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The rosiness of your cheeks, the feeling of floating over clouds, the way your knees go weak when you look at them – these are the feelings evoked by the BL K-Drama “Boys Be Brave”.
“Boys Be Brave” is a BL directed by Lim HyunHee, known for the award-winning series “Our Dating Sim” and produced by the team behind the Netflix show “Move To Heaven”. Naturally, fans had sky-high expectations from this BL, given the reputation it was building up, but much to our joy, the real thing proved to be in a league of its own entirely!
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The drama tells the story of JinWoo (Kim SungHyen), who has a crush on KiSub (Nam SiAn) but doesn’t like him one bit. Why? Well, according to KiSub, it’s because he’s not his ideal type. But of course, we know it’s really because liking KiSub, who is the popular guy on campus, would mean risking being treated the way he treats everyone else.
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KiSub certainly doesn’t mistreat anyone, and he’s not quite a player when it comes to love. Rather, it is his indifference that bothers JinWoo. You see, KiSub is the type of guy who loves love. If someone says they like him, he accepts their feelings, not because he likes them back but because it’s a good thing to be loved! So, if JinWoo were to reveal his vulnerable emotions to him, he’d simply accept them at face value without ever exploring his own feelings. Who wouldn’t think it’s a bad idea?
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However, KiSub has a way of making people fall in love. As viewers, we know KiSub is not doing the right thing and to some extent, it’s even easy to dislike him for it! However, this character is written and acted out so beautifully by Nam SiAn, that it almost puts a spell on the audience, enchanting us. Would we absolutely hate it if our significant others behaved this way? No doubt! That is why we empathize with JinWoo! But would we melt into a puddle if our crush looked at us with those doe-eyes like KiSub? A hundred percent!
So, in essence, the core of JinWoo and KiSub’s story becomes growth as both characters find and accept themselves before accepting each other and growing into more mature individuals.
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Now, onto our next couple – Sunny (Jung YeoJun) and InHo (Ahn SeMin), who are turning up the angst meter with their heart wrenching romance. In a way, this couple appears more grounded in reality than the comparatively dreamier relationship between JinWoo and KiSub. Sunny is struggling financially, and InHo has no closure about how or why their relationship ended so abruptly. Despite being in the dark, InHo plucks up the courage to face Sunny again, and their emotions unravel. It’s not always pretty or wistful, but it is earthy and tugs at our heartstrings.
So, accordingly, Sunny and InHo’s story becomes a tale of longing and one that reminds us that it is okay to be vulnerable. It’s okay to not be brave all the time because the ones you love are willing to be brave for you.
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In conclusion, “Boys Be Brave” is a comfort watch before anything else. The low-stakes premise is a welcome change and, as a matter of fact, a strength of the story, in my eyes. The show doesn’t try to come across as more complex than it is, but instead zooms in on characterization and building relationships between the characters that feel honest to the viewer. Oftentimes, ostentatious writing can veil the true charms of a story, but in the case of “Boys Be Brave”, the writing carries a sense of conviction that really makes the audience believe.
Another strength of “Boys Be Brave” is most definitely the music. The OST to this BL melts into the story and becomes one. It never overpowers or steals attention but lingers in the back of our minds, amplifying the viewing experience. It is subtle yet beautiful, like a cherry blossom petal caressing your cheek as you walk past a fully bloomed tree and you just can’t stop thinking about it for hours afterwards.
Finally, the biggest win, when it comes to “Boys Be Brave” is how it takes you back to your first love, reminds you of all the times you could not be brave, but also leaves you with a magical glow from having reminisced the sweet old days. Perhaps you’re a different person now, but the memories remain just as colorful and rosy. To put it simply, “Boys Be Brave” is a BL that makes you feel good and sometimes, that’s all we need.
“Boys Be Brave” is now streaming on Viki.
