Unpopularopinionbydemand

This is Easily Forgetable

I won't spend too much time talking about this one since I feel like it was more just on while I was doing other things, and not 100% watching with a clear focus. Oh Boarding House started off very rocky. I was so tempted to just drop this one and move on, but the literal saving grace was the beauty of the actors. Eventually, I got into it a bit more, but not enough where I think this will be memorable in the next few months (hell, the next few days), let alone, a year from now. With so many K-BLs being produced and now getting the hype that it so well deserved, there's no more room for filler K-BLs, which is the best way I can explain what this series was.

Let's Dive In.

Oh! Boarding House is a K-BL about a son who has to become the new landlord of his mother's boarding house for college students after she goes on a long-term vacation. There's nothing more to the story than that, They're just a bunch of tenants that get into some trouble and all have their own stories to tell. As I stated before, the first episode was super rocky. I usually don't enjoy the first episodes, but this one was just bad. If the actor's looks don't do it for you, then there's no point in watching. like, at all. It was a neat concept and something not done before but for the most part, it was super cliche and extremely predictable. I didn't read the manhwa, so I have no clue how true to the origin they stayed, but in my opinion, with some of the plots shown, they could've done without adapting this into live-action.

What I didn't like to end with some positives: Again, I've read some Manhwa that just need to stay manhwas for the reason being they can be highly problematic and have some very toxic characters, but it's fine for the reason being that it is a fictional story. This too, but it's unenjoyable to watch when you see these characters doing just the craziest things ever that would catch their asses in jail or with restraining orders in real life. Seol Won's actions in the beginning were just creepy and over-intruding. But the series never goes over how wrong what he was doing was, or for the fact that Cheol Soo still falls for him, even with his disturbing actions. There's also just no character development whatsoever. Everyone is still their pitiful selves from the beginning to the end. With no character development, what are we left with? Sure, their run time wasn't long at all, but I've seen shorter ones do better. The plot itself isn't very entertaining, and again, the actors are the saving grace for literally everything in this BL.

Most of the main characters aren't very likable. Seol Won does too much at the beginning and just some real left-field things. Cheol Soo isn't the best, but his looks make up for that, Seol Won's cousin is aggravating, the other tenant that wants everyone to be quiet and yells with every opportunity he gets is worrisome. The only seemingly likable character were the dude who had feelings for Seol Won and Hee Soo.

The secondary couple could've been fun if they weren't left on a cliffhanger. The main pairing don't do very much. Their chemistry is pleating, and, as I continuously repeat, their looks make up for their lack of connection, Their kisses were at least on-point.

There's a part where the grape juice guy is sitting on the toilet and you can see the reflection of the crew on the toilet paper holder. I hate seeing mistakes like this. It's not me saying it's unprofessional, but it does hurt to see something that could've been taken out to save them from such a silly mistake in post-production. Me being nit-picky, but whatever.

What I liked: I love the dude that couldn't eat spicy food (I have already forgotten most of their names). Of course, he was treated like garbage, and just eventually gets over it, but he was cute, and genuinely had the biggest crush on Seol Won. he even made cakes, while not very appealing, he at least tried. I'll miss him for sure.

There's not much I can say I just loved about this series, but it was a cute little watch, it lasted me a few hours and I got to see handsome men, so I'm not too salty.

Ratings:

Story: 5 - 3 stars for just being able to watch these beautiful men prance around and sometimes be shirtless. Other than that, there was nothing fun about the plot, where I was getting confused half the time. I'll give one star to the secondary couple that I appreciated until I didn't and another star cause I just feel bad for giving it a 4.

Acting: 8.5 - Decent. I think they did the best they could with a weak script. They all definitely have potential. I wouldn't mind seeing them again at all.

Music: 3 - Didn't pay attention to it at all. Oops.

Rewatch Value: 1 - I'd give it less than zero if I could.

We are getting a mass production of K-BLs where there isn't any space for these ones that leave no honorable impressions. It's not even good enough for me to remember all the characters' names. I don't recommend this unless you want to watch some pretty men, which is the only satisfaction I received.

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WTF

So, technically, I saw this probably about two months or so ago, so my knowledge is a little shaky. This was my very first Chinese BL, which from the looks of the Chinese government, will be my last. (lol). I remember it being about these two dudes that go from hater to lovers, and then they realized that they’re stepbrothers. Initially, I gave this series a 9/10, but after going back and watching it wasn’t all that good, and highly problematic. Gu Hai literally kidnaps Bai Luo Yin and then states how much he’s in love with the dude. Ummm, no? Don’t do that? Then when Bai tells Gu Hai that he might have an STD (or HIV/AIDS, I really can’t remember) He just like, “whatever, it’s fine I’ll have it too cause I love you” Ummm, yeah, still no! Then of course the whole rape thing happens and it’s just super upsetting. Even when we see the after moments, Gu Hai is just beaming and the other dude looks uncomfortable.

Along with all that chaotic mess, they’re going to be stepbrothers. Again with the incest, we gotta love it! (that was sarcasm, please don’t support incest). The only reason I can remember liking this was because of Yang Meng. He was so lovely and such a supportive friend, and I wish we would’ve gotten to see more of him and his (i think) love interest. I think I liked the main couple a lot better in the first few episodes when they would do stuff to annoy each other. Like cutting up their jackets (can we just talk about the fact that they have to wear tracksuits to school?), and sewing the sleeves together, that was cute. Anything else with this series was a fail, I wouldn't recommend this series at all.

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Not Interested

This is one of those series where you have to be interested in the concept of student/teacher, and that, I am not. I can't really get behind people with jobs, and lives, and most likely a family that goes and somewhat ruins it all for a student. Not that these two ruined it or anything, but it just felt wrong the entire time.

Let's Dive In

I really like the two main leads, just in general. I loved how caring Shi Yi Jie is to his daughter, and I liked the charm that Fei Sheng Zhe had. I don't usually enjoy the first episode of a new series, but I was really impressed with this one. I liked how it drew us in, and we got to see their lives, and how it's been for them. I did really like how close Fei Sheng Zhe got to Yo-Yo, and how easy it was for them to build a healthy relationship. By far, the best scene was them at the park. Even though I don't enjoy the relationship that builds between the leads, I did like that Shi Ye Jie was willing to wait for Fei Sheng Zhe when it came to sex. There was consent, and that is truly all I ask for in BL.

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A Nice Binge-Worthy Series

This series continuously kept me entertained. I found myself so excited to continue watching this series each episode that came. Even though it wasn't the best story plot-wise, it was still fun to watch.

The relationships in this series were a little strange. Fuse and Tee were a complicated pair, I wanted to love them, but there were just so many different aspects of the pair that I hated. For one, Fuse treated Tee like trash. he wouldn't break up with his girlfriend to save his life. In the end, it ruined how I felt about them because Fuse always felt fake to Tee. I don't know how to feel about the drunken hook-up. While it was somewhat consensual, Fuse was still drunk, and it was just uncomfortable. As much as I love Ohm, his character was NOT it this series. *Sighes*, another case of romanticizing r*pe. Yes, Book and Frame have been texting back in forth about having sex and positions and all that, but when it finally came down to it, Book wasn't interested anymore, which is so completely valid! The actions Frame makes are disgusting, but what made me even more upset was the fact that the next day, they completely wiped out the part of Book not have wanted to have sex. If Book changed his mind about wanting to do it, then they should’ve shown that instead of pretending it didn’t exist. What would have been even better is if they would’ve just had Book and Frame talk it out, and then maybe that heat of the moment comes up again and they both consent-fully do it. The way they approached the aftermath was even worse and volatile. I can't get behind this couple at all.

What was the point of Rodtang's character? Was he here to add even more confusion to the plot? Cause that's all he was helpful for. The writers must've had mixed decisions on what to do with him because he starts out liking Fuse, and then turns around and starts liking Nine, but his character was inconsistently shown and had temperamental screen time. I also didn't love Beam's (rodtang) acting all that much, it felt very stiff in a lot of parts, and it felt like he didn't understand his character at all.

Right off the bat, I'm in love with Lukmo. He was hilarious, and he made this series such a joy to watch. I really fell for Yok's character. He was openly gay, and we got to see his situation with his mom and his home life. He finally thought he had found love only to be let down. I liked that this series didn't make the feminine gay a joke, and instead gave him a fully fleshed-out story.

It's strange how censored this show is. This was one of the earlier BLs, so maybe two guys kissing on screen wasn't the norm back then, but what makes it weird is how explicit this show was on sex and porn. This has to be one of the dirtiest shows I have seen so far, but all the kisses were censored or left to look like they happened. I'd rather a couple just never kiss than fake a kiss. It's always just so noticeable that they didn't kiss and makes it so awkward, at least for me. This series was overall a good watch. I didn't love some of the production choices made and some of the acting wasn't all too great either, but overall, it was a fun watch.

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2moons, AKA the Cursed Series

No doubt that this show has had some serious problems (on and off-screen), but I can't help but love how light this series was. Right off the bat, I was mesmerized by how stunningly adorable Wayo was. He was cute and smol, and so precious, and I loved him so much. This series is rated so highly just because I enjoyed Wayo and Pha way more than I probably should've. Yes, they were pretty bland and their story wasn't anything too interesting, but for some reason, I loved them so much.
I want justice for MingKit. Kim and Copter hands down had the best chemistry in the series. I wish so badly we would've been able to see more of them, but thank god Gen Y happened (I would say Hotel Stars, but um NO).
I guess the show said fuck Forth and Beam cause we didn't see them at all. They were advertised throughout the show, but then never talked, or flirted, or even acknowledged the existence of each other. If they did speak, then it was so forgettable that I (whelp) forgot.
The acting was kind of wonky on this show. As much as I loved Bas, I can't help but kind of hate the unemotional blank stares he gave throughout the series. Also, Pha was pretty bland and the actor made him boring and lifeless. I still don't appreciate how feminine gay people are treated in BL, and 2moons is no different. At least Wayo was the Angel Gang's friend, even though he acted uncomfortable around them.
I heard some say that God (Pha) was pretty anti-gay on the set. I don't know how much of this is true, and how much of this is false, but how in the hell can you work in the BL industry and be homophobic?? That's like being a teacher and hating children. I hope this rumor isn't as true as I believe it is, but if it is then the companies of these shows need to start holding these actors accountable and so do the fans.
For whatever reason, they re-casted EVERY SINGLE MAIN CHARACTER. As soon as I fell in love with this cast, they're taken away from me with a drop of a hat. It's like being given a piece of cake and told you can't eat it. I was ready to hate the next cast so hard, but turns out I loved them just as equally (maybe even more. Oops).
This series was just a ball of fluff and it's a nice watch for anyone that wants a lighthearted, dainty series. Nothing too special about the plot. Actually, I think the concept of there being a "king and queen" on campus to be a bit high schoolish, but it doesn't harm anyone, and we get Wayo being a cinnamon roll and MingKit giving the feels. I loved it.

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IDK why GMMTV are pushing out these mediocre BLs..

I don't have much to say about this series because I felt like I watched 8 episodes of nothing. Everyone was just running around and laughing and crying and kissing and then eventually it ended. This was just a cash-grab for GMMTV, not that their other BLs aren't, but this had no plot, no real conflict, or anything essential to the story that made it an ounce interesting. Star in My Mind is basically GMMTV's version of 2 moons 2, but only with one couple. That's the best way to put it.

Let's Dive In.

Star In My Mind is about our main lead, Nuea, who's had the biggest crush on Kluen ever since high school. They then find themselves in college together going for the Moon title. They ignite a friendship that turns romantic and, plot twist! Kuen's always had feelings for him too! and then the end. No literally, that's the story. Other than some irrelevant conflicts to get in between our main couple, nothing else happens. It's a cat and mouse chase, with aggravating miscommunication and misunderstandings. If anyone was coming for an interesting plot, then don't bother wasting your time here. They could've wrapped up Kluen and Nuea's story if you take out the majority of their problems. There are only a few incidents in which the show has caught my interest until it throws me out of its doors and into traffic.

For one, I did at one point, fall for the love triangle. I was mostly on Phoon's side since he was way more open with his feelings than Kluen was, but then he goes and disrespects Nuea's space by kissing him to prove a point to Kluen, and I was over it. I also liked the way they handled Gia and Kluen's relationship. Instead of her being a jealous ex, she helps Nuea (even if it is very unnecessary) and it's nice to see two people care deeply for one another without it having to be romantic. Fah was also a delight to watch. I loved his and Nuea's dynamic, and he was pretty much the caring older brother who gave great advice. He played his part right in making me more interested in watching his love story in Sky In My Heart.

I have no bad blood with any of the characters. I actually think it's this show's stronger suit since they all were charismatic and brought along some needed elements. I truly love Maitee with all of me, and I want to see him have his one series. Everyone played their part by being there for both Kluen and Nuea. Again, JJ was used as a side role, and it's part of my hatred for this series. get him his own Series!!!! Now!!!!!!

My theory is that Joong and Dunk didn't really know each other that well when they first started filming this, cause I absolutely hated the first and second episodes. They were awkward, stiff, and had zero connection. It gets a bit better by episode three, and then from there, their relationship is a least a little bit more convincing. As I explained earlier, they had no real conflict keeping them from being together. It was literally the writers making these two the most non-communicative human beings in the world. Half of everything could've been solved with conversations. And then they throw in an extremely unnecessary forced kiss between the two of them, and I've never wanted to punch my screen so bad as I did at that moment. Their story would've been much more entertaining if the writers would've done at least two more minutes of brainstorming. The last episode was the only one I didn't watch in 2x speed, and that was only cause they give a little more focus to Fah, whose two extra minutes of screentime was more interesting than this entire series.

Ratings:

Story: 5 - Enchante at least had a plot worthy of interest. Nothing ever caught my attention enough for me to just really enjoy this. Some chunks here and there, but this is probably the blandest story of 2022. I'll only give it five stars for the way they set up Fah's story for Sky In My Heart.

Acting: 8 - It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either. Joong's acting felt a bit weird, and Dunk was a bit stiff at times. For Pawin to have such a small role, he really stood out the most. Mek also did a good job. Everyone else was decent.

Music: 6 - Fine. Didn't really pay attention to it.

Rewatch Value: 1 - not likely.

I originally watched this only for Joong cause I missed him dearly, but this wasn't the series I would've put him in for his comeback into the BL community. If anything, I wish they would've spent more time on finding him the perfect role instead of pushing him into the first one available. Dunk was fine, but I probably wouldn't have hired him to play in this series, let alone a BL. He just kind of fits awkwardly, and it makes for an odd watch. I don't recommend this unless you want to see Joong or to get some context for the Sky In My Heart, otherwise, don't bother.

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Can't Finish

And I will be concluding my watch of Interminable here. I really tried to push through, mostly because I genuinely think the leads have strong chemistry and the premise itself isn’t uninteresting. But the execution drags on for an astronomically long time, and at this point, there’s simply nothing keeping me seated.

Let’s Dive In.

This series does offer a unique story. The lead actors share great chemistry, and the supporting cast includes performers I’ve enjoyed in past projects. Still, I can’t keep pretending I’m having a good time. I struggled to drop this earlier because I kept telling myself, No, it’ll get better. Or, No, Billy looks too beautiful without a shirt to quit now. But the truth is, there is not a single thing happening in this drama that makes me want to continue.

The plot is painfully tedious. More than once, I watched episodes at 2x speed or skimmed scenes just to catch the plot points, and even then, I never felt lost. That alone says a lot. Kaewta looks incredible as the Likay dancer, and yes, Babe with long hair is absolutely the man of my dreams. But Kaewta in the present timeline is dull and perpetually confused. Yai is one-dimensional and equally unengaging. Even with supporting characters played by actors I genuinely like (Heng and Looknam), the overall experience remains… boring.

The romance is slow, which I usually enjoy, but this is too slow. It feels like the story is told in a way that may resonate more with Thai audiences than international viewers, and unfortunately, that disconnect made it harder for me to stay invested.

BillyBabe, I’m still rooting for you. I truly hope there’s a future series of yours that I’ll be able to finish from start to end. Sigh...

Ratings:

Story: 4/10 - so so incredibly boring. Some good moments here and there, but this story is just *bleh*. Thank you Billy for the scenes with your shirt off, it was desperately needed.

Acting: 7/10 - I think Babe does good with switching between both his past and present characters, but I'm not impressed by anyone else.

Music: 5/10 - didn't distract me.

Recommendation Value: 2/10 - If you enjoy period dramas, sure, but just know this moves at a glacier-pace.

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Nice Flow, Nice Love!

Man, where have DaouOffroad been my entire life? The way I fell in love with these two immediately needs to be studied. They gave me everything I could've ever wanted in a BL and more. On the plus side of that, Century of Love was a BL I was able to go through seamlessly while enjoying the plot, the characters, and the beautiful, wonderfully, outrageously gorgeous man that is Daou.

Let's Dive In.

I'm amazed at the amount of focus I had while watching this BL. I was able to watch it thoroughly and throughout without getting bored, or skipping past, or fast-forwarding. The entirely of the plot flowed perfectly, it never strayed into unwanted or unnecessary side arcs, it all was told in favor of the main couple, and I loved it. The premise of this series catches your attention, and then it's hard not to fall in love. San as the man that waits 100 years to be back with his love, and Wee, the uncanny Ms.Wad reborn. This had my name written all over it. It reminded me a lot of the Korean series "First Love Again" which I adored for the longest time, and this trope has made it's way up the ranking of things I hope to see more of.

Daou and Offroad... the man that those men are. They played incredibly in their roles, especially Daou who I enjoyed the most. The tension and yearning was so strong during the first half, it felt like it dwindled a little after the beginning, but for the most part, it's strong and it's there and it's great. They know how to kiss, they both look beautiful shirtless, and I really enjoyed them on screen.

Now, was the plot perfect? No, I think there are a couple holes that weren't patched together as nicely as they could've been, but for the most part it was all good. My only real nit-pick is that they kept showing flashbacks after flashbacks after flashbacks of the situation that happens in the first episode, which is severely redundant. A couple times is okay, but throughout the entirely of each episode felt like overkill.

But, overall, this was an excellent story, that made sure to be complex and story-driven while maintaining ebb and flow, and I had a great time watching.

Ratings:

Story: 9/10 - Incredibly engaging and fun. Great romance story, and I could literally have it told to me a hundred time over again.

Acting. 8.5/10 - Daou did a fantastic job! I think Offroad could've done better tho, for sure. He had a really hard time crying, which in his case, with dealing with his dying grandmother and San, wasn't the best scenario not being able to authentically cry.

Music: 7.5/10 - I liked it!

Recommendation Value: 8.5/10 - I thoroughly enjoyed this, and it's a great series. I'm excited to see what else these boys have up their sleeve for next year.

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Well Done !

I'm assuming this series is from the same production company as Pit Babe, seeing as though there were familiar faces, and of course, the brilliant BTS at the end of each episode. But this company (Change, I'm presuming the name is?) once again, hit the nail on the head.

Let's Dive In.

Like I spoke about in Pit Babe, this production has money, and they know how to use it well. Some very beautiful locations and settings, great wardrobe options for all the characters, and really well-thought-out cinematography. They go all the way for their series, and it definitely does not go unnoticed.

Moving onto the actual plot, they executed the story so well, and it's seriously why I love this production company so much. They don't do the unnecessary long stares or dragged-out conversations or irrelevant side plots. They stick to the story, going from point A to point B, and everything that we see in the series happens for a reason. The conversations are all what they need to be, and the story flows with little to no unnecessary bumps.

Moving onto the relationships, Sailub and Pon once again, hit it out of the park. They played complete 180s to their characters in Pit Babe, and they still were able to execute perfect chemistry. They take their NC scenes to a completely different level, one that I don't feel like I see often. it's obviously well acted out, and the actors are comfortable enough with one another to execute such amazing scenes. But even with the jaw-dropping sex scenes, my utmost favorite part of the series is Oab holding Wan accountable for his actions and them having an open and honest conversation before getting back together. Lots of time the plot can be lost for a quick resolution between two characters, but the writers ensure to the audience that it's going to take much more than that, and that makes me happy. They had great comedic timing, the kisses were next level, and I'm waiting patiently for their next series together.

Metas and JJ's relationship was another one that surprised me. I didn't think that I would hate it, but I also didn't think I'd end up loving it as much as I do. At first, Metas' ways of trying to attract JJ are all sorts of wrong, and it starts to feel completely dis-genuine until you see how much he changes because of JJ. I also like the fact that JJ actually did physical therapy and wasn't just sitting around doing nothing (like a certain other series called physical therapy *cough* *cough*). Some of his work seemed a bit much (like stretching Metas the way he did or helping him pee by holding his you-know-what), but overall, this was great. Again, really great chemistry, they also had a very nicely done NC scene, although not nearly as explicit, but still very romantic.

The dynamic between the friends was all great and well, especially between Wan and JJ. Personally, I think Kluea should've been more reprimanded for trying to kiss Wan while he was "unconscious", especially even when Oab saw him trying to kiss Wan. But that's my only gripe about the series. Other than that, there was great comedic timing, really nice, heartfelt conversations, and so much incredibly looking food that will make you immediately hungry (also loved the play to Oab's character being kind of like Gordon Ramsay and his competition being similar to the real competition "Hell's Kitchen").

Ratings:

Story: 8.5/10 - it's very nicely done, and completely flows naturally without any complications. Even the part of the story with Oab dealing with his ex-girlfriend is played out incredibly.

Acting: 9.5/10 - Great, GREAT acting. All the characters were actually crying when they needed to, and they delivered great lines honestly, everyone in this did a superb job.

Music: 7.5/10 - I actually really liked the theme song!

Recommendation Value: 8/10 - There's a story to be told here, and they did that excellently. It's really hard not to like this series considering the amazing acting, the great writing, and the perfect production value. Also, if that's not enough, the men in this are beautiful and they're shirtless for a perfect amount of time.

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Ehhhh..

I was exceptionally excited going into this just because I was going to be able to watch my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BL ACTOR, Fluke. From his previous work in the My Bromance movie and UWMA, I was sure that Fluke's acting would once again be stellar (in which I wasn't wrong) but one actor can't carry the entire show.

Let's dive in.

Production - 8/10: For the most part, it was fine. It was similar to that of the movie, and I did really enjoy the movie so nothing wrong there. Would've liked to see fewer long awkward pauses when nothing was happening because that creates cringe, and that's no fun. Also, looked like some of the scenes were filmed in real-time, like the school setting at the beginning and end. Fun to see some off-guard high schoolers staring directly at the camera (lol). I think what I loved most from the production is the soundtrack. Loved the intensity and the desperation in the tone of the instrumentals. Also, the message at the end was purely beautiful and sent off good vibes for the after-effect of finishing the series.

Story - 7/10: Not a fan of incest, whether that be blood-related or by law, it still really fucking weird and gross. I guess technically, Bank and Golf are no longer brothers since their parents divorced, but still, the feeling is there (not to mention they said "we are brothers" like a hundred and five times). This one didn't feel too brotherly, so I give it props for trying to leap off that ship. I had understood the side stories pretty well and enjoyed them for the most part (more than I did the main couple, I'll give you that), the only thing I had a problem with was keeping up with all the couples and their names.

Acting - 7/10: FLUKE CARRIES HALF THIS SCORE, but honestly the acting in this was really good. Besides Fluke, other really good actors were Nuea's actor, Maykah's actor, Arm's actor, and Golf's actor. The ones that weren't very good were those two wannabe Kpop dudes. Anyone else not listed was in the category of being good enough.

T/W - EMETOPHOBIA!!!!!!!!! (skip to couples)

Other - the behind scene at the end of episode 9, DID ANYONE NOTICE HOW NEUA'S ACTOR WAS ACTUALLY PUKING. Like he would drink this concoction and then look like he was spewing it out and then he puked some more???? would've LOVED a warning or something because honestly it really scarred me. Also, IDK if that was the motive to make him puke on his own, or maybe he accidentally did because whatever they gave him was disgusting, but I was severely worried about the actor and hope he's okay and hopes that someone was taking care of him after that.

Couples

Golf and Bank: 4/10

Yeah wasn't feeling it. Their chemistry in the movie was much better in my opinion. I have no idea what happened between now and then, but I can tell you that something was WAY off. For one, THEY WERE BROTHERS, STEP-BROTHERS OR NOT, IT'S STILL WRONG (technically they're not step-brothers anymore (if I was watching correctly)), second, the entire, "haha-I-was-dead-but-actually-I'm-not" plot was something between the words of neat and what the actual fuck, but I don't know which to pick. For one, I liked the way Bank had reacted to seeing Golf alive for the first time since his "death". It was realistic, the agony, the realization, the heartbreak, it was all there and all real (might just be because Fluke is an incredible actor and can perform any sad scene with excellence). I think the only reason that this couple didn't work for me after like episode 2 was because of how obviously awkward it was between the two of them. I can't be the only one who felt it right?? I get it though, someone you thought was dead is now very much alive, and it's not that easy to just get over it, but I'm still trying to figure out whether that cringe awkward feeling I kept getting was because of the actors and how that didn't have any chemistry or whether it was because of the long-ass view of the actors' face and the long-ass moment where nothing was being said. but something just felt so off with this couple. It got a little better closer to the end, but If you were to ask me who I like Bank with better, I would've told you Arm. He sincerely had so much love for Bank, and the in-love expression he had on his face when he saw that his anniversary with Bank was coming up was everything to me. Even his leaving Bank cause he wanted him to be happy was so heart-wrenching to me. Overall, I give this couple a 4/10, two of those points going towards Fluke's acting, one point going towards parts of their relationship that I guess I kind of liked (Golf tickling
Bank, the anticipation of Golf and Bank meeting again, and the montage from the movie) and the other point going towards pure guilt of giving it less than a 3rd overall score.

FIRST KISS RATING: 2/10 - The build-up to the kiss was nice, but the execution failed miserably. The kiss was dry, not like dry lips, but like it was the first kiss they were giving each other EVER (if I recall correctly, I don't remember them kissing in the movie) so why not do better than a little lip-touching (yes, there is a difference between a peck, a kiss, and lip-touching). the After kiss moment was actually kind of cute, so that's where one of the points is coming from.

Neua and Tar: 6/10

I really liked how versatile Neua's actor is, from going to this bossy little kid to this young man trying to figure himself out, and trying to find the meaning that he had in this world was fantastic. I will say, the only reason this score isn't as high as it could be is that Neua is a whole child in high school while Tar is a grown-ass man. Technically, I think it was legal because Neua was 18 and a senior in high school, but still. I liked that Tar was his reason to keep living, his reason to delete all the dating apps and feel wanted. Neua's storyline was probably the most detailed than anyone else's, and he played it very well. I was actually heartbroken for Tar when he came back and realized that Neua had moved on. I was glad to see that moment of him being happy for Neua and then having that breakdown in the car. It showed that he genuinely cared and wish to have another moment with him.

FIRST KISS RATING: 9/10 - The build-up was excellent. The sexual tension that they had been playing on once Nuea had got to Tar's house was executed nicely. The kiss itself was very nice and the moment leading up to theming doing it was great.

Hungley and Maykah: 8/10

I did not expect to love this couple so much, but out of all the couples, I loved them the most. Hungley added so much necessary comedy to the series and I liked the dynamic between Maykah and him. The swim lesson scenes were so precious I can't get over the holes in Hungley's swimsuits, like why was it right on his buttcheeks??????? Anyways, I also find Maykah very attractive. His smile and eyelashes are what did it for me. He and Hungley had really good chemistry build-up. I could genuinely feel for Hungely when Maykah left. Him coming back and everything working out was very nicely done.

FIRST KISS RATING: 5/10 - WAS NOT IT. I'm so sad about how they went about having Hungley and Maykah have their first kiss. One, it was so abrupt (literally some weird as camera cut), second, Hungley was drunk, and although he initiated the first gesture of wanting to have sex, it still felt wrong. Also, the kiss itself was weird, it looked like Maykah had kissed his chin and not his lips. Their sex scene was probably the most visible out of the two that occurred. We see Hungley visibly pleased by whatever Maykah was doing in his no-no square.

OTHER COUPLES: I can't remember the trainee dudes' names, but I know that I didn't like them, like literally at all. Their entire "thing" was off, but that was mostly due to their very bad build-up and very little screen time. That's what happens when you have too many couples in one series. I did feel bad for the one dude that was with his manager so he could get to where he wanted to be, and I also liked how the other dude tried to save him from the manager. With some more moments and maybe better actors, this could've been a decent couple. The other two random couples were so, well, very random. They really just threw them together at the very end, and said, "here ya go". We really didn't need those two couples, and it would've been better off without them.

RECOMMEND? yes, to anyone that loves Fluke and wants to see more of him, and if they were looking for just a small little series to watch that wasn't too heartbreaking and had its cute moments.

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Confused and Not Having Fun

I told myself this year that I would stop forcing myself to continue shows that don’t resonate with me in the slightest, and Melody of Secrets is exactly that kind of series. It’s confusing, perplexing, and having to constantly rewatch scenes just to figure out what on earth is happening is not fun. A solid -1/10 experience for me.

Let’s Dive In.

I wanted to like this because I genuinely enjoy ForceBook as a duo, but this was exhausting. If you love theorizing, interpreting, and piecing together a puzzle where nothing is immediately clear, this might be your show. For me, though, I need a plot that makes sense, preferably sooner rather than later. Surrealism and mystery are fine, but they still need internal logic, and this series simply doesn’t have it.

The editing is especially rough. One moment we’re in one location, the next we’ve jumped somewhere else entirely. Characters change clothes and then revert back in the very next scene. It’s disorienting in a way that feels careless rather than intentional, and I don’t have the patience to keep rewinding just to understand basic continuity.

ForceBook also feel oddly forced here. The chemistry isn’t landing, everything feels a bit awkward, and Force is once again stuck in the “stoic man with one facial expression” role. I found myself watching just for the sake of finishing, and I’ve decided I’m not doing another year of regret-watching.

Ratings:

Story: 3/10 - Far too disorienting, and I don’t enjoy being confused for confusion’s sake. Also, why didn’t they cast actual teenagers for the younger versions? I’m sorry, but you cannot convince me that Force, Book, or Junior pass as teens.

Acting: 7/10 - Not terrible, but not impressive either. No one truly stood out.

Music: 5/10 - Honestly? I don’t remember it.

Recommendation Value: 2/10 - Maybe if your love for ForceBook is unshakable, or if you’re craving unnecessary complications in your life. For me, I do not (and yes, thank you Force for taking your shirt off several times, but that alone cannot keep me here).

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Dropped...Sorta

So I made it to episode 7 of this throwback series, reminding me of all of what we had in 2016, mixed with a little HIStory 2: CTL. And to be completely honest, I don't hate this, not like the usual BLs that I drop specifically because I hate them, with this one, it's just very very -- boring. With so many characters, side couples, and plots, it's hard to keep up. And then on top of that, this is languid pace, not only the romances but just the plot in general. How much longer am I to wait for Sprite to tell them he's not Zee? How much longer until the inevitable with First hating SPrite because he didn't tell him? Or let me guess, Zee comes back First is weirded out by him not being in love with him all of a sudden? Classic. Classic and overdone.

Let's Dive In.

I was originally really excited about this, one, because the men in this series are drop-dead gorgeous, and two, I like Twins Switch story tropes. It reminded me a lot of my love for Not Me when it came out, and even though this plot looked a lot more frivolous than NM, it still brought on a little nostalgia, so why not? Episodes 1-3 were probably the best episodes. It sets up the plot nicely without dragging on the start of the conflict, and we see Sprite navigating the ins and
outs of volleyball and his team. It's good. But by then, it was just so draggy. The hospital scenes, the scene of his taekwondo, the useless dialogue, all over it went on for wayyyy too long. Even by episode 7, when we finally get a kiss, I just decide to drop because I see the future, and I don't like it. The reason I say I kind of dropped is because I still skimmed through some of the episodes and watched the very last one, but I say dropped because I might've skimmed too much (lol).

Overall, falls short of delivering a compelling narrative or meaningful character development. Everyone felt one-dimensional, while the plots were cliche and lacking. It's way too predictable, following tired tropes without offering any fresh new perspectives (besides the twin switch). In addition to all of this, the pacing is uneven and way too freaking tedious, leading to massive amounts of boredom and being disengaged from the story. So, yeah, I guess I kind of hated it.


ratings:

Story: 5/10 - was such a good build-up to the conflict, and even had some special gems, but overall, it's just too boring.

Acting: 7.5/10 - Everyone was pretty new, but from what I could see, most of it was decent. There were a couple of characters whose acting was mediocre at best, but it wasn't unwatchable. Frame was definitely the best actor.

Music: 6/10 - wasn't distracting.

Recommendation Value: 3/10 - Honestly, it's not a one just cause I would definitely recommend looking at these beautiful creatures, because goddamn. Otherwise, save your time.

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What The Hell is This...

Sigh, Oh JoongDunk, when will there be a series of yours that I can enjoy and/or not drop? We still haven’t crossed that threshold, and Dare You to Death has done absolutely nothing to help. Instead, we get inept cops doing a spectacularly terrible job at preventing a group of college students from dying in a murderous game of Truth or Dare, paired with some of the weakest chemistry I’ve ever seen between JD.

Let's Dive In.

Dare You to Death was my least anticipated GMMTV series of 2025, and... oh look at that, I was right!

Contrary to popular belief (or at least based on any JD series I’ve rated or dropped), I actually really enjoy both of these actors in real life. I think a big part of their appeal comes from their personalities individually and the dynamic they share off-screen. I haven’t always been sold on them as an on-screen pairing, and unfortunately this series hasn’t changed that for me. What has grown over the years is my respect for them as performers and their call-outs to some of the most annoying, crazed fans in the BL fandom. What hasn’t changed is my frustration with the roles and stories they’re consistently given. Maybe their upcoming 2026 series, "How to Survive My CEO," will finally be the one that clicks for me. As of now though, none of their projects have really delivered anything that resonates, and honestly, I hate that for them.

Moving on to the story: Surprise! I didn’t like it. Ironically, I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed the beginning. The murder mystery had potential, and I found myself intrigued by the dynamic between Jade and Kamin. Jade being completely head-over-heels from the start was fun, and Kamin clearly enjoyed the attention even while pretending he didn’t. So what went wrong? The writing.They throw in a sudden mutual kiss in episode three, and it completely derails the cat and mouse tension they had been building so well. From that point forward, this series just plummets.

Alike a lot of others, I don't appreciate the rush of their relationship. I was hoping the show would lean more toward something like Manner of Death, where the romance sits comfortably as a subplot to the larger mystery. It feels oddly corny watching these characters investigate a brutal murder spree while simultaneously flirting, teasing, and kissing every few scenes. And the chemistry just… isn’t there. Even though I’m not the biggest JD fan, I usually think their chemistry is one of the strongest aspects of their shows. Here, something is missing. It’s like I'm eating a slice of cake and realize I somehow forgot to add the sugar. Everything works on a physical level, as it usually does with them, but emotionally there’s a disconnect that makes their relationship hard to invest in.

As for the “whodunit” murder mystery, it ends up being incredibly anticlimactic. For a while, the mystery was the only thing keeping me watching, but the reveal feels obvious and underwhelming. I also really dislike the trope where the victim turns out to be the killer. It’s rarely satisfying, and it definitely wasn’t here.

Positive aspects: Fluke looked gorgeous in this, please give him someone to kiss, and soon. Pahn !! urgh, I love her. It was also nice seeing Aou and Boom, but beyond that there isn’t much else to highlight.

Rating:

Story: 5/10 - It starts off with some promise but quickly loses momentum. The romance fails to carry the show, and the truth ot dare killer mystery becomes disappointing by the end.

Acting: 7/10 - Fine. Nothing to write home about it.

Music: 6/10 - Wasn't distracting.

Recommendation Value: 2/10 - Not worth it unless you're a diehard JD fan. Otherwise, just move on!

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BL Block Perhaps..?

I think I might be slipping back into my unfortunate BL Block, because I have found zero interest in this BL, which is very rare for me when it comes to a Japanese BL, but good Lord, I don't think I can do it anymore.

Let's Dive In.

I want to also start this off by saying: I genuinely see nothing wrong with anything that this show has to offer. I think the first two-three episodes were my favorite, and then after that, it just bored the fuck out of me. I'm not sure when it went all wrong, but it took me less than two hours to watch the first four episodes, then took me two days to watch the fifth, then a week to watch the sixth until I was forcing myself to sit and watch the rest. I can't do that anymore.

I will say, this series was hyped a lot, honestly a lot more hype than I'm used to hearing when it comes to JBLs, so I had high hopes for this, but inevitably, this is where I'm at with this series.

Ratings:

Story: 6/10 - good until it wasn't. Started boring me to no end. Main characters were cute though,

Acting: 8/10 - really good, great job for Kenshin (Haruki) for real.

Music: 5/10 - didn't pay attention to it.

Recommendation Value: 4/10 - I can understand why people liked this, loved it even, but for some reason, the plot, the mess with the character's dad, the overall ominous feeling just did not do it for me.

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Kinda What Everyone Else is Saying ... Boring

I really so badly wanted to like this series. Was one of the only reasons because Pavel was in this? Yes, but so what? But after multiple attempts all ending in failure, I'm going to have to finally call this series quits. I tried so many times to really get myself into this series, but it's just so hard. On top of this being molasses-slow, there are just so many sub-plots besides the already boring main one that is so uninteresting, I'd rather watch paint dry. Coffee Melody was sadly a miss, and for anyone who was able to make it through, I give you my undying love.

Let's Dive In.

I think the first few episodes are promising. It does a lot of character build-up which I don't mind, and we get some pretty decent moments between couples and friends. But by episode 5, I feel like I'm just treading my way through the mud. Our main couple was already going through relationship problems that just wasn't working for me, and every other chracter that wasn't them was excruciatingly tiresome. There was nothing drawing me to continue this series. I thought the other side BL couple was kind of cute, but they just weren't enough. Don't get me started on whatever Yi's sister or aunt or friend or whatever had with that one guy and that ridiculously odd trying-to-be couple in the band.

I also just don't think Pavel and Benz work for me. I think it was their fast-paced relationship. I'm more for slow-burns, but I don't mind fast relationship builds, it's just that it does nothing for these two. There's no connection, no chemistry, no yearning, no nothing. The only thing I could come to appreciate was the fact that Pavel can kiss anybody and make it look 5-star, that's it. Other than that, no. It went too quickly with no real commitment between the characters.

Ratings:

Story: 4 - very little story and even the one we got was boring. There was just so much random shit that was so unnecessary for the story. The meetings about Yi's music, the band, the het couple -- I could go on. Instead of focusing on so many other aspects, they should've focused on telling a better story for the main couple and leaving it at that. I'll give a 2 to the side BL couple that I kind of enjoyed, and another 2 only because Pavel was in it and anything less than a 4 is undeserving of him.

Acting: 7 - Not terrible. cutting it close to below mediocre, but the acting was not their biggest issue. Pavel and Benz did decent, I think Jean and the red-haired dude might have outdone everyone else, but they weren't even like show-stopping amazing, they just had an ounce of better chemistry. Janjao was good too. Everyone else was forgettable, and Beam who played Sekram was so god awful I'm almost postive they grabbed him off the corner of the bus stop.

Music: 5 - Didn't pay any attention to it. Wasn't distracting, so there's a point.

Rewatch Value: 1 - Fuck no.

Overall, I think I'm just more upset at how this series has done nothing for Pavel. With all he went through, I was hoping this was really going to shine through and we'd get to see him being amazing and beautiful, but instead, he was just beautiful. I don't think I liked this role for him, not saying that he can only play a bad boy, but this role was just weird. He just smiled and talked. That's really the only way I can describe his character. We all know Pavel can do better, but this role and this production have kind of stumped his abilities. Hopefully, we'll see him in another series where he can really showcase his skills. I skipped to the last episode only to watch the side BL couple kiss (meh) and then I ended it there. Kind of disappointed this series didn't become what I wanted it to.

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