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Continuing Saga
It is a worthy way to spend your time as you will see two imperfect older men come to grips with getting older, slowly grow to love one another more deeply, and enjoy each other’s company mainly around the dinning room table. They would and I would conclude that their lives are content. Perhaps there is nothing better than that!This is a story not about food but about the companionship of them and others. Along the way is the food! It would seem that food is their center of attention. And this series does a masterful job of almost making it feel like you are watching a cooking show, what with its almost step-by-step instructions on how to cook many meals. But it is the finished product that is really the aim and goal. It is their sitting down, eating and being together that is reinforcing, not the food.
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Done by Adolescents Making It Special
How can you possibly not love or at least fall in love with this sonnet of adolescent love defined by the sparkle of the light from stars in the sky? The story is as old as time perhaps and to a degree overdone but still manages to capture our hearts, especially if it has a modicum of sincerity to its presentation. And this does. Mainly because the actors are so young themselves and their lives are so full of anticipation that it is reflected in their acting. It is surprisingly well done and very believable. This is a cute and adorable series that is just a joy to watch. The editing is a little suspect to me, and I do wish they would have made the transition between the scenes a bit cleaner and clearer. Things changed so abruptly that it was hard to follow at times. The sound on occasion was a bit uneven as well. But it is well worth your investment to watch this short series and take note of three rather outstanding young actors who are on their way up in the BL world.Was this review helpful to you?
Bittersweet Yet Hopeful
This story itself is far from simple. Although it has a unique quality of seeming like it does, it is quite complex and very deep, and I loved it because of its deceptiveness. The story is bittersweet and profoundly sad in parts yet focused on making life worth living. This is a very odd story and one that ought not to have worked. There are very unpleasant and shocking realities in this series that are painful to watch. What the beauty of this series has done has turned the ugliness of those realities into redemption and allows for the simple acts of relating to each other in soft, gentle, everyday ways to reignite our love of life that was lost. I know this short weird rather unorthodox hesitatingly named a BL which it is not, but that does not mean it has no imagery of love. It is impactful, heartfelt, and mournful but in an oh so quiet, tender, and moving way. It touched me deeply.You can read my full review of this stunning series at BLBliss.com.
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And It Did Not Quite Reach Me
It is so well written and so well produced and has such adorable moments, I just wondered why I was not more moved by it. And ironically, who captured my heart were two individuals that were supporting characters, both showing more personality and more gravitas than the two main actors. In addition, with the theme of this story having been done so frequently, it has lost its mojo, so to speak because it just did not stand out enough. The friends-to-lovers-in-high-school is so overdone, that there is nothing creative about the premise anymore. I was only entertained at the beginning and at the end of this saga. I loved the two supporting characters the most as they gave this story a sense of purpose and direction and they filled the middle of this story. However, the theme of this story has become too trite to be interesting anymore. I really wanted to like this series more. Sigh.You can read my full review of this series at BLBliss.com
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Lost Its Way
This is a touching, sentimental journey of young love that was brilliantly done in the beginning but then got lost in its time journeys to recapture its past. While in some ways the story was exceptional, its execution was unfortunately lacking in logic. Initially it had me hooked on the strength of its young actors playing the parts of their younger selves. Simply put, they were brilliant. This is a story of destiny but not on a linear trajectory. It is a destiny of love between two young men who were meant to be together but had to traverse different directions to get to the promised land. Something seemed missing and to was obvious that the physical age of some of the actors was definitely not compatible with the characters they were supposed to be portraying and it showed in the uncomfortableness of the chemistry of the performances. The ending seemed empty to me as well. Unfulfilled to be sure.You can read my full review at BLBliss.com
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Buyer Beware!
We have an American expression that adroitly sums up this BL. ‘What you see, is what you get.’ The title puts in a nutshell what the series is all about. It is a story of two K-pop stars who are joined together to form a “Business Gay Performance”. I must further admit I was intrigued by them and its story. Perhaps because their acting is surprisingly entertaining and good and while I am guessing it is not much of a stretch for them to play K-pop stars since that is what they do, they were still rather convincing on screen. Honestly, this series overall is entertaining. It could have been better had it been longer and had a greater commitment to its message. For when it came to the actual fulfillment of the relationship, there was none. My further warning to viewers is: Buyer Beware!Was this review helpful to you?
One of the Best Light-Hearted BLs
It has been a long time since I sang the praises for a light-hearted Thai BL, but this one richly deserves it. Except for a few weak spots (which I am choosing to ignore), this is one of the best, if not the best BL of this genre from Thailand in a long, long time. Although the story is nothing new, and it does have its ineffective moments, overall, it simply works because of the strength of its two leading men. And overall it was all done with grace, dignity, with a sense of beauty and quiet devotion. And one of the only times I can remember when we see an actual gay couple committing themselves wholly and fully to be together. Not just romantically but in every way. For this, this series deserves a special distinction. Kudos!Was this review helpful to you?
Could Have Been A Masterpiece
What a joy this series is to watch. It is soft, gentle, touches the heart with its warmth, child-like innocence. Yet, there is something initially very sad about it. It makes you think about how fast children must grow up and sometimes miss out on their childhood; only longing to want to return to it when they discover its pleasures. Its message is a bit cryptic and hidden behind a façade of childlike behavior, but underneath is hiding a child really wanting and needing to be – a child. But the flaw in what otherwise would have been a near perfect series is the astonishingly clumsy and deflated kissing scene. It is awkward and deliberately filmed so as to not show the mouths touching in either kiss. That was a cheap shot and diminishes completely the caliber of this series and its intent. I am not a fan or artistic trickery to show a kiss.You can read my full review of this otherwise great series at BLBliss.com.
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The Best Off-Beat BL!
This series is phenomenally unique and truly a work of art. It is really Avant-Garde and told through the eyes of a straight couple as they themselves struggle with their own demons. The saga parallels three couples seemingly unrelated but, in truth are all grappling in their own way wanting to become accepted and to move forward as lovers. My thinking is people will either love this series or not and ‘see’ it in toto. I loved it because it felt like a mind-bending journey.If you want to read my full review of this rather astonishing series, go to BLBliss.com.
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Unquestionably, one of the best in 2023!
This story is one of the most remarkable BLs in redefining the concept of what love, is or at lease perceived, especially how we see it between men. It reconceptualizes its beauty, enhances its endurance, redefines intimacy, and solidifies the virtue of a relationship. And does this all through the magic of fantasy. This narration broke down all the traditional stereotypical Thai BL stories and told a saga so deeply personal and profoundly moving that you became a part of its journey. One of the best BLs for the year 2023.See my full review at BLBliss.com
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Magnum Opus!
Sheer perfection. Without exception, this is one of the best acted and most talented ensembled cast of actors/actresses I have seen in a long time, perhaps ever. This is a love story between two young men. I know it comes from mainland China and it is not supported to be a love story let alone a BL, but it is, and they know it is. It is way too obvious to be otherwise. It is a story of love from the beginning. Sure, it ebbs and flows like a river, but the one constant is, like any river, it flows in one direction. And that direction is always towards a deeper and more profound love not only for each other but for life in general. You cannot possibly summarize this series that would not equal the length of this series. All you can do is try, inadequately, to capture its impact on you. But surprisingly, it is not so easy to do. Yes, it is pure artistry, but it also has a magical quality about it in the sense that it makes these characters come to life. Every single one of them. You feel them. You sense them. You ARE them.To read my full review, pleas go to BLBliss.com.
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FINALLY! An exceptional BL
This is by far one of the best BLs of the year. It tells a story, extensively and completely, with just enough angst in its entrails to make it entertaining but does not control the narrative to the point it overwhelms it. That is hard to do as usually the disquietude becomes center stage. What takes center stage here? Nothing but the love relationship and in a good way.However, overall, this is an exceptional BL. Soft. Gentle. Sweet. Relatable. Charming. And broke the mold of your standard Korean Bls in when it focused on communication and establishing an adult-like GAY relationship. More importantly, not being afraid to do so.
You can read my full review of this extraordinary BL at BLBliss.com.
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Solid story, surprisingly well-acted and HOT!
The play on words of the title of this series is so deliciously appropriate and nuanced that it simply further enhances this rather well-done series, despite its negative reviews. I liked it – a lot. Does it have issues? Yep! A lot of them, but it is still a very worthy series. It is a hot, steamy, erotic, and an adult BL that has a point and gets to it quickly and easily and does not rely on a lot of cliché themes to get there (well, just a few, but they are cute). This ensemble cast has some of the hottest and most sensuous men (and women) in it. They are all handsome, gorgeous, erotic and guess what - they can act! And they were not afraid to get into the lustful sex scenes and express it. That is such a departure from the typical and usual Thai BLs and is so refreshing. And the story itself was quite entertaining. A simple one, really, but made too complex by having too many characters and too many subplots. Not that they were not interesting; on the contrary, they were. However, this series is so short that the major focus simply should have been on the main characters.Was this review helpful to you?
This series should be a contender for a position in the Top 10 for 2023
I know. Originally, I ignored this series when it first came out because of its opening credits. I was so turned off by its corniness, that I dropped it. But then when I read the summaries, I decided to watch it. Frankly, despite its rather shoe-string budget and less than stellar production quality, this is one of the better BLs for 2023. It was hard not to be swept up in the story and its theme. What was its theme? Pure goodness. Seeing life through the eyes of someone whose life is painful, debilitating, and unquestionably compromised. To be optimistic is to be saintly. This is an exceptionally well-acted series that plays to their individual strengths. This series richly deserves a lot of accolades. Perhaps it is an idealized version of adolescence, but it even so deserves our respect for showing us how nice love can be portrayed under rather adverse conditions. Without pity but with acceptance. This series brought tears to my eyes. On an emotional level It touched me. Not for pity’s sake but for helping me to see life more fully and positively.Was this review helpful to you?
I Loved This!
What a joy ride this is. It is a simple basic story of ‘first times’. This is an astonishing and brilliant look at how serendipitous, random, and interesting life can be with the possibility of a total stranger completely enveloping your world with more than perhaps you were expecting. All of it is so subtle yet profoundly directional. An exceptional and brilliant short. A stunning and beautiful slice of life story where two people by sheer randomness comes into each other’s lives, influences them, and maybe, just maybe, connects them in ways neither one dreamt would or could happen when they woke up that morning.Was this review helpful to you?
