Unpopularopinionbydemand

Better than Exspected

Not that I thought this was going to be terrible, but my first go-around at trying to watch this didn't end very nicely (I dropped it after, like, the first 5 minutes in), but in all truthfulness, I was going through the worst case of BL-block during that time, so now, it's all better. I decided to give this one another try, and I was NOT left disappointed !

Let's Dive In.

Initially, the name of the BL series threw me off a bit. I assumed it'd be extremely smutty (which, it is, but not in the sense that I was assuming) with very little plot, but I stand corrected! I loved the direction they were in the entire time with Uea's character, even if it was a little traumatic. Do I think it's a bit much to have three different people as*****d Uea? A little bit. The first two are understandable, but the boss coming in and immediately wanting Uea was so... odd? Obviously, Uea's a very attractive man, but you also had King and Jade and the rest, so why was he immediately drawn to Uea and nobody else? It was to stir shit in the office and among Uea and King, but it all felt a little redundant. Not saying this can't happen in real life, but for it to happen as much as it did in this series, I don't know, they could've thought about utilizing something else other than making Uea more traumatized.

Actually, speaking of Uea being traumatized, that mother was probably the worst character I've seen on TV. She's obviously too full of herself and too much in love with the step-dad to see all of the wrongdoing going on around her, and I'm ecstatic that they didn't try to give her some redemption arc; she's just a terrible person and Uea learned to distant himself from her. Perfect. But I need him to save his sister, pronto. Like go back into that house and have her move in with you, I beg.

Onto the romance, I was pleasantly surprised. I love a slow burn, nothing new there, so I thought I'd struggle to find any joy in their relationship since sex was first before anything. However, they were still able to create this tension that wasn't sexual outside of their FWB relationship. It was really nice. The NC scenes were, dare I say, maybe a little much? Just for my taste though! They were still very well-shot, and very well-executed with James and Net actually looking like they want to be together, which out of everything, is the most important part. I also loved the way they talked about consent, getting tested, and letting each other know how they felt after sex. When they finally get together, it feels organic and not rushed. A really awesome job they did.

I know a lot of people talked bad about Middleman's Love, which is why I was going to put it off, but I really liked Jade's personality in this, so I'll definitely have to, at least, give it a try!

Ratings:

Story: 7.5/10 - I loved that they made Uea's character have depth, and this series wasn't just about sex. I think some parts are rather unnecessary, but overall, I was satisfied.

Acting: 8/10 - I won't give this higher than an 8, only because James, in scenes where he was supposed to be distraught, couldn't shed a tear. Outside of that though, they did a fine job in their roles, everyone did.

Music: 7/10 - I really liked the theme song!

Recommendation value: 7.5/10 - If heavy NC scenes are your thing, then this is the series for you. But also, it has tough subjects that not everyone can be mentally okay enough to see, so watch out for that. Otherwise, I think this is a really good series to binge!

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Boo

I really don't have much to say other than the fact that this bored the shit out of me. It wasn't bad, but it's definitely not memorable. I guess I would say it teeters on the line of being decent and also not good. Skimmed through the last three episodes and only kept watching cause Stan Huang looks incredibly too sexy with a goatee.

Let's Dive In.

Again, not much to say cause not much happened. It's a very simplistic story of a man who writes and a man who cooks who live in the same building and fall in love. The End. Stacks are very not stack-y, and objectives feel lost somewhere in the middle. But I don't hate this only because the leads are adorable (Stan Huang knows how to rizz) and I'm intrigued by that out of everything. The paper origami was the best little tidbit about this -- super creative and now I wanna learn.

The chemistry between the leads is good, not groundbreaking, but good enough that I didn't drop this. However, this series just drags which is kind of bad cause this is only a 10-episode series that lasts about 20 minutes. The waiter and the best friend and the ex all just feel like filler and again, nothing feels like genuine conflict cause you know that the leads will get together in the end, so who cares? I skimmed through the last three episodes and still got the jist of what happened. They do kissing great though (Only in these last few eps, the ones before were ehh).

Ratings:

Story:5/10 - boring! not bad, just draggy. Romance is decent and yes Stan Huang makes this score go from a 4/10 to a 5/10 for simply existing (that man is too fine).

Acting: 8/10 - It's okay, nothing groundbreaking, and they did good.

Music: 6/10 - Didn't pay it much attention but it wasn't distracting.

Recommendation Value: 2/10 - Watch simply because Stan Huang is the sexiest man in Tawan. Otherwise, forget this series exist (like I will).

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I Kind of Like it..?

Going into this, I was a little skeptical, but as of now, I really think this series played out to the best of its ability. Was it flawless? No. Were there some bumps along the way? Absolutely. However, overall, this series offers a fast-paced viewing experience, mostly entertaining, featuring some aesthetically pleasing characters that I can't help but appreciate.

Let's Dive In.

So for the most part, My Dear Gangster Oppa is good, at least in my opinion. My only struggle with this series was sitting through the "mafia" or "gangster" part of it all. I think it works in some parts, and then in others it doesn't. Like the backstory is neat, the way in which Thiu has to get out of the mob is great, and even some of the more specific details make lots of sense, however, I was just really bored with the whole Kenji storyline. Like you're in a mafia, just kill the dude and move on, did this really have to escalate for an entire 8 episodes? But I say that because I am also just not the biggest fan of these recreations of "KinnePorche" (again, in my opinion) -- and maybe not necessarily recreations, cause other series can make a plot surrounding the mafia and whatnot, but I always just think back to KP whenever that happens and it's just not as top tier as that was.

Moving on to the romance, I think Meen and Ping had great chemistry, except their characters moved into a relationship way before I think the characters were ready for one. It's obvious they both have some feelings for each other at the beginning, which again, the build-up to the relationship is my favorite part about BL in general. But I feel like before they can hit their climax of feelings, they're already kissing and having sex and becoming boyfriends. It's a lot to move into, especially after Guy becomes aware of Thiu being in the mafia, having so much anger that Thiu didn't tell him, and then subsequently not caring about that anymore out of the blue. I love slow burn, I'll love it till the day I die, and this couple was not that at all. They were quick-paced, and they fell in love pretty quickly. However, Meen and Ping do chemistry rather well, so their kiss and NC scenes were all great.

Moving onto Wal, I actually really like him. He's severely unpopular, and most people wish he wasn't in this, but for a slight second, this actually felt like it could've been a love triangle, and that's also something I love. Wal was a guy who was terrible at admitting his feelings, and due to it, he hurt his friend who, at the time, was also reciprocating his feelings. I'm also a sucker for friends to lovers which is another reason why I was rooting for them, but of course, it wasn't going to happen for many reasons. Also, I'm shallow, and Winner (Wal) is gorgeous.

The side couple that wasn't really a side couple was pretty disappointing. I think they had a nice build-up, but it doesn't go anywhere. Slightly aggravating. Also me just being nit-picky, but the scars on Thiu's body... why were they like an orange/yellow color? I'm no doctor, I have no idea about any of the scarring tissue and whatnot, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't turn a sickly yellow tone? I wish the makeup department could've at least used some foundation to blend it in a little better, but whatever.

Ratings:

Story: 8/10 - Good, some parts draggy, some parts boring, but for the most part. good. The romance isn't the best I've seen, but it did capture my attention a lot within the first couple of episodes.

Acting: 8/10: I think it was good for the most part. Some actors felt a little mediocre, but it doesn't take you out of the story any, just that it could've been a bit better.

Music: 6/10: Didn't pay it any attention and it wasn't distracting, so good!

Recommendation Value: 5.5/10: This wouldn't be something I'd recommend, just because I personally don't see it as something that is indeed in need of a watch. But the actors are beautiful (I want to stuff Winner in my pocket) and if you like a mafia story, then sure.

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Wowza

Wowza. This series had me feeling things that I haven't felt in a long time from a J-BL or just a BL in general. Were there plenty of plot holes, some rough character development, and some editing errors? Of course. But my love for everything, especially the story, makes those little problems seem frivolous. Tokyo in April is ... the best-told story of friends to lovers that I've seen J-BL come out with.

Let's Dive In.

This might look like a simplistic friends-to-lovers story from the gist of the synopsis, but when watching -- wow, it truly was so complex in details and factors. One of my favorite things about this series was the delicate touch to specificities and the complexity of the flow of the story and the way it's told. Through each episode, something new is brought to light about Ren or Kazuma, or their coworkers. It was planned so accordingly and just led to bigger and better reactions from me.

Now, my all-time favorite trope is friends to lovers, so it was no surprise that I wouldn't have liked this to some certain extent, but like omg, when they dive into Kazuma and Ren's backstory, I might've gotten teary-eyed more than a few times. The revelation of the intimacy that they went through at their age was not something I saw coming at all. But the intensity of it all was almost too much for me to bear, so I know two young and curious boys going through something as serious as sex can't be an easy pill to swallow. Especially the aftermath of it all -- Kazuma getting sick, Ren faulting himself for what they did, him being sent off to France, Kazuma to America. Urgh, just the pure intensity of it all was enough for me to love it. Even outside of their adult relationship, I could feel the genuine love they had for one another as kids. Now, as adults, their romance is a lot more obvious to see and interpret. And did I mention that these actors did a phenomenal job? I felt the chemistry very head-on and it was a mixture of awkwardness, a large tinge of something sexual, and just a great connection.

The only problem I really had trouble with was Kazuma's mom. Her reaction to them doing something so serious as children is understandable, but to continue your hatred of a grown adult that you know your son loves is idiotic. Then turning around and being like "No it's fine ya'll can love each other" is crazy. You're the reason Ren ran away the second time and caused your son more hurt, so it's just absolutely crazy.

I wanted more of a backstory from Hide and Ryunosuke. Hide seemed so full of dread when seeing Kazuma again, and it's never really revealed why. Is it because he was the one who told Ren that Katzuma was back in America and alive? If that's it, then it doesn't feel like that big of a deal. Also, why would Ren prescribe to Kazuma to never talk to him for that very minor reason? It's not the exact same for Ryunosuke, cause it's obvious he has feelings for Ren when he explains that they've tried having sex before, but maybe just something more in-depth as to what he does outside of being Ren's wingman.

The editing was kind of funky. Not terrible, but sometimes they lingered too long on certain scenes when you could tell the momentum from it was over. Along with that, I hate when at the beginning of each episode, they give us a recap of what happened last episode, just very irrelevant. But that also could be because I binge-watched this (also finished it all in like the spam of a few hours lol).

Overall, I really really liked this. I know that it was adapted from a manga and a lot of people had complaints about what they did differently from the manga and the live-adaption. However, I never read the manga, so this review is purely based on my satisfaction with the live-action.

Ratings;

Story: 8/10 - So good. Even the office jargon was important to the plot. Everything flowed well and had me seated and ready to hear all of it. The best part was the flashbacks to their complicated childhood friendship. Some work could've been done to improve the overall behavior of some of the choices they chose to make.

Acting: 9.5/10 - So so so so so so so good. The best is probably coming from the actors playing the lead's younger selves. Omg, they did so well, to tell a story as intense as theirs was and do it was so much poignancy. Chef's kiss. Along with that, the actual leads did really well too. The side characters told the stories they needed to tell and drove the plot to where it needed to be.

Music 6/10: I didn't pay much attention to it.

Recommendation Value: 8/10 - This is very deep, so I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. Definitely someone ready to hear something as deep as this story was. But other than that, I highly recommend, so nicely told, has such a wonderful story, and is super entertaining.

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Good, Not Great

There's so much that I could say about this series, but to sum up the majority of my feelings, this wasn't that bad. But it wasn't remarkable either. The romances were kind of all wacky, with rushed endings with barely any of their conflict resolved or developed. But again, it was cute, it was entertaining enough, and Lee Ye Hwan, including Park Chang Hoon were a sight for sore eyes, so that's always a plus.

Let's Dive In.

Okay, so I honestly wouldn't call this a remake cause it doesn't feel like one at all. I would say it's loosely inspired by the original Thai version with the same name, but if comparing it to the original, then a lot of things were taken out, added in, and just completely forgotten about. There were more than a few times that I was confused about who was interpreting Safiah/Zon and Fighter/Tutor. Finally got it by like episode 3/4, but that's why I say this isn't necessarily a remake because they changed up quite a few things that made the original couples who they were. For example, Fighter and Tutor were the ones with the script reading make-out session, except in this one, the pairing impersonating Safiah/Zon's storyline were the ones who had that similar scene. So I was confused for a while. Now if you haven't watched the original, then it's fine, because this shows its own story without the need to watch anything beforehand, however, for me, it's hard trying not to compare what's the same and what's different.

Leewon and Ji-Oh's relationship was probably my favorite. I liked the way everything was playing out until the end when we got conflict for the sake of conflict for it then to have no resolution and the characters are just okay again. And like in the original, Leewon's sister writing a bl novel for her brother is so weird, I just can't comprehend why a sister would want to write about her brother in that way.

Sunwoo and Yookyeom's relationship was really cute, but again, really all over the place with its conflict. Like them having a fight at the bus stop and then Sunwoo showing up at his house unannounced and kissing him. Huh? Okay. But that's alright because but leads are handsome, with Changhoon catching my attention almost immediately.

Ratings:

Story: 7/10 - Good, but not great. A bit rushed and some plot points don't make a whole lot of sense.

Acting: 8.5/10 - great! If not better than that! I think they all played their roles neatly and with little problems.

Music: 6/10 - Didn't pay attention to it which means it's not distracting.

Recommendation value: 7/10 - Eh, it's okay. But it's cute and didn't take that long to watch so go for it. Also, they have so very more-than-decent kissing scenes, which is always a plus.

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Didn't Hate it As Much as I was Expecting To

Okay, so me and this series had a bit of a tiff during the earlier episodes, with me contemplating more than I would've liked to on dropping it or not. However, I decided against it, only because this series is short, and I found myself actually not hating it that much. But that doesn't mean this series gets the upper hand though, cause I wasn't really drawn into the story until like midway between episode 5 -- and when you only have 8 episodes, that's not a good thing.

Let's Dive In.

The first episode was like watching paint dry. The setup, the introduction to the characters, the dialogue -- all of it was terribly uninteresting. So I set this aside for a few days and then tried again, got to episode 3, and then got bored again, set it aside another couple of days, and then tried again. Fell asleep halfway through episode 4. So finally, today, I had set a goal that I would finish this series whether it killed me or not. And I did. And I actually didn't hate it.

Bu episode 5, the plot picks up a bit and so does the romance. Well, not necessarily the romance, but we see their backstory more, and like I always say, I'm a sucker for friends to lovers. So by then, I'm at least entertained by the setup of our main characters and how they came to know each other. Another aspect I liked was the intricate lacing of Woojae's story following along with the plot that occurred. At the end, I was kind of hoping he'd turn his hetero story into a homo story, but that's me nit-picking.

The chemistry is very dull between the two actors. They're both great-looking people, so they look perfect with one another, except, nothing goes past that. The kisses are bad and even more awkward with the drawn-out scenes of their lips literally just touching. Nothing says we're in love like two dead fish smooching.

Ratings:

Story: 5.5/10 - Lots of it is boring. Don't even ask me about the side characters because *shrugs*. I watched most of this at 2x speed, and honestly half awake. It starts to pick up by the end, but it should've grasped my attention way before that.

Acting: 7/10 - It's okay. The actors don't really get to show their true skills because the script is boring and doesn't delve into any real emotions besides stoic and happy.

Music: 6/10 - Wasn't distracting. Good.

Recommendation Value: 3/10 - nah. It picks up, but it's still not worth the watch when there's a plethora of series that gain your interest in the first episode. But it's not totally a miss just because Mister International Korea is in this and I'm shallow.

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Tedious Journey

Cutting straight to the chase, this series is so boring to get through. One of the reasons for that is because a good junk of the story focuses more on Jungwoo's scandal than the actual romance of it all. Which would be fine if the story were engaging, but I found myself having fallen asleep twice, watching it 2x speed, and not even caring if I missed some dialogue. Hell, by the last three episodes, it was a generous skim-through until it was over.

Let's Dive In.

Happy Ending Romance is a very tedious watch. The first two episodes are dedicated to Taeyoung wandering around trying to find Jungwoo, who's too busy pouting around his over-protective boyfriend Junghyun. And whilst happening, I'm sipping my matcha latte wondering when I'll get into this shit. Some parts were engaging, but not enough to gain my interest.

On top of it being a boring watch, I caught myself coming back to MDL to read the description because half the time I had no idea what was going on. And the twist being that Jungwoo was Junghyun's ghostwriter? Was I supposed to gasp? I mean, the entire story centers around Jungwoo not being able to write under his name due to past situations, so of course he's ghostwriting.

I thought about dropping this too many times for my liking. The only reason I didn't was because it was only 30-minute episodes, so why not just finish it? But if you have to think about dropping at all, then it's probably not worth the watch.

Onto some things I did like, like Taeyoung and Woojoo's friendship, Junghyun's wardrobe -- Taeyoung's actor. I mean, that man is gorgeous, the way he smiles and the way his eyes smile too, I mean, he's perfect. Kisses weren't all that bad, of course, I've seen better, but at least they didn't shy away from giving us as many kisses as we could hope for.

Ratings:

Story: 5.5/10 - incredibly dull, incredibly boring. Some parts interesting, but most parts not. I liked Jungwoo's story up until a certain point when they drag on it too much. Taeyoung and Woojoo's friendship is fun to watch, along with watching Taeyoung cause he's beautiful.

Acting: 8/10 - Acting good. Jongwoo (Taeyoung) did the best, with Tucheol (Woojoo) second. Everyone else was decent. The acting was probably this series' strongest aspect. I wouldn't mind seeing this group of actors again.

Music: 6/10 - Wasn't distracting. Good.

Recommendation Value: 4/10 - I'd recommend this for Jongwoo (Taeyoung) only. Like damn, he really is a sight to behold. Other than that, there are other K-BL's out there (Cough cough, Love Tractor) that I would recommend more.

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Good!

I don't know what was holding me back from watching this mini-love story in 2022, but I've come to my senses and I've finally given this 80-ish mins series a shot. I Want to See Only You is a quaint watch, but rather a good one with some pretty detailed characters and an overall better arch than others told in less than 2 hours.

Let's Dive In.

I think I held myself back from watching this because it looks sad (from the title poster). So I automatically kind of kept it on the back burner, but if that's why you're holding yourself off from this, then don't -- it's exactly the opposite.

What makes this series so good is the very instinctively different personalities of the two main characters. Yuma is very childlike and outgoing, which is why it's kind of hard to see him potentially getting into a relationship cause it seems he's not yet mature enough for one. And then we have Sakura who's very poised and obedient, who likes being alone and plays sad piano music. That's where they grow a lot together though because Yuma is very childish, but when with Sakura he's somewhat calm and compassionate, yet, if Yuma is going crazy, then Sakura is blessed to be in his presence, and takes his energy and runs with it. It's quite an endearing dynamic, and you fall for it instantly.

First loves, especially with your childhood best friend is a complicated one, and this series exclaims that perfectly. Through eye contact, through between-the-line dialogue, and very tentative and passionate (although very chaste) kisses. And yay for kisses (thank you Japan!). This is a very accurate depiction of high school and being in love and being gay at that. *chef's kiss*

Norio was a very precious side character, and I felt very bad for him and his crush on Riko. I wished they would've ended up together too, but I'm not here for the hets, so it's okay. I didn't care much for the teachers' relationship, but I thought the matching outfits were cute.

Ratings:

Story: 8.5/10 - A little too short, but everything flows nicely for its time frame. It's a pretty simplistic story with nothing crazy or deep. Just a nice watch about high schoolers realizing they're in love.

Acting: 8.5/10 - It was nice! I think Sakura's character had a hard time trying to cry (or at least it looked like he was trying) but other than that, it was good.

Music: 7/10 - the piano was nice.

Recommendation Value: 8/10 - Highly recommended, but it's a bit short, so it's not the very first thing I'd recommend to someone unless they wanted something quick and easy.

I know I talk very highly of this series, but I think an 8 with suffice. Just because it's not something that will be very memorable from now until the end of the year. I'll most likely forget I watched it in a couple of months. But it's cute, it's lighthearted, has some really good camerawork, and some adorable characters. So please watch.

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Complicated, But Good

I was very hesitant to watch this cause I was told how sad and depressing it was, and while others weren't way off, it was really good. It falters a little due to its own length, but other than that, this series is pretty entertaining.

Let's Dive In.

As I already said, this series is just a little too long. The last two episodes are irrelevant to the overall plot, and if anything, I wish the circumstance would've happened in the earlier episodes, to show just how important Eiw and Cake were to one another during harsh times. Cause really, I skipped through these episodes wondering where they correlate with the rest of the series. While sad and well-acted, it's irrelevant as hell.

I'd have mixed feelings categorizing this as a sad series since it doesn't have a "sad" ending per se. But I say that because I did skip episodes 8-9 purposefully because I knew they were going to be too sad for me. Moving and learning to be by yourself, yeah not my cup of tea, but I know Earth bodied it.

Earth and Santa have some really incredible chemistry, like seriously. I was hooked on them by episode 2. The subtleness gets to me the best, it only gets better when Eiw realizes his feelings. I was balling my eyes out at him telling his sister how he felt while watching one of the most poignant LGBT+ movies in Thailand. perfect scene.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the time jump. I would've rather it been 2 years or less. I don't know, 4 years felt extremely too long for me. And Cake and his family never went back to Thailand once? at least to visit?

I don't mind that they don't get together until they're in college, but I wish something more would've happened between them before Cake moved. The series was missing something entirely, and that was a touch of something more than just cuddles in bed.

Rating:

Story; 7.5/10 - the beginning was really nice, and the best part of the story. The last two episodes were pointless and it over-exceeded the time it needed. otherwise, a really nice story and plot.

Acting: 9/10: Earth did it again! Santa also did a really excellent job. It was nice to see Peak and Benz! Everyone else did a decent job.

Music: 6/10: Good.

Rewatch value: 2/10 - ehh. probably not.

I definitely recommend this. While it got sad, it wasn't as sad as you might think. If that makes sense.

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Overall, Nicely-Done

I remember seeing the teaser during the GMMTV line-up event, and since then I've been patiently anticipating it. And it didn't disappoint at all. Overall, The Eclipse was a brilliant drama, full of impact, importance, emotions, and a nice detailed plot.

Let's Dive In.

I was not expecting to have enjoyed watching Khaotung and First together so much, but god, did they have some of the best chemistry I've seen so far in a GMMTV series this year. I feel like they're GMMTV's little lab rats with not being stuck with one pairing, (First and Gawin in Not me, Khaotung and Pod in Tonhon Chonlatee), and it really just shows how versatile of an actor those two are. They played off of one another emotions very well, especially during the more emotional scenes. I think the only thing that is a little off-putting to me is really just why they fell in love with one another. Besides Ayan's constant flirting, I can't seem to understand why Akk would fall for him unless Ayan was somehow his gay awakening, or just the first guy to give him attention like that. Other than that, they had a great connection, great physical scenes, and an amazing performance.

Moving on to Khan and Thua which is really why I was watching. I loved Neo and Louis in FUTS (actually the only good thing about that series) and when I saw they were going to be back together again, I was stoked. And they were only 10x better the second go-around. Watching Khan be so in love with Thua but not understand how to let it show or even be okay with his feeling during the beginning was very poignant to their story. The secret identity, the secret kiss, the secret glances, it was all timed so perfectly. And thank god, their kissing got better too (you know what I'm talking about if you've seen FUTS)!

The plot was a little weak in some spots, like the whole "curse" thing about the school. It felt a little anti-climatic to me for it to have been Akk behind some of the chaos at the school, and I wish they would've played up more on it since it was such an integral part of the teaser/trailer. I think Thua also being behind it was a nice twist, but still, not all that interesting. The most interesting was definitely the plot twist with Dika and the Chadok. Made me more emotional than I realized I was.

Rating:

Story: 8/10 - Great characters, and a really nice plot. A little weak in a few places, but overall, it was enjoyable to watch. The couples were also very entertaining.

Acting: 9/10 - Superb. Especially First and Khaotung. Neo did such an amazing job as well and his acting has seriously improved since FUTS. Everyone else did excellently.

Music: 7/10 - quite nice.

Rewatch Value: 1/10 - Rarely rewatch anything, even if I enjoyed it. But I will be watching more video edits.

I highly recommend this series. It's one of the better ones to come out of GMMTV this year. It's really been a hit or a miss with them, literally nothing in the middle.

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Was Not Expecting to Enjoy This so Much

My love for this series comes as a very pleasant surprise. I was not excepting myself to like this at all, and was fully prepared to watch the first episode, and then shelf it until infinity. After coming from Senpai, Danjite Koidewa, which I dropped mid-first episode, I was a little worried about where my head would be at with this one, but I decided to trust my gut anyways, and good thing I did. Minato Shouji Coin Laundry is a surreal feeling of a forbidden love that claws at your heart whilst also being hilarious in and of itself.

Let's Dive In.

My worry for this series was definitely the age difference, especially since this was one dealing with a high school (underage to of age) and a grown adult almost in his thirties. It's a very quick turn-off, it's a very quick, "no, this is not the move," but I gave it a shot anyways. The only reason this age gap didn't throw me off was because Shin (the high schooler) was the one initiating the relationship. The one wanting to hold Akira's hand, kiss him, go on a date with him, be his boyfriend, etc. And Akira being the adult of the two of them was the one doing everything in his power to prevent it from happening. Telling Shin he had more going for himself than him, telling Shin his crush was only temporary, telling him to move on and start college, etc. Had this been vice-versa -- Akira initiating everything on Shin -- then this would've immediately been dropped. But it's not like that. This isn't grooming or anything of the sort. In every instance, Akira is trying to persuade Shin out of admiring him, and it's handled with such great care while also being entertaining and silly. Yes, Akira's feelings for Shin are obvious from the first episode, but he suppresses them in the most responsible way possible. This was definitely giving forbidden love, which I can somewhat like given the circumstance, and yes, this was one of those circumstances.

The writing in this is lovely. Anytime Shin was going on one of his ridiculously beautiful monologues about his feelings for Akira, I found myself getting emotional because it was so touching. Especially the one in the hotel and the note he wrote to Akira, it was all so beautifully put together. Outside of Shin, the writing and characterization for Akira were perfect. His childish demeanor, yet stern attitude. His sudden joy of the smallest things, the emotions we see play on his face during his internal monologues. Gosh, it was like a perfectly wrapped present you don't want to open because it's too perfect.

Their relationship was nice to watch, There were a lot of instances when it felt like they were running in circles, but it was nice to see Shin flirt, Akira get flustered and reprimand him, only for him to have this internal monologue about wishing he could say it back. I won't lie, I was a little shocked that they ended up getting together in the end. I was so sure this series would either take the, "we don't get together at all" route, or the, "we get together after Shin is finished with college" route. But the ending was the best part o this entire series. The way Akira pours out his heart because he believes Shin is leaving only for Shin to say he's staying, and yet still they have this incredible moment, full of silliness and perfected emotions. And these two had decent chemistry. There might've been times their physical chemistry wasn't always there, but for sure, their emotional connection was subpar, especially when I get teary-eyed just watching them stare and cry with one another. This honestly couldn't have been any better.

Akira's whole situation with his swim coach was a little frustrating. Akira being a grown adult should've been able to handle it accordingly without acting so -- well, childish. That was the only thing that I can think that really frustrated me about his character, his inability to just spit it out and continue to take us on this elongated journey through the 12 episodes of him just trying to explain his feelings to his coach. Would've rather this had been resolved immediately so that Sukama could've been a mentor for his relationship instead of the thing that's stopping it.

Moving onto the side characters, I really loved Shin's sister. I think she was adorable and liked how she was Shin's wing woman. she played a nice supporting role in the help of getting them together.

Asuka and Hiiragi's relationship was a lot more irritating because Hiiragi just never looked interested, and even if he didn't know how to show it or whatever, I don't know how Asuka didn't just run and move on. But aside from their relationship, I really liked Asuka's character. he was playful, genuine, and a lovely person. I would love to see him in a main role.

Ratings:

Story: 8.5/10 - A really strong story. There were times when something felt a bit draggy, and a lot of times it felt like nothing was going anywhere in the story. but aside from that, it was entertaining and a really fun watch, It kept me wanting to come back and finish, which is the most important part.

Acting: 9/10 - such, such a good job from the actors. Everyone did so well in their roles, Takuya definitely took the lead as the best out of all of them. Tomoya would for sure be my second favorite, with Sho following behind. Either way, they did an incredible job, all emotions were accurate and of perfect timing.

Music: 5/10 - Kind of hated the intro song, very distracting and loud and obnoxious, but everything else in the actual series was fine.

Rewatch value: 7/10 - I rarely rewatch, and this probably won't be much of a difference, but I could for sure see myself going back to watch certain parts.

I highly recommend this series. It going to be tough now because I thought that Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss was going to be my favorite Japanese series of 2022, but now these two have gone head to head, and I'm not positive anymore how I feel. Either way, this was a beautiful series, so well done, and now I think I want a season two even though I envy season two's. Sigh.

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Weirdly Entertaining, yet it Looses itself in the Middle

I'll start this off by saying this is NOT for everyone, and I mean that with everything in me. If you can get used to the fact that a grown man is acting like a cat, along with the most frustrating theme song ever known to man, then you might be able to watch this. Otherwise, you're wasting your time. And this is coming from someone who actually really enjoyed MEU. I've been in a pretty bad slump when it came to BLs. Things were starting to feel too repetitive and I needed a switch up. This was that switch-up. I can't explain why this show piqued my interest, or why every Tuesday I would genuinely be so excited to watch, but seriously, this series is nothing but buttercup-rainbow supreme. It's a catering worth of fluff, with some angst to wash down the spoonful of sugar you just swallowed. This is why I say this wasn't for everybody, because if a sweet tooth on crack isn't your forte then neither is this show.

Let's Dive in.

Meow Ears Up is the first (as I know of) in the on-screen BL community to showcase a metamorphizing cat that has the ability to turn into a human. During a bad storm, Negative Nancy Dermdew brings in a stray cat from the streets only to realize that that cat was a cat-human. They have their own story, and so do the other side characters, Faiyen, Evan, Jin, and Manni. From the first episode, I knew that this wasn't going to be easy. Learning how I was going to be able to watch James act like a cat and not cringe was difficult. And sure, there's cringe, but after a while, I got used to it, and it just becomes a part of the watch experience.

At first, the only frustrating thing was the fact that Meow seemed to be the only one that didn't know anything about the human world. His brother, who managed to make it to college, is intelligent enough to survive through adult-like activities, and so can Manni (although, she's a mouse, or a hamster, or a bear or dog, or whatever she was). They do explain that he was scared of humans because they were mean to him as a cat, but I think a better explanation of his and Faiyen's upbringing could've answered more of those questions. I can't remember if they even had parents, which I think was explained, but again, I don't remember.

What was helping me survive through this series was Dermdem and Meow's relationship, which I found very appealing and cuter than cute. Dermdem helped Meow with everyday activities, while Meow simultaneously taught Dermdem how to show love to another, and teach that life didn't always have to be about work. And this was probably the best thing the show did, show development between the two of them without anything moving too fast, or seemingly too slow. And while I'm glad nothing extremely intimate went down between them (cause there is a part of Meow that still needs to progress before anything like that happens), it was a huge letdown that they don't end up together by the end. Maybe the creators left this open for a season 2, where we see a few years into the future when a much more mature Meow and Dermdem living together, but until it's announced, I feel like I was dillydallying in a bromance type series, and I try to avoid those at all cost.

I absolutely loved Faiyen, with all of me. I will miss his bright aura and darling smile. Bright (Faiyen) did a fantastic job at playing this character. He was sunshine times 10, and there was never a dull moment when watching him. I don't know how I feel about Evan, and I won't blame Bodo (Evan) for this since it was a part of his character, but god, did I hate this no-emotion syndrome he has. Bodo himself is a lovely-looking man, and the very few times he did smile, I caught myself doing the same. But for most of his story, he was just a talking robot, and it was upsetting. There was nothing there for me to actually appreciate the existence of his character, other than to make Faiyen happy. Their relationship was enduring in the beginning, but by the end, it fell flat. Evan did this weird lay-his-head-on-Faiyen's-head thing and it didn't feel natural at all. I think a hug or being close in proximity could've sufficed.

I originally started watching this series because the GL couple caught my eye, and since SCOY gave me nothing, I thought this series could at least bring something. And sure, they had a good amount of screen time, but none of it was to develop their relationship romantically. Jin's this stubborn woman and Manni is the complete opposite. There are some points that we see Jin soften up around her, but nothing's ever said to really make me think that they should go together. Other than a close-in-proximity trope, nothing happens between these two. If anything, they gave me best-friends vibes. I wanted so much more from then, really.

Some episodes were straight filler, but I didn't mind it because I sincerely liked pretty much every single character. But that time used to show random shit, or have Mark randomly appear for an episode, could've been used to further these three's relationships.

But overall, and like I've already said, I loved this series until the end. It could've been worst, like they could've all died or something, but leaving each couple open-ended sucked ass. I at least thought Faiyen and Evan would get an ending, but nope, none of them do. I think a second season would only work, for Dermdem and Meow's sake, if they do it years later, like 3 or 4 when Meow's had more time to learn about human characteristics and behaviors and act more appropriately to his age. I never really saw him as acting like a child until someone pointed it out, and yes, I can see it, however, I wouldn't go so far as to call Dermdem a "pedophile" or to say that them loving each other would be morally wrong. Meow is in full control of his feelings and emotions (who's also an adult), and in addition to that, Dermdem would just never do anything to Meow that he didn't have a full understanding of. There were PLENTY of times that Dermdem could've kissed Meow, and he doesn't. Also, these are just fictional characters, so I don't care enough to think that deeply about them. I just watch and have fun, exactly what this type of series is for; it's nothing to take seriously (and those wigs are great examples).

Ratings:

Story: 6.5 - Some bits were really enjoyable. Seeing Dermdem and Meow's domestic relationship was probably my favorite part, along with Faiyen and Evan. Manni and Jin were cute, but the whole work thing was kind of boring. Their individual backstories were fun, Evan's though a bit annoying. But for the most part, I enjoyed the story until it got kind of filler-y and had no good ending.

Acting: 8.5 - James and Bright were hands down the best. It was weird watching James act like a cat, but he does put on a really good performance. And Bright is just memorizing. I really hope to see him again. Po, Gap, and Kris were good too. I think Bodo could've been good, but he was given the blandest character to portray, so I hope I see him again with a more complex person to play.

Music: 2.0 - Fuck no. and I would give a 1 star, but I feel bad giving it anything lower. I don't know who came up with that theme song, or who even green-lighted it to go on air, but I hope they're in jail now. A MUCH better uplifting song could've worked 10 times better.

Rewatch value: 5 - As I said, I really enjoyed that I just got to sit back and really just watch this for what it is, and didn't feel the need to analyze anything. I would for sure have this one while doing homework or working.

Overall, I really liked this show (even though I complain more than I applaud). But I'll say again that it's NOT for everybody. Watch the first episode and see for yourself. I would definitely tell the few of you that like intimacy in a BL to go ahead and drop this because the most you get is a kiss on the cheek. I could recommend this to CHILDREN. That's how PG it is. But I don't mind PG, which is why I enjoyed it. But if you're just going to watch to nag then don't bother, we've seen the show, we know.

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My Little Pleasant Surprise

I waited to binge-watch You're My Sky because I knew it would be one of those series that would just be better with one sitting, and I wasn't wrong. I went in with little expectations since I wanted to be fully surprised by all aspects, including all of the couples and their circumstances, so I went in without reading the synopsis or understanding the concept of this BL, and my only knowledge was that basketball was involved. And I fucking loved it. I loved this series why more than I thought I was going to, especially with me going into this with little to no idea what it was. But each couple brought about strong on-screen dynamics with perfect combability that their relationship were believable. To add on, the cinematography is by far my favorite of 2022.

Let's Dive In.

The easiest way to describe YMS is by saying it's a uni-story, but one, in particular, that didn't feel the same as the others. We have three completely different couples that go through their own conflicts and by the end, it's a somewhat happy ending for all. What makes this feel so unique in and of itself is simply the cinematography. It reminded me a lot of ITSAY and IPYTM, not in the same aspect of the story, but cinematically wise, it was astounding. The colors used, the way lighting played an important role, and the settings have such a homey feel to them -- it all equaled up to an amazing watch that made the series 10 times more exciting.


Again, I loved the cinematography. Had this series been filmed in the regular Thai-BL style, I don't think I would've liked it nearly as much as I do. There was just a way the story was told that was an absolute joy to watch. I liked the dim lighting that we see throughout the series, it just brings out a central feel that made it feel so authentic. At some point in the series, we see the framing chance so the intensity of a basketball game can be lifted, and I freaking adored it. The settings were so nice, especially the outside basketball court by the river, cause at night, it had a solemn and romantic feel that made Tuphah and Thorn's scenes appear more sensual. Even their first kiss illuminated by the street light and the bit coming from Thorn's house was so sensual and relaxing. I'm not even a big fan of basketball or sport BLs in general, but these scenes were shot to actual perfection. They imitated the feel of the game, and the intensity (even without an audience) in such a way that you find yourself wanting more. It also was a delight to see that the actors were actually playing basketball and doing it decently. Of course, it wasn't perfect, but they rebounded, went for a layup, did cool dribbling moves on the court, showed actual basketball techniques and skills that really impressed me. Same with the track scenes. I adored that we can see the way Vee gets in his head and the use of track to make things feel more elevated. Again, they use actual relay techniques like calling for the baton, practicing the way they hand it off, and everything else that goes with track and field. Production was by far the best thing about YMS, there were plenty of ridiculous product placements, but I'm willing to look pasted that.

Getting into what I loved and didn't like about each couple:

Dome and Vee: I appreciated their dynamic for sure. Vee is kind of a tease who indirectly flirts with Dome and they end up having this strong connection. Dome's actor plays his expressions perfectly in his eyes, and it feels so intense when we see him looking at Vee, whether directly into his eyes or when Vee's not looking. It's very sensual with this couple, and only because that's all it can be since Dome is Vee's sister's boyfriend. The director plays with the impact of touch perfectly. We feel that sense of attractiveness through Dome giving him back rubs, and when Vee is massaging his legs. It's the same attraction when they make sacred eye contact and don't look away, it gives way to such a vibrant aura that it's hard not to want them to be together. While I'm no fan of cheating, I appreciate it in film and tv just because it is a realistic aspect of some relationships, and I can always appreciate realism. Out of every cheating plot I've seen, this one was handled with the utmost respect and delicateness, just because cheating actually never occurs, and is more of a conscious type feel. They don't have any physical intimacy until Dome breaks up with Pan, and while they do admit their feelings for one another before the breakup, it feels more like disloyalty (still not a good thing, but still not cheating). Pan's actor is fantastic, and the scene when she admits to Vee that she saw them kissing was very strong in emotion. It's a heavy topic and of course, she eventually forgives her brother since she can't just never talk to him again. Dome and Vee ended in the most realistic way possible, by keeping things neutral between the both of them, and agreeing to take things one step at a time. I really had no problem with this couple, of course, it's not good to cheat on your girlfriend, especially with her brother, but it was handled in a way that I rarely see in BL and had to be one of the best cheating storylines I've encountered. It's no wonder why this couple was a fan favorite.

Aii and Saen: I'm a sucker for grouchy uke who's either oblivious or ignoring the other's advances towards them, and the overly flirtatious or bubbly Seme who falls first in the relationship (Ex: MingKit, LeonPhob, MeenDuean, GavCai, SkyJao), and these two fit right into that category. I liked how Saen wasn't afraid to flirt and be honest with his feelings for Aii right off the bat. Aii saw it as teasing at first, but eventually, he was on board. The trip to Saen's grandma's house was precious. The delicate way that Saen explains he wants to kiss Aii and Aii being super nervous but allows him to do it. It was perfect, and while I wouldn't have wanted that to be their first time, it was still was really nice. Aii gets the chance to travel to Japan but he debates within himself whether to go or not since he doesn't want to leave Saen and their relationship behind. Which brings me to the point of what kept annoying me with this couple. The problem with the long-distance should've been one singular conflict and been resolved only once. Instead, it is resolved only to be a problem again and it's repeated a few times. Either go or stay, but this shouldn't have to be the repeating disruption in their relationship. I would've also liked it if they had more time to get to know each other, cause I can somewhat believe their feelings for one another, but they get together in such a quick instance that it's difficult to believe they're in love. This couple just needed a few touchups, but for the most part, I enjoyed them. Saen was the freaking cutest and watching Aii just slowly start to fall for him, or when we see him admitting his feelings is the best part of it all.

Tupfah and Torn: This was the best couple out of them all. While they did have plenty of problems, it was still a really good story. I love a good friends-to-lovers trope, and they did perfectly at implementing it. It took Tupfah longer to realize his feelings, but as we see him going through the process of doing so, it's fucking adorable. Their first kiss in front of Torn's house is perfection. They kiss once, and it's very shy as they just go for it, but when Tupfah leans in again, it becomes hot and heavy. And they have a couple other intimate scenes that are planned out accordingly and executed perfectly. I don't mind that at a point, Torn becomes a villain and kind of terrorizes the team because he becomes involved with the bad coach's morals, but it's honestly the best way to show that he was hurting. I think that part of his redemption arc might've been handled too quickly. I wanted to see his action have some actual consequences, but whatever, it's fine with what we get. I agree with others that Tae wasn't the best as Tupfah, but he did okay. There were some times when I wanted him to bring about a stronger performance, but it wasn't so bad that it was unwatchable. He's definitely a lot better than he was in Y-destiny by a longshot. They had the best story, development-wise, and I liked seeing their dynamic as children compared to when they're in college. I love the inside quote of the "go or no go", and it's placed in points in the story that makes it seem more valuable and important. Their chemistry faltered at times, but by the end, it was stellar.

Some other things:

I loved the portrayal of the trans character, and how the director didn't utilize him as a blowoff character, or someone that was to be silly or creepy. He instead helps Tupfah with his feelings, and we get a pretty emotional confession of his feelings and how grateful he was for the team and the coach.

The first time jump was terribly executed. It took a while for me to even realize that a time jump had happened since it's never really said and just implied. There needed to be some indication to the audience that time had passed, or things just got rather confusing.

I think this series could've wrapped up nicely at 10 episodes, and I would've for sure given it a 10 rating, but the extraness that is brought about in the last two is irrelevant. It felt like the screenwriter had ended it at 10, and then forgot they had two episodes left, so they added more and more conflict that was just unnecessary. Like how Aii and Saen's situation was handled just to become a problem again out of the blue when it was already resolved. It's kind of the same with Tupfah and Torn with their little quarrel at the end.

Ratings:

Story: 8 - I really liked the main couple's story. The basketball scenes were done very nicely. The other couples were enjoyable. I'll take two stars off since I firmly believe this could've ended in 10 episodes.

Acting: 9 - Everyone did a really good job. I think that Tae and Tupah's little brother's actor were the weakest links, but it wasn't so bad that it wasn't enjoyable. I'll take one star off for that.

Music: 8.5 - I really liked it. It went well with the tone of the series, and I enjoyed listening to it. I also liked the music choices used throughout this series, like when something bad was happening or about to happen, we hear this booming type of music, and the editors did a perfect job of choosing songs.

Rewatch value: 3: I would for sure go back to rewatch some scenes that gave me butterflies and made me all gushy.

Overall, this is a very nice BL. It seems to be a bit underrated since I don't see it talked about nearly enough, so I hope more people can come around to watching it.

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Cuteness Overload

I was immersed in this wonderfully wholehearted and hysterical J-BL that was just a marvel to watch. After finishing My Beautiful Man, I thought -- why not watch the other one on my list? And man, was I impressed. Now, this series is far from a cinematic masterpiece, or anything to ponder deeply about, but I always give credit to the small BLs that lift my spirit and make me wish to be engrossed in their reality. Kieta Hatsukoi is a refreshing BL, full of fun experiences, funny circumstances, surprising plot twists, a leading romance that I can approve of, and a het couple I didn't hate!

Let's Dive In!

Kieta Hatsukoi was an endearing melodramatic BL that tells the story of Aoki and an incident with an eraser that gets him in some "troubles" with the handsome and brooding Ida. Through their story, we meet other characters that help to give our leads a happily ever after. This was very wholesome and just simply cute. In each episode, you are fully into the story, falling in love with each attribute and the way the characters carry the plot along. Everything on-screen looks like it's dowsed in a dream, and yet it still holds to be realistic in such an exaggerated way. This series held up great, with noticeable character development, an easy-going plot that flowed perfectly, and one that I will treasure for a while.

Let's start with what I loved: I genuinely did not dislike a single character. Not even the ones that had the very itty-bitty amount of screen time. There was something to adore about all of them, whether it was their charm, their personality, or their small storyline, I just really enjoyed them all.

I enjoyed that the side het couple had a decent plot, and weren't there to, at any point, take down the leads. There were actually some parts where I was really interested in Aida and Hashimoto's little romance. While I think some parts were lacking, it was overall cute, very bubbly, and a nice side story.

I think I loved Fukumoto more than I think I was supposed to. I absolutely loved her performance as Hashimoto, she's so adorable, her role fit her to the T, and I hope to see her in future series. I enjoyed the leads, some things were a bit iffy, but for the most part, they both did a good job. One thing I love the most about J-dramas, in general, is the exaggerated way they profess themselves. There are plenty of moments in KH where their movements, their motions, their bodies just contrive to create this really unique work of expression. They do such an extraordinary job, each and every one of them.

The love between Ida and Aoki, while not the most intricate, is still very enjoyable to watch. We see the build-up, we watch the execution and all the beautiful moments in-between, to end with the perfectly imperfect pair that still has a lot of learning and growing to do individually. But I enjoyed that we already see that growth at the end. Aoki's problem was that he was insecure about himself, he was frightened if the outside knew who he was or who he liked, and through his own personal journey, he learns to accept his truth and that others eventually will too. Ida's problem was that in the beginning, he was a bit selfish while also being too selfless. He said yes to everything, and because of that, he was hurting the one who cared for him the most. He was comparing feelings as one, when "having fun" and "being in love" are two completing different feelings that he had to understand. It took him time, but eventually, he realized the feeling he felt when around Aoki, and was able to confess it by the end. This is the type of character development I love, the one I strive to see.

Their date out and about town was the absolute thing to die for. I loved everything about it.

Some things that could've used work: Aoki getting upset with Ida after he teases him is very odd. Nothing about the teasing even was bad, or considerably rude. They needed something to cause a bit of turf between them, but it's frivolous and throws you off on how out-of-the-blue it is. It wasn't needed, it was honestly kind of upsetting, and I just know there was a better way to handle it.

The situation between the coach and their rival team helper was kind of weird. While he never acted on her pursuits for him, the entire story was just not needed. it was to show Aoki's jealousy, which I can understand, but there was, again, a better way to handle it.

Some parts of the series were kind of slow, The first few episodes were a bit of a doozy to try to get through. I had to kind of push my way through, but eventually, at about episode 3 or 4, I started piquing my interest.

While the romance is really sweet, I think there should be some form of a kiss at the end. Instead, we get nothing, even though, in the episode before, Aoki stresses about taking the next step which is kissing Ida, and in one circumstance they almost do. I don't think intimacy is needed in a series if the actors are able to put on a great romance, however, I think a kiss is what was needed to really tie up the ending. They were having the perfect moment for it, so I do wish that was something that happened.

Rating:

Story: 8 - I'll take two stars off for the very interesting beginning. I think the setup was nice, but it still didn't take away how boring it was. The rest is really good. I also liked the plot twist of Hashimoto not liking Ida and actually liking Aida.

Acting: 9 - Again, I really appreciated the acting, probably one of the best parts of this series. I'll take one star off for some iffy things throughout.

Music: 8 - To my surprise, I really enjoyed the music, and it was noticeably good. Meguro Ren whole sang one of the songs sounded like an angel. Very good.

Rewatch value: 1 - This was cute, but very less likely to come back and watch. Maybe some parts.

Overall, a very nice and enjoyable watch. The episodes are only about 30 minutes long, so it only took me a few days to get through. I highly recommend, as it has become one of my favorite J-BLs.

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Wow, just Wow

I decided that I would go head first into this series without other people's judgments, and wow, was I pleasantly surprised. I wasn't Love Mechanics' biggest fan, (for many reasons) so I went into this with little to no expectations, but, again, I was shocked at how many emotions this itty-bitty series brought out of me. The Best Story was a tragically magical astonishment with its way of telling this sympathetic first love story, and all the shit that comes with it.

Let's Dive In.

Let's start with production. I have to cut at least one star for how unstable the subtitles were. The grammar was sometimes really hard to comprehend or just worded very incorrectly, along with scenes passing by with no subtitles (thankfully someone was nice enough to sub them in the comments). Again, I realize this series wasn't intended for an English audience in the first place, but knowing that BL is big internationally, it's something to for sure look out for. Other than that, the production was decent, along with the OST (I really enjoyed Best's song).

My initial thought during episode 1, that this was going to be a cheesy high school story. Technically, yes it was, but with some good screenwriting, and a perfect performance by the actors, this turn into something more than that. War again stole the show. His acting is so subpar that it scares me. Even Yin did better this time around. At first, I was cringing at the thought of this series, but by the second episode, I don't understand how they did it, but a switch went off in me. Best being just so giddy and anxious and nervous around Dew was just so natural and expected from someone in high school. The best part was his friends. They really created such a healthy dynamic of boys just being boys, but supportive and caring, I couldn't contain the tears when Best cried on their shoulders.

I could see Yern outing Best from a mile away. It's overplayed, it's hurtful, and it sucks; but it happens, and I applaud this series for teaching the audience about how dangerous outing can be, and how it can really cause big changes if the outcome is severe. Yern outing best to Dew's homophobic mother caused her to up and move Dew to another town, hoping that it would somehow fix her son's gayness, or stop it before it happened. It was incredibly difficult to watch, to just see how hurt Best is to see how conflicted Dew was. I wanted Best to say something, to confess his feelings, but that is honestly not an easy thing, especially being in high school. They're still so young, and feelings can be scary, so I completely understand Best keeping his crush a secret (well, not really cause Dew knew, but you get my point) the ending is just HEARTBREAKING. Be warned, it might say Best, but this is far from a happy ending. Dew finally reading the notebook and crying broke me, Best seeing him post the notebook broke me even more. Again, an amazing performance from these brilliant actors. I'm really hopeful for a season two after Dew comes back from his studies, it just makes sense for the perfect ending to their story.

Overall, I highly recommend this series. No, there's no physical intimacy, but the way these actors were able to portray their characters' feelings for one another through expressions and emotions will tear you to pieces. A lovely watch, a sad one albeit, but a good one.

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