Color Rush is a Korean BL drama about two boys who meet at school and have their own struggles that bring them together. In the case of Yeon Woo, he was born with the inability to see color, living in only shades of grey and considered a Mono. When he meets Yoo Han, everything changes when he looks into his face and feels a color rush, giving him the chance to see color only when Yoo Han is near. He determines that Yoo Han is his Probe, a corresponding fated soul mate, in a sense.
Color Rush is an alternate reality of the modern world. Monos and Probes are common occurances, and they are often depicted on the news as tragic stories, usually the Monos losing their sanity to possess the Probe at all costs, sometimes under the means of torture, kidnapping and abuse. Yeon Woo’s own mother was a Mono, and has since gone missing, so Yeon Woo stays with his aunt, who is on a tireless hunt to locate her sister.
This causes Yeon Woo’s aunt to be highly cautious and protective, often making Yeon Woo change schools if he comes across any bullying as a Mono or she senses some danger about him coming out as a Mono.
When he starts at this new school and meets Yoo Han, who is instantly entranced by him. As his Probe, he proposes to teach Yeon Woo about all color, trying to help him cope with the onslaught of color rush that causes him to pass out. Yoo Han usually wears a mask to cover his face, but when he pulls it down and stares into Yeon Woo’s eyes, Yeon Woo can see an explosion of color, which is sometimes too much for him to bear.
However, Yeon Woo gets addicted to the chance to see color and he indulges Yoo Han. In the beginning he tries to stay away from him, but the allure of color and Yoo Han’s attraction to him become impossible to resist. Yeon Woo even fears losing himself to what Monos are known for, becoming violent and abusive toward their Probe in order to keep them all to themselves.
Not too spoil anything about Yoo Han, there is a striking reason he adores Yeon Woo so much. Yoo Han has his own intentions for keeping Yeon Woo close, and he’s even willing to run away with him so they can be together. The two boys clearly love each other as time goes on, and even though it’s a struggle for Yeon Woo not to possess Yoo Han violently, the two adopt some kind of synergy that just makes their relationship work, even if they have to go against their guardians to be together.
Color Rush is just a fascinating series, and it has an even more fascinating world behind it. The series is only eight episodes long, and it really could benefit from another season as there are lot of plot holes and things left unsolved. For one, Yeon Woo never finds his mother, and the concept of Probes and Monos are so interesting, you are left wanting to know more about this world.
The actors are gorgeous, and they have good chemistry. The show has beautiful visuals, and the supporting characters have enough depth that you feel for them too. I definitely recommend seeing this show, but the only downside is that it leaves you craving more.
H.K. Rowe 