More food videography masterclass than BL
Unlike most Thai BLs, Bite Me moves at much slower pace. I’m fine with slow-moving shows but some scenes were needlessly sluggish.The biggest problem is that it has an underdeveloped storyline, which is a real shame because the storyline between Aue and Aek got off to a promising start.
The BL gradually lost its way. The show was set up to hint at both Aek and Aue’s development chefs, but this was hardly addressed. The strangest thing was that the introduction of potential antagonists (Mu and Wiphob) also turned out to be quite unnecessary. None of these characters or tensions were properly fleshed out.
Bite Me definitely succeeded as a food videography masterclass because of all the artistic food preparation scenes. But as a BL with proper drama? Nah, not even close.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/11/27/bite-me-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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Wow MarkJunior stole the show!
This is not my favourite college BL but with 24 episodes, it will scratch any BL itch.The series is anchored by ForceBook, but also dedicates a significant chunk of time to two other main couples: PerthSanta and MarkJunior. The love story of these three couples are spread across the 24 episodes in three distinct 'eras' that overlap a little with each other.
ForceBook is not my favourite couple and they’ve had a few hits and misses (my favourite so far is actually in Peaceful Property where they were a side couple), but I think Perfect 10 Liners is probably one of their better ones.
As for PerthSanta, the chemistry of this pair works surprisingly well – it’s the first time we’re seeing them on-screen, but this couple definitely has loads of potential. Personally, I didn’t really like Perth’s character, Yotha. I thought he was a little problematic and had red flag behaviours. Putting all these aside, I think Perth and Santa have really good chemistry. I think they could really shine if given a good storyline.
But I am 100000% sold on MarkJunior rn. I thought Wine and Faifah were excellently-constructed characters with a romantic development that made a whole lot of sense – their story was *IT* for me. I was rooting for this couple the entire way, they were so cute asfjkl;aspek.
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Weak resolution & ending but the rest of the show works
The initial worry was that this would turn out to be another F4 Thailand-esque bully-redemption-arc type of story, but in the BL universe. If you’re reluctant to watch this because you think Kanghan’s character is going to be horribly problematic, well, I’d have to tell you that you’re kinda right. But it gets better real quick.The first episodes are a hard(er) watch precisely because Kanghan’s character is downright insufferable and cringey. It’s nothing to do with Perth’s acting, mind you, but rather, demonstrating how Kanghan is in an awkward phase of his teenage life where he’s still processing his identity and self-worth.
Some commenters are quick to point out that Chimon doesn’t look like he’s too whipped for Perth, but I wouldn’t worry about this. The romance develops organically and has its sweet moments – more importantly, the actors are decent enough to carry the narrative.
It also has some pretty awesome side couples featuring Marc and Pawin. I’ve been following them since My Gear And Your Gown and I think they make a pretty good second couple.
In my opinion, though, the show also wasted a perfectly good opportunity to showcase more of Saifah and Name’s relationship, which had a completely different dynamic from Sailom and Kanghan.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/11/16/dangerous-romance-2023-bl-review/
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Unfair to hold it to typical BL standards
You can’t go in expecting typical BL material. But if you appreciate two troubled guys finding comfort in each other, this is it.With a little reading between the lines, there is still plenty of evidence to suggest that their relationship goes beyond just friendship.
As a detective, Ichiro is a stickler for law and order. A lonely young man with a tragic past, he rarely lets anyone in, mostly keeping to himself. On the other side of the law, Shiro is a young and ruthless yakuza leader who turned to a life of vice and violence after his sister’s disappearance. While he has an outgoing exterior and nonchalant attitude, this only masks his deeper fears of abandonment.
Brought together by a chance encounter, the yakuza leader and the public security bureau officer discover a more profound connection than they expected. They are the unlikeliest of pairings but what can I say? Opposites attract.
A fairly wide range of characters propel the show forward. The backbone of the narrative is a sinister plot involving a network of politicians, agents and gang members. And this is really what drives the show. The relationship between Ichiro and Shiro is, unfortunately (and disappointingly for some), secondary.
But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the story for what it is. Even the is-this-BL-or-not ambiguity.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/kei-x-yaku-review-2022-unfair-to-hold-it-to-typical-bl-standards/
Analysis of why I think they're more than friends: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/kei-x-yaku-episode-breakdown-why-theyre-more-than-just-friends/
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If I can't escape my fate, will you still love me?
Reset is essentially a if-I-could-turn-back-time type of story. Would we still make the same decisions, having lived through specific outcomes? As the name suggests, Reset offers Armin a new go at his life.I didn’t know what to feel about Tada in the earlier episodes. What we do know is that he’s a fervent supporter of Armin in both of his lives, so this could go both ways – Tada is either super charming or super creepy. Given Tada’s obsession with Armin, he would be kinda creepy if he wasn’t handsome or insanely rich.
But in any case, if we ignore the fact that Tada is way too perfect to be real (and that he’s a slightly creepy fanboy) – the bottom line is that their chemistry works.
Despite the reset, numerous events play out in eerie loops, leaving one with the sinking feeling that we can’t ever truly escape our fate. But even in these doomed cycles, there is hope. Hope that we can right some wrongs, seize the present, and cherish every moment to love someone.
Verdict: Cute couple, slightly creepy(?) storyline. But totally worth the watch.
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A letdown sequel ...Just awful
By the middle of the season, I was struggling to get through the episodes and started watching it on 1.25 speed in hopes that it would just get to the point quicker.In the end, it was clear that there was really not much point to this.
In the Pit Babe universe, anything is possible. And Season 2 is proof that sequels are here to drag things out unnecessarily. The romance between Babe and Charlie goes downhill too. Their relationship is plagued by immature misunderstandings and the spicy scenes from the first season (which had some logic to it at that time) seem far more forced. Alan and Jeff also have a fairly bland relationship peppered with lame conflicts.
The only couple I actually looked forward to was Kim and Kenta, a pair that turned out to be unexpectedly cute in the sequel. But that was not enough to sustain an entire sequel, sorry.
I wish I could say that Pit Babe has bucked the trend of sh*tty sequels, but yeah, this was really not it.
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A refreshing story about young love – what a gem!
I love this show so much!!! If Gelboys and I Told Sunset About You exposes the toxic nature of relationships and brings out the worst of the social media era, Boys In Love is its wholesome coming-of-age counterpart.It’s a comfy, heartwarming show that will put a smile on your face after a weary day. But it’s not all just fluffy teenage love.
The teenage anxiety and confusion surrounding self-identity and relationships is real. But it is also the process of becoming that is so rewarding to watch.
An underrated point is that the characters are relatable and thoughtfully-constructed. Thankfully, the show wasn’t overly silly. Nor did it try too hard with the coming-of-age stuff. The storyline, while largely wholesome and feel-good, also had some realistic bits in between where teenagers were just being teenagers.
Verdict: Yes, 100% would recommend this.
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Alright. Not fantastic, just alright.
Don’t be fooled by the synopsis – it makes the show seem a lot more intense than it really is.This is a shame because despite the espionage, crime and secret agent shenanigans, there are major plot holes in the show and there isn’t much going on on the espionage front.
To be honest, the espionage bits could have been entirely removed. This could have been a roommates-fool-grandma-but-end-up-falling-in-love type of show. Or it could be a story about a spy getting close to a target for a secret mission. It didn’t need to be BOTH. As the series concluded, the conflicts were resolved a little too easily, and the messiness of the whole situation was not fully addressed by the ending.
Despite the messiness of the storyline (or lack thereof), the good thing about this BL is that the characters are cute enough to carry this series all the way to the end. Their dynamic is sweet, playful and innocent. This couple is easy to root for because both characters are so likeable.
Don’t take the plot too seriously and enjoy the cute chemistry between the leads instead. Even if things don’t make quite sense and if they get a bit cheesy.
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Sorry I can’t bring myself to ship the main leads :(
Mark has demonstrated multiple times that he can create magic with literally anyone he acts with – no matter the gender. So why did the chemistry fall so flat in this series?The story seems fine conceptually. A patient has to overcome his fear of dentists to receive treatment for a toothache, and ends up developing a long-term relationship with his dentist. But something about this show just didn’t sit right with me.
Maybe it was the storytelling, or maybe it was the utter lack of chemistry. There’s also the matter of a love triangle with Jimmy (!!) coming into the fold. Not to mention, Jimmy and Ohm have zero chemistry as well, so it was completely unbelievable.
There was nothing to keep me hooked to the series – the story was largely dull and there was nothing meaningful happening. The love triangle was ridiculous. And the chemistry between Mark and Ohm was practically non-existent in this series, perhaps because their characters seemed so childish all the time.
Was it a casting problem? A storyline problem? A screenwriting problem? Perhaps a little of each.
Would I be willing to give Mark and Ohm another chance? Yes. I believe in their abilities. But Sweet Tooth Good Dentist did absolutely nothing for them.
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in this moment, we can be happy forever
Our Youth traces the relationship between a delinquent and a promising student in a Japanese high school.After watching Minase getting ruthlessly beaten up by his father without retaliating, something shifts in the air between them. Minase develops a curiosity for Haruki that quickly turns into an inexplicable attraction. Haruki, despite his best efforts to remain distant, is pulled into Minase’s gravity.
The boys build a clandestine relationship that’s difficult to describe. Is it friendship, love, or is something ambiguously in-between?
The series takes its time with the story, something which I appreciate greatly. In its 10, 20-minute episodes, the series can really focus on developing the relationship between the boys. Doing otherwise would try to cram too many messages into one series, diluting the impact of the story.
The tension is just right, and doesn’t feel overly manufactured for the views. Nothing is rushed, and yet nothing is too slow. Everything unfolds naturally as their dynamics shift over time, at a pace that it should.
Most importantly, the visuals are impeccable. The series unfolds with metaphors and symbolic moments, which make the storytelling even more beautiful.
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Surprising, unpredictable, excellent (worth watching over and over)
The visuals in Smells Like Green Spirit are absolutely beautiful! And the pacing? Perfect. The story development is somewhat unconventional (unpredictable) and doesn't follow the typical BL story arc.The series begins with intense bullying. The perpetrators, who are homophobes, have latched onto the long-haired Mishima. The show takes a surprising but significant turn when he starts to befriend one of the bullies, who is gay as well.
This sparks a sweet and wholesome bond between the two as they secretly have lunch on the school roof every day. Over boxed bentos and makeup accessories stolen from their mothers, the boys find a safe zone in each other.
But the sappy sweetness from this coming-of-age friendship is short-lived. Smells Like Green Spirit is fraught with the anxiety of not belonging.
Set in the 1990s, the show comes with a warning that some may find the language inappropriate for today’s context. There’s also a warning label for sexual assault and violence.
Expect some unsettling behaviour in the show, but only because it mirrors reality. There is a fine line between highlighting real-life issues and parading tragedy for the sake of drawing attention, but I think Smells Like Green Spirit casts a delicate balance without overdoing it.
While fraught with the troubling anxiety of youth, it also reminds us of the immeasurable potential of having one’s life stretched out in front of you. Shangri-la is out there waiting for us.
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I need another AI themed BL but properly thought out this time!!
Eternal Butler has an interesting premise – a bunch of humanoid robots are created to live alongside and add value to the life of mankind, but problems crop up when they disobey their owners and start to veer away from the path that was originally laid out for them. This, of course, includes falling in love with humans.The concept is stronger than the execution (expect some loopholes with the storytelling), but this series still promises plenty of interesting questions like: Can humanoid robots truly love another entity? What does it even mean to love, and can we still call this love if it can be reduced to a string of code?
But also, maybe don’t expect too much deep stuff. The series dances around the big questions but doesn’t explicitly tackle them head on. The storyline did very little to meaningfully untangle any profound questions, in part because it’s a short series but also because I suspect it was trying to do too much. I get it, it’s hard to do romance, action, sci-fi, existentialism and the future of mankind all at one go.
It’s a shame because extraordinary chemistry might have made this series score much higher.
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Plot is a little weird but hear me out….
If you had to do a double take at this synopsis, don’t worry. You read it completely right: This plot is wack.Silly plot aside, there are some profoundly existential scenes and dialogues questioning the meaning of ‘being human’ and what constitutes an existence worth living. I started watching this series for the hell of it but one episode turned into two, and then four and five, and before I knew it, the entire series had come and gone.
The relationship between Junior and Sun develops organically and at its own pace over several episodes without rushing into anything. As they navigate the world in their human forms, their attraction towards each other is obvious but largely unspoken, paving the way for an innocent and sweet teenage relationship.
The editing of the series could have been a little tighter. Some parts of the story felt disjointed and there are many random plot holes in this quirky storyline. But its quirkiness is also what makes the storyline so memorable.
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SkyNani has more chemistry than some BL couples
While there’s nothing to outrightly suggest that there’s anything romantic between the two, this shouldn’t stop the audience from appreciating their questionable bromance.Their relationship is nothing short of spectacular. Ngl – Sky and Nani have more chemistry than some BL couples out there.
High School Frenemy is fundamentally driven by conflict and infighting. As you can imagine (and in case you can’t, I’m letting you know) – there’s a lot of petty and pointless violence. The story would get rather tiresome after several episodes, if not for the other characters in the series.
Thankfully, the other troubled students within Siamwit also have interesting backstories and character arcs that gradually unfold over the 16 episodes. Tying all of this together are two teachers with opposite personalities but who do their best to help the troubled kids solve their problems one at a time.
Verdict: Came here for SkyNani, stayed for a great storyline about teachers helping troubled students
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