Maddy_XoX

Follow The Hype!

1000 Stars is wonderfully different from GMMTV's usual series and revolutionary in the BL world with openly gay characters and supportive friends/family! The acting and plot alone deserve ten stars. Earth and Mix's chemistry was off the charts! Their shared looks held more emotion than some kisses I've seen. Tian and Longtae's friendship was so pure and a great edition. The scene where Tian is trying to count the stars will have my heart forever; finally, someone told him his life is his and not someone else's. That last episode ripped my heart out and left me in tears with 'goodbyes' from everyone and Phupha coming in from the background at the wedding. The way Tian let go of that second hug in the airport and the forehead kiss😭! There are still things I didn't like and want to talk about. Tian is Tian, not Torfun; that heart is his, and her death should not have been made to feel like Tian's fault. Tian has gone through trauma over and over again and hasn't even gotten proper apologies from so many people. I understand why Phupha was mean to Tian, but he's no saint either. He was lying and making Tian seem like a bad guy when Phupha himself didn't know the whole story. Shout out to Tian for going through so much shit and still never forgetting that he was there to teach the kids; he always showed up. With all that said, this drama earned every bit of hype it got and will be something I recommend to friends.

Read More

The Angst Is Worth It!!

I know. This drama takes less than a day to finish, but I enjoyed it! I completely disagree with those who say all the angst wasn't realistic. There were so many layers to this plot, and it was so well written!
Jiwoo went back to his hometown, hoping Seojoon would follow because Seojoon said that if Jiwoo was having a hard time he would go to him. Jiwoo felt lonely, probably a little unwanted, and it's mentioned that his self-esteem is low. Seojoon is likeable and funny, he's good with people and popular. Jiwoo saw that and felt like he wasn't good enough and that all his feelings about Seojoon - "Don't have frequent calls with others and don't laugh. I'm the jealous type. I won't let you do it. All this time, you acted like it was nothing. I've been holding it in all this time. Had I said it, I was afraid it would affect your job." - this would damage their relationship. Since Seojoon would clearly do anything for him, Jiwoo knew that if he could say how he was feeling, Seojoon would stop taking roles and stop appearing on shows which would be horrible! Seojoon is a great actor and Jiwoo didn't want to take that away from him. Jiwoo felt like the problem, so instead of talking to Seojoon, which we see in a flashback is difficult for him to do even about simple manners, Jiwoo left.
I adored all their cute and romantic scenes! These actors once again delivered! I would highly recommend watching it if you liked season one!

Read More

Damn

A tad unrealistic with the tornado, out of nowhere, but pretty good so far. I like the slow revealing of everything, and the episodes feel more than an hour long. Slowburn is how I prefer to have a romance unfold, and the found family elements are appreciated well still falling in line with the plot.

The community of the North Korean village is funny, and I like how confident Se-ri is in the unification of North and South Korea. The slow but sure reveal of Se-ri's trauma and the relationship of this to her family is a rather delicate process the directors have done well. The community the women of the North Korean village have*Real Tears* The support they gave Ms. Ma even after being told not to!!!

Jeong-Hyeok is so serious and doesn't have any clue how funny it is 😆!
I like how he pouts after Se-ri gives figure hearts to all the guys.
He cares for Se-ri and is getting her stuff to make her feel safe and himself trustworthy, especially because she didn't trust him about which way to go in the forest. The candle scene was beautiful, and I think the first time Se-ri saw Jeong-Hyeok as more than someone who will get her home. My favourite scene is the campfire because he gives Se-ri his jacket! Jeong-Hyeok invited romance, I'm afraid. His whole, I'm not protecting you, I'm just looking out for you attitude is great. And Se-ri knowing his I'm pretending not to be in love with eyes, incredible.
The last 20 minutes of ep. 6?! the goosebumps and near tears?! The stray tears that did fall during the snow-hug, and the tears that fell when Jeong-Hyeok told Se-ri to tell him when she sees and he'll find her in ep. 8?! Ep.10 >< The guys trying to blend in!? Also, the fact Se-ri just came back over to the South was a little wired and felt kinda like a plot hole, but *Shurg*. Se-ri scolding Jeong-Hyeok like a child was very funny and the whole scene with all the guys was definitely a little bit filler but also pretty cute. The scene in Subway when the guys find out Se-ri is awake, adorable!

Jung Man-bok deserves to be talked about as well. I like him, and despite his position, he is trying to be a good, honourable person. I change my mind, he's a dirty rat boy. NEVERMIND!!!

Seung-Jun is not my cup of tea, but he is funny in his ridiculous ways. I'm not a fan of his flakey ways, but it's like that one guy said, "You are trying to be human and a con man" Seung-Jun shouldn't be both, he's not good at either, but I think he could be better at being human. I admire him; I don't always agree with him, but he is changing and I can like that. DID HE REALLY HAVE TO DIE?!

Seo Dan's mother and uncle are the epitomai of brother/sister duos and the chaos that is siblings. Dan, herself isn't my favourite person, older but never wiser and holding on to things decades old. I am rooting for her and Seung-Jun though. Also, love how supportive Dan's mother is! The growth we saw Dan go through during those last few episodes!

Read More

Rain is a ditz and Payu is the only person who knows what's going on in his head!

Rain, Payu, Sky, and Pai were acted amazingly. I loved their scenes together and apart. It was interesting to have the couples in the same drama but with their own set of episodes. Of the two couples, there isn't one I liked more. Which is odd, considering I tend to root for the side couple. But, then again, it didn't feel like there was a side couple. In fact, I missed Rain and Payu when it was Sky and Pai's turn.
Something similar between Rain and Sky is that they both become more innocent/childish once they get with their respective boyfriends. For Sky that made sense. He felt safe and probably let some mental blocks down. For Rain... I think he was just being more submissive to Payu? Which isn't a bad thing! Just something I noticed.
I wish we had seen Payu with his hair down, and the constant Chelsea boots instead of steel toes in the mechanic shop were driving me a little crazy. P'Aon, Nui, and P'Joy were funny. I thought more would happen with the whole illegal race thing! They brought in this whole plot point and then bearly used it!
I'm glad Sky came clean to Pai, but I would have appreciated seeing Gun get the life knocked out of him! He fucking gang raped a minor and then had the audacity to claim Pai had sent him after Sky! And the whole kidnapping event with Rain? Give my boys a break!
My favourite couple moments were 1) Payu having to lean down ever so slightly to kiss Rain after Saifah brings him to Payu. 2) When Pai puts his forehead against Sky's when Sky is sick.

Read More

Wholesome Factory?

This was so wholesome😭! I consider myself a genius for figuring out that Hashimoto likes Akkun and not Aoki. Quick to finish because it doesn't drag on. All the episodes have something exciting or interesting in them. Okano being a tad homophobic but changing (?) his mind was great! Ida having supportive friends is fantastic too. Ida trying to understand why Aoki is afraid of being out was wonderful to see since Ida hasn't experienced homophobia directly. Ida taking Aoki's worries/problems seriously instead of brushing them off was an incredible show of communication that is often lacking in BLs. The last scene with Hashimoto and Akkun being responsible for turning on the Christmas lights was adorable!

Read More

Don't Watch If You Cry Easily

Maybe I'm scoring this so high because I'm emotional right now, but all I want is an ending where Bridy and Jia-han end up together ㅜㅜ! Though it takes a bit to get me crying, I got misty-eyed for a little with this movie. The soundtrack was great, and the movie was amazing! It was a little hard to follow at times, but when I got confused, it was explained quickly. When Jia-han called Birdy and played him the song through the pay-phone, it was heartbreaking yet so tender. I was often talking to the characters as if they could hear me, and the scene with the old man and Jia-han made the protective older sister in me scream! In the bit where the boys were sitting on the rock together, the narrator says, "We agreed to study for the entrance exam, and then never saw each other again." It had me yelling at my laptop, "No, let them be happy!'. As a Canadian, it was cool to see the ending bits be in Montreal(?)! (Even though I'm from BC). And at the end when Jia-han invites him up for a drink at the place he was staying at and then birdy declines; just heart-shattering. I kept saying, "Don't run away again!". And then when they kept saying 'Goodnight' and I remembered when that other girl had said it meant, I (wo), love (ai), you (ni), love (ai), you (ni), I gasped out loud. The first 15 minutes with Jia-Han's friends beating up that other boy made me pause the movie and say out loud to myself, "I don't know if I'll be able to make it through this." But I did. In 1987 I know it wasn't uncommon for things like that to happen - hell, it probably still happens now - but it still kinda shocked me. I would 100% recommend this movie to people!

Read More

God Damn!

This drama is beautiful, cunning, and deceitful. Well, watching, I could rarely guess what was about to happen. Shao-Fei, Tang-Yi, Zhao-Li, and Jack acted remarkably well. All relationships in this drama felt natural and had a sense of real-life growth that wasn't fast-paced or weird. The little moments between Tany-Yi and Shao-Fei had me dying! Like when they got kidnapped and, Tang-Yi had his head on Shao-Fei's knee😍. THE FUCKING TEA SCENE? Tang-Yi went, *Shrug* "Better make him my boyfriend." The scene with De and Tang-Yi made my blood boil, but it was addressed and not brushed over. You can also see the minute Shao-Fei knows he's falling for Tang-Yi! Plus, the I like him, zero f's given by Shao-Fei was immaculate. Our side couple isn't to be overlooked either! They had a totally different vibe from the main couple and brought even more feelings with their story. Their table kissing scene sticks in my mind even now and when they goofed around in the water😂. This BL proved you can have a good plot, well-acted characters, and no unnecessary drama. I would 100% recommend this drama to friends!

Read More

To live Or To Die, That Is The Question.

This is a medical drama with a very minor romantic subplot. If you're dipping your toes into the world of BL, start here.
The topic of euthanasia on humans is fascinating! This is my first time watching a drama that talks about dying with dignity and 'my body my choice' about death. I can't lie, one of my worst fears is an accident that permanently paralyzes me, and if I had the option, I'd take the out. The romance in 'Spare Me Your Mercy' - great title! Either could be read as 'Spare me, your mercy' or 'Spare me your mercy 🙏🏻' - plays a semi-significant role in the rising action of the plot, but overall felt inconsistent. Thui and the Doctors' best moment was the morning after falling asleep together, but that felt out of character for Thui. You could argue it's because he was sleepy, but that feels weak. I never felt fully convinced they're into each other, and their chemistry was lacking. The open-ended style has never been something I enjoyed, and it hasn't impressed me here either. I think it's a half-assed choice to leave your watches guessing when we all know what happens next won't be good for anyone.

Read More

A Refreshing Watch!

This was different from a regular BL because Century of Love watches like a drama! The overall experience is better; you aren't constantly forced to watch characters behave like jealous children or see adults overreact to every situation they're placed in. This could've been marketed as a love arrow between a straight couple, and much of what happened would stay the same. It feels superfluous when talking about a queer drama, but I hope Century of Love can start some real process towards BL and queer media that isn't solely focused on the gayness of its characters.

Big props to the casting crew, all these actors made their roles come alive! There was never a part of me that felt a plot point or a character was too outlandish or simply not believable. It was so funny watching Daou be called Grandpa and Great Grandpa while looking 25; his way of dressing was hip yet modest, and his old man ways of thinking, he sold San's energy to me.
Those kiss scenes 😏.  The romance of San and Vee was just -! It was a joy to watch them overcome and conquer their fears/insecurities together and separately.

This is such a solid BL! It should be way more popular with this stellar cast and sweet romance! Plus, the soundtrack!

Read More

You can't escape what fate writes for you!

Three pecks on the lips in a Japanese BL is crazy?! I never thought I would see the day. Granted, all kisses were staler than an opened pack of 8-week-old airplane almonds.

The acting is brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed how animated his expressions are and the drama he brings to everyday situations. The tears for his brother, the overthinking invitations to hang out, the accidental aiding of a Kikuchi getting bullied, and all to avoid being the recipient of a love confession; amazing. Mob smelling people to try and find Mr. Right was pure comedy! Eating the chocolate making him realize all he'll lose in his fear of gaining, 10/10.

This BL is bursting with tropes, as it should be, and one of my all-time favourites is interlacing fingers for the first time! I'm sorry, but there is a level of tender affection delivered in the small moments that simply can't be replaced by the big confession scenes or passionate make-out clips. God, I had forgotten how cringe some tropes are! The kiss to "wipe" off food from someone's lips, I can't do it! The second-hand embarrassment is real.

I like the sentiment that everyone is the main character of their story; you can't be the 'mob' if you fight to be invisible. Besides, even if you are a background actor, someone will still find you irresistible. Also, the irony of the main character being called Mob isn't lost on me ><.

Read More

60 inch T.V.'s have the best love stories!

The quintessential black cat-golden retriever romance!I loved Yechan's actor. He did an excellent job playing a loveable himbo without making it awkward to watch. Yul had great character development and I'm glad he got to pursue music. The community being there for Yul after his accident was heartwarming, and the closeness of the village is so sweet. I think Yechan's mom was probably my second favourite character!
The overall plot is very simple, but the drama as a whole is exceptionally rewatchable. I appreciated the lack of awkward scenes in general as the secondhand embarrassment has been getting out of hand in BL's lately.

Read More