Love in the Big City (2024)

Fractured universe

It has been a while since I wrote a review, but I can’t resist this one. I wanted it to be a heartfelt essay, but it may end up feeling more analytical. Or not, you be the judge!

• Depth was achieved in just eight episodes under an hour, proving that Koreans can do it.
• There’s a rich diversity among the male characters, though the female representation is notably lacking.
• I love the exploration of love, which is just another word for pain, and pain itself is a source of artistic fuel.
• The actors delivered outstanding performances
• Bangkok was a particularly nice touch

Me aspect:
On a personal level, what made this series special for me was the writing. I could relate deeply. I’ve been writing for over 20 years without any intention of being published; I write to sort through my thoughts and emotions. The pain expressed in words resonates with me. His overwhelming love and unbearable behaviors in long-term relationships moved me deeply, and I found myself feeling a surge of anger—was it because I recognized myself in him? His constant need for companionship, paired with an equally strong urge to be alone, created a powerful tension that mirrored my own experiences. The way these feelings collided, allowing him to find comfort in his loneliness, illustrates a vicious cycle of self-sabotage and the solace that writing provides.

Overall, I haven’t encountered anything in ages that captivated me and stirred my soul. At times, I even felt hurt and offended and heartbroken and warm.And as I said, I find myself relating to it, yet struggling to fully grasp why. For me, this is undoubtedly the series of the year.

Leia Mais

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Actually Idk what should I give title to this review but just read it. This series is not the topical bl or bromance series. This series talks about the true struggle of being gay and tell us how hard it is to find a true love.

Alert 🚨 this series is not for soft hearted people cause this series talks about the things that many homosexuals may not prepare to say or show to others. I'm a gay, even I had a feeling that I should stop being gay or become straight (ik it's not possible).

But truly speaking this series will hit you differently. It is something new to watch and can help to make some decisions in our own life.

Leia Mais

Queer chronicles of a gay guy living and loving in the big city of Seoul : a raw and poetic journey

This is clearly one of the most qualitative BL that I have seen so far, not necessarily one that I would easily re-watch but one that really left a strong impression on me. It is drastically different from what I have seen in the genre, as it provides a deep dive into the life the central character of the story, almost like a chronicles of his life. It can be seen as a slice-of-life with a lot of dramatic elements put in a realistic but at the same time poetic way.

The main character is a writer who in a way narrates his life to the viewer, which really give it a different flavor to most series. His relationship with his mother as well as with Kylie were central pieces of the story to me. The romantic interests in the series were more like passing boats into the hero's life, not the main focus but bringing up so many thoughts as he evolved through the various relationships. The ending felt bitter-sweet and made sense given all that happened to the hero and the way the storytelling was built from the start. I would not have minded an additional episode to better round it up tough.

Casting was very solid overall with the main actor clearly being the strongest part of the series. I really hope to see him in other works because it is his performance that elevated the watching experience and made me care that much for the character he portrayed. The cinematography was pretty good: the apartment of the hero was a character in itself evolving with him as he went through various life events, the OST was also very fitting to the drama and there were quite a lot of very memorable scenes that were filmed super impactfully.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a different kind of BL story. It is more of a chronicle of a life rather than a standard romance. Of course, I have nothing against fluffy and butterflies romance or angsty tales of passion but here it is a different proposal both in terms of content as well as storytelling. The good writing, the very deep topics relating to what's happening in real life as well as the interesting arc of the main character arc strongly resonated with me and make it worth your time. If you enjoy BL such as 'I Told Sunset About You' and 'The Eighth Sense', I think you should give it a shot.

Leia Mais

Love in The Big City Series

I really love this drama.

Raw, honest, and exquisitely crafted in both writing and direction. I've rarely seen a Korean drama capture realism this authentically. It feels like a snapshot of life-its highs and lows, the connections we build, the love we chase, and the way we drift apart.

The storytelling was masterful, following Go Young as he navigates through the complexities of the world around him, capturing the sense of belonging and alienation we all sometimes face. The narrative is heavy yet beautifully simple, a quiet reflection of what it means to be alive. I found myself laughing, yelling, feeling joy, peace, sadness, and despair. The bond between Go Young and Gyuho left me shattered.

Nam Yoonsu's performance was magnetic-it's hard not to be captivated by him. The entire cast delivered outstanding performances. I sincerely hope more shows like this are made.

And I need season 2 please.

Leia Mais

THE BEST KBL EVER

I am not exaggerating when I say this is THE BEST KBL ever produced. I am actually appalled at quality,run time and no of episodes. For years and years I have kept asking for KBLs to have good budget,run time and episodes and my dream has finally been accomplished. The plot is so good and refreshing. Most of the time or almost all of the time,we are given two pairing and the universe will make them work out together. But here the main character is going from one person to another in search of his eternal love. You wouldn't know who it is cause every one he dates seems like it would be the one. Which makes sense irl too. I loved this concept. The acting is off the charts too. The main lead is an exception actor. He managed to have a good chemistry with every guy he was paired with. I am actually amazed. That I had to stand up and give a standing ovation. The series didn't dragged even though it had a fair amount of run time and episodes. And the kisses and r-rated scenes was top notch. It was sexy and hot. KBL says GOODBYES to dead fish kisses. Damn i could go on and on about this series and I would never run out of praises. A bijilion out of 10. Literally perfection!

Leia Mais

Cazzo che bello

L'ho guardata in un giorno e non ho saltato neanche un pezzo. La storia ti prende da morire sono saltata dalla sedia tantissime volte per non parlare dei pianti che ho versato. Un episodio è cosi pieno di emozioni che pensi che l'episodio sia durato molto di piu' . Tratta argomenti seri in maniera veritiera. Cazzo se oddio quanto sto povero attore debba subire insulti omofobici, è una serie fatta benissimo, vincerebbe anche molti premi se la società coreana non fosse così omofobica. Spero che questo attore raggiunga successi enormi perchè selo merita proprio. Bravissimi anche gli altri protagonisti che hanno esposto personaggi molto differenti tra loro; ho avuto emozioni diverse per ognuno di loro.

Leia Mais

A journey to self-acceptance

In the Korean queer drama sphere, this is unlike anything I've watched. This is a series holding the weight of emotions, love, trauma. There's so much packed in 8 episodes that you can miss out on the little details, but regardless it holds a message: self-acceptance.

The pacing isn't perfect. Time doesn't always work nicely when you have a large story to pack into eight 45-50 minute episodes. Nevertheless, with what they had, they made it mostly work.

Nam Yoonsu isn't just an actor, he's also an advocate. His performance in the drama and his persistence afterwards is something I admire. It's not often you see an actor being proud of their work, let alone in Korean queer media. Sadly, conservatism prevails in a rapidly developing society, I can only hope Yoonsu's advocacy is recognized under a mostly positive light. He committed to his role as a young adult maneuvering in between different realities and brought life to Goyoung. Additionally, the entire cast in this were fantastic.

The humour comes in great bursts. I was genuinely laughing during some scenes. To the scriptwriter, thank you for bringing in humorous jabs during tense scenes.

Flawed characters. Goyoung isn't perfect, Mi Ae isn't perfect, Gyuho isn't perfect, etc. But they make it work navigating as outcasts in society. I love how the writers weren't shy in expressing imperfection. It leaves you feeling discomforted, but in a way, it reflected in a lot of my life stories.

Themes of being an outcast. Goyoung is a gay man with something holding him back from love, navigating under a religious guise ironclad to Korean society. I loved the subtle ways in which the story shows the effects of being an outcast from character to character. There's so much I would discuss with this, but it would end up being a boring novel. In the many layers of Goyoung, he finds his eventual acceptance as a difference to the "norm". I appreciate his development as a character.

Cinematography is incredible. It's as if the words taken from the novel have been firm-pressed into animate scenes. The movement, the subtle tune of music, the careful blur to focus on a character. I could go on, it's just spectacular.

Watching Love in the Big City made me reflect on my own life, and the last time a show had that effect on me was I Told Sunset About You. This is going to be something that I will likely go back to, as it's unlike anything I've seen in a long time. It felt like a cinematic reflection on a young queer man going through a portion of his life to self-acceptance. I hope this review sparks a tick on your watchlist; you don't want to miss watching this.

Leia Mais

Honestly the best series that came out this year

Love in the Big City is an absolute gem, delivering a perfect 10/10 in every aspect. From the captivating storyline to the flawless performances, everything about this production feels deeply authentic and engaging. The cast is phenomenal, each actor embodying their character with such depth and nuance that you can’t help but get emotionally invested in their journey. The chemistry between the leads is electrifying, adding layers of charm and realism to the narrative.. i felt so many emotions watching it.

The direction and cinematography are equally impressive, capturing the vibrant energy of the city while reflecting the intimate struggles and joys of modern relationships. The soundtrack fits seamlessly, elevating key moments without overpowering the story.

What truly sets Love in the Big City apart is its ability to balance humor, heartache, and hope in a way that feels relatable and refreshing. It’s rare to find a show that hits all the right notes, but this one delivers on every front.
In short, Love in the Big City is a masterpiece that sets a new standard for romantic dramas, and it’s a must-watch for anyone who appreciates top-tier storytelling, outstanding performances, and heartfelt moments.. I cried a lot.

Leia Mais

LIFE AT ITS PUREST

"i wonder why you sleep in utter silence like you're constantly on tiptoe. as if you're never home, no matter how long you've lived here. "

Pure, raw and both beautifully written and directed. I don't recall any other korean show with this level of realism. It's just life. With its ups and down, the bounds we create, the love we seek, the distance we fall apart.

I loved how the story was told, the connections Go Young make on his journey navigating into the universe we live in and the society we sometimes feel rejected from. It's heavy but also very simple, a sigh of what it is to be alive. I was giggling, screaming, got sad, felt the happiness, peace and despair. His relationship with Gyuho broke me into pieces.

Nam Yoonsu, how to not fall in love with you. What a great cast and amazing performances from the whole team. I beg for more shows like this to come.

Leia Mais