BL Compilations

a soap opera (side BL couple)

Overall: I saw this on a BL list and decided to watch it although it doesn't have English subtitles. I watched the first 2 episodes and the last episode. Unfortunately the sweet established m/m couple breaks up in the final episode (at least they both seem to move on/be happy) but that made me not want to go back and watch all of the episodes especially because I didn't understand most of what they were saying. Watched (not subtitled) on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh45VQur4AvofKLgui5nvD9m96BiIlu8V

Content Warnings: murder/death, held against will, attempted kidnapping, intimate partner abuse, violence, blood (likely more)

M/M couple scenes (from episodes that I watched)
- episode 1 part 5 4:15-end
- episode 2 beginning-2 min
- (they broke up at the beginning of episode 32)

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First Impression: Dating Game

Overall: I'm hoping the plot improves, because it was a bit too cringey in the first episode. 12 episodes about 1 hour each. No official international release.

Content Warnings: past bullying, coercion

What I Liked
- a gaming setting
- that his coworkers were nice instead of the normal backbiting we've seen in workplace settings
- they showed the viewer why he is so attached

Room For Improvement
- the brief exposition dump was not needed
- overall it veered into a bit too cringey like him setting out the figuring at his very first work meeting and saying what he said
- nonsense, a company wouldn't let customers know officially with 6 days left???
- the boss should not have been coercive especially because he knew how much the character meant to him

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First Impression: Doctor's Mine

Overall: feels old school Thai BL with the aggressive pursuit of a stranger turned soulmate and a reluctant pursuee. Based on the books "Gear & Gown" and "Extern" by Mynt. I haven't read the books and am reviewing the series based on its own merit. 10 episodes about an hour each. Airing on GagaOOLala uncut (not available in: Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, New Zealand, Korea) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5571/doctors-mine-2025
Available worldwide ; YouTube Kongthup channel cut (not available in Japan) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_6IR1YkXRg&ab_channel=KongthupChannel ; YouTube Kongthup channel members uncut (not available in Japan and Thailand) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-3lmw1GIQMnDQdR2BDbYNrdcRc3azVoC&si=fCHe5QuQYLf7dXJA and Viu (Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Myanmar) uncut though someone said the first episode was cut so maybe some countries get cut and some get uncut. The cut version on YouTube cut down a NSFW scene by 2 minutes (it was in part 2).

Content Warnings: fight, blood, non con kisses, dub con sex, slap

What I Liked
- Long Lee
- easy to understand premise

Room For Improvement
- the cliche 'seemed to be very drunk and then suddenly was sober' in episode 1, also he asked the guy not to do something and then the guy did that exact thing
- flashbacks to recent scenes
- some scenes went on for too long

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First Impression: I'm the Most Beautiful Count

Overall: Interested to see how well they balance humor with more serious topics. This is based on a webtoon that I haven't read and I am reviewing the series on its own merits. 13 episodes about 50 minutes each. Airing on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/i-m-the-most-beautiful-count-episode-1-1hwby7xm14c?lang=en_us and YouTube (not in North, Central or South America, the Caribbean, U.K, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia or Australia) https://youtu.be/JW3Sni7GJK0?si=Rn-vf6SAfAvJ1lRe

Content Warnings: (several, I'm keeping this spoiler free for now)

What I Liked
- a lead who wears stilettos, has long nails and is sassy
- historical setting
- chuckled a few times

Room For Improvement
- comedy sound effects didn't make things funny
- love triangle set up
- (neutral) trans female/effeminate male stereotypes are exaggerated expressiveness and boy crazy, wish they could have slightly modified one or both of these to break out of stereotypes

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First Impression: Khemjira

Overall: solid start for a horror/supernatural/romance series. 12 episodes about 1 hour each. Airing on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/khemjira-episode-1-wraawu50u8?lang=en_us

Content Warnings: there are several in episode 1 including jump scares, I'm keeping this spoiler free for now

What I Liked
- Jet as a supportive friend
- mystery of what happened in the past, how things came to be the way they are
- that Khemjira helped someone (or rather 2)
- production value

Room For Improvement
- the parents were pretty selfish unless they were the first generation and thought they could outsmart it

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First Impression: My Bias is Showing

Overall: I like the premise but am worried about some potential cliched plot points. Based on the webtoon of the same name by Nabit and Eol. 10 episodes (iQIYI says 11 but there might be a behind the scenes or special episode) approximately 22 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala in in Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and Europe (not UK, Spain, Portugal) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5692/my-bias-is-showing-2025-e01 ; iQIYI https://www.iq.com/album/my-bias-is-showing-2025-1vmsvoj3pt9?lang=en_us ; Heavenly in South Korea https://heavenly.tv/detail/973 and more.

Content Warnings: manipulation?

What I Liked
- premise
- visuals
- mystery
- chuckled in episode 2 with him hiding holding the ball

Room For Improvement
- episode 1 was backstory/set up
- neutral on comedy sound effects
- I sense some overused cliches will happen

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