The groundbreaking K-drama isn’t just a good BL series, it’s a good show in general.
Related: 9 K-Dramas With Considered Depictions Of Mental Health That You Can Stream Right Now
Every now and then, we get a K-drama or two that goes viral and becomes the show of the moment on social media. That in itself is expected given how popular K-dramas are. But when a show does that while also breaking boundaries in terms of storytelling and representation in K-dramas, you have our attention. Such is the case with Korean BL series Love in the Big City.
Since the eight-episode series was released on South Korean subscription video-on-demand service TVING and Viki last October 21, Love in the Big City has got social media talking for all the right reasons and made the homophobes mad in the process. You’ve probably come across a couple of viral tweets talking about certain scenes. But aside from the steamy moments, the show has been living up to the hype in more ways than one. Get to know more about the groundbreaking K-drama below.
THE LOVE… IT’S IN THE BIG CITY
Love in the Big City centers on Go Young, a gay Korean man who lives with Mi Ae, a straight woman and his best friend. Throughout the show’s run, we follow his 10-year journey of self-discovery and personal growth as he encounters family issues and different romantic partners. Among his adventures include his struggles with his relationship with his mother, who’s in denial about his sexual orientation, being forced to part ways with his lover Gyu Ho due to societal pressure, and an eye-opening trip to Thailand. The series is divided into four acts, each representing a chapter of his life, and each story arc consisting of two episodes.
INSTAGRAM/NAM_YOONSU
Leading Love in the Big City is Nam Yoonsu, who plays Go Young. You may know Yoonsu from shows like The King’s Affection and Extracurricular. Jin Hoeun, who played a supporting role in All of Us Are Dead, plays Gyu Ho, one of Go Young’s most notable lovers in the show.
Bookworms may be familiar with Love in the Big City as the K-drama is based on Park Sangyoung’s best-selling novel of the same name from 2019, which received an English translation by Anton Hur a couple of years later. The award-winning book tells the story of a young gay man who lives with HIV as he navigates life and love in Seoul alongside his female best friend, Jaehee. Also, this isn’t the only adaption of the novel as a movie of the same name starring Kim Goeun and Noh Sanghyun was released this year and premiered at TIFF 2024, which makes two screen adaptations of the book this year.
DESPITE THE HOMOPHOBIC HATE, THE SHOW STAYS WINNING
LGBTQIA+ stories are still taboo in South Korea, and sadly, that meant the show faced backlash and homophobic complaints from conservative organizations in the country. It got to the point where the show’s trailer was initially taken down due to the harassment. But even then, the show’s creators, cast, and crew came out in support of the adaptation and implored fans to support the project. Given Love in the Big City’s popularity and critical acclaim since its release, the show, and queer stories in general, stayed winning.
INSTAGRAM/JINHOEUN_
Love in the Big City isn’t just a good BL series, it’s a good series period, and may be one of the best K-dramas of the year. The show takes strides for proper representation that goes beyond stereotypes and cliches of LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and stories. Aside from a technically competent series with moving performances from its lead roles, what you get is a deep, complex, and compelling tale of a gay man navigating love, desire, and growing up. It makes for a story that’s equal parts personal and relatable.
You can stream all eight episodes of Love in the Big City here.
Continue Reading: NYLON Manila Picks: Our Favorite Media Of October 2024 That Lives Rent-Free In Our Minds
