BLISS RATING: ★★★+
“Sometimes love isn’t fireworks. Sometimes, love comes softly.” – Janette Oke
Honestly, this series had very little impact on me. I watched it but felt nothing for it. Neither a fondness nor a dislike for it. The best word to describe how I felt watching this was aseptic. This is one of the dullest BLs I have seen in a long time. There is nothing unique or special about it. And there is little here to make it stand out. It is not bad; it is just so impassive.
It is a simple story of an intern getting a job at a company. Wu Seung Hyeon (Moon Ji Yong) is a handsome bubbly energetic intern eager to prove his worth but amiable and sociable enough to get along with almost everyone. His boss is Kim Jong Chan (Kwon Hyuk). Kim is a rather reserved, stoic figure. While not exactly stern, his image is of that and presents a rather stand-offish manner. Almost immediately, he takes a liking to Seung Hyeon and makes the first move. That was surprisingly cute and a bit original but so robotic in tendency. Honestly, their whole relationship is warm, caring, and feels like it is on solid ground. The angst about gay relationships do not exist in this series which is itself a nice departure from other BLs.
While all does not go well for Wu Seung Hyeon with trying to get a job at the company he is interning at, all due to internal politics and management (what a surprise), Kim Jong Chan comes to his rescue in a most heartfelt manner. While the gesture does not move mountains, it certainly shows the depth of his love for Wu Seung Hyeon and his commitment to him. On second thought, perhaps that does move mountains. It just did not feel like it did.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? An individual named Choi Si Hun (Na Yoo Seong) is Wu Seung Hyeon’s first love. He plays this part with a complete understanding of what happened in the past, yet astute enough to see what the present is, and what the future holds. In an ironic unbeknownst twist, who Choi Si Hun was in love with at the time Wu Seung Hyeon was in love with him was Kim Jong Chan. How Wu Seung Hyeon finds out is accidental and bends the relationship between him and Kim Jong Chan but does not break it. Why? Because they did the adult thing and talked it out. Again, this cements the fact that this relationship is and will be on solid ground. They are not apprehensive of commitment. They share and talk to each other. And more importantly are not afraid or ashamed or hide their relationship. It is as if they are in their own world existing on their terms.
So, why did I not find this cute series engaging? It just feels so staged, superficial, and boring. There just is no life to these characters. I know this is entertaining for some but for me it was just too contrived. I never felt a connection between the two of them. I never saw a spark. Sure, they had cute scenes together of pecks on cheeks, holding hands, and being romantic with each other but all so stiff and feeling so rehearsed. I am not Korean. Perhaps this is typical of Korean courting behaviors, but I do not believe that (I did date Korean men) and this was not the case). I understand hesitation and cultural decorum (my husband and I still do not feel free enough to kiss in public even in California). But when we are alone, he is my husband. I wanted to feel something between them that understood they were in love. I wanted to feel a deeper connection between the two. A greater softness between the two. A connection the audience could feel not just sense at.
Normally, I love simple stories. This presented a nice slice of life saga with a boss who falls in love with an intern and he in turn reciprocates. Perhaps that is all for this story.
The end.
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