This review may contain spoilers
Homophobia corrodes everything it touches… and abuse does too.
This series has left me thinking a lot of things... It was an interesting mix of sweetness and toxicity. Not my cup of tea, but interesting nonetheless.Lu Feng: He’s the strongest character, and I liked his determination and his unapologetic “screw the world, screw homophobes” attitude. He never hid himself, but his obsession with Xiao Chen overshadowed everything. Growing up with abusive parents and enduring constant rejection left him scarred, but trauma isn’t an excuse to harm the person you claim to love. He’s a walking black flag. Yes, he eventually changed for the better, but if I were Xiao Chen, I’d never date him again. No redemption arc can erase the damage he caused.
Xiao Chen: The personality most crushed by homophobia. Weak‑minded, overly complacent, and raised in a seemingly perfect family until prejudice tore it apart. His father died without ever accepting him, and his mother forced him into a sham marriage to meet her expectations. Both parents left without truly embracing who he was, which is heartbreaking. He wanted love but also wanted to please his parents, and that conflict wrecked his mind. Despite enduring homophobia and Lu Feng’s Novichok‑level toxicity, he survived when many would have given up. Still, he never prioritized himself, even when it meant sacrificing his own happiness. Points for being a dutiful son, but at what cost?
Yi Chen: Not a bad brother. He clearly loves Xiao Chen and accepted him more than their parents did, even if he struggled at first. His slip‑ups—like lying with good intentions, were forgivable. Stronger in spirit than Xiao Chen, he managed to build a healthy relationship despite parental homophobia. Honestly, he was the luckiest of them all.
Qin Lang: Pure boyfriend material. Handsome, considerate, and the green flag this series desperately needed. He handled homophobia with firmness but also empathy, recognizing parents sometimes need time to adjust. Always supportive of Yi Chen, though I wish he’d had more screen time to balance out the sadistic mess of the main couple.
The homophobia arc felt raw and honest. But once the torture arc began, everything collapsed. I still don’t understand why Xiao Chen didn’t send Lu Feng straight to jail. Then again, you can’t force people to leave toxic environments, even if it’s for their own good. And please can we retire the tired “I don’t like men, only you” cliché?
The recovery and redemption arc was rushed, and it felt like the mental health struggles were treated far too lightly.
Conclusion: I wish the series had focused more on the second couple. Xiao Chen endured far too much, while Lu Feng’s determination and independence don’t excuse his cruelty. Trauma and mental illness should never be used as a shield for abuse. The series desperately need disclaimers. That said, the acting was excellent, the cast delivered love, fear, and hate with intensity. If I ever rewatch this, I'll definitely skip a couple of episodes and pretend they never happened.
Also, I'd like to add that If you take morals too seriously, skip certain episodes, or even the entire series, the main couple is as toxic as Novichok. It will set off every moral alarm.
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Brought to you by the Korean Liquor Industry
This BL was one of those cute stories. It definitely wasn’t rushed, and while it didn’t have too many intriguing moments, it honestly felt like an 8‑episode alcohol advertisement disguised as a BL serie.I enjoyed their chemistry, they looked good together, but the kiss scenes were anything but real. Where was the passion? What really bothered me was how poorly constructed and inconsistent the plot was, It seemed to want to be a food drama, but the food aspect wasn’t enough to compensate the huge promotion of alcoholic beverages. Ji Yu and his friend needs to be sent to AA lol
Overall, it was pretty enjoyable, even though the whole thing felt like a liquor ad.
What I Liked
*Story simplicity: Easy to follow, not overloaded with unnecessary drama.
*Pacing: The progression from strangers to lovers felt natural, not rushed, not dragged out.
*Food and culture: I love BLs that showcase their country’s culture and cuisine, and this one had plenty of that, but unfortunately offset by the alcohol thing.
*Attractive cast: Good‑looking leads, and Korea never disappoints in this department.
*Soft humor: Light jokes sprinkled throughout made it worth watching.
What I Did Not Like
*Alcohol‑heavy script: It felt like a 8 chapters long alcohol ad. Ji Yu and his friend seemed to need drinks with every meal, which came across as extremely unhealthy and unnecessary to promote.
*Weak ending: Beginnings and endings matter most, and this series dropped the ball on both. The start was confusing, and the ending was way too flat.
Did I regret watching it? Not at all.
Would I watch it again? Nope. The alcohol vibe killed the rewatch value for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
Playing “Evanescence – My Heart is (f$#$%#@ng) B.R.O.K.E.N” in the background
This series touched something deep in me. It might not be the most logical or even the best series out there, but it managed to reach my heart. Despite being so short, it made me cry, something very few series have ever done. I felt the pain, the helplessness of losing someone who was your entire world, and the crushing reality of not being able to repay what they’ve done for you.It reminded me so much of My Heart is Broken by Evanescence. If I were Jae Woo, that song would be the one I identified with the most. Yes, the plot was confusing and could have been better, but it still delivered the anguish, the despair, and the helplessness. I’ve never personally experienced a moment like that, yet this series shattered my heart into tiny pieces.
What I Liked
1. Actor’s chemistry: The leads had incredible chemistry. Their tender, cute moments felt genuine, and I cherished them as much as Jae Woo did. Watching Ji Hoon slowly realize who Jae Woo was made their interactions even more meaningful.
2. Acting strength: Despite the budget, the acting carried the series. The emotions, anguish, confusion, hope, love, and finally pain, were delivered flawlessly. If the acting had been weak, I wouldn’t have cried, but these two leads are truly talented.
3. OST: Musically, this was one of the best BL soundtracks I’ve heard. The vocals were powerful, and the music amplified the emotions, leaving me with a bittersweet ache that lingered long after the final episode.
What I disliked
1. Confusing plot: I never fully understood how Jae Woo ended up in the past or the mechanics of the story. That lack of clarity weakened the narrative.
2. Ji Hoon’s lack of intelligence: If I knew I would be killed because I was disarmed I would literally go with something, to at least fight for my life and his. Literally a f#$#@#$ng shovel or a timely call to the cops could've been the salvation we needed for this couple. Yet, Instead, my friend turned himself in to Natural Selection.
3. Rushed ending: By now, you can guess I wasn’t happy with the ending. Ji Hoon’s acceptance of death was heartbreaking, but the finale also felt cramped and rushed. This story needed at least 12 episodes to breathe.
Conclusion:
I loved this series, it was a voyage across a sea of emotions. Short, but powerful. My heart still hurts, and I’m still crying. Even though the story wasn’t perfect, it delivered the raw feelings it set out to portray.
Would I recommend it? ABSOLUTELY.
Would I rewatch it? Maybe someday, but I’m not even sure if I would even dare to do that. It hurts AS F##### HELL.
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