Boys Be Brave! is a Korean BL series about a group of quirky university students. Although the main character does well in school, he remains perpetually single. He lacks the courage to confess his feelings to the guy he likes. One day, his secret crush suddenly arrives at his house and insists on becoming roommates. The protagonist is shocked by this living arrangement as they navigate their up-and-down relationship.
I resonate with the underlying message of Boys Be Brave. This quirky story celebrates individuality and champions characters who don't conform to the norm. Despite its positive themes, I'm disturbed by the love interest's eccentric behaviour. He acts like a clingy stalker who goes overboard in his obsession. The couple also doesn't share much of a spark. I quickly lost interest in their unhealthy relationship, limiting how much I enjoyed this series.
Boys Be Brave Summary
Title:
고백을 못하고
Series Info:
South Korea (2024)
Genre:
School romance
About:
Boys Be Brave is a happy & funny BL drama.
Plot
Jin Woo is a top university student who has gotten excellent grades all his life. His father is a professor, although they don't have a close relationship. Jin Woo currently lives alone in a house. He considered getting a roommate, but he changed his mind afterwards. Nonetheless, his classmate Ki Sub shows up with all his packed belongings. Ki Sub assumes he can move in and start living together immediately. However, Jin Woo no longer wants a roommate, especially not Ki Sub.
Jin Woo and Ki Sub argue over the living arrangement. Ki Sub insists he needs a place to stay and would be a good roommate. However, Jin Woo gives him six hours to take his belongings away and leave his house. Instead of taking the warning seriously, Ki Sub believes he can change Jin Woo's mind after the deadline. That night, they argue again. Jin Woo is eager to keep this unwanted guest away from his house. However, Ki Sub insists he has nowhere else to go for the night. He jokingly calls himself a "cockroach" and asks Jin Woo to let him stay for one day. After much persuasion, Jin Woo relents.
Jin Woo and Ki Sub are classmates, although they don't have a close relationship. Jin Woo is a loner and doesn't have friends, while Ki Sub is popular on campus, especially with women. Due to Ki Sub's easygoing personality, he has trouble saying no to people. When multiple girls confess their feelings to him, he accepts all the offers simultaneously. After getting caught, he earned an infamous reputation. Jin Woo and other students criticize Ki Sub for being a playboy.
Jin Woo antagonizes Ki Sub, but he only acts this way to hide his secret crush. Jin Woo lacks the courage to confess to his classmate, especially after seeing how Ki Sub treats his other relationships. Jin Woo doesn't want Ki Sub to be his roommate because he fears exposing his hidden feelings. Nonetheless, Ki Sub seems determined to extend his stay at the house. Ki Sub also snoops around and discovers Jin Woo's secrets, including his desire for a relationship. Jin Woo even created a checklist of the qualities his ideal romantic partner should have.
Ki Sub's best friend is Balg Eum. They have been close since middle school, but Balg Eum doesn't attend university. Since Balg Eum's family is in poverty, he must work multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet. Balg Eum used to be in a relationship with In Ho during high school. However, Balg Eum broke up with his boyfriend and disappeared from his life. In Ho shows up one night and seems determined to reconcile with his ex. Although reluctant, Balg Eum gives In Ho three dates for them to spend time together.
Boys Be Brave Trailer
Boys Be Brave Cast
Characters
Jin Woo
Kim Sung Hyun (김성현)
Jin Woo is a top university student who has excelled academically. Despite his impressive grades, he has a distant relationship with his father. Jin Woo is also perpetually single and secretly desires a romantic relationship. He lacks the courage to confess to his classmate Ki Sub. Jin Woo lives alone and is surprised when Ki Sub wants to move in with him.
Kim Sung Hyun
Kim Sung Hyun (김성현) is a Korean actor. He is born on May 13, 1997. His first BL project is the 2024 drama, Boys Be Brave! He is also the director of the short movie, Nuzabar (2024).
Ki Sub
Nam Shi An (남시안)
Ki Sub is a charming and easygoing university student. He is popular among his peers, especially women. Ki Sub had trouble rejecting people from a young age. When other classmates confess their feelings to him, he'd say yes and date them all at once. After getting caught, Ki Sub has earned an infamous reputation as a playboy. Ki Sub's best friend is Balg Eum, and they have been close since middle school.
Nam Shi An
Nam Shi An (남시안) is a Korean actor. He is born on September 13, 1996. His first BL project is the 2024 series, Boys Be Brave!
Balg Eum
Jung Yeo Joon (정여준)
Balg Eum is Ki Sub's loyal best friend. They have known each other since middle school. Balg Eum comes from an impoverished family. This hardworking young man works multiple part-time jobs to support himself financially. Balg Eum carries emotional baggage from a past relationship with In Ho, his high school classmate. When they reunite, Balg Eum reluctantly agrees to reconnect with his ex.
Jung Yeo Joon
Jung Yeo Joon (정여준) is a Korean actor. He is born on July 13, 1993. His first BL project is the 2024 drama, Boys Be Brave!
In Ho
Ahn Se Min (안세민)
In Ho is Balg Eum's ex-boyfriend from high school. They used to be close until Balg Eum suddenly broke up with him and vanished from his life. In Ho reunites with Balg Eum and asks for a second chance to reconnect. Balg Eum reluctantly agrees, but they'll only meet for three dates. In Ho wants to impress Balg Eum and win him over again.
Ahn Se Min
Ahn Se Min (안세민) is a Korean actor. He is born on March 15, 2000. His first BL project is the 2024 series, Boys Be Brave!
Supporting Cast
Hye Jin
Jung Yoo Hyeon (정유현)
Ki Sub's sister
Honey Chae (채하니)
Jin Woo's dad
No Kyung (노경)
Landlord
Myung Seung Hoon (명승훈)
Child Jin Woo
Child Ki Sub
Cast Highlights
Jung Yoo Hyeon
Hye Jin's actress is the lead of the 2019 GL short series My Dear Friend.
Boys Be Brave Review
Review
Drama Review Score: 7.1
I love the opening scene of Boys Be Brave. The main character sits in a room as the only single guy surrounded by lovey-dovey couples. He confidently states, "I'm 20 years old. I've never dated before. What of it?" The powerful introduction quickly establishes his defiant attitude and presents a strong-willed protagonist who won't conform to the norm. His independent streak continues throughout the series, earning my respect. I admire his courage in staying true to himself, even if he's different from everyone else.
Boys Be Brave is eccentric, from the quirky storylines to the offbeat humour. This series embraces the unconventional. It champions characters who do things differently and celebrates when they disobey rules or defy expectations. The bravery in its title refers to living fearlessly without caring about what others think. Many plots share similar themes about gaining self-assurance or finding personal autonomy. I adore the message in Boys Be Brave, which encourages viewers to learn from the protagonists and find comfort in their individuality. Be like them, be unique, be free-spirited.
While I enjoy some aspects of Boys Be Brave, I struggle with the romance. Ki Sub isn't merely an annoying love interest. His invasive behaviour makes me uneasy. He forces his way into Ji Woo's house, violating his personal boundaries and privacy. Also, Ki Sub obsesses over Ji Woo to an extreme and gets a face tattoo, even though they aren't dating. Ki Sub is a clingy stalker who reminds me of the infamous character from Baby Reindeer. At one point, Ji Woo feels so uncomfortable that he hides under his bed to avoid Ki Sub. Their unhealthy relationship is alarming!
Boys Be Brave wants to portray Ki Sub's actions as comedic. It uses a goofy soundtrack to downplay the severity, but I'm disturbed and can't picture Ki Sub and Ji Woo as a couple. Once they lost my interest, it was hard to care about how their romance developed in the later episodes. I prefer the other pair. Balg Eum and In Ho have a juicy dynamic as two former lovers reuniting after their break-up. Plus, In Ho's actor (Ahn Se Min) is super easy on the eyes! While there's potential, their love story gets treated as a side plot. They never receive enough focus to earn my fandom.
This series has lovely visuals. It often experiments with different angles and scene composition to create a distinct point of view. In addition, the acting is alright. Jin Woo's lead (Kim Sung Hyun) performs well, particularly in conveying the emotional drama. His costar (Nam Shi An) isn't too bad, but he lacks the charm to make Ki Sub likable. A more charismatic actor might've interpreted the role differently and added a comedic flair to soften the character's annoying qualities. Together, the two leads don't have the special spark of an iconic BL couple.
Boys Be Brave ends happily, as the finale reiterates the story's message about nonconformity. When Ki Sub shreds important documents for his future, it symbolizes his independence. Ki Sub does what he wants instead of pleasing his family. The other characters reach similar conclusions, all celebrating their free will. They find the courage to scrap their original plans and embark on a different path. Despite the meaningful themes, I'm still not interested in the iffy romance, which affects how much I enjoy a BL drama. Ultimately, Boys Be Brave hasn't captured my heart.
Summary
Quirky story
Boys Be Brave has a quirky story with meaningful themes about individuality. While I admire its messages, I dislike the eccentric lead's obsessive behaviour. He reminds me of a clingy stalker!
Strange romance
From stalking Ji Woo to invading his boundaries, Ki Sub's antics make me uneasy. I can't champion his unhealthy relationship. I like the secondary couple, but they don't get enough focus.
Alright acting
Jin Woo's actor (Kim Sung Hyun) handles the emotional drama well, whereas his costar (Nam Shi An) lacks the charm to make Ki Sub more likable. The pair doesn't share a spark as a couple.
Happy ending
Boys Be Brave has a happy ending that reinforces the story's themes about nonconformity. While I appreciate each character's growth, the couple's romance remains unconvincing.
Lovely artistry
This series has lovely visuals. I enjoy the creativity in experimenting with different angles and scene composition. I also love the opening scene, setting the story's tone with powerful imagery.
71%
Boys Be Brave is a quirky BL drama that celebrates individuality. I admire its message about staying true to yourself. Yet, I dislike the couple's romance. The love interest is too clingy and obsessive.
Boys Be Brave Episodes
Episode Guide
- Start Date April 25, 2024
- End Date May 16, 2024
- Episodes 8 episodes
- Episode Length 45 minutes
Boys Be Brave has a total of 8 episodes. Each episode is around 25 to 30 minutes long. It is a medium-length BL drama, and you can finish the entire series in under 4 hours. Boys Be Brave started on April 25, 2024 and ended its last episode on May 16, 2024.
Boys Be Brave is an adaptation of a Korean webtoon. The original work is made by Seok Young (석영).
Boys Be Brave Information
Links
- Gagaoolala Boys Be Brave Gagaoolala
- MyDramaList Boys Be Brave MyDramaList
- Viki Boys Be Brave Viki
Director
Lim Hyun Hee (임현희) is a Korean director who worked on the 2023 series, Our Dating Sim. This drama is her first BL project. She also worked on Boys Be Brave! (2024).
Ah, tengo mucho que decir sobre esta serie. Es una buena adaptación, pero se alejó demasiado del material original, como la mayoría de las adaptaciones, Pero no me gustaron para nada los cambios.
Para empezar, en el Web Comic, Jin Woo, Ki Sub y Ray -así lo llaman en el Web Comic a Balg Eum- son amigos desde hace varios años y tienen una amistad muy bonita. Es más, la historia empieza con Ki Sub comprando tenis a juego para los tres. Jin Woo a veces se refugiaba en Ray cuando las tonterías de Ki Sub lo sobrepasaban y era muy lindo. Ki Sub no es ningún complaciente ni mujeriego, mucho menos duda de sus sentimientos, solo es un cobarde que no sabe cómo decir las cosas.
Y la historia de Ray y In Ho, aaaaaaaah joder, ese maldito final que le dan en la serie. Aunque capturan muy bien la cobardía de Ray, no lo redimen de la forma correcta como lo hace el webcomic y no creo que nunca lo hagan. En la serie sólo pensaba, In Ho, bebé, mándalo a la chingada y sigue con tu vida ¿por qué te quedarías con alguien como él?
No sé, luego la historia de Jin Woo y su papá fue de… ¿Por qué? ¿Para qué? El material original tenía una buena historia a seguir y decidieron sacarse otra historia de la manga que nada tiene que ver ¿POR QUÉ?
En fin, al menos la serie hizo que leyera de nuevo el cómic que, a pesar del dibujo poco convencional, es hermoso. Sólo la primera parte, aún una historia más después de la mitad y es peor aún hahahaha