Connect – Series Review & Episode Guide

Ian is a single man who has been feeling sad lately. His struggle to find a job is taking an emotional toll on him. Companies never call him back. Fortunately, Ian has an online confidante on his matchmaking app. Alt is one of the users he has grown close to. Ian shares his problems, and Alt responds with positive messages. When Ian worries that he is complaining too much, Alt reassures him that his feelings are valid.

Ian feels thankful for Alt's support these days. His online friend has been so uplifting. "To me, you're like a lighthouse in a dark sea," Ian says in one of his messages. Alt reassures him that the feeling is mutual. He gathers strength from their conversations as well. Feeling moved, Ian impulsively asks if they can meet in person for the first time. He wants to hear Alt's voice and see him face-to-face. Alt doesn't reply right away. Ian panics, worried he may have made the wrong move and jeopardized their bond.

Ian calls his friend Jisoo for advice. Ian admits he's worried Alt may be a weirdo in real life. After all, there are no photos or personal information about this guy. What if he turns out to be a catfish? Jisoo reassures Ian that he'll come to their meeting and wait nearby. If Jisoo senses anything strange, he will immediately rescue his friend. Ian feels thankful and more at ease about the situation.

Alt replies back. He is unsure about meeting in person. He thinks Ian will feel disappointed if they see each other face-to-face. Ian promises that it will not happen. He just wants to meet the guy who has comforted him during his darkest times. There will be no regrets. Alt is finally persuaded to show up. After discovering they attend the same school, Ian and Alt arrange to meet on campus soon. Ian feels overjoyed afterward.

On the day they are supposed to meet, Ian can barely contain his nerves and excitement. Alt said earlier he would wear a white shirt, so Ian keeps looking for him on campus. He wonders aloud if Alt might be someone he already knows from school, but he dismisses the idea. In his mind, Alt is the nicest person ever. Ian cannot recall knowing anyone like that. Just then, someone sits beside him. It's Juhyeok, a senior at his school. Juhyeok is wearing a black shirt, but looks nervous too. Ian feels confused and asks if Juhyeok is actually Alt.

Connect comes from a small Korean studio that just started making BL dramas. I don't want to write a harsh review for their first project, which feels like knocking over a kid on their tricycle. The voice in my conscience is yelling at me, "They're still learning, asshole!" Usually, I'd soften my words, give a below-average review score, and move on. With that said, this particular story pisses me off. Oh, I felt so angry and annoyed the entire time. Connect has put me in such a bad mood that I need to vent!

The story begins with Ian meeting a guy from his matchmaking app for the first time. They seemed friendly online, so I expected a cute and casual encounter. Instead, Ian gets upset after Alt reveals his identity. "YOU LIED TO ME!!!" Huh? Why is he so mad? His outrage left me totally confused. I thought I was missing important context. Was there a prequel or an earlier episode I forgot to watch? Nope, the storyteller just didn't bother to clarify their history. Apparently, the characters already knew each other, but the series never explained their past. How annoying to leave your audience in the dark!

Ian's hostility seems excessive. He knew Alt in real life, spoke to him online, and they were never enemies. Couldn't he handle the situation more calmly instead of freaking out? Afterward, Ian mopes and whines as if he were terribly wronged. Meanwhile, Alt keeps apologizing, tries to explain himself, and begs for another chance. Ugh, I'm so turned off by the drama! Instead of highlighting the couple's chemistry, this love story revolves around conflict and misery. Every scene gets on my nerves, the tension makes me uncomfortable, and I already feel mentally drained.

To make matters worse, Alt admits to spying on Ian and taking secret photos of him. Dude, what the hell!? He thinks this proves he's in love, but it's creepy. Just when Ian has a legit reason to cut ties with his stalker, he suddenly forgives Alt. Huh!? I'm flabbergasted as Ian finds a way to romanticize Alt's weirdo behaviour. Their strange relationship makes no sense to me. Every moment has felt problematic, and not to mention unpleasant as hell. There are so many red flags with this couple that they can't be redeemed. God no, I don't want these two together!

Since the characters are so unlikable, they bring out the cast's worst qualities. Ian comes across as meek and whiny because the actor (Ki Myoung Je) lacks charm in his role. Instead of sympathizing with him, I feel irritated. Alt's role needs sincerity and vulnerability. The lead (Kang Seon Ho) can't win me over because he seems too guarded and shows as much emotion as a mannequin. The first three episodes focus only on the couple's conflict, leaving little time to explore their romantic chemistry. From what I saw in the finale, I'm not convinced they have any sparks.

The last episode switches gears. It puts aside the past conflict and pretends the couple is lovey-dovey now. Look, they're smiling! And holding hands! And making out! However, we sat through three episodes of the most annoying relationship drama, which killed this romance before it began. A few generic BL scenes aren't enough to fix an unenjoyable story. I'm sorry that I don't have nicer things to say about this series. If there's any consolation, the studio's second project (Love Reset) is slightly better. By contrast, Connect is a really lousy effort at a BL drama.