Well, as you may already know, the tags on MDL are ridiculously inaccurate and subjective. People list all kinds of things that are either hardly there or not there at all, plus tons of spoilers disguised as "tags." I have long wished MDL would put tags behind a "tag" button. Then people who want to see them can do so, but others won't have a list of spoilers staring at them as they consider whether or not to take in a series or movie.
In this particular case, Piece of Cake is lgbtq only in so far as Matsuzaka's supporting character is a gay coworker of the FL who does drag in theatrical productions. He and the fact that he's gay is not a focus of the film but he's great in the role and I wish there had been lot more of him and a lot less of the FL.
So it's your position that a show presenting itself as a "BL" actually BEING a BL or not is a "detail?" Sort of…
What are you talking about? Who said anything about "nc" scenes?
Did someone say a show has to have "nc scenes" in order to qualify as a BL? Not me. I am curious as to why you immediately jump to some assumption related to sex scenes...do you have a hangup about sex scenes? There are very few BLs with actual "sex" scenes in them anyway. The vast majority of them suggest sex will or did happen, and leave the rest to the viewer's imagination. If you know of BLs with real "sex scenes," please share the titles with me. I'd like to see that.
You object to people "saying this wasn't a BL at all," indicating to a reasonable person that you see it AS a BL, indicating you "judge" it to be a BL. Every viewer of every show ever made makes "judgments" about its content and how they feel about it. Kind of comes with the territory of being an audience member. lol
So yeah, of course, if it's tagged as LGBTQ and gay, gay, gay, it probably ought to be those things.
Who said anything about you not being able to "put up your views?" It wasn't me.
Now I'm curious as to who you're even responding to, since most of your reply responds to things I never said.
God, Tabe Mikako is a terrible actor, and a ridiculous choice for this role. She's a tiny. little girl attempting to portray a messed up woman, and failing miserably. Yuck. The only thing worse than her acting is her character. The woman is a spineless stalker-type, extremely insecure and weak-willed, stumbling from "love" to "love," having no sense of self or identity independent of a man, yet we're to believe Ayano Go's character, a relatively confident young man on his way slowly up the ladder, falls desperately in love with her.
What is it with this Japanese stock character/cliche of the willowy, weak, whispering, meek, little girl/woman thing? Is this a common type of woman in Japan? Does the uber-male-dominated Japanese culture brainwash all females as they grow up to act this way? This woman/trope fakes being demure and child-like, giggly, and pre-pubescent, but then gives it up to every guy who shows the least bit of interest in her, even if he was living with another woman right next door, just minutes ago, said woman having left him within the hour. Then this woman/trope feigns outrage and deep hurt when inevitably, she discovers the dude was playing her all along, even though she suspected as much from the start, at which point she cries and blubbers like a five-year-old. Yuck.
The worst acting cliche these Japanese woman/trope actors employ is that weak, innefectual, less-than-half-ass "hitting" thing, where they flail their arms listlessly at the offending male with half-closed fists while fake-sobbing in fake-anger. lol I have seen this a hundred times in Japanese movies. Good god, woman, if you're going to hit a man, then freaking HIT him! Instead, they lamely ACT AS IF they're hitting them, but it's a pantomime, not an action.
At least the scene where what's her name swung her dishrag arms at Ayano Go in the men's bath of the sauna also provided us more nice views of him clothed in only a washcloth. :) The scene also provided the comic highlight of the otherwise lame film: Go's face, eyes darting wildly, as he stuttered and stalled, trying to come up with a reason the ex-GF would answer the phone belonging to his alleged male friend recovering in the hospital. lol
It's a major accomplishment for a film to star a trifecta of best, most appealing japanese actors in Ayano Go, Suda Masaki, and Matzusaka Tori, yet still come up so short. Tori was especially hilarious and appealing as the gay friend/drag queen to the FL. But even the talent and star power of those three actors is insufficient to overcome the wet-noodle acting and presence of the leading lady.
And please spare me the absurd, insulting premise that those musical plays, written and directed and starring the psychotic acting troupe leader, featuring horrible music and hilariously terrible/amateur acting/singing/writing, lead to said shows moving to huge theatres, Tori's character becoming a feature-film actor, and the psychotic, noodle-brained FL being recruited as a costumer to the top tier of the Japanese entertainment industry. While this is happening, noodle-brain also manages to cure her extremely neurotic personality disorders all by herself, without benefit of hospitalization or therapy. puh-leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease...
Oh...and let's not forget the eye-rolling idea of Go's slightly-less psychotic former GF, naturally and easily, within what appears to be just months, writing and publishing best-selling novel based on their affair and becoming a famous author, natch.
Sorry, Go, Tori, and Masaki, but this film is awful.
some people in these comments are saying this wasn't a bl at all......umm.....this show is just a lighthearted…
So it's your position that a show presenting itself as a "BL" actually BEING a BL or not is a "detail?" Sort of like a "murder mystery" needs to actually BE a murder mystery, a "BL" kind of needs to be a...BL.
As you are a self-described OOO (K-Pop group I've certainly never heard of) obsessive fangirl who has been "stanning" these people since their agency brought them together, your review has zero credibility. After reading the summary, comments, and considering that the actors are all members of an obscure K-Pop band desperate for attention, I know to not even spare a minute for what is undoubtedly another embarrassing piece of gay-bait with no pay-off.l
I haven't found any good ones for the newest episode, might have to wait until there's subtitles on sawasdeeplus,…
Thanks. I went ahead and watched kisskh because I couldn't stand not knowing what went down with episode 7, even if I had to guess at half of what they're all saying. Will probably binge the whole thing for a second watch after coherent subs are out for all 8 eps.
I adore how the cinematographer applied a shimmering mist of stars over Yamato's face every time he gazed at Kakeru…
Me too! (See comment above.)
I differ ever-so-slightly with you on one thing: My feeling is that Yamato's courage in confessing to Kakeru, and his respectful, (except, of course, for that violently abusive, near-rape in Kakeru's bedroom!!!!!!!) but consistent attentions while allowing Kakeru time and space to deal with heavy shit like internalized homphobia, fear, and confusion, has simply provided the context in which Kakeru has come to understand that he ALREADY loves Yamato.
Kakeru hasn't "fallen in love," he has always "BEEN in love," but didn't know it. At least, that's my take.
I was one of those closeted gay kids who knew at a very early age that I crushed on boys. Sadly, I knew all too well to squash and hide those feelings. However, I do believe that some gay or bi kids don't fully grasp what's going on until later when, perhaps as in this case, someone comes along (or has always been there) who pushes their gay button really, really hard and they wake up.
This show has me squealing like one of the 13-year-old girls who run this site and swarm comment sections. There have been a few Japanese BLs lately initiating a whole new sub-genre: Sexy-Fluff BL. I'm on board with "Sexy Fluff!" That weird little, pink stuffed animal thing that changes its "arms" to communicate with Kakeru is mega-cute and adorable and a great gimmick. Yamato is stunningly handsome, but Kakeru gets better-looking each episode. The gift-exchange scene, omg..."I am dying of happiness." Cuuuuuuuuuuuuute. Me too!
I admire the skill with which the writers and actors are portraying Kakeru's struggle with internalized homophobia/fear and the general awkwardness of the process his affection/love for Yamato is taking him through. Yamato's pursuit of Kakeru has brought these feelings and thoughts to the forefront, but it's clear Kakeru already harbored deep affection for his life-long friend.
Love the bleach-blond dude and the other supportive friends and sister. Blondie has a great, unique and entertaining way of supporting the leads while also nudging and teasing them in a way guy-friends do.
This series is an example of keeping a coming-out/coming-of-age story light without it becoming all rainbows, unicorns, and cotton candy. Fluff done right! "Sexy Fluff!"
But oh my god....Yamato might kiss Kakeru while he's fake-sleeping! SEXUAL ASSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUULT!
Subs on kisskh are terrible. Anyone have better suggestions? They're so bad on kisskh I stopped watching because it's confusing and I feel I'm missing half the meaning of the dialogue.
It's out on KissKh without subs. Now, while I usually don't watch shows raw, I did watch the opening 5 min. And…
He is indeed a beautiful man, but I wish a lot of Korean and Japanese BLs would stop costuming their characters as if everything they wear is brand new, off the rack and never been worn. Who cooks with a spotless white turtleneck on, even if they're wearing an apron? He should have sweatpants and a lived-in, old sweatshirt on. These shows always look as though they're modeling some clothing manufacturer's products as a product placement, which they probably are.
The funny, entertaining "Stay By My Side" is a good example of characters dressing like people that age and demographic actually dress, and a lot of their clothes look like they've had them a few years.
This spotless, new clothing thing makes the show feel sterile and artificial. These kinds of details, just like set design and set dressing, location choices, etc., may seem unimportant to a lot of viewers, but they combine to give a show its ambience and that affects the viewer's subconscious perceptions.
*points out at the last scene of episode 1 My guess he's not 3,500 yrs old but his old school friend that dies…
"first boy sitting" Do you mean in a photograph or something? That is an intriguing possibility. But if the angel is his brother, there's no opportunity for romance...unless this turns out to be a groundbreaking series about gay incest. lol Actually, I've seen no sign that Koki is gay. He has talked about having gone out with women, thus so far I'm not feeling the BL here at all.
Some odd plot holes. No reference to how the forgotten night took place. Drugged? If so, when? With what? In the opening scene the dad is a great guy taking her out for pizza. Next time we see him he's become a psycho asshole. No transition, explanation, context, nothing.
This bullying thing has reached epic proportions in Korea. Now teachers are killing themselves because kids are running wild, but they're not empowered to stop it, nor respected by their administrations OR the brat students.
I'd say this film begins to run off the rails about midway, and loses what felt like momentum toward some satisfying climax...but meh.
1 
1 
I dropped this during the first episode.
In this particular case, Piece of Cake is lgbtq only in so far as Matsuzaka's supporting character is a gay coworker of the FL who does drag in theatrical productions. He and the fact that he's gay is not a focus of the film but he's great in the role and I wish there had been lot more of him and a lot less of the FL.
Did someone say a show has to have "nc scenes" in order to qualify as a BL? Not me. I am curious as to why you immediately jump to some assumption related to sex scenes...do you have a hangup about sex scenes? There are very few BLs with actual "sex" scenes in them anyway. The vast majority of them suggest sex will or did happen, and leave the rest to the viewer's imagination. If you know of BLs with real "sex scenes," please share the titles with me. I'd like to see that.
You object to people "saying this wasn't a BL at all," indicating to a reasonable person that you see it AS a BL, indicating you "judge" it to be a BL. Every viewer of every show ever made makes "judgments" about its content and how they feel about it. Kind of comes with the territory of being an audience member. lol
So yeah, of course, if it's tagged as LGBTQ and gay, gay, gay, it probably ought to be those things.
Who said anything about you not being able to "put up your views?" It wasn't me.
Now I'm curious as to who you're even responding to, since most of your reply responds to things I never said.
What is it with this Japanese stock character/cliche of the willowy, weak, whispering, meek, little girl/woman thing? Is this a common type of woman in Japan? Does the uber-male-dominated Japanese culture brainwash all females as they grow up to act this way? This woman/trope fakes being demure and child-like, giggly, and pre-pubescent, but then gives it up to every guy who shows the least bit of interest in her, even if he was living with another woman right next door, just minutes ago, said woman having left him within the hour. Then this woman/trope feigns outrage and deep hurt when inevitably, she discovers the dude was playing her all along, even though she suspected as much from the start, at which point she cries and blubbers like a five-year-old. Yuck.
The worst acting cliche these Japanese woman/trope actors employ is that weak, innefectual, less-than-half-ass "hitting" thing, where they flail their arms listlessly at the offending male with half-closed fists while fake-sobbing in fake-anger. lol I have seen this a hundred times in Japanese movies. Good god, woman, if you're going to hit a man, then freaking HIT him! Instead, they lamely ACT AS IF they're hitting them, but it's a pantomime, not an action.
At least the scene where what's her name swung her dishrag arms at Ayano Go in the men's bath of the sauna also provided us more nice views of him clothed in only a washcloth. :) The scene also provided the comic highlight of the otherwise lame film: Go's face, eyes darting wildly, as he stuttered and stalled, trying to come up with a reason the ex-GF would answer the phone belonging to his alleged male friend recovering in the hospital. lol
It's a major accomplishment for a film to star a trifecta of best, most appealing japanese actors in Ayano Go, Suda Masaki, and Matzusaka Tori, yet still come up so short. Tori was especially hilarious and appealing as the gay friend/drag queen to the FL. But even the talent and star power of those three actors is insufficient to overcome the wet-noodle acting and presence of the leading lady.
And please spare me the absurd, insulting premise that those musical plays, written and directed and starring the psychotic acting troupe leader, featuring horrible music and hilariously terrible/amateur acting/singing/writing, lead to said shows moving to huge theatres, Tori's character becoming a feature-film actor, and the psychotic, noodle-brained FL being recruited as a costumer to the top tier of the Japanese entertainment industry. While this is happening, noodle-brain also manages to cure her extremely neurotic personality disorders all by herself, without benefit of hospitalization or therapy. puh-leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease...
Oh...and let's not forget the eye-rolling idea of Go's slightly-less psychotic former GF, naturally and easily, within what appears to be just months, writing and publishing best-selling novel based on their affair and becoming a famous author, natch.
Sorry, Go, Tori, and Masaki, but this film is awful.
4/10
Dropping.
1/10
Thanks for the warning.
I differ ever-so-slightly with you on one thing: My feeling is that Yamato's courage in confessing to Kakeru, and his respectful, (except, of course, for that violently abusive, near-rape in Kakeru's bedroom!!!!!!!) but consistent attentions while allowing Kakeru time and space to deal with heavy shit like internalized homphobia, fear, and confusion, has simply provided the context in which Kakeru has come to understand that he ALREADY loves Yamato.
Kakeru hasn't "fallen in love," he has always "BEEN in love," but didn't know it. At least, that's my take.
I was one of those closeted gay kids who knew at a very early age that I crushed on boys. Sadly, I knew all too well to squash and hide those feelings. However, I do believe that some gay or bi kids don't fully grasp what's going on until later when, perhaps as in this case, someone comes along (or has always been there) who pushes their gay button really, really hard and they wake up.
That weird little, pink stuffed animal thing that changes its "arms" to communicate with Kakeru is mega-cute and adorable and a great gimmick.
Yamato is stunningly handsome, but Kakeru gets better-looking each episode.
The gift-exchange scene, omg..."I am dying of happiness." Cuuuuuuuuuuuuute. Me too!
I admire the skill with which the writers and actors are portraying Kakeru's struggle with internalized homophobia/fear and the general awkwardness of the process his affection/love for Yamato is taking him through. Yamato's pursuit of Kakeru has brought these feelings and thoughts to the forefront, but it's clear Kakeru already harbored deep affection for his life-long friend.
Love the bleach-blond dude and the other supportive friends and sister. Blondie has a great, unique and entertaining way of supporting the leads while also nudging and teasing them in a way guy-friends do.
This series is an example of keeping a coming-out/coming-of-age story light without it becoming all rainbows, unicorns, and cotton candy. Fluff done right! "Sexy Fluff!"
But oh my god....Yamato might kiss Kakeru while he's fake-sleeping! SEXUAL ASSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUULT!
The funny, entertaining "Stay By My Side" is a good example of characters dressing like people that age and demographic actually dress, and a lot of their clothes look like they've had them a few years.
This spotless, new clothing thing makes the show feel sterile and artificial. These kinds of details, just like set design and set dressing, location choices, etc., may seem unimportant to a lot of viewers, but they combine to give a show its ambience and that affects the viewer's subconscious perceptions.
The ML is incredibly hot. I hope he's made some other films so I can drool over him in those.
4/10
That is an intriguing possibility. But if the angel is his brother, there's no opportunity for romance...unless this turns out to be a groundbreaking series about gay incest. lol
Actually, I've seen no sign that Koki is gay. He has talked about having gone out with women, thus so far I'm not feeling the BL here at all.
No reference to how the forgotten night took place. Drugged? If so, when? With what?
In the opening scene the dad is a great guy taking her out for pizza. Next time we see him he's become a psycho asshole. No transition, explanation, context, nothing.
This bullying thing has reached epic proportions in Korea. Now teachers are killing themselves because kids are running wild, but they're not empowered to stop it, nor respected by their administrations OR the brat students.
I'd say this film begins to run off the rails about midway, and loses what felt like momentum toward some satisfying climax...but meh.
6/10