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  • Location: Toronto, Canada and New York, USA
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  • Join Date: January 2, 2023

dodoubleg1785

Toronto, Canada and New York, USA

dodoubleg1785

Toronto, Canada and New York, USA
Completed
Mama Gogo
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 26, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

This series has everything

I was not expecting to like this show as much as I did but it was truly fantastic. It was funny, sad, frustrating, satisfying, goofy and serious all in one. As someone who started watching Eastern series because of BL, I had put this one off for a long time since it's not BL. But honestly, I should have watched it sooner for how great it was.

There were so many great elements to it that didn't even include the abundance of skinship of hot men dancing and grinding. Actually, besides the fact that they are hosts in an adult bar, there wasn't much about the show that I would consider 18+ besides some colorful language. Even the romance aspect with the different couples don't get more than one, maybe two kisses in and that's it. But if stripping men make you uncomfortable then sure, there's quite a bit of that. I wasn't a fan of Magic Mike but I did like this and didn't feel uncomfortable during those dancing for money bits.

There is a lot of second-hand embarrassment in this as the guys figure things out and get their footing as well as a lot of cringe-worthy moments (Mostly from Kampan) however it becomes quite obvious really early on that it is intentional and it's meant to add a lighthearted and silly tone to the show. Kampan's cheesiness in particular was over the top and sometimes ridiculous but it still somehow worked and I absolutely loved how Earth played the role. It just did camp and obnoxious so well, I was surprised at how different it was from other shows I've seen him in. And when he and Tina team up and have screentime together, I liken them to Izma and Kronk from Emperor's New Groove with how much comedic chemistry they had.

I found that in general, all the actors played their roles well. Everyone has such different personalities that it added a lot of depth and substance to the show. Probably the only character I was tempted to fast forward through was Fifa because i just hate whiny, bratty teenagers who disrespect their parents. Although, I kinda get it because we've seen her mom say multiple times to her daughter's face that "my life would have been so much better if I didn't have you" and that shit stings. She mellows out a bit when she's wth Mikhael though so it gets better. And Mikhael is so stinkin' cute and adorkable that I was rooting for their happiness anyway.

And Chen is relationship goals, that's all I can say. He's the most lovable cockroach (you'll get it soon enough) I have ever seen.

Last but not least, Annie is such an interesting protagonist... she's not a good person by any means yet you can't help but root for her. We see her character grow over the course of the series and ultimately get her act together but it is a long, winding and bumpy road with more than a couple of detours along the way. She's an interesting puzzle because, while she helps out her boys and tries to do right by her daughter, she is still very self-centered and thinks the world revolves around her pretty much right up until the second half of the final episode. And, while some of the resolutions seem a bit sudden, I do like that all loose ends get tied off and there's not a single aspect that is left as a question mark.

The ONLY thing I wish we had gotten was a dance battle between the ex husband and Chen...

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Completed
Something in My Room
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 16, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Deserves more recognition..

..although I understand that part of that is due to the fact this series is pretty hard to find, at least on official websites. Even the ones on youTube are a cut version that is missing a lot of key parts. When each episode should be just over an hour and the cut version is 45-48min each, that's quite a bit left out.

And the thing with this series is that every moment has purpose. There was no unnecessary filler or drawn out drama.. the story moved along and anything you see is crucial in understanding what is going on. It made for a slow burn as far as the romance was concerned but I didn't mind it in this case since the story was intriguing and engaging enough on its own. And, really, it made the moment they finally got together that much sweeter in my opinion.

I also liked how there was really no villain in this story. Everyone has their pros and cons and most have made mistakes that they regret. I was actually really happy that they showed the consequences of bringing your child up with certain beliefs in the character of Nuan. Her parents put pressure on her to marry and carry on the family name and, while they passed away thinking it wasn't as important anymore, Nuan was stuck with that mindset because they never told her otherwise. The series also showed how keeping secrets, thinking it's less cruel than knowing the truth, can lead to further misunderstandings and overthinking. It was a bit extreme in this case, with Phob essentially committing suicide because everything was going wrong from what he saw, but still it is a very poignant message that communication is important, even if the truth isn't pretty.

I found the acting hit and miss throughout the series though the two mains (Nut and Plan) did a great job in my opinion. A series like this that has some light-hearted funny moments woven into the more serious nature can sometimes be hard to pull off and seem disjointed but I thought they did a great job with it here. Part of that is the writing which flowed nicely and carried out well by the actors.

One sequence that really stood out to me is when Ben's play is going on and it switches from what's being shown on stage to the actual memory of what really happened. I thought the visuals and use of the stage lighting worked well in communicating which was the play and which was the memory. Especially with the fact that you have Nut playing Phob who is supposedly being portrayed by Win in the play but as Phob is watching from the audience, he sees himself in the character on stage. I know it sounds confusing but trust me, it worked.

This is one of those series that I feel bad for seeing as it doesn't have the same kind of reach as other ones but it definitely deserves a watch. I think it even has re-watch value in the sense that once you know what's going to happen, you can go back and look for hints and foreshadowing.

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Completed
My Only 12%
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 11, 2023
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Mixed feelings

Let me start off by saying this was a fantastic story and there were so many things I loved about it. But it really did drag on with a lot of repetition for a 14 episode series.

The main reason I'm torn is because I loved how there wasn't any unnecessary drama (love rivals, jealous ex's, homophobia, misunderstandings, etc). But when a show doesn't have any of those components, I can see how it could feel slow and uneventful. There were so many episodes where I felt like there was little to no progression in the storyline. The first half while they were in high school, it was basically Eiw pining for Cake while Cake was oblivious. Then the second half was Cake being jealous of anyone who comes near Eiw and Eiw being oblivious.

There were so many great moments during the "slow parts" though which had me feeling all the feels. Like, Eiw's realization of how he loves Cake more than a friend/brother and his struggle to accept himself, thinking he's abnormal. Then all the moments between the siblings were so heartwarming, especially in the last couple of episodes. I feel like all the relationships in the series, whether they were romantic, family or friends, were really well portrayed and developed, especially with the lack of "exciting drama."

Santa really blew me away in this series. I was surprised to find out how young he really is after watching this. He really conveyed every thought and emotion so well and it was hard to look at anyone else whenever he was on screen. I love Earth and have liked everything I've seen him in so far though I feel like he tends to play the same type of character every time. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing but I would just hate for him to get type-cast because I believe he's more capable than that.

Overall, this was an enjoyable watch and, while I may not keep it in the constant rotation, I could see watching it again at some point in the future and I'm glad I gave it a chance.

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Completed
Unforgotten Night
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 7, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Better than I remembered

I watched this a while back and I think I saw it right around the same time as KinnPorsche. That, unfortunately, didn't work in this series' favor as, out of the two, I personally think KP was a better production overall.

However, after watching this again, it's actually so much better than I remembered. As it's own story, without comparing it to anything else, this is actually quite good.

I don't want to say Unforgotten Night is "more simple," because it is certainly complex in its own way, but it didn't have as many plot points trying to war with each other like KP did. It was very straight forward and the storyline flowed together with progression pretty well.

One of the gripes I remember having with this series the first time around was the chemistry between the MC. I felt like, for a story that is supposed to be centered around instant love and obsession and melding of preferences, it lacked that aspect upon first watch. This time, however, I realized that the version I had seen previously was a cut version where they didn't show much of the intimacy or full version of the NC scenes and boy, does it make a difference. I mean, come on, if you don't know what you are getting into just by the movie poster and synopsis, then you are not paying enough attention. It didn't make sense to skimp on the smut so might as well enjoy it.

I liked that the main couple was the focus throughout which helped understand the characters better. There was enough of the mafia element to add the suspense without becoming stereotypical and there was enough intrigue with the supporting characters to keep things moving along. There was sort of a secondary couple but they didn't force too much time on them to make it awkward and left it open in a way to make us wonder will they or wont they.

I thought the acting was slightly above average though there were a few times I was like "okay, that was a little cringe." But there weren't awkward pauses or people standing around waiting for the next line and felt like a lot of it was reactionary as it should be. Yoon did a great job in keeping his stoic persona and when his emotions threatened to overtake, you could see the struggle he has to keep them at bay. Cherry was an interesting character where you love her one moment and hate her the next. I thought her arc was just as meaningful and went hand in hand along with the MC well.

And last but certainly not least, the lack of miscommunications and misunderstandings is a friggin breath of fresh air. Actually, the communication between the MC is bang on right from the start where they clearly state what they want and what they are looking for and go along accordingly. There were no hidden motives, no catfishing, none of that stuff and yet they still had an interesting story that made me hit the "next episode" button every time. There needs to be more shows like this where they can have dramatic storylines without the "silly drama," if that makes sense.

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Completed
Love With Benefits
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 17, 2023
5 of 5 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Another classic case of "don't listen to reviews and form your own opinion."

I came across this series a while ago when YT suggested it. After reading a lot of the reviews here, I put it off and put it off though still kept it in my "to watch" list because it was short and I figured if there was a night where I wanted a quick, low mental investment series, then I could pull this one out.

Well, last night was that night, and I have to say, I should have watched this sooner. The reviews for this series are unnecessarily brutal and, while it certainly isn't the best series I've ever seen, it sure as heck isn't the worst.

Was the acting great? Not exactly. Was the story original? Not in the slightest. Were there any groundbreaking moments that stood out at all? Honestly.. not even close.

But was it an enjoyable watch that met my incredibly low expectations of being entertained for 5 hours? Yes. Yes it was.

I also personally liked how the ending was left somewhat open: you don't know where Play and First will end up in either their relationship or their careers. But it does hint that they get their priorities on the same page of wanting to put their relationship first.

Even if the acting left something to be desired, the MC chemistry was actually really good and palpable. Some of the side characters were a bit annoying to me but I guess it was the series attempt at comedy to balance out the more emotional side. Plus I think some things got lost in translation because the subtitles didn't always make sense but you can get the gist.

Honestly, if you're looking for something cute and not too deep or intense, I'd suggest giving this series a try. Again, it's all about expectations and not holding the series responsible for what someone thought it should be.

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Completed
Light
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 10, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers
Contrary to popular opinion, I thought this was actually a great length for this story. A lot of people have said they wish it was longer but let's keep in mind that when BLs are longer, it's not because of the content we like to see but the more frustrating stuff that I personally can't stand. I wouldn't want to drag out the misunderstandings or the horrible treatment of Light. This movie gave enough to show that it happened, why it happened and a swift and reasonable resolution.

The actors were good in their roles though nothing really stood out to me as far as outstanding or overly bad. They were pretty average though that's not meant as a negative thing.

I liked the change of pace from the lighter, fluffy BLs and was glad to still receive a happy ending after such a dark, more mature plot. To me, it makes the happy ending more worthwhile and meaningful.

I would definitely rewatch this and look forward to doing so again and again.

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Completed
Zenra Meshi
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 5, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Do not watch when you're hungry...

Honestly, this show (along with other recent BL shows that featured food as a major plot point) makes me want to learn more about cooking in general. Every single thing they made looked delicious and I especially liked how they tied it into the story here. The idea of traveling the world through food is fun, different and challenging, especially when it requires ingredients that are not native to where you live. And the fact that Sota was doing this to honor his grandmother made it particularly sweet.

The smaller stories within the overall plot were nothing new.. office worker bored with his day to day, a coworker with a crush, the MC having a link to each other via past school life and unrequited love. What I liked was that Sota wasn't against being attracted to a man but rather he was confused because it had never happened before. I don't know how old he is supposed to be in the story but sexual awakenings can happen at any point and I liked that he wasn't just fighting against it because it was a man.

They had a lot of cute moments together though the parts that were meant to feel more intimate felt a bit flat to me. And the one kiss you get (if it can even be considered a kiss) was so anticlimactic.

But besides that, I enjoyed the series very much and would suggest it to anyone who enjoys BLs on the lighter, cutesy side of things.

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Completed
We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 20, 2023
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

Highly recommend!

To start off, let me just say right off the bat that this review is for both We Best Love: No. 1 For You and We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd. Partially because I binge watched both back-to-back without stopping to write a review but also because it's practically impossible to separate the two once both have been seen. Some of that is due to the flashbacks and reminders in season 2 but also all the references and mentions of things that happened in the past, the series were clearly made with 2 parts in mind. When the first one leaves off with such an open-ended cliffhanger like that, there's no way they were ever considering ending it like that. And if they did, they would have had so much backlash.

Anyway....

As a whole, the series was very good. I thought it would be a quick watch, seeing as each season is only 6 episodes at 30min a piece. But each episode is so packed with content and things going on that were actually relevant that a 6 hour watch-a-thon felt like 2 days of non-stop watching. I'm not complaining, as I enjoyed every second of it... but I didn't realize how much of a mental break it is when a series is lighter and longer with fluff filler that seems so superficial. It makes watching a series with substance so much more fulfilling.

Speaking of which, I can't remember the last series I watched where I felt as empty and sad that it was over than I felt after watching this. I just didn't want it to end.

The pacing was really well done though there is that weird peek into the future at the end of season 1 that causes the whole tension for the beginning of season 2. Admittedly, I was watching season 2 thinking "the misunderstanding better not last for the whole season" and thankfully, it was somewhat cleared up by episode 3. I hate when series have misunderstandings to begin with, let alone using it as the main conflict for an entire run of a show. Thankfully, that didn't happen here. The only thing that never really gets cleared up is who the girl with the child were though it's clear to assume it is She De's half brother and step-sister from the mother's new marriage. I mean, we find out that the mom was pregnant when they arrived which would mean by the time Shu Yi went to the US, the child would have been just over a year old.

I enjoyed the transition from University life to the working world to see their growth as individuals apart from the relationship. Even the supporting cast was great to see in a different light. I almost didn't recognize Zhe Yu and Bing Wei at first but then was happy to see they were still hanging around Shu Yi, even in a professional manner. I thought all the actors portrayed their characters well though I was really impressed with Shih Chih Tian as Zhen Xuan. It is extremely hard to portray an affective disorder without being over the top with it but I thought he did a great job with little nuances and ticks that showcased his struggle with it all.

Some reviews I'd read thought a chunk of the intimacy (mostly in season 2) was unhinged and messy but I personally didn't feel that. I can only assume they are referring to when Shi De was drunk and it looked like he didn't know what to do with his hands. It may seem sloppy on the surface but, at least for me, it is pure and real and passionate. A good portrayal of wanting to cherish but also wanting to devour the guy that got away 5 years ago and you finally managed to have within arms length, even if you are three sheets to the wind.

Not only would I recommend this series but I would watch it over and over again; it was just that good. It's also one of those series that once you know the ending, you'll want to watch it again to see if there were any hints or foreshadowing.

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Completed
Dear Doctor, I'm Coming for Soul
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 12, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Have the tissues handy..

From the synopsis, it's pretty obvious this series would be an emotional roller coaster. However, when I managed to get to episode 8 without any tears, I thought I might just make it. Then episode 9 hits and it's nothing but the pulling of heartstrings in both happy and sad ways till the very end.

The story was well done from start to finish with no real unnecessary filler or plot points that barely make sense. There were a few storylines that were suddenly introduced out of nowhere and then resolved just as quickly that had me wondering if I missed something being mentioned earlier. But as long as the issue was resolved and not just introduced to create tension between the MC, I can overlook the randomness.

The acting/chemistry between the MC was fantastic and, while it is a slow burn, there are clear traces of it as it develops and blooms over time. The connections between them made sense and wasn't an overkill of coincidences which these kinds of stories could quickly turn into. The secondary couples were okay though it felt forced to me. Especially between Nathee and Keeta.. there was zero chemistry there in my opinion. It even had me wondering if Tae was at all comfortable playing the role in the first place.

I've heard some people compare this with Triage, especially since both series came out the same year. But besides being about doctors and having a more serious tone than a light-hearted BL, they had absolutely nothing in common and I don't know why one is even brought up whenever the other is. That's like comparing something like Cutie Pie and SOTUS just because the main character is a University engineering student. Or really any University BL, for that matter, which there are a lot of.

I believe this is definitely worth a watch. If I had to give any heads up, I'd say take it for what it is and don't overthink the ending. Sometimes, open ended isn't so horrible and I feel like it works well here.

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Completed
A Boss and a Babe
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 7, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

So many unanswered questions..

When will these writers realize that if a plot point is important enough to put into the show as a conflict, it should dang well get a resolution?!

There were so many ideas introduced into this series that just didn't get the attention or closure that they deserved. The ones that did got an off-the-cuff comment and that's it. I understand that the focus is on the main couple but as a viewer, we also became invested in Jack, Time, Thian and Thoop, just to name a few of the side characters who were used for drama but then discarded with no regard to their storyline.

Especially Thian and Thoop.. like seriously.. that's some serious stuff going on there and we don't know what comes of it. Did the stepfather go to jail? Did the mother leave him? If so, why did it take her until her son went to jail for one night instead of doing something about her daughter being attacked and driven to suicide?! WTF

And poor Jack.. nothing is done about the video game and his mental illness is kinda washed aside with a fleeting mention that he doesn't have to take the pills anymore.

I really wanted to like this series but there was just too much left out while there was too much introduced without going anywhere. The love story actually had a decent arc and I really liked that they were older in the work force instead of the typical high school/university students. The acting was good within the main cast and it was fun seeing Drake in a role other than "one of the firends."

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Completed
War of Y
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 2, 2023
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Mixed feelings

This is a really tough review to write because I have such conflicting feelings about this series that I don't know if I can really explain why. I hated almost every character at one point or another, even if they had redeeming moments/story arcs and yet I couldn't stop watching. I wanted to sympathize with the main couples and then they did horrible things that made me dislike them for their choices.

Some of the acting was amazing while other performances were not as such. A lot of times I was wondering if the actor was just having a hard time portraying an actor on screen because they are essentially playing a person who is then playing another person. But overall, the stories were involved enough to distract away from that most of the time.

Speaking of the stories... Here's my takeaway from the different arcs.

Ep 1-5: Managers Suck. I was wondering the entire time if I'm supposed to feel bad for Pan and it's not until the end that you realize that his brattiness toward his manager is completely justified and that he was indeed the victim. But it sure made him annoying at times. However, this was one of the occasions where the acting was very good in my opinion. I'd seen this couple in Secret Crush On You and in that series, I really disliked Seng's character. I saw a little bit of it here but that was when he was putting on a face for investors. Seng's acting in this with all his different sides and emotions was really well played.

Ep 6-10: Managers Suck the Sequel. Honestly, the entire time I wanted to strangle Toon and Pla or at least have them do it to each other. I get that Gus was pretending to like Bew and all but even when he apparently is legit in love with him, it felt so fake to me, I was waiting for the next "behind the scene" with one of the managers to show that it was still an act. And after all the horrible stuff that he and the 2 managers did to Bew, why was Bew the only one made to feel like he had crossed the line in the end and be the one to apologize? Such bullshit.

Ep 11-15: This is why "reality TV" is so ridiculous. With the right editing and careful nudges, it is no longer "real" but a show within a show.

Ep 16-20: From the very beginning, I feel like half of the characters did a complete 180 out of nowhere. P, who up to now has been a nice, supporting person is suddenly a demanding producer and Achi who was this over confident serious actor and was good at everything could barely make it through a scene. I feel like there are completely different stories going on which would be fine if they weren't supposed to be the same people as before. And yet, somehow, I'm very intrigued and impressed by how Talay is played up "the bad guy." Within just 5 episodes, I wanted to cheer him, curse him and everything in between. He was made out to be this caring seasoned actor who was looking out for the new guys until he needed them to make a series. I mean, I get it.. there's a lot riding on the series and making things work and I understand why he had to be as hard on them as he was, but I swear there were times I thought the character was bi-polar. And yet, it still worked... don't ask me how.

I think the best I could say is that it is worth a watch but be prepared for a roller coaster of emotions and also be prepared that not all of them get a happy or even satisfying ending.

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Completed
I Told Sunset about You
0 people found this review helpful
May 6, 2023
5 of 5 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

Heartbreakingly beautiful

Man... I feel emotionally drained after that roller coaster.. I can't fathom what another season / sequel is going to do to me. But it was so incredibly well done that I don't mind all the tears and pulling at my heart. I see why it's rated so high across the board.

In reading some reviews beforehand, I saw a lot of dislike toward Teh and, while I can see where the dislike is coming from, I can forgive him to an extent due to the fact he was confused and scared about his own feelings which is never a good combination. It stood out to me how much Teh was pacing back and forth in a lot of scenes as if he were lost. He was clearly struggling with his thoughts/feelings throughout the series. You could feel the frustration coming off him.

I definitely loved how Bas was not ashamed to be seen with a boy and I think both Oh and Teh really needed to see that in order to experience it themselves. Bas's monologue at the end of cram school was basically Teh's inner thoughts and feelings only Teh wasn't brave enough to say it out loud and it cost him his chance with Oh. While Bas laid it all out, it was such a beautiful scene because we watched as Teh realized it all too, even though he didn't say a word.

In that respect, I'm curious to see how many pages the script was for this series because I feel like there wasn't all that much dialog for 5+ hours. However all that they said with their expressions was deafening. The actors were really good at portraying their inner emotions.

I usually don't like series centered around high school age because I feel like I'm too old for that.. But this was amazing and I didn't feel like I was watching teenagers, if that makes sense.

Besides the acting, the cinematography was absolutely stunning and I liked that it wasn't set in the city. The music was great and really helped set the tone for each scene, especially the piano version of the song they sang together. A lot of little touches like that really helped with the ache the viewer felt along with the characters.

I'd definitely watch this again and would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a bit of frustration to go along with a truly beautiful piece.

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Completed
Bed Friend
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 27, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

Well hot dayum...

So.. this was a lot to process, especially after binge-watching it over the span of 2 days. One of the rare times I actually see the merit in taking breaks between episodes but I guess if I had watched it while it aired, it would have been weekly breaks.

Anyway, going into this series, I hadn't seen any trailers or read any reviews though I kind of had an idea of what to expect.
Especially with a name like Bed Friend, I pretty much assumed it would be spicy though sometimes the spice is lost if the actors don't have the chemistry. But let me tell you, they had the chemistry in this series and then some. I like that the writers didn't put such a stigma around sex without love or looking down on the whole FWB arrangement. It was straight forward and, as far as their intimate relationship was concerned, they had fantastic communication with their expectations.

I kind of found it funny how in the opening credits, they had Tutor as if he were a major part and yet he only shows up in the last second of the series and says one line. I mean, I know they have their own series coming out but it just kind of stood out to me as if he was supposed to have a bigger role here than he really did. Likely they filmed the two series at the same time as they probably used a lot of the same locations and actors for both.

But I digress. The things I didn't like about this series: Pretty much everyone who interacts with Uea other than his work colleagues. Seriously, I feel like the writers were trying to think of all the possible negative relationship experiences a person could have (IE abusive parent, abusive step-parent, cheating ex, obsessive ex, sexual harassment in the workplace) and threw them all at a single character one after the other. And not every one of them gets resolved which is super frustrating. It's like they were addicted to traumatic drama without the redemption/resolution or lacked the creativity to actually give each problem a solution.... or both. By the second or third incident, it's obvious that they just want to show that King is there for him and is his rock. But by the 3rd or so time it's like "okay, we get it. Now can you please bring justice to these people?"

I also don't like that Uea never once thought to try and get his sister out of that situation as well. Plus the sister never really stood up for him either even though she saw what was going on with the mother and heard Uea's claims about the step-father. And yet she still asks him to come visit on behalf of her mother? That's messed up.

Even with all of that, I still really enjoyed the series and I would definitely watch it again. And yes, I admit, that's mostly for the hotness between the two main characters. They had a great push and pull dynamic going on outside of the bedroom, sure, but dayum the bedroom dynamic was off the charts. Give me a soft daddy and a power bottom combo and I'm a happy guy. LOL

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Completed
Ingredients
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 10, 2023
21 of 21 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Where "simple" goes a long way.

This series is proof that you don't need a huge budget to make a great show. If you have an interesting enough concept, the passion and the talent to back it up, those ingredients are enough to make a tasty dish indeed.

To be honest, I don't know anything about the production of this series though it is pretty clear they were working with not a whole lot. I can only assume it was because of the pandemic and there was only so much you were allowed to do when it was at the worst. But this didn't need a huge cast nor did it need lavish sets or location shoots. If you have talented actors, give them a hidden microphone and let them run with it.

This is a first time for me for Gameplay's works and I have to say he did a great job. However I was completely blown away by Jeff and I'll explain why. I know he has a huge following since he has an acting and music career and yes, he is really talented in both. This is only the second thing I've seen of his (the first being KinnPorsche) and I honestly liked him better here. I didn't particularly care for his role or performance in KP as he was pretty "broody" the entire time. But here, he was playful, fun-loving and seemed all-round NATURAL to the point where I wondered if most of his lines were improvised. He had great timing and honest reactions and the most subtle of looks/expressions that had me unable to look away from what he might do next. This performance alone is enough to make me a fan.

I really enjoyed the simplicity of the series and truly wish they get to revisit it sometime again. Sure, it's not a sad ending nor is it a happy one which could be left as is for the viewer to imagine what happens next. But after such a fantastic ride, I would love to see a more solid (and preferably happy) conclusion.

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Completed
Call It What You Want Season 2
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 27, 2023
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

Good for a second season series, but..

.. the pacing was a little disjointed for me. Some parts dragged while the ending felt super rushed.

With the main obstacle/villain being Tee, I would have rather we get to see better justice for his wrongdoings, both against James and Ait as a couple but especially for what he did to Bas. All we see is the clip being played on the monitors at the press conference and Tee running out so we don't even know if he was ever held accountable for his actions or if he managed to get away in the end. It's super frustrating because he was an effective "bad guy" that we loved to hate. They practically spent the entire 2 seasons of the series showing us all the reasons to hate him and then we get no resolution, whether it's good or bad. It just simply does not exist.

Speaking of what doesn't exist, I wish James and Ait knew more about how much Bas was struggling. They were on his side and wanted the best for him and yet they didn't know he was contemplating suicide? To be honest, I could have done without James and Ait entirely this season as I absolutely loved Bas and Marco together. I preferred them over the other couple in the first season too even though they weren't acquainted yet. I found their characters were more interesting individually and then just got better when they were together. I thought Michael and Daniel were better actors overall too over Benz and Time.

Besides the ending, I still thought it was a good series overall and as far as the couples were concerned, they had satisfyingly happy endings, which I am a sucker for.

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