Why Love Why (2020): A Satirical Pinoy BL Series

“Why Love Why” was a satirical Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. There were lots of craziness as well as social criticisms on this series. “Why Love Why,” with its hit-or-miss exaggerations, was not without flaws but it clearly had something socially relevant to say.

“Why Love Why” had a good plot/storyline that tackled the interrelationships among historical, societal, and personal issues like the dictatorship of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, human rights violations, graft and corruption, poverty, COVID-19 pandemic, coming out, sex reassignment surgery, cheating, etc. Yes, the historical timelines were a bit confused at times, but they were still good backdrops for this series. While the rich and poor characters falling in love with each other trope is nothing new, I found this series’ efforts at satirizing both the elite and the masses interesting. Wena’s death was an apt reminder of the context, given the COVID-19 pandemic, that we are at right now. Character backgrounds and character developments for Benjo, Emil, and Kelly were generally satisfactory. Without a doubt, this series’ depiction of Kelly was one of the better portrayals of a Pinoy transgender woman in a Pinoy BL series. Benjo and Emil were both strong characters (with steamy kissing and making love scenes, lol). I understand why some people got offended with what appeared as queer misrepresentation and oversexualization of characters during the pilot episode (for the record, I didn’t get offended but for those who did, your feelings are valid) but I do believe that the succeeding episodes were able to rationalize and redeem such characterizations. But not all issues were resolved on this series. Sadly, while there’s a possibility in the future, Benjo and Emil didn’t end up together during the finale.

Screenplay was largely ok although there were some problematic lines that exemplified internalized homophobia and queerness denial, particularly when Benjo and Emil asserted that they’re not gay. Script was extra melodramatic at times. It wasn’t overly funny but it was humorous enough. Some jocular dialogues landed but others were off. There was a rape joke that wasn’t justified at all.

Theatrical acting was still evident on some scenes. Philstagers Films, the production company behind “Why Love Why," started off as a theater company and most of the actors are theater actors. Transitioning from stage acting to screen acting needed a bit of work but all in all, acting was mostly ok. Carl and Johnrey had solid performances. Even the silences between them didn’t diminish their performances, but instead, amplified their acting. Both are really sexy as well. Those shirtless scenes were nice, lol. Carl’s quite charming.

Production technicals for “Why Love Why” were mostly fine. The rich and poor settings were adequately presented. Camera work was technically good. Editing was decent. The soundtracks “Tama Ba Ito?” (Is It Right?) and “Gawin Mo Akong Boyfriend” (Make Me Your Boyfriend) by Vince Tañada and Pipo Cifra were alright.

Overall, I would only recommend rewatching “Why Love Why” to those who aren’t easily offended. It’s a satirical Pinoy BL series with exaggerations that may not be appreciated by everyone. Still, it’s a good Pinoy BL series with a second season to look forward to.

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Meet Me Outside (2020): A Short and Sweet Pinoy BL Microseries

Even though “Meet Me Outside” was an obvious product placement for Blued app, currently the largest gay social network app, it was still a pretty good series. Being a Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) microseries, “Meet Me Outside” was short, with the entire series less than an hour long. I would have wanted longer episodes, but this series, with all its cute and romantic scenes, was nevertheless a worthwhile watch. It was short and sweet.

“Meet Me Outside” was about two young men, who were alone for the holidays for different reasons, who gravitated towards each other after a conversation through the Blued app. Albeit simple, its plot/storyline was actually realistic. Dale and James’ characterizations were generally relatable. I empathized with both Dale and James. Their reactions to situations were mostly understandable. I did found the character development of Dale from timid Dale to confident Dale a bit abrupt, but overall, it was still alright. Sure, I would have wanted an intimate kiss here and there but their cuddles and hugs were also fine.

The realism and relatability of the plot/storyline of “Meet Me Outside” were reinforced by its impeccable screenplay. Dale and James’ conversation about love and relationships was genuine and sensible. Their banter were cute and romantic.

Acting on this series was largely believable. I love Genesis and Kaloy! They’re both charming and endearing! Their character portrayals on “Meet Me Outside” were quite different when compared to their characters in “In Between” and “Boys’ Lockdown” which only proves that they can act. Also, there’s something about their chemistry that’s undeniable.

Audio-visuals of this series were clean and clear. While not particularly made for this series, I still liked all the soundtracks especially “Pahintulot” (Permission) by Shirebound & Busking.

On the whole, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Meet Me Outside.” It was short and sweet.

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Unguarded (2020): A Dark Pinoy BL Miniseries

“Unguarded” was the third related Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series from J.ACE (production company) that revolved around Mark Lee’s story. From a cute Pinoy BL miniseries in “Very Truly Yours” to a daring Pinoy BL series in “Hook Up,” J.ACE turned “Unguarded” into a dark Pinoy BL miniseries. While J.ACE should be commended for doing something different for each of these Pinoy BL series, the results weren’t always positive in terms of plot/storyline. Acting performance and production value did show continuous improvement.

With only four episodes, the plot/storyline of “Unguarded” heavily hinged on its characterizations. Unfortunately, both Lukas and Mark Lee had poor characterizations. While it was already hinted on “Hook Up” and clearly established on “Unguarded” that Lukas needs professional psychiatric help, his character background wasn’t fully developed. What were the root causes of his jealousy, possessiveness, and violence? Basically, what were the factors that made him into a monster? As for Mark Lee, he lacked character development. After “Very Truly Yours” and “Hook Up,” I expected some growth. But Mark Lee’s still insecure, volatile, and whiny on “Unguarded.” And for Mark Lee to end up the way he did (dead, or was he?), it’s frustrating. I’ve invested on Mark Lee and the way he was treated on “Unguarded” was super upsetting.

Screenplay had corny dialogues and repetitive lines. While still generally fine, script got lazy and lousy towards the end.

Acting performance, especially by Niko, was good. Gorgeous Niko was quite scary. Notwithstanding the weak characterization of Mark Lee, adorable Marky continued to improve as an actor on this series.

Compared to “Truly Very Yours” and “Hook Up,” audio-visuals of “Unguarded” were better. I liked the outdoor scenes. I didn’t like that J.ACE didn’t even bother to have a new song. “Unguarded” had the same soundtrack as “Hook Up.”

All in all, I would only recommend rewatching “Unguarded” if you’re into dark Pinoy BL miniseries. If you’re interested in Mark Lee’s story, maybe there’s a better ending for him if misFit Talent Management (formerly J.ACE) pushes through with “One Night Stand บางกอก (Bangkok).” Let’s cross our fingers!

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Oh, Mando! (2020): A First-Class Pinoy BL Series

Exceptional plot/storyline, superb performance, and wonderful production -- “Oh, Mando!” had all these plus more (like super hot and sexy lead stars, lol!). “Oh, Mando!” is a first-class Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. It’s a Pinoy romantic comedy (romcom) series with metaphorical fantasy elements in dream sequences.

The symbolic fantasy elements of “Oh, Mando!,” that revolved around gay Rapunzel and Paps Charming, represented real-life issues like family relations; gender identities, sexual orientations, and sexual expressions; and even suicidal tendencies. These issues were clearly shown in the lives of the main characters of this series. Mando, Barry, and Krisha had good character background, depth, and development. Mando was in denial of being gay primarily because he blamed himself for his mother leaving him and his father for a lesbian lover. Bisexual/fluid Barry got cheated on by a boyfriend but he also cheated on his beloved sister Krisha, who was in love with Mando. Hurting his sister drove him to attempt to commit suicide. In more ways than one, Barry and Mando were both problematic characters. Ever since, I’m drawn to flawed characters because they’re realistic and relatable and most of the time, redeemable. There’s no question about it, cheating wasn’t right and what Barry and Mando did behind Krisha’s back was awful. There were no excuses for cheating on this series. And trying to kill yourself will not solve anything. Mando and Barry realized they’re wrong. It took a while, but in the end, time healed all the wounds of the past. Krisha became the star she’s meant to be and she found happiness with her new boyfriend. Barry and Mando were also content with a second chance at being together. But aside from the solid characterizations of Mando, Barry, and Krisha, the support characters were also strong. The stories of the reassuring parents, true friends, and unapologetic professor were seamlessly incorporated into the plot/storyline of this series. Sure, I would have wanted to know more about Mando’s friends Vince and Leslie, but at least their characters were integral to Mando’s development and redemption. Vince and Leslie are my kind of friends -- friends who love me and because they love me, will always call me out when I’m wrong and full of crap. The importance of Professor Siwa’s story cannot be overstated enough. In conservative Philippine society, people still get fired for being gay, and in Professor Siwa’s case, for being a transwoman. She’s a realistic representation of gender-based discrimination in the workplace. But more importantly, with her reinstatement, her story proved that collective action works. And being referred to as Ma’am, Ms. Siwa, after being addressed to as Mr. Siwa for a long time, was a fabulous conclusion to her story. This, and Mando finally being free and admitting to himself that he’s gay, were strong proclamations of triumph.

Script was excellent. Screenplay had funny, heartbreaking, and relevant lines. I loved the hilarious dialogues between Rapunzel and Paps Charming as well as Mando’s humorous internal monologues. Vince and Leslie were always witty. The lines during the confrontation/revelation scene with Mando, Barry, and Krisha was painful. Equally sad were the dialogues between Mando and his parents and Barry and Krisha. There were relevant lines about gender identities, sexual orientations, and sexual expressions uttered by Ms. Siwa that weren’t preachy at all. Yes, the protest chants were a bit cheesy, but they were significant nevertheless.

Magnificent acting performance was evident. The actors made me laugh and cry! Kokoy can do no wrong. It doesn't matter if it’s comedic or dramatic, Kokoy's perfect. He’s an actor's actor. At first, I was worried about Alex but he pretty much held his own throughout this series. He delivered what was expected of him. He was quite good actually. Both Alex and Kokoy looked extra gorgeous on this series. With all those shirtless scenes (and butt exposure scene, lol), they’re certainly among the hottest and sexiest couples in Pinoy BL series. Barbie has always been exemplary and her portrayal on this series was no exception. Veteran actors, especially Joel, were terrific. Renzie and Marynor were awesome as well. Their combo brought some of the funniest moments on this series. I was also glad to see Pinoy BL series actors Migs, Ron, Z, and Sam as guests on this series!

“Oh, Mando!” was really well-made. Production value was pretty high. The dormitory, school, and street settings looked authentic and were very Filipino. I miss fish balls and squid balls, lol! Camera shots were simple yet technically solid. Animation, graphics, and visual effects were mostly fine. Editing was alright. The soundtracks, while not specifically made for the series, were nonetheless appropriate for the scenes. I especially liked “Aray” (Ouch) by Mae Rivera, “Ikaw Na Nga” (It’s Really You) by Andrew Florentino, and “Mabagal” (Slow) by Dan Tañedo and Moira dela Torre.

All in all, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Oh, Mando!,” a first-class Pinoy BL series. It’s a pity that compared to other Pinoy BL series, it’s not being talked about much. Being on iWantTFC (only the first episode’s on Youtube), viewer accessibility has been limited. But if you have the means, please do watch “Oh, Mando!.” It will surely be a great watch.

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Better Days (2020): A Palatable Pinoy BL Series

“Better Days” was a tasteful Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. There was a bit of bitterness, but also a little sweetness. It wasn’t too sweet, too spicy, too sour, or too salty -- it was just about right. There was nothing too fancy or over the top about it. There were enough ingredients that made it a palatable Pinoy BL series. For the most part, it was a very wholesome Pinoy BL series.

“Better Days” had a simple plot/storyline about rekindling childhood friendship, confronting daddy issues, and discovering oneself as a vlogger, chef, and maybe even as a lover. It’s also about Pinoy cuisines! Character backgrounds were clear. At first, I was really uncomfortable with the unequal power relations between Kian, the boss, and his house helper Aron especially when the childish Kian was throwing tantrums and the timid Aron was showing signs of lack of confidence. But because of good character development, the issue of unequal power relations was somehow resolved. While it felt a bit short in terms of relationship development, in the end, it was shown in some ways that they support and love each other. Even though it obviously hurt, Kian was supportive of Aron who received a culinary arts scholarship which will most likely mean that they’ll have to be away from each other for quite some time. This was difficult for Kian because Aron made him feel loved. Aron for his part, eventually realized that he also needs to love himself. While “Better Days” had a straightforward plot/storyline, it didn’t shy away from larger societal issues like the COVID-19 pandemic. When Kian’s father died and he couldn’t even bury him because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was reminded again of the major challenge that our entire world is facing right now. Like Aron and Kian, we are all hoping for better days ahead.

Script was natural and realistic. Screenplay had good comedic (“it’s a frank!”) and dramatic (“you ask every day why were you left behind”) lines.

With regard to acting, newbies Benedix and Chesther were fine. They appeal differently but both of them are adorable. Chesther’s Kian was annoying at times but he’s still cute, lol! Benedix’s Aron was nice... plus, he cooks, lol! Even with the dearth of intimate moments, Aron and Kian’s chemistry was evident. I liked their funny and tender moments together. They were mostly bromance moments but they were alright. Benedix and Chesther fit their roles perfectly. It was also good to see Jomari and Rex as guests on this series.

Audio-visuals were mostly ok. Notwithstanding its small budget, “Better Days” was actually well-made. I especially liked the presentation of Pinoy cuisines and how they’re cooked and prepared (I miss Pinoy food!). The soundtracks “Lahat ay Posible” (Everything’s Possible) by Carlos Dala and “Nandito” (It’s Here) by Benedix were nice.

In summary, I would certainly recommend rewatching “Better Days.” It’s a palatable Pinoy BL series with wholesome plot/storyline, fine acting performance, and satisfactory production. By the way, “Better Days” has Book 2 (hopefully with less of the bromance and more of the BL romance ) to look forward to.

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Safe Haven (2020): An Unremarkable Pinoy BL Series

With respect to plot/storyline, performance, and production, “Safe Haven,” a do-it-yourself (DIY) series, was generally, an unremarkable Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. Substantially, it was simple and technically, it was weak.

While efforts to present common-looking lead characters interacting on social media representing contrasting economic backgrounds should be lauded, “Safe Haven” didn’t really took advantage of these characterizations to provide character depth and character developments that generate realism and relatability in its plot/storyline. This series had a very shallow and slow-paced plot/storyline that employed the overused enemies to lovers trope. While this trope isn’t intrinsically bad, there wasn’t anything special that differentiated “Safe Haven” from other series. Yes, there were references to gender-based discrimination in the workplace but they came across as superficial. Yes, Dave, Terrence, and Panter had character developments but they seemed shallow.

Script was unnatural at times. Screenplay had cheesy lines and long dialogues. Because of these, script was dull and tiresome every so often.

While acting improved throughout the series, it was for the most part, still amateurish. All the actors occasionally overacted. Sometimes, their performance appeared scripted. They also made big unnecessary hand gestures that were quite distracting. Chemistry between the couples was also weak. Still, all actors should be fairly compensated for their performance (cf. social media quarrel between the actor/director and a former cast member).

Audio-visuals were mostly poor. Sound wasn’t consistently clear and there were some loud background noises. Camera work and the quality of shots were pedestrian. There were also mistakes in the computer graphics (e.g. split-screen framing, Twitter handle name, etc.). Editing gave a school project vibe. There were times when scene transitions were just too abrupt. On some scenes, mouth movements were not even in sync with the vocals. The soundtrack “Sunset With You” by Catherine Cafe wasn’t a good fit for this series.

All in all, I would only recommend rewatching “Safe Haven” if you’re really interested in DIY series and have nothing else to watch. Nonetheless, this largely unremarkable DIY series should still be congratulated for the efforts of its cast and crew! Hopefully, Gen-Z Production’s next Pinoy BL series, “Love Lies,” is a massive improvement compared to this series.

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Boyband Love (2020): Different But Lacks Harmony

Not everything was in harmony on “Boyband Love.” Don’t get me wrong, there were things to like about this Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series but they didn’t always fit well together. While featuring the Philippine music industry was different, the various artistic aspects of “Boyband Love” were not always in sync.

“Boyband Love” had a compelling plot/storyline. While the series employed the overused enemies to lovers trope, it at least had the Philippine music industry as backdrop which made it uncommon. Unfortunately, not all the characters were fully developed. In terms of character background, character development, and relationship development, Arkin and Gus were alright. I would have wanted more for Charm but at the minimum, she wasn’t made into a bad person so I’m fine with her characterization. I did find Rico and Mika’s arrangement ridiculous at first but they grew on me. Some may take issue with Rico ending up with Mika but I know real-life couples like them so it’s not as if their set-up doesn’t exist. It does so I’m good with it. One issue I had with this series was how Jaime and Josh were treated. Other than being a gamer and womanizer, not much was revealed about Jaime. And after all the tease, nothing happened to the Jaime and Josh ship. Another issue I had with this series was the lack of depth for Madam Curacha’s characterization. Also, it wasn’t really shown how each main character related with other main characters aside from their designated partner in this series. For example, it would have been interesting if Danny and Rico, the characters portrayed by real-life partners Gus and Louie, had some friendly conversations about being true to oneself.

A couple of times, script was cringy. But there were some good dramatic lines from Aiden and Danny and from Danny’s parents and unconventional family. The good comedic dialogues were mostly from Rico and Mika. But overall, screenplay wasn’t consistent.

Acting by Arkin, Gus, Louie, Regine, Rose, and Brenda was mostly ok. With regard to chemistry, the Arkin and Gus and Louie and Regine ships were acceptable enough. Job and Luise had awkward moments but they were largely watchable. The performance of those who portrayed as the parents of Aiden and Rico were poor.

My major issue with “Boyband Love” was its production value. The set designs looked cheap and substandard. I can understand the limitation in finances and resources but the production company should have been more creative with their set designs. There were some nice songs like “Ikaw Na Nga Talaga” (It’s Really You) by 1:43 and “Nagkulang Ba” (Not Enough) by Gus and Arkin but the main soundtrack “Same Love” by the fictional Pinoy boyband group LMTLSS was overplayed.

All in all, I would only recommend “Boyband Love” for those who are interested in watching a Pinoy BL series with the Philippine music industry as backdrop, but with a friendly note that not everything was in harmony on this series.

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Boys’ Lockdown (2020): A Super Cute Pinoy BL Series

“Boys’ Lockdown” was a super cute Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. It’s charming and endearing. It isn’t pretentious. It’s made to provide its audience joy and romantic excitement by depicting two innocent and good-looking leads falling in love against all odds.

Like most Pinoy BL series, “Boys’ Lockdown” was also contextualized during the Philippines’ enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plot/storyline was simple -- a chance meeting between two boys who eventually fell in love with each other even with all the environmental, psychological, societal, and even technological challenges thrown at them. While its plot/storyline was straightforward, “Boys’ Lockdown” didn’t lack political substance. It had subtle digs about the government’s handling of the Philippines’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wifi network names such as NeverAgain, NasaanAngPlano (Where’sThePlan), and DefendPressFreedom somehow revealed its politics. And with the long, natural-looking, and wonderful kiss at the end, even with due considerations for personal safety measures, “Boys’ Lockdown” was also defiant.

There were a few cheesy dialogues here and there but the screenplay was generally natural and realistic -- at least for middle to upper class Pinoys. I would have preferred less coño talk (that of middle to upper class Pinoy who speaks Taglish -- a combination of the English and Filipino Tagalog languages -- in a fussy way) but I can live with it. Pinoy coños need representations too, lol. There were cute lines (“Bump me once, shame on you, but bump me twice, it’s a sign!”), defiant lines (“I felt like I was giving the coronavirus a big middle finger in its giant ugly face because I won.”), and dramatic lines (“This stupid pandemic! This fucking lockdown! Everything feels a thousand times harder…”).

The entire cast delivered with their acting -- not particularly outstanding, but largely alright. Both Ali and Alec were adorable and fit their roles perfectly. Both were really charming and endearing. Ali and Alec had good chemistry together. Teetin was at her best during the dramatic scenes. All the supporting cast members are gorgeous. Crystal and Teetin are beautiful. Carlo, Ivoy, and Luis are hot. I still don’t know why Dicky and Whilce kept taking off their shirts but I have no complaints, lol! And Laksa, who needs more screen time, was lovable!

“Boys’ Lockdown” was also pretty solid in terms of the quality of production. Audio-visuals were cool and clean. Cinematography was neat and nice. Editing was precise. The soundtrack “Home” by Reese Lansangan was also ok.

On the whole, I would certainly recommend rewatching “Boys’ Lockdown.” It’s a super cute Pinoy BL series made to provide its viewers joy and romantic excitement. I’m glad it will have a second season which I’m so looking forward to next year.

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Ben X Jim (2020): A Well-Made Pinoy BL Series

“Ben X Jim” was a well-made Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. There were a few missteps in terms of characterizations of the support characters but with regard to acting performance and production technicals, this series was very good.

Those who have had a crush on their childhood friend but weren’t able to confess their feelings will find this series relatable. “Ben X Jim” employed the childhood friends to lovers trope that banks heavily on beliefs about destiny and stars aligning when the time is right. Ben and Jim have history together and this series was about confronting their past in order to navigate through their present and their future. Ben and Jim were flawed characters. Ben was abused in a relationship and was prone to dependency. He was also self-righteous at times. Jim wasn’t politically correct and he was macho and possessive at times especially when he constantly referred to Ben as “wifey.” But what’s good with these characters, they’re self-aware of their flaws and towards the end, there were clear character developments. Unfortunately, this can’t be said of most of the support characters. While Leo had more than enough character background and development, Flo, Olan, and Yana didn’t. In fact, even with all the apologies, I’d still say Olan and Yan were treated badly.

On the plus side, screenplay was consistently realistic and relatable. There were good heartfelt lines as well as hilarious dialogues. Ben and Jim’s dramatic scenes had good serious lines while Ben and Olan’s comedic scenes had good funny dialogues. Script was also able to seamlessly incorporate the characteristics of fictional Pinoy superheroes Captain Barbel and Darna and the struggles of real Pinoy modern-day heroes like our frontliners (small business owners, essential workers, couriers, etc.) in one episode.

Across the board, acting was quite solid. Both Teejay and Jerome were very good. They didn’t overact. Their emotional delivery per scene was just fine. They had chemistry together. It also helped that both are quite good-looking. All the male cast members were gorgeous (with a couple of shirtless scenes, lol). Johannes is the beautiful bad boy while Ron is the charming naughty guy. Both of them capitalized on the scenes given to them with appropriate performances. All the female cast members gave good performances as well. It’s really a pity their characters weren’t fully developed.

It wasn’t surprising that “Ben X Jim” had strong production technicals. Regal Entertainment Inc., a major film production company in the Philippines, produced this series. Production design, cinematography, sound engineering, musical scoring, and editing were unfailing. The soundtrack “Stars Align” by Sam Marquez featuring Swavesound was ok but it was a bit overplayed throughout the series.

All in all, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Ben X Jim.” If you’re looking for a well-made Pinoy BL series with outstanding acting performance and production technicals, “Ben X Jim” is a suitable series for you. While “Ben X Jim” was from the point of view (POV) of Ben, it seems that its second season, “B X J Forever,” will be from the POV of Jim. The second season is definitely something to watch out for!

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My Extraordinary (2020): The First Pinoy BL Series on Philippine Free TV

“My Extraordinary” was the first Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series on Philippine free television. Given the conservative nature of mainstream Philippine free television, getting “My Extraordinary” (or at least its first episode) on TV5 was huge. While not as successful as other top-tier Pinoy BL series, “My Extraordinary” can be proud of its achievements in terms of acting performance and production value. It’s plot/storyline, however, has received mixed reviews.

Initially, the plot/storyline appeared promising because the lead characters, Shake and Ken, were worlds apart in terms of family background, school status, and economic situation. Regrettably, there wasn’t much development with regard to their relationship since it was cut short by their untimely deaths. Some say “My Extraordinary” was different for combining the BL genre with the paranormal genre but such effort has been done before. I can think of at a least three recent Thai BL series that dabbled on the otherworldly: “My Dream,” “He’s Coming To Me,” and “Ghost Runner.” “My Extraordinary,” nevertheless, had set itself apart from other Pinoy BL series for being one of the first to pursue the supernatural. Sad to say, its treatment of the unearthly wasn’t really that grounded on Pinoy culture. But more than the underwhelming handling of the ghostly turn of the plot/storyline, my uneasiness with “My Extraordinary” had to do with its use of the tiresome bury your gay trope in line with the equally wearisome too good for this problematic earth narrative that tackles homophobia and depicts gay characters as suffering victims without agency who die tragic deaths from an uncaring world. I know what lesson these types of realistic narratives are trying to impart -- that homophobia kills and ruins relationships -- but I expected more than this usual lesson from this series.

Luckily, the plot/storyline was salvaged by a solid script. Screenplay was literary yet very relatable. Yes, there were some preachy lines here and there but there were also substantial comedic and dramatic dialogues. Most of the funniest dialogues that I thoroughly enjoyed were delivered by Heaven. But my favorite lines were the more serious ones from my favorite characters of this series: brothers Ken and Lawrence. From the ghost Ken talking to sorrowful Monica, we got: “Mom, I’m your son. You’ve always known. You were just the last to admit.” And from Lawrence responding to Monica lamenting that Ken’s gay, we got: “So what if he is? What’s wrong with that?” Lawrence also said “So what if Kuya (older brother) is gay? Will fireballs fall from the sky? Is it the end of the world? If something bad happens to Kuya, I don’t think I can ever forgive Mom.”

From the lead cast members, Enzo and Darwin, to the veteran cast members, Yayo and Jojit, to the supporting cast members, Karissa, Z, and Keijee, acting was very good. I’m pleasantly surprised how natural and realistic the performance of the young actors were on this series. It’s a pity Keijee’s Heaven didn’t have the good character background he deserved while Karissa’s Sandee wasn’t really able to fully redeem herself.

Aside from the acting performance, “My Extraordinary” was also strong with reference to production value. The quality of production design, cinematography, sound engineering, and musical scoring was maintained all throughout the series. The soundtracks were all good. I especially liked “Hindi Ko ‘To Binalak” (I Didn’t Plan for This) and “Hindi Niya Alam” (He Doesn’t Know), both performed by Kenji Exaltacion. By the way, thanks to “My Extraordinary” for always acknowledging this account, Pinoy BL Series, on their post-credits.

Overall, I would certainly recommend rewatching “My Extraordinary.” If you’re looking for a top-tier Pinoy BL series with excellent acting performance and production value, “My Extraordinary” is an appropriate series for you. And watch out for its sequel “A Kiss 2 Remember” which I hope will have a much happier ending.

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Gaya Sa Pelikula (2020): A Romantic Pinoy BL Series Par Excellence

I consider “Gaya Sa Pelikula” a romantic Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series par excellence that paid homage not only to Pinoy dramatic and romantic comedy (romcom) movies and our most popular love teams but also to Thai BL series. Posters and scenes were adapted from Pinoy dramatic and romcom movies such as “All of You,” “A Very Special Love,” “Don’t Give Up on Us,” “Filipinas,” “Got 2 Believe,” “Hintayan ng Langit,” “LSS,” “One More Chance,” “Sana Maulit Muli,” “She’s Dating the Gangster,” etc. There were also appropriations of Thai BL series “Theory of Love” movie poster series as well as acknowledgements of OffGun and TayNew on the “Gaya Sa Pelikula” post-credits. Some say that there were too many dramatic and romcom clichés and BL tropes (like the fake/pretend relationship trope), but hey, who cares, they really worked on this series!

Even with all the clichés and tropes, “Gaya Sa Pelikula” still managed to look fresh because of the well-developed multi-dimensional characters it created. Even with their conflicting views on genders, sexualities, and relationships, both Karl and Vlad were relatable. While Karl's not ready to come out yet, Vlad’s out and proud. I’ve known a lot of Karls and Vlads in my life so I really found them realistic. Ate (Older Sister) Judit, Anna, and Tito (Uncle) Santi were not simply intervening side characters (who definitely meddled out of love, whether we agree with them or not) but relevant players with depth. Being generally a slow burn, “Gaya Sa Pelikula” felt dragging at times but because of strong characterizations, episodes always ended strong.

There were corny dialogues and monologues here and there but they were negligible given the mostly excellent screenwriting. I can understand why others think some lines were preachy but they were powerful messages nevertheless. Screenplay, with its English and Taglish sentences, was generally natural -- at least for middle to upper class Pinoys. Overall, I think the script was largely impeccable.

The strong screenplay actually aided the acting of the lead actors, Ian and Paolo. While there’s always room for improvement (Ian needs to enunciate better and Paolo needs to avoid exaggerated movements), for newbie actors, they did pretty well. For sure, both Ian and Paolo were far better than the newbie actors of other Pinoy BL series! They have outstanding chemistry together and both are very good-looking! As for the supporting cast members of “Gaya Sa Pelikula,” Adrienne and Yesh were great while Franco was ok.

Minus some dark lighting and grainy camera shots, audio-visuals were quite satisfactory with very clear intentions. Every graphic, every item, every shot, etc. seemed to have clear purpose. The soundtracks, while mostly not originally made for the series, were nonetheless perfect for the scenes. The original soundtrack, “Kilometro Zero” by Juan Miguel and performed by Ian, was of course, my favorite among the soundtracks.

In summary, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Gaya Sa Pelikula,” a romantic Pinoy BL series par excellence. Even if you’re not satisfied with its finale, you should rewatch it because it’s a terrific set-up for the second season. Given Juan Miguel’s wonderful Wattpad story about Karl and Vlad, which was said to be the basis for the sequel, Season 2 promises to be even better than Season 1.

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90 Days The Series (2020): Good Intention, Not So Good Execution

“90 Days The Series” had intended to highlight an old topic -- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma -- that has remained relevant because it continues to be problem in Philippine culture and society. It was a bold purpose for a Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. But unfortunately, the overall execution was found lacking.

“90 Days The Series” spent too much time laying the foundation for the HIV stigma plot/storyline by focusing on Axel and Greg’s problematic relationship only to rush everything towards the end. This series was supposed to have 10 episodes but it was limited to 8 episodes for some reasons. This affected the pace and editing of the entire series. I was really hoping for a complex and/or different handling of the HIV stigma plot/storyline. But instead, with Axel’s death, “90 Days The Series” succumbed to the tiresome bury your gay trope in line with the equally wearisome too good for this problematic earth narrative.

Starting “90 Days The Series” with the meaningful poem “Bahaghari” (Rainbow) by Nicko Mata was a nice touch. But such creativity wasn’t sustained throughout the series. A number of times, screenplay was cringy. There were no funny lines, just preachy dialogues. While the efforts of “90 Days The Series” to promote HIV awareness to combat HIV stigma were commendable, the dialogues nevertheless felt contrived. Don’t get me wrong, there were good and heartfelt lines as well but the whining script just became tiresome towards the end.

Both Aejhay and Brian can act but their acting was monotonous for the most part of “90 Days The Series.” They had generally the same emotional expressions, the same facial reactions, and the same vocal deliveries for most of the overdramatized scenes. And there’s no chemistry between the actors (Aejhay and Brian, Brian and James Andrew). All the supporting cast members need improvement on their acting. Because their characterizations weren’t developed (restricted to being mere video chatmates), they were mostly forgettable except maybe Paul John’s Tito Ricardo.

Production value was at least average. It’s difficult to expect much from “90 Days The Series” knowing that its production company (JTL TV) is composed of student and young filmmakers. Audio-visuals were uneven. There were some sudden audio changes. There were some grainy camera shots. The actors’ make-up distracted more than enhanced the visuals of this series. The soundtrack “Pangako, Paalam” (Promise, Goodbye) by Dain Mapalo was at least ok. But for JTL TV's efforts, kudos are still in order! And thanks to “90 Days The Series” for acknowledging this account, Pinoy BL Series, on their finale post-credits.

All in all, I would only recommend “90 Days The Series” for those who are interested in watching a Pinoy BL series about HIV stigma in the Philippines -- with a fair warning that the series’ intention was good but its execution wasn’t so good.

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Oh My Sexual (2020): An Attempt at Black Comedy

“Oh My Sexual” was an attempt to produce a black or dark comedic Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. Given a documentary-experimental narrative treatment, it was a high brow art for art’s sake engrossed in its own world. Form over substance was evident on this series.

While innovation and promotion of social change in Pinoy BL series are much appreciated, these characteristics should be synchronized with the ability to generate audience comprehension and engagement. Unfortunately, “Oh My Sexual” wasn’t able to do that. It wasn’t palatable and relatable enough for the viewers primarily because it focused on form with little regard for substance. News about the worsening virus outbreak, clips from classic films, lines from Shakespeare’s best dramatic works, etc. interspersed with the characters’ stories were good but didn’t really develop the plot/storyline of this series. “Oh My Sexual” was reduced to a thoughtless tangled web of love and relationship that resulted to individual anxieties and distresses that were magnified during a zombie outbreak. Also, in the end, it wasn’t clear "who were the oppressed whose morale was strengthened and who were the oppressors whose morale was undermined" -- a characteristic of black comedy that was vaguely referenced on this series.

Being a black comedy, dialogues were supposed to make light of serious matters by presenting them in humorous ways in order to prompt reflections. The overdramatic lines from “Oh My Sexual” mostly failed to do that. Screenplay was also incoherent at times.

Given that “Oh My Sexual” was a black comedy, acting was over the top. But at some point, exaggerations in acting just became annoying and exhausting. While all the cast members can act, they were pulled down by all the exaggerations. I can’t help but feel that their talents were wasted on this series.

Audio-visual technicals weren’t that good. There were some unnecessary noises and grainy camera shots. There were times when the editing, particularly with regard to scene transitions and split-screen shots, was distracting. The soundtrack “Ayoko Na Sayo” (I Don't Want You Anymore) by Bry Aquino was ok but it didn’t really fit this series.

All things considered, I would only recommend “Oh My Sexual” to those who want to try an attempt at black comedy in Pinoy BL series, with a friendly reminder that most early attempts at doing something different aren't good.

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My Day (2020): A Messy Yet Popular Pinoy BL Series

“My Day” isn’t for everyone. There are those who hate the series and there are those who like it. It was campy, it was farcical. Actually, it was a mess. And yet, because of the exciting chemistry between the lead actors and the exquisite kissing and making love scenes, “My Day” has become one of the most popular Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series worldwide.

“My Day” had a formulaic plot/storyline revolving around the love story of Sky, a determined culinary arts intern and his demanding food company boss named Ace. The overused enemies to lovers trope, rich and poor/middle class characters falling in love with each other trope, and Freudian excuse trope were employed on this series. “My Day” tried to show how the two boys struggled with and triumphed over personal and relational challenges. Ace had his daddy and mommy issues while Sky had his gender identity and sexual orientation questions. But among the many problems of this series were depictions of crude characterizations and ludicrously improbable situations. There were stereotypical portrayals of a bitchy (ex-)girlfriend and comic relief effeminate gays. Other than the sexist explanation that she’s a bitch, no character background was provided to help explain Moira’s criminal behavior. As for the gays, the issue was that they were limited to being a comic relief without character depth. An example of an unconvincing situation was the entire dognapping fiasco which was ridiculous and silly. There were abrupt character changes and illogical character developments. These were especially true for Ace, Ace’s father, Sky’s bully classmates, Moira, etc. There were no proper build-ups. Relationship developments, including those of Ace and Sky, Ace and his father, Ace and his mother, Sky and his father, etc., were also rushed.

Screenplay had cringy, long, repetitive, and unrealistic lines. There were also some objectionable dialogues (e.g. Jelai flirting with Jam that bordered on sexual harassment, Jelai castigating Marianne for wearing short skirt, etc.). But I do commend “My Day” for showcasing Filipino languages other than the Filipino Tagalog language.

Acting was generally uneven. There were supporting cast members who were good but there were those who were horrendous. While there were scenes wherein Aki and Miko were ok, there were also scenes wherein they made unnatural vocal, physical, and emotional acting choices. They need to work on their vocal intonations and facial expressions. There were too much shouting and ugly crying. They were often betrayed by the lack of authentic emotions from their eyes. But since they’re still newbies in acting, these shortcomings were understandable. And besides, their exciting chemistry compensated for these weaknesses. They didn’t have good dramatic scenes together but they did have great romantic, sexy, and steamy scenes together. The kissing and making love scenes of these handsome lead actors were hot and sexy. I liked that they’re normalizing guys kissing and making love intensely and passionately in Pinoy BL series.

Budget-wise, “My Day” was almost akin to Filipino drama series (teleserye) and Thai BL series. A lot of expensive-looking set designs, numerous product placements, and the long list of people in the post-credits illustrated just how well-funded this series was. Production design was largely ok. Set designs during the premiere and Ace’s birthday were quite good. But there were also some missteps. The set designs for the supposedly prestigious international cake competition looked cheap. And production design during the finale was just average. Although simple techniques were used, cinematography was mostly decent. Editing was uneven. The soundtracks especially “Hindi Ako Bibitaw” (I Will Not Let Go) by Paul Ramirez were ok.

All in all, I would only recommend “My Day” to those who love exciting chemistry between the lead actors as well as exquisite kissing and making love scenes, who don’t mind if overall, the series is a (hot and sexy) mess.

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Quaranthings: The Series (2020): An Underrated Top-Tier Pinoy BL Series

“Quaranthings: The Series” deserves a higher rating than its current My Drama List (MDL) rating. It’s definitely underrated. In eight episodes, it has consistently proven that it’s a top-tier Filipino (Pinoy) boys' love (BL) series.

In terms of plot/storyline, “Quaranthings: The Series” never lost track of what it's all about throughout its entire run. It’s about two boys from different class, economic, and educational backgrounds who developed love for each other while on community quarantine because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal and social contexts were clear with real-life issues like gender identities and sexual orientations, family relationships, economic difficulties, and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Class and gender, and to a certain extent, even religious consciousness were explicit on this series. Character background and character development for flawed characters Judah and Rocky were solid. Pace was terrific. Each episode contributed to the unfolding of the plot/storyline. And there weren’t any dull moments from this series. I did have some issues with some of the scenes (e.g. drunk sex scene) but all in all, I enjoyed most of the scenes. Most of the loose ends with regard to Judah's grandmother and mother, Rocky’s father and family, Kyo’s relationship with Glenn, and Kyo and Rocky’s relationship were resolved. Even with all the emotional rollercoasters throughout its season, in the end, we did get our happy ending!

Screenplay was relatable and well-balanced with enough cute, funny, and naughty lines and with sufficient dramatic and socially sensitive dialogues. There were relevant political commentaries as well. Highlighting its social consciousness, it had non-preachy socially sensible lines about being poor (“It's hard to be poor in this country;” “It’s easier to be true to yourself when you don’t have to worry about money;” “When you’re poor like us, there are so many limitations. There’s so much internal conflict”), homophobia (“Do you have some type of internalized homophobia?;” “Homophobia is so outdated”), sexual harassment (“I hate people who sexually harass others”), religious gay conversion therapy (“She was planning to send me to some Christian conversion retreat like I’m some sin that can be prayed away”), being gay (“Dad, remember when I said there’s someone very important to me? This is him, Dad. This is Judah. Dad, I’m gay”), etc.

Acting was generally natural especially the performance of Royce, who’s a magnificent specimen of a man -- really handsome and sexy! Royce never overacts. Everything’s just right with his acting. Kyo, a cute newbie, was alright especially in portraying an unapologetically queer character. He was on point in a lot of scenes but he was also flat in a few scenes. But he did improve a lot and towards the end of this series, he had very strong dramatic performances. Both Kyo and Royce made me shed lots of tears. They had good chemistry together. I relished the banter between them and I loved their intimate moments. The sex scene was tastefully done but I would have preferred less camera tricks on the kissing during that sex scene. The kiss during the finale was a bit tamed but it was sincere and heartwarming. The supporting cast members especially Karl and Jan were fine.

Production design, camera work, and editing were done using simple techniques but were executed cleanly. I love that there's an Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez photo, Martin Luther King Jr. quote, and Thai BL series posters. I'm actually impressed with how they're able to make do with their limited budget. I’m still intrigued by the meanings of those phallus-depicting paintings in the living room though. Audio was uneven. I love Karl’s rendition of the soundtrack “Sansinukuban” (My Universe) and it was perfectly incorporated on the episodes throughout this season. The soundtrack “Ipu-Ipo” (Whirlwind) performed by Kyo also sounded good.

Overall, I would certainly recommend rewatching “Quaranthings: The Series.” With its solid plot/storyline, largely natural acting performance, and mostly clean production, it’s quite underrated. It’s a top-tier Pinoy BL series and I hope it gets appreciated for how excellent it really is.

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