Bro and Me (2019)

Bromance Slapstick

I'm not a big fan of slapstick comedy. It takes really experienced actors to pull it off. But I warmed up to it after I got my head into the story. The direction and editing is pretty amateurish, which distracts from the show. Let me see if I can make sense of the plot for you: Our hero is 17-year-old high schooler Jie'en. His mom has hired a tutor, 22-year-old Xie Yinong, who constantly bullies him. (The implied message here is when men are together they can exist in only one of two states: bully or gay-romantic. There's no middle ground where guys can just be caring friends.) Jie'en is in love with a girl named Ye Jinghan, so we have no reason to believe he's anything but straight. Jie'en shares his bed with Zie Yiong (his bed broke) and one night Jie'en strokes Zie Yiong's face while dreamingn of his girfriend. Zie Yiong mistakes this affection to be meant for him and from this point on becomes more caring toward Jie'en. One day, the devastatingly handsome friend of Jie'en's girlfriend, Xu Shaoyu, comes to visit while his apartment is being renovated. Xu Shaoyu is the "brother" Jie'en has always wanted. He's kind to Jie'en and helps him better with his homework than Zie Yiong. The 3 share the same bed that night and Zie Yiong pulls back the covers to reveal Jie'en cuddling with Xu Shaoyu. Assuming he's lost the younger man's affections, he leaves. (We only see the departure scene in an earlier episode and Jie'en is delighted to see him go). The final scene is the mirror image of the first scene when Zie Yiong arrives and Jie'en says in disbelief, "So...you're the new tutor my mom mentioned?" In the final scene we don't see who the new tutor is. In the first episode, Jie'en has a look of horror on his face at the sight on Zie Yiong; however, in this final scene, he has a look of delight. So, this must be the return of Xu Shaoyou. I'm not sure why the writer left the conclusion open ended, except maybe to force a sequel. We see enough of the new tutor to know it's a guy, so it isn't Ye Jinghan (the girlfriend). It isn't Zie Yiong because he has a silver suitcase and we know Jie'en wouldn't be smiling. Short of introducing a new character, there's no one left but Xu Shaoyu. Well, this was clearly a low budget affair, maybe they ran out of money to pay the actor for one more scene? It's a shame because the basic plot idea is sound and the cast is doing their best with a weak script. I'm not sure this qualifies as a Boys Love (BL) drama. This is really a Bromantic slapstick comedy. There are really no sexual situations except for innuendos that would only delight middle schoolers. The plot and the disappointing ending make this one hard to recommend.

Read More

Slapstick Bromance not BL

Overall, it was quite good. However, there were a few things that I didn’t like about this.

The first thing I didn’t like is how short the episodes are, the actual content is quite good but there is just not enough of it.
The second thing I didn’t like is that there are some errors in what I presume is the editing wherein the screen just cuts black for a second.
And, finally, the only other issue I have, which is only really a minor problem, is that the description gives off the impression that it is a romantic relationship between the two characters but it is actually more of a brotherhood.

The acting is over exaggerated but that is just part of its comedic value. The characters show a refreshingly fun relationship and there are many moments where you can just burst out laughing.

This is a good fairly lighthearted comedy and is definitely worth the watch. However, if you are looking for a serious bl romance like it seems this may be from the description and category tags, this may not be the one for you.

Read More

Was this real?

I honestly believe that this series was intended to be a joke. No way they were serious when they were making this series. Maybe they wanted to slap a few of us BL watchers in the face and say "take dat"

Story - The story, if it can be called that, did not live up to anything because it was practically none existent. The series began and it ended, whatever happened in-between those things was a failure. They tried, I think, but maybe it could have been a slapstick comedy, but in this series it was painful to watch. The characters had no substance and most of it felt like a child getting into their parents alcohol and having a fever dream. Nothing made sense....

Acting- The acting may have been good, but with the story that was presented, I couldn't tell. Everything seemed overdone or underwhelming. However, it may have just been what they had to work with.

Music - It had music... That's about all I can say. We could hear it but it had nothing to work with.

Read More

A series that leaves more questions than answers

'Bro and Me' (家教哥哥來我家) is a Taiwanese BL and LGBT+ themed miniseries of 8 episodes each lasting about 5 minutes on average. Starring in its main roles JN Yu as Jie En and Xie Yi Hong as Ye Hong, the plot shows the romantic relationship that arises between two heterosexual boys, one a high school student and the other, his tutor, whose lives will be altered once begin to live together under the same roof and in the same bed, after the second is hired by the first's mother. Filmed in 2019, in locations in Taipei, the series, of the comedy, romance and yaoi genre, was broadcast between September and December 2019 on Vidol TV, obtaining a notable commercial impact.
Argument
This sweet story of love and friendship introduces us to Jie En, who since he was a child dreamed of being as cool as Ye Hong, the boy 5 years older who lives next door. Immersed in his own routine, Ye Hong pays attention to Jie En just to have fun by teasing him from time to time.
As he grows up, the innocent and sweet-tempered Jie En sees in the cheeky and daring young man everything he has always wanted to be and secretly admires his neighbor as if he were his older brother.
In this romantic drama directed by Chen Mengwei we see how after Ye Hong leaves to study abroad, Jie En is devastated. He has lost the person who served as a reference in his life. However, you will soon have other reasons to occupy your thoughts: the pressure of getting into a good university forces you to focus solely on your studies.
Wanting only for her son to be able to study for a career, Jie En's mother, now 17 years old, announces that she has hired a tutor who, after graduating abroad, has returned and will move in with him to dedicate all his time. time and effort to ensure that his disciple obtains a good result in the exams.
If at first Jie En was insecure and even upset at having to share his house with a stranger, he will soon be furious when he realizes that the tutor is none other than the boy who has always made fun of him. However, both will live pleasant and happy moments under the same roof.
Living with Ye Hong brings joy to Jie En, at least until he discovers that Jing Han, the girl he has befriended in Ye Hong's absence, is actually Ye Hong's first love.
When Ye Hong's bed breaks, Jie En is forced to share his own with his tutor. One night, while the student is dreaming about Jing Han, he caresses Ye Hong's face, who, confused, believes that the boy has feelings for him. From this moment on, he changes his attitude towards Jie En and instead of mocking him, he will show unexpected affection.
This is how, suddenly, Jie En's life is altered again, now involved in a tangle of complicated relationships, misunderstandings and confusing emotions. Will the world make sense to him again?
Jing Han, who has understood the feelings between the two boys, acts like a fujoshi determined to match friends, and, to top it all off, adds a third to the already hectic dynamic between Jie En and Ye Hong, after proposing that they receive each other. his handsome friend, Xu Shaoyu, who has nowhere to sleep as his apartment is being renovated.
Will he come with the intention of breaking up the relationship in the event that Jie En falls in love with him?
From Jie En's perspective, will the unexpected visit be used to make Ye Hong jealous so that he decides to declare his love for her? Why does she accept the new guy's flirtation? Doesn't he seem to be very happy in Xu Shaoyu's presence?
That night the three boys must share the same bed. Waking up in the early morning, He Yong pulls back the covers and sees Jie En hugging Xu Shaoyu. Has he dreamed about Jing Han again and that's why he hugs him like he caressed him some time ago? Has he lost the affection of the young student? Have you ever loved him? Has it all been a product of your imagination?
The next day, after the visitor leaves, He Yong tries to talk to Jie En, but at the last minute he stops the impulse and remains silent. In the morning, Jie En discovers that the tutor has abandoned him.
In a series that leaves more questions than answers, it concludes as it begins, with the arrival of someone at Jie En's house and he, on the threshold, smiles and asks with disbelief, but marked surprise and undeniable joy: "So... you're the new tutor my mom mentioned?"
Although it is true that it is not shown who the tutor is, everything seems to indicate that it is none other than Ye Hong, who returns after abandoning Jie En. The long, thin, bony fingers are the same ones that ring the doorbell in the first episode. Furthermore, the newcomer drags the suitcase, as Ye Hong did upon his arrival, and not the backpack hanging on his back in which Xu Shaoyu usually carries his belongings.
The story is solid and the protagonists play their roles well and have the potential to act in BL series, as can be verified in their respective filmographies. With well-developed characters and events, a good boy love series could be achieved.

Read More