Tide of Love (2025)

 Tide of Love is a South Korean BL drama that clearly tried to break the mold by exploring themes rarely touched in the genre. Unfortunately, despite its ambitions, the execution falls flat. What could have been a daring exploration of power dynamics instead feels like a collection of disjointed scenes and confusing plot points. From the very first episode, the attempt at a BDSM-lite storyline feels painfully cringey. In one of the more baffling creative choices, Kim Hae Jun makes sounds of intense suffering (or perhaps excitement?) while Han Jae Hun is simply kissing him with a bit of passion. It feels disconnected from reality; at times, it sounds more like someone is stepping on his foot than engaging in a romantic moment. The narrative logic is shaky at best. We start with a "one-night contract" that somehow transforms into a six-month arrangement. On what basis? The show implies Kim Hae Jun was mind-blowing in bed, but as a viewer, that chemistry was nowhere to be found. The confusion continues with scenes that defy logic: Han Jae Hun randomly shows up at Kim Hae Jun’s university and walks into a classroom as if he owns the place. Why? How? The show doesn't care to explain. There is a jarring moment where it’s implied Han Jae Hun might be married. Personally, I suspect this was a translation error. It’s more likely the scene meant he was "retiring" from his architecture firm in Seoul to move to the countryside. However, because the writing is so sparse, the audience is left guessing. Calling this a "drama" is generous. It is essentially 10 episodes of 10 minutes each, most of which feel entirely disconnected from one another. The Pros: Two attractive leads. An abundance of kissing scenes (once you get past the odd moaning). A few cozy, domestic moments, like the couple preparing dinner together. The Cons: A hollow script with massive plot holes. Bizarre sound acting. Lack of narrative cohesion. If you are looking for a deep, well-paced story, look elsewhere. But if you’re satisfied with pretty faces, constant kissing, and a few "domestic bliss" vignettes, you might give Tide of Love a chance. Just don't expect it to make much sense. HEA. Watch on GagaOOLala. Heat Level: 4/6.

Heat Level:

1/6: glances, caress, hugs, no kisses

2/6: kisses, closed mouth or camera angles

3/6: full kisses, clothes on

4/6: full kisses, some clothes off, hands above the waist, pants stay on

5/6: most clothes off, they have sex, but it’s masked, no sexy sounds

6/6: full nudity mostly hidden by camera angles, they have sex, sexy sounds