4
10
1
1
Thai romcom with a ton of product placement
Overall: it's a fairly standard Thai romcom except it lost me around the halfway mark. I have not read the manga this is based on and I tried to review this adaptation on its own merits instead of comparing it to the Japanese live action adaptation of the same name. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GMMTV's YouTube channel. Later re-aired on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/40921c-my-love-mix-upContent Warning: slap
What I Liked
- clear premise
- lighthearted romcom
- sweet moments
- the bike riding scene
- that Kongthap gave it serious thought in ep 1
- made something clear at the end of episode 2 instead of dragging it out
- My School President Easter egg in episode 3
- good established m/m couple
- a character wanted physical affection
- the Chinzilla band cameo in ep 11
Room For Improvement
- the intro scene and then the voice over that re-told what we already knew
- the overused comedy sound effects detracted from the comedy
- felt draggy
- camera blocked kisses (I realize the towel was from the manga but they didn't have to follow the manga exactly and then even the het couple had a camera blocked kiss)
- nonsense stuff, they didn't even show the props that they decorated
- I still hated the slap but at least there was an apology
- a teacher asking a student about their love life
- running after a car was not cute
- this might have the most product placements that I've ever seen, but I didn't really take off points because series like this allow GMMTV to make series like Not Me
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This review may contain spoilers
apt title
Overall: the slow pacing and nonsense actions took me out of the Indiana Jones-like plot/the romance. 10 episodes. Aired on Ayu Entertainment Official YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtIeDs4zbPZjMjeNvgtLHqdH4QEjtodZO&si=L4GffCzTeGB5xvwHContent Warnings: murders in the present and the past, blood, fight, manipulation, past drugging
What I Liked
- initial premise/they tried something different
- vistas
- that the hot tempered character did not have a certain power
Room For Improvement
- love triangle (wish they had been innovative with this in the present)
- bordered on campy at parts
- cookie cutter villains
- nonsense character actions/reactions, the very sudden character redemption arcs/switching allegiances
- lack of development for the m/m side couple and their sad ending
- that ending was not it, they should have either explained a bit more at the very end or kept it at tragedy
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what a bizarre marketing strategy
Overall: I cannot comprehend the writing behind this - it actually felt homophobic (see more below). 14 episodes about 4 minutes each. Aired on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8YynoXG/Episode 1 is in the present day get together, 2-4 het (some overlap with next story GL), 5-7 focus on GL, 8-10 focus on a het, 11-13 focus on BL, 14 is back in the present day
What I Liked
- acting
- pretty good production value for a vertical series
- the product placement isn't any more than most Thai series
Room For Improvement
- it made no sense to take a new acting couple but then have them not be endgame, the whole thing felt homophobic because we only got the m/f couple at the end, no f/f or m/m, also the cut away kiss between the guys and the 'barely a kiss' kiss was insulting
- multiple love triangles
- people seemed unusually chill at certain parts
- English subtitles were very small/difficult to read
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mini series that lacks focus
Overall: this had the vibe of a vertical micro series but thankfully had the horizontal orientation and episodes that were more than a minute long. I gave it an indie rating bump. 12 short episodes. Aired on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8QwMuXkPNuYkmlnFYDA78oV68V0crXk0&si=x-BV47wLAtZgVRiZ and PPeach app.Content Warning: attempted drugging, drugging, dub con kiss, blackmail, non con picture taking/sharing, unwanted outing
What I Liked
- supportive friend
- the kiss
- sweet moments
- good a character didn't do something when another character was drugged though unfortunately he did something else
- in episode 11 they subverted a very common trope that I dislike
- music
Room For Improvement
- confused on the timeline and who characters were/their relationship to one another
- too many characters
- silly a character didn't explain something for so long, I'm sure he could have used social media, gone in person, etc.
- too many flashbacks, spending time on guys playing volleyball or video gaming instead of developing their relationship
- confusing release schedule, should have released all for members and then after a set time released them for free at least 1 a day for 12 days or if they had narrowed the focus of the plot/reduced characters then I wouldn't have been as confused watching 2 episodes per week
- mom did a 180 really fast
- 2 blocked kisses at the end (but despite what MDL says, this makes a little sense given the country it's actually from)
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Thai romcom
Overall: this is the epitome of a Thai romcom. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GMMTV's YouTube channel, playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszepnkojZI72NwYDLdpMM17t-B-9BvTB&si=1Jdv5bf4kpg-sShr ; later re-aired on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/40694c-only-booContent Warnings: held against will, harassment, past death, non con video taking/sharing/unwanted public outing, manipulation
What I Liked
- clear premise
- a few central characters
- cute moments
- supportive friends
- Kang's supportive mom and that Moo's mom was smart and saw thru him (not a fan of how Moo's mom later though)
- briefly addressed a downside of shipping culture
Room For Improvement
- wish Kang had shown Moo some interest instead of showing distaste and then turning his back to show the viewer that he enjoyed Moo's flirting for the first 5 episodes
- after a clear rejection in an episode, I wanted Kang to be the one to approach Moo but unfortunately it was once again Moo
- comedy sound effects were excessive and detracted from the comedy
- cliche/not needed angst towards the end (to avoid this you can stop watching at episode 10 part 2, 10 minutes and start it again at episode 12 part 2 at 4 minutes
- a CEO suddenly changed his mind felt like 'because the writer said so'
- the time jump and then a voice over exposition dump at the end of the series
- could have condensed the series for faster pacing
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The Love of the Countryside
Overall: a gentle miniseries (two 20 minute episodes). Watched on YouTube. I'm assuming it's lower budget so I'm grading it on a bit of a curve.Content Warnings: mild stalking* (his two female friends)
What I Liked
- the countryside setting
- Kinn had some nice flirting moments
- that North's friends were supportive, *they went a bit overboard though
- there was a nice consent hug
Room For Improvement
- wish Kinn didn't take North's picture/post it without consent
- the subs aren't correct which generally is fine but in the first part they talk about significant others and it's translated as Kinn broke up with his girlfriend but it should be Kinn broke up with his boyfriend. Also, the note wasn't translated at the end but in the youtube comments someone nicely posted the translation.
- bad lip press kiss
- I don't like the bowl or mullet haircuts, but I didn't deduct points for that
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I Don't Know What at the End of the World
Overall: based on the title, production name (Temporary Insanity Productions), 4 couples in 8 episodes, the summary and the trailer, I knew this wasn't going to be some standard fluffy series. However, it was worse than I thought it would be. It has an experimental film feel at times, but just total nonsense. I watched ep 1, 2, 4, 8 & 9.Content Warnings: character death, multiple suicide attempts, suicide, gore, very explicit sex scenes (I normally don't list NSFW as a content warning but these were very explicit), incest?, homophobia, a slap not between m/m couple, dub con kissing/touching (asleep)
What I Liked
- the overall production value was good
- most actors seemed to do a good job (some lines were really terrible so maybe that impacted acting)
- the first episode had a nice food sharing scene
- there were kernels of potential interesting stories like the addicts relationship
- the nsfw scene in ep 4 (except for the dub con)
- the single shot was a neat idea in ep 8, they could have that be ep 1 and then shown the fallout based on what happened in subsequent episodes
Room For Improvement
- the timeline/plot is confusing because there are flashbacks (or forwards?) to guys frantically running naked in the dark. Also there are flashbacks (I think) during the story. And in the last episode no one is running around bloodied or naked so wth?
- The asteroid disaster. I can suspend disbelief that no one knew this asteroid was close (because in real life they track them when they are years away), and also none of the countries had any solutions for moving it or blowing it up, but here is what an asteroid 7 days away is doing.
A. an odd rainbow in the sky
B. downpours of something (rocks)?
C. chickens/birds following a guy a long distance
D. earthquakes
They should have just had random strange things happen without an explanation.
- total randomness, 2 random guys at the very end of the final episode saying that an earthquake meant the end of the world (the Philippines is in the ring of fire so I'm assuming they have earthquakes on a regular basis, why would someone say it's the end of the world?), what was with the sticky notes? what was with the location change/fishbowl and the addicts? a merman at the end?
- the second episode, that guy has sex with his adoptive dad, vomit. Also, hid dad had just tried to kill himself and the other two guys were getting it on while he was recovering a few feet away, wth???!!!
- too much tongue, I'm all for more realistic kissing but do people kiss like that (ep 1)?! I like well done NSFW scenes that make sense with the story but I felt as though I was watching porn. And both explicit scenes with 3 guys felt like it was done for a shock factor. And what was that saliva (or something else) sharing in the final episode. We don't need to see that.
- many scenes felt thrown in just for shock factor and did not enhance the story
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A rarely told relationship story
Overall: Though I would have preferred they went about it another way, I was so happy with the way this ended (and it's practically never seen) hence the 8.5 rating. And if you like kissing with tongue, then you will be in heaven. Watched on gagaoolala.Content warnings: there are four very sexually explicit scenes - they are all consensual, 1 non con choking
What I Liked
- features an established m/m couple
- when Otoya's dad says Otoya is not a normal man because he's gay, Otoya tells his dad to not say discriminatory things like that
- the bartender's wisdom/lines towards the end
- a sequel to this would be amazing
Room For Improvement
- it's only 1 hour long so things are a bit choppy/jumpy/fast moving. I think they could have maybe removed a character/s and focused more on the central three.
- didn't like the physical violence
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pretty well done complex series
Overall: they handled a taboo topic fairly well, though the flashback to when Yuan was a child during a certain scene in episode 11 was cringey. This was a Taiwanese adaptation of a Chinese danmei (Da Ge by Priest). I have not read the novel and reviewed the series on its own merits. 12 episodes about 30 minutes each. Aired on Youku's app, Youku's YouTube channel and Viki.Content Warnings: non con kiss, punch, blood, past parental abuse, violence/beaten up, kidnapping, coercion, unwanted outing, homophobia, manhandling, vomiting, (some people may include another one, I didn't based on how everything played out)
What I Liked
- a few central characters, got to know their personalities
- how characters cared about each other
- a grittier/more realistic tone
- sweet moments
- a few funny moments
- We Best Love actor cameo as the doctor starting in ep 3
- a well done antagonist, I could see his reasoning but he meddled and was hypocritical though he did redeem himself at the end
- a non cliche female character in ep 6
- one of the few times I was happy for a years-long time jump (end of ep 7)
- sassier/more confident Yuan starting end of ep 7
- intimacy/tension
- production value
Room For Improvement
- (neutral) I generally don't like series that start with flash forwards but I understood why they did this
- confused in the beginning as to who was biological siblings, adopted siblings and friends (Iikely compounded by the use of brother as a term of endearment/closeness and not reserved for biological siblings)
- the timeline/character ages took some effort to piece together
- Li Li was supposed to be in high school before the time jump in episode 7 but she acted like a middle schooler (went into a random guy's car as an example, also she outed another character), even at the end when she was 23 she felt like a high schooler
- should not have done the flashback montage in a scene in episode 11
- cringey the coworkers talked about their sexual positions at work
- introduced a very serious plot point only to never resolve it, also didn't feel that the gang issue was clearly resolved either
Timeline Notes (the series wasn't clear where we were in the timeline/ages, feel free to correct me)
2008 (eps 1/2 flashbacks) - they first met in 2008 because that was the first date on the wall with the heights, Yuan age 7, Qian age 14, Li Li age 8
2016 (eps 1/2 present) Qian graduated university at the end of ep 2, Yuan age 15, Qian age 22, Li Li age 16
2018 (ep 3) Yuan is age 17 & Qian is 24, note that Yuan skipped a year or two so he's in university already at age 17, Li Li age 18
2019 (eps 4-7) Yuan turned 18 in episode 4, Yuan age 18, Qian age 25, Li Li age 19
the series eventually mentions that the gap was 4 years as I guessed
2023 (end of ep 7 up to the end of ep 12) Yuan age 22, Qian age 29, Li Li age 23
2024? (end of ep 12) Yuan age 23, Qian age 30, Li Li age 24
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incompatible people try to make it work
Overall: I had no issue with the blond guy's love life style as long as he was upfront with partners about it; however, even by the end, I wasn't convinced their relationship would work long term. 4 episodes about 8 minutes each. Aired on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7BSona1dmx5eiWUyxj-bvOfDnEZ7fTY4&si=TrsBkG51QPqIQlddContent Warning: dub con touching, drugging, manipulation, non con recording
What I Liked
- intimacy
- visuals
- sweet moments
- that they showed something on the floor in episode 2 (perhaps a record number)
Room For Improvement
- nonsense stuff: why is the one guy so obsessed with another guy that he just met, in episode 1 why did he put on gloves only to not use/have them, why is the other guy so attached in episode 2 to someone he just met
- that was way too much manipulation for someone he had just met
- not convinced they were compatible even at the end
- disagree with the title
- (didn't take off points) the English subtitles were not timed correctly
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a jumbled mess with unlikable protagonists
Overall: I think AI could have written a better/more coherent story. The 3 stars are for the actors who did a decent job with one of the worst scripts ever. 8 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/album/sn15dzsy7fcd8nlContent Warnings: slap, mental health struggles, blood, beaten up, punch, past death/grief, threatened suicide, past murder
Watch Suggestions
- watch episode 1
- episode 2: part a watch 3:15-5:30 and 11-end (GL?)
- skip episode 3
- episode 4: part a watch 8-end, part b beginning-9:35, part c beginning-7
- episode 5: part b watch 5:55-6:15
- episode 6: part c watch 6:30-7:20
- episode 7: part c watch 13-15:50
- episode 8: part a watch 11:30-end
What I Liked
- initial premise was easy to understand
- it was random but what happened in the bathroom stall in 1B
- good that the sister didn't let a stranger in to the house
- supportive female friend
- that in the past the police were actually called and there were actual consequences (not the cliche, 'oh I think he learned his lesson') for the illegal office activity
Room For Improvement
- the slap made me not want a character to be in a romantic relationship
- the series was all over the place with many different vibes, plot threads and characters
- barely any relationship development with the main couple
- flashbacks were not always clear
- almost cartoony villain though the random thirst shots were nice
- why on earth did Ryu apologize in episode 7???
- the finale was awful, so Arm drove drunk, did a hit/murder and run and faced zero consequences other than being sad for a couple years that his barely lover broke up with him?!!!! not just 1 but 2 time skips and how nice for Arm that Ryu got amnesia and forgot that Arm killed his mom?!!!!!!!
- (neutral) comedy sound effects
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music based vertical series
Overall: I enjoyed the music aspect, but they needed to narrow the focus more on the main leads/their relationship development. 35 episodes 1-2 minutes each, episodes 1-5 are free on the Shortime app and you can watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/i4ve-gyjRR0?si=6sSwQwvm__DDlLI0 Aired on Shortime app which also has: Please Teach Me, Falling For My Boss, The Secrets of Male Students, Influencer Love and Buddy Boy. App information is below.Content Warnings: non con touching, professor/university student, grooming?, manipulation, self harm, blood, child abuse, trauma, mental health struggles
What I Liked
- started off in an exciting way (though I wasn't as happy when I learned who the characters were/their dynamic)
- caring moments
- good kissing
Room For Improvement
- the shift in feelings was a bit sudden
- should have cut the love triangle or the past trauma
- bad redemption arc for a character
My Watch For Free Plan (updated Feb 2025), should take about 3 days
1 friend referral code = 20 (1 time bonus) 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)
On the Rewards (popcorn bag icon page)
- check in = 5 (increases over 7 days up to 25)
- turn on notifications = 30 (1 time bonus)
- create a login = 20? (I did create a login because otherwise you only get 1 Always Win box instead of 3 per day, I think this was 20 popcorn)
- do the 3 random popcorn from the daily Always Win box = 30 (I'd normally get 5-15, around 30 in total)
- Watch Ads, watch all 10 ads each day, have to wait 30 seconds in between ads = 110
When you run out of popcorn while watching, you can watch 5 episodes each day with ads
Note that there are other 1 time bonuses like following on social media
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a more realistic countryside BL
Overall: this is a shorter movie (first part was 30 minutes) in two parts from a small production company Wayufilm. Their stuff is kind of hit or miss for me, I did enjoy Country Boy (both parts) and Country Boy 2 (second part). This ended up on my 'hit' list. I graded a bit on a curve because this is a small budget production. Watched on YouTube.Content Warnings: fight, vomiting, past tragedy
What I Liked
- the actress for the mom did a great job and I appreciate how a mom character doesn't look like the moms we typically see in series/movies. Was also really happy with her response at the end.
- I think they acted realistically drunk (though not sure about sobering up that fast for the one character)
- a nice 'getting to know each other' montage
- the color grading
- the countryside setting and music (one of the actors sings the OST)
- the behind the scenes clips (though they were unsubbed)
Room For Improvement
- I am not a fan of toilet humor
- it felt a bit close to "I don't like men, I just like you" trope but that line was never specifically said
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A Short Horror BL Movie
Content Warnings: it's in the horror genre so there are a few jump scares/gory make up (as someone who doesn't like horror I found it okay to watch but not right before going to sleep)Overall: not my favorite short from Strongberry, but an interesting entry in the horror genre
What I Liked
- tried to do something different and incorporate the horror genre
- the acting and production value was fine
- a very nice nsfw scene
- cameo from the actor in Some More
Room For Improvement
- it was rushed/choppy especially with the ending, definitely could have used a longer run time
(fyi you can purchase this on their Vimeo channel)
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cliched plot with cute moments
Overall: this series has a few cliches which I really struggle with hence my rating. 8 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI.Content Warnings: non con kiss, non con touching, stalking, vomiting, past death, grief
What I Liked
- cooking
- cute moments
- remembering the same event differently in ep 2
- being upfront in the past to that woman who liked him
- Yoon Seo Bin's cameo in ep 5 & 8
- (neutral) comedy sound effects
Room For Improvement
- the non con
- many cliches/nonsense things such as: the "plan"/approach, poor communication, that conflict in ep 7/8, a restaurant owner with a lot of free time, the "I can explain" but refusing an explanation
- the work scenes dragged
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