Reloved – Series Review & Episode Guide

Than and Akin (also known as Kin) used to date. Their love story started in high school during a basketball game. Than accidentally hit Kin in the head with a ball. As Than rushed over to check on him, they introduced themselves. The two hit it off despite a few years' age difference.

When Kin eventually left for college, they kept the relationship going and stayed lovey-dovey together. And then Kin disappeared. No fight, no explanation, no closure. He ghosted his own boyfriend. Than is left heartbroken and confused. He spends years trying to move on through a string of hookups that go nowhere. Kin was his first love, and he just couldn't get over him.

Fast forward to the present. Than is now a personal trainer running a gym alongside his best friend, Nat. He's also raising his niece, Nene, after losing his older brother, Sun, to an accident. It's a lot of responsibility, but Than and Nene make it work, living together as a little duo. Nene adores her uncle, though she also enjoys teasing him or telling him what to do.

Nene starts her first day of school. Than tags along to Nene's school orientation and gets the shock of his life. Kin is there. With a kid. His son, Mawin. The awkwardness is off the charts. Than wants to corner his ex and demand some answers. Kin avoids him and wants to be literally anywhere else.

Nene and Mawin become friends at school. Their friendship gives Than and Kin plenty of opportunities to interact. Than finds out where Kin lives and moves into the same apartment complex. He becomes neighbours with his ex! It's all part of Than's master plan to rekindle the romance. Yet, Kin seems evasive and won't answer any questions. Why did he leave? Who is Mawin's other parent? Still, Than remains hopeful that he can win over Kin again.

Kin works at an ad agency called Beyond Perfect. The firm's newest client is Mr. Don, an extremely demanding businessman who expects perfection. Most of the staff are in full people-pleasing mode. And then there's Pond, the team photographer, who apparently didn't get that memo. Pond has no interest in sucking up to anyone. He pushes back. He challenges Don. And just to keep things spicy, he starts flirting with him too.

Reloved is one of those series where I enjoy the romance more than the story. If we only focus on the plot, it's a mess. The writing is all over the place. The characters lack common sense. Oh my god, so many annoying storylines make me cringe or roll my eyes! Instead, Reloved's strength lies in its fanservice. It's packed with BL goodies. Want something steamy? The raunchy sex scenes will make you blush. Want something cozy? The cute domestic moments should make you smile.

Both main characters have kids in their lives, which is surprisingly rare for the BL genre. With all the BL dramas out there, which ones are actually about raising children? Not many! Reloved is quite unique for including these parenthood scenes. The best moments are whenever Than spends time with his niece, Nene. Their adorable interactions showcase his sweet softie side. While I love the family content, it doesn't happen often enough. The kids only pop up here and there, which makes me wish they had a bigger role in the story. Every time Nene disappears from the plot, I'm like, "Where did she go? Bring her back!"

Reloved has a naughty side. The main characters are super horny, so you can expect lots of slurping and boning in almost every episode. My personal highlight is the makeout session in Episode 2. Than and Kin are kissing by the fence at night, and then it starts raining in a cinematic way. Is it extra? Absolutely! Is it iconic? OK, just a little! It reminds me of a similar kiss from Ai Long Nhai. In fact, these two series have the same director (Nob). Both BL dramas are drenched in romantic fluff. Whether that sounds delicious or boring will depend entirely on your taste.

The leads (Peter and Golf) aren't the best actors, but they look kinda cute together. Sadly, the couple loses points because the relationship drama is too messy. Years ago, Kin left Than. We spend a good chunk of the series waiting for an explanation. And when it finally comes? I can't find the right word, but it's somewhere between "ridiculous" and "foolish". Also, the series makes us believe Kin is a single dad raising his son. But then, it reveals a weirdly contrived backstory that cheapens their relationship. Ugh, these bad writing decisions make me less invested in the characters.

The second couple, Pond and Don, have an absurd amount of sex. It seems like every exchange circles back to Don spreading his ass cheeks for Pond. They do it everywhere. In the bathtub! Against the window! Even a quickie in the public restroom! Unfortunately, both characters annoy me when they aren't hooking up. Pond is too sleazy. Don is too stuck-up. Bad personalities make it hard to root for a relationship, no matter how much chemistry they have in the bedroom scenes. Later on, something awful happens to this couple. Other fans were upset, but I didn't care. *shrugs*

Yes, Reloved has badly written storylines. Yes, the characters are annoying. And yes, their interactions can be cringy. I've made my complaints, and I stand by them! Despite these critiques, I kinda had fun? The cute moments made me smile. The spicy scenes made me blush. Whenever the plot became total nonsense, I simply laughed. Is it a great BL drama? No, but it's the kind of hot mess that's weirdly easy to enjoy. Call it a guilty pleasure. Call it mindless entertainment. Either way, Reloved has just enough charm to make me view its flaws less harshly.