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My Golden Blood: A Sparkly Mess of Vampire Fluff

I dove into it with high hopes, lured by the promise of a dark, sultry queer romance. What I got instead was a 12-episode rollercoaster of eye-candy chemistry, cringe-worthy dialogues, and a plot that felt like it was pieced together by a drunk GPS. This series had me hooked enough to finish it, but not without a lot of 2x speed sessions and exasperated sighs.

The story revolves around Tong, a college freshman with mythical “Golden Blood” that makes vampires go feral, and Mark, his brooding vampire protector who’s inexplicably shirtless in half the scenes. The premise sounded like Twilight with a gay twist, but it quickly devolved into a predictable, low-stakes romance sprinkled with vampire clichés that felt more like an afterthought than a core theme. The plot had potential like it's got vampires, forbidden love, a shady vampiric order but it stumbled over itself with filler episodes, lazy twists, and a finale that tied things up too neatly, like a gift nobody asked for. I waited over a year for this series after its announcement, and let’s just say my expectations were staked through the heart.

The acting, though, was a mixed bag. Joss Way-ar as Mark and Gawin Caskey as Tong are undeniably gorgeous, and their chemistry is electric. Every glance and touch felt like it could set the screen on fire. Their romantic moments, especially the steamy NC scenes, are the series’ saving grace, making even the cheesiest lines bearable. Gawin’s performance as Tong, however, felt off at times; his exaggerated expressions were cute initially but grew grating, like he was trying too hard to embody a quirky teen. Joss, on the other hand, nailed the brooding vampire vibe, though I suspect his abs did half the acting. The supporting cast, like Nakan and Thara, ranged from mildly annoying to stylishly tolerable, but none left a lasting impression. Tonkla’s death, meant to be emotional, barely registered because the writing didn’t give me a reason to care.

The music was a highlight, with Gawin’s intro OST catching my ear early on and the full soundtrack became a personal obsession by episode six. Those sweet boyfriend moments, backed by the OST, were like candy, addictive, even if the rest of the meal was bland. Conversely, the CGI was a disaster. From reptile-like vampire eyes to laughably bad green-screen sequences, it screamed low budget. I’m no VFX snob, but when a climactic fight looks like it was filmed in a community theater, it’s hard to stay immersed. The cinematography had moments of brilliance, especially in intimate scenes, but the overall production felt like GMMTV cut corners and hoped the leads’ faces would distract me.

As for rewatch value, I wouldn’t touch this series again with a ten-foot stake. It’s a one-time watch, good for killing time when you need a break from real life, but it left no lasting impression. The vampire lore was tacky, the humor fell flat, and the pacing dragged worse than a vampire in daylight. Episodes four and nine were particularly sluggish, and I only powered through because of my completionist streak and those sexually suggestive thumbnails. The final episode’s attempt at a romantic, Edward-and-Bella-esque resolution, where Tong becomes a vampire for their “happy” ending, felt recycled and uninspired. I’m not saying I wanted a bloodbath, but maybe something less predictable than “vampire boyfriend saves the day” would’ve been nice.

Overall, My Golden Blood is a guilty pleasure saved by its leads’ chemistry and a decent soundtrack, but it’s bogged down by a messy plot, weak dialogue, and vampires so tame they might as well be drinking tomato juice, which Mark already does. I’d recommend it if you’ve got time to burn and a soft spot for pretty faces, but don’t expect a masterpiece. I’m cautiously optimistic for Joss and Gawin’s next project, Only Friends Season 2, but I’m praying they pick a script that matches their chemistry. Otherwise, I’ll be back on 2x speed, muttering about wasted potential.

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