Love in the Big City (2024)

Finally, Love in The Big City is already out and I have been waiting for this show for such a long time now because a KDrama that is led with a gay character and I have been hearing the outrage that the show is getting just makes me want to watch it even more. I have not read the book or watched the film. I am planning to do all that after watching this series because this is the easiest to access but I am actually quite excited with this show. As I mentioned, I have been waiting ever since the conception of its idea an it was revealed online. I mean, a series in South Korea, an extremely conservative and outdated country, is showing a series led with a gay character. On top of that, the lead character is played by Nam Yoon-su who is a relatively famous actor and is someone that I have seen many works of. He is a really good actor and he is such a brave guy for doing this. I know that he is not gay in real life but he is a really good actor and he portrayed the character really well. I will not be considering this a BL because I feel like there is so much more to the story of the show and it is heavily focused on just one character. Basically, it is an exploration of how a gay man lived in South Korea. The story is set in modern times and what I like about it is that it is not just focused on showing one side of the society as it will be exploring a side of South Korea that we have never really seen before. The show is episodes and they are separated into 4 parts tackling different points in Go Young’s life. The first is the beginning of the story and it is focused on how he was able to build a lasting and friendly relationship with Mi Ae who is regarded as an outsider in their school as well. I love this storyline because it really showed us how good life can be if you have someone who you can truly trust and be friends with. It is such a sweet beginning to their friendship but you can also see the characters continuously grow as well as individuals. They are both labeled to be outsiders but they were able to find their footing in life and were both able to find solace in finding another person who can still be their soulmate even though it is not a romantic one. We also have the first boyfriend of Go Young that is presented in the story. It is a photographer named Kim Nam-gyu. He is a guy that seems more mature. To be honest, this is the kind of my guy that is usually my type but I can see why they were not perfect for each other since they are looking for different kinds of relationship at the time. Nam-gyu feels like someone who really is looking for his forever love and he is a splendid guy but he tends to move a bit too fast while Go Young is still trying to enjoy his young life as much as possible. I was a bit heartbroken with how Go Young broke up with him and how he just moved to someone who cannot love him as much. On top of that, he died and Go Young kind of realized that the kind of love that he offered him is what he might soon be looking for. I would want to have that kind of love actually. This is also a really good start for the kind of story that we are going to witness. It is immediately established that our main character will not be a clear cut of a good person but it also showed us his humanity. The second storyline focused on his mother and the man named Noh Young-soo that he met in a philosophy class or group. Shit is getting serious in this one and I was not expecting it. They are really going for the jugular in this one but let us start with the relationship that he had with Noh Young-soo. He is played by Na Hyun-woo and he seems to be the most good-looking out of all of them. The body is insane. The abs in fucking hot. I mean, I can understand why Go Young really fell in love with him. I feel like Go Young is more ready for a relationship now and he really fell in love with Young-soo but he seems to be someone who grew up differently from him. He tends to be more lowkey and I think that his story is focused more on internalized homophobia that some gay people have. Personally, I do have this as well when I was younger but Young-soo never really grew out of it as he is still someone who is not out to the people around him. You can sense how hostile things can be if the topic is being opened up and he changes. He is like two different individuals when he is outside the house and when he is in and the way that he handled it is just heartbreaking. The dinner scene was just sad to watch as Young-soo really loved him despite seeing the extremely homophobic paper that he is writing. I hated that scene so much and I have so many emotions that went in when I watched it. I am not sure if I hate Young-soo but I pity him so much. This is also happening when we got to finally meet the mother of Go Young, Eun-sook. It was already revealed that they do not have a good relationship but it was revealed here that she actually put him in a conversion camp or something related to it when he was younger after seeing him kiss another boy. This must have been heartbreaking for him and I disliked the religious mother in that scene. I think the best thing that came out of this portion is that he was able to have a more loving relationship with his mother which is something that he never had because of what happened. It is sad to see that things like this still happen to people out there and I can now understand the character of Go Young even better. Nam Yoon-su was able to really play this character well so far that he was giving us the range that is needed. He is such a good actor. I am so impressed with what he is putting into this role. The scene with him and his mother may seem like a very simple scene at the end but it was such a warm ending to a heartbreaking story. It is that mother’s love that he truly deserved so much. The next storyline involves the aftermath of his mother’s death and as he tries to start again by finding a job but it is really about him finding a more stable relationship with Gyu-ho who is a bartender in the bar that he and his friends go to. This is a different pace from all the relationships that he had so far as this feels more like a two-sided relationship as they have fallen deeply in love with each other but we also got introduce to another girl in his life named Kylie. I was so surprised to learn that Kylie is the name he gave his HIV when he was detected and how he admitted this to Gyu-ho is such an important part of his story. This show is tackling so many things at once but his relationship with Gyu-ho is representing gay people in a mutually loving relationship and how it sometimes grows stale as the time pass by. They ended up breaking up at the end and that hurt me so much because they really wanted to be together but they are kept on being pushed outwards each other with the decisions that they are making. Gyu-ho is like the one that got away and the man that he is destined to be with but it never worked because the timing is not just right and I really wished that they ended up together because they are so good. It is not a perfect relationship but I know that they could still fight for their relationship but they are doing unnecessary sacrifices so that they could save each other that it ended tearing them apart. This is where Go Young’s past experiences are haunting the hell out of him and being a relationship that is as comfortable as the one, he had with Gyu-ho scared him. Gyu-ho deserved so much more love. I think this story also highlights the fear of those living with HIV and how it affects so many things in their lives. It is such a sad story and there are more people who have this mindset. Unfortunately for Go Young, he never really got the support that he needed because he was so scared of the taboo from the society that it hindered him from having open conversations and to ask for help about it. It is just so sad. I was so heartbroken with the scene at the airport when they finally said goodbye to each other. There is something so raw about that scene and Nam Yoon Su and Jin Ho-eun gave exceptional performances. It is just beautifully heartbreaking. There is so much love between the two of them and they had a hard time to navigate alongside each other and I feel like I have seen so many relationships fall in that pit may it be a homosexual one or a heterosexual one. We got to watch the aftermath of this story in the last part of the show where Go young is now more successful with his writing that he got to resign from his work but he still remembers and misses Gyu-ho. We got to see him start a new relationship with Habibi but I don’t think they were able to do something here but what is interesting is that he is still in the process of moving on from the relationship with Gyu-ho so Habibi is more of a side character in this sense. I think at the end of it all, a part of me is wishing that he was able to find someone to love and I hope that he will be able to rekindle his relationship with Gyu-ho whom he really made a wonderful connection. On the other hand, I am happy that he is becoming more mature especially with how his story really went. I think it is easy to say that Go Young is a character that is not easily as likable as you want him to be. He tends to do things that are not what we would consider to be good or right but he is at an age where he is a bit more impulsive and we got to really see him improve and find his very own path in this crazy world as we explore loving someone in this big city called world. Nam Yoon Su is such a trooper for all the things that he did in this show. I feel like he gave a much believable performance from start to finish showing the character growth and development that his character needed. It is a good exploration of what love really means and how we sometimes tend to ruin it for ourselves. It is such a good story with a sad, perfect, individualistic, and I have so many more adjectives for this show. I think, at the end of the day, Love In The Big City is as what the title suggest, it is an exploration on love what is and what it can be. It might not always be what we are expecting or we might not be seeing it when it is there because we are all living in a world so big that it is easy to miss. It can be maternal love that learns to accept you for who you are. It can be a platonic love between friends that are meant to be together forever. It can be about the love you receive or the love that you take. It can be a love restrained for a certain amount of time. Love is just whatever you expect and don’t expect it to be. It can be anything. It can be found anywhere. It can be with anyone. You just have to learn to open yourself up to receive it and learn to give it as well to those who matter to you.

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i just finished watching this beautiful piece of media and i am experiencing multiple emotions all at once. i don't think i have ever been deeply moved after watching a drama, let alone a kbl, in a while.

love in the big city is more than just a love story — it is a realistic depiction of life, love, friendship, grief and everything else in between.

as a queer person, i often consume any type of queer media as a way to learn more about queerness outside of the western lens. to see a portrayal of being queer in a way that is so raw and sincere in korea media was quite refreshing. considering how korea is very conservative, this series took a leap of faith and challenged the norm in south korean modern media. not only does it humanize queer people in a country in which they are seen as less than, it also touches upon the misogyny korean women face. the script was so beautifully written, i was intrigued to the extent where i wanted to read the novel this series was based on.

other than the story, the cinematography was breathtaking. the acting was flawless, it felt as if i was watching real people share genuine friendships. it felt as if i was witnessing two people actually fall in love.

i adore this show so deeply that i will be thinking about it for a long, long time.

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Drama that is a masterpiece.♥

Thank for a drama that is a masterpiece.
.
A wonderful drama, which kicks in the soft stomach, and touches on such sensitive issues, a perfect casting of all the actors who manage to convey a spectrum of emotions, love, sadness, joy, passion, friendship, disappointment, pain).

And the actor Nam Yoon Su, (I've seen several of his dramas/movies) is so talented that he took such a bold role and executed it with phenomenal perfection.

I was sorry to read (negative) reviews against him for daring to play the role of a gay man with daring scenes rather reviews from fans, but don't worry he didn't remain indebted and didn't apologize, - proud of him.

The number of chapters is perfect.

Perfect soundtrack

This drama deserves all the accolades. And I hope she wins an award for acting, casting, directing, production, soundtrack, monologues, cinematography...everything is great

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Finally Real Life

Episode 1-8 the narrative of Reality never relents . Whatever the sexual orientation this speaks to Love universally . How we get it, keep it, accept it & appreciate it. It is a hard hitting, funny & totally relevant story. Shows the judgements and preconceived notions that people have. It also shows so effectively how each person has a whole lot of hurt & they carry it with them though life, no one isn't marred by social issues and prejudices. This is especially in the LGBTQ+ community. My heart broke when Go Young saw on his lover Noh Young Soo computer his research paper on Homosexuality. You could see in Go Young 's eyes the total bewilderment & then the realization of who this guy truly was. The fact that a person could be such a total hypocrite , what I loved about this series it showed people up for who they were. The series didn't make anything precious & for some it will give a true understanding of what people go through. It was funny, I mean just chuckling at so many of the scenes, especially with his friend Mi Ae. Loved this series!!!! It is a definite watch for sure 3 thumbs up

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it’s an emotional rollercoaster

this has the feels, of reality. while watching this tears where really falling out. the last relationship he had the longest one felt like i was in this relationship but i have never been in one. when their love was slowly fading away how heavy i felt inside me as it was me kn that moment. hurts crazy. but he didn’t find forever love he was depressed but what is impotent is friendship his friends being there for him was lovely. If you haven’t watched it you should definitely do. the chemistry between this roles is top! best k bl that has this chemistry.

probably this is my first and last time watching it. i will remember it well.

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when love leaves you, but loneliness stays

This drama? It’s not just a story—it’s an emotional gut-punch from start to finish. From the very first scene, it pulls you into Ko Yeong’s messy, heartbreaking life. He’s the guy who’s always out, chasing the nightlife—bars, dancing, drinking, and one-night stands. On the surface, he’s carefree and fun, but deep down? He’s terrified of being alone. His life feels like this endless loop of trying to drown out the silence, and it’s painful to watch because you can tell he’s running from something he can’t escape.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Ko Yeong is a walking contradiction. He craves connection but pushes people away. He wants love but fears what comes with it. It’s like he’s caught in this perpetual tug-of-war between what he needs and what he thinks he deserves.

And isn’t it funny how the grass is always greener on the other side? He surrounds himself with noise, people, and distractions, hoping it’ll fill the void, but you can tell he’s longing for something quieter—something real. Yet, when he gets close to it, he bolts. Fear of commitment, fear of rejection, fear of being seen for who he really is—it’s all wrapped up in the way he navigates relationships.

His parents’ messy divorce didn’t do him any favors, leaving him with a skewed idea of what love looks like. Add Kylie—his nickname for HIV—into the mix, and it’s no wonder he struggles to let people in. Kylie isn’t just a condition for Ko Yeong; it’s a shadow that follows him everywhere, whispering that he’s not worthy of love or stability.

Mi Ae, his roommate and best friend, is like his emotional anchor. She’s the one constant in his life, the person who knows him better than anyone else. But let’s not sugarcoat it—anchors don’t float. When she gets married and moves on, Ko Yeong is left to sink or swim. Spoiler: he starts sinking.

Then there are his relationships. Nam Gyu, bless his old-soul heart, was a shot at something tender and genuine. But Ko Yeong wasn’t ready, and Nam Gyu’s tragic end only adds another layer of guilt to Ko Yeong’s already complicated life. Then there’s Youngso, who deserves a medal for Worst Human Ever. He uses Ko Yeong, hides their relationship, and has the audacity to call homosexuality a sin. The betrayal cuts deep, and you can feel how it makes Ko Yeong retreat even further into himself.

And finally, Gyu Ho—the love that could’ve been the love. Their relationship starts off sweet, almost hopeful, like maybe this time it’ll work out. But life doesn’t work that way, does it? The spark dims, the fights start, and the weight of reality crushes them both. Even their trip to Thailand, a place meant to rekindle their connection, is overshadowed by Kylie and all the baggage that comes with it.

Here’s the kicker: Ko Yeong’s life isn’t about grand epiphanies or neatly tied-up endings. It’s about the slow, painful crawl toward understanding yourself. After Gyu Ho leaves for China, Ko Yeong throws himself into writing. It’s his way of processing, of making sense of the mess. But even when he revisits Thailand with someone new, it’s clear he’s still haunted by what he lost.

Love in the Big City doesn’t hand you closure on a silver platter. It’s raw, messy, and brutally honest. It captures the discomfort of being stuck between who you are and who the world expects you to be. It’s a reminder that love, no matter how fleeting or complicated, leaves its mark. And sometimes? The grass isn’t greener—it’s just a different shade of heartbreak.

Heartbreaking, unforgettable, and absolutely worth the emotional wreckage. Watch it. Feel it. Then sit with it, because it’s the kind of story that stays with you, whether you like it or not.

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This is NOT a typical BL

I wanted to watch this show real bad because of Nam Yoon Su. I had already seen him as a devilishly evil teenager and as a heavenly saint of a prince, so I had known how versatile he is. In this series, he is supposed to be a realistic person, sometimes good, sometimes bad, and a gay. He is perfect in every aspect.
As the title already suggest, this is not a fluffy love story between two innocent boys. It's a story of the MC's life, how he was hurt and healed by other people, and how he hurt and healed others. There is lots of sadness and some happiness, both met with Nam Yoon Su's disarming smile. There are serious issues, there is entertainment. You really get inside the character's world, because it is so true to life.
Some suggest that the characters of MC's bfs aren't real in the plot - we just follow his creative process when he writes his consecutive novels. I didn't think about it when watching the series, but it sure is an interesting view.
As for music - I was never annoyed by it, which is what really matters to me when watching a drama.
I probably will rewatch it - we learn important details in later episodes that cast a totally different light at what happened first,
Overall - loved it.

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Speechless-ly good!

Just WOW! It hits every spot, seriously. The plot, acting, storyline, pacing, execution are all amazing.

No scene is wasted. Every part is needed to make up the whole storyline, whether its the sad scene or the s*x scene or everything in between. It's not your typical fluffy BL- yes- it does have cute romantic sweet moments, but there's more to it

It is really raw and deep- really touched me on heart level. I must say the acting plays a big role- I can feel the expression of the actors done really well.

I really love Ko Yeong and Gun Ho chemistry so much- but it is what it is, I guess.I hope for a S2 or spin-off where I get to see KO Yeong finally fulfil his deepest wish of Sa Rang.

Bonus point for showing us how Kylie affect his life- hence, promoting safe sex indirectly

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