Yes, Glitch is a queer love story - here's why

[@stephgingrichsgf]

This is such a good analysis! I believe that this show is a wlw drama portrayed subtly. I though it was queer bait because they were never confirmed as a couple, but then I realized that they moved in together, portraying that they are indeed end game. I love this kdrama so much, thank you for your really amazing analysis T_T !!

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

I don't think that Glitch is queerbaiting. I am actually working on a future video about queerbaiting in k-dramas, where I will discuss this in more detail :)

[@labrava7004]

Let us not forget that they got stuck in a closet for 11 hours because Jihyo wasn’t letting Bora “out” 😂

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

lol, literally

[@jhost19148]

Immediately setting the tone with “sci-fi drama about a cute lesbian couple” I knew this was going to be great! Thanks for articulating the queerness I was feeling from this show so much more insightfully than I could. Your analysis really resonated with me. Really looking forward to watching your other videos!

[@alexias4944]

Just wanna mention the fact Bora says "I was bullied because of the rumours that you dumped me after you and I dated in school" you can't get queerer than that

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

Yes, they literally talk about them dating in middle school, and Jihyo does not object. So technically yes, it is actually mentioned directly!

[@태이씨]

This drama is so unique in all ways. You don't feel like you're watching another kdrama when you're watching this one. It felt like some western show, the way the story is narrated and the themes that follow. I absolutely love it, it has amazing vibes! I definitely understood the queer coding right away. ❤

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

It is such a unique concept for a k-dramas, there is nothing like it (well, except "The School Nurse Files", which has a very similar style, but feels a bit unfinished. I would recommend it though!

[@OpheliaNL]

I was surprised at the number of comments from people who didn't pick up on the clear intentions of the writers regarding Ji-hyo's sexuality. Suppose media literacy isn't something that comes naturally to about just anyone, but the amount of people who didn't get that Ji-Hyo is supposed to be a lesbian just shows how heteronormative this society still is. Thank you for making this video, you did a wonderful job of explaining what the writers truly meant.

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

Thanks! I think it is a mix of heteronormativity and people not watching media with an analytical mindset. I think a lot of viewers just want to be entertained and don't analyze film language

[@TheOriginalGankstar]

I mean, you say it's subtle enough to not be noticed but I think you'd have to be pretty blind to not pick up on this! The style of the direction is the biggest indicator of intentions to me - the visual language which you described. On a casual viewing, there is an abundance of signs. We can choose how to interpret the drama, but it's obvious where production and direction tried to steer perception.

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

I actually know someone who absolutely did not pick up on it, I don't think it is obvious to everyone - especially to viewers who are never reading anything queer into characters :)

[@Kicknturn]

I just finished this drama and am really glad this video exists. Thank you for making it! I was starting to feel like Jihyo, questioning if I'm hallucinating all the gay cues in the drama. Lolol

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

That's why I made this video, to let others know: no you are not hallucinating, this is very gay :D

[@andrearmz2522]

Loved your video, i wish this kdrama was more popular, when i watched it the fact that Jihyo and Bora ended up as a couple seemed pretty obvious, and your analysis made everything click. Hope you upload more videos soon

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

Thank you so much! I also think Glitch is underrated. I am currently working on more k-drama deep dives and video essays, stay tuned :)

[@alicearisu3973]

this drama need more views.

[@luvie0013]

This analysis was amazingly done. Thanks to you every single of my doubts are now cleared. At first when I watched the trailer...i thought it's a sci-fi series about aliens. As I started watching this i then thought 'oh maybe this is more about friendship and adventure rather then the concept of alien itself.' As I kept watching i realised and i remember thinking to myself 'is this what I think it is?' I'm sorry I don't usually watch queer movies/series, so my dumb ass took a while to understand what this was about. I immediately started searching in the net if the 2 women are in love or something...but came up with nothing... until i stumbled upon this video. I still have 3 episodes to watch...but now that I have understood what exactly this is about and how deep this actually is, i feel like i can connect better now with this series. I'll enjoy watching the remaining 3 eps. Thank you for making this video it's very useful for dumb people like me :D 💕

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

Enjoy the series! I also thought "Wait, are they... you know?" and started googling it, to make sure I am not the only one who thought this :D

[@mishaelmeshach4078]

Wow, your analysis is really intriguing. Just last month, I finished binge-watching this series and I totally picked up on a ton of queer cues the director seemed to be dropping. Then I stumbled upon your video and dove into the comments here, and suddenly everything clicked even more. Bora's "OUT" tattoo on her arm, the lighting always hitting those bi flag colors, and how the bi colors coincidentally pop up when Jihyo and Bora are hiding in the closet? Isn't that like a meticulously planned coincidence? 😂 And let's not forget about Bora's conspicuous accessories; rainbow flower ring, the rainbow wallpaper on her phone, the rainbow tshirt, and many more. Plus, if you pay attention, you'll even spot those tiny street sign with rainbow colors, it's small and easy to miss. But it seems like the director was dropping hints everywhere. To straight, it might sound like a wild theory, but for us queer, the director's intentions seem pretty clear. Now I really want to rewatch this series after watching your video. Hail the Queers! 🌈

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

There are so many little hidden details, I didn't even notice all the rainbows, but once you see it you can't unsee it!

[@nicole-sb8vp]

Your content is so well edited

[@rayhanbrair4243]

Just wanted to say that I fell on your channel an hour ago, thank you so much for providing such heartwarming and factual content at the same time :)

[@antonvalkenberg]

Yes! I was really hoping it would end the way I thought/saw it should be, and I think they did a good job 😊 Thanks for making this video, after watching the series I immediately went searching to see if anyone else shares this viewpoint, glad I found friends! 🔥💪🙌

[@antonvalkenberg]

Also: - Bora wears a great pair of (green?) Doc Martens all the time... - She tells an excellent metaphor, just before Ji-Hyo asks her to move in, about how she liked that one baseball team but ended up realising she didn't like the sport at all when that team wasn't there.

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

Yes, the Doc Martens! Also someone pointed out that Bora literally wears a rainbow colored shirt as a kid at one point! This is exactly why I made this video, I thought there were other people who must have seen how gay this show is.

[@litttlepigboy]

i haven't actually seen this yet but thank you for giving me another show to watch!

[@bagfulloftoffee5699]

Enjoyed that, but to be truthful it is pretty obvious from episode to 2 onwards. Loved every min of glitch. It is basically just a fantastic love story.

[@Psoewish]

In the intro you mention that to queer people the romance was incredibly obvious and ... yeah it sure was. I know there's gonna be many people who can't see it at all but man I was dying from cuteness overdose between these two.

[@hattorihanzo5707]

i had my doubts but 4:22 is changing my mind

[@hattorihanzo5707]

agh my compulsory heteronormative ass

[@hattorihanzo5707]

i hope the director of the drama bumps into this video

[@HiHello-xf9ok]

I just found your channel and I am been binging all of the videos. Great stuff :)

[@kerryrobinson7461]

Brilliant analysis.

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

Thank you!

[@keisehellen6727]

when i ended this show i was like, are they lesbians? durring the series that was a real question in my head, in some scenes i was like " wait a minute thats sus bro🤨😐😍"

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

Yeah, me too! But if you are ever watching a show and think "wait, is this gay?" the answer is yes and you are probably not the only one who thought that :)

[@ScMaHi]

Not to mention all the gay flags....

[@Kicknturn]

Yeah, young Bora literally wore a rainbow t-shirt when she was looking for Jihyo 😄

[@10v3yaa]

also bora's call(?) screen had a rainbow on it

[@riazidrees6413]

Jihyo loves more bora or sehee( girl who work in the same place with jihyo

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

Jihyo loves Bora, and Sehee is just a friend

[@knath5095]

Could you do an analysis for Beyond Evil plsssss cause it's pretty sus or is it just me idk..

[@riazidrees6413]

Give same kind of drama pls

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

School Nurse Files (not gay though)

[@lemony3719]

Oh I should give this another try then! I stopped watching quite early in the first episode...

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

This show is a hit or miss, people who loved it really loved it and people who hated it really hated it!

[@0004beverly]

I almost quit watching this. I was in the middle of the episodes. After ep 5 I stopped, but not because it didn't interest me. In fact, I had fun watching it. It's just that whenever I don't finish something I've been watching in just one go, I get to be lazy to continue it. But after a few days of not continuing the series, I was scanning something for just a background noise. I decided to play the rest of the episodes but it just caught my attention and focused on it until I successfully finished the series. And I really love it, so much. This is so fun to watch. I love the characters, too.

[@riazidrees6413]

Names of kdrama with two bestfriend female Or gy but no romance like jihuo and bora

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

I actually haven't seen anything like Glitch, it is a very unique drama. Usually korean dramas are about love stories and not about friendships

[@aaania9034]

2125, business proposal,18 again

[@riazidrees6413]

Is bora BFF of jihyo because in 1st ep jihyo had another bestie

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

I consider the friend from episode one her bestie, Bora is the love interest in my opinion

[@riazidrees6413]

@@kdramaresearchinstitute thnks but she loves more bora or his friend from one ep

[@riazidrees6413]

Pls tell me in ep 1 the girl is her BFF? But so bora or sehhe is here bff

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

Sehee is BFF

[@riazidrees6413]

@@kdramaresearchinstitute and bora is what

[@kdramaresearchinstitute]

@@riazidrees6413 Bora and Jihyo are dating

[@MoonlitAna]

I think they both cared deeply for eachother. For years. They still do. That friendship impacted her (Jihyo) and possibly will continue to have an effect on how she feels about men. 😮 I don't think "aliens" are a gay metaphor though. I don't think the show can be summarized or boiled down to the discovery of one's sexuality. I think there's more to it than that. It's very possible that the creators of the show did or have an interest in the possibility of extraterrestrial beings. Though I don't have a KZbin channel expressing my interest as Bo Ra does, I definitely do. ❤👽🫶