Blue Complex – Series Review & Episode Guide

Parang is a competitive diver who once won a silver medal in the sport. However, he surprises everyone by leaving his diving career to join the university swim team. His new coach is confused, thinking Parang should've stayed in diving instead. However, Parang is determined to move on and focus on swimming. He won't get on a 10m diving platform ever again.

Parang meets Taemin, a fellow teammate, under unusual circumstances. He catches Taemin making out with another guy in the locker room showers. Both move past the incident without addressing it afterwards. However, Parang becomes curious about Taemin. He soon learns that Taemin, once a top swimmer, has recently developed a fear of the water. Now, Taemin avoids the pool entirely, frustrating their coach.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Parang harbours dark thoughts. He plans to end his life on the anniversary of his mother's death. Parang has already started drafting his suicide note, carefully choosing each word. He has also marked the date of his planned suicide on the calendar. Until that day, Parang drifts through life in quiet sadness and isolates himself from others. Late at night, he stays at the pool and swims alone in the silence.

During a late-night swim session, Parang is joined by Taemin. As they start talking, Taemin is curious why a diving prodigy would abandon his career to become an amateur swimmer. Parang is evasive and annoyed by the questions, refusing to answer. Frustrated, he pulls Taemin into the pool to end the chat. However, Taemin panics and struggles in the water, so Parang must quickly save him. Taemin admits he developed a fear of swimming a month ago. Parang offers to give him swimming lessons, and they begin meeting each night.

Parang and Taemin's nightly swim lessons are joined by Yubin, their teammate. Taemin hesitates to add another member, but Parang welcomes Yubin as the trio swims together each night. Yubin is friendly and wants to get to know Parang better. However, he struggles with confidence. Yubin fears he isn't as good as others. He continues swimming anyway, hoping to improve and compete with the top athletes.

In Blue Complex, the story's sadness slowly creeps up on you. At first, the lead seems quiet and reserved, but his demeanour masks a growing despair. Small clues, like bits of dialogue or moments of inner monologue, reveal how much he's struggling psychologically. The protagonist doesn't go around announcing that he's depressed. He tries to maintain normalcy around others. As a viewer, you want somebody to see through the facade and support him. Blue Complex stirs your emotions with its poignant depiction of trauma.

The angsty series has captivating moments, for sure. Parang's inner turmoil tugs at our heartstrings and delivers a few memorable highlights. However, Blue Complex is quite dull most of the time. The moody characters and their bleak conversations create a heavy atmosphere. The story falls into a monotonous rhythm. Like swimming endless laps in a pool, the plot is going nowhere interesting. At just 75 minutes, it's supposed to be a short BL drama. Yet, I keep checking the clock because the narrative has been dragging on. I'm sorry, but Blue Complex is a bit of a snoozefest.

A juicy BL romance can add much-needed momentum to a slow narrative. Sadly, the relationship falls flat. Parang and Taemin's interactions are mostly limited to talking or swimming, which fails to create sparks. Taemin starts the series by making out with a guy in the locker room showers. Hello, where's this sizzling passion for the next 30 episodes!? The story also gets sidetracked by teasing a love triangle with Yubin, but a better use of its time is to focus on the two leads. Every scene with Yubin takes away from developing Parang and Taemin's connection.

Recently, the BL genre has been hit by an epidemic of vertically filmed dramas. These studios seem obsessed with creating content for mobile devices, which leads to an awful viewing experience. The narrow frame cuts off visual depth, making scenes feel cramped instead of cinematic. I hate the format with a passion, and I admit to reviewing Blue Complex harshly because of how it's filmed. Even though the series has beautiful underwater shots, they lose their magnificence in a vertical frame. This format instantly cheapens the BL drama and destroys the artistic merit.

I'm glad to see Parang's actor (Ko Ho Jung) take on another BL project. He does a great job in Blue Complex, especially during the dramatic scenes, where his quiet vulnerability shines. There's a sadness in his eyes and a softness in his expressions that makes him suitable for portraying these melancholic protagonists. His co-stars also deliver solid performances. Taemin's versatile actor (Ahn Jung Hun) can be dramatic, lighthearted, or suave in romantic encounters. Yubin's actor (Cha Jae Hoon) does well too, even if his role is more limiting by comparison.

After a predominantly gloomy story, Blue Complex wraps up with a happy ending. It sends a hopeful message as Parang rises from his emotional slump. However, the conclusion feels too simple. The series spends so much time on his suffering, yet it barely explores his recovery. Parang becomes happier out of nowhere, which I don't find convincing. Overall, Blue Complex has a bland story, a weak romance, and a lacklustre ending. Plus, the vertical format is a gigantic eyesore. Despite the impressive performances, I have no desire to revisit this series again.