Fragile | This Siti Never Sleeps At Night

🔢 Seasons/Episodes Covered

Season 1, Episode 1-8

✨ Quick Spark

Ryu, a star college ice hockey player, left Japan to visit his childhood friend, Sumiko, in Berlin, after being confessed to by a friend. He was ridden with guilt and was about to succumb to the fire that he was caught in while in church when he was saved by a Korean boxer, Johan, who was also carrying a deep trauma. As the two lonely souls connected, they found the meaning of life and love. They navigated life together till they faced a brutal fate.

🪝 The Hook

As a boys’ love fan, that’s the hook – the story of two guys falling in love without explicitly saying it or doing anything, except being there for each other and being extremely domestic. To anyone else, it’d have looked like a bromance story if Johan’s and Ryu’s actions went over their heads or the words of the people around them didn’t carry much weight to them. But it definitely didn’t go over mine. And I feel that’s what makes it even more beautiful.

🧪 Character Chemistry

The fact that Taecyeon and Hayato Isomura didn’t have to do anything explicit to be able to portray their characters’ relationship well is saying something. That is a mark of good acting from both of them. Words are easy, subtle actions and looks are not easy. They did extremely well to be able to show the audience the deep connection and relationship that they have.

🚶🏽‍➡️ Pacing Check

It’s just 8 episodes and at least the first few episodes were relatively short and only close to the end was it longer but for good reason. While I do wish it was longer, it’s enough to tell the story of the couple. And to break my heart into pieces I was sobbing so hard, snot and all.

💤 Final Sleepy Rating

🥀 – I needed 1 whole business day to recover before I can even write this review.

🧐 Status

Completed

✍🏼 Notable Mention

Not so much about the actors or the show itself but this show reminds me so much of The Untamed I have the urge to rewatch it.

The Premise: Kim Jae Won is a quiet guy who spends his days minding his own business. That’s until he met the mysterious girl in school, Han Seo Yoon, due to a dare. They slowly fall in love but she has anterograde amnesia, which makes it difficult for her to form new memories.

The Highlights: Ah, the scenery is so beautiful throughout this movie. I’m in awe. I thought it was set in Busan but a quick Google search showed that it’s set in Yeosu. It is such a beautiful place and it helps with the whole setting of the movie – heartbreakingly beautiful. This is a Korean remake of a Japanese movie. However, I didn’t watch the Japanese original so nothing for me to compare. In terms of acting, can I just say that Choo Young Woo is doing wonders? I’ve seen him in multiple roles and he nailed them all really well, including this one. As for Shin Shi A, I’ve not seen her before. A quick search and she’s quite new actually. She did well for herself here as Han Seo Yoon. There is only a one-year gap between the two so there’s no awkwardness in terms of the chemistry. I’m not going to spoil anything but all I could say is that I sobbed. Truly sobbing. Tears running down like turning on the water tap. Eyes red, snots and all.

The Low Points: I wish the twist is not so abrupt. I know it’s trying to depict somewhat Seo Yoon’s amnesia. But as a viewer, I was confused. Maybe the move was deliberate – feeling a little bit like the female lead. The story did go back and told us what happened so it helped, which is when the sobbing starts for me.

Final Sleepy Rating: 🥀 (I was broken after this that I had to watch Chef & My Fridge to have a laugh)

Best Watched With: A box of Kleenex. Maybe a tub of ice cream. Suggested flavour: Salted caramel. When the tears fall into the ice cream, it wouldn’t taste any different – still salty.

Stay awake with me,
Siti