Lives up to its promise but struggles to surpass expectations
I’ve been following BounPrem for a few years now and Between Us is by far the best story they’ve been in.If you haven’t managed to catch UWMA (you totally should, btw) and are wondering whether you have to watch it to understand Between Us, I have mixed feelings about this.
The developments between Win and Team are much more rewarding when you consider what the audience already knows (or rather, doesn’t know) from UWMA. This sequel is intended as an expansion pack of UWMA, essentially filling the gaps of how Win and Team’s story started and evolved. And wow, it really provided a surprising glimpse into their relationship.
Perhaps it’s the length of the series (two whole seasons + fluffy side stories in Between Us Special), but I thought Win and Team lost steam after starting out pretty strong in the first half.
The good news is, one of the side couples (Tul and Waan) actually caught my attention. I became increasingly invested in this couple over time, and by the final few episodes, I was way more interested in them than WinTeam.
All in all, Between Us is a perfectly good show with emotional depth, character development and excellent romance. It lives up to its promise as a sequel to UWMA, BUT, struggles to surpass expectations. Perhaps with all the anticipation that has been built over time.
My full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/between-us-2022-review-bl/
Was this review helpful to you?
Straight outta Wattpad
Kudos to South Korea for always having innovative plots that tend to involve time travel or supernatural occurrences.This time, it’s a cursed soul looking for a specific person, and desperately trying to fall in love with them because if he doesn’t, they will end up dying. Just like in all their previous lives.
If not for this plot, the behaviour of the director would actually have been reallllyyyyy creepy and unacceptable. Imagine taking your employee out for dinner on his first night and telling him, “We need to date” / “If you don’t date me, you may die.”
Frankly, the whole thing gives me the heebie-jeebies and all this could have easily been a HR/police case in the real world… But I’ll cut this story some slack because it’s clearly straight out from Wattpad.
Let's be clear: I don’t have anything against Wattpad-esque shows. Sometimes, a cringey, back-you-up-against-a-wall-and-tell-you-they-won’t-hold-back-any-longer show is exactly what you need. DWBMD is big on these tropes, but thin on the actual love story. It was puzzling how Yudam and Dongbaek fell in love rather quickly, and I couldn’t vibe with their chemistry that much.
The plot, while seemingly promising at first, fell flat on the execution. It was super confusing at some parts and took about 6-7 episodes (OUT OF 10, MIND YOU), for the show to start revealing the backstory of what’s going on. And by the end, I was still left with some unanswered questions.
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/director-who-buys-me-dinner-2022-bl-review/
Was this review helpful to you?
Started off really weird, got better, but still didn't hit the mark
Big Dragon starts off with a wild, wild night. It’s ratchet, ridiculous and actually makes no sense, and in fact, the first two episodes are extremely problematic.At the beginning, Yai and Mangkorn's behaviour is insufferable and unlikeable. Let’s be honest, eye candy aside, there’s really no excuse for their toxic behaviour. But it does get better. Somewhat. (You'll be glad to know that there is some character development for Yai, who becomes significantly less bratty towards the end.)
Compared to many other BLs, this entire series is only 8-episodes long. You’ll have to excuse the lack of depth behind each character’s backstory because there really wasn't much they could do with the time they had. In general, the story arc felt a little rushed – it’s unrealistic how their animosity turned into friendship (and something more) so quickly, and any affection towards each other felt unexplained.
But at the end of it all, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to feel about this show or its main characters.
Cramming all the backstories and a foe-turned-friends-turned-lovers romance into 8 episodes is surely a bad idea.
Full review on asianblreviews.wordpress.com
Was this review helpful to you?
Main leads are super trashy, I stayed for Ping and Tap instead
Fahlan, the first male lead, is a walking red flag - he has no qualms gaslighting his lovers and exhibits alarmingly toxic behaviour when it comes to pursuing others. In the initial stage, it’s unclear if he really has feelings for Sherbet or just wants to win the game of pursuit.The other male lead, Sherbet, is not any better as he’s drunk half the time. His personality is intended to be sassy, but comes off as arrogant and unlikeable. Both of them are constantly being surrounded by people but their hearts are empty, even if their beds aren’t.
At some point, I decided to fast forward the boring bits (read: all their lame misunderstandings) because their chemistry was nothing to shout about. For all its trashiness, the only reason why I stayed until the end was because of a side couple.
I’m a sucker for the friends-turned-lovers storylines so Ping and Tap. Ping thinks that his love for Tap is unrequited, and Tap does take awhile to come around. The process of how they came to acknowledge and act on their feelings for each other – starting from the small gestures and then progressing into more obvious behaviour – was really quite sweet.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/11/30/fahlanruk-2022-review-bl/
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
An original story with remarkable surprises
Through the interwoven stories of Mieko, Makki, as well as an older Eiji, More Than Words makes the point that all relationships have to evolve with time.The story takes a particularly interesting turn when Mieko decides to become a surrogate mother for Makki and Eiji’s kid. To the 3 of them, this is the only way they know how to move forward. It’s a way for Makki and Eiji to exist in society, and a way for Mieko to cement her indispensable significance in their lives.
And as the characters are placed under the ultimate test, their fraying relationship teases out the worst tendencies of human nature. I don’t want to spoil what happens in the end so you’ll have to watch it to find out, but the twists and turns that the story takes is remarkable.
The storyline is creative, emotionally wrecking and sometimes, deeply uncomfortable to watch.
More Than Words is a slow burn that you must be prepared to sit through patiently. There are moments where the show just involves 2 people having a conversation while eating a meal. It feels realistic and mundane, which adds to the charm of the show, but can get a little dull if you’re looking for more stimuli.
All in all, it's a truly original story.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/10/31/more-than-words-2022-review-bl/
Was this review helpful to you?
An elaborate ad for Oishi Honey Lemon but did I watch it still? YES
Thailand will never stop finding the most creative ways to sell stuff and Magic Of Zero is proof.Will tacky product placements and extended shots of celebs drinking refreshing 0% sugar bottled drinks stop me from lapping up content anyway? It’s LoveMilk, Dew and EarthMix, so don’t be silly. I’m watching it anyway.
This anthology is a reboot of some of the most popular GMMTV couples and basically gives you another chance to watch them be sickeningly cute together. What's not to love right?
But enough about the gay couples for now. I want to talk about Dew and Tu's storyline. I don't want to spoil anything for anybody but seriously, go watch it. I didn't even like them THAT much in F4 but this story was really cute.
Their episode featured a highly unusual plot that turned out to be a refreshing break from the usual GMMTV stuff. I would totally watch an entire series based on this story.
Also, in this episode, you get to see Dew’s character acting silly and cracking jokes. Totally different from his cool, moody self as Ren, so if you want to see Dew being a total CHILD, this episode should do the trick.
My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/09/28/magic-of-zero-2022-review-an-ad-i-would-gladly-sit-through-any-day/
Was this review helpful to you?
Laugh out loud funny moments when you least expect it
While Mama Gogo initially appears to be a Thai edition of Magic Mike, this show is so much more than muscle and empty gyrating. What Annie’s crew sells is in short supply in the modern world: A connection to something deeper.Amidst the roaring crowd and flurry of dollar bills, Mama Gogo makes the point that desire is complex, going beyond just a handsome face and a nice body. It’s about undivided attention and the ability to make others feel seen.
And that’s exactly what Chen (played by Lee Thanat) – my favourite character in the show – demonstrates even without shedding his shirt. I was worried that the debtor-collector relationship between him and Annie was going to be cringey and problematic but their relationship progressed in a really sweet (and surprisingly, not at all weird) way. Chen was the one who saw through Annie for who she is – a single mother struggling to do the best she can.
Earth’s character, Kampan, is supposed to be an antagonist in the show, but he’s not a typical villain. In fact, I have difficulty wrapping my head around his character. If I had to describe him, he’s like a real-life Ken (yeah, like Barbie’s Ken) but with a bit more depth and agency – sometimes, he comes off like a robot with a pre-downloaded personality struggling to masquerade as a human being. Not quite sure what to feel about his character but it’s certainly not Earth’s best performance.
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/08/30/mama-gogo-2022-review/
Was this review helpful to you?
I wanted to see more of the side couple (TimMai!!)
My Secret Love, while a decently produced production, is unfortunately not going to be anywhere near the best BLs out there.Some gripes I have:
The acting is not great (their crying is exaggerated and facial expressions sometimes out of control), the storyline is not fantastic (seriously? 2 college boys being literally blackmailed into producing BL content is problematic ngl), and some bits are kinda lame (college kids going around pranking people for content is so juvenile, and also, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE people land in a kiss after falling down?).
Do I recommend that you still watch it anyway? Yes, with some caveats:
1) You’re looking for a show that you can just sit and consume mindlessly without thinking too much into or pondering about the deeper questions in life. 2) You’re in between shows and you need a ‘filler’– doesn’t need to be 8/10 level (or even a 7.5), but please, no utter trash either – to tide you over until your next episode. 3)You enjoy slightly meta BL shows about BL.
Okay the third is pushing it slightly. But us BL fans have been spoiled by all the high-quality productions out there (and with more to come!), so run-of-the-mill BLs are no longer going to cut it. So this is, in a way, a happy problem. A very, very happy problem.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/08/26/my-secret-love-2022-review/
Was this review helpful to you?
Sadly not memorable
As with all Japan BLs, there's no such thing as plain and candid communication. The characters often spin an overthinking web of doubt and have to gently untangle it over the course of several episodes. In that aspect, STCBL proves to be lighthearted and funny (overthinking fools in love will always entertain!).Unfortunately, the show ultimately fails to make a deeper, more meaningful point on relationships and human nature.
I thought STCBL might explore the dreaded workplace taboo - how a senior-junior or supervisor-employee relationship can be problematic for romantic relationships – in greater detail. Perhaps I was expecting a bit more sneaking around to avoid gossip or prying eyes (many workplaces also have policies against fraternization). MmMMm, the tension from forbidden relationships… but nope.
The final 2 episodes also didn’t make much sense to me with lame misunderstandings getting in the way of their eventual get-together. Even when they finally became a couple, it was underwhelming.
I started off being quite excited about this show, but it lost steam towards the end. Was this a watchable, perfectly all right show? Yes. But was it memorable? Not really.
My full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/08/18/senpai-this-cant-be-love-bl-review/
Was this review helpful to you?
Ep 5 & 6 ranked a solid 9/10 for me!!
Close Friend Season 1 revives some of the popular BL pairings and thrusts them head-first into an anthology. Make no mistake, however, Close Friend is not a sequel to any of their previous series. Expect a completely new storyline involving familiar faces.With just 6 episodes, the series makes for a breezy watch but I don’t recommend you actually watch all 6 episodes. Some were just downright bad or mediocre. If it were up to me, I’d tell you to only watch episodes 5 & 6.
Ep 5: I'm not a fan of Zon/Saifah from Why R U but this episode was delightful. Unlike the usual modern college romances, this one is set in the 1990s. No smartphones, no widespread internet access. Instead, what you get is a charming tale on how 2 students living in different cities in Thailand fall in love after writing each other letters and sending items by post.
Ep 6: This episode offers a refreshing spin on the KimCop pairing. While audiences are used to seeing Mark completely whipped for Kit in 2moons2/Gen Y, their dynamic in this episode is almost reversed. Kimmon plays Jedi, a celeb, whom Ray (played by Copter) is obsessed with. Ray frequently makes use of VR to ‘interact’ with Jedi, but the lines between VR and reality start to get blurred when he meets Jedi in real life.
This episode is what I imagine a Black Mirror x BL crossover to look like, posing some fascinating, thought-provoking questions on how the nature of relationships might evolve in the future.
Read my full review of the season here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/06/03/close-friend-bl-season-1/
Was this review helpful to you?
Some plot holes and unanswered questions, but what a fascinating narrative
If you liked the sinister, somewhat depressing undercurrent of season 1, the second season won’t disappoint.Unlike season 1 – which focuses on Yeonwoo’s story – this sequel is an ambitious look into an entire network of individuals and organisations, going beyond the struggles of a single individual. It infiltrates a universe of drugs and organised crime where monos (people who can’t see colour) are cruelly exploited for their vulnerabilities. Pretty heavy stuff.
However, the story gets progressively sloppier as it frantically scrambles to wrap everything up in 8 episodes, so be prepared for some plot holes and unanswered questions. Many South Korean miniseries tend to cram way too much into short episodes, and the Color Rush sequel is no exception.
Season 2 introduces a new character in the form of Sehyun, Yeonwoo’s classmate, who also becomes his new love interest.
It’s unusual for sequels to introduce a completely new love interest, but guess what? I actually preferred the new guy.
Unfortunately, nothing really much happens between Sehyun and Yeonwoo, perhaps setting up the Color Rush franchise for yet another season. If season 1 was centred around romance, season 2 seriously placed romance on the backburner.
My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/05/24/color-rush-2-bl-review/
Was this review helpful to you?
A very hot mess. Literally.
The premise was so promising but I think it’s safe to say that The Tuxedo is a hot mess. Literally hot guys + a mess.The backbone of the story is really a bratty son of a business tycoon looking to have a tuxedo made by a gifted tailor. But then there’s also an evil father figure, a family feud, a background story about a childhood trauma and phobia, some other side characters that aren’t super important… Plus an obligatory unlikeable girlfriend(?) who gets in the way.
There are 1001 plots going on even though the show only has 8 20-minute episodes and very little makes very much sense.
The show really could have just picked a few things to focus on instead of wasting precious time on other plots. The Tuxedo may have sh*tty storytelling and less-than-ideal acting, but hey, incredible sexual tension between 2 attractive men in suits? Yeah I’ll somehow sit through the storytelling (or lackthereof), thank you.
Be warned, though, the tailor and the sad richboi go from 0 to 100 real quick (maybe way too quickly). One moment they detest each other, the next, they’re flirting aggressively and eating each other’s faces. I guess this is what they mean when they say love and hate are two sides of the same coin?
The romance is fast and furious, so if that’s not your thing, you may want to give this a miss. Or not. On the bright side, if it turns out that you hate this series, at least it was only 160 minutes of your life.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/23/the-tuxedo-2022-bl-review-a-very-hot-mess/
Was this review helpful to you?
Fluffy love story served well by a straightforward plot
Spanning 10 episodes, the series wastes no time with convoluted subplots and complex characters. It is served well by a straightforward plot with a healthy sprinkle of fluffy moments. And dimples.Despite their vastly different social backgrounds, Tawan and Mork somehow find a soulmate in each other. But then there are nagging doubts – Mork, a lowly-educated taxi rider, questions if he could ever deserve someone like Tawan because he isn’t as educated or wealthy.
In Southeast Asia, motorcycles are generally perceived to be of a lower status to cars but this notion adds to the charm and romanticism of the plot. There is something wildly intimate about motorcycle rides set against the backdrop of a city’s nightscape as 2 people cruise into an unknown future. Motorcycle = the real wingman.
My Ride is classic rom-com material in this respect, mostly glossing over the potentially thorny issue of class using a magic solution called love. It is a classic tale about how the right person was always right by our side. Best illustrated by this quote in the series: “Sometimes we don’t need the best person, just someone who’s best for us.”
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/20/my-ride-2022-review-fluffy-love-story-with-a-dose-of-dimples/
Was this review helpful to you?
Got off to a good start, then crashed
Straight up let me just get this out of the way: The acting isn’t great and the writing leaves much to be desired.So why did I find myself wanting more??? What surprised me the most about Season 2 were the kiss scenes, which were way above average. The kisses were neither one-sided nor flat and the exchanges were actually pretty smooth. Best of all? It had initiative.
I enjoyed the first few episodes a lot more than Season 1, which moved at a slower pace. In season 2, Valen unfortunately, still isn't the most likeable BL character around. He's immature, selfish, clumsy and awkward. Now compare this to Non – portrayed to be a way better character with very few flaws, so perfect that he makes Valen look like a joke. But… Non is rather bland and boring.
Is Love Area is trying to make the point that we tend to fall in love with imperfect, deeply flawed people, preferring to adore them for who they are even when faced with other supposedly better options? Sigh.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/03/07/love-area-part-2-2022-review-got-off-to-a-good-start-then-crashed/
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Thai series I watch are BL but I'm so thankful I made an exception
IFWT is a classic whodunnit murder mystery with profoundly tragic undertones. You can expect a highly compelling narrative arc, with twists and turns that will keep you engaged throughout. Every step closer to solving the mystery comes with dark secrets being unravelled, threatening to destroy the harmony of existing relationships.While social media and public scrutiny can be brutal, what is more frightening are the secrets that push people over the edge to do terrible, terrible things. And the most frightening of all is having to spend every waking day living with the consequences.
The idea of consequence is salient in IFWT, with pertinent questions on moral responsibility being raised. There are simply no straightforward right answers in this series. Every character is marvellously flawed in their own way and often, what appears to be seemingly irrational behaviour driven by instincts ends up perfectly relatable, even if questionable.
Apart from excellent writing, stellar acting also carries the story through most of the crucial scenes where emotional depth and complexity is required.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/02/12/in-family-we-trust-2018-review-not-a-bl/
Was this review helpful to you?
