4
10
1
1
a little 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. 8 episodes about 45 minutes 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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This review may contain spoilers
dropping this
Overall: There are valid reasons why people write/read/watch/enjoy FICTIONAL toxic/abusive relationships which I'm not going to get into. Day constantly abusing Itt along with other things has made me drop this series. FYI, this is based on the third book in a series - I have not read the books and believe that series should be able to be watch/enjoyed without knowing about the source material so that is how I'm reviewing this series. Aired on WeTV. Later re-released on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/39900c-love-syndrome-iiiContent Warnings: fight scene/beaten up, violence, blood, intimate partner violence, manipulation, manhandling (likely more content warnings will happen in future episodes)
What I Liked
- Itt's parents
- their friends
- that ep 1 fight scene was just plain fun
- how a former girlfriend is not a cliche evil character
- skinny black jeans and Day's abs
Room For Improvement
- ep 1 Itt screaming about cake for half the episode, I understand that Day likes Itt to rely on him so it's not like he's a victim in all this but the cake screaming was super annoying
- the production should not expect viewers to have read the previous 2 books and understand the characters/story, what we saw was Itt being annoying in episode 1 and then being constantly abused and crying in the next few episodes, this does not make for enjoyable viewing
- scenes dragged on, they spent way too long in the hospital
- a parade of characters in episode 2 made it difficult to know who was who and what their relationship was to one another
- nonsense things like Itt spending multiple days in a hospital for fainting, why were Day and Itt sleeping on couches at their house???
- end of episode 3 looked good but then the beginning of episode 4 skipped over that cliffhanger
- missing and difficult to understand subtitles
- ballad song for the intro/outro was odd given the tone of the series
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past tutor/student short series
Overall: it was fine. It's a spin off from Winter Fever. Aired on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkQFxcEhORR16XwTyqP2g42b9ae5iahbi&si=yUq5u6-zKBVDBwgeContent Warning: non con kiss
What I Liked
- the actors
- intimacy was done well
Room For Improvement
- I almost put harassment as a content warning
- although the younger guy was in university it was a bit of an ick factor that he fell in love when he was in high school and the non con kiss
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super sweet vertical series
Overall: I enjoyed how it focused on the leads. 30 short episodes available on GagaOOLala app and iQIYI app (iQIYI has 5 interview bts episodes).What I Liked
- focused on the 2 leads
- the taller guy wanted to be a puppy/pet
- sweet/caring moments
Room For Improvement
- guy with glasses had that overacting thing, but it wasn't too bad
- didn't show the head pat after he first asked for it
- wanted another couple episodes of them as a couple
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communication struggles
Overall: I think they should have cut the love rival and focused on the low self esteem aspect. 4 episodes about 8 minutes each. Aired on True Film YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkQFxcEhORR2azTx4-IgLsMz-Sb7rYnx1&si=RaMzJuLSTKzR2rp8Content Warning: non con touching/hugging
If you want to cut out the love rival, watch episode 1 until 4:25, episode 2 6:30-end and episode 4 6-end
What I Liked
- visuals
- good kissing
- established couple
- supportive brother
Room For Improvement
- unrealistic not answering who was on the phone in episode 1
- 2 love rivals (actually it was 1 I think, the voice over referred to his boyfriend and not the brother)
- cliche got drunk and forgot and then saw the beginning of something but didn't talk about it
- a protagonist came across as creepy with lines like "I'll keep you by my side and never let you go" (when the other character was sleeping) and "I'll never let you go, you'll get used to it as time goes on"
- I have zero faith this couple will stay together, the one guy's low self esteem will torpedo their relationship, in my optimistic mind he gets therapy and couples therapy and the relationship works out
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My Stepbrother Is My Favourite Novelist!?
1 people found this review helpful
nicely done short series
Overall: I really enjoyed their different personalities and I gave this an indie rating bump. 4 episodes about 10 minutes each. Aired on Nooto YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmz1FNoG1zYHVHiX7zTnjlixJi5YmDE4RWhat I Liked
- how they were opposites in some ways (like messy vs. tidy)
- sweet moments
- a quirky character still felt in the realm of reality
Room For Improvement
- audible gulps
- the series was so short, I really wanted a bit more relationship development between them
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cute vertical series where they started as friends
Overall: this was a well done vertical series with the friends to boyfriends dynamic. 30 episodes about 2 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI app (title is Beyond Childhood Friends, episodes 1-5 are free); GagaOOLala (title is Beyond Childhood Friends) and episodes 1-10 are on mov Short drama YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIBpX20YnmIgyy14zTJZfe3_whB8ECq4o&si=iCNmZXDDz24NUUyOWhat I Liked
- supportive friend
- I chuckled a few times
- a character was forthright
Room For Improvement
- similar to a 'gay for you' trope
- voiced inner thoughts/forecasting upcoming scenes
- refused to communicate and the other guy could have easily guessed what he was upset about
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This review may contain spoilers
poignant short movie
Overall: this 19 minute movie is more of a slice of life; there is an established m/m couple but that's not where the focus is. I watched it on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6001/colors-of-the-funeral-2022Content Warnings: discrimination, death
What I Liked
- established m/m couple
- character growth
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vertical Thai comedy series
Overall: it grew on me a bit. Aired 52 short episodes on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DVBH08eIAkm/?hl=enand several episodes combined on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBJBKT1SWXkHA3sQH8l9Pq_stiuAKv7Oy&si=DcYGUS3o_Lz4DhI1
Content Warnings: bullying, manipulation, non con kiss, blood (for comedy effect), drugging, kidnapping
What I Liked
- intimacy
- countryside setting
- showed a character buying condoms
- sweet moments
- a character's supportive dad
- non cliche ex
Room For Improvement
- bullying the person he liked
- comedy sound effects didn't make things funny
- didn't make sense why he lied because they didn't establish the other character wouldn't like something beforehand
- why did they like each other?
- a character found out the other one lied but didn't tell him something right away
- multiple idiotic plans
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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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This review may contain spoilers
took a turn in episode 3
Overall: I enjoyed the first 2 episodes (though the end of episode 2 seemed sudden), but things took a turn in episode 3 and the story tried to cover too much ground. 6 episodes about 10 minutes each. Aired on Secret of Us YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7BSona1dmx6MOq-2_V50NJrjuUGS-UjO&si=h06-k6G1Bz0RiX3kContent Warnings: dub/non con kiss, sexual assault, past deaths mentioned, manipulation
What I Liked
- vistas
- visuals
Room For Improvement
- started with a flash forward and then to the present
- one guy seemed completely non interested and then after the sexual assault in the tent they were suddenly soulmates???
- too many story threads, should not have introduced the mom/terminal illness
Ending Spoiler: they reunite but 1 guy appears to have a terminal illness
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surprising depth for what I assumed was a comedy
Overall: I ended up really enjoying this indie series. Originally aired on YouTube, unfortunately it appears videos are now gone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3To3tqb3kw&list=PLSQPiMoYAX3iVDfDFhi_BI_paXO0T9GFG&index=3&ab_channel=%E5%93%88%E5%88%A9%E7%9A%84%E5%B0%8F%E5%89%A7%E5%9C%BAContent Warnings: non con video recording/sharing, past death, grief, non con touching
What I Liked
- sweet moments
- supportive friend
- good kissing
- made me laugh a few times
- poignant
Room For Improvement
- a cliche plot point of seeing something but it was resolved quickly
- cliche swimming and got a leg cramp
- continuity errors
- (neutral) comedy sound effects
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unique premise (same actors, different characters/stories)
Overall: this is not a reincarnation/time travel plot as all the stories happen in the present day. Instead, the actors play different characters in standalone plots (episodes 3 and 4 were 1 story, 5 and 6 were 1 story and then 7 and 8 tie everything together in a way). 8 episodes about 55 minutes each. Aired uncut on GagaOOLala (not Japan or South Korea) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4812/every-you-every-me-2024 & WeTVhttps://wetv.vip/play/296rso568y0ryfg/m4100yjgyjz?ptag=3_5.16.5.13870_copy ; airing cut version on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvw0WLA6w9UQZrmUoifbNDO9S6yUS9ry7&si=JHVZI3-LAPw_9dev Note: watch after the initial end credits as some episodes have a separate plot
Episode 1 - I was a bit confused with the world building but then it made sense. I enjoyed the sweet moments, the friendship (potentially aromantic character as a bonus) and the intimate partner abuse felt realistic. Not a fan of the comedy sound effects and they could have made it a bit faster pacing-wise. Content warnings: intimate partner abuse/violence, manipulation, manhandling, past death
Episode 2 - typical cold CEO/nervous worker plot. That grandma way overstepped boundaries though her heart was in the right place. Enjoyed the sweet moments. Content Warnings: manipulation
Episodes 3 & 4 - I was going to rate this higher; however, I couldn't get into the moping/angst because they explained it much too late. Not a fan of silent simping for years and making a choice for someone without talking to them first. Liked the second couple and the supportive friends/family/coworkers. Content Warning: a major one but I'm keeping this spoiler free
Episodes 5 & 6 - there were peak visuals in this episode lol, I enjoyed the flirting and physical affection. I really disliked the invasion of privacy and the shoehorned plot with the female character. They spent too much time on the past in this episode as well. Content Warning: past death, manipulation
Episodes 7 & 8 - I'm trying to be spoiler free but I had the most issues with these episodes
Watch Suggestions
- end ep 5 at 45min
- watch ep 6 22-35:30
- skip ep 7
- watch ep 8 31 to the end)
What I Liked: I most enjoyed how the actors were able to play such different characters, the styling was great. The commentary on challenges of shipwork towards the end was also unique and interesting.
Room For Improvement: because I didn't see a key aspect of them as an established couple, it was difficult for me to root for them. The non linear storytelling at the end of episode 6 thru 8 made things needlessly confusing. They didn't actually show what didn't work, so I'm not convinced everything has been resolved and it won't happen again. The time jump felt like a cliche way to resolve the conflict.
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still a favorite
Overall: I originally watched this in 2020. Re-watched in 2024, I saw the areas of improvement but the two m/m couples stayed as two of my all time favorites. On YouTube as twenty 22 min episodes and Viki as ten 45 minute episodes.Note: Shao Fei's piece of hair was sticking up on purpose, I think they called it Fifi lol
Content Warnings: past murders, attempted murder, grief, manipulation, violence, blood, torture, held against will, suicide (off screen), drugging, beginning sexual assault, non con touching, manhandling, past child abuse
What I Liked
- dynamic of enemies to lovers/opposites attract
- Shao Fei & Li An's friendship
- Shao Fei wasn't completely inept, did have some fight and detective skills
- sweet moments
- a few funny moments (though some were too cringey)
- good intimacy
- second m/m couple (but not Jack saying Li An had to take responsibility for (unknowingly) attracting him)
- OST
Room For Improvement
- episode 1 was weird when the sister wore his shirt and acted flirty
- the het side couple didn't hook me, wish they had spent that screen time on the second m/m couple
- confused/zoned out with all the mafia intricacies/plot
- some camerawork had a low budget feel
- comedy sound effects
- unrealistic parts, i.e. the 2 coworkers handed Li An off to a known criminal
- some truly heinous suits
- wish something hadn't happened towards the end when they visited the grave, didn't deduct points
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excellent chemistry/tension
Overall: the leads really brought it in this university series. 6 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/dy0tqsfvpl73f7f-No.1%20For%20You Also a special edition that has a few extra seconds for paid subscribers (did not see the difference in episode 1) https://wetv.vip/en/play/7isd6uuw6sdr6v0-No.1-For-You-Special-Edition/i0039ifao8c-EP1-No.1-For-You-Special-EditionContent Warnings: non con video recording, manipulation/blackmail, non con touching/kiss, homophobia
What I Liked
- sweet moments
- funny moments
- intimacy/chemistry
- that bridge scene was amazing
- supportive friends, the sassy cousin and the mom
- a non cliche female character
- attention to props (rainbow books in the library, the skeleton that changes positions)
- character styling
- music (the actor YU who played Zhou Shu Yi sang the OST "Blue Lover"; the bartender in episode 6 was Alex Chou who was a lead in My Tooth Your Love and also sang "Hard To Let Go" in We Best Love)
Room For Improvement
- stupid plan/approach
- tried to cram too many relationships/plot into a short runtime
- started with a voice over and flash forward
- nonsense cliche in the pool
- ep 4 manipulation and the non con
- gay for you trope
- lack of communication/happened to overhear something
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