The Eighth Sense (2023)

Contrived but also refreshing and satisfying

“The Eighth Sense” succeeds despite its drawbacks; the happy ending of the two main characters, Jae Won (Im Ji Sub) and Ji Hyun (Oh Jun Taek), feels right, even if the steps to get there carry contrivance in script and direction. But the two leads are overwhelmingly convincing in their performances and interactions to sweep nitpicking aside.

Joint Directors Werner du Plessis and Inu Baek have delivered a soft surfing tale, from the opening credits which hark back to films from decades ago, to scenes of sea, sand and surf, bestowing an ambience of young vigour and first-time love. We may not be on the surf beaches of South Africa, Hawaii or Australia, but as the camera lovingly explores the collection of surfboards in the surf shop, and lingers over the body-hugging wetsuits, all that is missing is the burning summer sun and suntan lotion. The music soundtrack is also especially worthy of note and adds to the series’ appeal.

A highlight of “The Eighth Sense” is the satisfying arc of the relationship between the two main characters. Im Ji Sub and Oh Jun Taek are especially good in their scenes together, awkward at the start despite or even because of their mutual attraction, wholehearted in their giving into their desire, and increasingly open and honest in their understanding and commitment to their affection.

A feature of this series is the depressing depiction of corrosive behaviour amongst the characters’ peer groups. Jan Young-joon as Tae Hyung is Jae Won’s thoughtless and manipulative “best friend”; Park Hae In as Eun Ji is Jae Won’s scheming and caustic ex-girlfriend; Bang Jin Won, as Ji Hyun’s childhood friend Joon Pyo, is self-serving in being both physically gluttonous and emotionally clinging. Worse, Jae Won’s therapist is both accusatory and unprofessional, chiding Jae Won for her inability to pay her rent because she didn’t get the fee for an appointment he missed.

There is a brief nod towards the issue of social disapproval of open gay relationships in South Korea, but overall the creators’ drive is towards the goal of Love Conquers All, and the final two episodes are well crafted towards that end.

Acknowledgment should be given also to the three supportive female characters: Jung Seo In as the owner of the restaurant where Ji Hyun works, Seo Ji An as the intuitive Ae Ri and Lee Mi Ra as Yoon Won, the mother figure of both the surf club and its family of members. Amidst trouble and taboos, these characters at a personal level redeem somewhat the social difficulties faced by Jae Won and Ji Hyun in the broader scheme.

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the uneasy vibe of the series is the problem.

I would give it a 9.5 but it has this dark theme similar on tragic love story, I was traumatized by its vibes, it has this bitter element may be because it is realistic but too bitter, the narrative and the way the story is tell is telling that there no happy ending, it is an open ending and it is not but it just that people watch to be entertained and look back to love with romantic excitement, yes it has this romantic excitement but in every scene I feel uneasy at all like there always something bad gonna happen, it can go with the level of semantic error but its vibe is the problem, the uneasy vibe, good thing the kiss scene aren't homophobic or awkward/fake. its good overall but its not the type that i will watch again and again.

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Everything I've ever wanted

Firstly, this review might seem unfinished and not satisfying enough since this is just the raw feelings I've typed in, this is what i feel and I'm just thinking of it as instead of talking to myself am just typing it out. that's all :))

Story :
I absolutely love the way it focuses on everything and not just romance. The story was so well written, everything was portrayed so well. The concept is overall very good, i especially love how mental health is considered the most important in this, in most of the series I've seen I've never really seen anyone struggling with mental health actually reaching out for therapy but in this Jae-Won is not someone who just whines about being depressed but he actually find ways to help himself, i appreciate that. i love all of the different concepts and scenarios this story has such as life of a countryside boy in Seoul, college life, life of a freshman, surfing, making new friends and anything and everything. The smooth flow of the story was very satisfying and it never failed to make me feel all the emotions the characters are having. I also loved how in the ending everyone was just happy, Jae-Won resolved everything with his friends and his ex, Ji-hyun also resolved everything with the seniors and also i felt like no character was just left as if they were only there to carry on the show, everyone got what they deserved whether its good or bad and its just the necessary feelings lingering. The story had so much depth and each character was explored so well. Overall this has set my standards so up high and as a bl fan who is overly fond of Korean bls, I'm so proud of how far we've come.

Acting / Casting :
I could go on for years about how their chemistry was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. You could feel the raw emotions and pure love through the screen. Every emotion they felt is automatically what we felt too. The way their eyes speak louder than any word could ever do and how they are so damn good at expressing everything on their faces. gosh I'm really going crazy rn i could never put it into words about how beautiful of an acting they did right there. It was truly mesmerising. Hats off to the cast fr I freaking love you.

music :
This is the part where i start crying. I'm usually not someone who notices the music while watching something but for this i could swear on my life the music did such impact its literally not explainable. the music did such great work in conveying many emotions and overall always worked in setting the mood right. Of course the conan grey reference had me rolling on the floor with tears streaming down my face. I'm a huge conan grey fan and this felt as if my two worlds have collided. Thank you so much for that.

Rewatch Value :
I personally would need 1 sit watch to grab myself together. since, for the most part, i watched it while it was ongoing, i feel like i missed out here and there so a quick 1 sit Rewatch would be the best option for me. I'd recommend you to do the same as well.

overall:
I knew it from the first episode this series would shake up my whole world and just as i thought, it did. I would NEVER be able to put into words how much of a masterpiece this is but lemme just say I absolutely love this so damn much. It was absolutely perfect and beautiful to every bit.

although I wished for 2 more things, i hoped that there would be a scene where Ji-hyun tells his boss about his boyfriend but I think I'm quite satisfied with her and Jae-Won's meeting, second is I hoped there was a scene where Jae-Won let's his therapist know that Ji-hyun was not in fact just a friend and how he is finally happy. Other than these I'm very very happy with this.

lemme just list the things i loved about this real quick,
i loved their chemistry, how their eyes spoke, the whole sea related set up, Ji-hyun's friends, Jae-Won and Yoon-Won's friendship, the way Ji-hyun turned into a sarcastic till sass-ball after the accident, how in the end everyone got what they deserved and everything was sorted out, the pure aesthetics and the filmings, the simple details they focused on, the holding hands, the hugs, the way Jae-Won went "I'm happy because I finally have someone whom i can call my boyfriend", how Jae-Won wanted to be absolutely clear that they were now dating to avoid any confusion for anyone, how both of their real friends knew what was up with them, I never expected Ji-hyun's best friend and yoon-won will end up making out but i was so happy for them, how Jae-Won and Ji-hyun didn't mind being obvious, the amount of support, the conan grey reference omfg I'm crying and basically just every bits and pieces of this had me in love.

Overall the eight sense has officially made it into my top 3!!
thank you so much and i love you <33

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So whilst ep 3 and 4 does have a bit of flaws with the production, depsite being a low budget project it was such a well crafted story. I can definitely see how this show was a movie to begin with so some people may or may not like this show, I personally loved it and felt as though it gave enough detail with the time it had. The first few eps were slow esp with the connection between the 2 leads but I felt in context it made sense and gave it a sense of reality. Once the characters developed a bond it truly became a really good show and I loved the story and background of both characters and the understanding they shared. I haven't connected w a kdrama in so long and I did with this one, it was a love story in reality i loved it. I love how everything was explained e.g. ep 5 and 6 why they're just oddly attracted to each other, in ep 7 + 8 I loved the way they showed jaewons distancing and in ep 9 explaining why jaewon felt what he had to do. As well as jihyuns character development and his confidence. When they got back together I quite liked the fact that not much had to be said until ep 10 because it showed to me jihyun understands jaewons situation. The quietness and stillness of the show really was good too. I enjoyed watching this weekly but I'd say you definitely will like it watching it binge, it gives off the same vibes as blueming except much more depth rather than simplicity to the story + characters.

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Just let this drama speak its worth to you

I am a really meticulous person when it comes to choosing what to watch and it might not be the same as the other people's rating but I think, I can reason out that we all have different tastes when it comes to things like this. The thing that I loved the most is the chemistry between Im Ji Sub and Oh Jun Taek. They have that soft and calm type of chemistry which puts butterflies in the watchers' stomachs. This drama is also a rollercoaster of emotions: lifting you up with intense love, bringing you down with frustration whenever they act confused, lifting you up again when they are alone together and bringing you down again with the sudden avoidance which we typically understand basing on the past of Jae Won. Finally, the ending is cool because it's a happy ending. No open ending that all of us hates, and from being a rollercoaster, it went to being a carousel which slowly carries you around with love... The music is also very good and the acting is priceless.


I want more of Jae Won and Ji Hyun....

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By far the best K-BL to date

I really liked this series, it didn't feel rushed like so many K-BL's tend to. While it was still a college setting it just felt so real. The cinematography , editing, music and acting were above average for this genre. I was hooked immediately and it did not dissapoint. Was it perfect? No but it as close as I've seen!

I have seen a few reviews state that some of the characters were unnecessary. I feel all the roles were necessary to get to the depth of the two leads . Without them i feel the leads would feel shallow and we would be left with the cookie cutter BL . This series just felt so fulfilling and complete.

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Best BL/LGBTQ+ show for me!

I love this series, it is so much more than a BL it deals with deep, serious things. Everything feels so real, the characters feel genuine. There is a deleted scene that is not in the series, because it might trigger many / make many feel uncomfortable. Wish the scene had been included in the series, because it was a very important scene. Anyway, this one deals a lot with mental illness / depression / trauma. Don't want to spoil too much but Jae Won doesn't have it easy, but he finds the light again when he meets the innocent Ji Hyun. Here is the interesting thing; even though Jae Won is older and more experienced than Ji Hyun, Ji Hyun is the strong one in their relationship. He doesn't give up. There are a couple of troublesome side characters, namely Jae Won's ex-girlfriend and his friend.

But then there are also good side characters, such as Ji Hyun's boss or his newfound friend who doesn't take shit, not even from the seniors/final year students (opposing seniors is a big no no in South Korea, so much respect to her! )
And I like that here there is actually something called therapy, in so many series no one goes to therapy despite mental illness, but here you actually go to therapy. I really like that the directors take mental illness very seriously, they themselves have written that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, and seeking help is not weakness.

One of the 2 directors is German by the way, so the series how it is filmed feels a bit western / indie. I like the way it is filmed, you really notice how well planned everything here, how much dedication the directors have put time into the way of filming. Sometimes it looks gloomy, sometimes it looks happier, sometimes it looks almost dreamlike. You really notice how they want to show that Jae Won is the darkness, while Ji Hyun is the light.

Speaking of the two of them, the chemistry is 🔥🔥 have probably never seen another couple in series/film with more chemistry than the two of them. They actually act like two young adults in love, so this series is definitely not chaste. The songs from the series btw are amazing, l l listen to the songs everyday.
Is there anything I would like to change about the series? Well, no, it's so much fun to see how Ji Hyun develops as a person. The series is my absolute favorite BL/LGBTQ+. it really makes me feel things inside... everything from pain to joy. And you can really feel the attraction (which is often sexual) and love between Jae Won and Ji Hyun.

I love how natural they are together, all their gentle touches is everything. They’re so soft together which makes my heart melt! This BL is exactly my kind of angst, I love everything about this. This is really a high quality series that should not be missed <3
Jae Won and Ji Hyun will forever remain my favorite BL/LGBTQ+ couple.

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A Poignant Reminder of the Complexities of Healing

The series explores the complexities of love and trauma. The story follows Ji Hyun, an introverted country mouse who finds it difficult to adjust to city life as a new student in Seoul. However, he finds solace in Jae Won, a fellow surfer and as their shared love for surfing brings them closer together, they begin to develop romantic feelings for each other. Their relationship is complicated by Jae Won's reluctance to acknowledge their relationship which leaves Ji Hyun confused about their connection and must navigate the emotional complexities of Jae Won's traumatic past.

The series' sensitive portrayal of trauma and mental health is commendable. The show takes a thoughtful approach to explore mental health by giving viewers an insight into Jae Won's therapy sessions and emotional journey throughout the series. Through the character's experiences, the drama highlights the complexities of healing. The show's unique perspective on mental health is further highlighted through Jae Won's decision to take one step forward and try harder for his own sake and his loved ones despite the years of struggle he was carrying and the difficulty in looking towards the light. This message is a poignant reminder that healing is a gradual process that requires effort, patience, and self-love which is not explored well in most dramas.

The show's cinematography and soundtrack are also notable, capturing both the beauty of the ocean and the emotional turmoil of the characters in a visually stunning way. The performances of the two leads, as well as the supporting cast, are also noteworthy, bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. However, certain scenes in the series were confusing and it might have been a stylistic choice in order to visually represent the characters' emotional states but the execution felt lacking. Jae Won's character could have also been portrayed with more nuance, as his expressions sometimes felt frozen.

Overall, "The Eighth Sense" is a well-crafted and emotional drama that tackles important issues in Korean lgbtq+ dramas. While there are some execution issues with certain scenes and character portrayals, the show's overall message of self-love and healing is both timely and impactful.

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Beautiful, Artistic Drama

Slice-of-life indie film and BL Drama collide in this series. The story itself is fairly simple, but the mastery of the production team has made it something artful and unique. The series dives unashamedly into a realistic portrayal of Jae Won’s depression and prolonged grief disorder. The development of the relationship between Ji Hyun and Jae Won is organic and subtle. Beautifully acted by Ji sub and Jun Taek.

There is nothing campy about this drama. There are no repetitive flashbacks or corny uses of maudlin soundtracks typical to the BL drama genre. The Eighth Sense treats the audience with intelligence. Every indication of attraction, every piece of character development relies on nuanced acting and cinematic elements rather than over-the-top cartoon sound effects or repeating short shots. There are artsy mood colors and blurred images, shallow focus, high and low key lighting, but for the most part the series is shot at eye level and over-the-shoulder with simulated movement to make it seem that we are immersed in the story. It’s as if the audience is there, sneaking a video on our smart phones. We are spying on this cautious couple.

There are so many standout scenes, but one that I especially love includes Hyun’s clunky but lovable childhood friend. His reaction to Ji Hyun being gay is adorable. And as much as I loath the jealousy and pettiness of Jae Won’s best friend Tae Hyung and ex girlfriend Eun Ji, the actors play their roles perfectly.

One of my favorite characters is Yoon Won. She is delightful and warm, a talented singer and perfect friend. Her genuine, open reactions to everything is charming. Every actor in the series is brilliantly cast and exemplary. I hope to see more from this production team and these actors in the future.

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