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This review may contain spoilers
had potential, unfinished in the end
Overall: the acting was good, but the one sidedness was too much/long, I hesitate to call this BL. 50 episodes about 2 minutes each. Aired on Lezhin Snack app and later Shortime app and GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/verticals/8458/high-school-boy-2026Content Warnings: bullying, fights, violence, blood, homophobia, manipulation
What I Liked
- actors did a good job
- easy to understand premise
- some character growth
Room For Improvement
- a main character needed to stop professing he didn't like guys
- open ending that didn't answer it either way
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This review may contain spoilers
hot and cold
Overall: needed to focus more on the lead pair and their relationship development. Aired on Shortime app. Episodes 1-5 are free https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94xidyP8QrQ 65 total episodes a couple minutes each. My referral code is oetm5LkjoTOX (all letters except the number 5) and it should get you a bonus. Later aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/verticals/8592/id-rather-quit-than-die-director-2026Content Warnings: homophobia, manipulation, hit, violence, non con kiss, past murder, murder, manhandling, trauma/mental health struggles, drugging, kidnapping, unwanted public outing
What I Liked
- premise
- a few cute moments
- perceptive co-worker
- boss was intelligent in episode 50
Room For Improvement
- the nonsense of he stood while a car approached and then the car didn't brake when it could clearly see him???
- episode 13 back hug was odd, the boss was hot and cold
- the non kiss when the other guy was sleeping
- told the plot thru voice overs
- stereotypical villains
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soap opera vertical series
Overall: I rate vertical series by other vertical series in a similar style and I quite liked this one. 55 episodes about 2 minutes each. Aired on WeTV (still have to rent it even if you have a paid subscription which is annoying) https://wetv.vip/en/play/w7xpce6favzdq5s/n4101zdymg0?ptag=3_5.28.5.16440_messagesContent Warnings: violence, sexual assault, drugging, kidnapping, beaten up
What I Liked
- visuals
- he rejected him the first time he was drugged
- the ending
Room For Improvement
- love rival
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boxing slice of life
Overall: it was a bit strange how in the last 8 minutes they went zero to 100 but...eh. About 70 minutes total runtime. Aired on Viu and 9NAA YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmOxMtX7dDsContent Warnings: beaten up, blood, past homophobia
What I Liked
- goofball/cool guy dynamic
- easy to understand premise
- visuals
Room For Improvement
- comedy sound effects/silly music didn't make things funny
- not sure why a character waited to intervene
- explained a story but didn't fully explain how that affected the present
- went from zero to 100, should have developed it more
- cliffhanger ending
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felt that I was missing the first part of the story
Overall: I was plopped into a story that didn't make a ton of sense. Why did a character love the other character? Maybe there were censorship/budget issues at play. 21 minutes long. It has a sequel. Watched on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6067/find-you-in-the-crowd-one-2017Content Warning: slaps, homophobia
What I Liked
- wish the dream at the end had been reality
- music
Room For Improvement
- started in the present then flashback and then present
- choppy
- cliche evil woman character
- love rival (needed to focus on the two main characters)
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cute main couple
Overall: I liked the main couple, but there was too much time spent on the antagonist. 43 1-2 minute episodes with 1-5 free https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwYMw24W9K4 Aired on the Shortime app (more info below). My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.Content Warning: manipulation, non con recording
What I Liked
- easy to understand premise
- visuals
- supportive friend
Room For Improvement
- too much time spent on the antagonist
- ghosting
- that they cut the kiss in ep 41 and there wasn't one at the end
- (neutral) I set aside the physical therapist/patient squickiness
My Watch For Free Plan (updated Feb 2025)
My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.
On the Rewards (popcorn bag icon page)
- check in = 5 (increases over 7 days up to 25)
- create a login = 20? (I did create a login because otherwise you only get 1 Always Win box instead of 3 per day, I think this was 20 popcorn)
- do the 3 random popcorn from the daily Always Win box = 30 (I'd normally get 5, around 15 in total)
- Watch Ads, watch all 10 ads each day, have to wait 30 seconds in between ads = 110
When you run out of popcorn while watching, you can watch 5 episodes each day with ads
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This review may contain spoilers
a quirky short film
Overall: this is a 13 minute quirky short movie where condoms have voices. I first watched it on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/1207/dom-2017 It later aired on Shortime (it was 100 popcorn in 2025).What I Liked
- the way the guy bought it felt realistic
- made me chuckle a few times
- friendship
Room For Improvement
- them being very drunk beforehand
- the one guy trying to convince him not to use a condom
Note: this isn't a happily ever after, the main character's boyfriend cheats on him and then it's an open ending
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vertical series about step brothers
Overall: it was okay. 30 episodes about 1-2 minutes each. Episodes 1-5 (of 30 short episodes) on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4cN0VtI6fEAired on the Shortime app (more info below). My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus. Later available on GagaOOLala.
Content Warnings: coercion, bullying, past injury, harassment, past death
What I Liked
- caring moments
- the parents
- there is a kiss
Room For Improvement
- a character being hot and cold and then when he grabbed/yelled at the other lead
- not much romance
My Watch For Free Plan (updated Feb 2025)
My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.
On the Rewards (popcorn bag icon page)
- check in = 5 (increases over 7 days up to 25)
- create a login = 20? (I did create a login because otherwise you only get 1 Always Win box instead of 3 per day, I think this was 20 popcorn)
- do the 3 random popcorn from the daily Always Win box = 30 (I'd normally get 5-15, around 30 in total)
- Watch Ads, watch all 10 ads each day, have to wait 30 seconds in between ads = 110
When you run out of popcorn while watching, you can watch 5 episodes each day with ads
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a quirky short series
Overall: 3 episodes about 4 minutes each. Produced by Flying Penguin, originally released on Likey. Later released on Shortime app (app info below). 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)Content Warning: non con touching? (might not have actually touched)
What I Liked
- centered on 3 protagonists
- kissing
Room For Improvement
- that they didn't check for something and other nonsense stuff
- abrupt ending
My Watch For Free Plan (updated Feb 2025)
1 friend referral code = 20 (1 time bonus) 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)
On the Rewards (popcorn bag icon page)
- check in = 5 (increases over 7 days up to 25)
- create a login = 20? (I did create a login because otherwise you only get 1 Always Win box instead of 3 per day, I think this was 20 popcorn)
- do the 3 random popcorn from the daily Always Win box = 30 (I'd normally get 5-15, around 30 in total)
- Watch Ads, watch all 10 ads each day, have to wait 30 seconds in between ads = 110
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realistic portrayal of an unrealistic scenario
Overall: it was fine. Episodes 1-5 (of 40 short episodes) on YouTube https://youtu.be/4fBurNUWBQg?si=fE3XCNvFUlnJV6wwAired on the Shortime app (more info below). 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) Shortime also also has: Long Time No See, A First Love Story, Color Rush, As if You Whisper, Choco Milk Shake, Double Play, Please Teach Me, Falling For My Boss, Can a Freeloader Make it as a Secretary, Summer Indigo, The Secrets of Male Students, Accent, Ippon: Hold Me Tight, Star Struck, Once Again, That Nerd is My Brother in Law, I'm Your Pet, I'd Rather Quit Than Die Director, Influencer Love, Happy Ending Romance, Happy Ending, Romeo and Romeo and Juliet, Blue Complex, Gangster Like Me Got a Boyfriend, Buddy Boy and W King.
Content Warning: homophobia
What I Liked
- the dad "if it's someone you like, I'm fine with anyone"
- the sister
- the visual while they were changing facing away from each other
Room for Improvement
- more time spent with the end couple
- wanted something at the very end
My Watch For Free Plan (updated Feb 2025)
1 friend referral code = 20 (1 time bonus) 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)
On the Rewards (popcorn bag icon page)
- check in = 5 (increases over 7 days up to 25)
- create a login = 20? (I did create a login because otherwise you only get 1 Always Win box instead of 3 per day, I think this was 20 popcorn)
- do the 3 random popcorn from the daily Always Win box = 30 (I'd normally get 5-15, around 30 in total)
- Watch Ads, watch all 10 ads each day, have to wait 30 seconds in between ads = 110
When you run out of popcorn while watching, you can watch 5 episodes each day with ads
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a decent special
Overall: I'm happy it didn't rely on the too frequent "I'm planning a surprise for you so I'll make you super sad because it looks like I'm cheating and I won't tell you what's going on" special episode plot. Aired on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/u23sfk7obd6z87j/o41013qcd2m-EP13%3A_Knock_OutContent Warning: intimate partner abuse briefly shown, non con turned consensual
- sweet moments
- steamy moment
- that it wasn't the normal special episode plot
Room For Improvement
- the non con which we were supposed to think was fine because it turned consensual
- not sure I believe the "neither person has to compromise and it's fine because even though they'll make each other unhappy they still love each other" message (mini rant, there was a super easy fix to their first issue)
- the comedy sound effects didn't make things funny
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sports-themed coming of age short movie
Overall: this felt more of a coming of age story than romance which was fine but the romance aspect was very open ended/unfinished. Even with the main plot, I wanted a bit more resolution. 2 episodes totaled 20 minutes. Aired on Strongberry's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNd7BhdAz80pH5c5ib0PlfpHzsJsRWJ9e&si=R-ij3z-BB34sNegX Strongberry has made several short movies. My favorites are: Some More, Step For You, My Pistachio and Hold Me.Was this review helpful to you?
Content Warnings: a major one that I'll put in a comment with a spoiler tag
What I Liked
- acting
- chemistry
- clear flashback
- production value
Room For Improvement
- I've seen this type of ending so many times before
- not a fan of the overlay of images/sounds around 6 minutes
- a lot of time jumps/told over many years
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decent way to spend 20 minutes
Overall: I was put off by the title and how one character looked really young, but their ages were 20 and 30 and it was a decent story. This is one episode https://youtu.be/N36RyPrWRgE?si=qbCEznCpg4ybeo0B from Love Bites season 2 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPcB0_P-Zlj6UzkFSEipwgaNxQraj-S_5Content Warning: vomiting
What I Liked
- easy to understand plot
- a character was sassy but also like a real person I could meet and not a stereotype
- cute moments
Room For Improvement
- voice over was unnecessary
- unclear on how much time passed, at the end that felt rushed for what he gave him but maybe it wasn't exactly what I thought it was or more time had passed than what I thought
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extremely well done
Overall: acting, tension and production were all stellar in this series. 6 episodes about 22 minutes each. Was available on Viki under the title "The Novelist", currently available on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/2189/pornographer-2018-e01Content Warnings: manipulation, dub con touching/kissing/and more, alcoholism, punch
What I Liked
- tension/chemistry
- some of the best intimate scenes ever (natural noises, facial expressions, body movements)
- acting (the silent screaming scene in episode 5 was amazing)
- production value (cinematography, music, attention to props like Kuzumi's shirt in ep 3)
Note: I normally struggle with manipulative leads in romances, but although Kijima is flawed, I still want him to work through his stuff and end up with Kuzumi. I think that is testament to strong writing and acting.
Room For Improvement
- the voice over
- could have shortened the story of the student and his teacher in ep 1
- multiple running scenes
- up to 2 minute recaps at the start of episodes
- in episode 6 I've never understood the "though I'm a liar, I'll keep my promise" as he doesn't in the morning, but perhaps it's the promise to do what Kuzumi asked him earlier in the episode
Franchise Watch Order
Pornographer aka The Novelist (2018)
Pornographer: Indigo Mood aka Mood Indigo (2019) (this is a prequel but should be watched after The Novelist)
Pornographer: Spring Life (2021)
Pornographer: Playback (2021)
Pornographer: Continued Spring Life (2021)
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