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10
1
1
decent follow up to the series
Overall: this was not the follow up plot that I wanted but I think they executed it fairly well. I originally bought/watched on Amazon Prime Video in 2021, re-watched on GagaOOLala in 2024 https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4290/hello-stranger-the-movie-2021Content Warning: homophobia, vomiting, punch, manhandling
What I Liked
- supportive friend group
- maybe I read too much into it, but I liked how Mico took the top bunk and said he was used to being on top and Xavier said that was okay and he'd adjust
- non cliche female love rival
- character mentioned having 2 moms
- Mico had self respect
Room For Improvement
- very confusing start based on where the season left off, and the timeline took some time to figure out
- we didn't get nearly enough time with them as a happy couple for me to want to really root for their relationship to succeed
- wanted Xavier to do a bit more groveling for what he put Mico through
- the guy love rival was unnecessary and I kind of wanted them to be end game
- cliche thing that happened to Mico
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shorter movie that focuses on bullying and discrimnation
Overall: although it's very low budget, I gave them points for trying to address serious real world problems in about 43 minutes. Aired on YouTube https://youtu.be/p3vl7la7-oA?si=OVtJfstzAUw1aF55Content Warnings: near suicide, sexual assault, bullying including physical bullying, cyberbullying, non con picture taking/sharing, unwanted public outing, held against will, manipulation, violence/punch, homophobia
What I Liked
- the scene of them eating ice cream
- addressing issues like homophobia, marriage inequality, bullying
- friend called out the teacher and the bullies
- supportive parents
Room For Improvement
- they shouldn't have had the friend do that if they wanted the viewer to want two characters together
- bleeping the Thai swear words was distracting, they likely would have been fine with not bleeping them on YouTube
- not translating text messages
- subtitles, though I didn't really take off points for this because at least they added something
- an open ending with the m/m romance aspect
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an okay follow up to Ossan's Love: In The Sky
Overall: though there were some fun parts I felt this 2 part special lacked in some areas. This should be watched after Ossan's Love: In The Sky. 2 episodes about 20 minutes each and you need to watch both. Aired on GagaOOLala.Content Warnings: manhandling
What I Liked
- funny parts (i.e. the pillow fight and the beginning of episode 2)
- hair drying was nice
- some good advice
Room For Improvement
- wanted them to split out the two couples, so 1 couple in ep 1 and the second in ep 2
- still seemed to lack resolution
- characters were antagonistic for too long
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better as it went on (watch suggestions)
Overall: unless you enjoy over the top humor with a ton of comedy sound effects follow my watch suggestions. I wanted to rate the uncut version higher since it had more intimate scenes and included Gus/Tong scenes, but the story dragged even more in the uncut version. 8 episodes about 1 hour each. Aired on Mandee Channel's YouTube (cut), GagaOOLala (cut), iQIYI (uncut) and Viki (I assume cut). Mandee Channel/Domundi also produced Naughty Babe, Bed Friend, Cutie Pie and Why R U.Watch Suggestion (watch the cut version & play at a faster speed unless noted)
- skip episodes 1, 2 & 3 (though shirtless Mai in ep 3 is nice)
- watch ep 4
- watch ep 5 to 48min/standing on the podium
- watch the uncut version of ep 6 15-18 minutes which includes a brief kiss with the side couple (this scene was totally removed from the cut versions for some bizarre reason)
- watch the uncut version of ep 7, can start at 27 minutes with Gus/Tong or to skip over something sad that happened in the past and start at 37 minutes and end at 43 minutes, then you can watch thru to the end with Mai/Jade or skip to 1hr 4min to see their final scene
- watch the uncut version of ep 8 which has a lot of sweet moments and NSFW scenes with Mai & Jade
Content Warnings: hits played as comedy, vomiting (in uncut ep 2), molestation off screen, past death/grief
What I Liked
- enjoyed some of Uea/King's moments (like in episode 5)
- Mai's flirting (wished they had shown why he liked Jade earlier than ep 5)
- Jade's and Mai's supportive family
- cute moments
- how Jade did have agency in episode 8 and initiated things
- good consent/communication in episode 8
- that it has a wide release on 4 different platforms
Room For Improvement
- the three minutes of cringey animation didn't hook me
- Jade's exaggerated/yelling was irritating especially in the beginning episodes
- cringey editing, voice overs and comedy sound effects that didn't make anything funny
- the side couple was oddly hot and cold (note, apparently the cut version removed several of their scenes which is contributing to their confusing interactions with each other)
- not happy with the Uea/King reluctant/violent dynamic, how King was jealous/retaliatory at Uea in ep 6 for just talking to another guy
- slow pacing/repetitive, in episode 6 as an example Mai had almost a duplicate conversation with his mom
- bad decisions with what they cut, I was happy they cut the vomiting scene in episode 2 but why on earth cut an entire scene including a kiss with the side couple in episode 6??? I normally would expect a cut version to reduce a NSFW scene but there wasn't anything to cut up to episode 7 (and then they did cut the NSFW scenes in ep 7 and 8)
- the NSFW scenes were kind of choppy, one of them oddly stopped and then re-started
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another crack comedy in the Ossan's Love franchise
Overall: there is a lot of ridiculousness with the plot and characters but it's obviously intentional and I did laugh several times during the movie which is about 2 hours long (make sure to watch the very cute post credits scene at the end). Aired officially internationally on GagaOOLala in December 2023 when the platform picked up almost the entire Ossan's Love franchise https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/2118/ossans-love-the-movie ; also on Viki https://www.viki.com/movies/40296c-ossans-love-the-movielove-or-dead Note: the movie should be watched directly after the 2018 series, the Love in the Sky takes place in an alternate universe/totally different plot and is not a continuation of the 2018 seriesContent Warnings: past death, threatened violence, kidnapping/held against will
What I Liked
- how the movie started with that chase/action scene and then another action scene towards the end
- fun comedy moments
- the actors made me cry towards the end with talking about marriage equality, the challenge of having a family and their love for each other
Room For Improvement
- how Maki wouldn't let him explain
- could have used a few more sweet moments before the conflict started
- how a character asked a certain person for permission to marry before asking her
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short indie slice of life
Overall: this is a 20 minute short film. Watched on Pomthani YouTube Channel.What I Like
- realistically flawed characters
- good consent
- she tried to correct the misunderstanding right away
- production value for what I assume is an indie production
Room For Improvement
- a bit choppy and the flashback/flash to the present didn't help
- the ending was a flashback, would have liked something in the present
- that was bizarre timing during the camping
- her character change seemed very fast
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short experimental/dystopian movie
Overall: this is a 10 minute movie that has an artsy/experimental film vibe. Watched on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/3539/kiss-2021What I Liked
- unique setting
- the end credits have additional glimpses into his life/world
- production value (lighting, cinematography)
Room For Improvement
- not really sure if it's a dream, real, there is no dialogue
- what are the ramifications of the protagonist's decision? wish the movie was slightly longer to more flesh out the world building
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decent continuation
Overall: though I really dislike this type of plot for a season 2, I think they did well with what they had. I'd love to see the actors in something else, especially the guy that played Pee. Aired on YouTube season 1 part 1 is here https://youtu.be/ZV00vfaAFZc?si=nE63OYDGG4vy1TYA and is about 12 minutes, part 2 is about 15 minutes.What I Liked
- the theme song is really cute
- breaking the 4th wall (where characters talk directly to the audience) is unique
- a few cute parts
- Pee was forthright
- Bam called Mike out
Room For Improvement
- the love rival plot for a season 2
- that Pee said even if Bam liked Mike that he wouldn't give up
- too much time spent at the beach, we needed more of Bam & Mike
- something that almost happened at the end but didn't
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an indie production that missed the mark
Overall: too much of the story took place off screen. I watched all episodes together in a now deleted video, here is the official playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlpSUv8-x1mCRDCXRB4T7gHLWJxelv2Gy&si=JZNSs5NuiPy2hhbNNote: around 15 minutes of ep 1? there is a very intense strobe lighting/effect
Content Warnings: manipulation, violence, held against will, stalking
What I Liked
- the premise
- beginning seemed spicy but that all vanished which is extra strange considering the setting
Room For Improvement
- we don't see relationships develop, just suddenly they are in a relationship
- no characterization other than their names and they wanted to make money
- rough subtitles hindered my understanding of what was happening (note: 'brother' doesn't mean biological brother, it means friend, I think the only people related were the woman, her brother/cousin? the club owner and someone's mom or aunt)
- that open ending/cliffhanger was bad when a 2nd season isn't guaranteed
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so happy that I re-watched this slice of life series
Overall: when I first watched this series, I was irritated by the lack of verbal and physical affection. However, upon re-watching it, my view changed a bit. Something to note is that just because we don't see much physical romance doesn't mean that it didn't happen with this couple. Both actors are A-list actors and this is one of the first series to feature m/m romance in Japan (Ossan's Love was the first the year prior in 2018). Watched officially on GagaOOLala (which also has the 2020 New Year's special and hopefully the 2023 season 2).Content Warnings: homophobia (mainly internal)
What I Liked
- a realistic portrayal of flawed characters who learn and grow
- support characters, they weren't tossed in and had reasons for being part of the story
- some really funny parts like the shaking in ep 3
- amazing acting especially the emotional scene in ep 11
- that Kenji had effeminate mannerisms but they weren't mocked in the series
Room For Improvement
- the cooking bogged down the pacing a bit for me, though the food looked delicious
- I was so angry at Shiro at times, especially in episode 8, however it is made clear that he has deep internal homophobia and we did see him working on this towards the end of the series
- their lack of communication really frustrated me when I first watched it, but I've heard that not having deep conversations could be realistic even for a couple of 3 years in Japan (added with the fact that they are a gay couple and one is mostly closeted/has internalized homophobia)
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steamy second season with a lackluster plot
Overall: though I don't love part of the plot, the production value/acting is good (and it earns its R rating :). 6 episodes about 15 minutes each. Aired uncut on GagaOOLala, cut version on YouTube BL Pictures channelContent Warnings: grief
What I Liked
- the beginning hooked me in right away
- NSFW scenes were realistic though I wish they hadn't been quite so choppy/broken up and we heard some of their sounds
- grief scene was very well acted
- production value
Room For Improvement
- wish they'd come up with different plots for second seasons of BL
- excellent long take in episode 4
- her actions didn't really make sense to me
- background noise/music was too loud in the pool scene
- did not feel they were ready for what happened at the end of ep 6, they need to work on their communication
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very cute and very short (binge them all at once)
Overall: each episode is 1 minute long (14 minutes total), so I'd recommend watching them all in one sitting. Watched on Thai Mini Series YouTube channel.Content Warnings: none
What I Liked
- they have a bunch of cute/sweet moments
- Tutor and Yim have good chemistry
- good production value
Room For Improvement
- episodes don't really flow from one to the next, they are more like individual skits
- it would be helpful if the episodes were just a little longer, even 4 minutes per episode instead of the 1 minute
- there was something the characters should have done at the very end of the last episode but they ended it before we got to see it
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wish they would have made 3 separate movies for each of the 3 couples
This is a movie version (110 minutes runtime) of the original 6 episode series (220 minutes runtime https://kisskh.at/680869-second-chance). There aren't any new scenes only half is cut out. I wish they would have made 3 separate movies, each one focused on a couple because this movie did not solve my two main issues.1. With three couples and not a long runtime, each of the couples' relationships feels rushed and it can feel choppy overall jumping back and forth between them
2. Two of the characters look very similar (they are brothers in real life, they aren't related in the series - one is a barista and the other learns muay thai). The characters don't appear in the same scene until the very end and it was really confusing (I thought 1 character had 3 love interests and actually screamed in the last episode when I realized they were different characters).
By separating the story lines out, I think these two issues would not have been a problem or as much of a problem. They could put some transition scenes (a city skyline with time lapse) to show that time has passed before the next scene is shown.
Content warnings: bullying/beaten up, homophobia
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a countryside slice of life
Overall: this is a nice slice of life story set in the countryside. Now available on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/2623/restart-after-coming-back-home-2020Content Warnings: non con kiss (sleeping)
What I Liked
- the countryside setting
- felt realistic, people trying to figure things out
- I generally don't like a carefree happy golucky personality with a reserved/sullen one but there is character growth and more than what first meets the eye
Room For Improvement
- it did feel a bit slow in places
- the non con kiss
- lack of communication (though they did have some good conversations at the end)
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Gentle Slice of Life Story
Overall: this is more of a slice of life short series. It's available officially on Hulu Japan.Content Warnings: voyeurism/harassment (not between m/m)
What I Liked
- caring moments
- that he stopped the mirror thing
- production value
Room For Improvement
- the whole 'just kidding' cliche
- choppy/jumped to him fixing his bike
- slow pacing/could have spent a bit more time with the guys and their relationship
- odd that they didn't talk more about their relationship changing
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