Tide of Love – Series Review & Episode Guide

Haejun is a broke art student who urgently needs money. His mother requires surgery, but he can't afford the medical bills. As a last resort, he sets aside his pride and becomes an escort. Too ashamed to tell his mother the truth, he vaguely describes it as a new part-time job. In reality, a wealthy man pays him a large sum of money for sex. Before arriving at the manor, Haejun tries to convince himself it's no big deal. He's willing to do what it takes to cover the hospital expenses.

Haejun meets Jaetun, his wealthy employer. Jaetun is an eccentric man who lives alone in a countryside manor. He hires a secretary to handle his errands, which include arranging discreet meetings with escorts. Jaetun admits he exclusively seeks out art students, and Haejun is one of many hookups. Jaetun is willing to offer generous payment, but he expects absolute obedience in return. To establish control, Jaetun pins Haejun against the wall and grips his throat before releasing him. He makes it clear who holds the power in their relationship.

Jaetun lays out several rules for their arrangement. It can last a single night, and Haejun gets paid before he leaves. He may choose to extend his stay for more money. Days, weeks, or months will lead to a higher payout. Jaetun believes money grants him authority over Haejun's life. He has a possessive streak and doesn't want his escort flirting with anyone else. He demands that Haejun cut off his social ties while they're together. Jaetun warns that breaking these rules will result in painful consequences.

After Haejun signs the contract, Jaetun demands sex immediately. He behaves very aggressively. Jaetun pins Haejun to the bed, gripping his throat and forcing kisses on him. Haejun is visibly shaken and tries to resist until Jaetun reminds him of what's at stake. "This is what you wanted," Jaetun taunts while keeping his hand on Haejun's throat. Later, he orders Haejun to wear a blindfold, kneel on the floor, and strip. Jaetun finds pleasure in this power dynamic and enjoys asserting control over his partner.

The sex is rough, but Haejun decides he can endure it. He agrees to extend his stay and become a live-in escort. Outside the bedroom, they share meals and have casual conversations. Haejun begins to notice a more vulnerable side to Jaetun and feels sympathy for his employer's loneliness. Despite these softer moments, Haejun still has a controlling streak. He constantly demands sex and gets upset when Jaetun doesn't follow his rules. Their complicated relationship goes through ups and downs.

Tide of Love is one of the worst BL dramas I've ever watched. Oh my god, we've truly hit rock bottom. It feels like the lowest of lows for this genre. In fact, am I even watching BL? Or am I watching bad gay porn? Sorry, that isn't a fair comparison, because at least pornography can be fun and sexy. This series feels so icky that it just makes me uncomfortable. The story is terribly written, the romance is disturbing as hell, and the love interest is a piece of shit. Almost everything about Tide of Love is a huge turn-off.

My least favourite part about Tide of Love is Jaetun, an utterly vile character. This rich jackass thinks having money allows him to abuse others. He introduces himself by grabbing Haejun's throat and making verbal threats. Mind you, they just met, but he's already acting psychotic. From there, his behaviour escalates into intimidation, physical aggression, and a delusional belief that paying for sex equals human ownership. His power trip is fucking absurd! It's hard to understand why a BL drama would make the love interest so repulsive. After such an ugly first impression, Jaetun is impossible to redeem.

Early on, Haetun falls in love with that abusive asshole. WHY??? The story can't justify his attraction and offers a pathetic reason. "He's lonely! I relate to that!" WHAT??? If Haetun stayed with the rich bastard for financial stability, I might understand. Yet, the series wants us to believe he developed real feelings. HOW??? Haetun focuses on the few times Jaetun seems "nice" while ignoring his offensive behaviour. He has mistreated you, exploited your financial crisis, restricted your autonomy, and reduced you to a sexual kink. Stop pretending he's Prince Charming!

The two leads previously starred in another Korean BL drama, Sweetheart Service, which has a similar plot. In both stories, a wealthy man pays for romance. Tide of Love is the evil version of Sweetheart Service, like its sleazier and sluttier cousin. While this series includes many intimate moments, nothing explicit is shown. The most risqué content is just an intense kiss. Each sex scene has a twisted power imbalance, reminding me of a hostage situation. Haetun is forced to kneel, wear a blindfold, or get yanked around aggressively. The toxic smut feels more toxic than smutty.

Both leads are good looking! Haejun's angelic face and muscular body (with that sexy treasure trail) can distract me from how godawful this series is. As much as I wanna ogle at the hot guys, Tide of Love ruins my experience by being too sleazy and exploitative. Haetun is a vulnerable young man pushed into prostitution and mistreated by a creepy predator. I hate how this tone-deaf series puts a positive spin on their problematic relationship, twisting it into a romantic Cinderella fantasy. Its attempts to redeem Jaetun fail miserably because nothing will make me like him.

Worst of all, this story reminds me of an unfortunate parallel in real life. I see a sleazy studio taking advantage of two ambitious actors, making them film excessive erotic scenes that add nothing to the plot. In particular, Haejun's lead (Kim Hyun Seo) gets molested, manhandled, and placed in degrading situations that strip away his dignity. None of it showcases his acting ability, but still, I admire his professionalism. He deserves to be cast in a much better drama that treats him with respect. Overall, Tide of Love leaves me feeling disgusted and ashamed to be a BL fan.