Bad Guy – Series Review & Episode Guide

Taeha is engaged and will marry his fiancée, Sohee, next month. Before the wedding, Taeha meets his ex-boyfriend, Jiwoon, to announce the news. Taeha and Jiwoon had been secretly dating for two years. However, their relationship ended in a breakup. Taeha won't invite Jiwoon to the wedding. However, he feels obliged to inform Jiwoon as part of their final goodbye. "It would mean a lot to me if I had your congratulations," Taeha tells his ex.

Deep down, Jiwoon is furious. He still harbours resentment toward his ex, who dumped him in hopes of starting a family with a woman. A scorned Jiwoon wants to show the wedding and expose Taeha for marrying his beard. Although that's how Jiwoon feels on the inside, he doesn't express it during their conversation. Instead, he responds meekly and pretends to be okay with the news. He politely congratulates his ex for getting married. Taeha is happy about their diplomatic exchange.

As they prepare to say goodbye, Jiwoon suggests grabbing drinks at his apartment. Taeha agrees. While the two former lovers reminisce and get drunk, Jiwoon accidentally spills his beer on Taeha's lap. He takes a napkin and wipes at the spot. However, his hand inches closer to Jiwoon's thigh and crotch. Taeha stops his ex, reminding him that he will get married soon. Although Jiwoon takes his hand away, he confronts Taeha about their meeting today. "Why did you want to see me? Do you even know how I feel!?" Jiwoon seethes.

Taeha reveals the emotional burden he has been carrying since the engagement. Nobody knows about Taeha's same-sex attraction besides Jiwoon. In the heat of the moment, he initiates a kiss, which Jiwoon reciprocates. They end up sleeping together that night. However, Taeha doesn't stay the morning after. He must leave to spend time with his girlfriend, triggering a bitter response from his ex. "Was this a mistake? Did you sleep with me out of pity?" Jiwoon accuses him. They leave on poor terms as Jiwoon warns Taeha to never contact him again.

Jiwoon spends the rest of the day crying in the bedroom. Suddenly, he picks up a call from Jiwoon. His ex has gotten drunk and needs a ride home. Jiwoon is annoyed and tells him to contact someone else, such as his fiancée. However, Taeha insists he wants them to talk tonight, unhappy with how things left off between them. With a heavy sigh, Jiwoon goes to meet his ex-boyfriend again. He finds Taeha looking drunk, tired, and rueful. "Don't abandon me," Taeha urges him, leaving Jiwoon with complicated emotions.

Bad Guy is a guilty pleasure, appealing to those who enjoy sordid romances. In the opening scene, the closeted lead meets his ex-boyfriend to announce his marriage to a woman. Of course, their reunion stirs up forbidden desires. Ooh, I'm getting excited to see how the sexual tension unleashes~ As the love story develops, prepare for as much melodrama as possible. From juicy twists to tearful confrontations, Bad Guy thrives on scandal and emotional turmoil. This BL series promises to be messy!

The "bad guy" in the title refers to the two problematic leads. One is a cheater, while the other is a willing enabler. Taeha knows it's morally wrong to betray his fiancée, yet he still seduces his ex anyway. Jiwoon knows he shouldn't get involved with a committed man, yet he still reciprocates the sexual advances. Then, he cries and moans about Taeha abandoning him. Um, hello? You made the choice to get involved with the soon-to-be-married closet case. What did you expect!? I'm often frustrated by how the characters behave throughout the story. Despite their anguish, I don't sympathize with them at all.

Bad Guy fails to give Taeha and Jiwoon enough depth to make their romance compelling. It's easy to reduce them to "the cheater" and "the homewrecker" because we know nothing else about their lives. The series doesn't give them any meaningful characterization besides the affair. The cheating storyline can be powerful if we understand their motivations or emotional struggles, but Bad Guy lacks these nuances. Taeha and Jiwoon come across as a trashy couple without substance. Their relationship scenes feel shallow and sleazy instead of sophisticated.

This series includes a melancholic soundtrack, which amplifies the story's melodrama. Although the music sounds good, the visuals are disappointing. Some scenes look so blurry that I almost blame my internet connection, but no, the real culprit is the low-budget production. At least the acting is decent. Jiwoon's actor (Liuk Park) has a thankless role and must mope around sadly for the whole time, but he expresses this one emotion splendidly. His costar (Jeong Ri U) conveys deep feelings with his eyes. He's also a great kisser who commands the lead during intimate scenes.

Even though Bad Guy isn't a comedy, it makes me laugh unintentionally. Sorry, but the plot is so cliched that it feels like hilarious satire. Imagine the most stereotypical cheating tropes: a closeted gay sneaking around, a bitter ex unable to move on, and a suspicious fiancée asking all the wrong questions. This series has it all! It shamelessly leans into the melodrama, emphasizing the sordidness of the love affair. Every line of dialogue drips with angst, while each forbidden kiss feels more disgraceful than the last. Bad Guy delivers thirty minutes of soap opera goodness.

I giggle and gasp during scandalous moments, such as when Jiwoon puts his hand on Taeha's thigh. Likewise, Jiwoon's tense chat with the fiancée is entertaining since you don't know if he'll slip up or suddenly drop a truth bomb. However, the finale rushes many important events. After building up the affair for so long, I expected a more emotional climax. Instead, my reaction is: "…oh, that's it?" Overall, Bad Guy amuses me as a naughty guilty pleasure, but the story is underdeveloped and riddled with cliches. I enjoy mocking it more than I genuinely appreciate it.