This review may contain spoilers
Cute, funny at times, but needs something that shines
Roommates of Poongduck 304 is generally lighthearted, so lighthearted that the emotional ups and downs seem to have been deliberately compressed. The BL couple, Ho Joon and Jae Yoon, is cute and likable. Despite having something like an enemies-to-lovers plot (actually more like enemies-to-friends-to-lovers), the "enemies" part of the story seems slightly muted, like many other things in the story. This may well be a good thing because the two characters are, ultimately, not awful people. The "enemies" part of the story isn't exaggerated, so the characters' behaviors are not really toxic either. They are bother rather lovable without being ridiculously nice people.
Yet, there are a lot of emotions on the part of the characters that seem somewhat muted. Jae Yoon, for instance, has been in love with a friend who is merely out to exploit him. Eventually Jae Yoon finds out that this "friend" of his not only regards him as an fool but has also told others about him and saved his contact on his phone as Fool. Of course, Jae Yoon is devastated--but the emotions did not seem to have been the focus. There isn't even a scene in which Ho Joon finds out about this and tries to comfort him. And then Jae Yoon seems to get over it quickly. Sure, he is probably already in love with Ho Joon. (But notice that I said "probably"? There isn't that much clarity here, and if he has been already in love with Ho Joon, why does he still seem so concerned about his crush?)
Sometimes the lack of in-your-face depictions of relationships is really good. For instance, we know early on that Jae Yoon is in love with his "friend" because of how possessive he is of the chocolates given to him by this "friend". We also see that Ho Joon finds out that Jae Yoon is in love with that awful friend (because he is offered the same chocolates, supposedly very special, by the same person). I like how Ho Joon doesn't use the secret or the fact that Jae Yoon is gay against him even when they are in the "enemies" stage of their relationship. It shows something about his fundamental goodness. And despite being one of those straight-man-who-falls-in-love-with-a-guy characters in BL, at least Ho Joon doesn't have a moment of exaggerated gay panic. He seems to be in denial when a friend of his suggests that he is in love, but he doesn't assert his heterosexuality or claim that it's not true simply because Jae Yoon is a man.
Given a few more episodes, perhaps the series would have been even better, with more space for the emotional ups and downs of the characters. There could have been more time spent on the progress of their relationship before Jae Yoon finds out about that Ho Joon is actually the son of the President of the company they are working in and decides to leave him. The ending feels a little hurried although it is rather well made given the limitations.
Yet, there are a lot of emotions on the part of the characters that seem somewhat muted. Jae Yoon, for instance, has been in love with a friend who is merely out to exploit him. Eventually Jae Yoon finds out that this "friend" of his not only regards him as an fool but has also told others about him and saved his contact on his phone as Fool. Of course, Jae Yoon is devastated--but the emotions did not seem to have been the focus. There isn't even a scene in which Ho Joon finds out about this and tries to comfort him. And then Jae Yoon seems to get over it quickly. Sure, he is probably already in love with Ho Joon. (But notice that I said "probably"? There isn't that much clarity here, and if he has been already in love with Ho Joon, why does he still seem so concerned about his crush?)
Sometimes the lack of in-your-face depictions of relationships is really good. For instance, we know early on that Jae Yoon is in love with his "friend" because of how possessive he is of the chocolates given to him by this "friend". We also see that Ho Joon finds out that Jae Yoon is in love with that awful friend (because he is offered the same chocolates, supposedly very special, by the same person). I like how Ho Joon doesn't use the secret or the fact that Jae Yoon is gay against him even when they are in the "enemies" stage of their relationship. It shows something about his fundamental goodness. And despite being one of those straight-man-who-falls-in-love-with-a-guy characters in BL, at least Ho Joon doesn't have a moment of exaggerated gay panic. He seems to be in denial when a friend of his suggests that he is in love, but he doesn't assert his heterosexuality or claim that it's not true simply because Jae Yoon is a man.
Given a few more episodes, perhaps the series would have been even better, with more space for the emotional ups and downs of the characters. There could have been more time spent on the progress of their relationship before Jae Yoon finds out about that Ho Joon is actually the son of the President of the company they are working in and decides to leave him. The ending feels a little hurried although it is rather well made given the limitations.
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