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A bit rushed and incohesive
I came for the sapphic storyline and stayed for the child welfare aspect. All storylines besides those should have been gutted. This movie had a lot of potential to be more straightforward, cohesive, indie, and cinematographic. But it fell short of what it aimed to accomplish with too much going on.Still, there are nice aspects to the movie. The acting was good, and the characters were interesting. One of the things I liked was, oddly, the winter city vibe throughout. It felt like every person Horigai met was a warm respite from the cold outside world. Overall, I'd recommend to watch this if you want a sapphic movie that is slightly indie and ambiguous.
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A Funny Slice-of-Life Series
I truly love this series and it has a special place in my drama heart!I'd be lying if I said I didn't come for the bl. But I stayed for the absolutely hilarious and sweet moments between them and the other couples, too. Many moments are either absolutely hilarious or heartwarming. Another perfect aspect of this series was the beautiful and hilarious soundtrack. The names of the songs and the songs themselves perfectly fit the vibes of their scenes (pay attention to their titles, you won't regret it). It has such a wonderfully nostalgic playlist of Korean songs, so even if nothing else, stay for the soundtrack!!
One of the few cons about this series is that the 4th couple (aka the young fiances) drag the show down. They have barely any moments together, and the few that they do have are boring at best. I also really wish less time was focused on the main couple and more time was focused on the gay couple.
If you want a lighthearted, hilarious, nostalgic, slice-of-life type of drama, then I thoroughly recommend this series!!
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Wake Up Ladies Season 2: Very Complicated
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Even better than the first!
Compared to the first season, this season focused even more on romance. Thankfully, it delivered a wonderful portrayal of various types of romance, such as LGBTQ+, age gap, fluid, and more.There are many more crises, mysteries, changes, twists, and complications compared to the previous season, as well as more characters. Everything and everyone ends up contributing to the main plot and although the ending felt a bit rushed, it was great overall. I will say that the GL does not last long, but the reason as to why makes sense. This season, just as last, is able to keep both friendship and romance at the center of attention while still mixing in other elements. I ended up liking this season even more than the first since it felt more polished with better-developed characters, so I definitely recommend this season if you've seen the first!
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Making HISTORY in GL!!!!
I'm 1000% sure this series will be my fav GL of the year (maybe even of all time)...Once you watch the first few seconds, you'll immediately see the gorgeous cinematography, acting, character writing, and high production value. It's very obvious all the care and thought the team put into every scene. And it's also super well-executed and interesting that we're getting a GL that takes place in a PRISON!!! BL, you better take notes.
Something I've been missing from most shows in general is characters that make me want to know their life stories. Usually, there's a boring lore dump out of nowhere and that's that. But here, I'm genuinely interested in everyone's stories and why they ended up in prison, even the supporting characters.
Quick rapidfire if you're still on the fence about watching: mysteries that pull you in, amazing sound design and color-grading, writing is amazing, off the charts chemistry, and believable and gritty fight scenes.
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Best RomCom GL!!!
GLs are just starting to rise in popularity and this show should be the reason why!! This series feels like if Cherry Magic and Ossan's Love had a lesbian child - the funny over-the-top misinterpretations of an office romance is exactly what we need.This one is pretty interesting since neither character is innocent, but instead, plain ignorant. This makes for a perfect amount of tension. And I have to say that both unique characters are pretty likable with their own charms: Hiroko is a sort of bad girl turned good, while Ayaka is a bit of a good girl turned bad (not perfectly accurate, but this was the best way I could describe their dynamic).
Very few GLs are worthwhile and well-executed at the moment, but this one is the exception. If you want to be ahead of the trend, I 100% recommend it!
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Beautifully underrated & A MUST-WATCH for any working adult!!
Maybe it's because I'm a Gen Z introvert. Maybe it's because I work in corporate. Maybe it's because mundane interactions with anyone are super difficult for me to navigate.But my goodness, this show hit me HARD!!
Few series ever show realistically cold workplace environments, the burnout, or interactions that slowly chip away at your spirit, let alone weave in an interesting supernatural element. But this BL does.
Akihito's character arc is so genuine and beautiful that it makes me see a lot of myself in him. A lot of my generation is now entering the corporate workplace. Throughout this process, I still ask myself: How do I make myself seem capable? How should I speak with my colleagues? How do I handle the mistakes I've made? Even people who have decades of corporate experience may be in a similar boat. Feeling like they're barely surviving in a world built for the naturally charismatic. I found myself being comforted by this short series, even taking some communication inspo.
I'd describe it as being like Cherry Magic but removing the fluff and comedy, and replacing it with a cold ambiance, existential crisis, and realistic improvements to navigate your work life. Overall, good chemistry, but amazing writing, plot, acting, soundtrack, editing, and cinematography. Definitely recommend to anyone needing something comforting and relatable.
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A Beautiful Continuation of their Story
The word 'Beautiful' perfectly encapsulates this series. The story, the sounds, whether a summer or a rainy day, the characters, and the people in their lives all come together to make it a beautiful and comforting watch.This series adapts the story from the manga and movie into something unique. The world of two beautiful souls who have been neglected in different ways; they meet and form a beautiful connection. While this version is familiar, several changes have already improved the overall story. My expectations are high.
A bonus is that I'm already in love with the actors' interpretations of these roles and look forward to watching their chemistry unfold. I definitely recommend this one!
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Characters that Break Stereotypes
Besides what's already been said, I'd like to center this review on the characters themselves.I hated My Weatherman and My Beautiful Man, and I've seen some comments comparing Takara No Vidro with these bls. Maybe it's because, on the surface, the relationship seems like a one-sided crush between a kind airhead and a stoic cool guy. But this can't be further from the truth in this case.
Takara is a relatable guy who isn't cold but instead straightforwardly speaks his mind. I thought he'd fall into the bully popular guy trope. But Takara is kind and isn't afraid to smile, laugh, and tell Taishin exactly what's on his mind. Credit to the actor because his subtle eye movement shows exactly what he's feeling.
Taishin is also a game-changer in that he speaks his mind right away and owns up to his feelings. This is refreshing considering that a frustrating pattern in BLs to keep the "suspense" going is to wait until the last second for MLs to communicate their true emotions. I just wish we could've seen more of his past and things that make him more personable.
This is an overall well-put-together bl. Takara and Taishin have worthwhile chemistry, great acting, and a comforting atmosphere.
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Heart-Fluttering Moments Ahead in this
I'm not lying when I tell you that this series has made my heart flutter several times within these first 2 eps. And that rarely happens. The acting and dialogue at the most significant parts catch me off guard in the best way possible, just like they do for Minato!!!Something else I find very charming and unique is the heart-warming moments from Minato interacting with the older adults and everyone else in the town. It's common for BLs to forget that their characters are real people who interact with and live lives that don't solely revolve around their love interest,😠so this smaller detail is really refreshing. And the story has already progressed so much in only 2 eps that I feel like I've watched an entire season - no need to worry about being bored or feeling like no progress is being made! The only negative I can see is that Shintaro (the love interest) is a minor (17 yr), but I'm hoping the series handles that aspect well.
Overall, I'd recommend this Japanese BL to anyone looking for something youthful, light-hearted, funny, calm, and slice-of-life.
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Like 2gether but BETTER!
MSP shares a similar theme as 2gether when it comes to music, deeper backstories, and youth. BUT after watching this first ep, I must say that I already love it so much more!First of all, I can already see Tinn and Gun's amazing chemistry. There's a good balance of funny jabs at each other, adorable heartfelt moments, and verryyy long gazing into each other's eyes. And without spoilers, it seems like tension will grow more with more details and reasons being exposed.
Also, the music and soundtrack is chef's kiss! In the first ep alone, we got 3 beautiful songs that tie into the themes of the show with their lyrics and vibes. They're absolute bops and sound so refreshing.
The comedy overall is actually funny (humor in Thai shows can oftentimes get tiring fast). Even subtle gestures, faces, and actions add to the comedic flavor of youth without going overboard. The actual story isn't super unique, but I'm hoping that similarly to Bad Buddy, the execution of the show will bring something new to the table.
Overall, I definitely recommend you giving it a watch if what you're craving is something musical, youthful, funny, and less dramatic. Especially comparing it to most of the upcoming BLs GMM will be releasing, this series is an easy watch and a breath of fresh air to help relax and heal your soul!
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The BEST Korean BL EVER!!!
Despite being only 8 eps, this series was able to deliver as a great BL in general, but also top all other Korean BLs!Even though the series takes place in college, don't be fooled! The storyline, characters, acting, quality, and everything else were fresh, exciting, and perfectly executed! Most importantly, the actors' chemistry was what really sealed the deal for me. Who doesn't want to see two beautiful Kpop idols fall in love? Another nice touch was there were several LGBTQIA+ characters including the main couple. Each episode was also able to keep me hooked and invested without getting too complicated. Overall, I would recommend this for anyone looking for something youthful, lighthearted, romantic, artistic, and simple.
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A Second Chance Exploring Your "What-Ifs"
It's already clear the amount of fantastical potential this series has. Time traveling in itself isn't anything new, but this still feels fresh by adding an unexpected actor pairing, great production, and BL to the mix.Even though I was initially skeptical of Krist and Gawin's chemistry, I'm not anymore. As many have pointed out, Krist really shines in this role. His portrayal of Kawi boosts the cute and unpredictable flavor of this series's comedy, while still representing his darker emotions when need be. And Gawin brought not only acting skills but also charm and rizz to the table with the insane number of enchanting gazes he gave within ep1 alone.
Seeing how Kawi's changes caused an interesting ripple effect through time-traveling makes me eager to keep watching! It's more difficult to get supernatural concepts right compared to other genres, yet Be My Favorite has the potential to be a surprising GMM classic.
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