Peach Trap – Series Review & Episode Guide

The year is 2022. Doha works at JS Content in a stable full-time role, which he has held for ten months. One day, he receives an unpleasant shock. His boss reports that an advertiser's final draft proposal was leaked internally, in violation of company policy. Doha maintains his innocence, but his boss refuses to believe him. Doha becomes the scapegoat for the leak and is fired on the spot. His boss gives him two months' compensation and promises to keep the reason for his dismissal discreet.

The unfair termination leaves Doha in tears. After packing his belongings, he steps into the elevator and begins to cry. Mr. Jeon, his former team leader, appears beside him. He offers a handkerchief and tries to comfort Doha. Later, Mr. Jeon invites Doha to a farewell party with the staff, a kind gesture that turns awkward when some employees still suspect him of causing the leak. Doha defends himself and leaves the party. Yeonsang follows him outside to reassure Doha, "I believe in your innocence." Doha is moved by his kindness, especially since he once thought Mr. Jeon seemed cold and standoffish at work.

The next day, Doha adjusts to life as a newly unemployed worker. He feels discouraged and plans to stay in bed all day. Gyeon, his childhood friend and roommate, urges him to get some exercise. Gyeon is a former national jiujitsu athlete who now runs his own dojo. He signs Doha up for free lessons to keep him active instead of staying cooped up in his room. Doha reluctantly agrees to the lessons, even though he has little experience.

Doha plans to apply for a new job. He's surprised when Mr. Jeon calls him and asks to meet at a cafe. Mr. Jeon believes Doha was falsely accused, so he wants to help out his former colleague. He'll offer freelance work until Doha finds a new position. Mr. Jeon can also review his resume and schedule interviews with other companies. Doha is surprised but feels grateful for the support. He promises to buy Mr. Jeon a proper meal as a gesture of appreciation.

Doha's meeting at the cafe is interrupted midway. Haram, the coffee shop owner, flirts openly with Doha and slips him his phone number. Later, Haram signs up for jiujitsu lessons to spend more time with him. Haram makes his romantic interest very clear. As his advances increase, Gyeon grows annoyed and jealous. Mr. Jeon also appears more often, eager to stay in touch with Doha and get to know him on a personal level. All three men compete simultaneously for Doha's attention.

I'm obsessed with Peach Trap's format. Three love interests, one winner, who will come out victorious for our protagonist's heart? In many BL dramas, the endgame couple is obvious from the very first episode. Every romance feels predictable because we already know who falls in love. This series adds an element of mystery to its love story, so we must keep guessing who the final suitor will be. It's like taking a multiple-choice test. Bachelor A, B, or C? I had so much fun not knowing the outcome until the end.

Peach Trap reminds me of a visual novel. In those games, it's common to have a protagonist with multiple love interests. Initially, each character spends some time with the lead. After a certain point, it's decision time! You must pick your favourite guy and unlock his route. I watch this series the same way, trying to decide who I want as my endgame. I ruled out the coffee shop guy (Haram) right away, so it was a contest between the coworker (Yeonsang) and the best friend (Gyeon). I actually switched back and forth between the options. My indecisive ass even wanted a harem ending where Doha dates all three!

I love this storytelling format because it feels different from the usual BL formula. With that said, there are some drawbacks. Having multiple love interests means the series must split its time across several pairings. As a result, each romantic arc receives less development. You'll notice Doha's relationships never grow deeply, and it doesn't feel like he's in love with any of them. The story also lacks time to develop the characters meaningfully. Everyone's personalities are too thin, which makes you wish the series would drop the extra suitors and focus on the leads.

After a while, I had my favourites. I want Doha and Gyeon to end up together. These childhood friends share years of history that surpass the other two suitors. They're relaxed around each other, whereas Doha seems nervous with Yeonsang or awkward with Haram. Midway through the story, Doha and Gyeon's conflict irritated me. My loyalty was shaken, and I briefly preferred a Yeongsang endgame because he seemed so classy. Eventually, I went back to shipping Doha & Gyeon because their connection feels the strongest. The others don't have the same spark.

In Episode 5, Gyeon's actor (Cha Se Jin) had an impressive moment. The sadness in his eyes looked so genuine that it actually made me pity him. He also shares a natural rapport with his co-star (Jung Su Bin), and their close bond feels believable. As a bonus, the sexual tension between Gyeon and Haram (Cha Yu Hyun) is surprisingly juicy! You know who else caught my eye? Yeonsang's actor (Lee Do Han) looks sharp in a business suit and exudes an air of sophistication. He carries a physical resemblance to the Thai actor Est, like his brother from another mother.

After Doha makes his decision, the last episode gives the couple many lovey-dovey moments. Yeah, I enjoyed their interactions and felt satisfied with this relationship. For viewers who preferred one of the two rejected guys, tough luck! At times, I wonder if the story might be better if it focused on one couple and developed their arc more deeply. Then again, that would take away its uniqueness, turning the series into an ordinary BL drama. Ultimately, Peach Trap is more fun in its current format. I like having three love interests and trying to guess who the protagonist picks!