Love for Love's Sake (2024)

Did we watch a different drama? Special premise and that is all

I am wondering what am I missing. Can someone enlighten me please. What was 'the best drama I ever watched' about this?

Myeong-ha was definitely a great character and props to the actor behind him. Caring. Responsible. His writing was interesting. I liked Sangwon too, I thought his position was very unusual and appealing for a BL, but also underdeveloped. He had a lot of potential.

As for Yeo-woon, I did not believe the character one sec. The chemistry between the leads was lacking left and right. I cannot with that really. He was very one dimensional for me.

Perhaps it is about somewhat misplaced casting, too few episodes for the meaning to prevail or not great writing.

Sometimes cute, sometimes engaging most times left me quite unmoved - meh. It is 8 x 40min, so not too long. The story is unique and Tae Myung-ha is crush worthy so up for you to decide.

Thanks for reading.

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Not Sure why this drama got such a high rating ?

When I read the synopsis for this drama, it sounded really interesting. However, the actual drama did not deliver.
Characters were boring, especially the ML (Yeo Woon).
Chemistry? There was no chemistry. It's like, boom! Both just started liking each other. Especially for MC (Tae Myung). I don’t see how MC could have fallen for ML. There was really nothing special about ML that would make him fall for him. Other than maybe he's handsome lol!
The idea of the "system" MC was stuck with was confusing. Till the very end, nothing was explained why he got transported. Or who was the guy that transported MC. The ending felt sort of rushed. Nothing really got explained.

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A fantastic start to 2024...

There is always one drama, which you accidently discover and it turns out to be one of the best dramas you ever watched.
Love for Love's sake is that drama for me. It was a joy to watch how the story unfolded throughout the series.
The acting, direction and production where equivalent to kdramas which is commendable. In terms of acting, both the leads hit it out of the park, be it being happy or being vulnerable.
The visuals and the OST are to die for. I m glad 2024 kbls kicked off to a flying start with Love for lovesake.
Sure it has its share of flaws but the immense happines that this drama will bring you prevents you from niticking.
Hope 2024 churns out more delightful dramas like this in the upcoming months.

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I didn't expect

This is more than what a web drama could've possibly done. I watched the first 4 episodes and i assumed this as an another web drama with light plot. But after watching the other 4 episodes, I was really caught off guard by the presentation idea of the storyline. I know there're some lack but I can forget them. Tbh I didn't expect this much effort from the web drama. Ok let me appreciate the production. Only if the duration of each episodes were longer than 40 mins, this gon be a killer. I really love the last episode where they portrayed beautifully. But i don't like the way they put the side character for nothing like they're just existing!?? ( anyway my pookie yeowoon is so cute ㅠㅠ)

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Liked it ok for love's sake

With all the glowing review and the current high rating on MDL, I expected much more than this. But even without those expectations, I would still consider this drama as a disappointment personally. Let's just start with things that were done right:

1. Very strong premise and theme. This drama hooks you right from the beginning and keeps you engaged throughout. Seeing the world through Myung Ha's lens (or more correctly a VR game lens) started the drama on a very lighthearted note and disguises its darker themes which I enjoyed. The depiction of emotional turbulences through "system error" is a very good choice in my opinion - it really got me on the edge of my seats and gets me anxious to see whats going to happen next. The way they inserted the mental health theme, loving yourself, and finding a constructive community for yourself is well introduced, although this could have been expanded more if they had more episodes.

2. Some characters are multi-dimensional and well written. Yeo Woon's progression from distaste to liking the feeling of having company is so so so sweet to see. I also love how Sang Won develops from just a rich brat who is a bit of a bully into someone who helped teach Myung Ha how to receive love and help. Myung Ha is the most complex character of all - he started out the journey thinking that this is a self sacrificing journey where his end goal is to make Yeo Woon happy and to save Yeo Woon, but was actually put in this journey to learn how to love himself. I do love that he is so ready to do anything to save YeoWoon but my heart bleeds for him because he just can't extend the same kindness and love to himself.

3. Homophobic bs does not fly in this series! I love how Myung Ha just does not stand for any type of homophobic remarks made towards himself or others. It is rare to also see a character like Sang Won so ready to accept the fact that he likes men that easily. Is it the most realistic depiction of self discovery? Probably not for most people but I don't care. This is the ideal world that we should be working towards anyways - where kids are not afraid to express themselves because all sexual identities are normalized.

Things that did not tick my box:
1. Myung Ha still having the 29 year old mentality while dating an 18 y.o. I understand that he travelled back in time. But maybe get him to start forgetting that he was 29 y.o at some point? There were so many moments where Myung Ha and Yeon Woo's interaction felt paternalistic which was actually expressed by multiple characters. I just could not buy their relationship as a romantic one because of this. In the end, he was given a chance to fully go back and live his life as a 19 y.o, so in my head I am just believing that he will lose his 29 y.o mindset and perspective and start actually living life as a 19 y.o.

2. Series is way too short to successfully execute the intended themes, premise, and character development. This is such an interesting story and there is potential for this series to be iconic. However due to the length of the series, everything felt rushed and nothing was fully resolved. They had so much potential with the mental health and self love themes, and I guarantee that with 8 more episodes and proper character development, this would have been a solid 9/10 from my end.

Yes, there were more positives than negatives, but the rushed execution is just too jarring for this series to be anything but average. The actors were excellent though and I am so looking forward to watching their future projects.

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Unique Plot with a Deeper meaning, but Execution could be better.

I applaud the writers of “Love for Love’s Sake” for thinking outside of the box and coming up with quite an interesting plot for a short high school BL drama. This drama is so much more than transmigration into a video game, which we’ve seen quite a lot of those from different countries. As we learn more and more about our male lead, Tae Myung Ha, we get to know more of him as a person, and not just a character in the game. The story goes from a cute rom-com, to a darker melodrama.

Towards the middle of the drama, you can slowly see hints dropped about his relationship with Cha Yeo Woon, and a deeper meaning to their encounter and experiences. However, despite having a unique plot, I feel that the execution is not quite up to par. When the drama ended, I am still quite unsure if it’s all a dream? A prank? A real transmigration? The work of god? The work of death? What and why did it all happen? In this case, I wish the drama would be longer so that it can explore the backstory of the characters more, especially for Tae Myung Ha.

The acting of the cast is average at best. I would say Lee Tae Vin (who played ML Tae Myung Ha) delivered the best performance of the bunch. And Cha Joon Wan (who played 2ML Cha Yeo Woon) delivered the weakest performance. The rest of the cast is just OK.

Although you can tell this is a small budget production (wearing the same clothes, the same few sets, limited OST), I have to say the drama does not look cheap.

Overall, I had a decent time watching “Love for Love’s Sake”. I commend this drama (or the webtoon it’s adapted from) for an interesting plot, but just wish the execution, storytelling and acting could be better.


Completed: 2/20/2024 - Review #405

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Blending Romance, Intrigue, and Emotion in 2024's Standout BL Series

"Love for Love's Sake" doesn't just raise the bar for BL shows; it vaults over it, offering a captivating blend of compelling story, engaging characters, and powerful emotions. This 2024 series masterfully combines the three core elements of a successful show, resulting in a unique and unforgettable experience.

The story hooks us instantly with its premise: Tae Myung Ha, a serious and responsible man, suddenly finds himself thrust into a game world where his mission is to ensure the happiness of Cha Yeo Woon, a talented athlete burdened by misfortune. Lee Tae Vin and Cha Joo Wan deliver impactful performances, portraying Tae Myung Ha's determined care and Cha Yeo Woon's initial skepticism that gradually melts into love.

However, "Love for Love's Sake" goes beyond a simple romance. The game mechanics, introduced through on-screen notifications and quests, add a layer of intrigue and danger. Glitches and forced corrections introduce uncertainty, keeping us guessing about the game's boundaries and Tae Myung Ha's fate. Each completed quest brings him closer to his goal, but also closer to a ticking clock with potentially disastrous consequences.

Oh Min Su shines as Chun Sang Won, the initially antagonistic character who undergoes a compelling transformation due to Tae Myung Ha's influence. His rivalry with Cha Yeo Woon for Tae Myung Ha's affection adds complexity to the dynamics, highlighting the emotional stakes involved.

The series transitions seamlessly from comedic moments to romantic scenes, exploring the evolving dynamics between the main characters as they navigate love, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of the game. As the stakes heighten and the game's influence grows darker, "Love for Love's Sake" delves into themes of sacrifice and resilience, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats until the final episode.

"Love for Love's Sake" is a must-watch for BL fans and anyone seeking a show that pushes the boundaries of the genre. Its intriguing concept, layered characters, and impactful emotional journey solidify its place as a standout series in 2024.

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Really engaging plot!

I only watched this because I kept seeing it trending on Twitter and I figured since it was being talked about maybe i should give it a go.

I'm so glad I did.

This one managed to have really adorably cute bits, one really charismatic lead, and one adorable lead and a handful of really likable support characters. But despite being 'cute' the story is incredibly engaging and mysterious even. Not to mention at times even creepy.

As with the case for many Korean BLs, displays of physical affection are very tame so if you're hoping for a lot of that, this ain't it. But that being said, the chemistry between the two leads is enough and the story itself is so good that it's worth a watch even if you're not into BL.

Best bits:
The game layouts when there were missions and side quests and proximity notices popping up. Really made it feel like you were watching a gameplay. And the system errors by the end were creeping me out.

When the mission changes from 'Please Make Cha Yeowoon happy' to 'Please Make Tae Myungha happy', I'm not gonna lie, I did tear up. Especially when you saw how unhappy he was.

Other:
There were a few times where I was slightly confused as to what was going on but only momentarily and I think that fits with the idea that the 'game' is experiencing..difficulties.

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Unique Plot and Amazing Actors

This plot was something I had never seen before which had me interested immediately. From the camera work during the game scenes, the amazing acting by the cast, and the little details, it blew me away.

The way that the game seemingly felt impossible to beat yet at its core, was showing Myungha how beautiful life is. To be loved and love. "I gave you my love and I got your heart in return". Both main characters leaned on eachother even though they both had their fair share of hardships.

How in the first in episode Myungha says, "I'm going to see my main". And in the last episode, Yeowoon says the same line. Because now Yeowoon wasn't the main character to make happy, he himself was.

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Completely exceeded my expectations

The high rating got me excited, but BL kdramas are almost always lacking in one area or another so I wanted to keep my expectations reasonable.

Episodes 1-5 were a solid 8/10 from me. Beautiful production, good acting, good pacing and decent plot. Episode 6 absolutely blew this series out of the water for me. The director, cast and crew all did a perfect job delivering it, and it didn't fizzle out towards the end either.

My favorite part of the series was Tae Myung-ha. Lee Tae-vin was definitely a pleasure on screen, and was glad to see an interesting main character. I loved Myung–ha’s confidence, one-liners, and multi-dimensionality.

This drama did an amazing job making good use of the time allotted to it. When it comes to the plot, a good rendition of a romance isekai was refreshing to see on screen. The romance was super cute, but wasn’t the most interesting part of the series. I was more interested in seeing Myung-ha succeed. The thriller/suspense/impending doom aspect of the story was what sealed this series’ place in my heart.

The cast was great, a little underdeveloped, but it makes sense as going too deep with the time they had would have created too many tangents. I would have liked some more out of Cha Yeo-Woon’s character. His cat/puppy dynamic was cute, but I would have liked to see more character growth from him. I dislike love triangles, so I’m surprised that I actually liked Cheon Sang-Won. Still I’d rather they had taken more time on Cha Yeo-Woon’s character instead, or did a little something in the middle. Because episode 6 was so great, I wished they pushed that vibe a little earlier, but the series was still a success.

Overall, I absolutely recommend this series and think this is a step in the right direction for BL kdramas. This series was a solid 8.5-9 for me, but since it left me in such a good mood I will round up.

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love for love's sake

10/10 because I'm biased but it's also the fact that it's the best BL drama that started the whole 2024.

Seen Tae Vin as Minhyuk in Penthouse and boy, his acting skill is undoubtedly one of the best for idol turned actors. He was mean and vile in Penthouse so it's refreshing to see him being so nice and cute in this one.

I've to say the plot that this is not a cringe cliche which most scriptwriters keep using and that this drama has a whole message behind it.

Can't stop squealing at 5 and 6 but man my tears are crazy for 7 and 8. Can't stop crying when I realised that's the end of it.

I won't know when is the next BL that will make me feel like this. It could be soon or that it might be in the near future. But love for love's sake is crazily awesome.

The acting for all the casts are insane and that all of them did their roles well!

I am hoping that Lee Tae Vin and Cha Joo Wan will act in another project together again. I am sincerely hoping for that to happen again.

To those who are about to watch this show, please enjoy this show alot! You guys will love it!

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