O Oitavo Sentido (2023)

Maybe my favourite characters in BL

I loved these characters, I think they were all so well written, and for the most part extremely well acted as well, especially the main boys. Jihyun is a innocent country bumpkin but he's got sass and bite and he is confident in himself. Jaewon has so many problems but he seems indefinitely patient and kind. Aeri is a treasure, and Joopyu is probably the best "best friend" character I've seen in a while, it's all very believable.

And ah the acting, when things get dark you can see how shut off from the world Jaewon is, how his eyes are so lifeless, how he's just going through the motions. Until he sees Jihyun. It's 10/10 from me. Their relationship was so tender and even before they got together, you could clearly see the attraction in the looks, small gestures.

Editing in this show gets a little wild at times with some confusing cuts but some scenes hit you SO HARD. One I need to highlight is in the episode after Jihyun's accident, when the opening credits play completely silent, it set's the mood so well and feels really intense. Or when the scene gets dark and colourless when Jaewon is deep in his depression. It's all so so good and people much smarter and more eloquent have talked about it at leght - I can just say I loved it.

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One word: Cinematography

This show is without a doubt amazing, a couple of things in the middle confused me a bit, and the lack of inner monologue made some things a bit complicated, but other than that, I have little negative to say about it. Now with that said, this is without a doubt the MOST BEAUTIFUL kbls I've ever seen, all the colors are gorgeous and the filming is creative and not messy in the slighest. Many kbls have this where problem that the filming and angles are often very lackluster, but this show really took the time to get nice and well-thought-out shots and scenes that make watching the program more satisfying. All scenes filmed with jaewon's psychologist are magnificent, with creative angles, use of color and props. The first scene in epsidoe 10 is also pure cinematic art, the simplicity of the use of color and the angle, the different patterns, it reminded me a lot of Nevertheless, a series that also have amazing cinematography and probably a higher budget. Both jihyun and jaewon's acting is amazing and their dynamic and chemistry is amazing and incredibly natural.
Aeri and joonpyo are fun side characters with distinctive personalities that are both interesting to watch, and that don't overshadow Jihyun and Jaewon's story. Eunji is a bitch and I don't want to talk about her.
The music is great, the characters are realistic, the main issue makes sense, there are stakes, there is character development, and the ending is satisfying and everything just clicks.
Also they play Conan Gray so-

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Reseña sencilla

Pq siento que esta serie no es tan popular cuando para mi fue de lo mejorcito que he visto en mi vida asi lit, quiero comenzar con la cinematografía de la serie me fascinó, las imágenes, los colores de cada escena son muy bonitas y bien logradas a la vista, ame con locura la pareja principal, quiero tmb hablar un poquito por separado de cada uno, Jae Won siento que nos muestran mas de el, que nos mostraran todo lo que tiene que sobrellevar (la presión de sus padres, la perdida de su hermano, el hecho de que acude a terapia sin que nadie sepa, la "depresión" después del accidente) yo la vd que sufri mucho con su historia y agradezco que encontrara a Ji Hyun en su vida, Ji Hyun es también una persona con traumas, que esta experimentando nuevas emociones, el hecho de tener que acostumbrarse a una vida lejos de su familia, su refugio en el dibujo, para mi al final de cuentas los dos se hacían bien asi mismos, quiero destacar una frase del cap 6 que dice Jae Won "siempre estamos viviendo en los de los demás en este mundo" para mi tuvo mucho realismo pero nomas quiero dejarla para que la interpreten como quieran, sin duda mis papis, ojala cuando la vuelva a ver se sienta como la 1ra vez siempre:)

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The Eighth Sense

When i saw the trailer i was very intrigued. The fist episode droped and i was immediately hooked. Dont know if anyone watched Shelter from many years ago, but it was giving me a little of that vibe.
The actors completely nailed their roles. To think the actor who plays Jihyunbwas street casted and it is his first role. Jisub killed as Jaewon. I cannot five enough compliments to the actors the directors, producers and the entire crew. Forgot to mention that the soundtrack is top teir as well.
Another special mention to the directors as they have been very involved with interacting with the fans (Freebirds).
It was simply just a fantastic project

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had potiential but didn't hit for me

Everyone says the same thing about how great this is, and only one thing that I can agree on is that the cinematography is great and the actors did their thing with the script they were given. I personally found the story confusing at best and poor/lacking at worst. It was around like 4/5 where I was like wait do these characters know they're gay? Like the whole show is about subtly and realism but for the couple I just don't find it realistic to be romantic with one another and like be portrayed as like acquaintances?? I'm not sure, it felt gaslighty to the audience and didn't add any intimacy to the main couple. Like yk the flirty looks and stuff work and the intimate touches work in the beginning but if there's something there and theirs like weird cuts idk. I wish they delved into jae wons brother/depression also there's like a lot that can cause depth to the show, but it felt underwhelming which was disappointing. The therapist could have gotten some great lines but her character was a flop so was that ex gf. Some shit is stupid as well
I know it's like one of those creative projects that is like greatly praised for it's story and cine, so I kinda hate y'all for this. If the purpose was to be pretty it did that but don't expect to much like I did

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Jigsaw Storytelling- The BL Genre announces its glowing future in KDrama

One of the most poignant BL to hit us from Korea. Beautifully shot and rendered. And like a jigsaw the writer pulls together all the strings in the end to create a harmonious thing of beauty and symmetry. This story is about how asymmetries fit together to form a symmetry.

One of the great things about this story was that it caught the school/college life right. Older students scared of the world they are about to step into, worried about employment, resentful about privilege and trying to boss over the juniors. The insecurities of the older students and the fear of the students from rural areas is captured very well. At the end, the juniors have all come into their own and ready to take on the baton from the seniors. These are universal themes-no wonder the international audience is so pleased with this.

Another wonderfully executed theme is the love story and how it yo-yos between the two men. The older, confident, more mature Jae Won is smitten by the younger, inexperienced Ji Hyun. For both this is the awakening of unknown emotions as both come to terms with their sexuality. But in the process of fighting their internal demons, the younger man clearly becomes the stronger anchor of that relationship.

Ji Hyun starts off in the story as a somewhat simple boy, but he has surprising insight into the older man's behavior. In fact the younger bunch, Ae Ri, the room mate, Bit Na are all extremely sorted and they basically save the older bunch from themselves. You would have expected the older bunch to be more mature but the younger lot is more mature, more accepting and better able to deal with life. This theme of the new generation taking over is actually a very interesting part of the story.

The theme of yin and yang is referenced plenty of times-- in the conversation of JaeWon with the bar lady, the explanation of the cocktail in a special glass where the two liquors dont mix yet create fireworks in the mouth, the last episode game of "one step forward, two steps backward"- basically the insight of how it is not necessary to look for identical similitude in love or relationship but look to fit together like a jigsaw, yield when needed and stand firm when the other sways.

The tonality of the screenplay is beautifully captured by the color palette used, the water motif used in all the key scenes.
The undertone of sadness that is felt all through the story because of Jae Won's backstory is never fully explained and finally lifts at the end of 9th episode as Jae Won finally decides to step forward and runs to Ji Hyun. And that is the beauty of this story, it doesnt go into backstories , it just explores the present emotions of the characters and the choices made by them. Yes the backstory of Jae Won could have been milked to increase the pathos, but kudos to the director who instead choses to focus on the steadfastness and love of Ji Hyun.

I find this cinematic choice of saying in the present fascinating. Given a chance Kdramas, Cdramas would NEVER let a chance of milking the past grievances go, whether the story needs it or not... But here the writer/director goes with the flow of present events. Not just for the main couple but even all the side characters, everyone goes with the flow, allowing the present to look towards the glowing future career, job, love and not just the pains and grievances of the past.

Well done and more power to all the actors and writer/director. This is the true rise of the BL genre in Kdrama space and from Bluenming, to Semantic Error, To my Star, to The Eighth Sense, this space can only grow! Go watch it!

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JOINING MY TOP 3 KBL

Every year there is this one BL that gets my heart like crazyyyy, last year it was BLUEMING and this year it's THE EIGHTH SENSE!

Everything feels so natural and real, both of their characters are so interesting!!! The complexity of Jaewon's character and the growing character of Jihyun, everything was so well portrayed by both actors.
Great actors really are the essence of a serie/drama/movie/.... I prefer this than celebrities/singers that not necessarily know that job.
All the side characters did so well too especially the one for YoonWon.

Also the co-production between a korean producer and South African producer !!!!!!!
All the best from the korean producing style and a more westernised one, just reunited in one short and beautiful drama.

The music choice was BRILLANT and yes i am talking about The Story - Conan Gray! That suited this one scene so so well i am still speechless... All the BGM were used well, the only reason why I only put 9.5 is because i don't have a particular OST I will or want to replay on loop this time but it's fine :)

Anyways THANK YOU for doing such a great scenario
THANK YOU for choosing actors that are not afraid of playing their dmn characters
THANK YOU for bringing such beautiful stories in our screen<3

Hoping for a season 2 with Jaewon facing his family and fighting for his dreams, hand in hand with Jihyun<3

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Not perfect, but it gets so many things right.

This BL isn't perfect, but it's really wonderful and tries a lot of really interesting things. It's more like watching an indie movie than a Kdrama.

The art direction had some big hits and big misses. I appreciate they took risks, but some of the risks just muddied the water.

- Use of color - between Ji Hyun and Jae Won. Ji Hyun is often dressed in and surrounded by soft and bright colors, while Jae won is surrounded by dark colors and blackness, signifying his mental health struggles.

- Sometimes the cinematography, lighting and use of color was SO good, like in the climax of episode 9. It took my breath away. And sometimes it was so bad and jarring that I had to rewind a few seconds to make sure I hadn't missed anything between the awkward cuts and fades.

-Lighting sometimes was perfect and impactful, and sometimes you could barely see the actor's faces or make out what was happening.

- The music score was PERFECT, no notes, loved it to bits

- Acting was fantastic on all points.

As for the story -

- I really enjoyed that this series attempted to address issues surrounding mental health, and that you cannot judge what is going on in someone's life based on the outward appearance. I loved that one of the main characters not only had depression, but was in therapy and medicated. I've almost never seen this portrayed in Asian media and it was extremely refreshing.

- I love that Ji Hyun and Jae Won legitimately complement each other and the characters actually grow and learn. I love that Ji Hyun is shy and reserved, but comes out of his shell and is always direct and honest. I love that Jae Won initially seems perfect but is deeply flawed, and finds refuge in Ji Hyun, who does not allow him to wear his "mask". It's great storytelling of a couple that actually fit together and make each other better, rather than just two characters smashed together that don't really work.

- I really dislike female characters being used as a plot device for jealousy or competition - I don't think Eun Ji was necessary at all. There are so many other unexplained bits I would have rather had resolved than all the time spent on her. I understand having unlikeable characters, but we already got that in Tae Hyung. Other than that, the female characters were their own people and were not just comic relief.

- I also have an issue with Jae Won's ghosting - I don't think it was really addressed or made up for enough how harmful and toxic it is to ghost someone like that. Especially after being intimate with someone for the first time and experiencing shared trauma. I know that these characters are imperfect, and that Ji Hyun is a sweet angel baby who didn't let the ghosting get him down, but I feel like it was glossed over how incredibly painful and shitty that is to do to another person.

- The ending was perfect in my opinion - I know it has been said that it's a "love fixes everything" ending, but I don't agree. The ending scene shows the characters discussing that they don't know what will happen, but they will try together, whether it be Jae Won's mental health problems or anything else life can bring them. They know that struggles will still happen and that Jae Won is not "healed", but they are ready to take them on together.

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Is This Open Ended For Season 2?

The Eighth Sense" is a binge-worthy series that had me glued to the screen, and I'm grateful for that. The show delves into some traumatic arcs, which I'm relieved I could handle better by watching it in one go..

The story follows Ji Hyun, a new student from a peaceful rural town, as he navigates the bustling city life of Seoul. At university, he meets Jae Won, who has just completed military service. Ji Hyun joins the surf club to get closer to Jae Won. Their shared love for surfing brings them together, and as they spend time in the surf club, their feelings for each other deepen. However, after a shared kiss during a surfing trip, Jae Won acts distant, leaving Ji Hyun puzzled about their connection. We soon learn about the trauma Jae Won is coping with through glimpses of his therapy sessions. As their friendship grows, Jae Won opens up his heart to Ji Hyun, and they start a relationship. But a surfing accident triggers Jae Won's regression into his trauma, and he ends up ghosting Ji Hyun. The series takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions as we witness their journey to reconcile and get back together.

What sets "The Eighth Sense" apart is that it is its portrayal of flawed characters, depicting the complexities without relying on major redemption arcs. Instead, it shows us how people deal with their imperfections in a realistic and manageable way, reflecting real-life struggles. The ending is semi-happy, steering away from unrealistic rainbows and unicorns, leaving room for interpretation and a potential season 2. "The Eighth Sense" captivates with its heartfelt storytelling and a touch of authenticity that keeps you emotionally invested until the very end.

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a toucher of all the senses

This drama really pulled at my heart. The emotions and feelings of the characters, especially the main leads were so real that as the viewer I was also affected by the intensity of those emotions. It really brings out the rawmess of crossing the uncharted territory of love both the good parts and the hard parts together, not leaving one out or overportraying one over the other.

I honestly don't know where too start with this review. I just finished watching this show and i'm still very much stuck in the whirlpool of the story and the emotions....

I guess I'll start with the cast and crew first. Amazing job to both the main leads because they really drew me as the audience into the world of Ji Hyun and Jae Won. The crew and the overall shooting of the film really highlighted and had a huge emphasis on the story and I felt this especially with the lighting and close-ups that were done in the film. At times, the bleak and stark lighting seen in some of the episodes later on really portrayed the raw emotions of pain that Ji Hyun and Jae Won were feeling and the scenes that had a warmer and full lighting really emphasized the closeness and warmth of the characters. I thought this was brilliant because even though nothing was said by the characters during this scenes, the other cinematic elements really drove the story home to me as the viewer.

Music.... it was beautiful and as the undertone I found that it grounded and gave a good base for the rest of the story. I am very picky about the kinds of background music that i hear when i watch something because music as a cinematic element can really shape how the story progresses. The music i heard as I was watching spoke up and also really added flavour to other cinematic elements I mentioned before. I have never given music a 10/10 rating before but I feel like this show deserved it.

I would really rewatch this but to be honest I wish i could go back in time to relive the moment of watching this show for the first time. I was really caught up in the story and I honestly don't know what to say because that's how much I enjoyed it. 10/10 would definitely recommend this to a friend and without a doubt I bet that I will find myself rewatching this drama more than once or twice before this year ends! Its a master piece on a level of its own.

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Bitter and sweet

Just the right amount of sweetness with a little angst and lots and lots of kisses. This was the first BL drama in which I enjoyed watching the acting of the main actors, as well as the supporting characters who fit perfectly into the plot. Unlike the other BL dramas I watched, the acting in this one was excellent, completely smooth and not at all stiff. Interactions and actions between the characters have charm and seem natural, without being overly forced.

With the right person, everything will be okay.

Long story short because wow, this was such a refreshing drama.

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Contrived but also refreshing and satisfying

“The Eighth Sense” succeeds despite its drawbacks; the happy ending of the two main characters, Jae Won (Im Ji Sub) and Ji Hyun (Oh Jun Taek), feels right, even if the steps to get there carry contrivance in script and direction. But the two leads are overwhelmingly convincing in their performances and interactions to sweep nitpicking aside.

Joint Directors Werner du Plessis and Inu Baek have delivered a soft surfing tale, from the opening credits which hark back to films from decades ago, to scenes of sea, sand and surf, bestowing an ambience of young vigour and first-time love. We may not be on the surf beaches of South Africa, Hawaii or Australia, but as the camera lovingly explores the collection of surfboards in the surf shop, and lingers over the body-hugging wetsuits, all that is missing is the burning summer sun and suntan lotion. The music soundtrack is also especially worthy of note and adds to the series’ appeal.

A highlight of “The Eighth Sense” is the satisfying arc of the relationship between the two main characters. Im Ji Sub and Oh Jun Taek are especially good in their scenes together, awkward at the start despite or even because of their mutual attraction, wholehearted in their giving into their desire, and increasingly open and honest in their understanding and commitment to their affection.

A feature of this series is the depressing depiction of corrosive behaviour amongst the characters’ peer groups. Jan Young-joon as Tae Hyung is Jae Won’s thoughtless and manipulative “best friend”; Park Hae In as Eun Ji is Jae Won’s scheming and caustic ex-girlfriend; Bang Jin Won, as Ji Hyun’s childhood friend Joon Pyo, is self-serving in being both physically gluttonous and emotionally clinging. Worse, Jae Won’s therapist is both accusatory and unprofessional, chiding Jae Won for her inability to pay her rent because she didn’t get the fee for an appointment he missed.

There is a brief nod towards the issue of social disapproval of open gay relationships in South Korea, but overall the creators’ drive is towards the goal of Love Conquers All, and the final two episodes are well crafted towards that end.

Acknowledgment should be given also to the three supportive female characters: Jung Seo In as the owner of the restaurant where Ji Hyun works, Seo Ji An as the intuitive Ae Ri and Lee Mi Ra as Yoon Won, the mother figure of both the surf club and its family of members. Amidst trouble and taboos, these characters at a personal level redeem somewhat the social difficulties faced by Jae Won and Ji Hyun in the broader scheme.

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