The Time of Fever (2024)

A Path to Somewhere and Nowhere at the Same Time

I’m conflicted about this movie/series. I think the problems I have with it are not as a result of flaws in the film but rather a flaw in the basic concept and what they were given to begin with. How do you end a prequel happily when the sequel starts sadly? That is the problem they were handed.

We know from Unintentional Love Story that they have a history in which there was confusion on Ho Tae side over his feelings and there was never a romantic relationship between them. They have an adversarial relationship, on the surface, at the beginning of the series and grow closer with an implied ending of them getting together. This is what leads to the problem of what you do with the prequel. They mentioned basic plot points but you’re dealing with a case of they parted for two years and ever since they have met again, they have not had a good relationship. So, you want to tell a story with a happy ending, but you essentially need to retcon the original story in order to obtain that.

Also, the plot felt like it dragged on. I watched around 2 episodes at a time due to the fact that it felt like we were going around in circles or just repeating the same plot points over and over again. It’s very weird in my head because it felt like there was a development in their relationship, but it felt like we kept stuttering to get there and it felt both like we got somewhere and also that we got nowhere. Was it maybe the repetition of Ho Tae’s actions towards Dong Hee. The repetitive promises he gave didn’t really change much. They were supposed to show forward change, and it just felt like we were going back to the last time this happened and were doomed to relive similar events again. Maybe it would have been different if I had seen it as a film as opposed to separate episodes, it may have flowed better that way but that’s not what was available to me.

It kind of feels like we got both somewhere and nowhere and that I think is the fault of the original story because in that story, we started just after nowhere, so this story had to end at nowhere. The ending felt rushed and empty and that is due to the limitations of the beginning of the original. I also believe that this was a very one-sided story.

In my opinion, Ho Tae is the main character and Dong Hee felt very much cast to the side. It felt like we were watching the development of Ho Tae’s feelings and his story and how Dong Hee fit into that with only a sprinkle of plot development for Dong Hee but only how it impacted him in relation to Ho Tae. That’s just the feeling I got.

Overall, I didn’t dislike it, but I’m sitting with a lot of opposing feelings.

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This is exactly my type of k-darama

I thought my expectations were too high and I was afraid I'll be dissappointed, but it's quite the contrary. This drama was even better than I expected. The actors and the characters were beautiful just as the feelings they expressed and also the story as a whole. The episodes were too short and too few as I couldn't seem to get enough of it, but despite that every single one was top quality from the acting, makeup and background to the lighting and audio and everything else. I can confidently say this is my favorite k-drama and my favorite bl (and I've watched a lot of them). Congratulations to the actors and every single person involved in the making of this series and also thank you for creating such a masterpiece ???

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A Timeless Masterpiece Indeed!

It can feel strange to describe love as feeling like an electric moment, but it often does feel electric, shocking, exciting, and overwhelmingly terrifying.


In the Korean BL film The Time of Fever, love is all of the above and more. Starring actors Won Tae Min and Do Woo, it tells the story of Ho Tae and Dong He, who have been inseparable since childhood, growing up like brothers. When Ho Tae returns to their hometown after his father’s funeral, he finds Dong Hee living in his old house, having been kicked out after coming out. Reuniting under one roof, their close bond begins to evolve as old feelings resurface. Dong Hee, who has secretly loved Ho Tae for years, tries to suppress his emotions, while Ho Tae is suddenly faced with unfamiliar feelings of his own. As Ho Tae recklessly dates others to avoid his confusion, their friendship is tested, leading to a gradual and emotional shift in their relationship.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/09/14/the-time-of-fever-series-review-ep-1-to-6/

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beautiful and sweet but irritatingly short

Time of Fever is a heartwarming spin-off of Unintentional Love Story that offers a glimpse into the earlier lives of Hotae and Donghee. While the series is brief, it effectively complements the original narrative and provides a satisfying conclusion.

The production value, though different from Unintentional Love Story, adds a unique charm to the series. The color grading and lighting direction, particularly during Hotae's hospital scene, were expertly used to convey their emotions.

Side note: If you didn't catch it the first time, on Episode 6, where Hotae was in the hospital, when he started talking to Donghee, the initial color is bluish representing "sadness" especially Donghee left him, but later on it was mixed with a more yellowish light to represent happiness. But when the call ended, it revert back to bluish because he's sad again. I am talking about this too much because I was in awe when I catch that.

While the series can be confusing for those unfamiliar with Unintentional Love Story, it offers a satisfying ending that speaks volumes through nonverbal communication. Hotae's actions, while somewhat questionable, are understandable given his emotional state.

The cameo appearances and familiar locations add to the nostalgic experience. The decision to keep the series concise and focused on the central relationship was a wise one.

Overall, Time of Fever is a well-crafted spin-off that provides a satisfying conclusion to the story of Hotae and Donghee. While it may be best enjoyed after watching Unintentional Love Story, it offers a heartwarming and fulfilling viewing experience.

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Amazing and Fever Spin-off

This new series really makes you feel the fever. This was definitely an amazing, cute and beautiful spin-off — not a single episode was boring, as it took us back to the past of characters we had already met in “Unintentional Love Story”.

It makes us want to watch the next episode right away, where we find beautiful scenes. It was a surprise to see the special appearance of one of the characters from “Unintentional Love Story” (a secret), even though he only appeared for a few brief minutes. It would be amazing to have a series about the lives of the characters in the future!

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The story that will make you forget everything.

As a longtime fan of BL, I have to say "The Time of Fever" feels like a breath of fresh air—like rediscovering what it means to truly be alive. This film is a masterpiece that reignited a sense of being alive within me. Every element, from the storyline to the acting and the soundtrack, was perfectly executed.

The emotional depth, the chemistry between the characters, and the narrative arc drew me in from start to finish. The ending was beautifully crafted—satisfying yet still leaving me yearning for more. Though it concluded perfectly, I can't help but hope for another season. No complaints here, just pure admiration.
This is the kind of show that lingers in your mind long after it's over. This film is a gift to BL fans, and I can't thank the creators enough for delivering such a stunning piece of art.

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Prequel

Yes, I absolutely love the beginning story for this side couple from ULS. Only thing is the ending skips a bit with less information about what went on between him being hurt and them meeting again. Seemed like a good amount of fluff just to add to get them to the beginning of ULS. You get more details later in ULS but still vague so I think it would have been good having it added here then the fluff. All in All though very very good. Less drama then from ULS which was very welcoming.


Just wish they had more solid closure in the end like the Mains in the first drama.

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Short but emotionally packed

I loved this, simply put. 6 episodes of only 18 minutes each but was packed from start to finish.

The chemistry between Dong Hui and Ho Tae was truly outstanding! Hats off to the actors on that, in fairness, their acting was bang on throughout.

The cinematography was fantastic, slow mo"s at the perfect times, the intensity of the stares, the beauty of the scenery in general.

Soundtrack was equally great, music perfectly timed, subtle, emotionally evocative and not overused.

This was such a beautiful sad romance, two people in love and never realising it or being brave enough to voice it. The family dynamic broke my heart at Dong Hui's suffering.

I dropped the story point simply because i wanted a more definitive ending, sad or happy, i justed wanted not an open end.

Well worth a watch and because of its shortness, easy to rewatch.

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A fervor that leaves you breathless

I'd be lying to myself if I gave it a lower rating. I really liked this movie a lot, and it's kind of funny since I've never seen Unintentional Love Story (I watched it on sept 11th halfway through to learn more about these characters). With huge expectations, one would fear the disappointment, but it's quite the opposite. I was expecting a lot and they gave me everything I expected. I like it so much that I'm making an FMV, and this gave me a lot to analyze. Let's see!

▸I don't think we give enough credit to the photography. It could be overlooked, but if you look at the movie/series carefully, the photography is beautiful. The colors are enveloping and so captivating. I loved the transitions with the whales and nature. I loved the montages, the scenography. Visually this movie is a pleasure. Seriously, PLEASE, appreciate those visuals, the color management, they are a delight to see. Honestly, this production has a lot of work behind it, more than one would think.

▸ While the soundtrack is not outstanding and there are no memorable songs, I really liked that they didn't put music in the romantic or tense scenes. They let the performances speak for themselves without any accompaniment that forces us to feel something, this intensifies everything. The music distribution is really smart. As its name says, "the time of fever" or "I feel your warmth", it was ESSENTIAL to let us hear their agitated and sonorous breathing to demonstrate that desire and nervousness of the first love.

▸The performances, phenomenal. At no time did I feel the actors acting, I only saw the characters. The chemistry they share is undeniable, one of the best there has been in k-bls. Not to mention the kisses, because they are, again, one of the best kisses in k-bl. I love that reflected intimacy, it feels very real. God, I loved how much DongHee conveyed with his eyes, I couldn't help but draw them. His eyes said so much without words and it's fascinating to see.

▸While the story itself is not that great, just a first love romance with a childhood friend, they did what they could with what they had and executed it well. I know many were disappointed bc there was no "closure," but you have to understand that this is a spin-off. I don't really feel the movie is the problem, but rather the series, which didn't give these characters the closure as they should.

▸ I liked Ho Tae's character. He is a simple person and at the same time he's not. He is simple because his mind doesn't work with abstract ideas and he has a hard time understanding what is implicit, he feels comfortable with what is physical and tangible. However, because of this, he has a very hard time connecting with his own feelings and those of others. He has an even harder time handling them. That gives him quite a few problems.

▸Also, while it might feel like we know a lot about Ho Tae but little about DongHee, I think his actions speak for themselves. He is a character who, although he wants to protect himself, can't help but be selfless. He defends the fact that his father mistreats him because he believes that "he hurt him more." At first he wanted to distance himself from Ho Tae because of his "unrequited" crush because it is painful, but he couldn't help but connect with him and slowly became more hopeful.

Nevertheless, when he realized HoTae might feel the same way as him (or maybe he thought Ho Tae was just confused), he became scared because of his internal homophobia and the fear of others' reaction. He is so grateful to "his aunt" and loves her so much that it doesn't seem right to him to date HoTae. That's why he decides to go to Seoul, knowing that, and with his own words, he would regret it a lot. We can say that he had a bad time just if we consider that he did not even dedicate what he studied and returned to his city to open a coffee shop.

▸ My only criticisms, or rather, things that I didn't like, were the last two chapters, which naturally became somewhat tiresome and boring to watch. I don't blame them because it was inevitable. They are not together, after all. We lacked a protagonist.

In conclusion, a great movie! A worthy spin off, considering that ULS is not that great. They put love and attention into the production, and that is always appreciated.

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