Never Ending Story – Series Review & Episode Guide

Doyun is the bestselling author of Never Ending Story. Due to its popularity, his romance novel has been commissioned for a sequel. However, Doyun is creatively drained and has no idea what to write next. His editor warns him that an urgent deadline approaches. If he can't submit the manuscript, his publication deal will be cancelled. Doyun feels stressed. He stays inside his apartment, drinking alcohol and eating ramen. His editor urges him to go outside for inspiration, suggesting that exercise may help his creativity.

Doyun dismisses his editor's idea at first because he has zero interest in fitness. He takes a walk outside and meets Hyunwoo, who is promoting a new gym. Hyunwoo gives him an advertisement flier, but Doyun walks past him without reacting. This annoys Hyunwoo, especially after a day of people ignoring his work and treating the flier as trash. Hyunwoo hands the flier to Doyun again and insists he look at it. Surprised by the pushy sales pitch, Doyun awkwardly accepts the flier and brings it home.

At home, Doyun sits in front of his laptop and tries to write, but no inspiration comes. As his attention drifts, he glances at the gym flier and feels curious. He decides to visit the gym after admitting that his editor might be right about the need for some exercise. When he arrives, Hyunwoo is excited and greets him warmly. Hyunwoo invites him to try a few machines, and there's no pressure to join the gym. While lifting weights, Doyun overexerts himself and almost gets hurt. Thankfully, Hyunwoo steps in to help.

The two share a casual conversation. Hyunwoo mentions that he saw Doyun's manuscript earlier and recognizes him as the author of Never Ending Story. Hyunwoo is actually a devoted fan. He praises the writing style and is excited for the sequel. Doyun reacts awkwardly at first. Recently, he has seen online criticism calling his stories cliched and outdated, which has left him discouraged. Hearing genuine praise from someone in person surprises him, and he thanks Hyunwoo.

Doyun returns home and tries to write again. He feels a sudden spark of imagination. The words flow as he thinks about Hyunwoo's friendly smile. Doyun decides to return to the gym, but he feels disappointed when Hyunwoo isn't there. Working out alone doesn't seem satisfying. Doyun is just about to leave when Hyunwoo arrives for his shift. An excited Doyun blurts out that he misses Hyunwoo before feeling flustered. Hyunwoo suggests a private session and invites him to go running together. Doyun accepts, both nervous and excited.

Never Ending Story is a hidden gem that hasn't received much love. It comes from a small studio that made four other BL dramas, but none of them were any good. Most had incoherent storylines with poorly translated subtitles, so my expectations for this series were low. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed it! The beginning? Cute. The next few episodes? Sweet and cozy. And the finale? Finishes strongly. Unlike the studio's past projects, there has been a big improvement. Never Ending Story gets the Most Improved award!

This one-hour series is short and simple. Admittedly, it can't compete with longer BL dramas that have more time to develop their plots. You should set reasonable standards and not expect too much complexity from Never Ending Story. Nonetheless, I like how smoothly everything unfolds. Each episode is easy to follow, highlighting the couple's charming interactions. Their romance develops at a comfortable pace without rushing or stalling. They grow closer through meaningful conversations and spending plenty of time together, so it actually makes sense that their feelings are deepening.

Never Ending Story is a down-to-earth BL drama and avoids turning the characters into caricatures. Early on, Doyun has a crush. He keeps his cool without acting like a lovestruck fool. Hyunwoo is flirty, yet he respects boundaries and never oversteps with his advances. Both leads show restraint around each other, much like people do in real life. They're very demure, very mindful. This romance feels relatable because Doyun and Hyunwoo behave like ordinary guys. They navigate their feelings realistically and have natural hesitations, making their relationship more believable.

After the leads know each other better, their interactions feel so warm and fuzzy. This gentle romance is best enjoyed under a fleece blanket, soft sunlight brushing your skin, and chamomile tea by your side. However, the schmaltzy writing may not interest BL fans who prefer grittier love stories. The series also has a few dull moments that could be avoided with a sharper script. I like that the couple shares a hobby by working out together, but the exercise montages aren't exciting to watch. A bit of comedy or flirtation would make these scenes more engaging.

Hyunwoo's actor (Oh Soo Bin) has a bright smile and brings a lot of warmth to his role. Early on, he was in customer service mode, like an eager beaver trying to please a client. He relaxes and shows genuine emotion after bonding with Doyun. The change is subtle, but I like seeing this transformation in him. Also, he delivers a nice performance in the finale. The rapport with his co-star (Kim Dong Ha) is decent. While their first two kisses are tame, they save the best for last. The final kiss carries enough passion to prove the leads are comfortable with physical intimacy.

There isn't much conflict for most of the story, but the finale brings some unexpected drama. The story raises the stakes at the right moment, putting the couple's romance at risk so we appreciate it more. Hyunwoo has an awesome mic-drop moment as he fights to save his relationship. You'll cheer him on with every iconic line! This happy ending is a satisfying way to conclude the series. Despite some imperfections, Never Ending Story has impressed me. It's a step up from the studio's earlier projects, and I hope my positive review score encourages them to keep improving.