A spectucular sunset of a show - vivid, warm, bursting with colour

Yeah, so this one is an absolute masterpiece.
I'm a complete sucker for slow, introspective coming-of-age/love-story hybrids so it's no surprise I fell head over heels in love with this show, but even my personal bias aside this series is, objectively, a damn triumph.
The cinematography, the frankly stunning performances, the recurring narrative themes, the sets... every aspect of this show is spectacular and the creators' deep love for their craft and their attention to detail is woven into its every facet.

Besides tackling the undeniable complex topic of disability, the show explores a variety of difficult and mature themes with great care and insight. It analyses grief in its various forms, complicated familial relationships and the nature of guilt and blame, as well as loneliness and isolation.
My absolute favourite of these themes, however, is the depictions of socio-economic differences and difficulties and the impact this has on every aspect of people's lives. Ever since watching Dark Blue Kiss it's been clear to me that P'Aof has a chip on his shoulder about the class divide in general and how it relates to queerness specifically and this is incredibly apparent here as well, in the portrayal of Mhok and his relationships to the people and world around him, as well as to the concepts of masculinity, queerness, and success. It may not be a main focus of the story, but a big part of Mhok's characters development stems from him coming to terms with his experiences of going through life as a former convict, society's view of him, and how this affects his perception of himself. It is nothing short of spectacular and I deeply appreciate the inclusion of these plot lines, however minor they may be.

And the characters... my god, the characters. If it wasn't already obvious from all my fawning in the previous paragraph, I am absolutely smitten with Mhok in particular, but quite honestly there isn't really anyone in the entire cast of characters whom I don't like or whose inclusion feels unnecessary.
Further personal favourites include Phojai - who is wonderfully multifaceted and deeply human character and whose relationship with Mhok means a whole lot to me personally - and Night, who is clearly a deeply traumatised person that carries his guilt around with him like a damn yoke but tries so incredibly hard anyway. His little tortured face will probably continue to ever so slightly haunt me for the rest of my life, to be honest.
And then there's Day who, in my opinion, is a surprisingly misunderstood and contentious character. I personally do not have any sort of significant visual impairment so take my opinions on the topic with a grain of salt, but I am firmly in the camp of "the disability rep in this show is really good, actually".
If I understand correctly, the showrunners made sure to get a lot of input from blind and otherwise disabled folks in order to depict the realities of their lives accurately and respectfully and it shows. The writing is never preachy or patronising, and Day isn't simply a tragic yet inspiring figure for the audience to project onto, no. He is a well fleshed-out, three-dimensional character with believable and deeply human flaws. His story is inspiring not because or in spite of his blindness, it's inspiring because his struggles with loneliness and isolation, with anger, resentment, and the complete collapse of his self-image are deeply relatable and pretty much universally applicable.
For further insight on this topic is especially in light of the show's ending, I highly recommend having a look at the "Some thoughts on the ending" topic in the Recent Discussions section, it might help anyone still feeling conflicted help sort out their thoughts :). Beware of spoilers though, obviously.

My one gripe with the story is how rushed the last episode feels in certain respects. The conflict feels realistic and makes sense for the characters, but really, couldn't we have brought it up just a few episodes earlier instead of keeping the dreaded episode 11 curse alive? I really think that showing more of Mhok's character growth as well as him dealing with his PTSD would have made the story feel more complete and well-rounded as well as helping to keep the pacing consistent.
In all honesty though, this is a relatively minor complaint compared to how fantastic this show is as a whole and it thankfully didn't even take away too much from my enjoyment of the ending.
I think I shed real actual tears when I saw Mhok had removed the little bandage from Rung's car so on the whole things balanced out for me.

In short, this is one of the most well-written, thoughtful queer shows in recent years. It is a timeless tale about hope and the resilience of the human spirit and if that sounds a bit too pretentious then let me assure you: it is, at its heart, a simple story about falling in love. Falling in love with people, with yourself, and with the world.
Go watch it already, you won't regret it, I promise!

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Charming, stylised, gay - this show is basically perfect

Oh but I'm so happy I stumbled onto this little gem of a series!
The writing, acting, cinematography, and music are all pitch perfect and make the viewing experience a pure, utter joy.
The simple concept of having to people both entirely pre-occupied with each other while simultaneously completely incapable of talking to one another (a fantastic story-telling device that I already appreciate on its own) is utilised to its full potential and infused with so much clever humour I found myself laughing out loud at least once per episode
I love the approach of having both characters start out with completely different viewpoints of their situation - Mikage is thriving in her little teen-romance movie world while Hinata is essentially living a psychological horror thriller - and yet having them both equally fail at being in any way heterosexual about the whole thing.
Then, as the story progresses and the two get onto more even footing with one another, their relationship slowly begins to evolve into a deeply charming romance which is just as much of a joy to watch as the first couple of episodes, if not more so.
Sure, we only get to see the very beginnings of that changing relationship, but the story ends on a very satisfying note and is, in my opinion, great to watch as a delightful little mini romcom.
The sapphics win big time with this one, go watch it right now.

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The colours! The needless melodrama! The genuine emotions!!

I had the time of my life with this show, let me tell you.
At first it intrigued me by taking an age-old soulmate trope (age-old to fanfiction writers anyway - thank you for your service, gentlefolk), giving it a bit of spit and polish, and turning it into an actual TV show.
Then it entertained me with its wonderful, over-the-top teen angst. When you're young all of your emotions are just way to big for body to contain, every moment of joy is magnified, every failure evokes utter despair, and love... well, that feels just a little bit like the end of the world.
Really good stories know how to lean into this and provide thoughtful, realistic portrayals of youth that audiences of all ages can enjoy. Best-selling stories know how to take these emotions to their extremes and that's how you get delightful abominations like Twilight.
This show, I thought, is going to be gay soulmate Twilight and I am here for every ludicrous second of it!

But then, finally, the series completely hooked me by somehow being none and all of the above at the same time.
The plot is indeed something straight out of a fanfiction, but the general tone, pacing, and writing make it all seem fresh and new.
The characters and their emotions are intense, dramatic, and utterly, disarmingly sincere. Forget being shielded by a thick layer of sheer mirth, this show punched its way straight through all my silly, goofy expectations and demanded I actually care about its characters.
Yes, the story is still somewhat ridiculous and over-the-top, there's unresolved plot-threads galore, and most of the angst could have been avoided if only everyone involved just went to therapy.
But the characters feel real and there is such genuine care, love, and humour woven into the script it actually makes you sit up and listen. Someone clearly had a vision for this story, they knew what they were making and they pulled it off exactly as planned.
But why, why this combination of deep care and utter ludicrousness?
Well, to me it all starts to make sense if you consider the show as a parable. And I don't just mean the clear thematic metaphors of queer love and homophobia, though lord knows there's those as well.
No, I mean the drama as a whole. The vast and unfamiliar world we're thrust into and expected to accept unquestioningly. The extreme highs and lows of emotions, the hurried pacing, the picture-perfect happy ending, the COLOURS.
It's a parable, and a damn effective one at that, about fear and desire and a desperate, clawing search for love.
It teaches us that, though freedom, love, and identity can feel overwhelming and all-consuming if you've been deprived of them, there is nothing more important than opening yourself up to them anyway and that, once you do, you won't be swept away by some uncontrollable force, no, life just sort of... continues. It becomes ordinary, beautifully mundane even.

Maybe I'm reading to much into it all, maybe this really is gay soulmate Twilight and if you enjoy it that way, that's fine too.
But to me this is a really rather clever little drama which uses a highly stylised format to incisively analyse the terrors of love and desire from a distinctly queer viewpoint.
There are honestly endless ways to enjoys this series so give it a try - watch it and see, maybe you'll get something entirely different and unique out of the experience.

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Simple, Sweet, Excellent

What a calming watch this little show was.
The story is entirely driven by the complex inner lives of its main characters, two utterly ordinary people in more or less entirely ordinary circumstances, which are explored with such skill and deftness it renders the need for any outside conflict to their relationship entirely obsolete. It's a character-driven drama par excellence masquerading as a simple rom-com and for that alone I'd consider it worth watching.
Add to that the fact that the story and characters are absolutely delightful and deeply endearing, the editing and themes are cohesive and perfectly underscore the plot (the little dating sim-style vignettes of their time in high school in particular are brilliant), the performances are stellar, and the music is fantastic and has been stuck in my head since I first watched the show, well you essentially end up with a must-watch show, in my opinion.
It's a realistic, low-stakes drama with boundless charm and a great appreciation and understanding for love as a transformative force in all of human existence which very much resonated with me.
"Happy endings aren't guaranteed and might not even exist in real life", it says. "But choosing love every time? That's real. That's worthwhile."
And honestly, it couldn't be more right about that.

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Made my heart sing and my soul do a happy little jig

I adore this show to pieces. Everything about it is truly excellent, from the writing, to the cinematography, to the music.
It was apparently produced by the same team behind Blueming and it absolutely shows.
There is so much queer love, joy, and authenticity woven through the entire story, it completely knocked me flat.

The characters are all incredibly charming and well written. The supporting characters are well-rounded and unique and each contribute to the story in meaningful ways. Even the main antagonist is portrayed as a complex, multi-faceted human being whose motivations and actions are logical, even understandable to a certain degree.

The show also excels at portraying intimacy. The relationship between the main characters is perfectly, messily, joyfully real. Rarely have I seen (queer) friendship portrayed so lovingly and realistically, with so much open affection and casual physical closeness. This series really says "Cuddle your homies, tell them you love them." and it is absolutely right about that.
The slow progression from deep friendship to a more romantic relationship is flawlessly paced and the show makes a point of exploring the often blurry lines between different types of love and how those distinctions can both be almost completely unnecessary and deeply needed at the same time.
All of this is perfectly underscored by the editing and cinematography, whose expertly used close-ups and warmly-coloured static shots enhance the impact of each emotional scene tenfold.

So if you want a show full of queer complexity and subtlety, fantastic music, charming humour, and absolutely filled to the brim with joy and love in all its different forms, then this series is perfect for you. I honestly cannot recommend it highly enough.

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A simple story of two people finding happiness in good food and in each other

This has to be one of the coziest dramas I have ever watched. It's calming and slow-paced without ever becoming uninteresting or boring. It also made me incredibly hungry every time I watched an episode, but that is only to be expected from a Japanese series centered around food.
I also really enjoy the was the show emphasises the importance of female friendship, of finding companionship and building a life that makes you happy despite the myriad of little rules society loves imposing on its members, specifically on women.
Furthermore, I find Yuki's slow realisation and exploration of her feelings towards Kasuga incredibly well done and I'd love to see their relationship evolve further.
I will never get enough of love stories (be they romantic, platonic, or otherwise) told through the medium of good food and I simply can't wait for season 2.
Do yourself a favour and watch this show. Do prepare some snacks first though, you'll probably need them.

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Aromantic or not, I fell in love with this show

I cannot begin to describe the feeling of seeing myself represented on screen this way. I have never seen a show featuring aro-ace characters that are central to the plot, much less a show where they get to be main characters. I am so insanely grateful for this drama's existence and even more grateful to see all the aro-ace people in the comments finding joy and solace in this story just like me.

The way the writers portray the leads is simply excellent as well. They both have distinct personalities and interests and their character arcs don't simply evolve around their sexualities. It's made clear that their identities are an important part of their lives, but certainly not the only part. Seeing the two of them grow and evolve as people over the course of the show is a genuine pleasure to watch.

I will say that quite a few of the side characters annoy me immensely and I don't enjoy how some of their storylines were handled. Some plot points felt a bit unnecessary or out of place to me as well. However, all in all I still feel that the good of this show far outweighs the bad.

There is no singular aro-ace experience and the series doesn't try to pretend that there is. It offers a glimpse into the lives of two specific people in a way that will feel familar to most aro-ace people at least to a certain degree and which will give others the opportunity to learn just a little bit about one of the least well known sexualities.
For that alone I highly recommend you give this show a shot.

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A genuine treasure

God but this one sucker-punched me right in the gut. Trans representation in film is still difficult to find, much less good trans representation. So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this absolute masterpiece of a show.
It's a riot from start to finish and is as wildly entertaining as it is sensitive and touching. It tackles the realities of living as a trans woman with great incisiveness and care and, most importantly, with deep respect.
Rather than having Miki be a flawless, picture-perfect lady that even the most conservative of viewers would have difficulties finding fault with, she is allowed to be imperfect, messy, and deeply human.
She is head-strong, bitchy, confident, insecure, caring, and cynical all at once. She's sometimes wrong about things, sometimes right, and sometimes lands somewhere in-between. The show's approach to her character reminds me of Imogen Binnie's landmark novel "Nevada" in a way. Both main characters have an incomparable fierce, joyous, and messy approach to life that I love.

Another aspect of the show that I love is Goto's storyline. Not only is his character development lovely to see, but he also serves as the perfect counterpart to Miki. She is often cynical and scared of the future, and with good reason. But Goto slowly brings her out of her shell just a little bit and allows her to become a bit softer, a bit more vulnerable, and a bit more trusting.
I won't lie, it did make me tear up a couple of times, especially during the last episode.

I do have some gripes with the show, specifically Mini-sans character whose inclusion I found unnecessary at best and extremely bothersome at worst. And the most obvious flaw, of course - Miki not being portrayed by a trans woman, but by a cis man. It is truly the eternal curse of queer stories being told by straight people.
Nevertheless the writing, acting, and story are brilliant and left me feeling very positive about my own transness, which (as someone quite wise once told me) is honestly always a good metric to judge queer media by - how does it make you feel about your own queerness?
Good - is the answer here. Understood. Appreciated.

In short, I highly recommend this show to anyone looking for great queer rep in general or great trans rep in particular. I would also recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining yet down-to-earth slice of life drama with a big focus on friendship.
Oh, go watch it already, it is absolutely worth it, trust me.

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An action-packed rollercoaster of a rom-com

I absolutely loved this one.
It's surprisingly intense and action-filled for what could easily have been a fluffy slice-of-life story in a university setting which I personally feel adds quite a lot of excitement as well as space for interesting character arcs.
Yes, it does go to some dark places that I should probably have stayed away from, but all in all it manages even its more serious themes gracefully.
The characters, both the leads and the supporting cast, are endearing and I especially appreciate that the main couple don't quite fall into the stereotypical "Stoic hero" and "Bubbly damsel in distress" roles.
Instead, they both get to be badasses in their own right who also balance each other out nicely.
The romance aspect of the show is also very well handled. It's definitely up there among the most grounded and "explicit" (by censored C-drama standards anyway) love stories of its kind. The dynamic between the two mains is also just so goddamn sweet it gave me cavities, so if tooth-rotting fluff is your thing, you'll absolutely love this series.
In general I'd recommend this to fans of queer C-dramas and anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced watch with a certain off-the-wall charm.
Do be aware of some possibly triggering content, though.

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A solid romcom in a fun fantasy setting

Now, one could quibble over the definition of "rom-com" but that's what this is and I will die on that hill thank you very much.
While I personally don't like this as much as some other shows (The Vampires being my personal favourite), it's still a really solid watch.
The production quality is great, as is to be expected by now, the characters are interesting and lovable, and I actually found myself intrigued by the story line.
Usually these shows suffer a bit from having to cram an insane amount of plot into too short a runtime, but here I actually think the story is perfectly paced and easy to follow.
Sure, there is the odd plot hole, but nothing too grievous or which takes away from the enjoyment of the sapphic sword nonsense.
If you're a fan of C-dramas, or fantasy romance, or queer women in ever more fantastical outfits, then this one is for you.
I will also say that even if you're not hooked by the end of the first season I'd recommend sticking with it anyway.
The plot does pick up a fair bit in season two.

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I will never get tired of ghost girlfriends

This one was a lovely surprise.
Yes, it's fairly light and fluffy, but for how much of a feel good story it is and how short of a runtime it has it manages to deliver a surprising amount of genuine emotion and romantic chemistry between its leads.
I also really like its messages about art as a form of true self expression and the fine line between following a passion and being consumed by it.
By the end of the show I felt like both of the main characters had grown as people and influenced and learned from each other, which is more than some full length shows manage to achieve.
In short, if you're looking for a short pick-me-up with some nice messages and a good, solid romance, then this one is for you.

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I actually enjoyed it!

Listen, I know it's an ad but goddammit it was such an enjoyable one. To be fair I've only seen Zero: Photography so I can't speak to the quality of the entire thing, but what I did see, I liked.
I'm a huge Ink and Pa fan (and I can't seem to shake my eternal crush on both of them either, sigh) and I loved seeing more of them here.
The story line is absolutely insane in the best way, I mean come on, how can you say no to time traveling lesbians?
But, much in the way Bad Buddy did, this little special manages to actually tell a meaningful story through the medium of Patently Ridiculous Plot Points. There's an underlying theme of treasuring the people you love the most and the clear message that you should never take people for granted.
Zero Photography is about time travel, yes, but it's also a character study as well as a tale about the importance of cherishing the ones you love, not least by choosing them over and over again.
If you Like Pa and Ink give this a shot, you might just love it as much as I did.

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Poongduck Villa Really Is Special

One of my all-time favourites that I just can't help but keep returning to.
This is a truly excellent rom-com which walks some classic beats but also brings a lot of new ideas to the table.
It's got nice visuals, fantastic acting, a great supporting cast (looking at you Holland, truly noone steals the show like that man does), some great physical comedy, and authentic queer characters with real depth.

This show first won me over with the aforementioned physical comedy, however small a part it may play in the story. It's rare to see a rom-com incorporate a tangible, physical aspect into its humour without it being overly cartoon-y slapstick.
I mean when was the last time you saw one romantic lead deliver a round-house kick to the other romantic lead's face?

Then the show intrigued me with how realistic its characters feel. They all just seem like real, actual people, the main characters especially. Sure, they are both strange in their own ways and completely and utterly fail to be normal about anything at all, but thanks to the clever writing all their silliness feels like the respective idiosyncrasies of two oddly charming and deeply likeable people.
So much so that the two leads felt immediately and startlingly familiar to me. I kept thinking to myself "I know these gays, I have met them before, I know actual people like this"

All of the above are great points in the show's favour, but what really cemented its status as one of the all time greats to me is the deeply realistic and thoughtfully handled portrayal of queerness and queer experience that it depicts.
It explores the disbelief, curiosity, and relief of discovering your sexuality, the continuous heartbreak of pining for someone you can't have and the line between secret love and unhealthy devotion, the all-encompassing, giddy joy of experiencing a true romantic connection for the first time in your 30ish years of life, the way shame and repression affect queer people's lives and relationships, and the happiness and security that come from finding people who are just like you, who care for you, and who accept you.
And that dedication to depicting authentic queer experiences is what elevates the story as a whole and makes every familiar trope seem fresh and new. Take the show's climactic conflict for instance - this is an integral part of the standard rom-com formula which can easily become contrived and off-putting if a show includes it just for the sake of sticking to the format.
But here that conflict doesn't just serve to add drama for drama's sake. It stems directly from both characters' internal issues and insecurities and feels like a perfect culmination of something the show has been building up to from the beginning.
The entire thing is as painfully, achingly inevitable as it is necessary for the characters to progress, both as people and in their relationship. Rarely have I seen story with a romantic core woven together so perfectly and a relationship arc pulled off so masterfully.

I highly recommend this show to all rom-com fans, queer viewers looking for a believable queer romance with excellent representation which notably does not end in tragedy, and anyone in search of a solid romantic romp with great writing and acting and a fantastic wardrobe, that has some real bite and intelligence to it and is, most importantly, just plain fun to watch.

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Charmed the socks off me!

I started watching this after a long string of incredibly written and mature K- and J-Dramas and was immediately reminded of why classic Thai dramas hold such a firm place in my heart.
This show is zany, over the top, and filled with an irreverent charm that leaves you wanting more at the end of each episode.
It has an interesting plot but keeps its focus firmly on developing a slow and gentle romance, allowing the characters all the time they need to grow both as people and as partners to each other, which lets the viewer form a closer bond with the characters and lets them (the viewers) get invested in these characters' lives which makes the whole story, ridiculous as it may seem on the surface, a lot more grounded and makes every single emotional scene all the more impactful. This is still quite a rarity in queer dramas and makes for a refreshing change of pace.

Now beware, slight spoilers ahead.
Some personal highlights (aka Things I Loved):
- The loving attention to detail the writers and directors clearly paid while designing the alternate universe. These details range from the simple (e.g. cone bread), to the hilarious and silly (e.g. off-key singing as an art form), to the genuinely meaningful (e.g. the legalisation of same-sex marriage) and cheekily remind the viewer every now and again to expect the unexpected and stay on their toes
- The bond shared between Puen, Talay, Up, and Aou, and later on Kita and Fuse as well. They are the boys, the lads, the gang, utterly inseparable and always, always there for each other. I'm a sucker for good depictions of (queer) friendships and these fellows delivered big time. This show says hug your homies, hold their hand, kiss their cheeks, tell them you love them, let them know how important they are to you, and they are so right about that actually! I will die on this hill!!
- The pacing and development of Puen and Talay's relationship. As I already mentioned the buildup to every major step in their relationship is very well handled and given ample time to unfold at a slow but steady pace, but it's not just that. The way the show approaches their connection to each other hit me like a thousand bricks and made me shed actual tears a lot more often than I'd like to admit. From almost the beginning of the show these two are incredibly fond of one another and their friendly bickering becomes increasingly gentle and tender until it becomes a dynamic of "I love you so much, so there, take that you idiot, I'm expressing my genuine affection for you, suck it nerd!" at which point I think I lost my heart to this show for good.
- Dol and their understated defiance of gender norms and expression. Dol may not have been explicitly written as a trans character, but their character serves to gently question what gender identity really is and what it means for our lives but also to us personally. I absolutely adore them and wish we'd gotten to see more of them, although they do play a significant role in developing several important plot points.
- The show's approach to love in all its forms. This story boldly and deliberately blurs the lines between platonic, romantic, and queer love and emphasizes the importance of true human connection over trying to force a relationship along a predetermined course. Sometimes love means getting to know somebody over the course of several years until you've come to adore every single facet of their being and it doesn't even matter what type of love you're feeling for each other as long as you get to stay together. At the same time love can also mean the specific labelling of feelings and relationships and the boundless joy and excitement that come with being officially "in love" or "best friends" or "the most important person in each others' lives". This show says "No matter what happens, I'll go through it with you". "Remember, where there's you, there's me", it says, "Thank you for teaching me not to be afraid of tomorrow".

Some personal lowlights (aka Things I Didn't Like):
- How quickly Talay manages to resolve all the problems Tess created after returning to his own universe. I'm glad there were no great, drawn-out conflicts, but I did find myself thinking "Boy that was fast" every time Talay magically fixes whatever Tess broke. A very minor gripe in the grand scheme of things.
- How unresolved Tess and Tun's story felt by the end of the show. I know they weren't the focus of the show, but all the plot threads of Tun's unrequited love for Tess, Tess and Tun's reconciliation and subsequent separation in the alternate universe, and Tess' eventual return to his original universe, were all just barely touched on before being dropped completely. I know they play relatively minor roles in the story as a whole, but given the interesting dynamic that was hinted at between them and how solid the chemistry between Ohm and Nanon (their actors) is as we all know, I wish we'd gotten to see just a little bit more of these two.

In conclusion: A slow-paced, charmingly written and acted story about love, love, and once again love. If you want a show that provides a window into the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances who come to love each other deeply and fully while tugging at your heartstrings with how achingly gentle and real it feels, then this one is most definitely for you.

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A Beautiful Ending

Once again Utsukushii Kare has surpassed my expectations. Yeah, I don't know how they keep doing that either.
Hira and Kiyoi have grown significantly since the previous season and their relationship is a far cry from its unstable beginnings in the first season.
The movie focuses on two things: Firstly, Kiyoi's acting career and all the pitfalls that come with it, including rabid fans (and oh the juxtaposition here absolutely destroyed me in the best way, this was a brilliant story-telling device) and prying tabloids (which it tackles very deftly through Anna's character and her relationships which I thought was a perfect balance to the direction Hira and Kiyoi's relationship takes over the course of the film).
Secondly, Hira's difficult journey of reconciling his deep-rooted insecurities both in himself and his relationships, with his secret belief in his own superiority, and learning to finally, finally meet Kiyoi as an equal in their partnership. The last line specifically really hit me like a truck, it was absolutely perfect.
This movie is beautiful, poignant, deeply charming and provides the perfect ending to a brilliant series.

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