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Infantile
This series is awful. I wish there was a kinder way to say that, but there is not. I wish in all honesty it had never been made as it wasted the talents of all the performers in this series. Or, at the very least, did not let them shine very much. What made this story so bad is its worn-out plot, cliché storylines, and predictable outcomes. For sure, there are a few touching moments but not enough to save this disaster of a series. And unfortunately, the acting is unchallenging and superficial. The series is filled with every trope in the playbook. If one of these series used even less than half of the standard ones, I would be ever so grateful. They continue to treat gay relationships like sitcoms. It is just a show. No depth. No sincerity. No exploration. No realness to them. It is like ‘playing house’ when you were children. All pretend; no substance. They cannot even kiss without the world falling down on them or even worse, fireworks going off. Please stop with the fireworks when two guys kiss. Overall, this is a childish, immature presentation of gay and straight teenage relationships, with a tired and trite plot, and I am sorry to say poorly acted and I am guessing more so poorly directed to make them all appear to be immature schoolboys and schoolgirls.Was this review helpful to you?
What's cooking? In this series, Nothing
This story is your standard Thai rom-com droll series, treating gay relationships like infantile, immature, puppy-love versions of Pollyanna tales. Not that it is not cute; it is. Not that it is not entertaining; some of it is. Not that it does not have good messages and themes; it does. But it is tedious, boring, and unchallenging with not a shred of originality to the story or plot, although the food looked awesome. And the actors all (save one) could have done this series sleepwalking. In other words, it is standard stuff, cliché-driven, with lots and lots of triteness thrown in for good measure. This series gives new meaning to the term ‘light-fluff’. Again, there is no point summarizing the story. Take parts from a slew of Thai BLs and you got it. Their love story weaves and bobs through many what seem like endless banal episodes. Both acting as if they are in grade school rather than in college. The acting in this series by the main performers is standard. It is cute and some parts of it were entertaining, and they delivered their lines well. In terms of intensity of a relationship, there just was not any.You can read the rest of my review of this series at BLBliss.com.
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Mix Bag except for some phenomenal acting
Starting out quirky, then funny, this series loses itself in the middle and then finally lost its direction at the end. Which was so sad. If this series had ended like it had started, I would be leaping with joy and proclaiming it one of the greatest. I tip my hat to the newcomer Tar Saengtien as Noey Watphlu. He frankly is astonishing to watch. Having only been 17 at the time of this production, he displayed a natural ability to act that I became completely mesmerized by his performance. Satita Sinsamnao as NidNhoi, the sister to Noey also had a noteworthy and outstanding performance. Her dead-pan characterization with shades of sarcasm and brutal honesty was a thing of beauty to watch. Both are worth watching this series just to see them act.Was this review helpful to you?
Sensual and Raw
This is an astonishing very short movie (24 minutes) that captures more in that short period of time than most other BLs do in 12 episodes. It is crisp, exact, intense, erotic, and has a clear message. There is no endless bantering to get to a story. It is there in your face almost immediately. It is not pretentious nor contrived. A major caveat is the stumbling block to a solid relationship. The acting is raw and genuine with a story that feels true and real.See my full review at BLBliss.com
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Moving, Erotic, and Melancholic
This series is a quiet gem and so brilliantly acted. Kudos to Oishi Goro who played Ikuo with a grittiness yet displayed a quiet human understanding of the role. Takezai and Yoshida put their souls on the line in this series and made it feel raw, gritty, and utterly intense. It is profoundly moving. Hard to watch without becoming a bit melancholy yourself. The beauty of this series is (perhaps for me only) to realize that no matter what happens in their lives or in their current relationships, they shared with each other an intimacy and connection to each other that touched their souls and impassioned their deepest fantasy of lust that very few people ever get to experience. That can never ever be taken away from you. No matter what, that is worth celebrating!Was this review helpful to you?
TOXIC!
This is one of those BLs where you will have quite a difference of opinions. Frankly, I am a bit surprised that anyone found this series even remotely entertaining, to any extent an affectionate BL story, or even well-acted. It actually sickened me to watch this series as a gay person to see so much toxicity detailed under the guise of love. And apparently audiences fell under its spell because it is presented so prudently.I do not want to spend too much time on the toxicity of this series especially for those of you that have seen this and still see it some sort of ‘love story’. Even if I numerically listed the breadth of examples, you will still not see its harmfulness. And that saddens me. For those of you who have not seen this series, then look out for them with an open mind; they are glaring and obvious and disgusting and you cannot sugar-coat their effects. Hopefully, you will see them.
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Duplicitous & Wrong
Watching this series is an experience. An inviting one. While it never felt deep and presented somewhat tongue-in-cheek, it is far more veiled than its flippant appearance. It has hidden messages everywhere, often disguised and gravied in humor and heartfelt tugs. It also had all the discerning elements of a love story, which tends to make the theme ‘ok’ The series was like watching a comic book story come alive. We kind of knew these people were not real and their problems and issues were all manufactured, with their solutions assembled right out of the trite and cliché playbook. But it was just so much fun to watch, right? Now let us talk at length about the baseness of this series, which I am sorry to say negates its positives. It is not necessarily out in-the-open but camouflaged and easily glossed over. Frankly, I am shocked that it is being given such a free pass. Interestingly, this series romanticized a sex-crazed, sexual abuser who treated people like they were his personal pets (snakes) along with a manipulative loser who is focused on revenge and getting what he wants using questionable if not illegal methods. And for this, they are praised and regarded as a beacon of BL romances? There are obvious rape and forced nonconsensual sex scenes throughout in this series that is appalling and no amount of ‘cuteness’ can cover that up. In case one needs to be reminded, simply because one is male and the perpetrator is male, it is still RAPE when sex is forced upon that individual! No in any way shape, form, or statement is NO! Otherwise, it is sexual abuse. Treating individuals as if they were property to do with as you wish, is reprehensible and vile. Overall, the way gayness is portrayed is demeaning and derogatory in so many other ways as well. It is hard not to ‘like’ this series but intrinsically, one has to force oneself to do so. The concept is called “Cognitive Dissonance.” Look it up. Become familiar with its meaning as it is important when those of us are trying to point out the something that seems ‘ok’ is not, especially in the BL world of fantasy. This is not love. Its message is wrong, and it is morally reprehensible and misguided. Rape is rape Forced sex is sexual abuse. Treating gay people like a commodity or stereotypically is plainly amoral. Cajoling and brow-beating through physical and emotional force to have sex or ‘like’ you is not courting nor romance. It is bullying.Was this review helpful to you?
Sound Message with An Awful Story
Just because the story was awful does not equate it with bad acting. It was a very sell acted and tight production. What was awful about it was its justification of emotional abuse to get its point across. This was one of the most abusive stories I have ever witnessed. Sure, you can euphemistically claim it was for their 'own good'. This is the reasoning for abuse and the excuse for using it. Worse yet, is the abusers think they deserve this. This was a hard series to watch and I wanted to dropped it several times but stuck with it because of its quintessence.See my full review of this series at BLBliss.com
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Pit Fall
This series is full of lust and desire, but truth and honesty, not so much. I have seen my fair share of bad BLs, but this one stands out for having no scruples. None overall and none with any of the characters. In addition to one of the most idiotic and obtuse plots I have ever come across. In a nutshell, a completely unrealistic storyline with sinister characters and a lot of spurious acting as well. The screenplay is simply awful in this series. Most of these characters are caricatures and they come across that way. It is overblown with self-indulgent personalities, a poor script, mediocre acting, absolutely exasperating main characters with me absolutely loathing with a passion the entire characterization and approach of Charlie, a storyline that is sick and demented, but great very rehearsed love-making scenes. Absolutely none of this worked of me.Was this review helpful to you?
Stop Romanticizing Bad Behavior!
I have seen a lot of BLs but admittedly, this series is one of the most problematic and deeply troubling stories I have ever seen. Cinematically, it is treated so superficially and almost cavalierly one might miss its profundities. This is yet another complex and troubling story on both psychological and emotional levels that is coated in superficialities that, I cried, after watching. Sometimes, series so deeply affect me because I realize how reflective of a society’s mores they are and how hallowing and unpleasant those normative standards seem to an outsider looking in. What looks like acceptable behavior in essence should not be. I find it all so tragic and sad. I wonder again if I am projecting my own set of scruples onto a society that does not think like I do. But I honestly do not think so. Some behaviors ought to be universally condemned as wrong and a society, any and all, needs to agonize over considering that not everything that is standard is good. You can read my full review of this series at BLBliss.com.Was this review helpful to you?
Entertaining but not memorable
I am sorry to say but this series is ok and entertaining but pretty standard stuff. And it is full of tropes and the romance borders on being boring to watch. But there really is so little of it to watch. The acting in this series is very good and the singing is passable if not good in a few songs. But the musical production numbers simply suck. They are not good and do no present these guys at its best. Frankly, in about 2 weeks I shall not remember much about this series as it is pretty forgettable. The only thing that is noteworthy is the connection and comradery of the band group. This is really a romp through nostalgia.I have my full review of this series at BLBiss.com.
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Entertaining and fun!
To someone unfamiliar with the customs and culture of Taiwan, this type of a story can be intriguing. The story development is hit and miss in the beginning, but in the latter half of the series, once the relationship is established, it becomes enjoyable. Overall, this is an entertaining BL series that honestly does not take itself too seriously and as such provides for some amusing anecdotal interactions. In a strange way and one I cannot fully explain, they make a cute couple and I want to see more of them. It has been set up for an obvious Season 2 and I do hope there is one as I am oddly compelled to watch them. I find them intriguing and enjoyable.Was this review helpful to you?
This series has no future
Honesty, this series was doomed from the beginning. While the premise was promising, they just did not know what to do with it. They provided no direction for its actors. From a production standpoint, this series falls completely flat. Much of the dialogue is just plain amateurish and came across as if it was not even rehearsed. The sound in several parts was uneven and faded in and out. For the most part, the performers were unchallenged, and it seemed like the performers were told to act drunk even if they were not drunk or drinking.Was this review helpful to you?
One of the Best!
This is an astonishing and brilliant BL series that is touching with its simplicity and grace. It is a solid love story from beginning to end with us seeing the foibles of two people in love. Not because they question their love for each other but more so as to what it might do to their friendship intimacy. If there was ever a definition of soulmates, these two young men are its examples. It was simply beautiful in its simplicity. They were predestined to be together.The other couple were destined to be together because they complimented each other to make a whole.
This is a phenomenally soft spoken series that is reflective and a picture of joy.
You can read my full review of this at blbliss.com.
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Brilliant!
This series is unfortunately under-the-radar and overlooked. That is sad as this is one of the better (BL) series out there. I hesitate to call it a BL because that is only one component of this remarkably complex but easy to follow story. The acting in this series is near perfection because of its set-up. I was so mesmerized by this story that I binged watch this series which I rarely do. It is a bit uneven in places and a bit too much time was spent on one particular character, but that does not distract from this series. The 'song' is distracting and at times it was torturous to listen to it being sung again and again. But overall, this series is one of the best for this year that I have seen.Was this review helpful to you?
