After months of waiting, I was finally able to complete this show. Been waiting since its announcement day as the fact that both actors playing the main characters are members of an established Korean boy group, plus the poster is indeed captivating. All I can say is that the wait is all worth it. High-quality production with beautiful transitioning and story setups.

The pilot episode isn’t as impactful due to the mixed emotions that I felt. The beginning of their love story is somehow annoying, as the way the class president and his mini-gang bully the poor archer athlete. I am a fan of the enemy-turn-to-lovers trope but not as much of letting the other party at a disadvantage to the point that he was being misunderstood by the teachers. Anyways, the good looks of the cast tend to lighten up my emotion. The great thing is that I enjoyed watching the remaining episodes after this one.

EP2 is when the butterflies in my stomach started to grow. I love that they are getting involved with each other. The execution of every romantic scene was gorgeous. One of my favorite parts of the drama is when Lee Da Yeol was fascinated by the good smell of Jo Tae Hyun’s body scent; that was alluring.

Jo Tae Hyun’s post-traumatic experience during his childhood is something understandable in the way the past keeps eating him alive. The title “A Shoulder to Cry On” is Lee Da Yeol’s POV of Tae Hyun. As we can see during the EP4 bus scene; after comfortably opening his past to Da Yeol, Tae Hyun peacefully sleep on Da Yeol’s shoulder. I am loving that moment when Da Yeol told Tae Hyun that it wasn’t his fault and that all the things that happened in the past are just an accident. Words that Tae Hyun wanted to hear for almost a decade. This also helps him to release his emotions and speaks up against her aunt, who solely blames him for everything.

A youthful love story that has several memorable scenes that are relatable and charming to the viewers who also had their high school crush during their teenage years. Some of these are: changing seats to be seatmates and spending time with one another, becoming too comfortable with each other that it is okay to share the same drinking cup, etc.

Lee Da Yeol’s bravery in confessing his feelings to Tae Hyun is deserving of applause. He was scared and even hate himself for having such emotions toward his first friend, yet, he was able to deliver his feeling to the person despite knowing the consequences it may have. I was hurt by Jo Tae Hyun’s killing words of rejection of Da Yeol’s confession. But I understand that the boy has his past and he was afraid that he might lose Da Yeol too. Their breakup scene teared me up and made me cry. Thankful that the show inserted a flashback memory during this episode in which Tae Hyun pinch Da Yeol out of jealousy.

Two years of time skip is painful for both but I am happy that they still reconcile with already being mature and considerate so that they will not hurt each other again in the future. That couple's lock screen wallpaper shocked me, they’re so in love with each other. They manage to retrieve all of the butterflies and the romantic excitement inside me is kicking too much after they confirmed that they’re already dating. Jo Tae Hyun’s preparation for their sea getaway was so cute. His making up all of the wasted time from the past and knowing that his first relationship is Da Yeol, I can assure you that his love never really faded away.

They didn’t give us an on-screen kissing scene but that exchange of used lollipops surprised me. It is not as gross as I think it was haha I love that scene! And Tae Hyun’s like Yu-Gi-Oh too, likewise!

I love that the OSTs have both Korean and English versions which are all sung by the couple’s boy group, OMEGA X. All songs sounded cool and emotional which fits the whole vibes of the show.

A Shoulder to Cry On is a drama that tells that someone can be our version of HOME. A person where we can be at peace, calm, and have some fun. I love that they took the story in a childish yet mature sense of storytelling since the characters are still in their adolescent period of life. Ending the review by quoting what Jo Tae Hyun says to Lee Da Yeol, ”It is not hard if you like it.” This is a statement that brings too much motivation in my life to keep on pursuing the things I liked, and so do you too.