Synopsis

Cast & Crew

Episodes

Reviews (5)

In the beautifully melancholic four-episode Korean short series *Bad Guy*, we meet Ji Un and Tae Ha, two men whose palpable chemistry is matched only by the painful history between them. When Tae Ha, the man who broke Ji Un's heart years ago, suddenly reappears at a cozy café, he drops a bombshell: he's about to get married to a woman. But the fire between them hasn't died. A single evening spent back at Ji Un's apartment unravels a tangled web of unresolved love, deep-seated fear, and the suffocating weight of societal expectations. Tae Ha, torn between a life of “normalcy” and his true self, becomes the titular 'bad guy'—but is he a villain, or just a man drowning in his own indecision? As their dangerous reconnection unfolds, Ji Un must grapple with his own powerless longing. This is not a fluffy romance; it's a raw, intense, and heartbreakingly realistic look at the closet, the pain of hiding, and the devastating consequences of choosing safety over truth. Shot with cinematic flair and anchored by powerhouse performances from Park Luke and Jeong Ri U, *Bad Guy* packs a gut-wrenching emotional punch that lingers long after the credits roll.

Jeong Ri U

Cast

Park Luke

Cast

Kim Bong Bang

Cast

Romance

Cast

Gay Male Lead

Cast

E01

Bad Guy Episode 1

Season 1 · Jul 20, 2024

~ min

E02

Bad Guy Episode 2

Season 1 · Jul 26, 2024

~ min

E03

Bad Guy Episode 3

Season 1 · Aug 01, 2024

~ min

E04

Bad Guy Episode 4

Season 1 · Aug 05, 2024

~ min

6.8

out of 10

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cherryblossom_bl

August 2024

9/10

I know the plot is messy and Tae Ha is a walking red flag, but the chemistry between the leads is absolutely electric! Park Luke's eyes alone tell a whole story. I bawled my eyes out during the scene under the porch. This is messy love, but sometimes that's the most real kind. I'll definitely be rewatching!

plot_hole_detective

September 2024

6/10

The acting is superb and the production is slick, but the story is so rushed and the characters are frustratingly one-dimensional. Ji Un has zero self-respect, and Tae Ha's motivations are barely explored. For a 40-minute runtime, it feels both too short and too bloated with drama. It's well-executed, but the foundation is shaky.

lighting_nerd_95

October 2024

8/10

Visually, this is stunning for a low-budget web series. The cold color palette in the café scenes versus the warm, intimate lighting of the apartment—absolute perfection. Every frame is composed like a photograph. The director knows exactly how to use shadows to reflect the characters' inner turmoil. A feast for the eyes.

queer_media_critic

November 2024

7/10

I appreciate that this series dares to show the ugly side of life in the closet—the lying, the emotional damage, the weaponized heteronormativity. However, the non-consensual kiss was hard to watch and felt normalized by the narrative. The fiancée is painted as a villain when she's the ultimate victim. Important conversation starter, but problematic execution.

sukfilm_stan

December 2024

10/10

This is not a typical BL, it's art. It captures the painful reality of so many gay men forced to choose between love and a 'normal' life. The moment when Tae Ha says he's getting married broke me, but the way he looks at Ji Un—I knew he was lying to himself. Park Luke and Jeong Ri U deserve all the awards. We need more stories like this.