PPBongi

Fell Apart At The End

Undoubtedly no one is going to like my review. I LOVED 95% of this series. It was charming, witty, and magical. But then they ended it on such a ridiculous note to simply please the audience. As a gay man, I found the ending insulting, degrading, and yet again forces gay relationships to fit into the mold of straight relationships. All I can say, since I do NOT want to reveal any of the story lines, is I quite literally cried. Here was what could have been a BL fantasy masterpiece that simply became a logical farce. It forced the story into societal norms rather than personal norms. If you want to see why this series so upset me, you can read my entire review of this what-could-have-been masterpiece at ppbongi.medium.com. I am sure that there will not be a lot of people who will necessarily agree with me and perhaps I analyzed it to its extreme, but this series just missed it for me. I was deeply saddened.

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Nothing Fake About This Story!

I just loved this saga and the journey between two of the most endearing protagonists I have seen for a long time in a BL. Both men are intensely camera friendly and uninhibited in feeling comfortable in all areas about making us feel as if they were a genuine couple. An astonishing first for a Japanese BL. I did not feel as if they were filming them as much as we were merely observing them. A big difference. What I hated was the title of this series. It is just awful and wish they had come up with something more reflective of the true nature of this series. Just as I was ready to give up on Japanese BLs being able to forthrightly show real signs of affection, these two unhesitatingly and with passion and commitment went where others would not go. Their affection, especially their kissing, was so sincere and honest, it almost became a sensuous display. No hesitations. No external or internal cringes. No closed lips. No camera angles from a million miles away. Just full-blown passion. And wholeheartedly so. How refreshing. They showed no signs of being uncomfortable or ashamed or embarrassed to hide how they felt with each other. I loved their complete connection to one another. One of the best for this year!

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There are 3, 698 Reasons to Love This Series!

I found myself thoroughly absorbed in this love story that is told unreservedly and unconditionally only from the perspective of the two individuals involved. It is displayed in soft, gentle tones, almost like a whisper. With cloudy overtones to the hues of the cinematography even though, ironically, it is a story where the central focus is photography. It is a serendipitous happenstance that turns out to be a long journey to destiny for two young men. This is a saga from a slice of life of two young men who are so deeply in love with one another with one so haunted by the thought of losing the other again that he is willing to not love again. Remember they are restricted by a society that does not value the commitment of two men living together. It felt more like an environment of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” So, there is no obligation, no social contract, no foundation, no pledge for staying together other than their own embrace to each other. Which for one party felt overwhelmingly fragile and very scary. I got it. Finally, I understood. The series concludes in one of the most creative and original ways I have ever seen, and I thought it was so authentic and astonishingly moving. What slightly distracted from this series but only a bit is its lack of passion especially in the kissing. Although it is certainly better than the vast majority of Japanese BLs of late, it still lacked a depth of believability to it. Make us truly believe you are in love with each other with at least one good, passionate, erotic, exotic kiss. Is that really so hard to do?

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Perfection!

This series completely flew under the radar. I am so disappointed in myself for not reviewing it when it came out, for this happens to be one of the better BLs to come out of Taiwan in a very long time. I loved this series. It completely captured me. Its screenplay, the story itself, and the acting are all top-notch. Ironically, this story is as old as the hills. Full of cliché and tropes, it was all put together in a compendium that was smooth, polished, and so entertaining. Its story flowed, made sense, and was performed with complete conviction and integrity. Not just with the protagonists but also with the astonishingly brilliant child actors who played the younger protagonists with such charm and foundational integrity. We literally get to ‘see’ how the younger protagonists got to become their older selves. The supporting characters are also very sublime. A few even have quirky personas that gave this series an extra kick of spiciness. The ebbing and flowing of the development of their relationship are all based on circumstances that make complete sense and are so relatable to what happens in our own life. This is one of the most joyful, captivating, emotionally rich and gratifying BLs to come along in a very long time. Not in a Pollyanna fashion but in a frank and appurtenant fashion making it feel that a gay relationship can be ‘normal’.

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Tot, Top 10 BL for 2026!

This series impressed me with its insightful portrayal of gay love. By far, it is one of the best Thai BLs to have been produced in a very, very long time, with one of the better acted as well. And I do not say that for mere puffery. I was completely and totally absorbed by this astonishing historical/fantasy series. This is a drama best experienced by thinking of it as a theater-in-the-round play, rather than a lakorn. Its nuances and chains of events have to be focused in general otherwise one could get lost in its details. Perhaps that is its deficiency, although I found its cinematography uniquely inspiring. It requires a certain embracement of concepts, at least for Westerners, that are esoteric in nature. One must be absorbed by the story itself to appreciate its evolutions. Truthfully, I do not understand the criticisms of this series. It is frank and honest and an exceedingly beautifully portrayed period piece. Did it have stereotypical characters? Perhaps, but it was indeed reflective of the times. Gayness in the early 1900s was NOT accepted; rich privileged women were entitled to the man of their dreams. This story merely shows this to be the case. However, Khun Yai and Kaewta fell in love unashamedly in a time when love between two men should not have been and privileged individuals did not necessarily marry for love but for status. Karma had different notions for all of them.
One of the best BLs for 2026 and am glad to say so with complete conviction. You can read my full review at BLBliss.com.

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Chosen Masterpiece!

The best way to describe this series is that it is off-beat and quirky. It is also warm, gentle, loving, peaceful, reflective, tender, devoted, relaxed, reverent, nurturing, and supportive. Have I left anything out? Oh yes, it is joyful! And underlying it all, is a powerful message for change. A change that will come. I could have quickly finished this series, but I deliberately did not want to. I wanted the warm snuggly feeling that came over me while I watched each episode to not leave me; so, I spaced out the timing to watch this series as long as I could to feel that pleasure.
This is a story about a ‘family’ that serendipitously forms almost by fate. It looks like all the members are lonely but in reality, they are not. They are unique individualists who have carved out singular spaces in society for themselves. But there does come a time when companionship becomes a necessity; this is their journey to amity. While the story may seem simple, it is uncommonly intense. It covers so many planes of human connections that it almost becomes overwhelming in scope.
This is one of the best gay stories I’ve seen, blending gentle storytelling with thoughtful commentary on outdated social norms. The narrative was presented in soft, off-beat tones not meant to offend anyone. It powerfully suggests that gay people and other marginalized silent classes deserve full inclusion in the culture and perhaps it is time for them to be seen as part, and whole, of the society to which they belong.

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Good-bye Old Friends!

Watching the final installments of this trilogy, though, was like going back to your high school reunion. Filled with fond memories worn with age, and maudlin, all at the same time. It was also like finding out that your best friend from back when, had passed away. As with all things that end, there is sadness in the journey to revisiting this story. While it floods you with vivid memories and allows you to fondly remember the highlights, it was also traveling towards a conclusion to an inevitable finality. Hence, it permits you to properly languish and prepare for what is going to happen. The appeal of this series is that it is a saga about individuals who are misfits, struggling to find not only their place in society but more importantly also trying to find themselves and who they are. All are astonishingly lonely for a variety of reasons, mostly centering around being gay. Or being different. Painfully hard especially in a society that craves conformity. No doubt, anyone who watches this series will find at least one character that they can identify with and follow their path as the one closest to their own. This series, actually the whole trilogy, has a way of making all these characters quirky but so, so human and thus vulnerable. We understand them all from the beginning. We get to see, perceive, discern, and sense each even if only a number of them are with us briefly. No one here is different from us. No one. They are us.

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Epic For Sure But...

Unquestionably, this is a cinematic masterpiece. Its production value and cinematography are top-notch. Its storytelling is assuredly first rate. Yet, with all of that, I simply was not as enamored with all its artistry as so many others were. While it is great, I found the story pedestrian and frankly I got lost in its minutiae. I know we are not supposed to say that, but I honestly did. I found the entire story confusing to follow and at times pointless. That does negate the quality of this series; it simply means that I just could not get into it as much as others since I did not find the overall story all that engaging. This is a hazy arching love story that from the very beginning I did not understand and maybe that is why I could not and did not invest so much excitement in the expansion of the story as I should have. While the love relationship between the two protagonists was somewhat absorbing, I found the development oddly inconsistent. You can read my full review at BLBliss.com.

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A Deeply Redemptive Story

While I have no way of scientifically testing my theory out, I am guessing that this series will be way more poignant for individuals OVER 40 than under. Moreover, its cogency will also be greater for those of us who are way, way over 40, even if it takes 12 episodes to get there. This is one time when the belaboring to get to its efficacy is worth the wait. For the journey to get to the moment of love is the ethos and thus worth watching: it is reflective, pensive, wistful, bittersweet, yet so astonishing fulfilling. Indeed, this is one of the best BLs to come out of Japan in a long time. This is an astonishing and touching love story that is more deeply discerned by those of us over 40. Yet will be understood – someday – by those under 40. Give it time. You may eventually see yourself as Suzume. This does end up being a redemptive story. You can read the full review of this fantastic series at BLBliss.com.

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Great Story So Disappointed In The Acting! Shame!

I was a bit surprised as to how inward and esoteric this series was. It was prodigiously reflective. I found myself surprisingly moved by its content and the detailed struggles of the major players. It is not just a BL; it was also a story about verity. To be sure, maybe too much scope was covered in such a short period of time. However, I appreciated its thoughtful efforts in coveting normal issues of everyday people in warmly touching routines. The screenplay is very good overall for this series. And admittedly, the individual acting is good to very good. Where this series utterly failed is the execution of its very theme. Although they were trying to convince us that they had, they never did. Love. Where the acting completely and I do mean completely failed and collapsed is trying to persuade us, one, that they were a couple, and two, they were in love with each other. It was obvious that the two of them had little to no screen chemistry together. I did not believe for a second that they were a ‘couple’. They were tense, uncomfortable, awkward, and insincere when together as a couple. It showed on their faces and in their movements. Secondly, ALL their kissing scenes, were ‘dead fish’ kisses. Honestly, I have never seen worse kissing in my life on screen from two guys. They could not even pretend to like it or enjoy it. Both looked like they were going to vomit. Their lack of physical connection was simply appalling.

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A Dark Comedy Worth Your Time!

Don't let the naysayers sway you! I found this to be full of dark humor with a good sprinkling of sadness to puncture its levity. It is a story about two astonishingly handsome yet despondent young men. Full of life yet both having given up on it as well. Although this series is short, it portrays an acutely innermost story between two men that were never meant to meet, yet did. Forced circumstances allowed them to fall in love. Although they were not supposed to; they did anyway. I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It let us look at two rather pleasing-looking guys in the here-and-now that I could believe in. And these two actors put it all together and made it work and made it feel genuine and honest.

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THE Most Intellectually Honest BL This Year!

This series starts and ends with an intellectual bond. The two of them begin confabulations to present to one another who they are. As they deliberate, their walls break down and what we see is an organic attraction that leads to a physical intimacy not nurtured on an emotional level but purely an intellectual one. The storyline is breathtaking and the dialogue between the two is smart, witty, stimulating, although not always easily understood. Or I should say, perhaps not easily translated into English. Obviously, what they said to each other in Korean touched them more deeply and profoundly than we could possibly understand. All we can see is their journey to loving one another on a different level than we are used to. These guys are just two ordinary individuals who met. They are not your typical or traditional BL archetypes. They are us. Two very lonely young men whose presence stimulated their minds before it stimulated their bodies. What we are watching is a marriage of mind and body in tandem. Simple. Basic. Passionate. Love that covers and encompasses each of them and both of them.
Don't let the naysayers dissuaded you from watching this. If you truly love BLs, this one is for you!

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One of The Best!

This is one of those dramas that, once you begin to reflect and remunerate, it more deeply affects you than perhaps it did when you were watching it in the moment. Indeed, this is a remarkable and almost surreal symphony of emotions. Feckly brooding and doleful, yet somehow sympathizable and relatable. My initial reaction was to label this series as ‘almost getting’ there, but as I started to write this review, and began to conjugate my thoughts, I realized the narrative was way more than an ‘almost’. It was epic. I found myself thinking how deeply this series acutely affected me and understood that its quintessence was supposed to do exactly that. It felt emblematic because if you see the characters and sense who they were, you grasp their temperaments. Suddenly, I completely understood them and their natures. More importantly, the story transposed me to being both protagonists. That is rare when I could identify and relate equally with both leading figures. I saw myself in both at various times within my own life. The key to its magic is to see it as a chronicle of peeling back the layers of the personas of the characters. One of the best this year!

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Wolves in Sheep's' Clothing

This was indeed a very involved story of crime, corruption, and mayhem. I am assuming it was trying to mirror or channel, at least a little bit of “KinnPorsche.” A very mafia-type flair was established early on with the projection that some protagonists may not quite as bad as others. Of course, it is simply based on what you are more willing to turn a blind eye to compared to other options. I could not relate to any of it in the sense of being able to find anything ‘good’ with any of its characters. The protagonists were ALL bad. I am fascinated with how one can take immoral and nefarious characters and marry them with illegal actions/activities and somehow try and make the story feel like they are do-gooders. Or somehow worthy of some respect. They are not. They are criminals and are doing criminal activities even though at times it might seem for the right reasons. If I am going to be truthful here, I honestly paid little attention to the story. It was just too abusive and criminal for me to even remotely value. You can read my full review of this series (I did like the bad guys) at BLBliss.com.

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An Exceptional Story & Misunderstood!

Occasionally, something comes along that touches your soul in a way that you were not expecting. I am quite old, and I have buried many experiences in my life, but this small gem helped me to evoke lost memories that were uncannily close to the content of this story. Perhaps I am alone here, but I simply loved this story for its romance. It paints romance in its purest form – carefree, youthful, deciduous. In a way that only happens once, if ever, in one’s lifetime. If you are fortuitous enough.

The intimacy is serendipitous, intense, fervid, and fills your life with a burst of joy that you will never ever experience again. It is your first love. But your first love with a person who is everything you dreamt that paragon would be and wanted to be. He was your knight in shining armor, your Prince Charming. Your Romeo. Your Adonis. Everything you imagined a fairytale love affair would be. I remembered mine and my experience was such ecstasy and therefore, I understood this BL series at its core. While my ending was certainly not as dramatic, my fervor was. Despite the diegesis’s many flaws, I only saw its beauty and the passion for the underlying message of its storybook love. I wish others would see it in this light as well.

This is a fantasy love story. It starts out that way and ends that way. Unfortunately, that point was missed or overlooked. Maybe the realm of fantasy based too much in today’s tangible world is too much for many to believe, or perhaps it just does not/cannot exist anymore. In any case, I am deeply saddened. You can read my full review of this remarkable BL at BLBliss.com.

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