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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?
Just Light Fluff Splattered With Cuteness
Sometimes stories that are told on a quiet level are soulful and impactful. This story, while told softly and quietly, is not. It is told so quietly that you barely hear it above a whisper. What I mean by that is, the love that connects the two main characters is only visible for fleeting moments and mostly hidden away. There are no high-highs or low-lows in this series. We honestly never get to know what makes these two truly adorably enchanting guys tick. This series showed no signs of strong emotions throughout thus giving it more of a feel of acting out parts rather than feeling the parts.Was this review helpful to you?
Hot Story, Cold Execution
It had an interesting plot to it and was meant to be a more adult-themed story but it just did not believe in itself enough to actually do it. Too bad. A greater concentration of the development of this relationship. All the superficial fluff along with the banal and silly interludes with two sidekicks (as cute and adorable as they were) added nothing to the story but merely diverted attention away from the main theme. All the other ruses to try to convince us that one or the other was interested in someone else, seemed lame. There was so much to work with here. I wanted a story exclusively around the stunning and beautiful connection these two young men have without a lot of fluff, superficiality, or trying to make things fit into a contrived formulaic box.Was this review helpful to you?
180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us
1 people found this review helpful
A MASTERPIECE! JUST BRILLIANT!
Let me call this series what it is. A complete and total masterpiece. It is brilliant from beginning to end. Riveting, soul-searching, and a classical intellectual metaphorical representation of life. It displays truth, obsession, pain, illusion, weakness, strength, and heaps of sadness.It is the best BL drama certainly this year and perhaps ever. Brilliantly acted with a sharp, crisp screenplay. Outstanding.
Thailand's version of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
This is not your formulaic BL series at all. It is, in all honestly, one of the finest acting series I have EVER watched. I was riveted, absorbed, and found it so utterly unique and one of a kind.
This is worth your time. I would rate this higher than 10 if I could.
You can read my full review of this series at BLBliss.com.
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