Hard Love Mission – Series Review & Episode Guide

Yoshi and his friend Ampere are reporters. Their boss wants them to interview Putter, one of the trendiest actors. However, Putter is famously elusive and never agrees to do a personal interview. Yoshi's boss has threatened to fire him unless he secures an exclusive one-on-one with the celebrity. Thankfully, Putter's manager Louis is an old acquaintance of Yoshi. Louis informs that Putter will stay on the island of Ko Samet to do a photoshoot.

Yoshi and Ampere arrive on the island. Louis calls, revealing that he can't accompany Putter on this business trip. Instead, Louis wants Yoshi to act as Putter's temporary manager. Reluctantly, Yoshi becomes in charge of handling the celebrity. Putter has some eccentric habits. For example, he can't sleep alone. As such, Putter requests Yoshi to move into the same resort room as him. If Yoshi disobeys or displeases the idol, Putter will refuse to do the media interview with him.

Putter is doing an island photoshoot with Vivi, an up-and-coming starlet. Vivi's manager, Lip, wants his client to become famous. He suggests that she should cozy up to Putter to gain recognition. Although Vivi isn't attracted to her costar, she listens to her manager's advice. Lip has also partnered with Pete, who plans to take scandalous pictures of the two loved-up models. Pete is a failed actor who resents Putter for stealing a leading role from him. He wants to destroy Putter's career as retaliation.

Meanwhile, Yoshi is oblivious to Lip and Pete's scheming. He's busy trying to manage the celebrity. His colleague Ampere is lazy and doesn't plan on doing any work during her holiday getaway. As such, Yoshi must handle all of Putter's obligations by himself. As they spend time together, Putter stops behaving like such a diva. He shows a more humble side to him, impressing Yoshi.

Don't watch Hard Love Mission! That's my review. That's all I have to say. Writing anything more about this awful drama feels like a waste of words, but I'll elaborate on my distaste. This series has a boring plot, a tepid romance, and vile characters perpetuating offensive tropes. The senseless story becomes increasingly unwatchable with each dull episode, leading to a ridiculous climax and a laughable resolution. Hard Love Mission is a pathetic effort for a BL drama, and we shouldn't accept this dismal quality in the genre.

Hard Love Mission begins with an absurd concept that throws me off. How does the protagonist suddenly go from being a journalist to a celebrity manager!? Okay, I tell myself to look past the improbable circumstances. In the next scene, the famous idol blackmails his love interest to sleep in the same room as him. WTF!? Before the first episode is halfway over, the plot already challenges me with two preposterous ideas. Subsequently, many other events and reactions are just as nonsensical, insulting my intelligence as a viewer.

The worst storyline rears its ugly head in Episode 2 and dominates the rest of the series. The spotlight shifts to the horrendous supporting characters, who conspire incessantly to sabotage the leads. These villains don't act like sane humans with rational thoughts or moral consciences. Instead, they run around like exaggerated caricatures, causing diabolical chaos. Their wicked schemes involve drugging the celebrity to take scandalous photos of him naked and unconscious. When that doesn't work, they resort to hurting and murdering him. What the hell!? Are they psychos!?

In addition to the problematic storylines, I'm troubled by the trite and tedious romance. The couple shares no chemistry or attraction, so their interactions are awkward, embarrassing, and contrived. Putter is an unlikable love interest who can't overcome a sleazy first impression. I hate how he patronizes Yoshi and threatens his career. While his attitude is less obnoxious in the later episodes, he turns into a bland, generic character with no personality. Likewise, Yoshi is a wallflower who receives little development. Neither lead has the charisma to carry the series.

I'm aghast and abhorred by nearly everything about Hard Love Mission. The decent production values are the only redeeming trait since the tropical island scenery creates a festive atmosphere. Yet, the vibrant visuals cannot conceal the ugliness of the disastrous story. The plot is so thoughtless, the romance is so passionless, and the acting is so charmless. I hate Hard Love Mission for wasting my time. It deserves to be in the bottom ranks, listed as one of the worst atrocities committed against the BL genre. Let's never speak about this piece of garbage again.