Magic of Zero – Series Review & Episode Guide

Magic of Zero has three separate love stories. They are unrelated, so you don't need to watch one episode to understand the other. The only shared trait among all the stories is the same advertiser in the product placements.

The first episode is "Magic of Zero: Zero Photography". It features Pa and Ink from Bad Buddy. In the story's beginning, Pa complains about her unflattering appearance in photos. She asks Ink to delete everything and vows to avoid pictures in the future. Nonetheless, Ink wants to join a photography contest and convinces Pa to be her model. An accident occurs during the photo shoot, causing Pa to fall unconscious. After waking up, she's shocked to discover about travelling back to the past. However, Ink isn't her girlfriend anymore.

The second episode is "Magic of Zero: Zero Moonlight". The protagonist is Maki, who has an unusual phobia. Maki is uncomfortable with anything that looks like a circle, so she avoids circular visuals in real life. Sometimes, her condition interferes with her work as a graphic designer at a marketing agency. One day, Maki meets Fong, a senior employee at the company. Fong's oval glasses trigger Maki's fear, which is a problem since they will work closely together.

The third episode is "Magic of Zero: Zero Supporter." It showcases Win and Korn from Cupid's Last Wish. The couple has finally moved in together, although Korn's filthy habits disgust his boyfriend. Win tries to be accommodating. However, he grows paranoid over Korn's chummy relationship with his boss Phat. Lightning strikes them during a heated confrontation in the rain. When Win and Korn regain consciousness, their bodies are magically swapped.

The Magic of Zero creators had an unenviable task. Their bosses approached the team and instructed them to promote an advertiser's zero-sugar, zero-fat beverage. "Easy, we'll include product placement in all our shows this year!" But it was not enough, and the bosses demanded more. "Fine, we'll plug the product into every Vice Versa episode!" But still, the bosses pushed harder. Finally, the studio decided to make a two-hour drama dedicated to this marketing campaign. And thus, Magic of Zero was born.

Despite the blatant advertising, Magic of Zero is a charming and enjoyable drama. I like how each short love story has a creative supernatural twist, adding a bit of quirkiness to the narrative. From time travel to body swaps, these fun diversions are entertaining enough to fill 45 minutes of air time. Every episode also packs several cute, flirty exchanges between the couples. Admittedly, the plots and the relationship content are too light. I was hoping for more emotional arcs or complex developments, but Magic of Zero delivers superficial drama.

The first episode, Magic of Zero: Zero Photography, features a GL romance. This one is my favourite. There may be a halo effect since Pa & Ink come from Bad Buddy, one of my favourite series. Nonetheless, Zero Photography is a decent standalone story, even if you don't know the source material. The short tale is cute, lighthearted, and solidly written. While the messages aren't profound, Pa goes through a satisfying character arc and ends her journey with regained self-assurance. I also think this episode has the most creative use of product placement!

The second episode, Magic of Zero: Zero Moonlight, is a love story between a female protagonist and her male colleague. No offence, but this straight romance has zero appeal to me for obvious reasons. Regardless, I still watched the whole episode, and it was fine. Zero Moonlight begins with a mundane plot, although there's a cool twist introduced during the climax. Maybe it takes too long to get to the intriguing part, leaving little time to explore the aftermath. This installment is the weakest for me, and I would've sacrificed it to expand the other two stories.

The third episode, Magic of Zero: Zero Supporter, showcases the BL couple. This story may have suffered because I loathe Win's character from Cupid's Last Wish. My dislike towards him carries into Zero Supporter, presenting a mental barrier. Nonetheless, I enjoy Win and Korn in Magic of Zero more than their original series. Although their misunderstandings are still annoying, the vibe feels better in this drama. Their relationship goes through a bit of conflict and compromise before reaching an okay ending. The average love story is acceptable to me.

All the episodes in Magic of Zero are cozy and comfortable. Even the heterosexual pairing is okay despite their bland, vanilla flavour. However, these three stories lean towards casual fluff, not leaving a strong impression. There isn't enough depth, making the events feel inconsequential. The drama is like supplementary material than essential viewing. Magic of Zero is suitable if you want something fun and frivolous. Otherwise, don't expect the series to revolutionize your BL experience. Perhaps you can watch something else instead of this two-hour commercial.