Our Dating Sim (2023)

PERFECT

I admit, I didn't have much expectations when I started this. I expected it to be yet another plain K-BL with a lot of awkwardness, but this show completely proved be wrong. It's so adorable start to finish. It's not the cringy kind of fluff either.

PROS
1. Excellent acting - ESG(Eddy )portrayed his character's emotions and worries so well. I was able to understand what he was feeling even when he didn't speak. LJH (did) did a great job as well. He did especially well when portraying his confusion and hesitation. I didn't get any hint of stiffness, awkwardness, and hesitation from either one of them. I have to say that all the other actors also did well in this.

2. Realistic - I loved how easily I was able to empathize with the characters. Their thoughts and actions totally made sense to me. It's wasn't overdramatic nor robotic. Ian and Eddy's relationship was portrayed very naturally. I loved the playfulness, the casualness, and skinship they had with each other.This is what relationships are like. It's not always intense and dramatic nor shy and blushy. I also enjoyed the type of angst they brought into this drama. It isn't a sudden shock; it doesn't come out of nowhere. It is understandable and normal.

3. Heart melting - The amount of fluff this show had almost gave me a heart attack. It's so sweet and relaxing to watch compared to more intense storylines. I especially loved the little titbits at the end of each episode.

4. No dead fish kisses - I hate it when people who are supposed to be a couple act awkward with each other. It's always looks like they're threatened into doing it, but that's not the case here. Even the kisses are so natural and good. They look really comfortable with each other.

CONS
None. Nada.

OVERALL
I definitely recommend giving this a try!!! It's so simple, yet extremely well-done. If you want a drama that's fluffy and not too intense, then this is a perfect choice. I truly believe that this show has set a standard of K-BL's.

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One of the best recent BLs

I don't normally leave reviews on dramalist but after finishing this series i had to. This show had such a great simple story which was executed so well. You could really relate with the decisions made by both main characters. You could understand why Lee wan made the choices he made but at the same time you could clearly see the effect it had on the people around him.

Cinematography was also great in this drama

The chemistry between the leads is just superb and their acting felt natural throughout.

It has such great rewatch value as i watched a few episodes multiple times waiting for a new episode

100% recommend this for a light fluffy watch only drawback was that it was so short

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Disgustingly Cute.

That's what I felt about this mini drama. Everything was just so cute.
During his highschool graduation, Lee Wan surprisingly confesses to his bestfriend Kim Shi Tae. Only to run away and disappear without hearing Shi Tae's response. Seven years later, Wan is forced to face Shi Tae at work.

I loved Lee Wan's character a lot, but Eddie (Shi Tae) sort of stole the show in the last two episodes. Lee Wan's justified awkwardness combined with Eddie's witty comebacks was satisfying to watch, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for Wan several times.
Office settings are not my thing unfortunately, and about 90% of this drama is set in the office, which weirdly reminded me of Strangers From Hell.

Another thing? I thought Lee Wan was still in school at the beginning, and Eddie seemed to have been styled in reverse. He looked more like a highschooler in his adult life than in his school days. The actors were definitely convincing in their performance. Even the supporting boss and Sunny.

This is a bit of entertainment I would recommed for anyone who just wants to smile for sometime. Nothing new. Nothing deep.

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Best Korean BL Ever Made

Upon finishing Our Dating Sim only one word comes to mind - perfect. It was perfect in every possible way, from the couple's chemistry which was fresh, endearing, playful, adorable, and so real that you just couldn't stop grinning, to the story which was so beautiful in its simplicity and perfectly executed in such a limited runtime. Some might even say that it was too short, and while I, too, wish it were longer, the charm and uniqueness that Our Dating Sim has, could disappear if the story was too stretched. Having said that, I am hoping for season 2 with a similar format, or a webtoon, which has been hinted towards the end of episode 8. But coming back to the story, as said above, it was really simple, maybe even banal and yet it felt so new and fresh. Partly, it is thanks to great acting and terrific overall execution, but more importantly I think, it is due to the fact that we really lack this kind of simple stories today, when every screenwriter and director try their hardest to be different while losing the authenticity, realism, and the natural feel that Our Dating Sim so flawlessly portrays. Moreover, it does really well in reaching vast audiences by incorporating the universal experiences of crushes, first loves, adolescence, but also death and fears, the latter being so clearly visible in the character of Ki Tae. I could go on and on about the outstanding performances of the leads, or the different themes, subplots and so on, but no one would be able to read all of it. One thing that I would like to point out, though, is the originality and uniqueness of the post-credit game scenes which really make the experience of watching Our Dating Sim so immersive and enjoyable. 10/10

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A BL Office Romance Done Right

Our Dating Sim is a delightful Korean BL series that manages to bring the office romance theme to life without resorting to annoying tropes. Unlike some recent adult BLs, such as Individual Circumstances, this series excels in providing a well-developed background story for its characters, especially Lee Wan's disappearance, leaving no room for confusion.

With just 8 short episodes, Our Dating Sim focuses on the main couple's relationship without wasting any time on unnecessary fillers. It skillfully portrays the rekindling of Ki Tae and Lee Wan's friendship, as well as their journey of falling in love with clear communication, avoiding toxic elements and clichéd tropes.

Gi Tae's character truly stole our hearts with his boyfriend-material qualities. He exudes confidence without being overbearing, radiating positive energy and playfully teasing in just the right measure. On the other hand, Lee Wan's character, though a bit more passive, portrays a compelling journey of self-discovery and courage, facing challenges rather than running away from them the second time around.

The natural chemistry between the actors, Lee Seung Gyu and Lee Jong Hyuk, is truly commendable, bringing a smile to my faces with each episode. Both of them delivered believable performances, with Lee Seung Gyu receiving well-deserved praise.

Despite its short length, Our Dating Sim maintains excellent production value. The dating game framing and the game stage scenes at the end of each episode add a sweet touch, providing small doses of fluffiness between the main characters.

Overall, Our Dating Sim stands out as a charming and well-crafted series, offering a refreshing take on office romance without resorting to tired clichés. It proves that a well-developed storyline and natural chemistry between the actors can make a short drama incredibly enjoyable and memorable.

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The only flaw of this series is it was short.

The last series that gave me this much butterflies is Semantic Error. From casting, storyline, and most especially the script, Our Dating Sim was on point. Before anything else, this is a short series (15-minute per EP, total of 8) so manage your expectations.

First 7 minutes into the series and I already know that the entire series will be top notch since they were not kidding with the script you can already sense there is a legitimate direction. Despite the series being very short (15 minutes per EP), that didn't stop them from showcasing the complex emotions of the characters and their individual story. Acting was commendable as well – the chemistry of the leads was very natural. Points to improve: (1) Scoring was fine although there are moments that are very bright so I think livelier OST would even further the series; (2) there were times when camera movements and audio were off although this could be because of budget limitation which is completely understandable. Overall, definitely a must-watch; it has high rewatch value I have in fact rewatched this 5x now and the finale was literally just a week ago haha.

I just wished the series was longer. The 15-minute runtime limit forced them to cut many parts, although one could argue that the 15-minute duration was okay since that forced the series to not have any off scenes.

Side note: actors behind it were so fun and they really love this project.

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It wasn't like "Wow, omg" life changing but it was quick, easy and cute and I loved every single of it. Lol. It was super quick but the chemistry between the two male leads was *chefs kiss* and I loved that truly there wasn't any complications, more like insecurities all shoved into one but aren't we all a little insecure? I wish they had more time, I think we all deserve it, the scream the two male leads had need more because I want to watch them continuously. I loved their story, I loved how they clicked, I love that they were both sure and man, I was sure for them too. lol

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An unexpected gem

Dove right in without seeing anything remotely related to the series. Didn't see the trailer. Didn't know the summary. Hell, I didn't even clearly see the actors' faces.

I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed this. As an "angst is paramount" person, I didn't think I would love a light, fluff-filled drama. But this drama wasn't only a cheese fest; the element of longing was clear and forward. You can feel it through the screen. And yes, mutual pining is one of the ✨elite✨ tropes.

It's also incredibly well-acted. I didn't cringe once, which is very rare for this type of show. They suit characters very well. Great casting.

The only con I think this has is that the plot is very simple and straighforward. You know what's going to happen. You can predict the flow of the story. Also, being a KBL, the episodes are so short. It felt rushed in some aspects.

Overall, it's one that I would be rewatching often. It fills your heart with butterflies and is an instant mood-lifter. You will thoroughly enjoy this. I assure you.

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Worth the hype

Genuinely, this might be one of the top 3 Korean BL's that has been released recently and it was such a needed upgrade.

Everything from the storyline to the chemistry between the actors, it was just all perfect. The only thing I would've liked is a little more to the depth to the story and/or their relationship. Even so, I found this to be such an enjoyable series, I had to rewatch it again within a couple days of finishing it the first time. Though I'm not sure if we will ever see these two actors in another BL, I am so excited to see them land bigger roles regardless of the genre. Definitely one of the most charming and endearing dramas I've watched this year.

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An Office Romance Done Right

This series really has everything you need in a show. It's the right balance of fluff and angst, a healthy relationship, no weird misunderstanding storylines, a cute office romance, a sprinkle of school romance, and a great cast.

One thing I love about this story is how realistic it is. Ki Tae's anxiety about Wan disappearing is not over or underplayed, and the way that the characters make up after a (minor) disagreement is realistic and cute.

When I read the synopsis, I was expecting the power imbalance at work to make more of an appearance, but there's no real workplace bullying, just light teasing that is soon reciprocated.

The relationship seems to develop naturally, which is impressive for how short this series is. Especially on their park date when they are opening up to each other and flirting, it seems perfectly natural and realistic.

I do wish we got more time with the show, but they did fantastically with the short amount of time they did have.

Overall, this is a great short watch to get you out of a rut or to make you smile. I will definitely rewatch this in the future and I hope to see more from this production team and cast.

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