EmperorCaligula

Great visuals but a bit a convoluted story with mixed acting

After having watched the first two episodes when they were new, I was so bored I decided to stop. But so many people talking about it and liking it, I continued. I can say there were many moments in the following episode which were fascinating and interesting. The cinematography, the sets and the visuals were all top worthy of 10/10.

However the MC acting was not convincing me very much. The Shaman Master is a model of super good looks, but I found his acting stiff and bland, Khem was a bit better but I have seen way better and complex acting skills, so the love feeling and drama didn't really show. Even when Shamanmaster is down and defeated (apparently) he has this almost passive stare. I have seen many BL series where actors were able to express much more with their faces. (Like First or Fourth, who can make much emotions out of small events, whereas here the MC actors went through huge drama and their faces and body language just doesn't show it. So unfortunately I found them the weakest link of the series. Acting of the second couple was much better in relation, even if they too are quite away from the really good Thai BL actors.

The entire karma and destiny story was interesting but way too overloaded, so many scene, backflashes, and so many scene so slow I wanted to play it 1.5 times faster. Silent stares, you get the idea. There were just too many characters, mini-arcs, items asf added. Like when Charn and Jet outed themselves to Jet's father, I could not remember ever having seen him, and kinda failed to see the relevant to suddenly out themselves to a dad that wasn't even there in the story.

Anyway, it was good, especially visuals, but not the super hit that others feel it is. As such a generous
7/10

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THE NEXT PRINCE - 14 Episode Final Review

THE NEXT PRINCE - 14 Episode Final Review

SPOILER WARNING! --- SPOILER WARNING! ---- SPOILER WARNING!

Okay, this was a REALLY long run. Is that good or bad? I am somewhat uncertain, it depends on my current mood, the series itself, but I usually like balanced length, and this - similar like REVENGED LOVE before was really on the "too much" and I just gave it a very good rating because it was really excellent. Still it is as much as I would wish to see, tbh, given on average we have one hour per Episode and a lot of characters.

ACTING:
On the acting I think this was a very good show, beautiful, distinct characters, the good, the gray and the evil characters alike. Still I felt it was not on par with the superb acting of other series, some emotions remained very good but not top. Especially the two MC's who were supposed to carry the show, seemed a bit too much "characters" and too less "persons". Just a tad so ACTING 8/10

VISUALS:
Whee, this highly depends on your taste. It was in a fairy tale like Kingdom, some sort of modern with still a highly fantasy tough. Personally, I am not a fan of prince costume fests, but I found nothing objectively to criticize in this. There were many different places, tons of gorgeous costumes, almost perfect camera and lighting, so within the given aim of Fantasy Kingdom I find nothing lacking in terms of the lush visuals: 10/10

STORY:
Also a hard one for me to judge. See I REALLY passionately dislike Feudalism or Oligarchy in any age or form. With duties and serfs and absolutist feudal lords, even in the best sense, I just dislike that. Still, the story had many interesting plot-lines, unexpected twists, good character development arcs, thought as in other long shows, the non BL tended to overshadow the BL, which as ever you prefer may be good or bad. I usually LIKE that, for when a story is basically only about the BL, the characters tend to remain a bit two-dimensional, so for me that was a bonus, as we come to understand the MC love and the two also interesting side-couples. I had wished in the end we would have seen the two side-couples with a hint into their futures though. If I push aside with much effort my Feudalism dislike, the story itself is a good 9/10.

OVERALL:
It was a story and show worthy to watch, even though the MC, especially the older "knight", I didn't really get the vibe why to root for him as a lover so much to be honest. I understand his position in a feudal society made him act stern, but I did subtract a bit from his potential charm. On the other side the Prince made it up all the way, as a charming, lovable character. Again, I had wished to see more hints of the future of the Kingdom and side couples, but I guess that is standard in BLs. I don't think it left that much of an impression to me that I will "forever remember", but in itself it invested MUCH into displaying an entire realm with MANY places and setups, and I grow tired of BLs having basically only 3-4 places, which boosts this one a lot in my book. Weighing all the aspects, and trying not to give my preferences missed (Feudalism) too much space, I am willing to give it a solid

9/10
Recommended

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10 Things to Do Before Turning - 40 Review

Well, first thing: I absolutely did NOT want to watch this, and I'll be frank why. I felt it would hit way to much "home", being a older gay guy. I was... afraid to watch it. I could SO related with Suzume, feeling old and average and rather not making someone younger unhappy by having ME. It was as if I could feel inside of him.

Well, but how was it? Japanese BL series are often known for their more goofy approach, mimicking the funny acting of the manga their BL series often are taken from. Something I did not mind. But this... this was serious. I felt the "dramatic episode 11" was really always looming over it, because I so knew how I would have felt in Suzume's place. But there is something someone wise a long time ago, when I was a young gay man with full hair and Berlin was a village with a well: That YOU do not like to be your ideal partner is normal, it would be narcissist if it were so, but that doesn't mean you cannot be someone else's type!

Well, this was a fairy tale and reality is reality. But every good fairy tale gives a bit insight into what can be, and in that good storytellers are important to life. And this was a story of value and meaning. To not give up, to allow life to surprise you and ultimately, to dare to make a leap. I had consciously stopped at Ep. 10, wishing to watch 11 and 12 back to back, and I did not regret this decision, so I avoided the sad night after the usual sad 11. All in all it was a beautiful series with just the right balance of speed and depth, and the only thing I had wished was a 13th episode to see them being accepted. But that, maybe, is a story for another night. :)

Daring to go into a somewhat risky area, as such finding no flaw as the aforementioned, I can give it it good conscious a true:

9/10

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A daring idea as a wholesome experience!

The Promise of the Soul - Ep.12 Final REVIEW

Now with Episode 12 this very challenging topic was resolved. I know some disliked the premise, but as some who enjoys... how can I say - broad perspectives on life, I really enjoyed this series a lot.
For all those who followed it to the end and liked it like me, I wonder if you found the ending a Happy one? For I surely did. I was really afraid at Ep.11, the famous drama apex. I feared, shall we say morality would hold them back. First, it was well acted, beautiful set in scene and the difficult part of the one MC was well played by the actor. It does have a sad element, and I am usually one to quickly find such... dilemmas bad. But I felt it was finished wholesome and meaningful and I for one shall keep this in fond memory for a long time, as wholesome hope giving story. For in the end, as it was wrapped up, I feel it was a good ending for everyone.

For the courage to seek out different perspectives, without regret I give
10/10

Life is large. 🥰

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The Perfect Love Story!

SECRET LOVER - REVIEW

Sooo, with a bit delay, since my attention jumps all over I finally binged the second half today. Phew.

It was a strange start, I have to admit. It wasn't a series that caught me from the get go, I assume that is why I went away without deciding it so. Probably also because some big famous shows drew my attention away, and then I forgot about it. So this wasn't a love a first sight for me. Not for any negatives, but where other shows were loud and shiny, this seemed a bit too calm and flowing silently beside me.

Now having gone back, I must say the show really grew on me a lot, so much that I would even say, it is an almost perfect Love Story! There is not too much other stuff weighing in down like Revenged Love with its many layers and sub-stories, SECRET LOVER was a pure love story. I really appreciated that they did not take the all too samey looking MC actors. Both stood out memorable, when many Thai and Korean BL series tend a bit to same-cast these days.

I really liked that it did not play into any seme-uke or big guy - small guy stereotypes, but each MC was a well rounded character in himself. The childhood flashbacks were a bit too much for my taste, but bearable. I really liked how they developed along with the other characters, all how had a good presence and chemistry in the cast. Especially the last three episodes made it skyrocket in my view thinking like, yes this feels like the Perfect Love Story to me. Drama, misunderstandings, love - but neither overplayed nor with any silly instant solutions, all went very organically together to a very happy ending.

Also the scenes between the MC were believable, touching and convincing and more realistic than many other BL stories. It is a show I am sure to remember and rewatch. As such, with all things good to me, I give it a

10/10

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Feelgood GMMTV craft, but a bit yesteryear's best

MY MAGIC PROPHECY - Review

With Episode 10 "My Magic Prophecy" ended today with a slow but warm and wholesome ending. As usual the chemistry between Jimmy and Sea is a well oiled machine, perfected over time. It is a nice thing for fans to see the actors and their roles mature. In the acting Jimmy always had a bit the upper hand, he just seems a natural.
Altogether the show had a good cast, an interesting side-couple, a tragic villain - well played - and just enough of the balance between lovey-dovey and drama as usually the better and best shows of GMMTV. Sometimes with the masses quality suffers several times, but not so here. Each character had a good, well understandable background, character development to be convincing. It also shone with interesting sets and a good sense for fashion being neither over the top not boring and always the same.

I always felt music was never a particular strength of GMMTV, but then it rarely is in BL series IMO. Now talking about my elephant in my room: the show is a 2025 show and as such stands in competition to the current time, and as such... it did not rise of the heights of drama the like "Revenged Love" and others had. It is more the reliable yesteryear type, even though among the best of that, I felt the system started to feel a bit outdated to me, given the risque and new areas other shows and developers made in 2025. So there is nothing bad, but after having been spoiled it felt like 2024's 10/10 but not 2025s. Still I have nothing negative to say, and so putting it in a place I feel is fair, I rate it a very wholesome

8/10

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Mr. Unlucky has no choice but to Kiss! - Vintage BL review

Fukuhara Kota (Sota Ryosuke) is a living danger zone of constant catastrophes happening to him and often enough involving those around him. As he meets Mr Lucky Naoya Shinomiya (Yusuke Sato) an interesting story evolves around them.
"Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice but to Kiss!" is a nice Japanese BL series, which I enjoyed to watch, especially I remember the Manga, which I liked. Given, it is a short series and more a snippet of a story. What was there was enjoyable and the actors, especially Kota's two personalities, how he deals with his permanent real bad luck.

While it is nothing big to write home about, and alas, we get no real BL scenes, I could... "assume" they were in love, and they say it, at least. Still the lack of intimacy if there had been no dialogues just watching might have just the same been good friendship, which in BL I am getting a bit tired of. As such between having fun and lack, I am not clear of a rating. But since unlike others I use the full spectrum of 1-10, despite enjoying it, and recommending it for a lazy day or to steam off after deeply emotionally pushed by some uber emotional BL to relax, I shall give it a
6/10
considering it has barely real BL, but the story and acting is alright and fun enough in itself. Whether you like it or not will however highly depend on what you expect in this more than in other shows. (Note: It has the typical retro Japanese Anime over-acting, which you may like or hate.)

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Truly wholesome captivating BL with everything in it!

Well, I just finished this series, and indeed, it grew upon me. At first I wasn't too sure whether I would like it. New life in another world, many comedic elements and in the beginning the other MC seemed a bit stoic.

However, I was glad I stayed, and the more I watched it, the more this series grew unto me. To see Suriya slowly get out of his shell, to see Apo/Phopthorn grow to handle his part with some setback but growing to be the strong center was truly amazing to watch. What I really liked was, beside the many breathtaking sets, the truly wonderful music.

The drama with the various family members was interesting and keeping me wanting to "know what happens next" without ever getting into too dark areas where you might have really evil parents, as is in some other series.

And compared to the abysmal handling of divine powers in "My Little Ghost", this showed how to make proper use of Divine Intervention! At the end we got one of the most beautiful weddings and a truly happy end for everyone who deserved one. And a quick ride to hell for the one who didn't. *waves sarcastically goodbye*

The Apu/Phopthorn actor was surely the highlight of the series. A bit out of the usual looks, he really was the star of the series and managed to play both characters very convincing and carried the show through many moments. Not a moment of boredom, so I can easily rate it a fully recommended:

9/10

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Solid BL

The Story of Bi Hyeong: Enchanted Master of the Goblin - REVIEW

First, I began this series twice, wasn't soooo hooked feeling as an okay story, I know binged it from 3 to 12 the entire day. I wonder and ask you: does it sometimes make a difference how much you like a series based on watching it weekly or binge? Because honestly, I felt like I liked series more when I could watch it in a few days and not live week per week. Actually I really dislike this, unless some really unique STORY beside the BL happens, like now with "Goddess bless you from Death" with PavelPooh, because the ghost story keeps me remembering it a week pause more.

Strangely this series had a bit a vibe usually from Thai series, more fun or lighthearted despite the series ongoings.
I thought the two MCs and the side couple were interesting, especially Geum Bok playing the constantly "innocent maiden" in need of help. Only when he played the superstar at the end for a bit you could see he really can play more, which is an opportunity we rarely get in series. The Goblin King Bi Hyeong played the role okay, but he could have shown a bit more emotion. No crying, and the love scenes between them where a bit superficial, not sooo much like being crazy in love. I really loved Geum Bok's deep voice.

Settings, scenery and music were all well, though no really memorable places like from other series. Mixing mystic/magic into a BL - or generally anything other than "just" BL - is always a very welcome bonus to me. The end leaves a few questions open, like Geum Bok being mortal and ageing and that evil "dragon guy"; are they hoping for a Second Season? Personally I am not sure the series is THAT great that I am much longing for one. I think of "Pit Babe" which was basically a closed story and while it was really good, the 2nd season felt a bit tacked on. So I am not sure if we really need one?

It was nice, definitely memorable, I had a good time, but as you know I use the full 1-10 spectrum, I still believe it a good series when I say it was a

7/10

I know in film and gaming the rating is now different like 7 is bad anbd 6 is abysmal, but I stick to the old full 10 star idea where a 5/10 would still be halfway good and reserve 8-10 for really breathtaking series, otherwise if everything is 10 (as in many user reviews on the websites) 10 loses its meaning, so don't regard this as a harsh rating.

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The perfect Korean short BL drama

YOU MAKE ME DANCE
Korea 2021 - Review

Another oldie review, and the kind I like a lot: Korean BL dramas. Why? The Koreans have this special touch to make short BLs which resemble the theatre from of the "Kammerspiel" - chamber play or chamber drama. I am rating a short in great part according to the aim, and a chamber play has a totally different goal that a grand series. It contains a short story with very few actors, usually a short time. Everything is limited and it reflects the beautiful art which Korea and Japan are so famous for: minimalism. To express much with very little.

In that it were 8 Episodes of around 15 minutes each, a story between a dancer in debt and his debt collector and their falling in love and overcoming difficulties. It was not one of those loud Thai BLs with BINGS and sounds and all, but a slow paced drama unfolding in its own perfection. The display of two people coming together and overcoming odds was like this minimalist, but not too little that brought this small serious IMVPO to a near perfect short series to watch. Like the genre of Korean short BL it was tender and had a harmony of its own like a center of gravity where any more would have been too much and any less to little. Like in dancing. Or cooking.

It is one of the few BLs I can clearly think to watch again sometimes, something I rarely feel about BLs, even when I like them, and most of them are these small, short Korean Chamber Play Dramas like this. As such measured on its aim and me having nothing much left to wish at the end, give dare to rate it a

9/10
Oldie Classic

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Oldie but Goldie Police X Mafia BL Drama

HISTORY 3 - TRAPPED Review
(Taiwan 2019 - Spoiler)

Having just finished another of the HISTORY series, I have seen some ups and downs in the various takes. This is about a policeman and a mafia boss both being at odds and then in love.

Overall I liked the ten episodes. It had interesting characters, generally good acting and all a policeXmafia love drama should have. Unlike others I never felt it was over the top dark, since the darkest parts all happened off camera, so despite usually being sensitive towards to dark depressive plots, I didn't feel dragged down emotionally. I assume I owe it much to the actor Jake Hsu, who played the ever optimistic beacon of light police officer Meng Shao Fei, and grounded the show, preventing it from falling too far into depressive waters with his acting and presence.

While the end might have had a bit more positive resolve, much of it would have been too unrealistic. When the MC mafia boss Tang Yi, it is a kinda semi-sad ending where you just feel the trust they will meet again, but I would have liked to SEE it, although the tonality of it gave me the trust that it will be so. (Hopefully not after 24 years, lol.)

Anyway, it was a nice series with interesting plot twist, unique characters and what I liked especially a cast that didn't look like a model-walk copy of the N-th beauty catalogue. As such I give it a confident

8.5/10

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More a very good teaser that a real story.

Eight episodes of each 10 minutes, so we get some real short series here. Sometimes I felt it was more long trailers of an actual series, like skipping so much content, which is "between the lines" of what we do not see. Or think of it is an 80 minutes long good music video.

I am not sure why this story with potential was so short and skipped so many possible moments. What was there is good, even thought the BL element was until the end more "in the imagination"; not in a bad way, but still kinda unmanifested. The highlight of the series was aptly to the theme and title the really beautiful music, which truly stood out.

Still, it was a good appetizer for a full show that this wasn't. But what it was were 80 good minutes to spend.

As such
7.5 of 10

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Wholesome, alas with room for improvement

Well, a wholesome themed series finally found its end, and I assume it ended exactly as everyone assumed from early on, lol. Which, well is no shame, but a bit an ongoing watershed between good and REALLY good series. And it is a beef I have with series I know others see very different. I like BL stories, but personally I feel a BL just on its own just doesn carry enough interest for me, with some rare exception when either the actors or the directing is so great, it does all the job, like some of those small Korean "Kammerspiele" - small chamber plays which revolve around two people with little extra.

But that is not the Thai style, and if I compare it to, right now "Goddess Bless You from Death" (Pooh/Pavel) I felt there was a lack of story here. I mean BESIDE the love, a background against which the lovers to be develop and measure their growth. In this, this series was quite shallow waters. David/Wave had a very helpful memory loss, with Lava first disliking and then falling for him. Not entirely a really breathtaking or new idea, alas. As it is that story was well written and performed, but it had a foreseeable hiccup at Episode 9, the inevitable and again entirely foreseeable "I remember the past but not you" which again to no one's surprise made the 10th episode extremely rushed. So many problems were solved, even a one year time skip. Nothing about the coup, no development of the parents or the fake marriage, not much to see of a year of suffering. And suddenly a five minute happy end, which was nicer than other five minute endings but as lacking as such endings unavoidable always are.

Goods to mention are the scenery, the locations, camera directing and also the many beautiful songs. A scope of many different moods between the actors and their stages of relationship. However, being true to heart, Winny/Satang is not a power couple. Both seemed to act reserved and I have seen many stronger emotions on display given the dramatic moments involved. Satang's acting is okay, but I just could not really feel so much behind the face of Winny. He just sorely lacked the strength to show anger, fear, sadness convincingly enough to me. Often it felt more like a variations of stares. One could accept this, if we had a backstory, maybe he was traumatized, maybe if he had a form of autism or anything that would explain such a reduced facial reaction. It was just a love, given the acting, thinking of it without music, scenery and story supported I had a hard time to buy. Even in wording, I missed those powerful breaking points, explaining deep love or deep suffering at least in words. If you compare it to other series actors (First, Fourth or Pooh) there is just a way too steep difference.

I laude them for making an unusual couple, breaking a bit from the mold. Winny is no model type and Satang is. Winny is stoic manly but Satang isn't "feminine" but strong on its own. It saddens me to say, but Winny just was the weak link of the entire series. And I hate to say that because it seems like "I just want perfect doll actors", but he just didn't work for me as a convincing lover. And the problem is: it isn't their first roles, even though their first main couple series. So how much air to learn to act better is in the stars.

As a wholesome series I felt well watching it, I wasn't bored, it was okay, but against the rising competition it felt just weak. Sure a lot of series are worse, but a lot also now are just better. Just take Pond currently playing the excentric Mafia boss and you know what I mean with really interesting acting. As ever making use of the full scale, it is one of the more difficult series to rate, knowing some prefer just BL and not too much other stuff, so I split it up to explain:
STORY: 7
DIRECTING: 8
ACTING: 5
MUSIC: 9

OVERALL 7/10

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You Happy Neighbourhood Vampires

My Secret Vampire is an eight episode long Korean BL with, as unexpected as it may sound to to you, Vampires. And a non Vampire. And of course everyone is gay. 😅

Anyway, I really like this sort of less dramatic version of Vampire meets non-Vampire BL than the other big one. No big blood scenes, and I liked the calm pacing of this studio, whose MC actors I think I saw before. Though looking it up I could neither verify any other show nor the studio. Maybe you know more.

Anyhow, I really liked this lighthearted show, with all endearing characters. There is no "real" solution to a certain issue, meaning aging. But I guess like star gazing or marveling at the cherry blossom, sometimes we just lose ourselves in a happy moment. Not reinventing the wheel and staying a bit on the surface with the Vampire story, each actor and scene was enjoyable and lovely, I give this a good

8/10 rating.

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