I love Korean BL dramas. Though often incredibly short, they usually pack a punch. Case in point: Gray Shelter (회색기류). 

The five-episode mini-series tells the story of Dae-Yoon (Jae-Bin Lee, Choco Milk Shake) and his would-be stepbrother Soo-Hyuk (Woo-Young Gang). Dae-Yoon’s father was dating Soo-Hyuk’s mother. 

Set in two distinct timelines, the series unfolds the dramatic arc of their relationship. It begins with their initial meeting, just before their parents’ impending marriage, and then jumps several years ahead to a time when they reunite, their bond shattered by a major falling out.

In the past, Soo-Hyuk takes pity on his soon-to-be little brother and allows him to live with him after realizing he has nowhere else to go. He also knows his father won’t hit him so long as Soo-Hyuk is around. At the same time, he has issues with his own father, who treats him like an ATM. Soo-Hyuk puts up with it because he’s so desperate to be loved.

At present, the two meet up again when Soo-Hyuk comes to repair the air conditioner at the apartment Dae-Yoon shares with his girlfriend Ji-Hee. It’s an incredibly tense reunion where you can almost see the anger and hatred permeating off of Dae-Yoon.

Upset, Dae-Yoon goes to drink with his friends. He gets wasted, and when he returns back to the apartment, Ji-Hee – who’s 100% over his bullshit – gives him 24 hours to pack up and get out of her apartment. So he does what any young man with his incredibly good looks would do: he slips into the DMs of a random person he started following on Instagram.

Lost in his memories about Dae-Yoon, Soo-Hyuk is unable to sleep and finally calls him, asking him if he needs a place to stay.

Written and directed by Son-eum Lee, the series is produced by Nakwon Mansion as an exclusive to Heavenly TV in South Korea. The series is currently streaming on iQIYI for international audiences.

More BL Dramas, including Gray Shelter, soon so…

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