3
Yawn
This is a very disappointing BL series, surprisingly form Japan. Normally, Japanese BL are edgy and provocative and interesting. This is flat, boring and completely lifeless. They acted more like children in love than adults in love. I get that there are cultural and societal differences about how to express love, but honestly at some point, someone has to be grown-up enough to at least hint that the love the other person. It also seemed obvious to me that the actors were either given poor directions or simply were not going to give any hint of a connection with the other. If you are going to play a gay part, then try and pretend at least that you are.Was this review helpful to you?
Great Moral Arc
There is a great moral arc to this story but the characters were simply not real. If you are looking for any sense of deep connection with the main characters, then move in. It is NOT bad acting; just a bad script. You have a main couple who lack any kind of deep connection to each other. Sure there are cute stares, and magical moonbeams but no hint of any real attraction to each other. There was not even a kiss so therefore how can there be love. This story could have been a good one but fell short. But there is a support role here that is just phenomenal. You can read my full review at BLBliss.com. She was simply brilliant.Was this review helpful to you?
Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice but to Kiss!
2 people found this review helpful
Quirky but Sad
I think this is supposed to sort of be a rom-com and parts of it are quite funny. The Japanese have a real eye for self-depreciating humor in the first person. And the physical comedy that goes with that. Unquestionably the two main protagonists are quite quirky and real misfits, which made them very likeable. The first half is much better than the second half. The last half just turned into a silly cat-and-mouse game of playing with emotions with neither one wanting to make any type of a commitment to have a relationship. I found that patently silly and absurd. I was very disappointed overall with this series and found it to be formulaic. In the end, I found them to be way more sad figures than happy ones. Ironically.Was this review helpful to you?
Awkward but It Works!
This is a complete mish-mash of characters that honestly should not work. They are awkward and seem awkward in their own skins. But weirdly, it all works and turns out to be a charming and engaging series. It grabbed my attention and never let go. There are some hidden meanings in this series and that is captured very well. An awkward happenstance that turns charming and you end up rooting for them. Physically, these two actors seem out-of-place, not compatible with each other, and awkwardly clumsy. Yet, it all worked. There is such good chemistry between them that appears to be genuine, even if it is unorthodox. Just enjoy this charmer.You can read my full review at BLBliss.com.
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Semantic Error: Clear
This is a very good Korean BL series that got a bit archetypical in the end but it is still one of the better ones out there. The main couple was cute and had some great kissing scenes. However, I watched this series through rose-colored glasses as I had a different twist as to who Sangchu really was. Thinking of him the way I did put this series in a broader perspective for me. But no matter how you see these guys, it is still one of the better BLs out there. I am an avid fan of Korean drama. Indeed, they are the new "Hollywood".Was this review helpful to you?
I wanted to like this....
Honestly, I really wanted to like this series. The actors are stunningly handsome and are very good actors, really. But this story had so man logical flaws in it, that it was hard to really like. Also, I never bought their relationship as I did not see much chemistry between the two main actors. If you are going to have young guys supposedly in love, show us. Give us something relatable and understandable so we can see they are is something related to romance. There is also no need for side-stories that frankly go nowhere and are meant to pull at heartstrings. The premise of this story is good; it is just executed with too much meandering with no clear focus.Was this review helpful to you?
Lives Up to Its Name - TOXIC!
Dear God, this is so bad. Everything about this is bad. Acting, production, editing, sound, and story. The story is disjointed with self-indulgent characters that bully and intimidate others around them. Filled also with over-the-top gay characters who portray 'gay' behavior in the worst possible way. I really enjoyed Aki in MY DAY but this is just awful. Everyone’s acting was at best amateurish and at worst, looking like they were all ‘winging it’ on their own. There was no sense of direction, no help with timing or delivering lines, or rehearsal, for that matter. Honestly, I could not believe how badly this series was acted throughout.Skip it at all cost,
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Profoundly Moving Sometimes while Mundane Overall
This was a hard series for me to get through. Let me just say upfront that it is one of the best acted Thai BL series to come along in a long time. And they actually tackled some interesting real-life situations not in the usual manner but with some realistic approaches. Yet, the story all seemed so ordinary to me and I just did not buy the relationship between the two leading actors. In order for me to accept it, it has to look real and feel real but I just did not see that. However, who really 'stole' this series are the incredible supporting roles. These actors and actresses were unbelievably good and did a way more convincing job than than the main characters. I cannot say enough about how good these people were. Please do not misunderstand; no one did a bad job in acting. I just did not buy the relationship. If it were not for the supporting characters, this series would have been rather dull. I loved them a lot and they carried this series. There is also such a glaring flaw in logic in this story that is just not handled well at all. It will hit you in the face when you realize what it is. It simply made no sense. If you want to read my full review of this series (where I name specific individuals and how they 'stole' this series, go to BLBliss.com.Was this review helpful to you?
A Wonderful Non-BLthat is BL
I do not care what anyone else wrote about this series, but it is a very good love story. No, not in the BL sense of the word, but it brought love into the forefront of this amazingly good narrative about mental illness and compassion. It is quite a beautiful journey in which there parts that made me cry and at other times, made me bust out laughing. It is one of the most human stories out there and show how deeply you can love someone in other ways besides physically. I know that sounds odd but it is a deeply intense series and I for one appreciated its message of companionship, friendship, understanding, and yes love. I hope people watch it,But can understand why they would not The production is just awful. Disjointed and poor editing. PLEASE, PLEASE do something about translating these series into English with some sophistication. It was just awful. In one case, they had a translation that was not for that episode. I get that these series are not perhaps made for English speaking countries, but if you want to widen the audience, do SOMETHING about making the translations better. These series and actors are so good but it is cheapened by bad translations. I for one deeply appreciate the efforts that are being done in this genre. God, knows, the USA will not likely ever get on board of doing these kinds of series. (Ok, Love Victor, as one exception).
If you want to read my full review of this outstanding series, please go to BLBliss.com
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Phenomenal and Profound Work of Art
I watched this series quite serendipitously and was so moved by its message and acting that I can not stop thinking about it. It is soulful, profoundly sad, and a masterpiece of acting. The singing by Jeff Satur is excellent and is also profoundly moving. This is not your typical BL series and I know that it might not appeal to a lot of fans but this series is ACTING at its finest with a story that is as interpretative as you want it to be. YOU draw your own conclusions. You experience its emotions on your own. While short in duration (about 45 minutes in total), it will leave you questioning what happened before, during, and after.I am trying to write in greater detail the review of this series on my website but need time to process its complete impact on me. Please go to see it at BLBliss.com. I shall post it soon.
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A Classic
I transported myself back to that time and found the film to be remarkable. This story is deeply, deeply moving. Funny at times. A coming-of-age essay also. It is also profoundly sad reaching the core of one’s inner being. It grabs you and shakes you and tells you clearly that your life will never be the same and a small hole will exist where the heart is. But you still go on. The acting in this series is profoundly moving and is elevated by the supporting characters as well. While this movie may now be ‘older’, it is still relevant today as we all know that families can not and will not accept gay relationships or even recognize love between two persons of the same sex.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Angst, Passion, Rawness and Grit
This is a difficult series to review. On the one hand, it is filled with intense chemistry between the main actors and some of the most passionate romance scenes I have ever seen (nothing pornographic however). The story represents personal growth for each in their own way. However, two things is of concern to me and are bothersome. . One is the just too cavalier attitude of sexual abuse. The second criticism I have of this series, and it is a big one, is its overuse of physical abuse. You can read my full review on my blog at ppbongi.medium.com.Was this review helpful to you?
A Complete Miss
I desperately, and I mean desperately, wanted to like this ‘reality’ show about 10 gay guys from Hong Kong getting together for what was posted as a gay dating show. The production company seemed at least to me to be pushing issues where there were none and also contriving things that were not. Their interference either in the dating process or the control of the conversations was inappropriate, leading, and judgmental. This show also did not allow for the possibility that maybe just maybe none of them would want to date anyone on the show. If you are ‘selling’ gayness, then show it. Show these guys are real people not in some contrived or make-believe world that to some degree was unrelatable with an emphasis on what is wrong with them. They had a lot to say even if they did not say it. How? By being in it. That spoke volumes.That is what you should have shown. You can read my full review at BLBliss.com.
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Too 2 Many Heads
This series got so close to the mountain top but then it slid down to the plain of mediocrity only to periodically rise back up and meet the sunrise to a shining light of creativity. Truthfully, I have such a love/hate relationship with this series and its protagonists. Sometimes they ascended to solid acting only to then fall into a pre-pubescent cesspool of triteness. Honestly, it is not their fault. It was a bad script and even worse directing. Parts of this series were enchanting; while others fell from grace. Although the intent of this series was entertaining and offered some novelty, I found the way the leads got there, wanton. So, what was the point of this BL? For entertainment only? Then okay, this was entertaining. If you are trying to convey a BL story among the protagonists, then you failed. Ironically, you told a great authentic story with the side couple that is way more heartfelt and real and, at least for me, more captivating.Was this review helpful to you?
The Love Did Set
Indeed, there is much to unpack in this series. Unfortunately, rather than trying to deal with it with any cornerstone to reality, they choose to deal with it in the make-believe world of BL. One can guess what the direction is going to be and indeed you would be correct. It is your standard use of tropey storylines. The story tries too hard to cover too much and fails in almost all of it. Through all of this, redemption does happen. While there are certainly redemptive arcs in the storyline, to get there requires twisted logic and implausible plot twists. Plus, the angry rich father who then ‘sees the light’ and/or rejected mother who begs for forgiveness routines are getting way over used and are now officially trite. Each one of those redemption arcs required and should have had a whole episode in and of itself. Regrettably, there is also no serious screen chemistry between the protagonists although they ‘look’ good together. One cannot act out sincerity; it must be felt. It needs to come out of the screen and grab you. Unfortunately, those two lacked a passion in their relationship. They only went through courting motions.Was this review helpful to you?
