BL Compilations

gentle and sweet slice of life (need a third movie)

Overall: the sequel is very similar to its predecessor with the theme of friendship and infusion of cooking/food into the story. I was happy we saw progression but a third movie would really be the cherry on the top. First aired in Japan June 2024. Aired December 4th 2024 on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4988/lets-eat-together-aki-and-haru-more-please-2024 (not available in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong or Macau)

What I Liked
- sweet and caring moments
- the cooking/food
- realistic to practice interviewing
- non cliched female characters
- avoided a common plot element at the end (i.e. technology exists)

Room For Improvement
- the voice over recap of the first movie
- thought there had already been some realizations in the last movie, wish we had seen more progress earlier rather than the very end

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got better as it went on

There are some solid reviews on the movie so I'll just add a few thoughts.

Overall: this got better and better as it went on with an ending that was extremely well done. In the beginning, I really struggled with the homophobic, self centered, jerk protagonist. But he actually has character growth which was great. I need a sequel to this movie. Somehow he gets reincarnated as an adult and they solve another mystery together (and also showing explicit romantic feelings would be a bonus)

BL? Bromance? I think they definitely loved each other, whether that was platonically or romantically is not clearly defined, I think it can be a bit up to the viewer's interpretation.

Content Warnings: death, grief, manipulation, violence, held against will

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Love With... painfully slow pacing

Overall: If you are into love triangles and a really slow moving plot, then you might like this. I would have dropped it if it was longer than 5 episodes. Watched on YouTube.

Content Warnings: non con kiss and touching (character was asleep)

What I Liked:
- I think the three protagonists and the acting coach did well with the script that they had (I quite liked Gameplay portraying a moody/prickly character)
- the production value was decent for what I'm assuming was a smaller budget

Room For Improvement:
- the main problem was the pacing was too bit slow. If they had cut this from 45 minutes to 20-30 minutes, then I would have enjoyed it more. Everything was just too draggy and boring.
- also I didn't really see the motivation for changing feelings, it felt like the viewer was supposed to connect too many missing dots
- another stupid love triangle
- the acting coach being harassed, that whole bubble tea scene was not funny. I'm done with the stereotypical trans woman as comedy thing.

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too ambitious

Overall: the intention was good, but the execution was not. 8 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on MFlow Entertainment's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAvXrP4tNODXIJa-6x-4pJbVOcu2EeFHg&si=GUVOH4IsrBIzbMaT

Content Warnings: deaths/blood (in episode 6 but if you skip you'll miss a major plot point that explains things), episode 8 has flashing lights in the beginning to 2m10s and also has kidnapping

What I Liked
- sci-fi/fantasy aspect with the moon/necklace
- visuals

Room For Improvement
- was very confusing, even the end was confusing, it should not take until episode 6 of 8 for a story to kind of make sense
- Chen Shi was actually evil, he killed (according to the subtitles) millions of himself and then millions of the other guy
- never understood how the curse happened or how to break it
- a mystery god-like character refused to explain/answer questions until he suddenly did because the writers said so
- the finale was bizarre with a cartoonist antagonist

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horror series with horrible characters

Overall: though I appreciated that they tried something different, its release was clouded by lack of an official international release and delayed episodes. Airing 10 episodes about 45 minutes each on Fix Entertainment's YouTube channel (need a VPN set to Thailand). Here is the first episode part 1 link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sNsxNokJwc

Content Warnings: murders, deaths, attempted murder, rape, attempted suicide, torture, blood, gore, jump scares, mental health struggles, kidnapping, gaslighting, sexual assault, coercion, slap, homophobia, non con video recording, manhandling, manipulation

What I Liked
- unique premise
- twists and turns
- intimate scenes were fine (but they were between awful people so I didn't get into them)

Room For Improvement
- many characters were stupid ie telling a murderer that you know what they did
- trope of saw someone hug and thought they were cheating
- trope of extremely drunk and then active participant during sex
- the kid slept way too much (he's 5 so might not be in school, but I've never seen a 5 year old sleep/nap that much)
- really hope there isn't a happily ever after for a certain character because what he did was beyond awful in episode 9
- they never had an international release, made no sense why they geo restricted it to Thailand on YouTube
- that they delayed an episode by a week and then delayed the finale with no word on when it would be released

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slice of life mini series

Overall: this is a 20 minute short movie that was originally released in 2022 and was broken up into 3 mini episodes (first episode was 5 minutes without the credits). Aired on Strongberry's YouTube channel over 3 weeks (1 episode per week)

What I Liked
- fighting over the diary
- realistic vibe
- production value

Room For Improvement
- beginning didn't hook me, and how I couldn't see the main character's face
- released such short episodes at 1 episode per week instead of all together
- the ending was open to interpretation with contradictory clues/evidence for each ending
- the title (just do an internet search on "happy ending slang" if you don't know what it means) but I didn't take off points
- the subtitles needed to stay a little longer on the screen as people read slower than when they are just listening (didn't take off points)

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totally wrecked Zeke/Fifth (watch ep 1, 2 and 13)

Overall: I liked Zeke and Fifth in My Story because they were flirty and sweet. In this season the writer totally ruined their characters and relationship. I was actively rooting for them to NOT end up together. Our Story is the third in the trilogy (season 1 is My Day which is not needed to watch to understand Our Story, season 2 is My Story which shows the beginning of Zeke/Fifth as a couple and is helpful to watch but not totally necessary) 13 episodes about 37 minutes each (taking out the built in commercials at the end). Aired on Oxin Films YouTube channel.

Notes: I watched most episodes but skipped a few because I wanted to poke my eyeballs out, I kept up with comments/what happened overall though. I suggest watching episode 1, 2, episode 9 part 3 at 7 minutes (nsfw scene), episode 10 part 3 at 10 minutes (nsfw scene) and episode 13

Content Warnings: attempted suicide, past suicide, parental abuse, intimate partner abuse, homophobia, non con picture taking/sharing, alcoholism, depression, sexism, gaslighting, manhandling

What I Liked
- Zeke and Fifth were cute/sweet/flirty (ep 1 and 2)
- GL rep (though the pacing was odd/not enough screentime)
- it was too frequent but the innuendo jokes were fun
- Xion Lim (director) played an assistant as Easy Ferrer (writer) as the other assistant
- Zeke's supportive mom (though she was a bit too involved at times)
- opening song and ending credit song

Room For Improvement
- the writing destroyed Zeke & Fifth both as individual characters and as a couple, Zeke said how he was hurt that he was called toxic while he screamed at his boyfriend was terrible writing, Fifth's actions make zero sense to me, so many characters did total nonsense things
- abuse was handled really poorly, Fifth said "he {dad] beat us" and the response was "that means you still matter to him", like WTF?!? and then later Jelai says his ex-boyfriend who was abusing him is awesome and Jelai apologizes to his abuser?!? what year are we in?!? akldfjkslajkdljaidla!!!!!!!
- way too many couples (6 couples/love triangles) and I somehow didn't like any of them
- exposition dump/voice over to start the series
- so many nonsense/unrealistic plot things (I'm not even going to try to write them all out) example 1: that a significant other didn't know of a life threatening food allergy until 6 months of dating, example 2: that a hospital didn't have any A+ (30% of the population has this blood type) or O negative (universal donor) blood?!? they should have had Zeke have AB negative blood because a 5 second internet search showed that number of people with: O positive: 35%, O negative (universal donor): 13%, A positive: 30%, A negative: 8%, B positive: 8%, B negative: 2%, AB positive (universal recipient): 2%, AB negative: 1%
- the comedy sound effects
- toilet humor
- super dramatic thing happened at the end of episode 11 and then the majority of episode 12 we have no idea what is going on, just random side character plots happening?!?
- in the final episode, did Zeke ever apologize for all the awful things he did?!? why was just Fifth apologizing?!?!!!!!!

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disjointed with little payoff

Overall: there were too many that flitted in and out and the writing didn't make me care about any of them. 8 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on SC Flourish Entertainment YouTube channel worldwide cut version https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRPu3eZdevD0uneOl67QZkO__MzzMLdeU&si=Uee0jqd9j2s36QMr and VIU Thailand uncut.

Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, scary images, blood, past: deaths/murders, suicide, drugging, theft, manipulation

What I Liked
- visuals
- supernatural element

Room For Improvement
- the character/world building exposition dump
- was confused by a character introduced in part 2 and then another new character in part 3 of episode 1, characters flitted in and out
- love triangle
- did not feel chemistry
- comedy sound effects didn't make things funny
- character actions/reactions didn't make sense
- even at the end, a character didn't believe what another character experienced

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darker vertical mini series

Overall: this is a darker series with an unsatisfying ending. Watched for free on Shortime app, 46 episodes about 1.5 minutes each (episode 1-5 were free, I watched 6-10 with ads that showed under buying the passes, 11-15 with watching 10 ads on rewards page, daily random box and check in, fortune read and made it up to 18, it took 4 days to watch for free which wasn't bad) Shortime also has Falling For My Boss and The Secrets of Male Students both of which I liked better than Buddy Boy. My invite link is https://playground.shortime.app/en/invite/NKNIWI - the code is NKNIWI (those are all capital letters, that's the capital letter i) and it should get you a bonus.

Content Warnings: attempted suicide, teacher/student relationship and grooming, child abuse, past death, non con kiss, non con picture taking, blackmail, manhandling, homophobia, slap, fight, beaten up, unwanted public outing

What I Liked
- how a characters age was given thru conversation
- bonding moments

Room For Improvement
- that teacher needed some major consequences
- cliche female character
- the ending was not satisfying (he tried to drown himself, other guy saves him and then that's the end)

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nice slice of life series

Overall: I enjoyed two high school friends and their changing relationship dynamics. Aired 8 episodes about 20 minutes each on Netflix Asia (and then more widely released on Neflix once it was finished airing). Re-aired on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/40495c-i-cannot-reach-you

Content Warnings: manhandling, dub/non con touching, punch

What I Liked
- cute and sweet moments
- few funny moments like Yamato's blocks with other people
- that Yamato did try to communicate and was clear with that teen who expressed interest in him
- supportive classmates
- supportive non cliche female characters
- character growth with not being a go between for the present
- production value

Room For Improvement
- the multitude of interruptions
- Yamato was a bit aggressive though he did apologize once
- very tropey (multiple kabedons and running scenes as examples), getting sick from the rain
- the initial reluctance in nurse's office/dead fish lip presses

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A Fun Bromance

Overall: although it would have been better as an actual BL, this was enjoyable overall

Content Warnings: side character death, fight scenes, near death

What I Liked
- the chemistry and dynamic between the 2 male leads was great (hence why I think it would have been better as a BL)
- the intro animation sequence was good
- the funny moments
- the merman as an adorable thug (did not think I'd put those two words together, but just look at his dimples!)
- a montage scene that I actually liked

Room For Improvement
- I know it had source material but I think they should have made this actual m/m romance because the two male leads had such great chemistry. Many things have been straightwashed so I think they should have gaywashed this one.
- lack of consequences for both that high school guy and the 2 adults and that things were just totally good between the son and his dad
- there was a continuity error in the first episode
- cliche family stuff at the beginning

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strong visuals, weak plot/production value (watch suggestions)

Overall: I'm hoping they get a better script in Doctor's Mine. 30 episodes about 8 minutes each (not including the intro/end credits). Aired on Kongthup's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-3lmw1GIQMkzjvvXYxvOC0yN5ih5-OeB&si=qXXf3GlWE0mGTY8M

Content Warnings: suicide in episode 1, start at 3:45 to skip it, non con touching, voyeurism, past: drugging, murder, blood

Watch Suggestions (focus on sweet/steamy romance moments)
- start at 3:45 in episode 1
- skip ep 2
- episode 3 watch 6:30-end
- skip ep 4
- episode 5 watch 8-end
- episode 6 watch 7-end
- episode 7 watch 2:30-end
- watch episode 8
- episode 9 end at 4:40
- episode 10 watch 2:45-end
- episode 11 skip 4:30-7:05
- watch episode 12
- episode 13 skip 6-end
- skip ep 14
- episode 15 watch 4-5
- episode 16 watch 4:20-8:05
- skip eps 17 & 18
- episode 19 start at 4:45
- watch episodes 20 & 21
- end episode 22 at 8 min
- watch episode 23
- skip episode 24
- watch episode 25
- skip episodes 26-29
- watch episode 30 6:50-end

What I Like
- the actors
- clear premise
- the first shower scene lol
- supportive friends
- intimacy

Room For Improvement
- 1 minute intro and 1 minute credits were too long for such a short series (also repetitive flashbacks and overly long recaps, episode 5 had 4 minutes of recap!)
- spent too long on the first scene in episode 1, overall the plot dragged/was repetitive, the story could have easily been told in half the runtime
- totally nonsense approach from the ML, he could have had a 2 minute conversation at the very beginning instead of being creepy, he later said he wasn't allowed to say anything and then shortly thereafter explained things
- several scenes were too dark and it was difficult to see the actor, it was very blurry I keep trying to change it to 1080 only to realize it was on 1080
- sound effects
- moping for multiple episodes
- more angst for several episodes
- production value (several scenes at night were way too dark, it was frequently blurry, I liked the song but it played over and over and over again)

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violent underworld

Overall: appreciate that this was a grittier/less frequently told story, felt a bit Romeo and Juliet with warring families/factions. 12 episodes about 55 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala worldwide (except Thailand) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5273/the-bangkok-boy-2025-e01 and WeTV - uncut https://wetv.vip/en/play/4ckwvmilrazmpan/w410108n8as-EP01%3A_The_Bangkok_boy_Series_(Uncut_Ver.) and cut version (free to watch) https://wetv.vip/en/play/eu6iplbsnlhyh0u/d4101iaz1gu-EP01A%3A_The_Bangkok_boy_Series Later aired on Munwork Mediafilm YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Sl68FYmlrNeeUVKcRnJtZ8MUWFRMb1W&si=UwDa3MCYpQyx2jBU

Content Warnings: past and current murders/death, gang rape, sexual assault, suicidal thoughts/near suicide attempt, blood, violence, beaten up, torture, child abuse, police brutality, drugging, kidnapping/held against will, con con picture taking/sharing, manipulation, blackmail, non con kissing turned consensual

Watch Suggestions (to remove most content warnings and focus on romance but you will miss a lot of plot, uncut timings)
- episode 3 watch 22-24:45
- episode 4 24:45-28:15, 47:45-53:45
- episode 5 watch 43:30-45 (start of GL)
- episode 6 watch 14:40-22:20, 43:15-44:30
- episode 7 watch 6:40-7:15 and 40:50-44:05
- episode 8 watch 14-15:15, 16-17:50, 24:30-25:45, 25:20-34:20 GL, 39-45, 48:50-54:10
- episode 9 watch 5-7:05 and 9:10-14 for GL; watch 20-24:30, 35-37:50 and 41:50-42:40
- episode 10 watch 15-18:20
- episode 11 watch 7:55-22
- episode 12 watch 57:45-1hr 1min

What I Liked
- different plot/aesthetics
- fight scenes seemed well done
- visuals
- showed how things changed in episode 3
- Mei's character felt realistic
- in episode 7 a character quickly resolved a misunderstanding
- twisty*

Room For Improvement
- started in the present and then moved into a flashback which wasn't super clear at first
- what sounded like AI English dubbing in early episodes
- a lot of characters, they could have removed a few/some side plots
- coffee shop guy was smiling while saying it's a shame in episode 3
- two accidental falls in episode 4
- nonsense stuff including the cliche 'you wouldn't understand if I told you', nonsense lighting and zero security cameras
- *though it at times felt too twisty
- in the finale, a character death had zero weight, they didn't show reactions to it at all
- (neutral) wished a character had been out of the hospital before a relationship started
- (neutral) cliffhanger ending, if they end up doing a season 2 I may bump up my rating to a 9

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depiction of mental health struggles (watch suggestions)

Overall: the heart of this series was in the right place, but it took way too much effort to figure out the plot/characters/timeline in this series. 10 episodes about 15 minutes each. Aired on JC Show YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLalG2smk62xFJiyPLSsGxIW_4Znk24W_j&si=J4IbxX_npVilW4Rf

Watch Suggestions (to focus on the main couple)
- watch episode 1, watch episode 2 stop at 14 min
- episode 3 watch 6-10:40
- skip episode 4
- watch episode 5 beginning to 10:30
- skip episode 6
- watch episode 7 3:45-16:20
- watch episode 8 for the first 6 minutes to clearly explain the plot/what is happening
- watch episode 9 7-end
- can watch all of episode 10 or start at 5:20 to focus on the guys' relationship

Content Warnings: manhandling, mental health struggles, self harm, discussion of bullying, past death

What I Liked
- that they tried for a different type of plot
- sweet/caring moments
- visuals
- good music
- behind the scenes (though it was almost as long as the episodes)

Room For Improvement
- conversation with the doctor in episode 1 took too long
- I realize they were going for more an artsy/experimental vibe but they could have made timeline jumps back and forth more clear and what was a next episode preview, also if they had removed the exes that would have made things more clear (finally clearly explained in episode 8 what the situation was)
- in ep 10, it was a well intended discussion about the important of talking to a doctor, but then the character talked about slowly reducing the medicine if stopping and it made it feel that the goal should be ending medication when some medication is life long and life saving and there should be zero stigma taking it long-term
- should have moved the 15 minute behind the scenes footage to separate videos

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goodish for what it was

Overall: this had only 14 minutes of total run time with a fairly confusing plot. However, I gave it a rating boost as they were open to feedback and it looked like a very indie production (plus they might have to deal with censorship rules). PPeach YouTube playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8QwMuXkPNuYrJwq3_Gh6rw4HxMkGaIZy&si=OQx5ByyeKA5DG8D9 (episodes 4-9 need channel Membership for $2.99USD (yellow peach or higher))

Content Warnings: kidnapping/held against will, violence, manipulation

What I Liked
- clear premise at the beginning
- tension
- production value for what I assume was a very indie production
- listened to feedback such as adding subtitles in more languages, re-dubbed some episodes

Room For Improvement
- the episodes are extremely short, would have preferred a 15 minute short movie
- continuity error at the beginning of episode 2 with wearing a different outfit
- perhaps a translation error but he isn't a bodyguard he's a housekeeper
- confused about what the reveal in episode 4 meant, were they related? why were the guys trying to hurt him or where there 2 different set of guys wearing black?
- amnesia trope
- their relationship progression seemed very sudden, particularly with that ending, needed more build up to that and showing why they liked each other

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