BL Compilations

Overall: this is a 22 minute short available on Mind Trio's YouTube channel (they did On Cloud Nine and Calculating Love)

Content Warnings: teasing/bullying?, gaslighting

What I Liked
- the actors did a decent job
- a few cute moments

Room For Improvement
- the plot was confusing, they started with a flash forward/flashback and then I wasn't sure what their relationships were to each other (long-time friends, acquaintances, classmates, etc)
- not a fan of the central premise and then how it's an open ending
- maybe I missed something but the reactions didn't make sense, the one guy smiled but he didn't return his feelings, why did he smile and then complain later about the teasing if he enjoyed it???
- the two tropes in the very beginning should have been reversed which would have been more realistic
- the character gaslighting and saying he doesn't have those feelings

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Overall: there were some good plot points in this, but they were obscured by several things. Watched on GagaOOLala.

Content Warnings: death off screen, dub/non con sex (leaning towards non con based on how she addresses him towards the end), fight/slap, past suicide attempt, alcoholism, mental health struggles, defamation?, manipulation

What I Liked
- this does address several realistic issues/struggles that were relevant when this movie was made and are still relevant today (including judgy doctors/people about a woman's past reproductive choices)

Room For Improvement
- it felt that Asako was having a midlife crisis which is a terrible reason to have a child. I didn't like that she didn't just have a one night stand or use a sperm bank. She does explain/show that she wants the feeling of family which she wouldn't get if she did the other options (but this makes me see her character as selfish, not someone I want to route for). I think they could have altered Asako and the plot a bit where I would be happy with their decision (so if the guys had wanted it to start with)
- that part before the final scene came out of nowhere and was so bizarre, I don't understand the reason for it, to show that you should appreciate every moment?
- unlikable characters (and too many), they could have easily cut out some characters especially that female co-worker, it added nothing to the story
- too long, it dragged and cutting out some side characters would have helped move things along

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super adorable

Overall: this is a micro series/long ad from a perfume company about a college freshmen and a senior. Watched on YouTube.

Content Warnings: none

What I Liked
- a lead used his brain to figure something out (even though perhaps a bit unrealistic, but I didn't care)
- the ending was really cute
- good production value*
- nice music

Room For Improvement
- they should have cut the female character out and used that screen time with the two leads
- *the blur filter was too heavy and the subs were very difficult to read with the white font and no outline or background

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Short follow up to The Novelist

Overall: This is an 11 minute continuation of the story from The Novelist (aka Pornographer). Watched on Viki.

Content Warnings: none

What I Liked: (very minor spoilers)
- some sweet moments like the head on the shoulder at the end
- communication about the letters
- that kiss is no dead fish lip press haha
- the car seemed to match the pale pink of the cherry blossoms
- the ending song
- (neutral) they used the same music that is in The Novelist which is either a nice call back or recycling to save money...

Room For Improvement:
- the kick from the sister was unnecessary
- the intro music doesn't match the vibe of the show

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Gentle slice of life story with an edge

(minor spoilers)
Content Warnings: dealing with trauma/grief, suicide that happens off screen in the past

I would describe this as a slice of life story, on the slower moving (I watched it on 1.5 speed)/gentle side but with a sharp edge related to dealing with grief and past regrets. FYI that there is also an animated series and and animated movie, all with the same title (all based on the manga Given)

What I Liked
The main thing that I really like is the moral of how words hurt and even if we apologize that might not fix things. Those words that may have been spoken in anger, not well thought out or even believed in, can be very dangerous and we need to think carefully before we speak. Hope there's a season 2 to delve more into what happens after this and also more about the two other bandmates.

Room For Improvement
- At the end, I really liked the hug and would have been totally happy if it ended at that. Mafuyu is obviously dealing with grief. If there was a kiss, I wanted Mafuyu to initiate it.
- The two kisses, yeah we got the dead fish lips recipient, bleh. The 1st was a surprise so okay, but the second was a no from me.

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one of the better short series from Flying Penguin

Overall: first aired on Likey and later on Shortime (app information below). 6 episodes about 5 minutes each.
Content Warnings: past death, grief, blood, homophobia, manipulation

What I Liked
- visuals
- using Flying Penguin for the real estate company
- that a character was chill in the beginning because he'd had the ability since he was young
- tension in the beginning

Room For Improvement
- the very NSFW did not enhance the story, I didn't feel the chemistry
- ending was not satisfying as there was zero explanation, the other character didn't seemed very shocked but just went along with it
- odd transition shot of a child's dress

Shortime Information (should be able to watch this series in a couple days for free, each episode is 60 popcorn so you need 300 for the 5 paid episodes)
- watch some free episodes first for 25 minutes to get the watch reward challenge popcorn (if you watch later you might accidentally use the popcorn you've accumulated) = 50 popcorn
- 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
- daily check in 5 popcorn (increases over 7 days)
- visit Amazon every hour to get 5 popcorn
- 3 always wins (most are 5 popcorn) = 15
- watch the 10 ads

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3 short episodes with 2 very explicit scenes

Overall: Flying Penguin (South Korea) seems to be similar to Japanese pink film productions, a thin plot with several very explicit scenes. Originally aired on Likey (I think), later aired on Shortime (each episode is 50 popcorn, see app info below) . 3 episodes about 7 minutes each.

What I Liked
- good kissing
- interesting premise

Room For Improvement
- no chemistry between the leads
- nonsense that a character knew how to do some things but seemed clueless about others

Shortime Information (should be able to watch this series in a day for free)
- watch some free episodes first for 25 minutes to get the watch reward challenge popcorn (if you watch later you might accidentally use the popcorn you've accumulated) = 50 popcorn
- 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
- daily check in 5 popcorn (increases over 7 days)
- visit Amazon every hour to get 5 popcorn
- 3 always wins (most are 5 popcorn) = 15
- watch as many ads as you need to get to 150 popcorn

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wish it was a full two hour movie

Overall: there are interesting concepts introduced but it was much too short and I was a bit confused (more story past the initial credits). Aired on YouTube https://youtu.be/_b96Y29V-fo and later GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6066/love-ever-after-2023

Content Warnings: self harm marks, past suicide mentioned

What I Liked
- interesting concept, just wish it was more fleshed out
- production value (styling, cinematography)

Room For Improvement
- choppy/confusing, maybe they could have cut the sister character to give more time to the other parts of the plot

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indie master/servant vlog

Overall: I'm not sure how to describe this series. It has a vlog feel with less of a story and more vignettes of daily life, but then also has voicing inner thoughts and a fictional story with a master/servant. Airing on Adam&Seven YouTube channel (they are a couple in real life) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy3x1NWjzbMWwAGldfAFTrMcD6EB6pezt&si=l8M6V3BmVVnAm6to

Content Warnings: manhandling, non/dub con touching

What I Liked
- the dynamic
- episodes 5 and 6 were better

Room For Improvement
- very handsy but then suddenly reluctant
- did not feel the chemistry
- voicing inner thoughts
- I didn't take off points but the production is very indie, used holiday music over non holiday scenes, music was too loud

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