Is this technically a gay show? Even after getting through the whole thing, that's still kind of tricky to answer. There's never any physical intimacy shown between the two leads, not even a single kiss. What it gives you instead is something that goes way deeper than that. It traces an emotional bond that spans a full decade between two guys who are both dealing with their own baggage, and what they share basically amounts to being soulmates. The story moves across Japan, South Korea, and Berlin. Honestly, whether people want to call what they have a romantic relationship or not doesn't really matter to me. A relationship doesn't need a label like boyfriends attached to it to actually mean something. And closeness doesn't need to be physical to feel genuine. What this show captures is something quieter but way more powerful, a bond rooted in understanding, respect, and just showing up for each other. Across eight episodes, each running 35 to 45 minutes, this is one...
This vertical drama apparently blew up when it first came out, probably because it’s so easy to binge on a phone. The story follows Lucas and Prince Nicholas as they go from being school rivals to friends and eventually into a much messier, secret romance. It’s your classic setup where they have to balance their feelings with the pressures of school and massive cultural gaps, all while trying to make sure nobody finds out what’s actually going on between them.
The plot is about as straightforward as it gets. Prince Nicholas starts college, but he’s on a tight deadline because he’s supposed to be crowned king in just a few months. His mom, the Queen, has already decided he needs to marry Alex, who is the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Lucas, another student, is immediately annoyed by all the royal fanfare, and once he hears about the plan for Nicholas to marry his best friend Alex, he decides to interfere. They start off hating each other, but scene by scene, they start catching feelings they didn't see coming. The press starts buzzing with rumors that the prince might be gay, which forces Nicholas to publicly ignore Lucas to save face. Eventually, they can't fight it anymore and confess their love, but being a gay prince isn't exactly easy. Nicholas’s mom tries everything to break them up, and his uncle is the real villain, leaking stories to the media so he can steal the throne for himself. In a twist, the Queen eventually has a change of heart and hires Lucas as the Prince’s bodyguard so they can actually be together. It all ends with the Prince coming out publicly on his coronation day, and the public actually cheers for the couple.
The story itself is sweet enough, but you definitely have to take the execution with a grain of salt since the budget was clearly tiny. The acting is pretty theatrical and over-the-top, but that's kind of the deal with these mobile dramas. That being said, the two leads are absolutely gorgeous, and they actually have really solid chemistry. They even gave us three full-on bedroom scenes, which I’m sure is what kept most people glued to their screens. Let’s be real: a lot of the scenes are pure cringe, but if you’ve seen this kind of vertical gay content before, you already know what you’re getting into. Most people are watching these for the eye candy and the thirst-trap vibes anyway. It’s hard to judge if the leads can actually act, because these shows just require them to look pretty and be dramatic, which they both nailed. As long as you aren't expecting a masterpiece, the gorgeous leads make it a decent distraction.
It’s a total "guilty pleasure" watch that relies on hot leads and predictable drama, but it works if you just want some lighthearted eye candy. (5/10)
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