Laundry Romance – Series Review & Episode Guide

Jaemin is stressed about his upcoming job interview. His job search hasn't been going well, and he can feel the pressure. The interview is tomorrow, but he accidentally spills coffee all over his clothes. He rushes to the local laundromat late at night. Jaemin hopes he can get everything washed and dried before morning. When he walks in, the place is almost empty. There's only one other person there. It's Jiseok, sitting quietly with a book. Jaemin recognizes him as a regular, but they have never spoken before.

Jaemin starts stuffing his clothes into the washing machine. The laundromat is dead quiet, but he decides to practice for his interview. Jaemin runs through his answers, trying to sound confident. His voice drifts across the room and catches Jiseok's attention. A moment later, Jiseok walks over and points at the machine. Jaemin follows his gaze and realizes his phone is in there, buried in the pile of clothes. Jaemin was so distracted that he accidentally put his phone into the washer! Mortified but relieved, he quickly pulls it out and thanks Jiseok for saving him.

Jiseok invites Jaemin to sit at his table and even buys him a coffee. They slip into easy small talk. When Jiseok brings up the interview practice, Jaemin admits he feels anxious about tomorrow. Every failed interview feels like a reminder that he isn't good enough. Jaemin wishes he could be as relaxed as Jiseok and envies his calm demeanour. That's when Jiseok surprises him. Jiseok confesses that he used to be constantly stressed about work. He actually quit his job of ten years because of burnout.

Jiseok offers a bit of friendly advice. He tells Jaemin to pay attention to his clothes for the interview. If he dresses sharply, it will translate into his confidence. When Jiseok gets ready to leave, Jaemin stops him. He insists on buying him a drink to properly thank him for saving his phone. As they exchange numbers, Jiseok makes a playful bet. If Jaemin nails the interview, he has to treat Jiseok to drinks next time. If he bombs it, Jiseok will buy the drinks instead and let him vent. Either way, they're seeing each other again.

Unfortunately, the interview goes exactly how Jaemin feared it would. Not great. Jaemin mopes around at the bar, convinced that he ruined yet another job opportunity. Jiseok shows up. True to his word, he orders the drinks this time. Jaemin starts venting about what went wrong. He says the other applicants were dressed in expensive suits. Meanwhile, he felt shabby in comparison. He thinks that's why the interviewers weren't impressed by him. Jaemin thinks he just isn't good enough, and nobody will ever want to hire him.

Jiseok shares more about his own story. Jiseok worked in a high-stress job for 10 years, even though he was miserable for most of that time. Jiseok knew he should've walked away, but he kept forcing himself to endure it until he was burned out. He tells Jaemin that admitting you're unhappy is not a weakness. It takes guts to say, "This isn't working for me." In fact, Jiseok says he envies that about him. Jaemin knows when he is reaching his limit. Jiseok ignored his intuition for a decade. Jaemin is moved by his kind words. He thanks Jiseok for being so sweet.

Laundry Romance is such an ordinary love story, but I mean that in the best way possible. The main characters are just two regular guys who meet at the local laundromat. They make casual small talk, but even their conversations are basic. Work sucks… Interviews are scary… Life is tiring… Everything about this series is designed to feel as down-to-earth as possible. You can actually picture this couple existing in real life. Laundry Romance is for the BL fans who want less fantasy and more realism in their stories.

This series has a gentle vibe. The last episode is the only time that the plot gets dramatic. Brace yourself for thirty seconds of mild tension! The rest of the story? Very pleasant. These characters don't argue or create problems. Jaemin and Jiseok are just two nice guys who have respectful conversations. Jiseok is especially supportive. When Jaemin gets all mopey about his job search, Jiseok offers so much positivity. He listens attentively. He reassures him. He shares his own experiences. You'll appreciate watching the couple grow closer simply because they're kind to each other. We love green flags in BL dramas!

The English translations are kinda rough, so some of the dialogue sounds painfully awkward. Since the characters bond mostly through talking, one weird sentence can kill the vibe of their conversations. Also, the writing gets cringy. It pushes the laundry themes way too hard. The most glaring example is: "Maybe we didn't come here to wash laundry, but to rinse our minds." WTF!? That line reads like ChatGPT gibberish? The series keeps trying to turn laundry into a deep metaphor for romance, but it's not working. A fabric softener is just a fabric softener and not a symbol of love.

The couple's scenes together are really sweet, and I like how their romance unfolds. Jaemin develops a crush on Jiseok and acts all flustered around him. His behaviour is adorable! Jiseok teases him about it. Not in a mean way, but in that flirty little "oh, you like me?" way. The chemistry between the actors (Park Hyun Jun & Lee Ha Jin) feels natural, like two people slowly realizing they're interested in each other. I love their intimate conversation in Episode 3, which concludes with a kiss. I got butterflies at that moment! That's exactly what a good BL drama should do.

Laundry Romance is a short 30-minute drama, which limits its potential. I like the couple, I enjoy their scenes, but half an hour isn't a lot to work with. There's not enough time for me to grow attached to these characters. Other Korean BL dramas on YouTube have at least 6 to 8 episodes to develop a story. The series also suffers from being too simple. The plot is very basic… The relationship feels quite ordinary… Two guys meeting at a laundromat isn't the most riveting premise ever conceived. Laundry Romance needs to do more to create something truly memorable.

The last episode introduces some last-minute drama and leaves the couple's relationship in a weirdly vague place. Where do they stand? IDK. The ending lacks closure, so I'm a bit unsatisfied. Based on the studio's history, I'm pretty sure they're gonna film a second series to continue this story. They've done sequels for all their other projects. Overall, Laundry Romance is still a decent BL drama. The couple's romance is pleasant enough. Their scenes together are really sweet and made me smile a lot. I enjoyed this nice little love story, even if it's not particularly remarkable.