Reviews

Turns out the cure BL needed was a zombie apocalypse!

While not a perfect drama by any means, more often than not, I was truly impressed by The Last Oath. They brought something new and daring to the table for BLs that I didn't realize I'd been craving like a zombie does brains. Lol. I had to make that joke! It was right there!!!

The small sets were utilized well, the action was good, the romance was compelling, the writing was generally smart, the characters had layers to them, and the zombies were a real threat. I found myself legitimately tense and scared!

It was dark and downright gritty, daring to go places you wouldn't expect they would dare to go. And like any good zombie show, it made you grow attached to, as well as fear, every new character who crossed the leads' path.

Not to mention, they truly managed to make the eerie quiet and loneliness of this "fallen" world hit. From the peace of being at the beach, where it seemed almost untouched by it all, to a deserted building, with an entryway ominously stained with old blood, to the strange normalcy of an airport crowded with zombies repeatedly shuffling through the last actions of when they were alive.

And then there was arguably the best moment of this drama to me where, for a little while, they gave the perfect illusion of a normal day for a couple:

A sweet, intimate moment before heading out the door, holding hands on a walk, going on a date to the theatre. But then there was the reality. The clear overgrowth outside, the dusty, empty building, the zombie not really dancing with feeling for an audience but groaning as muscle memory kicks in.

It was such an effective and haunting scene that stuck with me.

They truly made use of what they had and leaned into the compelling themes that naturally come about with this kind of story.

You know, I think what really makes zombie apocalypse shows so interesting is exploring the after of the world going to shit. What happens when people are stripped of all their comforts, desperate, and forced to rely on, as well as distrust, anyone and everyone? How low can humanity sink? Who can dare show kindness?

Surviving becomes a constant struggle, where letting your guard down is foolish and wanting anything "more" is a luxury. Resources are limited, and sacrifices have to be made. And the desperation/greed of other humans almost becomes more terrifying than that of the mindless, rushing zombie horde.

So when two people find each other amidst it all, form a connection with someone they feel they can trust, who won't abandon them, a "companion" to journey with together, how lucky are they?

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Hot garbage

This is the worst series I've watched in 2026 god that lin zai character was insufferable, what a brat ! He used Aleah as his emotional punching bag everytime he was stressed about his stupid dead brother 🤦‍♂️ and even hit Aleah and there were no consequences to his bratiness whatsoever, aside from the satisfying brother exploding in front of him but he needed more consequences. Nerd villain guy was boring and generic and i skipped all his scenes with the creepy looking zombie guy and their cringy ending scene kissing in the fire lol nice try being artistic you incompetent screen writer 🤨 anyway, horrible horrible second half of a show and the first 8 eps were very good but everything went downhill and i would give it a 0/10 if i could

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Light enjoyable drama

Very light and refreshing drama. Has a lot of cliches but they have good chemistry so I really enjoyed watching it.
He is rich and she is poor. His family oppose to their relationship, specially his grandfather. She try to get away when things are good for stupid reasons. Their first kiss is by accident, etc.
The coworkers are very funny so I think is easy to enjoy their dynamic. The doctor is very handsome, too bad there was never a competition for her heart. I really loved the interactions of her brother and best friend, I would have like to see more of them together.

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Love is... Just Okay the Third Time Around

"Love is Better the Second Time Around" is one of my top 5 favorite BL dramas of all time. In only 6 episodes, the series packs in interesting, complex characters, an engaging present storyline and intriguing past history between the leads, some of the most memorable and gorgeous cinematography I've seen in a drama (shout out the lighting and coloring), and believable, adult romance that avoids common BL/yaoi tropes and tipping too far into melodrama or comedy.

All of this is to say I was ecstatic when I saw the announcement of a second season, but I was also definitely hesitant. The first season tied the story up pretty neatly, which is what made the series so satisfying. I am very against the idea of a sequel for sequel's sake. So, does this second season fall into this trap? ...Kind of.

The Good:
Above all else, I must praise the two leads' acting. That is truly the main driving force behind the show and what kept me watching. You can tell the actors naturally fell back into that same chemistry and dynamic the characters had in the first season that keeps you hooked. That's not to say the writing was horrible and their acting was working completely in spite of it. However, the writing did feel like it lost just a bit of spark.

The Middle Ground:
I also loved the cinematography once again. I noticed the lighting and coloring was quite a bit more washed out this season with a lot more (at least from my perspective) morning scenes with blinding sunlight. This "washed out look" is pretty common at least in BL dramas and I am really not a fan, even to the point of feeling like it can ruin some series' watchability for me. I think where LIBTSTA(?)'s cinematography really shines is when it comes to night scenes. The darkness matched with soft, warm lighting and rich colors makes the whole scene just absolutely stunning. This is best exemplified in S1's onsen scene and S2's boat scene. That's what makes S2's underutilization of cinematic night scenes quite disappointing because they make the scenes so memorable and visually interesting.

The Ugly:
The plot, or lack thereof, was palpable. This was my biggest fear and, in all fairness, the plot wasn't completely horrible or to the point of unwatchable or totally boring. However, it's hard to write a plot for a S2 of a show when S1 basically covered everything. At some point, you're going to have to either add some unnecessary drama (often via a new character specifically written to create conflict) or retcon some details from S1. LIBTSTA S2 opts mainly for the first option on steroids. Nearly every episode is dedicated to one of Iwanaga's exes that Miyata had zero clue about, a la Scott Pilgrim. It's comical but not in an actually funny way. Miyata's mini beef with Iwanaga's assistant/ex-hookup in S1 was actually entertaining and comedic, enhancing the plot. The 1000 or so of Iwanaga's exes in S2 really add nothing other than jealousy fuel for Miyata. They were annoying and uninteresting, existing as completely one-dimensional placeholders.

On a side note, with all the discussion of exes this season, I'm surprised nobody mentioned the fact that Miyata had a girlfriend who he proposed to in S1. I'm not saying this to negate the storyline, but it was just a bit odd that the fact that Miyata was in a relationship when Iwanaga reunited with him was completely forgotten. They act as if Miyata is some relationship virgin who has only ever been with Iwanaga and is intimidated by Iwanaga's long dating history.

Overall, I wished for a bit more out of S2. I know my rating is gonna seem a bit harsh, but I only rate on how much the show was actually enjoyable to me and this show was enjoyable for about 50% of it. Rewatchability is a HUGE factor for me as well since I tend to have to really love something to dedicate the time to rewatching it. S1 was so deliciously rewatchable, one of maybe only 3-5 shows I've rewatched in their entirety in my life. S2 definitely does not have that rewatchability factor and if/when I go to rewatch S1, I would leave S2 alone since it adds nothing to the characters or storyline.

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short series with opposite personalities

Overall: I like how it's focusing on the two characters with an easy to understand plot. 6 episodes about 7 minutes each. Airing on QueerDeep's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkrefPXGX2ya2fvYODySdXnGenCnRLMTn&si=jOrsopiL80Lc2xA6
(not all videos on the playlist are for the 14 Day sseries, hopefully in the future they'll make separate playlists for their series)

What I Liked
- focused on two characters
- easy to understand plot
- kissing is not dead fish lip presses

Room For Improvement
- I don't like that he's his professor

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Good vibe, and good-enough mysteries and characters

The premise, style, and vibe of this show are right up my alley, so I had really high hopes for it (disclaimer: I really liked Whispers of Fate, which has a lot of the same cast and a similar main character). From that perspective I was actually a little disappointed, but I still think the show is decent when considered independently.

The main character is Li Si, a highly capable, cheeky genius with a tragic past and a sparkly wardrobe. He’s fairly compassionate and has enough pathos that I felt emotionally invested. Add in his ticking time bomb injury, and he covers several tropes- but it’s a combination I happen to like. I enjoyed watching him solve cases with a snarky confidence, which also adds some sly humor to the show.

The case-solving is actually a team effort, and aiding Li Si is a great group of fellow constables. It’s a heartwarming crew to feel warm and fuzzy about. But although they do have their own niches (eg Meng Rui is a great fighter, Zhenzhu examines bodies), they all still feel very subordinate to Li Si. At the beginning he makes them look so dumb. Later they are more “useful”, but he is still clearly doing all the heavy brainwork.

I liked the side characters but didn’t feel as attached as I thought I should. I wish they got more development. For example, Zhenzhu has a few sweet scenes with her father, but the show definitely could have leaned in more; she’s a noblewoman who chose to be a coroner, and achieved a high rank at a young age, that all deserves some notice. I think she has a vague crush on Li Si but you’d have to want it to believe it. He seems to have more chemistry with Meng Rui, and I actually loved their bromance and all their scenes together. I did feel really invested in Meng Rui, and his development is well done, but I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of him.

In general the show has decent character development, but I wish we got more. There seems to be more focus on the cases, which I thought were just alright. For awhile, we see Li Si mulling over clues rather than just omnipotently figuring things out in a flash, which I liked; it paces the investigation and makes it feel real. But the leap to the final and often-complicated answer was still a stretch, and by the second half of the show, he’s just knowing things left and right. So rather than seeing him work through cases, we essentially just see him telling stories, which... well, is alright, but a little sloppy for a show so focused on casework.

As for the actual stories, they are interesting enough, with some pretty evil people brought to justice. But a few are actually quite sad with perps you also feel sorry for. The protagonists are fairly compassionate, so through them the show does an okay, but not too great, job of expressing sorrow for these tragic tales (ie the constables give a few sad looks and then get over it). Perhaps we’re supposed to feel better because some of the stories have parallels to Li Si’s, and he handles HIS issues as a proper hero would. But I still felt a bit sour about it all.

All the conflicts tie back to the Liluo state, the main villain. They are clearly doing lots of evil stuff. But 47 years ago, they were just- as far as I can tell- a small country trying to survive. I personally had a hard time hating them enough, and I wish the show had handled this issue better- eg making them more clearly evil from the beginning, or addressing their right to grievance- rather than just drowning it all in patriotic nonsense about protecting the country (which is especially thick at the end). The final arc and ending are not that great, but more lackluster than catastrophically nonsensical, so not the worst I’ve seen.

By the way, magic is real in this world, but it’s easy to forget- the way it’s handled is inconsistent. There’s no system as to when and how it can be used. Fantastical elements are fun and all, but I’d rather have seen the magic more consistently woven in, rather than just used for some dramatic effect here and there and then forgotten the rest of the time as our protagonists work so hard using real-world means to find real-world explanations.

For the acting, I think it’s decent. I like Luo Yunxi in this type of character and I think he does it well. The side characters also do a pretty good job, although it didn’t really stand out to me. I was a little tripped up by casting because many people do not look their proper age.

I thought production is a mixed bag. I love the costumes, so sparkly and bedazzled, and they look good on everyone. The music is fine- does its job. The songs in the OST are not my favorite, but they are used well with good timing to create the right emotional effects. The cinematography is generally well done and artistic, although some scenes try too hard to be dramatic and end up feeling out of place. The fighting is quite good, with pretty choreography and solid movements, though it sometimes feels too sped up (while some talking scenes feel too slow).

The special effects, though, look surprisingly bad. Later I saw the BTS and realized that a lot of stuff I thought would be CGI was actually not- instead it's done via props, green screen, etc. I have some respect for that and would view things through a different lens next time.

Overall this is a decent show, though it didn’t quite meet all my expectations for character development, solid casework, or a plot I feel really invested in. But this premise and vibe is a solid formula, at least for me, so I still enjoyed the show and looked forward to watching it every evening.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





The ending is bittersweet, a victory with heavy casualties. Sacrifices include Constable Yan, Chief Constable Xuanyuan, and some other more minor characters like Zhenzhu’s dad and the former constable chief (plus many nameless constables). Meng Rui is maybe ok but unconfirmed.

I didn’t think the last arc is that great. The stuff about the repeatedly subdivided meteor and formations and whatnot felt random and poorly developed (too rushed maybe?), though I got the gist. Mostly I objected to spending so much time on patriotic mumbo jumbo (loving and protecting the country, who is such a hero, etc) which is not that emotionally engaging to me.

I was also rather disturbed by Li Si’s final interaction with his Emperor father, a couple episodes from the end. The emperor seemed to genuinely love him, and his “poor” decisions stemmed from the burdens of rulership rather than his failures as a father. I understand that Li Si has some resentment and grievances, but what exactly did he want the man to do? And all that aside, breaking a dying man’s heart, and leaving their final interaction at that, seems excessively callous and harsh. It’s also out of character for Li Si, who is otherwise quite compassionate, and also hinted a few times that he genuinely loves his father. I was hoping it was all an act, like the rest of his actions towards the end, but the show never comes back to this interaction or the fact that his father died in total grief.

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Idea muy interesante, ejecución deficiente

Creo que la idea y el concepto de la serie son interesantes, especialmente porque ya existe un presidente de un reality similar. Sin embargo, supongo que se trata de una producción de bajo presupuesto, porque hay varios errores que me resultaron difíciles de pasar por alto, incluso después de haberles tomado cariño a los chicos.

1. **Poca naturalidad:** Se nota demasiado la intervención de la producción, que parece guiar en exceso las dinámicas. Esto hace que muchas situaciones se sientan forzadas y pierdan espontaneidad.

2. **Falta de orientación actoral:** Teniendo en cuenta que es un reality con miras a producir un BL y que los chicos no eran actores profesionales, creo que habría sido muy útil contar con profesores invitados que los orientaran y ayudaran a desarrollar mejores escenas e interacciones.

3. **Pocas oportunidades para crear química:** La producción falló a la hora de plantear situaciones que permitieran a los chicos conectar entre ellos de manera natural. Faltaron momentos que dejaran fluir su personalidad, sus relaciones y esa química que resulta tan importante en una historia BL.

A pesar de todo, los chicos son encantadores y creo que tenían mucho más para ofrecer. Me habría gustado ver mucho más de ellos, tanto en su convivencia diaria como en sus actuaciones. Es una pena que la ejecución no estuviera a la altura de una idea que tenía tanto potencial, porque terminé encariñándome con ellos y con ganas de conocerlos más.

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First Impression: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To Season 2

Overall: I really hope this isn't a second season of being overly possessive/jealous. 10 episodes about 24 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/9486/school-trip-joined-a-group-im-not-close-to-2025-s02e01 ; Viki viki.com/tv/41798c-school-trip-joined-a-group-im-not-close-to-2 and TVer (Japan).

Content Warning: this is getting into intimate partner abuse (emotional)

What I Liked
- acting
- good recap of season 1
- the friend groups

Room For Improvement
- "I'm your boyfriend, so I can do whatever I want with you, right" = absolutely trash statement
- being extremely controlling/possessive/jealous, it's not cute

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ChukChuk the savior

Overall: ChukChuk and the dogs were fantastic and I would have rated this higher if it had just been from the meet cute of Bryce's current boyfriend. 6 episodes about 30 minutes each.

Note: The Red Leash does not refer to BSDM. I think it's more like the red thread between Bryce and ChukChuk (but it's a leash since ChukChuk is a dog).

Content Warnings: past (manipulation, non con turned consensual, pet death)

Watch Suggestions
- episode 2 watch 12-25:55
- episode 5 watch 7-end

What I Liked
- the dogs
- therapy shown
- the three guys teamed up to help Bryce and the 2 exes apologized
- the ending

Room For Improvement
- I did not need to see 2 exes commiserating for most of the series
- nonsense for the ending but I still liked it

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This might just be the frontrunner for my best Japanese BL of 2026

Story / Writing

One thing Japanese adult BLs consistently do well is capture that teenage kind of love, even when the characters themselves are already adults. It's not necessarily about making the characters act young, but about capturing the awkwardness, the excitement, and that feeling of finally experiencing something you might have missed out on when you were younger. I have a particular soft spot for that kind of storytelling because it reminds us that it's never too late to experience the kind of love we once thought we could only have when we were young. I think these stories are for the gays, the queers, and anyone who needs that reminder

I also appreciate the decision to set a BL within a male-dominated profession like law enforcement. There's something interesting about placing a queer romance in an environment where masculinity is so deeply ingrained in the culture, especially when the characters have to navigate their feelings within that space. The series only lightly touches on the homophobia and the difficulties of being gay in such an environment

My main writing concern is the placement of one development in the latter part of the story. I think it would've worked better if it had been introduced before the final episode, giving the narrative more room to breathe instead of having it compete with the resolution. The series has some charm, but there are moments when I wish the writing had been a little more deliberate with its pacing

Characters / Acting

I'll be honest, the acting took some getting used to. I actually finished the series in two or three sittings because the exaggerated delivery wasn't immediately working for me. Takoi's mannerisms initially reminded me of Taichi in I Hear the Sunspot... and that comparison wasn't exactly helping my first impression considering the acting was one of my issues with that series

However, I have to give credit where it's due bc the performance eventually grew on me. What initially felt over the top gradually became part of the character's appeal and I could appreciate the expressiveness and physical comedy more as the series progressed. I can see why viewers who enjoy broad comedic performances would find Takoi endearing from the get-go even if it took me a little longer to warm up to him

As for the leads, I think they have enough chemistry to make their dynamic work, but I wanted more emotional depth and intimacy between them. Like, I wanted more of those quieter moments where a glance, a hesitation, or the smallest gesture could communicate what the characters couldn't quite put into words

That's something Cherry Magic and Old Fashion Cupcake did particularly well for me. Both gave their central relationships a sense of emotional texture that made their intimacy feel earned. With this series, I could see the appeal of the pairing but I wasn't always feeling that same depth myself. The chemistry was there, but I just wanted the romance to leave a stronger emotional impression

Post-Series Resonance / Satisfaction

As an overall viewing experience, this is a very enjoyable series. It's funny, charming, and entertaining enough to make the time worthwhile, even if it isn't entirely without its shortcomings. I can understand why viewers who appreciate its comedic approach, expressive performances, and ability to balance humor with more sincere moments would enjoy it

But enjoyment and lasting resonance are two different things for me

I can finish a BL, appreciate what it did well, and walk away satisfied without necessarily feeling the urge to revisit it months later. This feels like one of those series. I enjoyed watching it, but I'm not entirely convinced it'll stay with me in the way my personal favorites have


Overall

8/10

I think this is a fair score and it's in line with what I've given most of the other Japanese live-action BLs I've watched this year. It's a solid, enjoyable series with enough strengths to make it a legitimate contender for the year's best

However, I'm still not convinced it belongs in my Japanese BL hall of fame

I also think the inconsistency from this year's lineup has played a part in how highly this series stands out to me. But if this had been released in a year when the competition was stronger, would it still stand out? I don't think so

This year's lineup has had enough inconsistencies that a enjoyable series can suddenly look like a frontrunner if I'm being honest and that's not necessarily a bad thing for this drama, but it does make me wonder whether I'm praising it for what it is or for what the rest of the year has kinda failed to deliver

So, could this end up being my Japanese BL of the year? Absolutely. Would I put it alongside the genre's all-time standouts? Not quite. For now, I'll give it its flowers for being the year's strongest contender

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dont trust teletubbie generation reviews!

is a really great horror movie. I do not understand why other people write bad reviews about it. Some people complain that they do not understand the story or the plot. But since when does a horror movie need a logical explanation? If you want a clear story and explanations, you should watch a thriller, not a horror film!
This movie is just a good, crazy, and wild horror film. It has an amazing atmosphere and a lot of scary scenes. You can really enjoy the fear of the unknown.
If you already know some Asian ghost stories and folklore, you will understand the small details faster. But even if you know nothing about that, it is still a fantastic horror movie that looks beautiful. I highly recommend it if you just love real horror!

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Family doesn't always have to take the form we expect!

Another wonderful surprise! Monster Hunt 2 brought back everything I loved about the first film, while offering even more action as the story developed. It was another delightful fantasy adventure, full of humour, imaginative creatures, spectacular visual effects, great music, and heartwarming moments. 😊

Huba is once again absolutely adorable! 🥹 But what touched me most was the story of the family he brought together and how their bond grows even stronger in this sequel. I loved the message that family doesn't always have to take the form we expect. Sometimes, the most extraordinary bonds develop in the most unexpected circumstances, and love can turn people who never imagined becoming a family into one.

I particularly enjoyed seeing how fatherhood changes Song Tianyin (Jing Boran). In the first film, he is vulnerable, awkward, and often in need of Xiaolan's protection. Here, his regret over giving Huba away and how much he misses his little boy motivate him to grow stronger and become more determined to protect both his partner, Huo Xiaolan (Bai Baihe), and their child. Meanwhile, Huba proves that he is much more than an adorable little creature who needs rescuing, helping in the fight in his own special way. Their love makes them stronger together, while Tu Sigu (Tony Leung) also discovers, through Huba, how precious his own unusual little family with BenBen and the other monsters is. This connection helps motivate him to protect Huba, and his funny yet valuable contribution becomes an important part of the rescue and the final battle. Seeing everyone work together and Huba finally reunited with his parents was truly heartwarming. ❤️

The production was wonderful once again. The imaginative fantasy world, anime-inspired elements, digitally created creatures, visual effects, and music all contribute to the film's distinctive charm. The cast brings the characters to life beautifully, while the combination of action, comedy, and tenderness keeps the story entertaining and full of energy.

I discovered these films while exploring Jing Boran's filmography, and the popularity of Monster Hunt in China also made me curious to watch the first one. I ended up loving both films! Monster Hunt 2 was just as enjoyable as its predecessor, giving me more of the imaginative fantasy, funny moments, action, and emotional warmth that made me fall in love with this world in the first place.

A charming, imaginative, and heartwarming adventure about love, courage, and the family we choose and create. Another wonderful experience with Tianyin, Xiaolan, Huba, and their adorable monster friends and another well deserved 10/10! ❤️

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WOW what a beautifully created drama. Agonizing, dark yet beautiful, frustrating, and real.

This drama hurt to watch. During the entire film I was on edge, my emotions were ever changing. At the completion of this film, I felt sick, sore from holding my breath and sat in silent contemplation.

A parent watches, wonders, worries about their child being bullied ... it's real and for most parents it is their worst nightmare. I don't know what I would do but seeing these young children going through that, with no parental support ... really breaks my heart.

Actors ... Gave everything and put their soles into their performance.
Characters ... Words cannot describe, fully, the depth and courage that was shown.
Plot/Story ... Terrifying. The producers/Directors etc. did this story justice. It was a masterpiece.

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NSFW! And introducing Smuthounds...

I just have to say I adored the review by the viewer of this show, who described themselves as a 'smuthound' -- I'm still chuckling.

Look: What it is, is a BL or really ML (Maybe Men's Love should be a category for the grittier BL shows?) which is just a balsa wood thin platform for two lovely, obviously adult bodies to bonk all over the place... And it IS refreshing to see two adult bodies -- in Mr Fanboy, which I am loving btw, -- it was a bit disconcerting to see frail little Wan (with the figure of a twelve year old -- tho he is of an acceptable age) getting together with muscley Third --- it was sweetly done though.

I'm not watching the rest, because I like the 'traditional' BL style balance of NC and Romance, but seriously if you are a smuthound -- it's really well done -- go knock yourself out!!

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