Blueming Korean BL Drama Review

Drama : 블루밍 (Blueming)

Director : 황다슬 감독님 (Hwang Da-seul)

Screenwriter:- 박 영(Park Young)

Adaptation from Webtoon: Who can define Popularity? (인기는 무언가 잘못되었다?)

Actors: 다운 역 - 조혁준 배우님 , 시원 역 - 강은빈 배우님

(Daun part – Jo Hyuk-jun , Siwon Part – Kang Eun-bin)

Favourite songs from the OST: LOVE (by Daun/다운)

Time Slip/시간을 건너 (2LSON)

Supporting Cast:- Moon Hye-in, Kim Sun-hwa, Jang Yoon-jung, Kim So-bin, Ahn Do-kyu

About the Show:-

Siwon realises early on in life that one needs good looks and a pleasant personality to be popular in the society. He has since then moulded himself to fit the book. When he joins college to study film making, he meets his classmate Daun, who has everything going right for him. Daun has the good looks, the straight A’s in class, is a boy from a rich family and has an incredible personality. Siwon’s dreams and confidence of being the most popular guy in college comes crashing down once he meets Daun. But his opinions about Daun begin to change when the two become closer while working on projects and other class work. How will their relationship develop as the days progress and will the two be willing to bare their souls to each other and work on being what they truly are or will they be what the world expects them to be?

(*This review may contain spoilers. If you have already watched the show, please continue reading. If you haven’t watched the show yet, you can still continue reading or you can come back to the review later.)

What I loved about the show:-

Have you ever lived a life where your childhood memories and incidents were either traumatic or so embarrassing that you decide that your adult life will not be affected by it? You would do anything to make sure the people you meet in the future will only see the best and the perfect side of you no matter how pretentious that side of you is.

I guess both Siwon and Daun are like that. Both are trying to pretend and show the best and the perfect non existent sides of themselves and both for their own reasons. The irony of the pretence, they meet each other, fall in love and understand that of all the people, they can be themselves with each other. It takes them time to get to know each other, to know their scars, their worries, their reasons for the pretence, their lives, their likes and dislikes and much more but like they say in the show that they will be okay by the end because they have each other.

Siwon has always been under-confident, doubting himself and his abilities and only wanting to show the world his perfect side so that people wouldn’t judge him and his present self because of his painful past. Daun is like a matchstick that lights a candle in a dark room. He stands by Siwon’s side and makes him believe in himself and in his abilities.

Daun has always had to deal with a tough childhood without proper attention from his parents. This makes him feel like he needs to become an adult soon. Also, like he says in the end that maybe he just wanted to be perfect always. He doesn't understand his feelings and emotions. So whenever something bad happens, he thinks that if he stays still, the phase will just pass by and everything will be back to normal. What he doesn't understand is that the phase may pass by and everything may not get back to normal if he does not deal with the situation. Siwon pushes Daun to understand that he is suppressing a lot of emotion inside and that if he doesn’t let it all out, Daun may destroy not just his relationships and friendships around him but also destroy himself from the inside. He makes Daun open up and understand that it is okay to let go of his pre-conceived notions and live life the way he wants.

Favourite scenes and dialogues:-

Beach Scene and dialogue by Siwon, 나 내 얘기 다 했는데. 이렇게 보면 너도 얘기 할까에서….(I already told you my entire story. I was wondering if I look at you this way, you would tell me your story as well). A lot of people may think that it is always Daun who looks after Siwon in times of need. I really appreciate Daun for always being by Siwon's side. But I love that director Hwang Da Seul did not show that it is only Siwon who is the one in need. They have a healthy relationship where they both look after each other. Siwon makes multiple attempts of taking care of Daun, always asking him if he is okay (in the restaurant near the beach, at the beach like I had mentioned above, at Siwon’s house after Daun reads his story), if he wants to share his story, his past, his likes and dislikes.

That’s why the beach scene is the most important one for me. When Siwon asks Daun to share his story, Daun replies by saying that he shouldn’t be complaining about his life when there are many others suffering more than him. Siwon, instead of accepting Daun's excuse, assures him by saying that everyone’s pain is big (if not for others than at least for themselves) and the pain is one of the only things that is incomparable and everyone’s problem is absolute and important.

That must be the exact moment when Daun realises that he has fallen for the right person. I love how Siwon, instead of telling Daun not to complain, tells him that he is allowed to share his pains and problems and whine about them and not suppress them.

A special mention to the imagination scene in Ep 11: Daun realises that Siwon is the only one who sees him for who he truly is, he just lets him be, no pretence. Siwon assuring him in the scene that he will remain by his side and that he likes him too is what gives him strength. That imagination is all that he wishes for and sees his life as. The thought of Siwon, his presence in his life and his impact is the reason why Daun goes back to Siwon, apologises to him, makes up with him and decides to let his walls down and frees himself from the chains that hold him back. He works on changing himself and being more transparent for Siwon while trying to be himself slowly and completely.

The bench scene at the park where they first confess their feelings is another feather on the cap for the director and will remain iconic. I love how Siwon can finally let his guard down and ask and allow someone to comfort him, love him and care for him and not feel the weight of being perfect.

Another scene from Ep 11: Siwon says that his mother might never understand him and he too might never understand his mother but that will not change the beauty of their relationship. The scene is special for reminding us that relationships of every kind are perfectly imperfect.

The iconic 대망의 씬 (long awaited scene) or the silhouette scene is picture perfect and beautifully executed. The final product is stunning, without any awkwardness and is aesthetically pleasing.

The show put forth one of the most beautiful, healthy and understanding relationships I have seen in any recent dramas. There is no toxicity and a lot of communication. The locations and the ambience like the Campus, Daun's house (with the feeling of loneliness), Siwon’s house (with a feeling of love and coziness), the beach, the hotel room, the addition of the colour blue in the silhouette scene and the beach and all the other locations like the bench, the restaurants, the bike tracks have all added to the making of one of the most comforting shows.

I love dramas with a very well written script, story (back story, present and continuation- all to the point), flawless acting, perfect casting (I live for the supporting cast), amazing OST, beautiful locations and above all a director and writer who are certain of their final product. Blueming is all that for me.

Jo Hyuk-jun and Kang Eun-bin are mesmerising in the show. While watching the show, I couldn't see a hint of their real selves. They dove deep into their characters and there is precision in their execution. I can't wait to see more of them in their future projects. The supporting cast have done a great job as well. They have played their parts to perfection. Their acting is faultless.

My respect and gratitude to our Director Hwang da Seul, who has done an outstanding job with the script (alongside Screenwriter Park Young), the direction, the locations and the ambience, the colours and the casting. I am extremely thankful to the Cast, the Crew and the Director for bringing to us an extremely moving, comforting and meaningful show and for working so hard for it all.

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배우분들 그리고 감독님께 응원해주시고 많이 많이 사랑해주세요.

P.S. Eagerly waiting for Season 2.