Blue Boys – Series Review & Episode Guide

Jaemin is a freelance writer. He recently met up with Nami, an old friend from school. Like him, Nami also works as a writer. However, Nami comes from a wealthy family and doesn't have to worry about making an income. In contrast, Jaemin struggles financially with multiple part-time jobs, desperately trying to make a living. He doesn't have money to pay overdue bills. The gas has been cut off at his apartment for two months now.

Jaemin and Nami spend the night drinking at the apartment. As the two former classmates reminisce, they talk about how Nami used to be popular with girls. Jaemin reveals his admiration. He envies Nami for being such a good writer. In fact, Nami's writing has made Jaemin cry once. Despite Jaemin's sincere flattery, Nami has fallen asleep in a drunken stupor. The two friends call it a night and go to bed.

The next morning, Jaemin and Nami wake up in an intimate position. Spurred by the moment, Nami initiates the first kiss. Afterwards, Jaemin gets in touch with his friend, who shares juicy gossip. Apparently, Nami works as a sex column writer. He has been contacting former classmates about a sensitive article. Although curious, Jaemin defends his friend's intentions. He understands that writers can't be picky about their assignments. A sex column is just another way of making a living.

Jaemin and Nami clarify their earlier intimacy. Both don't know how they feel about each other. "Let's do what our hearts desire," Nami suggests. They return to the apartment for another steamy makeout session. Both reveal this is the first time they've been romantically involved with a man. However, they're interested in giving their relationship a go. They'll keep their new romance a secret for now. Yet, Nami's friend Sol suspects they may be an item. Sol, who has a crush on Nami, is jealous of Jaemin.

Nami is working on a new article for his sex column. Jaemin sees the title, which reads: "The unforgettable taste of first-time sex with a man."  Jaemin is offended and accuses Nami of exploiting their relationship for an article. His insults hurt Nami deeply. When Jaemin reads the article later, he realizes his mistake. Nami wrote a reflective piece, highlighting his confusion and curiosity during the moment. His words move Jaemin deeply, and he apologizes to Nami for the misunderstanding. They give their relationship another go.

Blue Boys is less modest compared to the average Korean BL drama. Although there are exceptions to this generalization, some performers tend to be reserved with physical intimacy. You don't expect anything too spicy to happen on screen. In contrast, this series has found actors who gladly kiss each other. They are comfortable with long, passionate makeout sessions. Blue Boys has identified a gap in the market and delivers many kissing scenes as a selling point. The extended footage is even paywalled.

Like many fans, I appreciate a BL series that is generous with its kisses. After all, physical passion enriches love stories. However, the plot should also be memorable. Even the most romantic moments can feel meaningless without a compelling narrative to tie everything together. Unfortunately, this series is less effective when it comes to storytelling. It struggles to create engaging scenarios and relies too much on formulaic tropes. From love triangles to contrived misunderstandings, all the relationship drama feels generic. Blue Boys lacks the imagination to differentiate itself with a unique story.

Conflicts can add depth to a BL series when written well. However, Blue Boys only knows how to manufacture tension through love triangles. It introduces two annoying rivals who bring cheap relationship melodrama. First, Sol tries to break up the couple with homophobic threats. Later, Taeha flirts up a storm and plans to steal someone else's boyfriend. Besides offending me with their lack of morals, the antagonists are overdone cliches. As these shallow plots unfold, the couple has the same arguments as in countless romantic stories. Where's the originality?

Occasionally, the series produces a heartfelt moment. In Episode 1, Jaemin tells Nami, "I cried reading your writing." This remark strikes an emotional chord due to its intimacy, conveying the protagonist's deep admiration. In Episode 3, Nami offers Jaemin writing advice. He speaks thoughtfully with a personal touch, giving us a glimpse into his personality and expertise. These scenes humanize the characters by making them seem authentic, but they occur too rarely in the story. For every sincere line, there's a cheesy exchange that reduces the sentimentality.

Both leads give acceptable performances, each shining in a few decent moments. However, this series is heavy on the melodrama. I'm not sure if the cast (Choi Seung Jin & Lee Hoo Rim) nails every emotional scene as demanded. At least they have good chemistry, which is always essential for BL couples. In addition, I like Taeha's actor (Jeong Ri U), who looks sharp on camera. Although the character is sleazy, a part of me secretly wants Taeha and Jaemin to kiss simply because of the sexy optics. Screw your loyal boyfriend and start making out with the hot guy!

Nami comes across as likable throughout the series. He almost seems too good for Jaemin, who's mopey and insecure. In the last few episodes, Jaemin is tempted to cheat on his boyfriend with the new rival. Since the finale resolves the conflict inelegantly, I start rooting against the couple. I want them to break up because Nami deserves a better partner. These negative feelings have soured my opinion of Blue Boys, making me less forgiving of the narrative flaws. Even though the kisses are great, the cliched love story doesn't impress or inspire me.