Love Mate – Series Review & Episode Guide

Lee Jun is a single man who feels disillusioned about love. He goes on various blind dates through hookup apps. However, he has a strict rule of breaking up with everyone after just one date. Lee Jun believes love is an unnecessary, uncomfortable, and unpleasant emotion. He advocates for single life, going against traditional norms.

Lee Jun is the team leader at a content production company. He is in charge of designing a new variety program. Lee Jun pitches his idea, Single Heaven, the antithesis of the typical dating shows. Instead of showing people falling in love, he wants to highlight the pleasures of single life. While pitching this idea to his boss, he is interrupted by his coworker Ha Ram. This new hire recently joined his company. However, he isn't afraid to speak up.

Ha Ram criticizes Lee Jun's proposal, claiming it is a terrible idea. As a hopeless romantic, Ha Ram believes this show is unrelatable to the public. He also calls Lee Jun a "relationship virgin" who spreads an unhealthy message about love. Lee Jun is so shocked that he can barely defend his concept. As a result of the poor presentation, the show's proposal was rejected. Lee Jun is furious because he had spent much time preparing for it, only to be undermined by the new employee.

Afterwards, Ha Ram apologizes for his excessive honesty. However, Lee Jun holds a grudge against him for ruining his pitch. He tries to avoid sitting next to his coworker during a team meal. Nonetheless, Ha Ram insists on being friendly with him. He offers another public apology. The rest of the team insists they make up. Lee Jun plays along due to peer pressure, even though he still resents Ha Ram and sees him as a foe.

After the meal, Ha Ram and Lee Jun have a one-on-one chat. Surprisingly, Ha Ram gives a love confession. He admits to having a crush on his coworker in a case of love at first sight. Lee Jun is shocked and confused. He believes his colleague is either drunk, joking, or teasing him. Yet, Ha Run insists on his sincerity. Lee Jun looks incredulous and rejects him on the spot, but Ha Ram seems undeterred. "I'll make sure you fall in love with me," he states firmly. In subsequent interactions, Ha Ram flirts with Lee Jun at every opportunity.

In Love Mate, the protagonist is disillusioned with relationships. He meets his polar opposite, a hopeless romantic who challenges his thinking and encourages him to give dating a chance. You can guess what happens next. Their basic love story goes on a predictable trajectory, offering many cliches and little surprises. A better drama could've transformed the standard BL formula into fun, flirty moments. Instead, Love Mate churns out awkward and contrived scenarios that make me cringe.

Love Mate quickly goes downhill in the early episodes. I hate how the main character pesters his coworker, from suggestive remarks to invasive body language. Despite being rejected in every instance, he continues to make unwanted advances on his target. The series pretends these exchanges are comical and lighthearted, yet I feel deeply disturbed by his creepy misconduct. In Episode 2, Lee Jun is forced to be physically intimate with his colleague under the pretense of a photoshoot. The entire exchange leaves me uncomfortable. Let's stop promoting sexual harassment as BL content.

Early on, Lee Jun appears aggravated by his love interest. Their hostile interactions do not convey romance. Yet, the relationship pivots midway through the series. Lee Jun suddenly switches from acting antagonistic to being lovey-dovey, even though his behavioural change seems inexplicable. I don't understand what these two characters see in each other. Ha Ram is so clingy and embarrassing. Everything he does is a turn-off, from his cheesy flirtations to his childish comments. I prefer Lee Jun to stay single if the alternative is to hook up with a nuisance like Ha Ram.

Although Love Mate offended me initially, my opinion changed after a while. The series becomes so hilariously bad that I laugh at the ridiculous nonsense. My favourite is when Ha Ram describes when he fell in love with Lee Jun. His utterly absurd explanation cracks me up. At that moment, I realize this series is best enjoyed by not taking it too seriously. As my perspective shifts, I embrace all the corny lines, cringy antics, and dumb drama. I also tolerate the amateurish acting of the two inexperienced leads, overlooking the stiffness and clumsiness in several scenes.

Love Mate has some cute moments. It follows the classic BL playbook, producing numerous romantic clichés. From matching clothes to sleeping on your boyfriend's shoulder, we've seen these ideas in other dramas. Nonetheless, the familiar tropes can be charming. The series successfully portrays a growing bond between the leads. They are playful, affectionate, and cozy with each other. A stretch of episodes in the middle convinces me that Lee Jun & Ha Ram are in love. These encounters dispel my poor first impression, improving my opinion of the couple.

Near the end, Love Mate introduces an ex-boyfriend who makes quite a splash with his sizzling physique. The shallow me wants to see this shirtless hunk star in a BL role! 😚 Unfortunately, his character brings a tedious love triangle conflict that bogs down the final stretch of the narrative. Rather than finishing triumphantly, the series exposes its worst flaws, from iffy writing to annoying leads. I remember why I didn't like this drama in the first place. Love Mate was supposed to celebrate romance. Instead, it leaves me cynical and bitter about a poorly executed love story.