As the final entry in my coverage of the MuTeLuv anthology, this marks the second of the series' only two BL stories among the eight total. Spanning four episodes of approximately 45 to 50 minutes each, the plot utilizes an enemies to lovers setup that leans heavily into comedy to maintain a lighthearted tone. While it succeeds at being what it sets out to be, the experience might have been even sharper with some tighter editing.
After making a superstitious vow to visit nine temples if he secured his position, Tum becomes the leader of the Nuea-in gang, but his luck spirals downward when he fails to follow through. He suffers repeated beatings at the hands of the rival gang, which is led by Oh, a man famous for stitching the insignias of every defeated leader onto his own pants after snatching their badges. When a friend suggests that this broken promise is the source of his misfortune, Tum decides to finally embark on the nine-temple merit-making trip. In a twist of fate, Oh is also out performing the exact same journey, forcing the two of them to travel together despite their mutual reluctance. As they spend multiple nights and several temple visits in each other's company, they begin to truly understand one another, uncovering their shared fears, family issues, insecurities, and actual life goals. As feelings begin to surface, they hook up, yet Tum finds himself unable to admit to his friends that his feelings for Oh are real. He eventually breaks through that barrier, and love does its thing.
Much of the show's entertainment value stems from the constant back and forth between the two leads, who are always needling one another and searching for ways to get under each other's skin. Rather than feeling manufactured, the story uses the nine temple stops and their shared nights as the actual vehicle for their emotional growth. Because the conflicts arise from real places instead of being dropped in just to create tension, every moment they move closer to one another feels earned. While the humor lands more often than not, it might not work for everyone, and some of the more exaggerated physical bits feel a little odd, though they are clearly just there for a laugh and not meant to be taken seriously. The tone remains in romantic comedy territory without ever going fully silly, as there is a certain maturity underneath it all. Both leads do a solid job, and the chemistry between them is good. I especially appreciated how the show avoids big dramatic declarations or unnecessary meltdowns; instead, it focuses on two guys slowly getting honest about what they are afraid of and what they want, which makes their entire relationship feel real. On the downside, episodes three and four start to drag in places, and I found myself wanting it to wrap up. A bit of melodrama crept in during those stretches, which did not really fit the tone the show had built up to that point. Still, this was a solid watch overall, minor complaints aside. (7/10)
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