I've watched a lot of BL dramas, and I mean A LOT - and most of them, I didn't finish. K-BL is so new that most of it is pretty cringe and heavy on the slow-mo, dramatic kisses and hand-holding and cheesy one-liners - but this show is so different. IT'S BRILLIANT!! 10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
For one, the characters actually COMMUNICATE. Mistakes are made at first, esp. With this being Seung-hyun's (the intern) first relationship, but they work through these problems like mature adults and grow and improve! There is drama, but it stems from realistic bases (eg. The characters' emotional baggage, inexperience, external factors etc.) and NOT from any stupid miscommunication as is the usual fare.
And I have to say, the acting is SUPERB. Lines that could be cheesy are delivered by Jong-chan's actor (the boss) with such earnest sincerity (in a voice that could melt steel!!) that you 100% believe in what he's saying, and you don't cringe at all. And when Seung-hyun smiles... My days. You understand why Jong-chan is obsessed with him. He's so cute! And in a perfectly normal way, not with excessive aegyo! Like an earnest little puppy, who smiles even when he wants to cry. They have wonderful charisma and appear to actually be savouring the physical and emotional intimacy between them. Don't be fooled by the description. Jong-chan is far from cold - yes, he's strict, but he's fair, and he warms towards Seung-hyun once he realises he's actually competent and not just a useless intern. And that's when they start falling in love lol
Yes everyone who is queer is openly queer in this show, with no homophobia. HALLELUJAH FOR AN IDEAL WORLD!! WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET A SPINOFF LESBIE ROMANCE FOR JI-YEON (SH'S BEST FRIEND)?? She is an absolute QUEEN and deserves her own happy ending
Yeah, as one of the other reviews noted, there are always going to be problems with an office romance, particularly if you don't disclose it to HR LOL but I think it was dealt with in a reasonably realistic way. Jong-chan never abuses his authority over Seung-hyun, even when they're fighting, and he's fair most times. He doesn't give any extra opportunities to Seung-hyun that SH hasn't earned through his own merit. OK well except for the ending. But we can all suspend our disbelief a little for our little babies...
Overall a mature realistic romance that really gets you emotionally invested. I had to pause watching at times because I was relating so hard to how hurt the characters were. The best K-BL I've seen so far and one so good I finished it hurrah.
