Red Balloon (2017)

"We are like balloons. We can't fly to the highest point, yet we don't live on the ground."

Red Balloon is a melancholy but sweet peek into the life of gay teens in high school. It follows three different students throughout their life dealing with the unknown and bullies respectively. It is very short, but they really did a good job packing in the emotions they needed to in such a short time. It had a nostalgic feel to it, which I appreciated. It is mainly about lost chances and succumbing to societal pressure. Also, just being true to yourself and pursuing happiness.

The acting is what brought it together, because with eight episodes, each at ten/fifteen minutes long, it is quite short. The two that acted out the younger boys did a really nice job conveying the struggles of young love in world with prejudice. The music was beautiful. I absolutely loved the OST. Even if you don't watch the drama itself, I would recommend checking out the OST.

A warning, there is bullying and attempted self injury depicted in here, so be careful if you're sensitive to those things.

All in all, a tense but ultimately rewarding watch. I would recommend if you're looking for something short, but with content. There is sweetness here, but also angst as well which makes it a relatively fulfilling experience.

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This Taiwanese BL was written perfectly and highlights the concept that, “true love waits”. Regardless of any situation, I think anyone can relate to this short series due to the its “teenage” and coming-out theme. Generally, the actors are very good in portraying their roles but I somehow find their younger selves to be more attractive and promising

Even though episodes are short, I still find it enough since it has substance (in comparison to other BLs). Music is great but sometimes it overpowers the scene but it can be tolerated.

Give this BL a try, you’ll not regret it.

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Overcoming Difficulties

Each short episode packs a lot of story and some parts may seem out of sequence, the consist flipping between the past and the present, you get a feel for the story and where its heading. I for one don't get anyone giving this high reviews - like yeah to each their own... but this plot had promise, but it didn't really develop to anything, and i felt that the actors also fell short, first off Li Xiang just comes off as a stalker, he latches onto Xia Zhi the sec he sees him and just turns into his shadow but he is too forceful and I also find that he seems to have had a pattern considering he did the same thing with PE Teacher as well. Also when he was brought to a gay bar, he is more worried if its age appropriate not even noticing that its only guys and what that means - so it felt like Li Xiang was manipulating the situation and Xia Zhi.

Also the kid that was being bullied and his side story - there was more there that held my interest and heart, then with what was going on with the leads - but everything was kinda rushed and wrapped up in the last episode - just cause it was the last episode and we needed a happy ending. it lacked logic or common sense and left me wondering WTF... this doesn't come close to being a good BL.

Overall: I wouldn't recommend this at all

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Wow

Story - I gave the story an 8.5/10 because I think it needed maybe another 10-15 minutes to really tie it up at the end. The ending felt a little abrupt and disjointed compared to the rest of the story from when the boys were younger. But, nonetheless, I think the story and relationships within it were well-developed, well written, and honestly tugged on my heart strings a little too hard. The message that the side storyline portrays is presented in a polished way that I can applaud. It's hard to review much of the story without spoilers but if you're reading this while contemplating if this is worth a watch, I can confirm that I HIGHLY recommend you do! It's a bit of a tear-jerker though so make sure to have tissues on hand! (If you want to know if it has a happy ending or not, just browse through the comments at the bottom of the page and someone will have said so there)

Acting/Cast - I think all of the actors were exceptional in this... ESPECIALLY the younger ones, wow. However, I only gave this section a 9/10 because I did feel like the adult actors looks too different (specifically Zi Chen). It had me feeling a bit disengaged at the end when I'm trying to get used to thinking that they're still the same characters.

Music - 10/10. I think I saw someone say the music in this was lacklustre and boring. And I have no idea what planet they're on or what they're watching, but it can't be Red Balloon if they think the soundtrack is boring. The sound aspect of this drama (whether from the sound of a camera clicking into a flashback transition to the soundtrack music) is phenomenally done. Especially during certain M O M E N T S where the music cuts off, giving a raw feeling to the scene (if you know, you know).

Rewatch Value - let's just say that I can be a sensitive person and I think I could only watch this if I wanted to cry (a lot of people probably don't agree with me on this and probably just think I'm overly emotional lol). In saying that, it's hella cute and it's a really good drama so that's why I rated this part a 7/10

Overall - RECOMMEND RECOMMEND RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (also if you want the best experience, I would watch the HD, official version on GagaOOLala)

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Edward Chen is a revelation.

finally watched this show and wow.... I didn't really hear much people talking about this but finally found it was it was so powerful.. I knew from the start XU Yang story was gonna end in tragedy but I still felt every pain of that moment that came... wow ... this show deserves all the flowers.. it's so beautifully done.. the music is amazing. really happy to see edward chen from your name engraved herein in this show as well. looks like this was one of his first shows he ever did . Taiwan has been really doing amazing when it comes to BL's lately... from Trapped to Because of You... I've really been enjoying Taiwan's work recently.

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*So much potential, it makes me mad*

I think for this being a fairly short series, it was pretty good but I'm still a little disappointed based on it's rating being an 8.0. The teenage versions of the main characters were honestly great, it's not the first thing I've liked Edward in(Your name engraved herein). But I felt that the adult actors fell a little flat.
They pretty much had no chemistry and hardly any contact at all. I think that the fact that most of the series takes place in the past when they were teens is one of the only reasons I could finish it. I really do feel like just a few changes to this series and it could've been TWICE as good as it was because it already had pretty amazing potential.
Like no lie, the series still had some very nice shots and it had some very hard hitting, thought provoking topics... I appreciate that more than anything. I also thought that some of the dialogue was written very nicely and the music was beautiful.
Overall, it was decent for what it was but I know it could've been better.
Still a solid series and I do recommend giving it a watch. I just don't know if I would ever watch it twice.

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I watched this in a single sitting and was incredibly impressed by what they were able to do with so little screentime.

STORY - 9.5/10:
One thing I appreciate about this story is the mature take it has in unpacking concepts of "love" and "authenticity", particularly for queer men. As many times as they had me chopping onions, I also walked away feeling empowered to be true to myself as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. It was a delicate balance but I think they found it. Forwarning, I found certain parts a bit intense. If bullying, violence, and suicide are triggers for you then please be cautious.

The ONLY reason there's a small ding in my rating for this category is I felt like the ending was very sudden. It felt like they slapped a bow on the story because they ran out of screentime. I tried not to fault them for it too hard because this is still easily one of the best BL series I've ever seen, and I whole-heartedly believe that with more screentime they would've been able to better pace the ending of the story.

ACTING - 10/10:
The moments shared between the two leads felt tender and genuine. They performed each stage of their relationship so well. From budding friendship to passionate paramours, the chemistry was present. The supporting cast also does an excellent job. Their roles felt natural and no one ever felt like a distraction from the story, nor did they break immersion.

MUSIC - 10/10:
SIS. THE MUSIC IS EVERYTHING. They made me want to learn Mandarin just so I could sing along. The opening for each episode brings the emotion right out of you, I honestly didn't stand a chance.

REWATCH VALUE - 9.5/10:
This one is tough to rate because I've personally only watched it once. However, I think what gives me confidence in the rewatch value for this series is that it is sophisticated, intense, cute, and short. I'd honestly treat it like a movie. The only deterrent is that, again, I'm a bit unsatisfied with the ending and I worry that the story will feel less and less complete every time I watch it.

OVERALL - 9.5/10:
It's absolutely worth the watch. I wish I could give them at least another hour or two of screentime! But what they gave us is beautiful. Prepare to have more than your average BL feels!

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In this case not "small" but "short" ;)
This series is so short, even episodes are short, just barely ten or so minutes long and that is the only minus I could list against this drama.
I thing that casting was just perfect, I was so surprised about the quality of acting, especially Xu Tao's and Edward Chen's, the way they conveyed all the emotions just shook me. I was so impressed with Edward, he had a hard nut to crack as he was the one that found himself falling for this clingy boy, as an honest but not really open teenager he made my heart warm with his awkward but sweet answers. I love how he never denied anything and he was serious about his love the same way he was serious about everything in his life and he took responsibilities for his every decision. He might have committed a few mistakes but he never denied them. I'm so happy he stayed true to himself in the end. Such a faithful lover is the dream of every person.
The story might be a little bit confusing in the first 2-3 episodes but do not worry there is a closure to everything and the ending is worth every single minute spend watching this series!
Story might be quite simple but we can not expect much more because this series is so short. But execution and simple but satisfying plot line full of meaningful messages will leave u full and satisfied after completing the drama.
I love how they try to bring our attention to problems of bullying and depression, the fact that sometimes even if people ask for help unfortunately are left alone ignored and this should change!
I'm so happy that Xiang Wan and Zhi Chen show us that our life is in our hands and we are in charge of every decision and so we should grab our chance for happiness ! It doesn't matter how old we are, we can still have a chance for a fresh start!

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Brokenhearted

Intense, and softly romantic with much sadness throughout life. This is a short BL series about two students who meet in school and develop a friendship which eventually leads to a more intense interest in each other. It is a profoundly melancholic story that is undoubtedly too familiar in many people’s lives. The acting here is first rate, and they downplay the intensity which it should because the relationship never really developed outwardly. It is all internal. I liked this series a lot. It is well written, well-acted, and tells a good solid story. I wish there were a bit more character development and a greater understanding of how they got together when they are adults.

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