Review Eccentric Romance (2024) BY BL Compilations
Eccentric Romance is a Korean BL mini-series that, on the surface, aims to combine romance, suspense, and cultural introspection into a tight 12-episode package. At around 15 minutes per episode, the series makes a bold attempt to tell a story about friendship, attraction, and mystery. However, while there are shining moments of chemistry and emotional warmth between the leads, the overall narrative often stumbles under the weight of its own ambition.
The story begins with Jay, a Thai international student, who arrives in Korea to reunite with his long-time friend Seong Hun. They enroll in the same college course—“Health and Happiness”—a class that, frankly, feels fabricated for the sake of plot mechanics. It’s a curious choice, one that leaves the viewer wondering if such a course truly exists or is just a narrative device. Their final project, which revolves around a physical fitness evaluation, becomes the launching point for Jay’s personal transformation and introduction to the series’ central conflict.
Jay, physically unfit and visibly uncomfortable in the gym, meets Jin Uk, a charismatic and mysterious personal trainer. Jin Uk's seemingly altruistic interest in Jay quickly becomes a source of tension between Jay and Seong Hun, who clearly harbors unresolved feelings. This love triangle is treated with surprising intensity for such a short series, and while it adds emotional stakes, it also consumes a disproportionate amount of screen time. The result is a rushed main arc and underdeveloped secondary characters.
Despite its flaws, Eccentric Romance does shine in certain areas. The leads have a natural, believable dynamic. Their banter and interactions are laced with tension and affection, providing the kind of emotional pull that many short-form BLs struggle to achieve. The subtle sweetness of their moments together—the quiet encouragements, glances, and hesitant physical touches—stands in contrast to the series’ darker subplot and creates an emotional duality that, when balanced well, is quite compelling.
One of the standout aspects is the portrayal of language and communication. Jay often listens more than he speaks, a subtle but powerful nod to the real-world challenges of navigating a foreign country and language. This detail gives the show a layer of authenticity, though it stretches believability when every side character seems to understand Thai. The writers attempt to justify this, but the convenience of it still rings hollow.
The major issue lies in the show's tone and narrative coherence. There's a serious subplot involving murder, kidnapping, and blackmail that feels jarringly out of place. The pacing of these scenes often derails the emotional buildup between characters. Tension arises not from well-developed suspense but from absurd decisions and forced drama—such as the awkward trainer hug or the lack of police involvement at critical moments. The series also relies heavily on exposition dumps, from character backstories to villain motivations, often delivered in clunky, unnatural ways that break immersion.
Episode editing choices further exacerbate the problem. Important scenes are awkwardly placed—such as an emotional moment that should have ended episode 2 but was instead tacked on elsewhere—diminishing their impact. Add in a few tired tropes, including the overused drunk kiss and the forgettable "I don’t remember what happened last night" cliché, and the show starts to feel like it’s trying to do too much with too little time.
Visually, the series holds its own. The production quality is above average for its format, with appealing color grading and thoughtful framing. There’s an intimacy in the way the camera lingers on characters during quiet moments that adds depth. The female character, a rare non-cliché presence, brings a refreshing perspective and serves as a welcome departure from the usual stereotypes.
Ultimately, Eccentric Romance is an uneven blend of romance and thriller, with its strength lying in the emotional development between Jay and Jin Uk. It wants to be both a soft love story and a chilling mystery, but it doesn't quite succeed at either. There’s potential here—certainly in the dynamic leads and the cultural nuances—but it’s buried under layers of unnecessary drama and implausible twists. For those interested, selective viewing of key scenes (especially in the final few episodes) might offer a more enjoyable experience. It's a flawed series, yes, but one that still manages to leave a mark through its quiet moments of tenderness and longing.
The story begins with Jay, a Thai international student, who arrives in Korea to reunite with his long-time friend Seong Hun. They enroll in the same college course—“Health and Happiness”—a class that, frankly, feels fabricated for the sake of plot mechanics. It’s a curious choice, one that leaves the viewer wondering if such a course truly exists or is just a narrative device. Their final project, which revolves around a physical fitness evaluation, becomes the launching point for Jay’s personal transformation and introduction to the series’ central conflict.
Jay, physically unfit and visibly uncomfortable in the gym, meets Jin Uk, a charismatic and mysterious personal trainer. Jin Uk's seemingly altruistic interest in Jay quickly becomes a source of tension between Jay and Seong Hun, who clearly harbors unresolved feelings. This love triangle is treated with surprising intensity for such a short series, and while it adds emotional stakes, it also consumes a disproportionate amount of screen time. The result is a rushed main arc and underdeveloped secondary characters.
Despite its flaws, Eccentric Romance does shine in certain areas. The leads have a natural, believable dynamic. Their banter and interactions are laced with tension and affection, providing the kind of emotional pull that many short-form BLs struggle to achieve. The subtle sweetness of their moments together—the quiet encouragements, glances, and hesitant physical touches—stands in contrast to the series’ darker subplot and creates an emotional duality that, when balanced well, is quite compelling.
One of the standout aspects is the portrayal of language and communication. Jay often listens more than he speaks, a subtle but powerful nod to the real-world challenges of navigating a foreign country and language. This detail gives the show a layer of authenticity, though it stretches believability when every side character seems to understand Thai. The writers attempt to justify this, but the convenience of it still rings hollow.
The major issue lies in the show's tone and narrative coherence. There's a serious subplot involving murder, kidnapping, and blackmail that feels jarringly out of place. The pacing of these scenes often derails the emotional buildup between characters. Tension arises not from well-developed suspense but from absurd decisions and forced drama—such as the awkward trainer hug or the lack of police involvement at critical moments. The series also relies heavily on exposition dumps, from character backstories to villain motivations, often delivered in clunky, unnatural ways that break immersion.
Episode editing choices further exacerbate the problem. Important scenes are awkwardly placed—such as an emotional moment that should have ended episode 2 but was instead tacked on elsewhere—diminishing their impact. Add in a few tired tropes, including the overused drunk kiss and the forgettable "I don’t remember what happened last night" cliché, and the show starts to feel like it’s trying to do too much with too little time.
Visually, the series holds its own. The production quality is above average for its format, with appealing color grading and thoughtful framing. There’s an intimacy in the way the camera lingers on characters during quiet moments that adds depth. The female character, a rare non-cliché presence, brings a refreshing perspective and serves as a welcome departure from the usual stereotypes.
Ultimately, Eccentric Romance is an uneven blend of romance and thriller, with its strength lying in the emotional development between Jay and Jin Uk. It wants to be both a soft love story and a chilling mystery, but it doesn't quite succeed at either. There’s potential here—certainly in the dynamic leads and the cultural nuances—but it’s buried under layers of unnecessary drama and implausible twists. For those interested, selective viewing of key scenes (especially in the final few episodes) might offer a more enjoyable experience. It's a flawed series, yes, but one that still manages to leave a mark through its quiet moments of tenderness and longing.
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BL Compilations
Eccentric Romance (2024)
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