Twosome Boys – Series Review & Episode Guide

Kangmin is an aspiring idol and has been a trainee for years. Last year, he was supposed to debut officially, but his dreams were crushed when his group's launch was cancelled. Over a year later, Kangmin is stuck in limbo. He watches others his age perform on broadcasts and concerts while his career stalls. Frustrated and disheartened, Kangmin loses the will to keep practicing. His manager worries about Kangmin and his future.

Adding to his struggles, Kangmin carries deep emotional scars from his abusive parent. His father is an alcoholic who became violent when his wife passed away. After consuming excessive alcohol, he'd punch and kick his son in violent fits of rage. Although Kangmin has escaped the physical abuse, he still suffers from nightmares. He remains haunted by the trauma of his past.

During a solo practice session, Kangmin crosses paths with Suho, an idol who debuted last year. Suho has achieved some degree of fame and success. However, his group's activities are currently on hold. Suho senses Kangmin's sadness and tries to reconnect. The two shared a history. They used to train together and were once close friends. The pair had plans to debut together, but that arrangement never worked out.

A year ago, Kangmin and Suho's bond was shattered by a shocking betrayal. Kangmin was left deeply hurt and has refused to speak to Suho ever since. Suho hopes to mend their relationship and put the past behind them. Yet, Kangmin still harbours unresolved anger. He ignores Suho and refuses to communicate.

Kangmin's manager proposes a collaboration between Kangmin and Suho. There's the possibility of forming a new group, a rare opportunity for Kangmin to finally debut. Yet, Kangmin rejects the idea outright, stating he'd rather quit the industry than work with Suho. Despite Kangmin's resistance, Suho remains determined to win back his trust and repair their fractured relationship.

Twosome Boys is a BL drama set in the idol industry. Unfortunately, its storyline is poorly written. The series is too short to explore its themes or characters meaningfully, resulting in a shallow plot without much substance. In addition, the protagonist has a side story about dealing with an abusive father. While his situation is sympathetic, this trope seems familiar. Other dramas have done the same arc with more depth and emotional impact, so Twosome Boys feels underwhelming in comparison.

The leads, Suho and Kangmin, are idol trainees who used to be close. These two planned to debut together, but they're now caught in a bitter feud. Kangmin even declares he'd rather quit the industry than work with Suho. The story keeps teasing their mysterious conflict, sparking my curiosity about what caused their fallout. I felt intrigued for a while, but I was left disappointed by the reveal. The central conflict is resolved clumsily with just a few random sentences in the middle of an episode. It annoys me how there was so much buildup, only to be met with so little payoff.

Despite the lacklustre plot, I actually liked Suho and Kangmin as a couple. Their first relationship flashback shows happier times as the characters engage in lighthearted interactions. There's a playful kiss very early on, like a pleasant surprise. While the romantic content isn't deep, the vibe feels promising. What really helps is the chemistry between the leads (Shin Joo Hyung and Kim Bit). They seem comfortable together, feeding off each other's energy. The actors create an easygoing atmosphere that makes their romance more persuasive. I enjoyed watching their exchanges.

Twosome Boys takes a shocking turn at the start of Episode 4. Midway through the series, Kangmin is suddenly recast. The series vaguely explains that the original lead (Kim Bit) had personal matters, so a replacement (Ki Myoung Je) steps into the role. While I sympathize with the production team for dealing with a massive disruption, the new doppelganger feels awkward. It isn't entirely the actor's fault since he must take over an established character. Naturally, the recast invites comparisons. In my opinion, the previous performer is more charismatic.

We're supposed to pretend the new Kangmin is the same character, but having a different actor breaks my immersion. I associate the original Kangmin with the existing storylines, so the substitute feels unfamiliar. The worst problem is that the new couple lacks chemistry. This was the one saving grace of the series, and now it's gone. The couple had sparks during the first three episodes, so it stands out when they don't gel in the second half. The rapport between the leads means everything in BL. It isn't something you can easily replicate after replacing one of them.

After the recast, I lost interest in Twosome Boys. While the change in actors was deterimental, the cliched writing and pointless plots made it harder to stay engaged. Another issue is the background music, which sounds distracting. The singer's voice overlaps with the actors' dialogue, drowning them out. I often focused on the soundtrack instead of the actual scene. Since Twosome Boys comes from a small studio with limited resources, I don't like giving harsh criticism. The series isn't irredeemable, but many metrics fall below standard. I hope the studio's next project is better.