Wow, wow, wow.
Based on the novel of the same name by Sang Young Park, “Love in the Big City” follows the life of Go Young (Nam Yoon Su) from college to adulthood as a lovesick gay man living in Seoul. It’s sad, funny, devastating, beautiful, complicated, inspiring, heavy, and totally unexpected — it’s everything you’d expect from life.
With 2024 almost coming to a close, “Love in the Big City” might just take the cake as the most memorable Korean BL of this year. These seven things make it so special.
Warning: Light spoilers ahead!
1. She’s not like other K-BLs
“Love in the Big City” is different from what the Korean BL genre usually entails, and it might just surprise you.
It’s not necessarily plot-driven or with a traditional triangle plot diagram with a rising, climax, and falling storyline, nor is there a specific situation or problem that needs to be resolved. It’s more of a slice of life through a queer lens. It gives a glimpse into being gay in modern Korea, something most K-BLs haven’t really dived this deep into yet.
Its originality and honest, realistic portrayal of its characters are really only comparable to last year’s most revolutionary K-BL, “The Eighth Sense.” IYKYK.
2. It’s real life in a K-drama package
From diverse portrayals of the queer spectrum to including both the pretty and ugly sides of relationships, this drama isn’t watered down or sugar-coated. While Korean dramas, many BLs included, tend to inherently have main characters and romances that are not really representative of the real world, there’s nothing unrealistic about “Love in the Big City.”
There are funerals and weddings, losses and wins, and love and hate. It makes the drama approachable whether you are an avid BL fan or totally new to the genre. You don’t have to be queer to relate to and appreciate this story.
3. The cinematography is candy for the eyes
Not much more to say here than this drama is seriously pretty. The romance and loneliness that come with living in Seoul, “the big city,” shines through the thoughtful cinematography. The colors, angles, and city shots are everything.
4. Go Young’s odyssey of love
Throughout the show, Go Young is sort of on this odyssey in search of love. He goes through many different relationships as he grows up and is shaped by what happens in his life. Watching him learn about himself and life through his different partners is interesting.
With the typical drama having one main love interest who’s often portrayed as “destined” or the “perfect match,” Go Young’s experiences with love are definitely something new.
In this way, it’s somewhat comparable to “Love Class 2,” a Korean BL that follows multiple queer couples with intertwined storylines. Except in this case, “Love in the Big City” portrays different relationships through one single character.
Both shows show gayness or being queer as a spectrum by showing many gay characters, all with different personalities and lives. Diverse representation: check!
5. Go Young’s imperfect character
Finally! A main character that isn’t K-drama perfect. Go Young is a queer guy who struggles to juggle school, family, friends, health, work, his dreams… well basically everything that’s a part of life at some point or another. We see him go through loss, judgment, pain, passionate love, and heartbreaking breakups, so you really start to feel like he’s a real person and you know him like a friend.
At times, Go Young is a complete mess. At other times, he’s a kind guy who just wants true love. No matter what, you can’t help but root for him, despite his faults. He’s cynical and self-sabotaging part of the time, but he’s also kind, talented, silly, a great friend, and a hardworking son. As the icon that is Hannah Montana once said, “nobody’s perfect.”
6. Go Young’s bestie trio
This drama really shows you what good, real, fun friends are. Played by Jung Chan Young, Do Yu, and Lee Hyun So, Go Young’s ride-or-die friends are always together like an unbreakable trio. They help Go Young navigate his tumultuous relationships and are by his side during his hardest times. Most of the advice they give is pretty decent, if not wildly funny.
More often than not, you’ll find them in a club in Itaewon, having a good time and just being themselves.
7. And… there’s an ending you won’t expect
This sounds a bit ominous, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. The ending is just another way this drama is different.
Unless you’ve read the novel and are, in fact, familiar with how it ends, this one will have an ending that’s not typical of BLs, let alone dramas in general. For better or for worse, it probably won’t be what you expect.
Start watching “Love in the Big City” now:
Have you started watching “Love in the Big City” yet? What are your thoughts about it so far? Let us know in the comments below!
Asya’s a BL-biased Soompi writer with a love of K-pop and all types of Asian dramas. Some of her favorite shows are “Psychopath Diary,” “Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice but to Kiss!,” “Light On Me,” “The Untamed,” “Go Go Squid!,” and “Cherry Magic!”
Currently watching: “Eccentric Romance,” “Love in the Big City,” “Sell Your Haunted House,” “Love is a Poison,” “Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo,” and “My Damn Business.”
Looking forward to: “Your Sky the Series” and “I’m the Most Beautiful Count”
English (US) · 