Taming the Bad Boy poster
#12803 This Week

Taming the Bad Boy

Taming the Bad Boy  ·  2024, South Korea
6.3
2,354 ratings
2
Episodes
0
Watchlisted
● Completed 🕑 2024

From his very first day at his new school, Jin U draws everyone's attention. Among them is Tae Seop, who approaches Jin U out of curiosity. As his curiosity grows uncontrollable, rumors begin spreading at school about…

Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Episodes
Reviews (5)

New student Park Jin U thought transferring schools would mean a fresh start, but on his first day, he becomes the target of the school's most intimidating delinquent, Ko Tae Seop. Played by openly gay K-pop star Holland, Tae Seop's initial curiosity toward Jin U quickly spirals into something neither boy expected. Yet this isn't just a romance—it's a raw, unflinching look at the pervasive homophobia and bullying LGBTQ+ students face in South Korean high schools. Over the course of just two episodes, the series weaves together a tender enemies-to-lovers arc with harrowing scenes of harassment, a much-needed sex education lesson from a legendary cameo, and a spotlight on the joy and resilience of queer friendship. While the central couple's journey feels rushed due to the short runtime, the emotional weight of the story—and a poignant after-credits scene—makes this a vital, if brief, watch.

E01
1
Taming the Bad Boy Episode 1
Season 1 · Oct 15, 2024
~ min
E02
2
Taming the Bad Boy Episode 2
Season 1 · Nov 12, 2024
~ min
6.3
out of 10
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BH
bl_heart_forever
March 2025
8/10
I came for Holland and stayed for the emotional gut punch. Yes, the romance is rushed, but the chemistry between Jin U and Tae Seop is electric in every scene they share. Their first kiss gave me butterflies! If only this were a full 8-episode series, it would be a masterpiece.
PH
plot_holes_anonymous
June 2024
6/10
The intentions are noble, but the execution is messy. The main couple goes from enemies to making out in what feels like ten minutes, and the bully's redemption arc is totally unearned. Too many subplots crammed into 60 minutes. A longer format would have fixed the pacing.
PA
pride_and_prejudice
August 2024
9/10
This isn't just a BL; it's a necessary piece of activism. The scene where the school nurse shuts down the HIV/AIDS myths brought me to tears. I love that the show doesn't gloss over the bullying and shows how real queer kids suffer. Holland's casting as an out gay actor is everything.
VC
visually_chaptered
January 2025
7/10
Budget constraints are obvious—few locations and minimal sets—but the intimate close-ups and the lighting during the confession scene are surprisingly well done. The dog collar imagery is striking. I just wish the cinematography had been given more variety to match the serious themes.
FS
fight_scene_connoisseur
October 2024
6/10
The fight choreography is decent for a low-budget indie, but the real action is in the emotional blows. The hallway slap and the choke scene actually made me wince. Not much physical action beyond that, but when it happens, it's effective. I wanted more fisticuffs though.