Business as Usual – Series Review & Episode Guide

Eight years ago, Min Jun was a shy university student who struggled to connect with people. Deep down, he wanted to experience what it felt like to fall in love for the first time. One night, he went to a gay bar, hoping to meet a guy. Instead, he encountered a charlatan who took advantage of him for financial gain. Min Jun left the bar that night, drunk and alone. He was used to that kind of rejection.

Min Jun meets Jin Hwan, a fellow student in his class. This classmate seems friendly and tries to start a conversation. Later, Jin Hwan admits that he was at the bar that night, but he didn't dare to approach Min Jun. Now, he wants to spend time together. They hang out and enjoy each other's company. Min Jun picks up on Jin Hwan's flirty behaviour and feels a spark between them.

Jun Hwan introduces Min Jun to his group of friends. They all go out for drinks. Min Jun notices how close Jun Hwan is to his best friend, Woo Hyuk. They seem touchy-feely and whisper secrets to each other. Min Jun is bothered as he watches their exchange. However, he keeps his jealousy bottled up inside. Later, Jun Hwan and Min Hwan hook up for the first time. It's the moment their attraction becomes physically intimate.

Afterward, Min Jun overhears a strange conversation. Jun Hwan is on the phone, telling someone that he was never interested and only spent time with them out of pity. Min Jun realizes Jun Hwan is talking about him, and the words hit hard. The next day, Jun Hwan meets up with Woo Hyuk. Min Jun decides to follow him. He sees the two friends being touchy-feely, just like before. This time, it confirms what he feared. A heartbroken Min Jun ends things with Jun Hwan and cuts off all contact with his cheating ex.

Eight years later, Min Jun is working at a publishing company, editing and proofreading manuscripts. A new designer is assigned to his team for a project called The Love Manual. Min Jun is stunned to see that the new hire is Jun Hwan, the ex he hasn’t seen since their breakup. Min Jun does his best to stay professional and keep his distance. However, Jun Hwan clearly wants to reconnect with him.

Business as Usual feels like a BL drama made from a template. Every element is vaguely familiar, as if it was copied from a checklist or a formula. The storyteller probably studied what is popular in Korean BL and reused the same tropes to build this series. The result is a safe, predictable, and emotionally shallow narrative. If Our Dating Sim and To My Star 2 had a love child, you would get Business as Usual. But unlike those classics, this copycat fails to bring any new ideas.

One of the story's worst problems is the forced conflict. The protagonist disappears from his partner's life and reunites with him years later. Let's be honest. This trope is tired. It has been used in dozens of BL dramas, and fans are getting sick of it. Besides the lack of originality, this series handles the plot worse than others. Even if Min Jun thinks Jin Hwan is a cheater, he should communicate and find out the truth. Don't bail from your relationship at the first sign of trouble. When they meet again, the romance struggles to pick up where it left off. The couple's unresolved conflict overshadows their chemistry.

Some love stories can get away with an unoriginal premise if the writing is sharp. It's possible to charm the audience with clever banter or playful flirtation. Unfortunately, this series struggles with cheesy and cringy dialogue. There's an emptiness to the lines, like a generic greeting card or a canned response from the soulless mind of ChatGPT. While I'm not accusing the drama of being AI-generated, it has similar symptoms. The writing lacks joy, imagination, and a human touch. From the formulaic scenes to the recycled tropes, a lot about this BL drama feels uninspired.

Despite all my critiques, Business as Usual has a few redeeming qualities. Most notably, the physical intimacy between the leads is stellar. Some actors are hesitant to display affection, but these guys go all in with kissing and sexing it up. To its credit, the series is aware of its strengths. The first steamy moment happens within the first few minutes, making me clutch my pearls at how fast the relationship escalated. The real gem comes in Episode 5. Wow, that intense exchange earns top marks from me. I was holding the big '10' scorecard from the judge's panel.

Another strength is the excellent production values. Business as Usual is made by W-STORY, a studio with a spotty track record of creating hit-or-miss BL dramas. With that said, they always deliver consistently good cinematography. As usual, their visuals look polished and dreamy. The sex scene in Episode 5 was elevated by the ambiance, and the production team deserves credit for that. In terms of the performances, Jin Hwan's actor (Seong Seung Ha) does a decent job. His co-star (Chae Jong Hyeok) seems weaker and looks dazed when he's supposed to be emoting.

Business as Usual drags out the couple's conflict. Episode after episode, Min Jun and Jin Hwan won't get back together, even though their reconciliation seems inevitable. The series wastes time on repetitive relationship drama instead of exploring other subplots. The finale is a generic mess, serving up the most cliched events you expect from a mid-tier BL. With that said, the epilogue special is cute enough, highlighting character growth and sweet moments. While it ends on a positive note, I still find Business as Usual mediocre. It's another bland Korean BL drama, as usual.