BL Compilations

very short series

Overall: I'm confused if there are only 5 episodes total because that did not seem like a final episode. Each episode is about 1 minute long. Available on https://bloomhd.com/series/2/watch/10 (no English subtitles, I used the Thai subtitles and then my phone camera/auto translate though not sure the subtitles helped me much).

There's no introduction, just dude A is in a locker room with dude B. Dude B says dude A is late and therefore must scrub the bathroom which he does. Then at the pool, dude A challenges dude B to swim laps. What happens is completely tropey. I didn't feel much chemistry between the two.

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a more serious short series

I gave this an indie bump. Aired on MLV Film Production YouTube channel episode 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-85qqL0L64I and episode 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR04gRBtTWc&t=8s

Content Warnings: intimate partner abuse, bullying, past death/blood, child abuse/choking, death

Watch Suggestions
- to take out most content warnings start episode 1 at 9:30 and episode 2 watch 13-end

The subtitles stopped partway thru episode 1. And auto translate mistakenly thought the language was Indonesian in part 2 so I have no idea what was said. I appreciated that they showed the realistic struggle that many people go to with not having the money for basic needs. For the end, either his mom died and he did see his friend/love interest? or his friend died and he hallucinated seeing him at the end. I couldn't tell without knowing what he said.

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well done indie short series

Overall: I gave this an indie rating bump. 4 episodes about 10 minutes each. Aired on Xiaole Boyslove YouTube channel
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4hAtAftZF7bnAk9qPgTkvLpJFJKwWJk4&si=-LaHE6jMtrqZhbvQ (not in correct watch order, I was very confused when I accidentally watched episodes 1, 3 and then 2)

Content Warnings: homophobia, sexual harassment/non con touching (not between the leads)

What I Liked
- centered on 2 characters
- easy to understand premise
- wasn't a total noble idiot trope, he explained his reason
- mom had character growth though it taking her that long to see he was hurting made me angry

Room For Improvement
- the time jump

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fantastic acting with unrealistic plot

Overall: I enjoy slice of life series; however, so many rare things happened that it completely pulled me out of the story. I define soulmates as people with romantic connections, so in my opinion the series is misnamed as I felt zero romance. Aired on Netflix. Spoiler for the ending in the comment section.

Content Warnings: homophobia, vomiting, attempted suicide, xenophobia, blood, fights, past death, hate crime, death, grief

Watch Suggestions to take out content warnings
- skip episode 1
- episode 2 watch 15-end
- episode 3 watch 5:20-27:45
- episode 4 beginning-7:30, 20:15-21:45, 24:50-27
- episode 5 watch 13-29
- episode 6 watch 16:30-end (there is a photo that will tell you something sad)
- episode 7 beginning to 7m30s or 10 minutes
- skip episode 8

What I Liked
- acting
- production value
- support characters like the friends, parents, bar owner & more
- realistic portrayal of the struggle of having a child and working

Room For Improvement
- the first episode was confusing, I wasn't sure what was real or not
- way too many coincidental/rare things happened that the series felt fake and 'because the writer said so'
- I did not feel soulmate chemistry
- noble idiot trope

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interesting premise

Overall: I enjoyed the premise but the execution was lacking. First 5 episodes free on Shortime, 59 episodes total about 2 hrs total runtime. My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.

Content Warnings: manhandling, punch, intimate partner violence and abuse, slap, dub con

What I Liked
- premise
- visuals

Room For Improvement
- too much of a nice guy getting dumped on
- evil women cliche and too much time spent on it
- love rival
- gay for you trope
- that they didn't show something right at the very end
- unless I missed it, he never talked to his dad after the initial "I'll take care of it" scene

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there are two different endings for this one

Overall: I took into consideration that this was made in 2016 and from China. No official platform. There are two endings and you can probably guess how each will end. Note the movie and my review might have triggering content.

Content Warnings: intimate partner violence, choking, beginning sexual assault (touching), violence, blood, manipulation, slap, non con kiss turned consensual, homophobia

What I Liked
- there were actual apologies that a character meant, he had character growth and I believe they will live happily
- domestic bliss montage
- bed scene

Room For Improvement
- that slap was not needed
- love triangle
- don't understand what was with the fiancee thing

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servant/master dynamic, there is a second part

Overall: this review takes into consideration it aired in 2016 and is from China. It is also called "Uncontrolled Love". Available on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/uncontrolled-love-secret-of-the-valet-2016-19rrlkp87k?lang=en_us Note the movie and my review might have triggering content.

Content Warnings: non con touching, homophobia, (towards the end: beaten up/held against will, blood, attempted gang rape (not with the MLs), choking, self harm)

What I Liked
- acting
- coherent story
- music

Room For Improvement
- cliche wannabe girlfriend/wife
- the ML is controlling/abusive towards the other ML; however, I think he does have character growth in the second part

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