My Man's Man – Series Review & Episode Guide

Jina is a cheerful university student. She has been dating Minu, her sweet and doting boyfriend, for a year. While she's happily in love, Jina feels irritated by Wan, Minu's best friend from high school. Wan always wants to hang out with his best friend, disrupting her time with Minu. Jina considers Wan a clingy and awkward third wheel who refuses to give them space.

Lately, Jina has sensed hostility from Wan. She's unsure if she's imagining it, but Wan's behaviour seems unfriendly. He also makes pointed remarks. Wan reminds her that he has known Minu for five years, compared to her one-year relationship with him. Jina starts feeling competitive and insecure whenever Wan is around. Frustrated, she vents to Minu about his friend's clinginess. However, Minu defends his bestie. He claims Wan doesn't have any other close friends besides Minu.

On Jina's birthday, she looked forward to some alone time with her boyfriend. However, Wan suddenly shows up at Minu's apartment, claiming he needs a place to stay after an accident at his home. Minu is hospitable and immediately welcomes Wan. In contrast, Jina is upset. She feels Wan is intruding as a third wheel, especially since he interrupted an intimate moment between her and Minu.

Jina pretends there's also an accident at her home, giving her an excuse to stay at Minu's place. Minu unexpectedly finds himself living with two new roommates he never asked for. Meanwhile, Jina schemes to distract Wan by setting him up with her friend Miyeon. She hopes that if Wan starts dating someone, he'll spend less time with Minu. Knowing Wan would resist, she doesn't tell him about the blind date beforehand and tricks him into meeting Miyeon.

Later, Miyeon tells Jina the date went well. She describes Wan as sweet and a gentleman. Jina is thrilled, believing her plan has succeeded. However, Wan confronts her, visibly agitated. He warns her not to set him up with any more girls. Wan surprises her with an admission by coming out as gay. Jina is startled and asks if Wan has feelings for Minu. He confirms her suspicions, "I like him. I've liked him ever since I met him." The revelation shocks Jina, who realizes Wan is her love rival.

I don't like most love triangles, and My Man's Man features my least favourite kind. The story centres on a suspicious girlfriend, her ambiguously gay boyfriend, and his scheming friend trying to steal her man. It's an overdone dynamic, even if the series tweaks the formula slightly. Besides the predictability, these narratives reinforce negative stereotypes. They focus on jealousy, paranoia, deceit, and betrayal, bringing out the worst in every character. My Man's Man leans heavily into these tropes, which makes it hard for me to enjoy.

I often felt aggravated while watching the series, especially early on. Jina behaves like a cartoonish caricature of female love interests in BL dramas. The story portrays her antics as playful, but I dislike seeing her make accusations and antagonize Wan. However, Jina is right to distrust her rival. Wan becomes manipulative and obsessive as he blatantly tries to break up the couple. Also, Minu frustrates me due to his lack of honesty, causing unnecessary pain for Jina and Wan. All three characters have moments that test my patience. I get pissed off and want to yell at them through my screen!

As much as the characters annoy me, I start to sympathize with each of them. Their emotional arcs reveal hidden depths. I soften my stance toward Jina, an unknowing victim who lashes out only because she's confused by her boyfriend's actions. Minu also becomes more relatable after he shares his traumatic backstory, which makes me feel sorry for him. Likewise, I understand Wan's perspective. Despite his bitterness, he's driven by heartbreak, unable to move on from his crush. All three leads have many flaws, but ultimately, none of them are the villains of this story.

My Man's Man contains BL scenes, including a kiss between the two male leads. However, Minu and Wan's romantic arc is unfulfilling. Wan obsesses over his crush, while Minu keeps rejecting him. Instead of reciprocal feelings, their dynamic is tense throughout the series, and they grow increasingly distant. Later, Wan's vindictive actions hurt Minu so much that you'll root against him. Meanwhile, Minu's mental health deteriorates, making him unready for any relationship. With so much emotional baggage between them, it's impossible to support them as a couple.

My Man's Man could have added more BL material by elaborating on Minu and Wan's teenage years. Flashbacks of their high school days would reveal a softer side to their relationship. To its detriment, the series doesn't focus on the romance. It's preoccupied with scandalous drama, highlighting the struggles of being gay without showcasing the positives. As a result, the story lacks warmth. It's harder to like the characters since we only see their conflicts. Wouldn't it be nice to watch Minu and Wan in happier moments? My Man's Man is missing that touch of sweetness.

In my opinion, there's a happy ending. Minu seems more confident, albeit I would've liked to see his self-improvement journey rather than condensing it into a quick recap. He isn't in a confirmed romance with anyone, so some fans will be upset about the lack of BL content. The vertical filming format doesn't help, making this drama even less appealing. While I have many critiques, I don't hate the story entirely. The characters are nuanced, and their emotional arcs held my interest. Ultimately, My Man's Man isn't a terrible series, but it could have been executed better.