jpny01

Some people just don't like things because too many other people do like them. The argument that a series called "Just Like the Movies" is too much like the movies is beyond irony. It's like saying Cherry Magic has too many virgins in it. But GSP was about Pinoy movies, not American - totally different. I actually had trouble getting all the references. Anyway, the acting, directing, and cinematography were stellar, and the depth of layers and visual metaphor are only matched by ITSAY. My Day had a mansion built for dogs and a major international corporation run by interns. And the main drama was an evil gf (sigh), the most tired (not to mention misogynist) cliche in the BL world. Her revenge plot was to kidnap a dog and put peanuts in people's food. Oscar-worthy material there.

I like some skin, but not if it's the only thing a series has going for it!

My Day was terrible - I'd call it a trainwreck, but that's not really fair to trainwrecks. The main couple had good chemistry and love scenes, but the writing and some of the acting... Not the worst Pinoy BL, but far from the best.

It looked to me like they were being set up to be a pair, but then I thought Thanu was for Wayu, so I'm too confused to speculate.

It's almost to the point that he's TOO perfect, like he needs a scar or something to bring balance to the universe. He's so freakin' gorgeous that he's unattractive, if that makes sense. Or beyond attractive may be a better wa to put it. And then I checked his instagram and died.

I never understand why people take it so personally when strangers on the internet don't like the same things they do.

There was also an opportunity to explore a social issue (gay marriage) in a meaningful way. If they were going to go the parent's reputation route, then we needed a setup showing us what the consequences to the parents would be - maybe a homophobic critical business partner or an evil grandfather who would disinherit everyone.

That's a great point about the clothing - there are a couple of things they've worn that had me thinking "Really? You're having Tharn wear THAT?"

It didn't literally just start, there have been four episodes, or one-third of the series. That's plenty of time to evaluate a show, and if you note below, as well as in the main comments section for the series, my criticisms are commonly held.

Think for a moment what had happened by the fourth episode of the original series, and compare that to this season, where almost nothing has happened. This is just a pale shadow of S1 - no passion, no originality, poor writing, uninspired directing - it's like everyone is just phoning it in. Even the acting is limp, but the boys are doing as well as anyone could with such a bad script.

And as the final measure, the viewership for Ep 4 of S1 was four times higher than for EP 4 S2, so there are literally millions of people who would appear to agree with me.

That was pretty good. Tul was very natural in his acting and the story is engaging. It was a bit LOL the way they exploited him in that shower scene - a little carried away there.

A minor issue is you shouldn't have character voiceovers if the POV isn't always his. It isn't necessary anyway - they could easily done the exposition visually or through dialog.

Anyway, it's exciting to have a series that's not about engineers and moons, and not only that but the sexuality of the characters looks like it will be woven into the plot rather than being the focus, which is refreshing.

Note to self: do not watch Manner of Death while eating.

I thought there was a couple of spots where the picture didn't match the sound - I thought maybe I was having a stroke or something, so I'm glad it wasn't just me.

Once you're stuck in an unventilated room for 24 hours, there really aren't any safety measures you can take that will be effective, so the only real solution is to quarantine afterwards. So you might as well make the best of it! Also, they both have a fairly liberal definition of "5 seconds".

I try to watch this show last because I know whatever happens I'll walk away happy.

I like shirtless guys, and if that's all the show is about, then I can deal with it. If the show is not about that, then I'll find it cringy. Also, I'm not sure how you missed that I wasn't serious.

Having sex in a series isn't exploiting the audience - having a low quality show is. If sex fits into the plot and is consistent with the characters, there's nothing wrong with it. If it doesn't fit the plot or characters, then it maks me cringe.

Have you noticed how many assumptions you're making about what I think? Did you notice that "no shirtless guys" was not on my list of criticisms of this series?

The reason I don't have much tolerance for low-quality series is because we've had so much high quality - and most of my favorites are not based on physical love - like GSP and ITSAY. Both do sparingly use physical love, but at the right moments with a lot of impact, which is how it should be.

If I think something is terrible, I have every right to criticize it in a forum that's designed for that purpose. Likewise, if I think something is wonderful, I'll say so. I'm not sure how that means I think all shows are created only for me - but again, you're taking my dislike of something strangely personal - I'm not sure why you care so much, or how you're missing that criticism of a work of fiction is not the same as personal attacks.

I think these series are more important to you than they are to me - my disliking a show doesn't really have much to do with my health, other than that I'm 30 minutes older and could have used the time differently. My comment about hot shirtless boys was flippant - and was specific to a show that's not really pretending to be anything else. My favorite BLs (GSP & ITSAY) are character-driven - those are the ones that stay with me, not fan-service.

But since it causes such a freakout, I'll delete it - I tend to answer when people write to me and I don't really want to dwell on this level of negativity. And it is - you put a lot of effort into being condedescending, apparently without irony given the theme of this series is cancel culture. There is a big difference between criticizing a work of fiction and attacking someone personally - and I'm not sure why people take criticizing something they like so personally. If I don't like something, it has no effect on you - well, it clearly does, but it shouldn't.

Are you able to tell the difference between criticizing a piece of entertainment and launching a personal attack? One is what this forum is for, the other is not, it's kind of childish. It has nothing to do with you if someone doesn't like the same things as you do - no need to take it personally - you'll just stress yourself out.

The social issues you mention are worth covering, but in a serious and sensitive manner, not this mess.

I love the irony that the show is a critique of "cancel culture", and your post is 100% cancel culture. Thanks for the laugh.

What are you talking about? This is a discussion forum where we discuss what we think of shows. It's just a web series - I'm not "full of hate in my heart", I just really don't like a piece of light entertainment.

As for representation, it's better to have fewer high-quality shows than a giant mass of low-quality programs tossed online to cash in on a popular genre - they are exploiting the audience, not representing it.

I don't understand your reference to Why Love Why - another show I don't really care for, although it's more watchable than this.

What does the size of the company have to do with anything? Quality is quality, and garbage is garbage. Quaranthings had virtually no budget and was excellent, Oxygen has a huge budget and is not good. ITSAY had a large budget and is excellent, etc.

I don't feel compelled to like things, rate them high, or sing their praises just because they have LGBTQ+ content, or are from a particular country, I like things based on their own merits, period.

As for toxicity, I was discussing a series - you are personally attacking me, so you're the toxic person - if you can't have a civil discussion with people who disagree with you, then why are you here? To troll?

LBC2 wasn't what I was hoping for either. I think what we need is for the same creative team that made the successful original series to return for the sequel - although that didn't save LBC. I don't know. I guess it's hit or miss, and we've been getting misses lately. If ITSAY2 is bad I might have to commit seppuku.

Then I guess something worthwhile has come of all this! :)

Why is everyone so invested in Leo/Fiat? They've hardly been onscreen, and both of them have been unpleasant. They're both unusually cute... is that why? otherwise I don't get it.

This show is irredeemable. I can put up with shows with technical problems and low budgets if there's some passion to the project. But this is a money grab, at least judging by the absurdly large number of commercials (I prefer the cringey Thai product placements - or rather loathe them less), the characters are unlikeable, the plot makes no sense... what is the point of this? The Philippines came out of the gate strong with a handful of the best BLs ever made, but they're starting to drown us with garbage like this.

While I'm grateful for the LGBTQ+ sensibility of Filipino BL and the far greater level of social responsibility than we're used to, the sanctimonious, preachy, ham-handed political correctness is getting irritating.

What was the cut scene?