The central theme of the sequel, how a romance shrouded in secrecy is bound to take its toll, is fairly relatable and promising in theory, but falls flat in the execution.

I didn’t really like Ohm and Fluke’s story in season 1, and season 2 only proved to prolong the pain.

Sadly, Ohm’s character remains unlikeable, shady and somewhat one-dimensional. Like season 1, Pierce still doesn’t seem to put in any real effort into making his partner feel wanted or seen – he looks perpetually uncomfortable when he’s around Typhoon unless they’re alone (red flag), and there’s little evidence of him even attempting to include Typhoon in his social and family circles (red flag again).

KimCop’s story was among my favourites in Season 1 because of its refreshing premise, so I was looking forward to it in season 2. Season 2’s storyline explores the toxicity of internet mobs, the pressures that idols face to keep their relationship under wraps, and how easily relationships creak under the weight of relentless scrutiny.

Unfortunately, with only 6 brief episodes, the series barely skims the surface of all these issues. If anything, the backstory to how Jedi and Ray got together in the real world was strangely absent in this series, and audiences lacked the context to fully appreciate the depth of their relationship and how real it actually is.

My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/06/10/close-friend-season-2-2022-review-bl/