Missed Opportunities and Familiar Tropes

his series falls short of leaving a lasting impression, as it relies on the familiar clichés and tropes seen in many average BL series. It's high time for producers to take more creative risks and offer unique storylines that set them apart. Iconic BL series like "The Eighth Sense" and "DNA Says Love You" come to mind as examples of pushing boundaries and delivering fresh narratives.

The story follows Lee Jun, a team leader in a media company who is disillusioned with love due to a past failed relationship. He becomes the target of relentless pursuit by a new employee named Jeong Ha Ram, who falls head over heels at first sight. Exhausted by Ha Ram's persistent advances, Lee Jun reluctantly decides to give him a chance, embarking on a month-long trial period to determine their compatibility. However, as Lee Jun finds himself drawn to Ha Ram, his unresolved past resurfaces, posing a threat to their budding relationship.

Regrettably, this series is saturated with clichés and predictable tropes. Ha Ram's persistent pursuit and borderline stalker-like behavior raise red flags rather than romantic intrigue. Despite Lee Jun's initial reservations, he succumbs to Ha Ram's advances, only to have his trust broken when Ha Ram disregards their agreed-upon boundaries. This lack of character growth and reliance on stagnant dynamics becomes a hindrance to the overall narrative. Ha Ram remains infatuated with Lee Jun throughout, while Lee Jun's growth is not thanks to Ha Ram, but rather his personal journey of letting go of the past.

The series falls short in character development, particularly with Ha Ram. We are left with unanswered questions about his background, profession, and the true motivation behind his instant infatuation with Lee Jun. Strong character development is crucial in any series, even in a mini-series like this, as it helps viewers relate to and understand the characters' actions and choices. Without this connection, the audience's interest wanes.

In conclusion, this series offers nothing new to viewers who have already experienced the typical romantic love story formula. While the cast is visually appealing, that alone cannot salvage a series lacking fresh ideas. With a wealth of impressive BL series released in 2023, I recommend exploring those and giving this one a pass.

Read More

How to make the main character so unlikable you wish misery upon him!

After seeing Pond and Phuwin in Fish Upon the Sky, I hoped they get to star in a better series since their acting and chemistry together in that was exceptional. Instead of this being the series that made my wish come true, it rather made me question their chemistry. How did that end up deteriorating? Looks like I am still left wishing for a better series with them starring together.

Reading the synopsis, you anticipate an action-packed series about a guy losing his father at the hands of a hired gunman and a looming threat on his mother and him. But what we get is Phuwin acting like a naïve child who needs constant protection and becomes a source of misgivings for everyone around him especially the one person he loves. They keep running away from people after a little gunfire and then long stretches of them trying to act like boyfriends. God save us!

Although the series starts with Phuwin losing his dad, being outed as gay in school, being bullied and betrayed by the person who likes him, and his mother falling in to a coma, I believe the biggest victim still is Pond and the source for all the tragedy in his life is Phuwin. He was living a somewhat carefree and comfortable life in a small fishing village when his father takes him to Phuwin and asks him to be his bodyguard. He gets beaten, stamped on, reprimanded by the principal, suspended from school, humiliated in front of a crowd, made to feel like a slave by his own dad towards Phuwin, lost his mother while protecting Phuwin, had his father locked up and threatened to be killed in jail, takes a bullet and temporarily loses all function in his leg all because Phuwin is an idiot. After all this, Pond still keeps loving Phuwin and Phuwin shows pity on him and leaves him alone instructing him never to see him again. WTF! The series left no stone unturned to make me hate one of the main character who ideally, I should sympathise with.

To make matters worse, I did not find much chemistry between the two actors. They did a great job in a previous series but all that charm was lost in this one and I don’t blame them for it. The characters were just so unlikable and there was no reason for them to fall in love. In fact, I was hoping that Pond would do a great deal better if he hands Phuwin over to the bad guys himself.

In conclusion, this series paints a very unlikely picture of two people falling in love with each other especially when one is nothing but trouble for the other and loses a great deal with a lot of sacrifices with not much in return. I finished it because I wanted to know how it would close and at the end I felt nothing.

Read More

When end of the world is nigh, what would you do?

What would you do if you meet the one person you never want to see again while the world is literally coming to an end?

The story is interesting and has a string of emotional moments which you would expect in a series about the end of the world. But what you also have are some amazing characters that are flawed, have a backstory that dictates their present choices and you care about them. The series revolves around these 4 characters. It’s about romance, heartbreaks, redemption, family dimensions and your choices when you are staring at your own mortality.

The story is about Masumi, a closeted gay student who meets Ritsu, a bisexual philanderer and they start a relationship which ultimately ends bitterly because of Ritsu’s nature. While all life is coming to an end in 10 days, Masumi an adult in a dead-end job meets Ritsu, a rich IT businessman again. All past anger comes brimming to the top but fate has a different plan for them. The story takes a different turn with the introduction of Yuma and Meguru. They all go on a road trip together to drop Meguru and Yuma at each of their houses before time runs out. During the subsequent episodes while they are on the road, we get to see glimpses from their past and we realise this trip is now to reconcile with their past actions and make peace with the consequences.

The series portrays a connection that all the characters have with Ritsu and the relationship that develops between them as they face situations arising from an imminent catastrophe. Amongst all of them the most intriguing character is Yuma. The series remains vague about who he really is and this mystery just adds to the flavour. It leaves a lot to your imagination and keeps you guessing till the very end.

This was highly entertaining with great acting from all the cast portraying some difficult and complicated characters with much conviction. The series also did not shy away from some steamy scenes between the two main leads and it doesn’t appear misplaced in the storyline instead enhances it by showing us the kind of relationship Ritsu and Masumi shared.

In conclusion, give this one a try because of a different take on the end of the world storyline, the emotions of the characters and the mystery behind Yuma.

Read More

Loads of cute romantic moments over unnecessary melodrama

I am glad to see that there are more BL stories around office employees than staying with the cliché high school students. That being said, this story deserves more than 8 episodes as it contains all the ingredients of being a good drama. The series in its current format abandoned a lot of plots which have the potential of being fleshed out and what we will get is a well-rounded story about our 2 characters and also their colleagues.

The story is about an intern Seung Hyun working for a cold workaholic boss Kim Jong Chan in an ad company and they start having feelings for each other. The story does not appear out of the box and that is fine because where the story might not be original what was presented to us was wholesome and great.

The series takes its own sweet time to go through how slowly their relationship develops. There are all the right moments of romance, love and passion. Its these tender moments between the 2 characters that is necessary in showcasing that the relationship is moving from simple crush to like to love. There are certainly misunderstandings between the 2 characters and that is resolved by the one thing that other BL series fails to understand and that is communication.

The one gripe that I have with BL series is showing relationships ending because of misunderstandings between the characters caused due to lack of communication. But not in this series. When there is a bit of rift in their relationship they decide to talk to each other and come to a conclusion that they need an opportunity to understand each other better. There are no scenes of any of them behaving unreasonably. Instead, they behave like mature people would and voice their grievances and reach a solution. This was new to me and surprising nonetheless.

As I said before, this story has the potential of being fleshed out well. We do get the backstory of Seung Hyun during his high school times and his crush on a guy but we don’t get to see much about Kim Jong Chan. We just know that he lost multiple relationships to being a workaholic. Chances are with Seung Hyun, this nature of his will not change. So will this impact their relationship in the long run. Also there are certain people in office who dislike Kim but we don’t get a very good explanation as to the reason why.

There are many such minor points that could have been expanded if they had a better runtime but even with the lack of these, the story is rather coherent and the actors did a phenomenal job. Certainly a good watch and easily binge-worthy.

Read More

Oh! come on series, I need answers

I was pretty excited when I read the synopsis of the series as you don’t find a lot of BL series with a supernatural theme. Someone who enjoys such storylines, this was certainly a must watch for me. That being said, although there is some hint of supernatural, it is so vague and sprinkled so far between that you forget about it after some time. In fact, even the show forgets about it mid-way and brings it back in the final episode

The story is about Min Yu Dam, a man who has lived for 300 years waiting for Seol Dong Baek his long dead lover to be reincarnated. Seol Dong Baek returns as an employee in his office and they have to fall in love again in order to break the curse. As a plot synopsis this had all the ingredients of being a great BL series but somewhere the ball was dropped and with the short run time the story moves at a fast pace and leaves you with a lot of questions.

With a series like this, what you need is a well established back story of the two characters. The series spends just 1 episode going through that and it is a rushed version. We want to know more about these characters to make sense of what is going on in the present. The questions that the series fails to answer through this backstory are
1. Why Min Yu Dam decides to name an unknown person?
2. What is the problem in naming that person? Mind you the series does try to give a half-baked answer that makes little sense and has no bearing to the following events
3. Why does Seol Dong Baek die but Min Yu Dam gets to live eternally?
4. Who is the entity that possesses Seol Dong Baek briefly?
5. What is the curse and who placed it and how does Min Yu Dam know how to break it?
6. Why does God interfere in their life to this extent where they are punished?

If the decision was made to make this a full fledged series instead of a mere 15 min each episode, they would have had enough time to explain what the hell is going on and we would have been saved from the effort of trying to figure out the answers ourselves

In conclusion, this series isn’t one of the best although it had all the potential of being one. You can give it a watch as it isn’t that bad but be ready to leave this with many a question answered.

Read More

A well written and acted series showcasing angst

I have mixed feelings about this show. There are some parts that are extremely well directed and acted and there are some that appear misplaced in the large scheme of things.

Let me start by saying that I have not seen the 4-episode original series and went through this with a fresh mind. The story is nothing new and suffers from the use of same old tropes that you see in many other BLs based on university students. But there is some enjoyment to be had because of the basic premise of the show. Mark is heart-broken due to being rejected by Bar and drinks excessively to cope with his sorrow. Vee taking pity on his state takes him home just for a drunken Mark to mistake him for Bar. Post this, Vee starts pursuing Mark who tries to keep his distance since Vee is already in a relationship.

The series moves at a constant pace where nothing seems rushed and enough time is spent on showing the heart-broken Mark, the conflicting emotions of Vee, Mark being hopeful only to have it shattered time and again. You are glued to your screen to take in all the complex emotions rising out of complicated situations. The relationship between Mark and Vee is well developed and when we reach the mandatory third-act break-up you can feel the despair of the characters. All this is possible thanks to the great acting by the 2 main leads. They look convincing in all their scenes together and there is great chemistry.

As I stated earlier, the story does suffer from age-old tropes used countless number of times on other shows that you wish and pray for something new and different. The same old misunderstanding caused by characters witnessing just a part and coming to a different conclusion just to completely shut themselves from hearing any explanations. It’s like, why have a conversation to sort things out when I can shut myself and cry endlessly in a dark room. Jealousy being a hindrance to developing relationships further only to be tossed out in the next few minutes. But what lead me scratching my head in confusion was episode 9 where we have a conflict between Vee and a completely new character. A good 30+ minutes is spent in showing something that has no bearing on the overall story and feels like a filler to increase the show's runtime.

In conclusion if you don’t mind the tropes, this series is binge-worthy where the acting of the main leads and the pure emotions they show will not disappoint.

Read More

Show with some fine characters and back stories

When you write a character for a show what he or she needs is depth. Without depth the character simply turns in to a caricature of whatever situation you initially put them into and that has to carry on throughout the series. And then for the purpose of creating some drama when you put them in difficult situations, we are unable to relate to them as their actions just seem forced.

What wins in this series is the depth of the main characters. On one side we have Bai Lang, a deeply damaged individual with clear mental issues forcing him to suffer from insomnia, self-guilt and manic episodes. This in my book makes him an intriguing character and a love story around this character when done well will be nothing but interesting. On the other side we have Jin Xun An, a dentist who is cold, appears unfriendly just to keep people away and has an abusive father. Another character who I would be invested in as the story progresses. When these two flawed characters meet and sparks fly, we would be in on a ride where we see them grow, understand and help each other while also having their relationship getting stronger.

The initial few episodes do a great job at building these characters and we get to know who they are and the reasons for their peculiar behaviour. We see Bai Lang struggling to understand his feelings for Xun An only to try and stay away from him lest he pulls him in to his madness and Xun An breaking out of his icy cold exterior and allow himself to fall in love with someone.

Once this is established the series takes a turn for the cliche. Enter the ex of one of the characters as soon as they get close to each other. Now the budding relationship derails due to misunderstandings and a failure to communicate. This is around the period where I am pulled right out because all the character build-up that took place in the past episodes is conveniently forgotten to instead show angst and melodrama.

The story finally picks up steam in the last 2 episodes where we get to know more about Xun An but it feels a little too late and you are marching on just to get to the last episode. All the potential that the story has is washed off by cliche antagonist, under-developed love story of multiple other characters and the same old tropes of misunderstandings.

Showing that your characters have flaws makes them relatable but you have to follow through and try and resolve issues stemming from those flaws and when it’s about trauma special care has to be taken to address that and not use that as a prop or a quirk

The actors did a great job at portraying the characters and I just enjoy the song during the end credits.

In conclusion a good watch since it has some really great characters and the story is interesting in certain aspects.

Read More

An emotional roller coaster continuing from Part 1

All the emotions brewing during Part 1 of this story comes to the surface in this final part. The slow pacing in the 1st part continues here as well but if you didn’t mind it initially you will sail through this one too as a lot of raw emotions come to the forefront.

We left part one at the moment where Shino realises that the end of the week is fast approaching and he will just end up like of Seiryo’s multiple exes. Seiryo on the other hand is realizing the feelings that he has for Shino but is disappointed to learn that it won’t be reciprocated. With only 3 days remaining, the two characters try to spend as much time together as possible and in the process learn more about their feelings.

What can I say about the acting that I haven’t said in my review of the first part of this movie. The 2 leads have been exceptionally good. The movie takes us on a ride where we find the 2 leads enjoying each other’s company just to end up having an argument (mostly outbursts from Shino) to realizing they are running against a clock and getting back together.

A satisfactory ending to a unique storyline with great actors, slow pacing with much character development and loads of emotions.

Read More

One of the best BL series of 2022

2022 has been a great year for BL series and this one can be ranked as one of the best. This is so much more than just a simple story about 2 guys falling in love. It dared to venture in to places that no other series has gone before and has handled those topics masterfully.

In 12 episodes, we get to learn about the 5 main characters and their relationship and the journey they go through and their struggle of making sense of the situation they encounter. The back stories of the 3 kids at the start of every episode gives you a glimpse of the strong friendship they share and this explains the strong bond that they still share when they grow up. Their take on the relationship between friends, siblings, family and lovers is truly believeable and kudos to the great actors that brought that to the small screen. The kids acting is sub-par but that is easily ignored because of the strong performances of the rest of the cast.

Instead of being preachy about how love transcends gender and time, you get to see the struggle of the main characters and how they come to terms about their feelings from past and present. Certain topics regarding gender identity is managed with utmost care and stitched in to the storyline with such preciseness it opens up a different world of romantic story telling.

You might find the first few episodes to be a drag as characters are being introduced and not much happening but if you stay, you will certainly be rewarded with a great story and fabulous acting. Do give this one a watch and you will see yourself returning to it over and over.

Read More

Short and most certainly sweet

Many like me have been waiting for a good historical BL series and this kind of delivers that. The story is rather simple and with the limited run time they were able to show some good aspects of the 2 leads life together. The first few episodes is kind of funny with the mother-in-law and sister-in-law not able to recognise that their daughter-in-law is a guy and then we have a friend that falls head-over-heels for the "wife".
The story although simple contains a potential to be something epic but unfortunately it was lost. The story starts at surface level and remains there throughout the 8 episodes. They could have used that limited time wisely by showing some great interactions between the 2 male leads instead of utilizing it on comedy. This story requires a few more episodes spanning around 30 min each to flesh it out completely, build the multiple characters and their relationships so that the ending doesn't feel rushed.
This is certainly not a bad series by any stretch and can be easily binge-watched to enjoy it.

Read More

A promising plot abandoned

The movie starts with a narration and it immediately takes me out of it. Show don't tell. But soon it jumps into the main storyline where the ML now works as a host and has loads of debt to pay. No answers are provided how he came to work as a host after his graduation but here we are.
The narrations now takes a very different turn and the movie turns into a soft core porn. The ML is shown jumping from one sex scene to another with bizzare back stories of his clients making you wonder if those were necessary. They could have spent more time building the MLs character instead of showing kisses (tongue involved) and sex scenes with every character in the movie.
We don't come to know how the ML feels with these turn of events in his life. Is he sad or indifferent? Is money the only thing that he cares about? Too many questions that remains unanswered. Instead the movie goes for shock value.
It must not have been easy shooting all those scenes but the ML was convincing. The basic plot seemed strong and the movie could have worked hard in developing those characters and the chemistry between the professor and the ML. The cinematography was impressive and the music was good.
In conclusion, the movie had a good plot that was abandoned for sex scenes that did not help progressing it forward. There are 2 sequels to this and hopefully I might watch them at a later time.

Read More

A delicious dessert with a questionable main ingredient

Lets first acknowledge the elephant in the room. Relationship between a teacher and student is fraught with ethical complexities due to power dynamics. As the series progressed I thought that I would accept it as fiction and move on but unfortunately, with the last couple of episodes, I am unable to ignore that discomfort. So this review will be based on the themes of the series.

Beyond the forbidden central romance, this is a coming-of-age story. We see the jouney of our titular character Toki. He starts of as a delinquent who is quick to anger and violence. Studies are the last thing on his mind but we see his character and outlook towards life change due to his interactions with other characters like Rise, Shinji and Takuya. He learns to take his life more seriously and values the relationships he has build with his schoolmates. Although, he starts having feelings for his homeroom teacher Sahara, he also respects him and challenges himself to change. Sahara, too goes through his own jorney of self-identification as he grapples with his past regrets.

As a teenager in school, Toki suffers from the same identity issues that people his age face. Toki post his delinquent phase, struggles with societal pressure and insecurities about his academic performance. He is visibly stressed about where he wants his future to navigate. He questions his feelings towards another individual and finds it difficult to show how caring he is towards the people that matter to him. Shinji too suffers from failure to communicate his true feelings for Todo resulting in them moving apart and losing all communication with each other.

Toki and Sahara, too find solace and strength in each other. Sahara helps Toki unleashing his best qualities while Toki helps Sahara accept his past and his failures and move ahead. They act as each others support system and are constantly looking after each other.

Hachimura Rintaro's portrayal of Toki makes this series the most entertaining. He succeeds in bringing a different charm to the character of a lovable, confused, tough but soft-hearted Toki. With an innocent countenance and a twinkle in his eye, he steals the show.

In conclusion, this series weaves together a compelling and emotionally resonant story about acceptance and the pursuit of happiness in the face of societal pressures. It speaks about rising above the past failures and turning over a new leaf.

Read More

A compelling story marred by pacing issues

This series might take its time unfolding, but beneath its surface lies a compelling narrative that captivates with its central themes. While the acting leaves room for improvement, the series manages to resonate with viewers through its profound messages.

The storyline revolves around the two main characters, Kazuma and Ren, who cross paths during their school years. Ren's silent infatuation with Kazuma simmers beneath the surface, driven by the fear of driving him away. A tragic event separates the two, only to reunite them a decade later in the workplace. The rekindled emotions set the stage for their journey, though Ren keeps an emotional distance.

At a concise eight episodes, the series maintains an unhurried pace. It delves into the history of Kazuma and Ren during their school days and the reasons behind their separation through flashbacks. While the pacing leans towards the slow side, certain plot points, like the workplace sexual harassment case, the impact of Ren's separation from friends, family, and Kazuma, as well as Kazuma's life abroad in the US, feel somewhat rushed. However, the series earns merit for addressing important issues, albeit briefly. It sheds light on Ren's traumatic experiences as a 15-year-old ostracized by his parents and blamed for Kazuma's hospitalization, ultimately abandoned due to his sexuality. Furthermore, it introduces themes of workplace bullying, office politics, and sexual harassment, though their exploration is somewhat limited.

The acting performances by Sakurai Yuki and Takamatsu Aloha may come across as amateurish, but the child actors deliver commendable portrayals. Furukawa Tsuyoshi's role as Ren's friend, despite limited screen time, hinted at the potential for deeper exploration of their friendship.

In conclusion, "April in Tokyo" possessed the potential for greatness if it had addressed pacing issues, focused more on character relationships, and perhaps reconsidered the limited treatment of the workplace harassment subplot due to time constraints. Nevertheless, it deserves a watch, as it distinguishes itself from typical BL series by incorporating substance and depth into its storytelling.

Read More

A series so good that it will stay with you

Amidst the backdrop of Chinese content restrictions on LGBTQ themes, this emerges as a remarkable series that transcends limitations, delivering a heartwarming tale that lingers in your thoughts. Witnessing the transformation of the two main characters from adversaries to lovers is a truly gratifying experience, subtly portraying their blossoming affection in a context where explicit declarations are constrained.

Even as the narrative draws inspiration from the original "Addicted" series, "Stay with Me" unveils the lives of two high school students, Su Yu and Wu Bi, whose personalities clash vehemently. Oblivious to the fact that their estranged parents are now married, the series deftly navigates their interactions as their connection deepens, unravelling the complexities of their family dynamics.

Within its narrative, the series embraces a spectrum of emotions, including drama, nuanced romance, friendship, unrequited love, and the intricate relationships between parents and children. It effortlessly weaves mystery and action, making each episode a captivating chapter in their journey. At the heart of the series is the brilliant portrayal of the lead characters, showcasing the remarkable talents of Xu Bin and Zhang Jiong Min. Xu Bin brings Wu Bi's fiery yet compassionate persona to life, capturing his internal struggles, love, and longing. His portrayal of a young man who values love over material wealth resonates deeply. Zhang Jiong Min's performance as Su Yu is equally mesmerizing. He masterfully conveys the layers of emotions beneath Su Yu's academic prowess, unveiling a character driven by unresolved feelings, yet undeterred in showing his affections.

Together, Xu Bin and Zhang Jiong Min convey the intricate relationships their characters share with family members and with each other. The series adeptly navigates their evolving bond through moments of conflict, jealousy, and an irresistible yearning to be together. Amidst their squabbles, the underlying affection remains unshaken, reflected in their mutual support and sacrifices for each other's happiness.

The subtlety in portraying their love is a testament to the series' finesse. While misunderstandings and fights occasionally punctuate their relationship, the unspoken emotions remain intact. Their mutual protectiveness and genuine care are reflected in their actions, whether it's Wu Bi's watchful eye on Su Yu or Su Yu's unwavering support for Wu Bi's aspirations.

In conclusion, this series triumphs as a superior adaptation, filling the void left by “Addicted”. The exceptional performances, engaging music, and heartfelt narrative combine to create an emotionally rich experience. While the series concludes with a cliffhanger, one can only hope for a second season to continue this captivating journey of love and self-discovery.

Read More

This series will knock you down

If there is one thing that I appreciate in a series is a well written character and this one doesn’t disappoint. Although there have been countless series with young characters in love, this one just hits you differently. This is all because the series takes its time developing characters and their relationships. There is no love at first sight or true feelings hidden behind friendship or raw overwhelming emotions. Instead, we get genuine interactions between characters, inner monologues explaining what the characters feel and true portrayal of relationships between siblings, friends, parents and lovers.

Although on the outset the story is about a good guy falling for bad guy to ultimately show him the error of his ways and turning him around, this one is so much more. We have Thi, a shy, naïve and studious college student who due to multiple unfortunate circumstances ends up being a tutor for Noey who is a delinquent and a leader of a local gang. During their multiple interactions Noey starts to have feelings for Thi while Thi, although disapproving of Noey’s ways thinks he is cool.

The story moves at a slow pace taking time to show Thi and Noey and their characteristics. Thi may be naïve and a coward but when push comes to shove, he doesn’t run away from a fight. Noey on the other hand has a softer side and only his family and close friends of aware of it. What makes watching this series an entertainment is the performance of Tar (Noey). He has done a remarkable job portraying a young delinquent with a heart of gold. You can feel his frustration as well as his love in various scenes. He alone carries the weight of this entire series. Next is Ohm, the guy who plays Noey’s best friend. The brotherhood between the two characters is portrayed rather astoundingly throughout the series. I didn’t enjoy the role of Thi as in many scenes he appears way naïve for his age although I do feel that Bom who plays Thi has done all that he could to play this faulty character.

In conclusion, this series wins in my book for a great storyline, wonderful actors, some good cinematography and nice soundtrack. I watched all the end credits to enjoy the little dance between the 2 characters.

Read More