Please Teach Me – Series Review & Episode Guide

Siwoo is a young and famous idol. He's part of the popular group Curious. He began acting in dramas, but his transition hasn't gone smoothly. Siwoo struggles to memorize lines, delivers awkward performances, and faces harsh criticism for unprofessionalism. Many online comments are aimed at his bad acting. Due to the hostile public reception, the drama he was filming dropped him from the project. Siwoo's morale takes a massive hit.

The CEO of Siwoo's agency mocks him behind his back, annoyed by his lack of marketability. Thankfully, his manager, Nuna, is much more supportive. Determined to prove his critics wrong, Siwoo returns to school to take acting lessons. He enrolls at Hankuk University of Art & Design, blending in as a regular student. His arrival creates a commotion among the students, who are all buzzing about the celebrity on campus. Siwoo is overwhelmed by the attention, but he takes comfort in knowing Nuna is always just a call away for help.

Doyun, a senior student, pulls a prank during the first class. He pretends to be the professor and begins giving a mock lecture. Most students quickly catch on to the joke, but Siwoo naively believes him. He takes detailed notes until the real professor arrives. The acting professor scolds Doyun for goofing around and advises him to attend more auditions. Doyun responds that he doesn't want to rush and get criticized for bad acting. Siwoo feels offended, interpreting the remark as a subtle jab at him.

The acting class is assigned a group project. Siwoo is placed on a four-member team consisting of Doyun, Jeongmin, and Yeji. Outgoing and full of energy, Yeji suggests they all go out for drinks to bond. Siwoo hesitates, unsure if he can join without getting permission from Nuna. His classmates are surprised by a young idol's lack of freedom. Thankfully, Nuna agrees to accompany him. Not used to social gatherings like this, Siwoo gets drunk easily.

At the bar, Siwoo and Doyun have a private chat. Siwoo confronts him about his earlier remark in class. Doyun apologizes, insisting he didn't mean to offend with his comments. He also mentions that they've met before. Surprised, Siwoo presses for details, but Doyun avoids elaborating. The next day, the group is scheduled to meet, but Jeongmin and Yeji cancel due to other commitments. Left alone, Doyun offers to help Siwoo with his acting lessons.

Please Teach Me is a sweet BL drama with an enchanting atmosphere. The couple's first date swayed my heart. The protagonist, a young idol, reveals he never attended a regular high school, so his love interest invites him to dress up in uniforms and enjoy a day of student life. Their roleplaying activities include taking photos and sharing meals, which may seem ordinary. Yet, the series has transformed the sequence into a whimsical fantasy. I was charmed as the romantic magic came alive in Please Teach Me.

Later, the prop room scene, the couple's first kiss, and other instances capture a similar dreamy vibe. These scenarios are elevated by the skillful cinematography, which evokes a sense of romantic fantasy. Each exchange delights the BL fan in me. Other relationship moments highlight Siwoo and Doyun's dynamic. Doyun is the older mentor who looks out for his younger companion. He offers emotional support, gives gentle guidance, and even steps in as a hero during tense situations. His sincerity toward Siwoo makes this love story more persuasive.

Although Doyun is a sweetheart, he feels like a generic love interest from a typical BL drama. His personality isn't particularly exciting or unique. The problem comes from Doyun being underdeveloped as a character, so we hardly learn anything about him. His backstory doesn't reveal itself until the end, but even then, it lacks depth. Siwoo has a prominent arc as a celebrity rebuilding his career through acting classes. In contrast, Doyun receives far less attention. He's a pleasant but bland partner whose identity revolves around his romance with Siwoo.

Despite its romantic moments, Please Teach Me falls into rough patches. In particular, the stalker storyline has too much focus. Repetitive scenes vaguely allude to someone's obsession with Siwoo, which grows tiresome. The series tries to build suspense around the culprit's identity, even though the answer is obvious from the start. The creepiness feels out of place, disrupting the gentler vibe of this BL drama. As the plot drags on, it becomes tedious and detracts from my enjoyment of Please Teach Me. My mood deflates each time the stalker takes the spotlight.

Please Teach Me has 64 episodes, each lasting 1 or 2 minutes. A few episodes are so pointless that they only contain footage of the characters running from one place to another. The filler seems more noticeable when you tell the story this way. The series is vertically filmed, facing the same limitations as all BL reel dramas. No matter how skillful the cinematography is, this format compromises the viewing experience by squeezing the visuals into a tight box. How can you enjoy a romantic drama when there isn't enough space for both leads to appear on the same screen?

Please Teach Me begins with Siwoo taking acting lessons, but he doesn't learn much by the end. The story focuses on the stalker plot instead of Siwoo growing as an actor, which could have been compelling. His relationship with Doyun is pleasant, yet it never develops beyond cute romantic fluff. Overall, I don't love the series enough to sing many praises, but I don't hate it enough to criticize everything. While the mediocre narrative keeps Please Teach Me from being great, it remains sweet and inoffensive. Those who like light, casual BL dramas will probably enjoy this.