Love in the Big City (2024)

it’s an emotional rollercoaster

this has the feels, of reality. while watching this tears where really falling out. the last relationship he had the longest one felt like i was in this relationship but i have never been in one. when their love was slowly fading away how heavy i felt inside me as it was me kn that moment. hurts crazy. but he didn’t find forever love he was depressed but what is impotent is friendship his friends being there for him was lovely. If you haven’t watched it you should definitely do. the chemistry between this roles is top! best k bl that has this chemistry.

probably this is my first and last time watching it. i will remember it well.

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when love leaves you, but loneliness stays

This drama? It’s not just a story—it’s an emotional gut-punch from start to finish. From the very first scene, it pulls you into Ko Yeong’s messy, heartbreaking life. He’s the guy who’s always out, chasing the nightlife—bars, dancing, drinking, and one-night stands. On the surface, he’s carefree and fun, but deep down? He’s terrified of being alone. His life feels like this endless loop of trying to drown out the silence, and it’s painful to watch because you can tell he’s running from something he can’t escape.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Ko Yeong is a walking contradiction. He craves connection but pushes people away. He wants love but fears what comes with it. It’s like he’s caught in this perpetual tug-of-war between what he needs and what he thinks he deserves.

And isn’t it funny how the grass is always greener on the other side? He surrounds himself with noise, people, and distractions, hoping it’ll fill the void, but you can tell he’s longing for something quieter—something real. Yet, when he gets close to it, he bolts. Fear of commitment, fear of rejection, fear of being seen for who he really is—it’s all wrapped up in the way he navigates relationships.

His parents’ messy divorce didn’t do him any favors, leaving him with a skewed idea of what love looks like. Add Kylie—his nickname for HIV—into the mix, and it’s no wonder he struggles to let people in. Kylie isn’t just a condition for Ko Yeong; it’s a shadow that follows him everywhere, whispering that he’s not worthy of love or stability.

Mi Ae, his roommate and best friend, is like his emotional anchor. She’s the one constant in his life, the person who knows him better than anyone else. But let’s not sugarcoat it—anchors don’t float. When she gets married and moves on, Ko Yeong is left to sink or swim. Spoiler: he starts sinking.

Then there are his relationships. Nam Gyu, bless his old-soul heart, was a shot at something tender and genuine. But Ko Yeong wasn’t ready, and Nam Gyu’s tragic end only adds another layer of guilt to Ko Yeong’s already complicated life. Then there’s Youngso, who deserves a medal for Worst Human Ever. He uses Ko Yeong, hides their relationship, and has the audacity to call homosexuality a sin. The betrayal cuts deep, and you can feel how it makes Ko Yeong retreat even further into himself.

And finally, Gyu Ho—the love that could’ve been the love. Their relationship starts off sweet, almost hopeful, like maybe this time it’ll work out. But life doesn’t work that way, does it? The spark dims, the fights start, and the weight of reality crushes them both. Even their trip to Thailand, a place meant to rekindle their connection, is overshadowed by Kylie and all the baggage that comes with it.

Here’s the kicker: Ko Yeong’s life isn’t about grand epiphanies or neatly tied-up endings. It’s about the slow, painful crawl toward understanding yourself. After Gyu Ho leaves for China, Ko Yeong throws himself into writing. It’s his way of processing, of making sense of the mess. But even when he revisits Thailand with someone new, it’s clear he’s still haunted by what he lost.

Love in the Big City doesn’t hand you closure on a silver platter. It’s raw, messy, and brutally honest. It captures the discomfort of being stuck between who you are and who the world expects you to be. It’s a reminder that love, no matter how fleeting or complicated, leaves its mark. And sometimes? The grass isn’t greener—it’s just a different shade of heartbreak.

Heartbreaking, unforgettable, and absolutely worth the emotional wreckage. Watch it. Feel it. Then sit with it, because it’s the kind of story that stays with you, whether you like it or not.

Leia Mais

This is NOT a typical BL

I wanted to watch this show real bad because of Nam Yoon Su. I had already seen him as a devilishly evil teenager and as a heavenly saint of a prince, so I had known how versatile he is. In this series, he is supposed to be a realistic person, sometimes good, sometimes bad, and a gay. He is perfect in every aspect.
As the title already suggest, this is not a fluffy love story between two innocent boys. It's a story of the MC's life, how he was hurt and healed by other people, and how he hurt and healed others. There is lots of sadness and some happiness, both met with Nam Yoon Su's disarming smile. There are serious issues, there is entertainment. You really get inside the character's world, because it is so true to life.
Some suggest that the characters of MC's bfs aren't real in the plot - we just follow his creative process when he writes his consecutive novels. I didn't think about it when watching the series, but it sure is an interesting view.
As for music - I was never annoyed by it, which is what really matters to me when watching a drama.
I probably will rewatch it - we learn important details in later episodes that cast a totally different light at what happened first,
Overall - loved it.

Leia Mais

Speechless-ly good!

Just WOW! It hits every spot, seriously. The plot, acting, storyline, pacing, execution are all amazing.

No scene is wasted. Every part is needed to make up the whole storyline, whether its the sad scene or the s*x scene or everything in between. It's not your typical fluffy BL- yes- it does have cute romantic sweet moments, but there's more to it

It is really raw and deep- really touched me on heart level. I must say the acting plays a big role- I can feel the expression of the actors done really well.

I really love Ko Yeong and Gun Ho chemistry so much- but it is what it is, I guess.I hope for a S2 or spin-off where I get to see KO Yeong finally fulfil his deepest wish of Sa Rang.

Bonus point for showing us how Kylie affect his life- hence, promoting safe sex indirectly

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just .. wow

This was such an emotional rollercoaster, but damn what a ride. I knew going into this, it had to be something special, because Nam Yoon Su was so adamant he wanted to play this role, you won’t go all out on a whim. And dang he was right.
The story grabbed me by the throat and never let go. There were moments I laughed so hard, others that made me cry. But the writing was so good, I’ll be out looking for the book now.
And Yoon Su.. thank you. For being willing to translate the words and ideas of this character into this beautiful drama. I hope you win many awards for this one cause you deserve it.

Now all I need to know is… do we get a season two? 🥹🥹🥹

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Simply remarkable

Finally an intelligent series/drama! With a real story. With real dialogues. With an exceptional acting, Nam Yoon Su in particular. When he smiles, all of Seoul lights up. Love is the permanent quest but the extraordinary faithful friendship is there. And on the top of all these emotions, there is the humor. We laugh often. but never at the expense of certain characters like in Thai or Filipino series. There are no caricatures, just the real life of a young queer man in Seoul, Just the real life of a son facing his dying mother but still reluctant to accept the life of his only son. And the emotion that underlies the whole episode 7, the escapade with a passing lover, totally highjacked by the imperishable and joyful memory, in love with his story with his great love, Gyu Ho and their stay in this same city.
Addictive and deep, brilliant, radiant and funny.
I will now read Sang Toung Park's novel and wait for the film to come out on American screens... It's hard to leave this character of Ko Yeong.

Leia Mais

A series with heart and hope

I don't like series with an attitude of "in-your-face" regarding sex. It's a question of personal taste. Due to a series of circumstances, I had gathered that "Love in the Big City" would be sex-driven. A prejudiced view or not, I opted for not watching it.
Following the attempted censorship by conservative groups, I decided to be a part of the resistance: to support the series and watch it.
As such, a thank you is provided towards the conservative groups that attempted censorship: my world was made more open thanks to you.

"Love in the Big City", the series, is a series with heart and hope at its core. It's a kind of bildungsroman, a series where we watch the protagonist grow up. Yes, Ko Yeong may be deemed a narcissist, a very difficult person. That may be true, and yet Yeong is also very human, capable of kindness and warmth. He's not a role model, and the trauma he carries takes its toll on how he engages with the world.
But, from episode 1 to episode 8, there is growth. Even if this growth may not reach the standards of before. In the world we live in growth is difficult. The series addresses that.

I was preoccupied that this would be an "Americanized" series. For those of us who are from the Western part of the world, part of the charm and interest in Asian media may be its difference in tone and, overall, ways of addressing social relations. While, yes, there is a pertinent argument to be made on this series' focus on sex, this belongs mainly to the initial episodes - even then, sex is generally understood within the contexts of relationships. Those who navigate social media have been bombarded with the salacious aspect of the series, so one could be excused for mistakenly thinking this is all about sex - or only about that.
So, yes, there is this liberating aspect of being able to transgress the strict boundaries regarding depictions of sex between two men. This must be acknowledged.
Even more so, that the series is not limited to this. In this, the provocative aspects of the trailer and interviews and other promotional material is only that: provocative, to engage with this feeling of breaking boundaries.
The series is more complex than that.

I think it's a must-watch experience, even for those who feel squeamish, even for those who are particularly sensitive to certain depictions of sex/sexuality.
It's a humanizing experience.

Kudos must be given to the cast. In particular, Nam Yoon Su, who seems to have been made to play Ko Yeong. It will be a travesty of epic proportions if this man isn't showered with all of the prizes and then some. He incarnates Yeong to an extent that is unbelievable.
Equally Jin Ho Eun, who is perfect in his role.
There are several instances throughout the series where I found myself wondering at the details: the gasps; certain touches, certain movements; small decisions that seem to me to have been informed by the actors themselves. These characters are embodied by these actors. These actors have understood something in these characters, they have connected to some very important, basic truths regarding who these characters are.
Yoon Su and Ho Eun lead a stellar cast in providing us a lesson on acting.

The cinematography is beautiful, and sometimes I felt I was watching a movie. This is the power of the image, to capture a certain state, a certain emotion, with the impetus not to lie but rather to communicate a very powerful truth. A poignancy.

Again, I return to the overall feeling that Yeong is this flawed character. He sometimes acts peevishly, immaturely. But we are not being led to glorify his behaviors, of whatever sort they may be. Relationships start and then they crumble, in many different ways. In the horizon there is hope for reconnecting with a desired lover who was thought to be lost; or perhaps not, maybe that won't happen. Many of us wouldn't be able to support Yeong in our lives; or perhaps, only in very small dosages.

"Love in the Big City" stands tall for its portrayal of characters who love but may not understand love; who suffer yet hide their suffering. Who try to cope sometimes in not the best, or perhaps even healthiest, of ways.
But this is not programmatic; the series isn't trying to show us what is right or wrong.

It gives us a glimpse into this particular world. And in this, I felt I have learned something precious and important.

In particular, I want to recommend episodes 5 and 8. These are my most favorite, true works of art.

So, thank you to those who sought to censor this. In a sarcastic move, may I be made aware of what's to be on the censorship list next? I want to support that too.

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