Jazz for Two – Series Review & Episode Guide

Se Heon is an aspiring teen musician. He spent the past year being homeschooled and training his piano skills. His strict father is a perfectionist who demands absolute discipline from him. Se Heon feels restricted by his busy schedule, lack of freedom, and living under his father's authoritative rule. Se Heon's older brother, Se Jin, is an overachiever. Se Jin's achievements in his music career have pressured Se Heon to follow in his footsteps.

Se Heon is excited to enroll in an arts academy and befriend other musicians his age. Despite his enthusiasm, he has an unpleasant encounter with Tae Yi, a brooding student in his class. While navigating the school, Se Heon finds an old piano in an empty classroom. He plays a song on the piano, but Tae Yi violently stops his classmate. Although they don't know each other well, Tae Yi threatens to "kill" Se Heon if he touches the piano again. Se Heon feels intimated and leaves the room in a panic.

Se Heon befriends Do Yun, a cheerful blue-haired classmate close to Tae Yi. Do Yun may be Tae Yi's only friend in school. Do Yun notices the tension between the two and tries to mediate. Meanwhile, Tae Yi is being bullied by another student. Ju Ha's little sister, Ju Hee, has a crush on Tae Yi. However, he keeps rejecting her advances, causing her heartbreak. Ju Ha retaliates by picking on Tae Yi. Once again, Do Yun tries to mediate between the two.

Se Heon sneaks into the abandoned classroom to play the old piano. Although he has a fancy piano at home, his father only wants him to play classical music to train for his future career. Deep down, Se Heon is interested in jazz. At school, in this empty classroom, he can play jazz songs on the piano to his heart's content. However, Tae Yi is upset when he finds Se Heon touching the piano again. When Se Heon resists, they have a physical altercation. Tae Yi uses too much force and hurts Se Heon's wrists.

Despite their hostility, Se Heon is strangely intrigued by his mysterious classmate. He wonders about Tae Yi's tragic past. Se Heon doesn't realize Tae Yi is in mourning. Two years ago, he lost a loved one to suicide. This old piano holds a special place in Tae Yi's heart because his loved one always played music on it. Since the death, Tae Yi retreated socially and struggled mentally. He is disturbed by Se Heon's resemblance to his loved one. Their similarities trigger Tae Yi's repressed trauma.

Jazz for Two begins slowly, taking its time to introduce the characters and establish the relationships. As the protagonist settles into his new school, the first two episodes pass without significant developments. I was bored and losing interest in the series. Like a sad ballad with a dragging tempo, I want the song to hurry up and reach its crescendo. Jazz for Two would've benefited from a tighter narrative by trimming the unnecessary scenes. Let's get to the exciting part of the story before I tune out.

Thankfully, Jazz for Two picks up its pacing in the later episodes. The plot recaptures my attention by shifting the spotlight onto Tae Yi. Although I have complicated feelings about him, he's a complex character with hidden layers. The brooding student drops his guard and becomes vulnerable. His backstory is fascinating as the series unveils the emotional scars, each new detail more tragic than the last. He also improves his relationship with Se Heon after a rocky start. As Tae Yi's attitude softens, we discover another side to him. Jazz for Two has created a compelling protagonist with many nuances.

The director, Song Soo Lim, previously worked on A Shoulder to Cry On. There are similarities between her projects. Like before, she grabs all the angsty tropes from the hurt/comfort fanfiction archives and throws them onto Jazz for Two. According to her universe, each character must have a tragic past to be interesting. Expect countless sob stories about dead loved ones, abusive parents, or school bullies. Also, the series loves to sensationalize trauma. A memorable scene is when Se Heon gets slapped by his dad, who doesn't face consequences for attacking his son.

Se Heon and Tae Yi's romance is overshadowed by violence. Tae Yi hurts Se Heon physically in several disturbing scenes. The worst offence occurs in Episode 7, but the series coddles Tae Yi without holding him accountable. Some fans will defend his actions. Aww, he was suffering! Forgive him, please? No, I can't support this toxic relationship. Likewise, Ju Ha is another abuser. I don't understand Do Yun's strange attraction to him. He treats me horribly, but I must know more about this mysterious bad boy! This unhealthy mindset is the foundation for both couples.

Although Ju Ha is a despicable bully, his actor (Kim Jung Ha) delivers an excellent performance. He's smooth at portraying the villain, exuding a smugness that vexes me. Yet, he can quickly switch to other emotions, from a fearful glance to a flicker of insecurity. Se Heon's actor (Jinkwon) is also a talented performer. He conveys innocence and fragility, reminding me of a lost little lamb surrounded by wolves. As for Tae Yi's actor (Ji Ho Geun)… Great face card. Beautiful face. Out of all his handsome features, his piercing gaze suits the character's brooding image.

Jazz for Two contains gorgeous visuals and a graceful soundtrack. The polished production softens the story's rough edges, making it easier to romanticize trauma because everything appears so dreamy. As the characters sing and kiss in the finale, you may get carried away by the celebration while ignoring their past transgressions. However, I still see Tae Yi and Ju Ha as red flags. The series hasn't redeemed them well enough to earn my forgiveness. Despite the complex backstories and intense melodrama, Jazz for Two fails to impress me with its angsty writing.