The Moment – Series Review

Mok is a veterinarian who has gone on vacation. He checks into a remote hotel by himself. At night, Mok becomes heavily intoxicated and causes a scene at the bar. Bay, the friendly bartender on duty, does his best to pacify the drunken customer. When Mok falls unconscious at his table, Bay helps transport him back to his hotel room.

Once they are alone in the room, Mok's drunken antics escalate. He takes off his shirt and wraps the bartender in a tight embrace. Mok seems emotionally distressed and begs for companionship throughout the night. Bay takes pity on the drunken customer and agrees to stay until he feels better. Mok then grabs Bay by the shoulders and leans in for a kiss.

The next morning, Mok regains consciousness and has a hazy recollection of last night's events. He returns to the bar, where Bay offers reassurance that nothing happened between them. Bay wants to cheer up Mok, who is heartbroken after splitting with his ex-girlfriend. The two acquaintances meet up afterwards, initiating a friendship between them. Despite their growing bond, Bay's boss reminds him that Mok is just a customer and will leave the hotel soon.

I enjoy the simplicity of The Moment, a short BL romance that hits the sweet spot. This cozy love story takes place in a romantic setting, featuring two authentic leads and their charming interactions. As the characters get to know each other better, their attraction feels natural and persuasive. The couple goes through an engaging journey, and their adorable scenes leave me with warm, fuzzy feelings in my heart.

The Moment doesn't have a complex plot, focusing on a lonely protagonist after his recent heartbreak. However, the storyline resonates with me because it is so familiar. Mok's experiences feel relatable as he navigates through personal hardships, while Bay is by his side to provide emotional support. The narrative has one glaring misstep, which trivializes a suicide attempt, and I docked points from my review accordingly. Other than that unfortunate incident, I love the gentle, genuine, and graceful vibe from the rest of the drama.

A cute, casual rapport forms between the leads, who flirt mildly and come close to physical displays of affection. Later, their bond deepens with various moments that highlight a cerebral connection. The courtship scenes are pretty low-key, but the tone feels appropriate for two guys who just met each other. While it's not the most epic romance, this BL series portrays their attraction developing and growing organically. The actors also do a solid job and I've no complaints about their performances.

What stops me from giving The Moment a higher grade is that its quality doesn't feel exceptional. Nothing stands out as brilliantly done. Yes, the story is simple and elegant, but none of the events get my pulse racing. Sure, the romance has a few lovely exchanges, but the couple's interactions don't make my heart skip from excitement. I feel totally invested when watching my favourite dramas, whereas The Moment fails to captivate me the same way. It's missing the extra bit of oomph that differentiates a decent series from a memorable masterpiece.

The Moment and its sequel The Moment Since suffer due to a lack of ambition. Both seasons could've pushed their efforts further, expanding on the story, expediting the romance, and exploring the characters deeply. Instead, they don't take enough risks or dare to show more innovation. Overall, The Moment is still a positive BL experience, and the happy ending brings a fond smile to my face. I think it's a perfectly pleasant mid-tier series, even if the content never surprises me or exceeds my expectations.