4Minutes (Sultrier Version)

could have been a 10/10

Overall: although I enjoyed the beginning, things unraveled for me. 8 episodes about 1 hour each. Aired on GagaOOLala uncut: https://gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4688/4minutes-2024 (except Thailand, Japan, Korea); iQIYI uncut https://www.iq.com/album/4minutes-sultrier-version-2024-1zc6sune8fl?lang=en_us and cut version https://www.iq.com/album/4minutes-2024-1h7yndte6zx?lang=en_us (Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Spain, United Kingdom and United States); Viu with some countries having the cut version (Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, Myanmar, Singapore); Rakuten TV in Japan and Heavenly in South Korea. The cut version has NSFW shortened/cut and also cuts out some plot as well.

Content Warnings: most content warnings, it has some very dark/graphic parts in it

What I Liked
- mystery element
- grey characters
- use of the number 4 or things adding up to 4
- production value* (includes cinematography, use of color as symbolism, props to represent things)

Room For Improvement
- not a fan of a flash forward (or back) as a hook for a series
- there were too many characters/plot to fully develop them all, also pacing
- misleading trailer, it felt that a different character is the main lead instead of a character people were led to believe
- tricking the audience, not a fan of how that was done
- sweet moments that didn't actually happen
- cliched plot stuff
- no reason why a character had a girlfriend, I couldn't support a romance because it was built to not be a romance
- cringey guitar playing/serenading
- the intimate scenes were needed but they did not need to be that explicit/I didn't need to glimpse an actor's body part when walking around
- *many scenes were too dark to see the actors' faces or even what was happening, even for scenes at night they need to put light on their faces
- nonsense stuff: I can't comment on all of the medical things and their realism, but I highly doubt any surgeon would spin his medical implements before/during a surgery, that seemed to be a ton of papers for a small clipboard in ep 1, an investigator who didn't wear gloves at a crime scene, in ep 4 a character oddly didn't wear a mask when he should have
- Be On Cloud decided to sell it to a company where it is only airing in 8 countries (and perhaps 2 more) and then had the gall to not respond anywhere to questions about the remaining 180+ countries but instead posted about how to only watch it via official channels, I don't mind companies needing money to get things made but they should have been clear about where and the why (update: after 5 weeks they had an actual international release and the reason was likely money/maybe they couldn't say their whole release plan due to a contract but it still was bad to not have an official platform for 180+ countries for 5 weeks)

Note About an Actor's Age (I didn't take off points for this but as an fyi 1 actor was likely 17 when he filmed several very explicit scenes, age of majority in Thailand is 20)
- it's valid to feel uncomfortable with a 17 year old actor doing explicit scenes and to not watch this series
- it's valid to feel fine with a 17 year old actor who voluntarily agreed to do explicit scenes (and had his parents' permission) and watch/enjoy this series
- everyone gets to make that decision for themselves, I hold no judgement either way for this example, personally I am watching the series but I'm not re-watching that actor's NC scenes

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Great Tyme Continuum (With no added sultriness)

Hello, I'm Great! No, I don’t mean I'm doing great (have you seen the show?), but that I am Great! Ummm… no, I'm not saying I'm a great person (have you seen the show?), but my name is Great! Oh… I give up. I’m the crazy cat lady. Happy?

Anyway, what did you make of me and my story? Wasn’t it fun? Admittedly, it isn’t fun to die Tyme and Tyme again for your entertainment, but you knew I was going to live, didn’t you?

I’m grateful to my creators for putting me in one of the *greatest* bodies out there, on whose head not a strand is out of place, and whose body Adonis and Antinous would envy. They also seem to have had a big budget, which they mostly spent on interior design porn, and renting cars from the Fast and the BiCurious outlet mall. *I* have no objections. I do wish the writers had been paid more… Because I really don’t understand who I am, and what has been happening to me. I also didn’t know *how* to feel about what was happening, but fortunately, the background music was always at hand to tell me.

Since I’m now alive — I’m not sure, this might be a Black Mirror kind of situation — I have been lurking around the forums online to find out the truth. I’ve pretty impressed by the hard work of the “fandom”. There are some good theories out there. But I’m still not sure I understand. (I'm a bit thick, you see, but thickness, like size, matters.)

***Ignore the following three paragraphs if pressed for time, or to avoid "plot" details. ***

What I’m most confused about is perspective. So, when I was going into cardiac arrest -- as were Tyme and Tonkla and everyone else who’s ever been shot it would seem -- I had four comatose minutes during which I could see four (?) consequential moments where I could have chosen a less evil path. Fun. I love guilt-tripping. Some, including my maker, Sammon, argue that each of these moments is a pathway to an alternate “reality”, but my physicist friend assures me that this is not how the many-universe theory works. (There, reality splits every measurable moment, because quantum decoupling happens every measurable moment. Besides, neither the heart nor the brain are quantum systems, but... never mind.) Also, can an unconscious person see? Or hear? Or feel? Isn't that an oxymoron? I, for one, certainly don't remember any of it! Before you accuse me of being pedantic, know that Sammon prides herself on her scientific and philosophical sophistication. But the most existential question for me is this: once we do enter this liminal space, and 'choose' an alternate 'reality', what happens to the reality we leave behind? Do I die? Am I dead? Am I Bruce Willis in that movie?

Now, there is also that whole other storyline involving online gambling, TonKla, Korn, Win, and Nan. I know you didn't care for any of it, but bear with me. Did *I* see that too? Did Tyme? Or were their storylines alone real all the time? Are my parents good or bad? If good, why did I see what I did? If bad, why did Tyme see what he did? Fine, let's allow that my perspective and that of an omniscient narrator can co-exist. But then, didn’t TonKla’s dead brother show up at one random point? More confusingly, if the four minutes represent opportunities where deaths could have been prevented, didn’t other deaths happen anyway? Are some lives more worth than others? I mean, I know my beautiful body is worth more than Tyme’s grandmother’s life, or that bastard TonKla's, but still… Am I the asshole? Or is the universe fatalistic all the same, and our subjunctive possibilities mere hallucinations? If so, what’s the fucking point of all this?

Of course, Tyme is still in a huff about the fact that *his* perspective got half a measly episode, but mine got six! Poor TonKla, he fared even worse! While we’re at it, what in crazy cat lady’s name was that last episode all about? I'm so confused, and I don’t know why my creators were in such a hurry to wrap things up. I don't even understand why I'm still alive, and why Tyme's still alive, but not my brother. Why did he have to kill himself? Don't we all have blood on our hands? Also, who chooses these realities for us? Sammon? If so, why choose these, and not one in which my story actually makes sense? As I said, the writers should have been paid more, if they were paid at all. But then, all those “cute” moments between me and Tyme — it satisfied you lot, didn’t it? How many of you screamed at the last shot? Good, I’m happy for you. I'm happy for us too. Not for my brother, though.

*** Here endeth knowledge. ***

I know some of you thought my sex scenes with Tyme were a tad on the soft side. Listen, I know my body, and the fact that I was listening to Limp Bizkit all of next day is no coincidence. Tyme is a Great lover, and he bore his arse out for you: be Greatful. But I will admit, that bastard TonKla stole the show from me. Never trust a power bottom. Were you really surprised when he shot me, and revealed his face in the campest way possible? I’d say I’m glad he’s dead, but, I’d still love to have had a Great Tyme with him and Win and Korn. And yes of course I'd have sex with my murderer if he's hot enough -- ask any self-respecting gay man. Besides, you all saw a flash of JJay's p-JJ, didn't you? How many times did you go back, freeze the frame, and thought to yourself, "I've become my mother"?

Oh, one last thing. Why 4 minutes, you ask? It is, apparently, the length of time it would take for consciousness to fade after the heart stops, during which, you can enter an alternate dimension, alternate reality, alternate universe, or whatever else is alternate. That’s what the last-minute narrator -- where the fuck did she come from? -- says. Turns out, not possible. Anoxia induces loss of consciousness in 6 seconds, and inflicts permanent brain damage within 2 minutes. (You should have seen the first draft of this review. There are parts of my brain to which I no longer have any access.) So, I can only guess that my creators were listening to Madonna on repeat on Spotify as they fell asleep (or while doing cocaine), and concluded, with Mr. Timberlake, there were only 4 minutes left to save the world…

Reader's Digest:
DO SAY: In Search of Lost Tyme
DON'T SAY: The Great Catsby

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Totally Confusing ?

this is very confusing series but that is also the highlight of the series. it is like we are trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together. like I thought like till the episode, yeah a normal love drama. then I like wth is happening. it took me an hour after episode 6 to understand what was going on. then when the 4 minutes of Tyme came, I was again damn confused🤔. but it was interesting at the same time. like it is a perfect mix, like toxicity, romance, crime, thrilling and also sci-fi. I like it. but i don't recommend it for people who are new to bl. they'll be like wtf is going on. but my personal opinion, I love it.

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What happened VS What could have happened

The concept is quite brilliant, but the execution could certainly have been better.

The "explanation" for the bewildering scenes for many of the episode is basically that, for people whose brains are oxygen-deprived and they are on the brink of death or in a coma, they hallucinate about what their lives could have been had they done something different.

At the start of the series, Great sees himself knocking a woman down with his car and driving off. When the vision ends, he drives and knocks someone down without driving off irresponsibly, changing the course of events. Eventually, however, it turns out that Great does not see 4 minutes into the future at all. The series of events happening following the hit-and-run is the reality whereas the other series of events is just something that goes on in his mind when he is in danger of dying.

Some find it highly unsatisfactory that so much of the series feature the "hallucinations" rather than the reality. To me, it is fine as the hallucinations reveal their most deep-seated desires and make the reality especially poignant when it is revealed. Nonetheless, I think there are issues. Since what we are seeing isn't premised on traveling back in time to fix the past or predicting the future to change something for the better, what we are seeing is what *could* have happened rather than what *would* have happened. In other words, the alternative story just a story spun by the dying brains of the characters rather than a definite course of events. This does compromise the emotive quality of the series.

It also seems to me that the "explanation" doesn't really explain things. At one point, we are led to think that Tonkla senses the presence of his brother, who has been killed. But, based on the explanation, this makes no sense whether we are watching the reality or Great's imagined series of events. The two do not mix unless Great's imagination can invade the reality that Tonkla experiences. Furthermore, it is quite confusing that when Great supposedly sees four minutes into the future, there are glances of himself being intimate with Time that happen way after the four minutes. The visions seem to be simply planted there to intrigue viewers and perhaps titillate them with glimpses of sex scenes. I also feel that, in the "hallucinated" series of events, there are scenes that Great wouldn't be imagining simply because they do not involve him (e.g. Time at the hospital overhearing what his colleagues say about his relationship with another doctor) and are not quite relevant to the alternative reality that his dying brain so badly wants.

When it comes to the BL, the relationship between Great and Time in the real version of events isn't developed well. We do not see enough of how Time's feelings for Great develop and see more of him being obsessed with avenging his parents who were killed. As for the other BL couple (three characters, actually), Tonkla/Korn or Tonkla/Win, there are just many sex scenes without emotional intensity. The story seems to vacillate between showing Korn as someone who deeply loves Tonkla and showing him as someone who does not truly care about him. Tonkla's apparent preoccupation with wanting to have unprotected sex seems nonsensical and added in just for dirty talk even though one might come up with some labored explanation for it. Win is interesting but lacks development--the final episode is a little too rushed for a series that seems to take its time to reveal things to us.

Ultimately, the freshness of the concept and the way the series pushes boundaries in depicting sex and nudity in BLs may garner this series a lot of attention, but it is unlikely remembered as a classic that is executed with finesse in every way.

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4MINUTƎS

I have watched tons of bls the last few years and I know very well how they have evolved. When they first started, bls had very similar settings and plots. Most of them took place in universities or high schools, that's how the engineer faculty joke came to be.

At some point, bl series started gaining tons of viewers and attention and companies started -as expected- to invest more and more in this particular "genre". As a result, from characters that were usually high schoolers and university students, we started watching on our screen so many different main leads. From doctors and office workers to supernatural entities and mafia bosses.

The thing is that in the majority of these series, no matter how entertaining or well made they may be, the plot felt more like a background that was there just to envelop the main characters and their romance. It felt like the writers were not actually ready to create a well written and logical plot, since it was out of their comfort zone.

And here comes 4minutes. To get this out of the way, this series is not perfect, but I can clearly see it is an earnest effort to make a unique drama that deviates from the usual tropes.

4minutes has amazing directing and cinematography. In simple words, it is visually stunning. It has an immaculate dark atmosphere, good music and good acting. Of course, since this is the "sultrier" version there are quite a few explicit scenes that are also pretty well done -but not for the faint-hearted-. The chemistry between the characters is good and their love stories are also good (enough).

And here comes the usual black sheep; the plot. 4minutes has an actually well written, intricate and complicated plot. Or to be more precise, that's what they want the audience to believe. The plot itself is not that complicated and until the end it is easy to put all the pieces in the correct place. Things are getting clearer and clearer with each episode. But because the concept is special and because of some directing choices, the plot seems to be much more confusing and complex than it is in reality and I am saying this as positively as possible.

4minutes has a quite unique plot compared to many series (and not only bls). It has flawed characters that don't feel like the typical "toxic" ones we usually watch and enjoy (to hate). It is one of the few times that despite the love stories and the (many) gay main leads, I could feel that the plot was actually more important than the romance. That it was there to serve a purpose, something that is obvious from the viewers themselves. People were not talking that much of the romantic relationship between the mains and the good looking cast. They were making theories about the plot, they were trying to solve it like a riddle. And that is what makes 4minutes a great -pun intended- series, despite its flaws.

And what are those flaws? Some of the acting performances here and there could have been better and some plot points could have been developed in a different manner.
However, the thing that actually bothered me the most has to do with the emotional aspect of the series. I just didn't feel for the characters and their stories. I think that this is the biggest flaw of 4minutes. I could acknowledge that I was watching something well made, but emotionally wise, it didn't move me, it didn't make me gasp. I wanted that something more. I wanted to feel for the characters and for their relationships more than I did.

All in all, despite the negative aspects, 4minutes was definitely worth the watch and it felt like a huge breath of fresh air. It doesn't follow the formula we have seen again and again during the past few years and it was a memorable enough watch that differentiated itself from everything else, putting the plot, and not the romance, in the foreground.

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Meh. Bland.

Alright, buckle up, because I’m about to spill the tea on this series, and some of y’all might not like what I have to say. But hey, it is what it is. I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it. It just... existed. Let’s get into it.

First off, I STILL can’t move on from BibleBuild. Like, I’m sorry, I’m just not over VegasPete, okay? I was already out here starving for closure after *KinnPorsche*, and then BOC decided to snatch Build away with that whole legal mess? The audacity. I thought this series might fill that gaping hole in my soul, but NOPE. Not even close. Anyway, I’m *trying* to let that go, but clearly, I’m still salty.

Now, the concept of this show is cute or whatever—Great can see 4 minutes into the future before something bad happens. Cool, right? Except they don’t even bother explaining why. Like, okay, sure, it’s because he “faced death” or whatever, but give me more! Why 4 minutes? Why not 3? Why not 5? Do y’all know that in Chinese culture, the number 4 symbolizes death? They could’ve worked *that* into the plot, but nah, let’s just throw in a random supernatural ability and call it a day.

Jes, though? Love that man. He can act, no doubt. But you know who stole the show? The side pairing. Korn x Tonkla x Win were out here serving all the drama, all the spice, and all the *mess*. When I say their scenes were giving, I mean it. Korn and Tonkla’s first *big* moment? I was on the edge of my seat like, “DID THIS JUST OUTDO THE MAIN PAIR?” Yes, it did. It’s giving *SomTam*—spicy, bold, and unforgettable—while Tyme and Great are out here being bland *boiled rice*.

And don’t even get me started on the love triangle. The drama had me yelling, “OOP, WHAT NOW?!” every five seconds. Meanwhile, the main couple was out here serving... nothing. I mean, yawn central. Y’all really had *this* concept and *these* actors, and that’s all you gave us?

Oh, and JJay’s scene. You know the one. YEAH, THAT ONE. I was NOT prepared seeing his d*ck, and now I’m just sitting here, wondering how my life will ever go back to normal. Thanks for the trauma, I guess? Or maybe not trauma. WINKWONK.

The ending for Korn x Tonkla x Win? Chaotic. Trashy. Perfect. I lived for it. But the main pairing’s ending? Zzz. I needed more. I needed theories, twists, SOMETHING to make it worth my time. Instead, we got... vibes.

Overall, the actors carried this series on their backs, but the plot? Sis, it dropped the ball. If you’re here for "Triage" series vibes but with added spice, maybe give it a go. Me? I’ll pass on a rewatch. Unless it’s for the side couple or, let’s be real, the steamy scenes. Those? Worth it. The rest? Bye.

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A Decent BL

This series benefits from fantastic casting. It was genuinely refreshing to watch a BL where the cast are all sufficient actors. Jes and Bible are particularly good; Jes acts with convincing subtlety and (besides an awkward Thinking Aloud moment in the first episode) Bible is similar, handling two almost distinct characters well. It's enjoyable to watch actors who have believable range beyond the common BL Uncontrollable Sobbing.
What let's this series down is the writing.
The first five episodes turn out to be dream fodder for the so-far relatively bland MC. Bible does well with what he's given, but it's incredibly frustrating to invest five hours in what turns out to be a dream timeline. The MC suddenly takes an interesting turn in episode six, but odd pacing means you spend far less time in reality than the dream timeline. This is my absolute writing pet peeve. Why should I care about what's happened when at any given moment, it could turn out none of it is real?
I'd have loved to spend a lot more time in the reality timeline. If the pacing was more balanced, I might have found the twist charming. Unfortunately, I found it poorly executed. A shame, as the reality timeline had a lot of interesting potential. Initial episodes had some good twisty moments (like Dome's death) but they really needed to happen in episode 2 so we could get on with the real plot.

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One of my favorite Bls of all time

I don't know why people are saying that the plot is too confusing, boring, or even lazy and cliché. Personally i think it's a series that feels a little unsual,you don’t often see such a serious and maybe dense plot in BLs, and that’s exactly what I liked about it. The way it tells a story that isn’t necessarily a romance at first sight makes it more than that. I would love to see more Bls that are a little more experimental, and are not afraid to show a "confusing" plot. I say confusing, but honestly, i dont think is that confusing, you just have to be watching the series, as it stupid as that sounds lol.
That said, I definitely understand people who didn’t get it because they were watching the series as it was airing, i did too, and im not gonna lie i was a little complicated that i dropped it, but i rewatched it and it was totally worth it. I definitely recomeded it, but only if you are for an actually plotline along with the romance.

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Could have been the next KinnPorsche

I watched this with great expectations. The first episode was intriguing with the whole look into the future for 4 minutes thing. But as the series went on, it changed from intriguing to downright confusing. The 4 minutes became a blur and different realities were so mixed together that you weren’t able to tell what exactly went with what. If this series had been more straightforward, it could have been on the level as KinnPorsche.

But, I thought the acting was superb and I am now a bigger fan of these actors. Bible and Jes made a perfect pairing. I especially loved the “dream-like” sequence where they were extremely happy together. The story about Tonkla was heartbreaking and I shed a few tears for that whole situation.

But overall, the way they made it soooo confusing, I didn’t really enjoy it very much and I won’t be watching it again.

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A tad confusing at frist but worth the watch

4 Minutes is a gripping and very thought-provoking series that takes a fresh and imaginative approach to storytelling. The core concept is both chilling and fascinating when you are watching it— exploring what might happen in the four minutes the brain remains active after the heart stops beating which is both unique while also being captivating. This setup immediately hooks you, creating a sense of urgency and curiosity that lingers when you get to see the next 4 minutes.
What makes 4 Minutes so compelling is how it dives into a series of “what-if” scenarios. Each episode peels back layers of possibility, showing us a different outcome, alternate realities, and unresolved emotions in the two main characters portrayed by Bible and Jes — all framed within the idea of what a person might experience or reflect on in their final moments. It’s a psychological and emotional journey that keeps you on edge, always eager to find out what comes next.
A standout feature of the show is its use of multiple points of view. By telling the story from both Jes's and Bible's perspectives, 4 Minutes gives a rich, layered narrative that allows you to see the same moments in different lights. This multi-POV structure is not only unique, but it deepens your emotional investment and constantly challenges your assumptions. Whether you're into mind-bending drama, emotional depth, or simply looking for a series that dares to be different, 4 Minutes is an absolute gem of a BL. Its originality and the way it tackles life, death, and the in-between makes it a must-watch for anyone who enjoys stories that leave you thinking long after the credits roll.

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Looped Lives

This was clever and I loved it. When I saw that Sammon was the screenwriter I knew I'd like it and I really liked it!

Bible's acting has improved so much. His character (Great) was flawed and he was able to convey that so well. His reaction to his 'gift' was the same as anyone's would be: what's going on? The concept - of seeing the future- has been explored before, but this was different and not just because it's BL. The clever little twists and turns in this meant that sometimes I was uncertain about whether we were in real time or future time.

I've never seen Jes (Tyme) before and was impressed by his acting and character's introverted behaviour, which hid a backbone of steel.

The biggest surprise for me was Bas. I've seen him in other shows and his character has been very different each time. This was a mature, selfish, ambitious character with lots of secrets. They were great secrets!

What I liked: good portrayal of complex, flawed characters; how the story unfolded, but I had to pay attention to everything.
What I didn't like: it was confusing at times, but it meant I had to really think about what I was watching. Not a complaint, but an observation.

The ending was interesting - was it reality or part of the 4 minute future?

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