emotionally mature of all the characters, always giving wise advice and making sure everyone is taken care of.

While the drama follows all the well known tropes, by changing some details, and giving the character more nuance, it becomes more interesting and engaging. The love triangle? Chef’s kiss. The way the story unfolds, you cannot stop yourself from understanding both main ships, since they both work and have their charming aspects.

The acting could be improved. I know many people say Tae Kyung is just that awkward character, hence the acting is fitting - for me it’s just not good. While I ended up liking the awkwardness behind Sae On’s line delivery (it was cute), I do think he needs to train his acting skills quite a bit. The rest of the cast did rather well. Some more emotional scenes from Seo Hyun seemed a bit empty, but So Hee’s character was not worth even caring about, so I let it pass.

Light On Me is an amazing step forward for Korean BLs. The audience wants a longer format, the audience wants better production quality and the audience will appreciate the hard work. This show proves it. While I don’t think it’s the best K-BL, I completely understand the sentiment of people who do believe so. With more and longer episodes, the main leads were fleshed out more, the story had a steady pace and the supporting characters were more than just extras filling the space.

I also have to appreciate the job done behind the scenes - the cast supporting the genre in the interviews. The whole production team seemed to do it for more than just money, there is a true important message they are trying to convey. Even the OST singers A.C.E showed support for the community on countless occasions. On the OST - opening song is such a bop.

Some complaints though. While I understand the purpose of So Hee’s character, I also believe the show could have done without her being the antagonist. The same result could have been achieved without making the only female character the "villain". Her character progression was also not quite believable.

Another small, but extremely distracting aspect was the makeup. Damn. What they’ve done to Sae On’s pretty face should land them in jail. It was extremely unnatural, which added to the robotic vibe Tae Kyung gave because of the, at times questionable line delivery. They literally looked like plastic dolls, with white faces not quite fitting the tone of the neck.

The last thing worth mentioning - the first episode does not represent the drama well. It was not the best introduction to the story and the characters, but I promise it gets better with each episode.

Overall, such a fun and enjoyable ride. It truly brought a lot of people on mdl together to discuss the characters and relationships. Getting so many people so attached and engaged speaks volumes about the show itself.

Read More

WORTH WATCHING!!

SPOILER AHEAD!!!!


I can't even explain how much I loved this series! Everything about it. First, the cast was so great, they were very GOOD! The OST was also really nice and comforting. I like Da-On, I'm glad he got to realise that putting himself first before others is so important. Sohee, I very much disliked her and she made me sigh A LOT lol, but I'm glad she learned her mistake and apologised, and changed. Namgoong was just the best, he was such AN AMAZING FRIEND, will punch you to the ground if you crap about any of his friends, and he makes the mood a lot lighter and I love that about him. Taekyung was (dreamy sigh) everything for me; he was so adorable and very straightforward which is so amazing, his little smile that he often does? that got me freezing, i love him. Shinwoo (dreamy sigh #2) was the dreamy boyfriend; he stepped back when he had to and wanted Tae to be happy. All his actions towards Tae were really cute. The teacher was also their emotional support which I loved, since we never saw any parents. Now there was a cliffhanger at the end with the teacher which makes me think there might be a s2? But maybe not. The ending, I LOVED. Finally Shinwoo and Taekyung got together, and lemme tell you, the last scene of ep15, I had tears in my eyes cause I thought Taekyung pried Shinwoo's hand away to stay with Da-On, BUT OUUU, my smile when they left together?! priceless. That scene where they kissed was so adorable. I really wish we'd get a season 2!

Read More

I liked it.

This is a cute series - if you like fluff, this is for you. I'll likely forget about it fairly quickly, as it really has very little to say - it's just a well-done production of a very standard BL story.

I'll start with the negative to end on all positives. The reason I didn't enjoy this more is that I think the main character was poorly cast - I didn't find him likeable and I don't think he was well-acted. Before anyone knifes me, Shinwoo is an even more awkward character with even greater problems expressing himself, but I'm totally in love with him. Kang Yoo Seok managed to imbue his character with layers, subtly expressing a large range of emotion. But if you scratched Lee Sae On and found out he was actually a mannequin that can talk, I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised. This made me not really care who he ended up with - I was just resigned to him getting one of the love rivals when I was kind of hoping they'd form a thrupple with Shi Woon.

The show was also a bit too sanitized, with everything too perfect - it was a bit distancing. For example, TK was visibly plastered with white makeup - they all were, but it was worst with him.

There are a lot of positives, too - other than the main character, all the acting was great. Choe Chan Yi's DaOn was a masterpiece of placing a happy face over a struggle with inner demons - the subtle suffering under the smile was really affecting.

And while the show was a virtual checklist of BL tropes, it did avoid tropey cinematography and attempts to translate manga frames into live action. For example, there was no weird wide-eyed stare when anyone kissed, people just reacted naturally. And there wasn't that stupid triple-take whenever anyone hugged, kissed, held hands, or at any other time - that always drains the moment of emotional energy, and I was happy that was dispensed with and I was allowed to just enjoy the moment.

The story is well-laid out and coherent - we needed more context for Shinwoo's behavior, but it wasn't a big issue. I really, really needed there to be an explanation for why anyone was interested in Mr. Robot with so many superior options available, and we really could have done without the sole female character being a villainess, yet again - but I never once thought to myself "that makes no sense", and there were very few cheap and lazy excuses for drama, and the dialog was good.

I gave the story an 8 - unorignal, but well-laid-out and paced (slow, but it moved in a direction instead of meandering all over the place).

I gave the acting a 7. I thought it was a 9 for everyone else, but Lee Sae On dragged down the average, and he was the main character.

I rated the music a 7. I don't remember any of it, which is good. It did it's purpose and wasn't intrusive.

Rewatch is a 3. I can't imagine why I would ever watch this again - maybe if someone did a Shi Woon cut I would want to see that.

The "suggested overall" was 6.5, but 7 seemed more appropriate - I don't think a series should be too heavily dinged just because I don't want to watch it again.

Read More

The most realistic love triangle you will ever come across

No matter what way you think the show is going to go, it will pull you in the opposite direction. That, my friends, is what I enjoy most.

I'm going to start with the cast. Don't listen to anyone who says they appear robotic, it's garbage. If you take the time to realize what wars go through Daon's eyes or the way Shinwoo silently looks at TaeKyung with longing, you'll know what I'm talking about.

TaeKyung is made to be a bold, forward character who will always say what he is thinking. He used to be a loner before he decides it's time to make some friends. Once he makes those friends, his life spirals out of control. It's new for him but in the best way possible. I love Tae as a whole, I want him protected at all costs. There is so much I can say, like how well he deals with so many situations. He was written so perfectly.

Daon is a people pleaser which has come to be my biggest issue with him. Not only that, Daon seems to think he can decide when to pick TaeKyung up like he's some used toy. I adore Daon, but not for TaeKyung. Daon has far too much development to be done, that's that. Regardless, I do enjoy his character because I relate to his backstory the most. We all have pain we hide and we make mistakes we don't realize. Therefore, I will never hate Daon but only see that he is perfectly human.

Shiwoon is the best boy outside of the love triangle. There is never a moment where you will question if you love this character or not. He's the best wingman. The Best friend. The perfect addition to the show that we didn't realize was needed until we met him. Shiwoon has an obsession with phone games and a whirlwind attitude that is playful and joyous. No matter what scene he is in, you'll find yourself excited he's there.

Shinwoo is last because I probably have most to say on this character. At first, Daon was my favorite as Shinwoo was kind of a bystander. Then came episode 6 or maybe it was seven--Shinwoo was my favorite character and there was no changing my mind. The way they show you what goes on in Shinwoo's world, down to showing us the different sides this boy has. The growth they put on him was extraordinary and I've never seen anything like it. Shinwoo will always be the best boy in my heart, no matter how this show decides to end. I wished for more scenes with Shinwoo in the beginning but started understanding why they lacked by our current standing. I love the way they built Shinwoo. He's a bit unrealistic, but at the same time, boys like this had to be imagined from somewhere. I'm sure they exist, but so very rarely. This boy will forever hold a special place on my list of favorite characters. They wrote him so incredibly well, I'll never get over it.


Now, onto the story: I happen to think this show isn't exactly what I'd call cliche, more as it's really realistic. It shows not a single character among the boys to be an evil one. They all equally have their problems and they have reasons for the actions they portray. It puts you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know what happens next. I committed the sin of watching this show before it was completed, but I don't regret it. It makes you think and the number of theories I have come up with is astronomical. I didn't think I could become so hyperfocused on something again, but here I am, wondering who TaeKyung is going to end up with. Though, as it seems, all signs are pointing to Shinwoo. They do have that one unlikeable character, but even so, she does add to the story. I still want her to be thrown in a dumpster behind her school, but I know that won't happen. They'll redeem here, but I wish they wouldn't.


The music is AMAZING. Stan A.C.E.

I hope if you are reading this, you decide to watch it. I didn't want to give away too much of the story or spoil it while writing this. I tried to leave as many spoilers out as I could.
Enjoy your journey when watching this show, I sure did.
You won't regret it.
You can find the episodes on WETV or Viki.
xoxo
Yoongles.

Read More

BEST KOREAN BL EVER (And Better then some Thai BL)

Okay I didn't have much of expectation from it because I thought Korean BL always lacks in time management they don't have much time that's why they are called Web Drama so I never thought they will be better than Thai BL but this one got me hooked when I found out that this will have 16 episodes and I thought the runtime will be 15 minutes per episodes but this show have more runtime then BeLoved In House I do.
Story
So let's talk about the story I usually hates Love Triangles because in every K Drama I had seen that but never in Korean BL, so I was excited and the show starts with a confusing term whose Tae Kyung first love is but I figure it out on the first episode but people were confused till the last episode whom Tae Kyung will choose in the end so the fan war begins of Team Shin Woo and Team Da On but slowly the amount of Team Shin Woo became, in the end, people were ready to fight if Shin and Tae didn't end up together. But Team ShinWoo won, in the end, the story follows Tae Kyung a silent guy who never has friends now wanted to have some friends so his teacher helps him and advised him to join Student Council to mix up with the good kids, and Tae meets his love interest Da On and Shin Woo. At first, both Shin Woo and Tae Kyung hate each other a lot and on the other hand, Da On and Tae Kyung seems to be on the same track and starts to become close, then we got our rivals to lover trope began I didn't have much of expectation that this show will showcase any LGBT message but man I was wrong even though it didn't use the word "GAY" or "I LIKE MEN" but it did convey the LGBT message like we get one character like Da On who still figuring out who is. We get Shin Woo who had been bullied in the past just because he liked a boy and Tae Kyung whose fun was made in the school just becaus he liked a guy, even though in the show none of the characters said "I am gay" but they showed a reality that exists and that lots of BL tried to avoid it and still in Thai BL it tries to avoid that reality but Light On Me a KOREAN BL showed that reality and yeah the fact its a slow-paced Drama that usually hates Light On Me didn't make me bored like BeLoved In House did because the story is amazing and each character got character development
Acting
Tae Kyung, his actor Lee See Yeon is an Idol so I didn't have much expectation from him, but he did a pretty good job to portrait a complex character like Tae Kyung even though sometimes the way he talks makes me kinda bored but that crying scene was really good and he is a good actor he just needs a little bit of polishing but he did a commendable job
Shin Woo, his actor Kang Yoo Soek I didn't much about him so I didn't have any hopes, in the beginning, it kinda reminded me of Phu from Oxygen The Series but his character, in the beginning, you will hate but you will fall harder for his innocence, in the end, everyone wants Noh Shin Woo in their life who will love you and will try to make you happy even though it hurts himself Kang Yoo Soek did an incredible job to portrait Shin-woo and the character development he got that he has to come out of his shelter to help Tae Kyung,
Da On, his actor Choe Chan Yi he is also an idol and former member of BLK, so the character whom everyone has lote to hate relationship, in the beginning, everyone loved Da On for his innocence and though he is the best man when he rejected Tae Kyung due to pressure of society and even hides his feelings for Tae Kyung himself but then he finally realizes why he cared about others opnions if they are hurting his own feelings and most importantly hurting his loved one but till he realise it was already late Tae Kyung already started to develop his feelings for Shin Woo, in the end, he might have lost Tae Kyung but he improved himself I kinda seen myself in Da On who can't say no to others easily due to fears of what will other will think of me but in the end, he accepted himself and learned to say that saying NO is sometimes a good thing so has the best character development in the show. So Chan YI did an awesome job to portrait his charcater
Nam Goong, his Kim Woo Jim he is also an idol and former member of BLK, THE BEST CHARACTER in the show he is funny and now how to stan for his friends and I want a friend like him and the character who seems like a clown but they have the smartest brain and don't take decision quickly, KIM WOO JIN is a great actor I think comedy is the hardest in acting genre because it should be realistic then only the audience will laugh so my favorite character
So Hee, her actress Yang Seo Hyun, at first I thought she is going to act like the cupid of Shin and Tae but ended turned like every other Thai BL girl who is jealous Bitch and will do anything to get what she wants but she kinda got a slow but story arc and a good character development I am just glad she didn't end up wit Da On because she seems creepy but I am glad she started to like Nam Goong and Nam Goong started to like her in the end
Music I love both of the OST ACE sang an Amazing and both SPARK AND FEVER are in my playlist and production value OMG amazing and cinematography chef kiss like I loved everything about the show in terms of that
OVERALL
One of my all-time favorite BL dramas MUST WATCH I need season 2 please I need more Shin and Tae moments and Da On needs to get a guy for himself and Nam Goong and So Hee needs to be a couple and seems like EP 16 ending giving us a hint for season 2. Manifesting it

Read More

New standard for K-BL

There is a lot of things that can be said about this series. One that stands out is that this is a whole different series that we are use to.

Of course the story isn't exceptional, it's actually soft. But man, they really know how to play with our feelings.

The acting was on point, little flaws but props to every single actor. I would highlight Go WooJin (Namgung) and Kamg YooSeok's hands ??? I mean, the guy knows how to Express his feelings through it.

There is no superfluous drama, though I really liked how they worked DaOn's identity crisis. Feel sad for him.

There is just one official couple, so don't hope for closure for everyone. The wink that there could be a SpinOff was cute, hope to see Seo-Lee story.

Namgung deserved better!

ShinTae is life!

Read More

Loved the CAST, ACTING and the STORY ❤️❤️

I've hardly watched Korean BL but among all the DRAMAS over the past I've watched be it THAI, KOREAN, CHINESE or TAIWANESE or FILIPINO ...... LIGHT ON ME will Always remain closest to my heart and will be the best of all of the others......
Lots of love and hugs to everyone of them..... But I really think tht Daon should've started a new beginning nd let SHINWOO nd Taekyong be together..........
I love the episodes after 13 they're all like giving butterflies in my stomach every part n every scene....... Theres a thing that I'll miss them........ I'll feel bad there won't be excitement now on for light on me ?❤️❤️❤️

Read More

Good series but many flaws!

Ok I really liked this BL, I thought it was super sweet, the cast is beautiful. It's a light series that's easy to watch and follow. I'm always complaining about how Korean bl's are too short and have very underdeveloped plots but this was the opposite. We were given a nice lengthy season, well developed plot with short yet concise episodes. With all that being said I also have many issues with this series.

1) It's very fluffy and cliche with nothing new to offer as far as the plot goes.
2) The script/dialogue was amateurish at times and made many of the characters come across as robotic, unnatural and unrealistic . In a real life conversation you're not going to hold someone's arm for 2 minutes without saying anything, or stand and stare at the person that just insulted you. I get if TaeKyung does these things because he's supposed to be awkward and that's who his character is, however these weird pause and wait moments shouldn't be happening with other characters. Honestly it almost feels like everyone in the show is moving in slow motion. The way they talk, their reactions, body movements etc all appear way too slow, almost as if the actors are trying to remember the script/lines.
3) Can BL writers stop with the cliche plot device of having a random person taking secret pictures and posting them online to stir drama??? It's very lazy and predictable. Let's find new and more realistic ways to create conflict and tension. Same goes for the crazy jealous side chick that tries to sabotage the lead chacters relationship. It's old and overused, we can do better.
3) There was very little character development in this, we know almost nothing about any of the guys outside of school and who they truly are which sometimes makes it hard to understand or sympathize with their actions. I get that exploring the world's of each main character might increase the budget but bits of info about their lives and who they are could've been worked into the script and helped viewers create a stronger connection with the characters.
4) Lastly I'm really tired of Korean (and most Asian) BL's over lightening their actors skin with makeup, filters, lighting, editing etc. You can tell in certain scenes where the actors weren't as heavily filtered or didn't have as much makeup on their true darker/yellower skin tones would show through. This colorist notion that lighter is better needs to stop, all the actors are gorgeous, they didn't need to be lightened.

I know this is all a lot for a series that I actually really enjoyed but I just want the best for all of these BL series. I want this industry to not just continue growing commercially but to get better and produce more quality content and eventually take over the world lol. It can happen if these writers stop cutting corners and put more of an effort into producing higher quality content it's very capable even on a small budget. However if no one speaks up and just continues to fall in love with so many of these series that could be better than no changes will ever be made.

In summary, it's a sweet and comforting BL that is also heavily flawed.

Read More

ENEMIES TO LOVERS TO LOVE TRIANGLE

See what happens when you give a korean bl proper episodes and good run time you ger excellence. Light on me has to be the best kbl we've ever gotten and i mean it.

The story of taekyung, shinwoo and daon is the by far the best thinh ive seen ever. The love triangle and a dash of enemies to lovers is something i lost my find when watching. I won't go into detail about why this show is 10/10 it just is.

Shin woo star of the show, he captured so many peoples hearts from the beginning to the Point you'd fly over to Korea just to give him a hug. Taekyung is such a fantastic person in a way that hes fully honest and sure it may come off insulting to most i respect how much he values his own opinion of himself over others. Daon is also fascinating, you get this sweet and popular guy who just doesn't want to disappoint anyone, it takes a tole on him when watching the show but eventually he finds himself.

The girl lead idk what to say about her lets just say she's there. Namgung such a star i want nothing but the world for him. Bless his Heart.

Overall this is what kbl is supposed to be like not 10 min episodes that barelu scrap a persons personality. Anyway hope you found this review helpful and it's been 8 glorious and also painful weeks but worth it.

Read More

Sweet love triangle ...

A short story of finding yourself, standing up for your beliefs, improving and changing your environment. At first all the characters might seem stereotypical, but there is more to them.

The plot would be the same as all school dramas if not for a love triangle where ALL of them are boys with a little extra girl added to make it a very weird geometric shape. Their relationships are hilarious, really. Two guys like the same guy. One girl likes a different guy, who likes a guy. One guy is extra - they do not specify who he likes. I guess, himself?

I didn't enjoy this because I think the main character was poorly cast, despite the fact that he was introvert, The show was also a bit too sanitized, with everything too perfect - it was a bit distancing. For example, TK was visibly plastered with white makeup - they all were, but it was worst with him.

The music wasn't much to talk about, honestly I don't think I heard actual song that I could add to my play list.

This is a cute series - if you like fluff, this is for you. I'll likely forget about it fairly quickly, as it really has very little to say.

Read More