Why R U?, the Korean remake of the Thai BL of the same name, has ended, and with its conclusion, left behind a series that manages to retain the essence of the original while also falling short on some of the delivery.

Starring Lee Jung Min (Jung Lee Won), Lee Ye Hwan (Kim Ji Oh), Lee Sang Min (Woo Sun Woo), and Park Chang Hoon (Ko Yoo Kyeom), Why R U? is an ensemble romance that focuses on the love-hate relationship between two burgeoning couples within a potentially fantastical page-to-reality trope.

Like the original, the series captures the frustrations these characters feel as they navigate falling in love under the umbrella of a BL fiction Lee Won, in particular, fears is coming to life. The interactions aspiring directors Ji Oh and Sun Woo face with aspiring actor Lee Won and aspiring cinematographer Yoo Kyeom are colorful and fun. Each couple struggles with the reality of their feelings while coming face-to-face with their fears over what falling in love can mean to them and their friendships.

Why R U?, like its predecessor, is a fun plot, but while it offers some scene-stealing intimate moments, the audio issues, choppy transitions, and random unexplained scene changes manage to steal what could make the drama great. Attempting to fit a complex, nuanced plot into a short format drama left many plot holes and editing challenges that are glaringly obvious in the production.

Although the acting manages to remain surprisingly strong, especially in actors Lee Sang Min (Sun Woo) and Park Chang Hoon’s (Yoo Kyeom) case, there is only so far good acting can take a series without a well-written story and well-planned production behind it.

I spent most of Why R U? feeling lost, and I would have been even more lost if I hadn’t seen the original. That said, it does manage to maintain the fun bickering that the story it’s based on intended.

For a fun, quick watch, check out Why R U? now on iQiyi.

Rating- 4 out of 5