Sleeper hit
I rarely write reviews but The Bangkok Boy really surprised me. A must-watch for fans of action BL I say, especially if you're on the lookout for more plot-driven dramas that just so happen to be BL. Admittedly it's a bit of a rough start but at least give it a couple episodes to hook you. This is definitely a testament for casting more unknown actors because there were so many great performances here, and I really grew to care about the characters. While the romance elements definitely take more of a backseat to all the action, the leads have good chemistry and the rest of the plot is still good enough to carry the story.Overall, great cast with very solid performances, lots of surprisingly well-choreographed fights, and an exciting, unique plot. My fingers are crossed for S2.
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Deus Sex Machina
At risk of sounding like a pervert... I think this was unironically great. Of course, it is essentially just softcore(?) porn, but what it lacks in plot it makes up for with pure aesthetics and visuals. I think it's best to approach it as erotic performance art more than anything, and the actors really sell their roles. There is even a pretty interesting narrative if you squint, but the real entertainment value comes from the pure absurdity of it all. I say by the 2nd episode you should know if it clicks for you or notWas this review helpful to you?
Don't get the hype
I really wish I could see what everyone else sees in this show. Even by BL drama standards this feels poorly conceived... but the good parts are good enough that I'd say I still enjoyed it overall.First off I think 24 episodes was just way too much. By the 20th the plots went from wacky to downright nonsensical and I just stopped caring about the plot. With tighter pacing and/or less episodes I'd probably give it at least a 7.
The pairings are pretty cute but I hate the way the sex and consent (or lack thereof) was handled. Like it'd be one thing if it started toxic then turned sweet, but it feels like Chi Cheng never stopped being a manipulative weirdo. How they didn't break up after he literally threatened to rape Suo Wei's best friend is beyond me.
I will say I still liked the characters overall thanks to the actors. Though once someone pointed out how the mics pick up on every single little sound/breath they make I couldn't stop hearing it.
Ultimately if this was a show that came out 10 or even 5 years ago I feel like I could've really liked it, but for 2025 it feels painfully dated.
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