Do NOT read this review if you don't want spoilers.
Spoiler-free tl;dr version: the cinematography, acting, music, everything is really good. The storyline is also mostly good but there are some aspects that go a little overboard and may be frustrating. The ending felt a little offputting to me; it felt like there wasn't enough closure compared to the things that happened. At the same time, I feel like this is a case of hit-or-miss, what was frustrating to me may not be to you. Nevertheless, its definitely worth the watch.

I heard a lot of good things about this show and barely even halfway into the first episode I could see why. The way the premise was set, the storytelling, the characterization, everything had me hooked. But in the latter half I felt like I was ready for it to be over already. Not even sure why I'm being so critical of this one, considering I've loved a lot of worse shows, but I think the first couple of episodes set the bar so high that the rest couldn't really meet those expectations and ended up feeling somewhat frustrating.
To start with, the cinematography is absolutely brilliant, and so are the actors. The music just ties it up together to bring you the perfect package.
I love the characterization of Teh and Oh, they're so different but at the same time have so much in common. I especially like the characterization of Oh as a "feminine" gay man but not falling into the typical cliches or being portrayed as a caricature of both women and feminine gay men. Teh's main characteristics are both his high points and his pitfalls: he practically communicates through grand gestures, be it the negatives or the positives, and finds it really hard to acknowledge his true feelings. He would leave everything and make a picture book so that the man he loves can study but can't freaking communicate with that man. The storyline isn't new, it's closer to overdone in romances, but I liked the way it was interpreted here. Starting with their childhood friendship, the fallout and the getting back together set the stage for the show very well.
I also loved the way them relearning each other and getting closer was showcased. Ironic as it may be, Teh helping Oh hit on Bas was one of my favorite arcs, it seriously gave me those bestie vibes and I loved seeing that.
Now for the downhill curve of the storyline... Well, I was expecting the angst but not quite in this way. Teh being in denial of his feelings was absolutely expected, but that didn't make the way he treated Oh any less damaging. I was so pissed at him in that scene after the kiss when he tells Oh that they were just friends. It's one thing to deny your own feelings, but his actions, even if inadvertently, were leading Oh on and he refused to give him any actual clarity. Oh was at fault too for continuing to push someone who was obviously not ready, but I feel like everything would've been a lot simpler if Teh actually talked to Oh and addressed what was going on between them instead of doubling down on other aspects and ignoring the elephant in the room.
The issue was that Teh was doing the most for Oh but not giving him what he actually wanted. He was breaking Oh's heart but then overcompensating for it through grand gestures. It was fine till making the book for him, but then the whole "throwing away his own future" thing happened and I almost smashed my laptop. I know they're teenagers so of course they aren't going to do everything right, but you would rather throw away the future you worked so hard for, throw away your and your family's dream, instead of simply talking to Oh once? And again, very expectedly, Oh chose not to "steal" his dream. The second person on that waiting list must have sent them a lot of blessings. This part really frustrated me lol.
Things just continued to go wrong from there, but honestly? This would all have been fine if they gave it a good resolution. But to me the resolution felt incomplete. The conversation with Hoon addressed his sexuality, but the guilt that drove him to do so much was largely unaddressed. Yes, internalized homophobia is a bitch, but in this one I would've appreciated if they actually brought up the things we saw throughout the show, mainly feeling guilty for the way he had treated Oh and the frustration that even after doing so much literally nothing good came out of it: he lost his seat at his dream college, he screwed up his chances at getting into the normal program, and he also lost Oh as both a friend and romantic interest. Honestly the way it was just boiled down to internalized homophobia kinda put me off. Yes, that may have been the root cause, but I kinda expected them to actually address the fact that his overcompensation did more harm than good. Subtext is fine too though.
I also had a major case of second lead syndrome for Bas. Honestly Bas was pretty much the boyfriend Oh deserved to have, so to see him with someone who was actually on the same page as him actually made me feel like I would've preferred this ship more. Like honestly, take the premise and make it a romcom about Teh helping Oh win Bas' heart lol, I need that brightness now.
Overall it was still an amazing show, and maybe after a rewatch it'll feel less offputting, but the main issue tbh was that it started out way too well for the devolving into your average drama to feel justified. At the same time, it felt like it ended too abruptly. I feel like there should've been more closure after all that went down.