8 Things That Make "The Eighth Sense" One Of The Most Original And Unique Korean BLs Of 2023

From unique cinematography to a diverse soundtrack, featuring groups like Wetter and artists like Conan Gray, “The Eighth Sense” is different from the rest. Directed by Baek Inu and Werner Du Plessis, the drama follows the growing relationship between freshman Ji Hyun (Oh Jun Taek) and senior Jae Won (Lim Ji Sub) as they navigate friendship, college life, the pressures of early adulthood, and, of course, love. While these topics might not be new, this series is anything but your mainstream K-drama BL. Here are eight things that just might make “The Eighth Sense” the most unique K-BL that came out in 2023.

Warning: light spoilers ahead.

1. The unconventional cinematography

For those who might not know, independent films, or indie films, are films created by smaller, non-mainstream studios or groups, and they are often experimental in style, shedding light on topics or storylines that the blockbuster movies don’t. While these films typically have lower budgets, they are characteristically creative and nuanced.

One of the things that gives this series such an indie feel is the natural and artistic cinematography style. By playing with lighting and different perspectives, the scenes are visually beautiful and interesting without any grand embellishments. In many ways, the cinematography feels almost unedited, shot as-is, but you can tell that every scene is purposefully shot. You could say the cinematography is purposefully imperfect, and it’s a breath of fresh air!

2. The natural chemistry between the leads

Oh, the way they look at each other! Our leads Ji Hyun and Jae Won just need to be in the same room for sparks to fly. Even when they aren’t speaking, they’re speaking with their eyes. There’s nothing unnatural, unbelievable, or forced when it comes to the chemistry between these two. Watching their connection grow slowly and naturally will definitely give you butterflies. It really feels like they’re in their own little bubble, and we’re just peaking inside.

3. Lim Ji Sub’s raw and real performance as Jae Won

Every actor and actress played their roles so well in this series, but my hat goes off to Lim Ji Sub as Jae Won. On the surface, Jae Won is a handsome, popular college student with successful parents. As a son of a well-off family, Jae Won is unable to escape the stereotype that he is, therefore, set for life and without any worries. But as we get to know the real Jae Won, you realize that’s far from the truth. With Jae Won, we don’t see a perfect character but a realistic and relatable one. He suffers from mental illness, struggles to follow his own dreams, and has his own uncertainties about the future. He’s complicated, complex, and sometimes hard to understand. Jae Won’s character growth is also realistically non-linear: it’s gradual and back and forth, the way real-life growth can be.

4. An absorbing depiction of mental health

Still haunted by a past tragedy, Jae Won has been seeing a therapist for his depression for years. The series gives us an authentic look at what depression could be like for someone without suggesting that there is a universal definition or experience regarding depression. It shows what depression could be like without trying to explain what it is and is not. And as a viewer, you don’t only see it, but you feel it too.

The disorientation of cut-off therapy sessions and visual cues like surreal lighting and unusual camera perspectives almost give a sense of how Jae Won might feel inside. During one therapy session, for instance, viewers experience a therapy session from Jae Won’s POV. We see the therapist through a distorted and odd perspective, giving a weird feeling to the scene that’s potentially reflective of the state of Jae Won’s mind. There’s a sense that something isn’t right, and you can feel it.

5. The silence

Another thing you’ll quickly notice about “The Eight Sense” is the amount of scenes without dialogue. There are so many key scenes that are purely visual, yet still packed with emotion and a sort of unspoken dialogue. If speaking without really speaking was a skill, this drama is a pro at it.

6. The outsider perspective

The perspective the story is told from is also different. Typical dramas show what the characters are thinking or feeling through things like internal thoughts or characters simply telling us how they feel, but in this drama, the only thing we have to go off of is what we see and hear. There’s no internal dialogue or explanations to tell how the characters are feeling. This is Jae Won and Ji Hyun’s world, and we’re just living in it!

7. The surfing

You can’t talk about this drama without mentioning the surfing. A large part of the drama revolves around the university surfing club, which Ji Hyun eventually joins when he finds out Jae Won is a club member (I know what you’re up to Ji Hyun!). It’s an interesting premise, and there hasn’t been a lot of surfing in K-dramas. All the beautiful beach and surfing shots are a big bonus.

8. All the valuable lessons

There are so many valuable lessons in this show, spoken and unspoken. You don’t have to be loved by everyone, it’s never too late to follow your dreams, and living your life to the fullest rather than worrying about every step you take are just some of the themes in “The Eighth Sense.” There are also lessons that can be learned from observing characters. We can all learn from the patience and understanding that Ji Hyun exudes throughout the series.

Another great thing about everything that makes this drama different is the rewatch value of the show. You’re bound to notice new details that you didn’t the first time you watched it!

Start watching “The Eighth Sense”:

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Have you already watched “The Eighth Sense”? What surprised you the most about it? If you have a different most-unique BL of 2023 that you’ve watched, let us know in the comments!

Asya’s a BL-biased Soompi writer with a love of K-pop and all types of Asian dramas. Some of her favorite shows are “Psychopath Diary,” “Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice but to Kiss!,” “Light On Me,” “The Untamed,” “Go Go Squid!,” and “Cherry Magic!”