Our Winter – Series Review & Episode Guide

Once upon a time, there were two nameless protagonists. Originally from Thailand, both have travelled to South Korea during a snowy winter. They are strangers who don't know each other. The characters meet in the street over a slight misunderstanding. After discovering their common roots, they befriend one another and begin hanging out.

Their daily activities are random and whimsical. Some days, they take photos or go sightseeing in the winter landscape. On other days, they play in snowball fights or share a cup of warm noodles in the cold weather. The couple strengthens their bond over time. Soon, their platonic friendship may have blossomed into something more.

Let's make this a quick and brief review. I promised myself not to spend more time writing about Our Winter than it takes to watch the series. This mini BL drama is only fourteen minutes long. Annoyingly, it splits the narrative into many one-minute episodes. The format sucks because it's impossible to pack any substance in under sixty seconds. The sensible approach is to create one cohesive storyline. Yet, Our Winter insists on delivering arbitrary and disjointed scenes episode after episode.

Our Winter has zero plot. The entire story consists of sweet yet pointless relationship fluff. In each episode, the leads do something cutesy for sixty seconds, like smile coyly, swap gazes, or hold hands. There's no attempt to expand on the story meaningfully. The leads don't have personalities, backstories, or even names. They're random guys who meet and flirt for fourteen minutes without context. How utterly unimaginative. I can't feel invested in Our Winter when the protagonists have such empty characterizations. Why am I supposed to care about them?

The romantic exchanges are nothing special. Several interactions may be mildly amusing, but every encounter feels so lightweight. The series suffers from its stupidly self-imposed constraints since any passion must be condensed into sixty seconds. An attraction requires time to cultivate, brewing like a fine wine. Yet, Our Winter rushes hastily and moves on to the next scene after each minute. In addition, the flirting is immature. I can't get excited over the couple making heart symbols at each other. These innocent gestures fail to evoke strong feelings in me.

Our Winter stands out since it's filmed in a snowy environment. Winter conditions are seldom seen in Thai BL due to the country's tropical climate. South Korea's icy landscapes provide a refreshing change of scenery, like a winter wonderland. The seasonal setting adds a unique touch to the usual optics, from billowy jackets to silky scarves. Regrettably, the series uses an ugly vertical video format. It can only showcase the serene locations in a limited scope, restricting the artistry. Also, the viewing experience is unintuitive unless you watch on a mobile device. 

Our Winter relies on excessive music to overcompensate for a meagre plot. The dramatic songs obfuscate the mundaneness of the couple's interactions. It may sound like something epic is happening, only to coincide with the leads staring vapidly at each other. However, not even the snazzy soundtrack can divert from the nonexistent plot and superfluous filler. Our Winter deserves a low score because it popularizes many annoying features I don't want in BL. From the vertical videos to the short episodes, please don't steer the future of the genre in this awful direction.