Dark Blue Kiss (2019)

Watched for Sun and Mork

Let me tell you about "Dark Blue Kiss," the captivating sequel to "Kiss Me Again." When I first watched this series, it was Gawin's impressive acting in "Not Me" that drew me in. While many fans adore Pete and Kao, I found myself more intrigued by the Sun and Mork storyline. Perhaps it's because I wasn't a fan of Pete in the prequel, and school BLs aren't really my thing.

The series continues the stories of Kao, Pete, Sun, and Mork. In "Dark Blue Kiss," Kao and Pete's relationship grows stronger, but they still keep it hidden. Pete's jealousy is ignited when Non shows interest in Kao, putting strain on their bond. Meanwhile, Sun begins to move on from his unrequited love for Kao and starts getting closer to Mork. Despite their clashes, Sun's seriousness helps Mork find stability, leading to unexpected feelings between them. The series explores Sun and Mork's evolving relationship, adding depth and heartwarming moments to the story.

For me, the Sun and Mork storyline with the enemy-to-lovers trope was the highlight. The character development of both Sun and Mork throughout the series was fantastic. They each had their misconceptions of one another, but as their relationship evolved, they came to understand and appreciate each other more deeply. Gawin's acting in "Not Me" made me a fan, but "Dark Blue Kiss" solidified my admiration for him.

This series stands out as a gay drama disguised as a BL, where all the main and side characters are gay. I appreciated that Sun and Mork's relationship wasn't rushed or unrealistic. Their story arc was compelling and brought depth to their relationship, making it more relatable and engaging.

"Dark Blue Kiss" is a captivating and well-crafted series that explores the complexities of love, jealousy, and self-discovery. If you enjoy meaningful character development and realistic portrayals of relationships, this series is worth a watch.

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Unexpectedly good

First things first - so... I hate Non. No surprise there. But what I hate more than the fact that I hated Non, is that Non was created for the sole purpose of being hated. That makes him 2D, and I like my characters, especially antagonists, to have three dimensions, thankyouverymuch. The only attempt at adding depth to him is making his father an asshole, and even that felt less like actual depth and more like a cheap excuse for his assery. It might be a personal hang-up, but I can't stand villains that were created for nothing other than villainy. Stories are that much more entertaining for me when the bad guy is not that easy to hate, so the fact that Non was such a 2D bad guy spoilt things for me a little bit.

I still liked the quite mature development in the PeteKao relationship enough to thoroughly enjoy everything else, but, again, no surprise that my favorite part of the show was SunMork. Holy crap, those two stole the show completely.

Also, ifl Sandee. Honestly, that entire group of friends is just adorable, but Sandee was so amazing in the way she dealt with their issues with maturity and behaved as the voice of reason. I love all the scenes with her just being totally badass in general, but the fact that she was an atypical non-bitchy female character in BL made her all the more lovable. Seriously, all the girls in this BL were just so amazing and supportive, so unlike the usual crappy ones, that it made me very happy. (I guess Non took the bitch role to a whole new level so that the girls could remain the awesome queens they are.)

I didn't watch Kiss or Kiss Me Again before this, so I didn't have much of an issue with the plot holes/continuity issues that I saw in other reviews, so this review and rating is purely for DBK as a standalone.

PS - the opening was just Chef's Kiss. I'm obsessed.

PPS - Rain is such a cutie.

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weaponized incompetence

So, after almost five years, we finally made it. I tried to start this show 3 times: once when it was airing, twice a couple of months ago, and thrice 1 day ago. And in about 24 hours, I finished the show. Heavy case of Haven't we been here before? I have so much stuff I need to do, but I love writing reviews a lot, so I am going to write this and then the sign special and then probably get ready for work lol (I haven't done any of this and the day is almost done). I am so tired because I was watching this literally all day yesterday while going to school and working on college apps. I don't have a headline, and I need to average it out. 8.7916 out of 10, so I am going to round it down to 8.5 out of 10, and let's do this.

Pete's red flag list, because I said I was going to write it lol:
1. He is a fucking control freak.
2. Heavy case of weaponized incompetence ("a passive-aggressive behavior where someone intentionally or unintentionally pretends to be unable to complete a task in order to avoid responsibility)," which is not cute or sexy; it is fucking annoying. I think this is seen with his attitude and his intelligence, which is very much lacking.
3. TRUST ISSUES.
4. Gets jealous over literal air sometimes.
5. Silver Spoon was so far up HIS ASS, it gave him a colonoscopy.
6. RBF.
7. Blows a fuse very easily.
8. Anger management issues.
9. Incapable of admitting that he is wrong.
10. Empathy issues (me too, babe)
11. He gets angry at Pete for no reason
12. Anger is the only emotion that he feels.
13. Little bitchitus

Coming for your job and coming for your man: Because the headline I put in this episode was so funny I needed to put it. "Haven't we been here before? Yes, yes, we have." I needed something to watch that was not on my graveyard watchlist like this would have ended up, so I picked this because I remembered I have free will. This show was very nostalgic, and I didn't understand why a day ago, and I still don't know why. It felt very nostalgic, like I had watched something like it before. We had Asshole x Sweetheart (Pete and Kao), Fighter x Nagger (Mork and Sun), I like your friend x I like you (Manow and Rain), and a little bitch that is going to ruin everything just because he can't handle rejection (Non). I did not watch the prequel and probably should, but this episode set everything up perfectly, and it all unraveled in what felt like a very timely manner.

"Peak the show finding someone to hinder our main couple so they can drag this out and not just end the first episode with them dating." That summarized the show perfectly, and I could stop here, but I love writing, so I will not. I was very much addicted to Mork (played by the sexy Gawin Caskey); he was giving off such a bad-boy vibe, and I was fucking obsessed. Pete was making me very angry because he was really so fucking annoying. If Pete got his head out of his own ass and actually understood that not everyone was born with a silver spoon in their mouth and can do whatever the fuck they want, the show would have ended a lot faster. Pick your own battles, I guess.

I went to bed and woke back up to continue watching, and Pete was making me angry. Genuinely, how can anyone put up with someone like that? I was right about Non's crazy ass dad and him giving me the ick. Non is just misunderstood and a kid but it does not excuse what he did to Pete and Kao. This had some really good acting and every time I felt myself getting really angry I pulled myself back and just said good acting. Also, Sun and his sexy ass has a hard time being wrong and admitting that. That is also a big red flag. Mork and Sun were very cute and a nice break from the main couple, even though they definitely should have been a main couple because we were seeing a lot of them. I thought they were I am going to be honest. Mork and Pete were actually the same, it was just okay for Mork because he was sexy? Like Pete is as well, but everyone hates Pete and his issues, but people just think Mork is a handsome bad boy, instead of an angry hot head. What does that say about our society?

Pete was driving me up the wall, dude. Legs were spread for Mork though. Kao brings out the best in Pete and is the only thing holding him back from losing his mind, which isn't a good thing at all, that's weaponized incompetence. Okay, I was starting to sympathize with Pete because his boyfriend is actually being preyed on by Non and everyone is acting like Pete is the crazy one (which he is but in this case, he is not). He just has a hard time expressing himself lol. Okay, I need to shower and get ready for work. Okay, I am now at work and continuing this. Mork was still my man, with his sexy ass. Also, is Manow in high school? How old is she? Because aren't Rain and Mork juniors (3rd years) or are they 2nd years? Still predatory behavior, we had a lot of that. There is one non-broke person out of the main couples lol and it is Pete's insufferable ass. I was confused about how the two main couples collided, but it was through Sun and Kao at the cafe, which was interesting. Once again me complaining about Pete. Seeing all of the different worlds that everyone is living in was interesting. Mork and Sun were overdue rent soulmates.

Freak 7 days a week: Pete's bat shit craziness was genuinely stressing Kao out and making him overwhelmed for no reason. Also, Tay has serious RBF (resting bitch face); even when he smiles, he still has RBF, lol. He is very attractive, and that and his sexy nose definitely add to it. And New has serious RSF (resting scared face). He always looks like he is being held at gunpoint, even in his own Instagram post. The intro was lowkey really good and summed up the show pretty well. "This show reminds me of something, but I can't remember what." I still don't know and I have been thinking about it since episode one. Manow likes Mork. Also, peak Sun and Rain preying on people younger than them. Kao attracts crazy ass men and he needs to learn how to set boundaries. Non was so messy and was actually a great villain and I loved it. People always push Pete's buttons constantly, and his dad always trying to pave the way for him, but him never being enough, and he acts crazy because of that. He has all of this pressure, and it is making him lose his fucking mind. Pete was really trying to change; he wanted to be better for Kao, be better for his friends and family; he just gets made very easily, like losing his shit mad, making him go backward. He is also like this because of all of this hatred from his cousins and being gay, the world didn't do him justice and made him out to be a villain, and a villain he became dude and a villain he became. The whole bloodline (Sun and Rain) was jealous, lol. I recognized my first scene, and it was the weird FaceTime scene. it was clear from the start that Kao didn't like Non, and he was very standoffish with him because of this Non was taking advantage of his kindness, and that's why Pete is mad. All nice people need mean friends or a mean boyfriend in this case. Sun is a freak and I am actually so in love with everything about him. He and those freaky ass eyes, damn legs spread not to be weird or anything. Uh, Sun and Mork are Kao and Pete, just different branches of both of them.

Peak Sun taking advantage of the fact that Mork has no other form of transportation besides him. The subtitles were wack, and I understood until 1 minute 30 seconds in and then I realized there were no subtitles, lol. I would crash out if I was Rain, I am actually surprised that the show didn't milk his story more because he had every right to be angry at the world all the time. Pete has stage fright, which is very out of character for him and makes him more human. Also terrible friends for making fun of him for that. He does not like being judged and all that attention on him, but they just continue to make him a villain on that. (My manager just judged me for doing homework, side eye). Peak Sun and his smirks again. I have to follow this sexy man on Instagram, bro. stalking him right now lol. I now follow him on Instagram. What a sexy man. I have to clock in now, lol. OH SHIT, HE'S THE VILLAIN IN WANDEE GOODDAY. Full circle moment. He is so much hotter in this, but I knew I recognized him from somewhere. Peak him trying to be a good person, but it always came to bite him in the ass. Non is such a gaslighter and manipulator; they did that so well. People like that are always so "nice." love to see it. Pete thinking he is crazy because of Non. Non sticking his nose where it shouldn't belong and gaslighting everyone with the "nice guys finish last" personality. I know two people like that in my life, side eye. Non was just fucking with Pete the whole show and then got all defensive when Pete rightfully blew his lid every time. Non had some great switch-ups; love to see that good acting. He is trying to get Pete alone and fuck with the people around him. "Non just wants to fuck around and find out; I would punch his ass in the face. Suddenly I am Pete, bro." So true, me, so true. "Fuck, dude. What we hate about other people is what we hate about ourselves. I’m having this problem with Pete right now because I’m sitting there and his friends are just calling him an asshole because he’s literally in the right and he’s just speaking his truth and that’s what I hate about him, that he’s an asshole, but I see myself in him, problematic. Also, Non and Pete are the same. They’re both troubled and want to prove themselves. Just Non is doing it correctly and Pete is not." This sums up the next few episodes perfectly. Mork is a great singer; shout out my boy Gawin, might need to go back to this just to hear him sing again. Also, Mork tweaks out and seethes when he is mad, nostrils flaring and shit. Girl me too.

Holy fuck I wrote so much. Maybe the real engineering was the friends we made along the way. Pete was doing so well in terms of development and I love them for him. I am glad they wrote his character like that instead of it happening overnight, it took about the whole show and that was interesting. Pete and Non are the same, that's why they clash so fucking much. Blowing stuff out of proportion all for Kao. Pete is valid in how he is feeling, he just doesn't know how to express it correctly. Okay, I am gonna go back to work. I swear to god they only kissed twice bro, insane.

"Getting freaky on the living room sofa is insane." I think that all the stuff that Pete's dad put him through I am glad that he is supportive because that could have made him an even worse villain lol. I was going to stop and then finish this today but I kept going, I couldn't stop.

We get a full circle moment because of how the show started, we are finally there. Pete is low for the ultimatum though, he was doing so fucking good, but his rich ass can't fathom that people do stuff because they need money. Also, the two couples fell apart simultaneously and I didn't appreciate that lol. "One day {Kao} will stop putting up with his bullshit and it's all gonna be over." Will that day be any time soon, we don't know. And I was getting very depressed with everything that was happening. I wish my mom loved me like that, damn. Non giving the peace sign after ruining literally everything is funny as fuck.

"Ruining people's lives because you got rejected and can't understand that is crazy work." Non was such a good villain and his smile in the introduction when he was sitting down on the ground, evil. I love it, I love it so much. Kao is just like what the fuck is happening. He had no idea that Pete came to talk to him or that he texted him. That's just sick and twisted. Turning everyone against someone, including someone he loved so much, just so you could date him is so fucking low. And that didn't even happen because he doesn't like children. Also Non lying to his dad about attempted rape was fucking crazy. Non is literally bigger, taller, and stronger than Kao, it doesn't matter if he is younger, that is attempted fucking rape, all because he was scared of his father. That's fucked up dude. I think the show did this very well.

I felt bad for Kao, Non also forced him to come out to his mom and I could tell he wasn't ready. It hurts man, it hurts a lot. Mork and Sun get their shit together and they continued to steal my heart in this show because they were so fucking cute. Sun's eyes were so soft and he was so in love. Dropped the "I love you" twice lol. So fucking cute and Mark's eyes were soft too. Fuck I love, love stories. Also, Non bro, if you are going ruin someone's life to try to get them to date you, get your head out of your dad's fucking ass first.

I finished this so late last night and I had so many regrets because I was exhausted this morning. This show took a very dark turn very fucking fast. It was insane. It was all sunshine and rainbows and then it just started to go crazy downhill. It was very overwhelming, to say the least. It kept pilling issues on top of other issues and the sad part was that it was very fucking realistic. Because people act like this in everyday life man. Pete knew where his heart was and I am glad he made that weird live, sure he outed himself and Kao in the process but he did come around and that was cute. Oh, love. “And kissing underwater would stress me out lol. Both single parents two very different kids. Peak 2 moons with this every day and night I love you song lol.” And that was the end. I don’t really know how I feel about the ending, though. I feel like they could’ve done more with it and added more. I guess cute moments and development, but they didn't. Eh, it was still good.

And yeah, this takes us to the end of the review. Ain't that something? Would I recommend it? Yeah, it is a classic and has a good couple. If you wanna be less confused, maybe watch the prequel. But I don’t know, I haven't seen it yet. Then again I am a stranger online you don’t have to listen to me. Maybe see this show in another 5 years? Okay bye!

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First one to make me cry!

BL's make me happy, embarrassed, excited, but they have never made me cry, until this one!

This had all the good stuff, a main couple with great chemistry and realistic issues, a cute side couple. Great group of friends. A good sprinkle of villain/drama and all the feels!

One event in here truly destroyed me. I could feel that heartache through the screen. Watching them go through the motions of heartbreak had me in tears! It felt to real. It felt like it would never get better, that this was going to be it and we'd have to feel this pain for the rest of our lives. This was more upsetting then my own break up in real life! I never want this to happen in another BL again! I'm not crying, YOU ARE, okay we're both crying now WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

I felt so bad for Koa though, his little sad puppy face, trying to tell everyone he didn't do anything wrong while not being listened to at all.

The only thing that this was lacking was spice. The kisses were locked lipped, there was only one bed scene and nobody really talked about the deed besides a few teasing bits. I like my BL to be a little less PG.

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It is a great series. I love the story, the characters, the theme songs and the actors are very talented. The male leads and side characters are all so good looking, ang popogi nila makalaglag panty. It is a must watch series. I just wished it was longer, more episodes, go for season two. the series is so romantic and their acting/feelings they are all natural, grabe yung emotions feel na feel mo.
🥰😍😘💞🤩💕😻❤️‍🔥It is a great series. I love the story, the characters, the theme songs and the actors are very talented. The male leads and side characters are all so good looking, ang popogi nila makalaglag panty. It is a must watch series. I just wished it was longer, more episodes, go for season two. the series is so romantic and their acting/feelings they are all natural.

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Should’ve watched it sooner.

When I first heard about Dark Blue Kiss, I saw many mixed reviews. I saw more negative than positive so I put it off. Boy what a mistake that was. TayNew really has been that pairing since the beginning. The natural chemistry and comfortability. It’s genuinely something you cannot fake.
The story- gworl I laughed, cried, threw my self against the wall (mentally) and left at the end with a fulfillment that I should’ve experienced sooner.
It would be crazy if I didn’t mention Pond and Gawin. They’re acting when it comes to their characters as Sun and Mork *insert giggling emoji*. The flirtatious eyes were all I needed.
Anyways it was good and should’ve watched it sooner.

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This thing got me emotional. Twice.

I had to rewatch this series again, because the first time I definitely overscored this for sentimental reasons (I cried) and it didn't seem fair.

It's nice, the third act is definitely stronger than the first two, as in story and acting - especially by New, whose sad little face always makes me want to pat-pat his back and tell him that everything is going to be okay.

Contrarily to most of the comments I've read about this series, I'm not a big fan of SunMork, because unfortunately I don't like Sun's character very much, but I like that they had their happy ending as well! (Mork does deserve to catch more Pokémon on Pokémon Go, though. I hope he completes the Pokédex, I'd love that for him)

Pete and Kao keep being dysfunctional but apparently they're happy that way and it's fine. Sure, if this was a real life relationship, the red flags would be infinite, but it's not, and they're really cute when they don't start a jealousy scene or lie to the other for nothing.

The theme song is still very lovely, and I certainly will keep it in my playlist, while the opening score is ICONIC. I love it. If others opening sequences are good, this is their queen. The drama of it. The strings. The post-it notes with LOVE and LIE written on it. Amazing. I would love it as soundtrack during specific moments in my life just for making me feel like a badass.

The cast is obviously great. Love the original Cool Gang, and all the other secondary characters too, but the four main characters are all perfect. TayNew especially delivered great performances, reprising their roles from some of their earliest acting roles. They have grown a lot since this series too and I'm curious to see them work together as other characters as well: I'm sure their chemistry and skill will make anything they do worth watching.

As for the parenthesis in the first sentence of this review, it's true. I did cry watching this the first time. I don't know what it was, I've watched series like this before, but I guess something in this one got me. Could have been the sad music during the whole breakup period. Could have been New's little sad pout. Could have been the fact that Kao found himself alone in what looked like the worst time of his career and had no one to vent to. Could have been the fact that he came out to his mom not in the way he wanted, but she accepted him anyway, and gave him no pressure to do so, even if she suspected it. Maybe because when Pete and Kao find each other near the school office and they decide to talk , it's clear that they miss each other and the love is still there, even though they won't admit it. Or maybe because when Pete defends Kao during his live, he says they're friends, and their friendship has been very important to the both of them throughout their relationship, since the beginning, and, reader I'm sorry, but I'm a sucker for this whole trope.

All this to say that, sure, Dark Blue Kiss isn't a 10/10 even if it might make me cry, but it isn't that bad either.

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Don't recommend

Happy ending but it wasn't worth sitting through, it was pure torture I don't remember the character's name, but the show had unnecessary drama for the leads and supporting characters. The drama literally was dragged until the very end, it has an obsessed high schooler who became infatuated with one of the male lead's boyfriends. I can't remember if it started off to be petty and annoy the one he was rivals with and later turned into obsession love but my god the male lead one who wants to be a celebrity didn't trust his bf who was a tutor it was part of his job to tutor students who hired him. I can't remember why he still continued to tutor his stalker but the two male leads get into constant fights cuz the wannabe celebrity let his jealousy take over destroying his relationship with his bf knowing full well his bf wouldn't cheat on him but he let his stupidity take over. The supporting cast I don't remember much just one has anger issues and the other didn't want to date someone younger and i think he still had trust issues and didn't want to let someone in cuz of his past. I don't recommend at all unless you like sitting through intense drama.

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Left me feeling anything but blue

This one is an underappreciated gem of a show!
Let me start of by saying I did not watch Kiss, nor did I watch Kiss Me Again.
What I did instead was watch a fan-made cut of Kiss Me Again (edited and linked here on MDL by the lovely Claudeville) which provided me with a solid grasp of all the characters' backgrounds and relationships and was more than sufficient for me to be able to fully appreciate DBKs continuation of the story.
Production quality wise, the series is excellent. The visuals are lovely, the music is fantastic (I am an absolute sucker for dramatic strings, so the intro is right up my alley), and script and performances are incredible.
I've seen some people take issue with the continuity errors between DBK and its predecessors, but personally I think the changes made were for the best.

DBK is still a soap opera, but it focuses heavily on the real issues many queer men have to deal with. The characters' overlapping relationships are complex and there is plenty of drama, but there is a sense of realism and authenticity to the story that is rare in this genre.
One thing the show does particularly well is the way it explores the many difficulties and issues surrounding a coming-out.
It shows the heavy relationship strain of one partner being closeted, the insecurities this can cause to arise, the resentment constant secrecy can breed. It highlights the painfully real social and financial concerns closeted people have to reckon with when they are considering coming out.
Where other shows main concern lies in whether or not their characters can find the courage to openly be themselves, DBK forces its characters to consider whether they even have the luxury to make that choice in the first place. Another user, Moonbyulie, elaborates further on this in their review, which makes for very interesting reading and I highly recommend having a look at that as well should you be interested.

Another strong point of the series are its characters. They are all (deeply) flawed, yet highly likeable individuals whose conflicting backgrounds and ideals lead to many painful clashes and whose individual journeys of character growth are both gut-wrenching and an absolute joy to watch.
They may at times make frustratingly poor choices, but they never stop calling each other out on their problematic behaviour and they never stop supporting and caring for one another.
Even Non, the show's ostensible "villain", is an incredibly complex character who walks the line between hateful and sympathetic perfectly.

In short, I highly recommend giving this show a shot. It's not perfect - some plot points certainly fall a bit short and some writing choices are questionable - but it also offers some of the most compelling and layered characterisations to be found in this genre.
If you enjoy well-written romance dramas that tackle real-world issues with skill and a good dash of humour, then this one is for you.
If you're in the market for a more serious and mature slice-of-life story which provides a well-balanced mix of romance and character study, then you will enjoy this series as well.

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Story is uniqe but that good as I expected.
Too watch this drama I had first watched kiss me againg petekao. Even that the relation between main lead dissapoint me a little. The main leads are good compatable as both good friends(among everyone) and compatable couple(in no one around).First they were a secret lovey-doveky couple and their relationship was only known by Pete fatherand he has no objection with it. This was all good. But when the reivel of Pete arieved(Non) the things gone a little upside down(it is hard to explain with words). Pete and Kao were in relationship for almost 2.5 /3 years. They should have some metual understanding among them. Pete should have understand Kao's stuation and Kao also should have told and explain to him without lieing. If this I ignore this part as they had no choice, but I can't the part of not to beleiveing in kao's words. Even knowing that Non is a spoil kid and a brat. Pete is insecure for Kao with him because of Non's charecter but he should not have separeted with Kao by beleiving in Non' words.
Other supported lead role Sun & Mork.. What I should I say about them. I litterary continued the drama because of them. They are both manly nothing like one is weak anfd other is not. Their chemistry was good. I wished they could have a sapareted drama. In my opinion they shine more than the main lead couples.

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Binged it and remembered why I like watching BL

So freaking good.
I just finished watching this a couple minutes ago and I am still riding the high however I just truly loved this show. I even got sad that I had to part ways with these characters I had fallen for and their stories.
First of all I felt it handle so many aspects that are under talked about in Thai BL and in a very realistic manner like coming out and sexuality.
Then the Chemistry!! I honestly didn’t expect to like them this much, they seemed very comfortable with each other and PeteKao felt very genuine, just young guys still in the process of finding themselves together.
The acting was very very solid as well I never felt it lacking from any of the cast, actually I might’ve shred a tear or two and gotten so mad that I wanted to break something.
SunMork were really amazing too, I liked their dynamic and PoddGawin serve the visuals really good.
Finally, I just had a very freaking good time watching this show, I had been some month not being able to watch any bl and dropping some of the new ones so I decided to watch this old gem and it did not disappoint, very recommended!!

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