One of the most overrated South Korean BLs
There's the promise of a good premise: handsome yet moody chef with an unhappy past meets a bright-eyed college student who comes to work during the holidays.Beautiful set design, check. Interesting premise involving a rooftop restaurant, aloof head chef and handsome staff? Check, check and check.
So why did it fail so miserably? In a show filled with flat characters, only Eunkyu had a vaguely interesting character arc. However, his story was so underbaked, leaving me to wonder why they bothered with it at all. The conflicts and tensions in the series (love triangle + the souring of a 15-year friendship) were also poorly chosen, bordering on illogical.
It’s as though they gave up on good writing and went, "hey let’s just put a lot of good-looking guys and make two of them kiss, this series is gonna sell for sure!!"
South Korean BLs are often not meant to have in-depth plot development due to the short runtime. But that’s no excuse for poor writing. If you only have 8 episodes, you better make it count with purposeful storytelling and a narrative that doesn’t have overly complex demands.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/28/tasty-florida-2021/
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What an underrated gem!
There are some secondary themes and subplots involving sports and the characters’ lives as athletes, but I wouldn’t expect too much on this front. Jeongwu and Jiwon’s relationship largely forms the backbone of the show.The series starts off with their blossoming romance that had me kicking my legs. What’s ridiculously adorable is Jiwon’s innocence and awkwardness when it comes to flirting. He frequently stumbles over his words and ends up spouting silly things in front of the person he likes, all as a result of his dating inexperience.
Jeongwu has no lack of suitors but it’s his first time falling for a guy. And let me tell you, the man is whipped – compared to previous relationships where he’s largely unaffected by conflicts or breakups, just being in the presence of Jiwon flusters him.
The couple are madly infatuated with each other and will take every opportunity to sneak kisses in. Very first love/teenage love vibes.
Verdict: Very cute couple! This is a gem that somehow went under the radar.
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I typically enjoy period dramas but this one was a flop :(
Unlike series like Word of Honor or Untamed, which are BL coded but technically bromance, Meet You At The Blossom is 100000% gay. There’s no ambiguity about it.Key criticisms of this series include its paperthin characters and weak plot. I don’t disagree.
Many good period dramas have a sprawling universe with many characters woven into a comprehensive plot. This takes time to develop. Rush it over too few episodes and you either run the risk of confusing the audience or wind up having to simplify the storyline. Both options are not ideal, and unfortunately, in the case of Meet You At The Blossom, it was a combination of both.
It was a little hard to follow the relationships between the different factions and characters, and the series got a little taxing to finish. The love story between Xiaobao and Huaien also felt poorly thought-out. There was initial chemistry that was quite promising, but all that quickly evaporated as the story went on.
Perhaps the storyline made their relationship seem lacking in depth? Even as I approached the end of the series, I remained utterly unconvinced of their love for each other.
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A really sweet BL that gave me butterflies
Shaopeng and Zixiang have both been called “useless”, but for very different reasons. In the business world, Zixiang is seen as a good-for-nothing nepo baby. In the eyes of society, Shaopeng is regarded as abnormal.But what is ‘normal’? And why should we live our lives according to the expectations of others?
Hearing and listening are not the same thing. Not everyone can hear, but they can certainly listen. And they can certainly communicate meaningfully too, although in ways which may not be the same as others.
Social commentary aside, I enjoyed every minute of the romance between Shaopeng and Zixiang. They had me screaming, kicking my legs and replaying some scenes.
Even without spoken languages, the magic is in their gestures and how they look at each other. It’s how Shaopeng seizes every opportunity to kiss Zixiang (man goes all in), and how Zixiang tiptoes to bring his arms around Shaopeng’s neck (they have a very cute height difference haha).
As the both of them learn more about each other’s world, they find the courage to be their most authentic selves. And gradually, their universes expand to accommodate each other.
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What a solid series!
Wow, this has all the elements that I enjoy in a show. Heists, crime and gangsterism, and BL – made even better by the fact that it’s YinWar.The storyline is not overly predictable and cheesy, and as a full-length series with 12 episodes, each around an hour to 80 minutes long, there were also enough twists to keep me hooked. I couldn’t stop watching this!
The characters are sufficiently interesting and well-thought-out. I love that the series makes subtle points about how poverty cycles and debt collection are interconnected. Its characters are repeatedly forced into making lousy gambles and regretting the choices they made.
Yin and War's chemistry is top-tier, as always, and their relationship is so lovely to watch. In Jack and Joker, their story is one of collective redemption. Even if you have gone through difficult circumstances and made numerous mistakes, there is always a way back. And there will always be someone who will have your back.
It’s not about one person saving another, it’s about how two people can bring out the best in each other.
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A letdown :(
The story was supposed to be new and original – an action-packed romance with a stockholm syndrome storyline. I had higher hopes for this series given the trailer, but it didn’t quite match my expectations.Ohm is a superb actor as usual, but Q (played by Lengso) is a supremely challenging character. While Lengso did a commendable job, some scenes left me feeling like he wasn’t ready for a role this deep. Perhaps it would have been better to start him out with a more straightforward BL. Or maybe I’m just an OhmLeng hater :( Because Kidnap hasn't convinced me of their chemistry.
Kidnap The Series is supposed to be so much more than just romance. It's supposed to demonstrate how relationships change after being put to the test. But I was disappointed by how these relationships didn’t have much substance to it at all. The conclusions felt unsatisfying.
I liked that the series featured themes of crime and corruption, which always carries the potential to be emotionally complex and morally ambiguous. BUT unfortunately, the conflict was resolved rather poorly and I don't know what point the show was trying to make. It's a shame that with such promising themes, everything was just so…underbaked.
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Old-school BL that belongs in 2020
Wow, I thought this type of BL was extinct. It was like I time travelled back to the BL heydays of 2020 when things were largely fluffy. But I don’t mean this in a bad way.The male leads in Monster Next Door are just so shy and innocent that it feels almost old-school in terms of its style.
Diao and God live next to each other but Diao, being super shy and introverted, avoids speaking to God face-to-face. Instead, they communicate by chatting on their balconies and leaving cute post-it notes on each other’s door. Aww. Don’t expect anything emotionally deep from this show. It’s not meant to be a profound romance or to evoke complex feelings.
Nothing much important goes on except for the progression of their romance and their changing relationship, which is so sweet that it’s almost syrupy. Towards the end, I also got a bit bored by the nothingburger conflicts but this show is perfect for when you want to relax after a long, tiresome day.
I was also rooting like mad for the second couple and wouldn't have minded more scenes of them!
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/10/16/monster-next-door-2024-bl-review/
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The uncomfortable question of why we can't love our brother
“What else can we be, if not brothers?” Unknown is a deeply affecting story about the intersections between family and romance.Based on the novel “大哥“, which simply translates to “older brother” in Chinese, the series unearths some unsettling questions about why it’s wrong to have romantic feelings for someone we call “family”. But what if the family member is not blood-related?
The show is self-aware.
This taboo is the major obstacle standing in the way of the protagonists’ romance, and is also the biggest reason why Qian experiences so much confusion regarding his affections for Yuan. Does he care for him so much because he single-handedly raised this boy, or does he love him like a life partner?
By the 12th episode, was I fully persuaded by Qian and Yuan’s relationship? I'm not sure, but they were so sweet I couldn’t help but find myself rooting for them.
Perhaps the actual question Unknown explores is what it means to belong to a family. In all its varied forms.
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A fun watch but the story is sooo scattered
Ahh, how do I describe this show? It is a hodgepodge of genres. (A word of warning: If you’re afraid of horrifying images and somewhat eerie sequences, this one might frighten you a bit.)The good:
GMMTV fans would love Midnight Museum for its stunning array of familiar faces. (My favourite side story was Bright and then followed by Nanon!!) Without spoiling the entire storyline, Midnight Museum was really ambitious and unique in terms of its plot. This was a commendable attempt by GMMTV to do something different, and I look forward to non-conventional storylines like this in the future.
The bad:
While some parts were so much fun to watch, the show has been criticised for its messiness, occasional plot loopholes, and a horribly rushed and bungled ending. The criticisms are not unfair. The initial episodes seemed like standalone stories, which was good fun to watch. But ultimately, this diluted the focus of the entire story and wider plot, which was really about the mysterious identity of Dome.
With an entire universe of cursed artefacts, otherworldly beings and the incomprehensible nature of spacetime, it got hard to keep up. By the time their journey reached its end, the conclusion didn’t feel as meaningful or satisfying as I would have liked.
Nevertheless! I enjoyed watching this. For the most part.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/05/07/midnight-museum-2023/
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Honestly not that great but I still finished it
Bed Friend felt over the top and frankly, unnecessarily so at times. While there was an abundance of spicy love scenes, some intimate sequences felt out of place and had awkward transitions. All this made the show slightly cringey and hard to fully appreciate as a realistic romance.Uea's character was disappointing. It sometimes seemed like he was constantly trying to prove how cold he is. I appreciate his backstory, but I think the writing/Uea's character was poorly executed.
But did I finish it? Yes, I did. Now, I even have a huge crush on Net’s smouldering gaze. No idea how he does it but am I living for it? Also yes.
All in all, if you’re coming here for superb writing and storytelling - don’t. If you’re here for the steamy sex scenes and lots of toe-curling flirting, yes, this might just be what you need.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/05/02/bed-friend-2023-bl-review/
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Wow I couldn't decide which couple I liked better??
In general, I wasn’t expecting the series to be this entertaining, but gosh, I really enjoyed myself.This series of misunderstandings and overthinking was presented in a quirky, light-hearted manner. The show also doesn’t devolve into the standard “i-don’t-like-men-it’s-only-muyeong” trope, nor does it create lots of drama in the entire process of discovering one’s sexuality.
But wait. There's also a love triangle! This could have been the premise of a different show or spinoff, so it would have been great if Oh! My Assistant had more episodes to flesh this out.
I’m glad Junseok as a character wasn’t made to be a total asshole for the sake of having an antagonist. I quite liked Junseok tbh, and I could see Muyeong being with either the goofy Seonho or the intense Junseok. Actually, by the last episode, I couldn’t decide if I was rooting for him or the male lead more.
Verdict: Needs 16 episodes instead
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/oh-my-assistant-2022-review-i-cant-decide-which-couple-i-prefer/
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Has the era of solid Taiwanese BLs passed?
At 12 episodes long, I can’t help but feel that the show could have been condensed in fewer episodes with less unnecessary drama as fillers for the story arc (i.e. repeated reappearance of the ex, family resistance) such that the storyline became completely diluted.My Tooth Your Love has all the classic romance (BL?) tropes. Main character with a past trauma thinks he doesn’t deserve to be loved. Tsundere main character 2 who is the archetypal ‘Perfect Man’. An ex that returns mid-series.
The series started off promising with above-average chemistry between a frightened patient and an insistent (and very handsome) dentist). Bailang comes with baggage and Xunan is always around to help him through it.
The main couple was pretty cute together, but I can’t quite figure out if the show was going for a fluffy patient-meets-tsundere-dentist romance story… or a story about two people working through their past baggage together? It seems like the latter but so much time was spent on other details, which is a pity.
One of the side couples had an interesting story that deserved a series on its own BUT I just couldn’t ship them. Perhaps it’s because he’s still in high school, or was it because his character was just so childish? Whatever it is, I just wasn’t feeling this couple. Sorry.
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/12/21/my-tooth-your-love-2022-bl-review/
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What a gem
I wasn’t expecting to see Earth Pirapat in a Singapore series, let alone a series where he speaks Mandarin, but well, what a gem this turned out to be!!Earth plays Tae, a Thai swimmer whose mum disapproves of his dreams. His dialogue features a combination of Mandarin, English, and a smattering of Thai, which is really quite amazing if you ask me – I cannot imagine how stressful it must be to deliver lines in (what I assume to be) a completely foreign language.
Compared to the other characters, Earth doesn’t have as many lines in the show, but serious airtime is dedicated to his story. So if you’re a fan of Earth (and swimming), yes, you might want to check this show out.
Plotwise, Victory Lap doesn’t have anything particularly well-developed or complex to offer. But unlike some other series which are all over the place, Victory Lap has decent storytelling and pacing. The story is also driven by its characters - each of the swim club members come with their own problems (and secrets) and I would have liked for the series to be longer so that there’s room to explore everybody’s backstory.
What you can expect from this show: A wholesome swim club story, some comic relief and romance, lots of camaraderie and friendship.
My full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/10/16/victory-lap-2020-review-earth-pirapat/
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A reminder of how you will never be 18 again
I expected the show to focus a lot more on the campaigning process, but instead, the show was just packed with fluffy moments involving the two going on meal/study dates and staying over (not complaining tbh).Told through the stories of different youths, About Youth is about living, breathing all the hopes and anxieties of being a high schooler.
It’s about friendship and first loves. Worrying about how your dreams align with your family’s expectations of who you should become. And keeping your grades up through the turbulence. About Youth is a reminder of how you will never be 18 again, rushing headfirst into the same myriad of dizzying experiences.
What was most memorable was the relationship between Yeguang and his overly domineering father, who struggles to display care for his son in a way that is understood. Yeguang desperately tries to reconcile the two sides of himself: an obedient son who will do anything to accomplish his father’s dreams, and his true self – a boy who yearns for some time to himself.
I would have liked to see more of Yeguang's evolving relationship with his parents, as well as how he would navigate his relationship with Qizhang. So yes, if anything, the show would have benefitted from having at least 10-12 episodes.
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/09/24/about-youth-2022-review/
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Everybody has somebody they can't forget
What starts out as an unlikely friendship at the neighbourhood laundromat transforms into an unsteady tension when Minato discovers Katsuki’s feelings for him. Is his affection that of an older brother who wants to watch over Katsuki as he grows older, or something romantic? In his confusion, he resists his initial attraction toward Katsuki, a task that only gets tougher in the face of Katuski’s relentlessly earnest pursuits.The relationship dances in circles for most of the series but their chemistry is unmistakable. Apart from looking wonderfully compatible despite the age gap, both characters were also well-balanced, each alternating between childlike playfulness and maturity.
Minato Shouji is about feelings that don’t go away, despite the passage of time – for both Katuski and also Asuka, another highschooler who has fallen for an eccentric man far older than he is.
As their story unfolds in a lazy seaside town where everybody knows everybody, it turns out that everyone has somebody they can’t forget.
My full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/09/15/minato-shouji-coin-laundry-review/
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