Luz em Mim (2021)

Korean BL, but this time with higher production

The popularity of BL dramas has been growing in Korea. As a result, we now get to enjoy this 16 episode, half hour per episode run-time drama with a higher production value. And like the Thai BLs that came before it, with added runtime we get added story. This drama feels superior to most other KBLs for this reason, and for other reasons as well.

STORY: Well, this is a high school drama. So go into it expecting exactly that. We see many cliches and tropes, but we also see plenty of unique and interesting content as well. This story is overall very fluffy, though it has serious moments as well. It portrays a very innocent kind of love, the kind lots of high schoolers would expect to be involved in. The love triangle is fully believable and done excellently. We get to see some typical moments like wiping frosting from a lip, catching a falling love interest, and a pesky evil female character. We get to see harder hitting moments like rumors, bullying, homophobia, the pressures of high school and what it means to always be the best and act the best while looking the best and the pressure that puts on a person. We get to see someone win the big competition despite the fact that they absolutely should not have by any metric. You know how it goes. Overall, this story was able to pull me in despite its flaws and I love it.

ACTING: Kang Yoo Suk as Shin Woo manages to show a good emotional range in his character as he struggles with his feelings and how to express them. In a character that is chronically unable to say how he actually feels, being able to deliver believable nonverbal emotion is key, and Kang Yoo Suk does this well.

Choe Chan Yi as Da On stole the show for me. Dealing with new developing romantic feelings, the struggle of coming out to himself, the pressure he is under as the sweet and kind student body president, the emptiness of absent parents, and the turmoil of rumors and homophobia, Choe Chan Yi was able to express all of the feelings that come with these issues with a smile on his face (mostly). Brilliant acting. I will follow his career closely moving forward.

Go Woo Jin as Nam Goong Shi Woon was a great choice in casting. He is able to seemingly effortlessly switch from the goofy, loud comedic relief wingman to the serious and often wise (or good at pretending to be wise, at times), caring friend who makes sure everyone's emotional needs are being met and sees all the sides of disagreements. Like Kang Yoo Suk, I enjoyed seeing this actor's range.

Lee Sae On as Tae Kyung... you will read plenty of reviews that strongly dislike his acting and call him robotic. He isn't as bad as many people seem to think - a lot of it is due to him playing a character that is a "self-imposed loner" and therefore lacks friends and social skills - but I do think this actor has a bit of a way to go to catch up with his peers from this drama. There is a ton of potential in him, though. Despite the odds, I didn't hate him or his character. It all just ended up feeling a bit flat, unfortunately.

Remaining cast seem overall fairly suitable without anything standing out in particular.

MUSIC: The OST is enjoyable. The music seemed consistently fitting and not overwhelming in any scenes. I often forgot to listen to it, and that's great. It helped set the moods in various scenes without pulling focus away.

The Korean boyband A.C.E, already well known for speaking out on LGBT issues and breaking gender norms through their various styles over the last handful of years since their debut in booty shorts, recorded the track SPARK for this OST. The song is beautiful in sound and message, and was used fittingly throughout the show. A.C.E's leader, Jun, has stated that this track and project were important to the group as they want to promote the idea to their fans that there are many kinds of love that are just as beautiful as the expected norm, and that they accept their fans no matter who or how they love. Stan A.C.E.

REWATCH VALUE: I would watch this drama again in the future. I found it enjoyable enough to enjoy it again, and would like to look for any moments I may have missed in the first half that gave more of Shin Woo's feelings away.

OVERALL: This drama isn't what I would ever call "groundbreaking" but it is sweet, somewhat sad, fluffy, and entertaining. Most of the acting was on point. The camera angles and lighting were usually very good. The message wasn't profound but it did have a message to tell, and it delivered on it.

Very much looking forward to more work from this director and several cast members.

Leia Mais

The Most Heartfelt Bl Korean Highschool Drama

At first when i started watching this it's full of second-hand embarrassment ? then it's straight to comedy scene that keep me watching this without skipping any moment. As the lover of angsty+hate to lover dramas(or it's just SW being a tsundere?) this is really what i will put in top list of bl drama ! the heartfelt content it makes me fully awake with big eyes even its 5 in the morning ? they are so goddamn cute especially the main couple♡ there's so much more i want to say but words can't I really describe how much precious and gold this is! overall I'll give 10/10! reallyyy worth the time(≧▽≦*)

Leia Mais

Nice school romance with great characters

Binged this series in two days.

I don't watch K-drama a lot, but this is my favourite so far. I love the story, though it's also a bit painful for me.

I was really, really rooting for Daon and Taekyung to be together. I mean, the way they treated each other was so sweet, and Taekyung's confession ("You said that nothing belongs to you, so I want to belong to you") was just so powerful to me.

However, I know from the start that Daon would be a very hard person to be in a relationship with. Someone who's aiming to please everyone would just hurt people they care about in the end.

And with the way the series gave Shinwoo ML treatments (I mean, special bgm when Shinwoo and Taekyung got close to each other?) I just know that Daon wouldn't have a chance.

For more than half the season, I was hopeful that I'll be wrong and Daon-Taekyung would get together (they like each other, what else might happen?), but by the time Daon said to people that he's nice to Taekyung just because Taekyung's a new member, I guess I just gave up. Taekyung deserves someone who's not afraid to declare their feelings to him. Daon was just not the one. I know he had his own reasons, but still.

Shinwoo was a great character too. I love how he knew when to give up and when to fight again. His awkward moments with Taekyung were very cute. This is unrelated, but for some reason he really reminds me of GOT7 Jinyoung.

But no matter what, I think the best character in this series was Namgung. He might not be directly involved with the conflicts in this drama, but the way he tried to light things up, and how he's giving advices (which he got from Mr. Seo) was just nice. I thought he's a bit of jerk at first for not helping Shinwoo, but it was a mistake ony part, because he actually helped, he just used his head more by calling the police. From then, he continued worm his way to be a character I'm fond of.

Some people might hate Sohee for her tenacity and what he did to Daon and Taekyung, but I actually don't think that she's a bad character. Yes, she's obsessed with Daon and what she's done to them wasn't right, but she's learning, trying, and well, who doesn't make a mistake in their life?

As for Mr. Seo, I was so glad that they got a scene dedicated to celebrate his birthday. He cared a lot for his students. With the last scene where he met someone (from his past?), I wonder if we would get second season or maybe a spin-off.

Last one, Taekyung. I wasn't really into him at first, but his honestly did made him interesting, and before I knew it, I got to like him. Like, I'm rooting for him. I literally shed tears when he realized that he liked Daon. And when he's rejected by Daon too.
Thankfully he's okay now.

I usually don't like a love triangle story, especially the one where the MC liked someone, got rejected, and the liking another person in a short period, but this series made it feels natural.

It still pained me that Daon let go of his chance tho. Hopefully, if there's any continuation, he'll get his own happy ending.

The osts are nice. I love them. Especially at the end of ep 14.

Leia Mais

Loved this one so much

I won't take up your time with a minute by minute breakdown of why I loved this drama so much. I loved the casting and the acting is spot-on - perfect. The characters all felt comfortable in their own skin and owned their characters - you could (and do) easily get attached to your favorites.

My only gripe is how too many dramas make the bad person good before the end credits role. What she did was selfish and horrible - to be playing on the beach again with everyone by the end was sad. She got away with everything and all she had to do was pout, shed a few tears and say she was sorry. She affected reputations of individuals - she took their private lives away. It was mean spirited and cruel. They should have promised to eventually make amends but, it should have been off camera.

Other than that - LOL - I will save this to watch again and again.

Leia Mais

WOW, ALMOST EXO MEMBER!!!

story sucked, acting was actually not bad for like newbies!! bvery handome chaseueinrgursi~~~
the story was good if it prez x mc, not vp x mc
it -just feels like you knew the ending but tghe story went one way but it went back to your expectations??
love triangles idk
but yeah it was very like you were like WOW IT'S NOT GONNA BE A BASIC LOVE TRIANGLE STORY but it was
good production quality
better than mediocre acting
cast had a lot of chemsitry and was cute!!!!!!!!11111
disappointing plot!
anyway stan iu1111 we love mushroom boy in this housse!!!! woo taekyung KAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY (gay)

Leia Mais

Well handled coming to terms with yourself gay romance

A charming series which responsibly explores the difficulties of facing your own sexuality, coming to terms and finding love with another (and learning to love yourself)

Story & character development

I read some reviews criticising how the love triangle was solved, but I disagree with them. One of the main drivers of this plot was focusing in on the fears of facing your own sexuality and the challenges of finding that special connection amid the maelstrom of a school life in a culture unfriendly to gays.

Take a case in point which I think was extremely well handled. Many criticise the decision to wrap the plot up with Tae Kyung
choosing Shin Woo over Da On. But they miss something extremely important. I write from personal experience as someone who came out as gay later in my life, mid twenties. I can assure everyone that that first year was horrendous (in my case not because of any issues with family members not accepting it). The entire dynamic of my life radically and irretrievably altered. The very thing I had spent my *entire* school life running from, hiding, being ashamed of - was just there. When a gay man (even moreso for gay teenagers) actually face who they are, it takes a long emotional process to find that new equilibrium in your life.
My point here is, Da On's character needed to take time to face himself - his real self - having taken the courage to face it openly despite the myriad challenges he would be facing subsequently. His character needed Tae Kyung as a friend, there to help him in what would be a tough time ahead. Believe me, in real life the first year you're out is often not a time you want to spend wooing a first love, it's a brutally draining emotional journey. Da On's character needed to take time for himself and that ending seemed correct to me.
As for Tae Kyung, what he needed was someone to love him, give his character the attention he so obviously yearned and craved. This was simply not a role Da On's character was in a position to give him. He was now finding a new balance in his life between the work he genuinely loves, learning to love his new self and there just wasn't room in his life at that time for him to meet Tae Kyung's needs.

Whereas Shin Woo was someone ready to be what Tae required by the end. Shin had already faced Da's journey prior to the beginning of the series, and had found a balance in his own life. He was emotionally, personally ready to be be the romantic partner Tae was searching for.

A love triangle done right for once:

To my mind this love triangle plot is a rare case of one being done extremely well. And I say this as someone who actively dislikes love triangle plot devices, but in this case it fit in perfectly with the character development in the story.

Teaching profession:

Another good aspect was the role they had the educator play, dishing out advice and wisdom free from judgement. It sends a message about the importance of educators in our lives. I recall a time when one of my Chinese first year uni students came to me after I finished teaching a module, burst out crying and asked me advice about if she should tell her parents she was a lesbian. I still - years later - think about that conversation, and the advice I gave. I LOVE the subtle emphasis on the importance of our teachers and elders. The role these people play has impact on the students they teach, those who look up to them and also stays with the teachers themselves.

Charming series, well executed. My 7.5/10 represents a comfortably above average gay romance which tackles important subtleties known to gay people very delicately and sensibly. If what you're looking for is melodrama, or some bullshit fan-shipping opportunity this series isn't for you. But if you want a charming, well paced (maybe sometimes slightly slow at points) story which can provide a small insight into being gay, coming to terms with this and facing public ridicule with courage then this is for you. That this was a South Korean production makes me very excited for the future, given it is a country with a notoriously conservative culture regarding gay rights and romance.

Leia Mais

First time I felt compelled to write a review about a drama...

I was already primed even before I started the drama that the main couple here is the VP and the mc (well it is because of them that I decided to see how they developed in the story plus high school romance ofc).
Look away now because this review is entirely on how I felt about this and I just want to take it out of my system.

As I kept watching, it seems to me that the real CP here should have been Pres and MC?

The entire plot was based on the progress of relationship of Pres and the MC. VP was mean and rude to the MC BUT he actually fell in love with MC long ago and all this time he was repressing his feelings by being mean (like wut?? I don't mind enemies to lovers but damn with the "I fell in love with you at first sight" plus with the "I'm mean and rude to you but I like you"? MC tried to be friends but VP kept being a jerk UNTIL something happened in the cafeteria that made him change 180?)

All this time VP was on the sidelines, pinning over the MC while MC was coming to terms with his feelings with Pres (bruh around 9 eps already?). Then we have a classic "gays are bad" problem and rumors. Honestly, it was quite unfair that the Pres didn't even get a chance (even just a day) to take all of the problems and everthing in without the WHOLE FREAKING SCHOOL basically taking it out on him + VP pushing Pres to come to terms with his feelings already + MC not even giving Pres to catch a freaking break like the poor boy just got outed like that (even worse because of how the school views the Pres) ??? + we have this overly obsessed girl that couldn't even take a hint. Like Pres was against the world at this point.

OH but because of this FINALLY VP got a chance to show ALL of the good points now because he has already experienced it before. To me, VP poses as the friend who comforts his friend during a rift in his "relationship". And that went on for 3 more eps and they also have their moments together BUT MC was still thinking about Pres?
Despite VP and the MC got their moments, to me it looked like its one sided. VP is more like a friend to MC and was there to comfort him during the rift. I didn't even see the changes on the MC if he ever viewed VP as a romantic option? I can't even feel that their moments are romantic all the while it is only VP that is mainly affected about everything MC does.

Then ep 15 happened, like the time Pres finally comes around and decided to go for it. MC didn't even reject Pres when this is probably the part where MC "moved on"? And they still got moments together? VP feeling insecure? Obviously MC has not yet moved on because look how he acts around Pres? Like I am not blind to notice MC still got feelings even on the 2nd to the LAST ep so far?? PLUS they had to show the scene back on the trip where Pres kissed MC on the forehead like what was that for?

Then ep 16 happened, MC made a choice and it is VP? Like a whole 180. VP stopped MC from reaching out to Pres like WUT?? So, what would happened if he didn't?? MC should've made a choice without any inteferrence because it came out forced. Felt like MC had to choose VP because he is available and loves him for a longer time. MC told Pres during ep 15 that he had to return back his feelings just because he saw VP is just like him vs MC confessing to Pres how MC wanted Pres to have him so he can finally have something that truly belongs to him AND STILL LOVE PRES despite knowing his faults? So it is like showing MC just chose VP because he is a safe option, not because he is in love with him.

I am supposed to be rooting for the MC and VP yet their relationship is not developed at all compared to MC with Pres. Pres went through changes, we see him at the beginning as the perfect person but actually had some inner demons he's fighting with. We saw how MC came to love him like that, actually not being perfect and still trying to figure him out. Pres was the most developed character here compared to VP. What I got for VP is that he's been pining over MC for what, 2 years?, and the start he was mean and a jerk at first (gosh honestly not a fan of these kinds of tropes). The only thing going for VP is that he got more advantage because of his past, thus he is more better candidate? Yet all this while he has been on the sidelines being a "friend" but ONLY got a chance when the rift happened? And VP and MC interactions felt more platonic than ever, like wut is going on.


Goodness, this was long. This is the first time ever I can't even root for the main couple and I am not satisfied with how the story turned out.
Plot could have been stronger if they just went with the Pres route, it is way more intriguing and where it is a slow burn -"coming to terms with my feelings; he fell for me first then I fell harder and realize this is worth fighting for and overcoming problems" compared to "I am a jerk to you at the beginning but I've been pinnning over you for years, thus better man than him" (which this just screams second male lead, and enemies to lover trope is just...way too used at this point).
I had high expectations at the beginning, but was disappointed.

Leia Mais

It was good

Honestly not a big fan of love triangles. Ive Never been a Fan and i was willing to skip past that part because I’ve heard so many good things about this show. The acting was good the storyline was nice. The main leads definitely had good chemistry but I did find myself shipping the main character with the other guy at times. Of course bls tend add a jealous female character who ruins relationships, which is very annoying and at the end she suddenly was friends with them again and seemed so happy when he chose shinwoo instead (I think that’s his name) but anyways this show was cute, and I would recommend it

Leia Mais

One of the few short BL well done in 2021.

It's the story of Tae Kyung, a school student who is a loner by choice, because he never thought he needed anyone.
But one day, he starts questioning his own judgment want to make new friends. The teacher he confides in helps him join the school’s student council where he meets three different young men.
He discovers that making friends may be harder than it seems and he will even discover the first feelings for a person.

I know that most enthusiastic BLs may be disappointed, this series is less about the rush and the intimate moments, more about discovering your first love.
The series begins slowly, we discover our characters who learn to know each other and then to understand and assume their feelings.

Four characters in love whose situation might have seemed messy but turned out to be pretty well handled in the script.
I who am very critical of annoying FL, I find that Lee So Hee seemed rather relatable and intelligent, she certainly did a bad deed but she understood what she did, apologized and learned, we see her evolve for good and I like that the characters change.

As for the two protagonists, Noh Shin Woo and Woo Tae Kyung, their romance is slow, step by step and not directly from the "I hate you to I love you" that other series like to maintain.
No, here their relationship evolves with reality, without toxicity between the two even if they are young and stupid sometimes, their relationship is cute and adorable.

Honestly, I'm hoping for a season two that further develops their relationship now that they're finally together, because the actors have real chemistry.

By the way, I liked that the roles that seemed to be cliché in the summary weren't, like Noh Shin Woo, the cold guy who's actually just shy, and Woo Tae Kyung, the guy who seems sensitive is actually very forthright, brave, he can stand up for himself.
It's a change from the overly confident "cold" guy who tells the shy guy how to be and what to do.

As for Shin Da On, some say he deserves better, but in reality, in life, before you absolutely want to be with someone, it is better to find yourself, than to throw yourself into a relationship when you don't know who you are and barely what you want.

As for the production and the sets, frankly nothing to say, it was a pleasant series to watch, the few sets were well done, the production was good and also the script which really avoided the big clichés that interfere with the BLs theses days.
It was really nice to discover a short series with a cute and entertaining story.

I'm really looking forward to a season 2.

Leia Mais

A Well done Kdrama that everyone should give a chance!

The Characters are so well done. I love them all and the way they were acted as well. Each character is fleshed out and no one is left out.
You really understand the characters and where they are coming from and why they are feeling what they are feeling and can't help but feel like you could do something about it somehow but in the end they will ok more than ok in fact. The journey they go through is so satisfying to watch that you can't help but feel proud of them.

The Love Triangle is not painful to watch or Overdramatic. I usually hate Love Triangle but the journey these 3 went through felt natural. This is one Love Triangle that is shown very well.
All in all I've enjoyed this story a lot and it's only 20 to 30 mins each so you can either binge watch it or watch it when you need a break from your stressful lives or thrilling suspenseful or drama filled dramas and also if Kdramas representing LGBTQ are anything like this drama I'm sure we will be getting some very good ones in the future preferably with 1 hr ep each

Leia Mais

I'm glad this drama existed

The storyline is very good, and relatable. It deals with the problems most of the students experienced in school or people in modern society. This is a light drama with no extreme melodrama, or annoying parents involved. Firstly, I love that each character gets a character development, well, except Nam Goong Shi Woon because his character is constant and stable. Although this drama is short, it gives a lot of great message to people: to be brave, to respect friendship, and change to be a better version of ourselves.

I just think maybe the actor who played Woo Tae Kyung, and Shin Da On could've done a better job. I know Woo Tae Kyung's character is supposed to be flat and boring, but flat and boring people also have variety of facial expressions (great example is Seo Yea ji playing Ko Moon Young in It's okay not to be okay). I feel like he can improve better in the next drama. Would love to see him doing other dramas in the future!

Choe Chan Yi also could've done a better job at portraying Shin Da On. I feel like some of his acting (not all of them) is awkward, especially the scene where he helps Woo Tae Kyung, and also when Woo Tae Kyung confronts him. I would like to see him acting more distressed and "don't know what to do" kind of expressions, but I didn't see much of it.

However, I love Kang Yoo Seok's acting portraying Noh Shin Woo, although "cold male lead" usually comes with a cold and flat expressions, he did a good job playing with different expressions. I also love Yang Seo Hyun playing Lee So Hee, she did a good job at playing a character who's shameless, and also vulnerable. Writers did a good job giving her a character development. The ending is kind of expected, but I think it's a great way to close the drama with them being friends supporting both ML being in love.

Leia Mais