Cult classic, new and improved!!
In an era where BL series were still fairly underdeveloped and in short supply (this was pre-Sotus and pre-Dark Blue Kiss), Lovesick was a cult classic in 2014.In this current climate where it’s trendy to have spicy BLs, Lovesick is proof that you can still have a great yet innocent story. The actors in Lovesick are really young (the oldest being 17 and the youngest just 14 or 15, so it’s a good thing that this series is kept largely chaste.)
Fundamentally, the story still works. Noh pretends to be Phun’s boyfriend, and the boys end up spending a lot of time together. The butterflies and delicious ambiguity that comes with such young love is something that never gets old.
Phun is a little bit of a red flag at times. But what can one realistically expect from another confused person?
Despite all their problems, it’s easy to root for this couple and their young love, hitting you with the feels of what it's like being a teenager all over again.
Verdict: I am hopelessly hooked onto the OST rn :(
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Killing me softlyyyyyy
As a series that tackles the highly controversial topic of euthanasia in Thailand, this show is expectedly quite intense.The show has received some criticisms for romanticising Dr. Kan’s actions and his controversial stance on patient care. The series highlights ethical questions on what constitutes murder and whether life is worth protecting at all costs.
Plotwise, the many twists in Spare Me Your Mercy make for an engaging and compulsive watch. But I want to talk about the unexpectedly spectacular chemistry between Thanapob and Jayler. Despite the captain’s suspicions of the doctor, the doctor’s thoughtful and charming ways gradually chip away at Tiw’s walls, giving way to a sweet and ambiguous relationship that’s neither friends nor lovers.
Spare Me Your Mercy wants you to root for Dr. Kan and Tiw, but also makes it incredibly uncomfortable for you to support a relationship based on lies. Overall, this was a great storyline that hits you with both butterflies and feels. Great show.
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You’re cute in every universe out there
Played by the same male leads, the characters are hopelessly drawn to each other in all of the universes they inhabit. This series is perfect for people who get bored easily.What’s commendable is that the characters in various storylines not only look different, but also behave extremely differently in terms of how they display their emotions and respond to difficult situations. The dynamic between each couple is also not the same.
The clever part of the series is that it ties together a collection of several storylines involving vastly different characters, played by the same actors.
Top and Mick have done well on this front, as versatile actors who are able to capture every character’s unique essence. They also have superb chemistry across all their characters (some obviously more electric than others), which is quite a feat if you ask me.
While you’ll be able to grasp the storyline completely even with the cut version, the unfortunate reality is that the story comes out a little choppy and truncated. Watch the uncut version for maximum enjoyment!
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A little scary, a lot of wholesome entertainment
Veteran stars Tay and New continue to deliver spectacular chemistry. Their chemistry was so good that some scenes left me questioning whether the series was hinting at something more than a friendship.But no, it’s just a very compelling bromance. Even though Peaceful Property isn’t a BL, it doesn’t have to be.
But be warned – I couldn’t watch this series after sunset. The first few episodes took some getting used to because the ghosts were just so scary!
I only put up with the scaries because the storyline proved to be sufficiently compelling. And also, I love TayNew (more on that later). While the ghosthunting format for Peaceful Property is somewhat predictable, the series actually had several unpredictable twists. Overall, the series was also really entertaining and well-done. It strikes a good balance between humour, drama, horror and romance and explores what a ‘home’ means for the different characters.
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A space for you and me
The story starts out with a voice – bright and clear in a crowded sea of noise. Kouhei, who has a hearing impairment, has trouble hearing others. But he hears Taichi’s voice loud and clear.Hearing what someone has to say is the first step to being understood, but as Kouhei’s hearing impairment worsens, he quickly realises that true understanding is not always about what is spoken.
Taichi is the first hearing person to take a genuine interest in Kouhei's disability without judgement or pity.
While something more than friendship blossoms between two young men, I Hear The Sunspot is not just a beautiful romance.
It has also been lauded for being an extraordinary social commentary on disability. There are so few BLs that make disability a central theme of the series, let alone present issues in a nuanced way. The beauty of I Hear The Sunspot is in how space is created for others without diminishing the space of others.
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A treasure in its own way!
Why is it called Takara’s Treasure? I have my guesses.Takara has fond memories of his grandfather taking him out for a Ramune soda and getting to keep the marble after he finishes his drink. But to Takara’s mother who vies for riches and expensive jewellery, marbles are not valuable even though they can be sparkly.
Takara enjoys holding a marble up to the light and seeing the universe within a glass circle. It’s his way of seeking beauty and hope in the simplest of things. The point that this show makes is that the notion of ‘treasure’ is highly subjective and personal. The very same marble is both treasure and garbage.
When Takara looks into Taishin’s eyes, he sees himself reflected in his eyes – as glassy, shiny and pretty as marbles.
Ultimately, it’s down to Takara to prove that he sees Taishin as his kind of treasure. Just like the marble in the Ramune soda bottle.
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Ngl I enjoyed this so much I think I’m obsessed
This show had me kicking my legs and screaming – Daou and Offroad’s chemistry is off the charts here!Century of Love is a unique series that combines period drama and fantasy with classic BL elements.
The key conflict in the series is Vee’s identity as Wat’s reincarnated soul. San’s objective in finding Khun Wad is twofold: to break the century-old curse cast upon him, and then live happily ever after with his soulmate. When a woman shows up purporting to be the real Khun Wad, San and Vee’s love is tested.
A real conundrum. If the person you end up loving isn’t the Destined One as foretold by the gods, will you rebel against fate just to be with them?
Herein lies the subtle twist in Century of Love. It originally appears to follow a “destined soulmate” plot trajectory, but later upends this by providing the main lead with an opportunity to make a choice for themselves.
Century of Love is romantic not because San has been waiting for his soulmate (and suffering physical pain) for 100 years. It’s the fact that San eventually chooses someone despite the fact that he doesn’t know if this person is truly his soulmate.
San simply does not care anymore. Because a life without Vee is not a life worth living anyway. What’s love if it isn’t a promise to be together even without the guarantee of happily-ever-afters?
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One of the best college BLs in recent times
With 16 episodes, We Are is an exception to the GMMTV BL rule. I’m glad they decided to go with this many episodes because, to be honest, I couldn’t get enough of this series.The trailer of We Are seemed a little lame and all over the place. I didn’t know what to expect from the drama except for a cliched “do what I tell you in exchange for what you want” plot, but I’m glad to have been proven wrong.
Pond and Phuwin never disappoint. They have found a steady rhythm blending romantic anticipation with playful rivalry. aheir relationship also develops like how any real-life relationship would. There’s a long period of ambiguity in their status, which is actually the best part of the show given their mutual attraction.
Even though the storyline was rather superficial and uncomplicated, it managed to capture the magic of young people falling in love. No bullshit, no convoluted problems. Just butterflies and affection.
The series was also unexpectedly humorous in its own way, so it left me both squealing and roaring with laughter throughout.
Verdict: A comforting and highly entertaining series that I looked forward to every week
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/07/28/we-are-2024-bl-review/
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Really entertaining despite the seemingly ridiculous plot
What seemed like a trashy show turned out to be exceptionally enjoyable.After the first few episodes, the story starts to get a little (…actually extremely) messy. The lines between friendship, FWBs and lovers start getting horrendously blurred.
We could have foreseen all the problems from a mile away – but despite this, the show is actually really entertaining and the male leads have an irresistibly cute relationship.
Everyone around them can tell that Wandee and Yoryak are both whipped for each other, but they refuse to be honest with themselves. Great and Inn’s chemistry made all the difference in what would have otherwise been a trashy, B-grade flick.
Wandee Goodday is enjoyable not because of a compelling storyline or superb acting. It’s the chemistry of Great and Inn that carries the entire series across 12 episodes.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/07/23/wandee-goodday-2024-bl-review/
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Nothing much going on but maybe that was the point?
Living With Him comes across as chaste and unspectacular at certain points, but overall, it’s a feel-good watch that you’re bound to breeze through without too much difficulty.Unlike some BLs that cram a lot of (unnecessary) conflict in the plot, Living With Him is the total opposite. Largely, Natsukawa spends his time wading in confusion while Kazuhito patiently waits for Natsukawa to realise his feelings. That’s the only real tension of the show.
Perhaps best described as a “slice of life BL” – a common hallmark of Japanese series – this is best watched if you aren’t in the mood for much stimuli and just want a chill show.
I personally would have preferred it if they had zoomed in more on the tension between the characters and their micro-interactions. A slower pacing, with long-drawn-out scenes showing their daily life as they navigate an ambiguous relationship, might have made this show a little more interesting.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/07/02/living-with-him-2024-bl-review/
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Cuter than expected!!
The main characters Moo and Kang come from different worlds but fate has brought them together in the random province of Nakhon Pathom, and showed them that home is a person, not a place.Together, they have a relaxed but natural chemistry. My only complaint would be that this same chemistry could be said of close siblings. The romance aspect had to work a little harder for the story to be sold because the kisses seemed a little stiff and awkward.
Still, it’s a great effort from the two new actors, who currently still lack flourish and polish in their acting, but I’m certain they will get there given the right storyline and experiences.
It was a pleasant surprise that the storyline didn’t involve childish conflicts and misunderstandings, which are, sadly, all too common in high school and college BLs.
BUT. Special shoutout too to the side couple. I’m glad Aun got his time to shine with Only Boo. His relationship with co-star Ashi is a close-friends-turned-lovers type of arc, and truth be told, I’m a real sucker for it. Compared to the main couple, their moments felt more natural and romantic at some points.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/06/27/only-boo-2024-bl-review/
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It’s okay, but not really the best
The dynamic between Milk and Love take on an endearing quirkiness (without being too cringey) as their characters in 23.5 are the polar opposites of each other.Like many other series, the conflict revolves around a lack of open communication. This is perhaps unsurprising since 23.5 is intended to be a fluffy show about high school life. Teenagers are still learning to navigate their way around relationships and issues, and it’s completely understandable if they are poor communicators.
At times, the cringey awkwardness of the characters in 23.5 serves as a reminder of how nobody magically has it all together. People grow into more evolved versions of themselves with more experience and wisdom gained.
But the main point is this: For teenagers, many things can feel like the end of the world. But with support and help from others, it’s possible to get through anything.
It’s okay, but not really the best. The show started off quite cute but lost steam towards the end with a weak conflict and ending.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/06/11/23-5-gl-review/
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Second chances come with baggage
The show speaks to anyone who have loved someone, lost that same someone, and now occasionally harbours thoughts of “what if?”What this series does is to capture perfectly the anticipation of meeting an old flame for the second time. As attraction increases between them, so does the emotional vulnerability.
Takashi and Miyata have to confront the uncomfortable reality of why their relationship failed to work out before and whether there is hope for a second attempt.
After all, second chances come with baggage.
With just six episodes, the character growth of the characters could not be fleshed out fully. But I suspect that this BL is so popular because it mirrors real life to a large extent, revolving around the fragility of relationships and the importance of timing.
Sometimes, saying goodbye doesn’t mean losing someone forever. It means see you next time at another point in our lives.
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Reinventing Thai mythology for a modern romance
It’s quite hard to pinpoint the genre of this series because it combines so many – historical fantasy, true crime, comedy and BL — and rolls it into one jam packed series.What I liked about The Sign is that it’s a uniquely Thai production and showcases the potential for Thai soft power.
The show is a real cultural treat as it weaves in the battle between the Naga and Garuda, spinning a rich tale of Thai mythology reimagined for modern times. At the heart of The Sign is a trope that we are not unfamiliar with; a Romeo and Juliet-esque tragedy, the forbidden romance that spans generations.
The Sign hasn’t gotten much publicity but it’s probably one of the more underrated BLs so far this year.
There’s nothing to hate about it. BUT save for the mythological element, which is unique to The Sign, there was also nothing particularly memorable about the storyline.
The story is well-paced but the ending proved to be on the weaker side. The resolution came a little too easily, and was rather abrupt and anticlimactic.
Overall, though, the show is still highly enjoyable because of Billy and Babe’s good onscreen chemistry – one of Billy’s many talents is having chemistry with anyone, even a plastic chair.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/04/07/the-sign-2023-bl-review/
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I wish this was a series instead
Tell The World I Love You tells a story about the latchkey youth of Bangkok, featuring a narrative littered with drugs, violence and endless cycles of revenge.The film has no intimacy scenes. But somehow, it still manages to be rather romantic. It tells a story of various characters, each coping with their own loneliness and finding a reason to live (and die) because of other people.
I love that much of the film is drenched in a moody aesthetic, serving as a constant visual reminder of the characters’ loneliness. I wish this was a series instead so that they could spend more time fleshing out the story and the difficult/ambiguous life choices made by individuals.
Although expressed in different ways, “escape” is a recurring theme for these teenagers.
When Keng realises he’s eligible to apply for a scholarship to go to China, life is imbued with new meaning as another life path opens up for him.
The irony of Tai's love is that as he helps Keng escape his current circumstances, he finds himself trapped instead.
And for Boang, whose only family member is his grandmother, he has lived an aimlessly bleak life until Keng showed up. Keng might just be his way out.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/04/15/tell-the-world-i-love-you-2022-movie/
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