In Between (2020)

GREAT ACTING IN A PAINFULLY SLOW SERIES

If they made this a short series with 6 to 8 episodes i would totally eat this show. The painfully slow and repetitive execution has wasted talented new actors.

The very good: the characters and the acting. I just love everyone, I think there was a treasure of character here that could have made the story so much richer. Add to thr fact that eventhough these are relative newbie actors, they all acted so naturally.

The so-so: the story. Started with a good overall plot, and then it became boring. And then they gifted us with Pangs couple, and then they bored us with it too. And then that final act - stretched in 4 to 5 episodes.

The really bad: the execution. For the love of the forces above, who gave them the idea that its fun to watch a series of about 14 20-minute episodes where there was almost nothing new happening every week. Waiting for episodes weekly is painful but for it to be uneventful was like torture. Adding salt to the injury is the unending reuse of footages disguised as mystery revelations but is just there to explain what actually happened as if viewers are kindergartens. Long intro, then a recap, then the repetitious episodes as if the recap isnt enough and then the long outro - you can just imagine how much time is left for the new content. If they transformed it into a mini series with about 6 to 8 episodes they could have given us a very solid series.

Will i rewatch- of course not, why would i subject myself to the pain again.

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In Between (2020): Betwixt the Great and Not-So-Great Pinoy BL Series

True to its title, in terms of overall quality, “In Between” is just below the great Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series (like “Gameboys” and “Hello Stranger”) and just above the not-so-great Pinoy BL series. In other words, it’s a middle-tier Pinoy BL series. There were lots of things to like about "In Between" but there were also few things not like about this series.

“In Between” had a promising plot/storyline that looked at what’s in between hellos and goodbyes in relationships (“Hello and goodbye are not important. What’s important is the in between...”). It’s not in the extremes of relationships where we find the meanings of friendship and love, it’s more on the everyday events of these relationships. Using a nonlinear narrative that traversed different times, the series was able to show the character backgrounds and relationship development of Tau and Otep. It also presented the solid friendship among the Boom Harots. And it also introduced the Pangs ship of Nin and Makisig. I would have wanted to know more about the female characters Bianx and Nicole but at least this series' portrayal of women weren’t toxic. My issues with this series were the fillers (particularly the long and repetitive recaps) and the slow pace. While I liked the snippets from the past, there were just too many flashbacks that didn’t quite allow the audience to piece everything together on their own. But along the way, I’ve learned to tolerate all these issues.

While “In Between” had cheesy and preachy lines, the screenplay for the entire series was generally relatable. There were problematic dialogues that exemplified internalized homophobia and queerness denial as exemplified by Tau’s response to Nin when the latter said “I cannot believe that you actually like boys,” to which Tau said, “Not exactly. It’s just Otep. Otep is different.” I was also uncomfortable with what appeared to be heteronormative roles in Tau and Otep’s relationship. But there were also powerful lines from Otep’s mother Sandra (“Love is a complex thing. And we are allowed to love who we want to love”), Tau (“If they will judge us, then let them. What’s important is we are not hurting anyone”), and Nicole (“Remember, there is no problem in loving... What’s wrong is people’s dirty minds. We are very proud of you... We will support you all the way”). And of course, the Pangs dialogues were always cute and funny.

In terms of acting, everyone in the cast performed well. Most of them (Migs, Shiara, Renshi, Lara, and Ron) have acting experience. The newbies (Genesis, Lance, and Kimson) were alright. The main couple, Tau and Otep and the side couple, Nin and Makisig had chemistry together. The Tau and Otep kissing scenes were sweet and tender. Both Migs and Genesis looked sexy in their own way while Renshi and Lance looked adorable. While Tau and Otep were the sexy pair, Pangs were the cute pair.

While I didn’t like the editing because of the fillers and slow pace, production design and cinematography were largely satisfactory. The resort scenic view was amazing. Experiencing the effects of the pandemic, there’s something about the beautiful outdoors that calms me. Somehow, it tells me that things will get better. The resort scenic view was indeed a wonderful setting for the season finale. The consistent use of the Pinoy indigenous script Baybayin all throughout the season was really nice. Migs singing the soundtrack “Mahal Kita, Paalam” (I Love You, Goodbye) was good. While this account, Pinoy BL Series, never asked to be acknowledged and this account will continue to do what it does even without acknowledgement, Pinoy BL Series is nevertheless grateful to “In Between” for always acknowledging this account on their post-credits.

On the whole, I would definitely recommend rewatching “In Between.” It’s a middle-tier Pinoy BL series with lots of things viewers can like. With that, I'm looking forward to the Pangs spin-off series and the “In Between” second season!

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Started Strong But Lost Steam Halfway...

I was excited to learn that another BL has begun airing when I saw a YouTube comment under Sakristan mentioning that In Between has begun airing! And a Pinoy BL that doesn't center on video calls! Revolutionary! Lol. But it is nice seeing pinoy BL that doesn't have a virtual format. Hopefully, we'll get more of that in the future.

In regards to the show, I was pleasantly surprised with the crisp, clear cinematography, which shows that this series had got budget! The acting is decent and several actors tried too hard to be emotional or funny, but it wasn't anything glaring (unlike Sakrisitan lol). The story started off with the breakup of the two leads, which was quite sad. However, it quickly reverted to a lighter, colourful atmosphere. The tonal shift was a bit jarring to be honest. The story was a bit slow so far, but I am interested in seeing how Otep and Tau's relationship will play out and why Otep felt so uncomfortable around Tau after spending time in L.A.

For me, there was too much unnecessary filler scenes in Episode 2. Did we really have to learn about the "two truths and one lie" of the friends, which took up like half of the episode? This series is only 5 episodes. Shouldn't they focus more on the main couple? The main couple's chemistry was palpable and their scenes were quite nice. Hopefully, the next few episodes will have more of them and less of the friends.

Episode 3 was also quite slow though it was nice to see the episode focus of Otep and Tau’s relationship. The flashback scenes of Otep and Tau secretly dating one another & being all happy were quite nice. The cinematography is still quite impressive. I’m excited to see the next episode!

Episode 4 was also slow, but I liked it. There's a lot of filler in this series, but I am enjoying it a lot! I love #TauTep's dynamic. There's this realism of heartbreak and sacrifice that touched me. I am glad that they have decided to extend this series though as 5 episodes would not be enough for this story. I'm hyped for #TauTep to get back together!

Episode 5 was quite good. However, it was disappointing to hear Tau say that he doesn't like boys, just Tep. Excluding that dialogue line, this series is progressing quite nicely. There's less filler and TauTep's relationship really pulls you in, It's definitely one of my favorite BL's currently airing at the moment along with Hello Stranger.

Episode 6 was also quite good as it showed some kilig moments between TauTep such as them brushing their teeth together in front of the mirror and teasing each other! My heart! It was also revealed that on of TaeTeo's friends, Ronin, whose friends constantly joke about being single, is actually secretly gay and that he has a boyfriend! It seems like knowing that Tau and Tep are in a relationship will give him the courage to come out to his friends. I love that! Gay people inspiring others to come out and to be true to themselves! I also wonder who the shirtless guy in the last scene is and what his role will be in the story. Is he Tep's boyfriend from America? I guess we'll just have to wait to find out!

Episode 7 was quite nice as we got to see some more kilig moments between TauTep and learned more about the "pangs' couple. So far, I don't see much chemistry between Ronin and Makisig but hopefully, in the following episodes, their chemistry will improve. On a side note, what happened to the shirtless Orion dude from the end of Episode 6? I thought that he was Tep's LA boyfriend, but Tep said that that was a lie (unless he was lying). I was expecting Orion to be addressed in this episode, but he wasn't. Hopefully, it will be addressed in Episode 8.

The series is starting to slow down as it begins to temper its story as there isn't really much in terms of story progression.

Overall, this BL series was decent as it started off strong but quickly became repetitive and dull when it got extended due to its popularity.

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wow this is a drama where i did not have the urge to screenshot anything bc it's so painfully boring

there's no direction to the story, an ambigious plot, no clarified timeline... just flashbacks and episodes looking like a bunch of clips merged into a montage... it's so clustered to the point that there's literally no reason for anything lol

the only thing that is worth mentioning is the cast. at least the acting was okay. i liked the girls and pangs. they legit carried the drama on their backs. it kinda sucks that we didn't get to see pangs meet but i guess that's for season 2?

honestly, this would've been better if there were less flashbacks, the recap of previous episode is shortened and the script is tuned a bit.

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Good story, bad pacing: i.e. flashbacks inferno!

I feel I need to rant about this series! What it could and should have been and what it was not! Firstly, the title has nothing to do with the drama. It is a story about a couple: how they got together, how they broke up, how they got together again, a jealous interlude and the final happily ever after. There is nothing in between here! A normal A to Z romance plot! And then there is the pacing and editing which ruined a perfectly good show!

It is a story of five close friends and their respective love lives. Two of them were secretly in a relationship but they broke up. Another one has been in a secret long distance relationship for years afraid to tell his best friends about it. One girl has a long-term boyfriend she feels getting more and more distant. And the last girl apparently has too high standards to date. The key issue treated here is communication and lack thereof in a relationship!

The group of friends are really good together, they talk a lot to each other and are supportive but secrets are many and are menacing to ruin their close friendship if not told or at least explained. The main couple are Tau and Tep who see each other for the first time one year after they broke up. They still have feelings for each other and they finally talk about everything realizing they are still in love so they get back together.

It is rather fluffy and superficial series: the most serious bit is the opening credits warning! The worst is of course the surprise! Why would people think that preparing a secret surprise is a good idea? We see it over and over again: one person wants to surprise the other one with a party or some such event and goes around talking in secret and hiding things from the other person who, seeing all this going on cannot help but be hurt and suspicious. And even when the person suspecting foul play talks and asks for explanation, his doubts are brushed away by the other person as sille. I find this extremely cruel. I've seen this repeating often in dramas and even though the person surprised forgives the stress, I find it ominous for their relationship. Here Tep even apologizes to Ri, Tau's coworker who helped him set up the surprise event, even though, we find out later, he was very much right about Ri having feelings for Tau.

Communication and honesty are the key: do not lie, hide things from your partner. It is hurtful! To gain acceptance, one needs to be truthful to oneself first and foremost and then to the people closest to you: friends and family.

So the problem with this series is not the story but the technical aspect: the editing mostly! There are 14 twenty minutes episode. Every episode is split in two parts of about 10 min each. Out of those 10 min there are about 3 min of credits, previously on and next on. Out of the remaining minutes there is about 4min of plot while the rest are flashbacks! This would have made a nice movie or a short maybe 6 episode series: there is not enough of plot for so many episodes which is a shame! The pacing is off: there are flashbacks of flashbacks, going back to past and from there further in the past but it is not often clear which past it is. The editing is confusing and you have to pay attention to the smallest details to understand which past is being told. There were also some continuity errors but silly ats that may be, it just adds to the lacking technical side of this drama.

Can somebody please edit this series? If you do that the rating will go through the roof: because there is nothing fundamentally
wrong with the plot or acting! It is a nice web drama. But that editing.....

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A simple and heartfelt story of a normal BxB relationship

In Between the Series is definitely not the flashiest BL series that the surging Philippine market has to offer. It’s cast are basically newbies (both leads were student-athletes and this is Genesis’ first acting work), it does not offer romcom vibe, and to be honest, the trailer and sneek-peaks often portray the series as too dark, bland, and boring. So why watch this?

The story is rather simple. Best friends who turned lovers, until Tau (Migs Villasis) broke up with Tep (Genesis Redido) due to a reason that only he knows why. A birthday celebration turned reunion allowed them to meet once more, either to rekindle their relationship or end it for good.

Acting-wise, it was obviously awkward at first but the cast became comfortable as the episodes went. You can really see them as your own circle of friends, either during your childhood, school days, or adult life. Chemistry of the cast was on point. The leads are truly believable as friends-turned-lovers-turned exes. Overall, I can say that everyone adds value to the story. The emotions that they expressed were very natural. You can imagine yourself laughing, crying, teasing, getting jealous, or being serious just the way they portray it in the series.

Music is great, no doubt. Cinematography is one of the best out of all the Pinoy BL series.

So what are the weak points? I’d say there are two. First, the pacing. It was somewhat on the slow side even for a melancholic series. Fillers filled the start of the series and flashbacks ruled the latter parts. While I am into the idea of using them to emphasize the leads’ story ‘between their last goodbye and second hello’, I felt that they’ve used them a bit too much at some points. Second, the storyline and scriptwriting, while great at some areas, felt weak at some parts. There were sometimes when I thought that the time for the episode can be used to resolve some side issues, expose the sweet side of the lead and side couples more, or simply advance the story a tad faster rather than filling it with repetitive scenes. This is especially true considering that each episode has only around 13-16 minutes of real running time less credits, opening scenes, and other non-episode stuff.

Overall, I can say that this series is worth the watch and the time. If you can get past the fillers and flashbacks, you’ll surely get invested with the cast, the story, and the music. Also, it has one of the most satisfying yet believable endings out there. This is currently in my Top 5 best Pinoy BLs, though I can’t say the other four here. Hope to see a tighter, faster-paced Season 2 and Pangs Spin-Off.

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This series is magnificent! I highly applaud this one because it just gave flavor to my Saturdays. I like how the show kick it off on its pilot episode down to how they wrapped up the season finale. The pacing of the story, I find it slow but smooth. It has this dramatic vibe but not too much and it gives freshness.

I applaud the story, it was not unique but it was interesting. The plot was well-plotted and they did great in visually executing it.

I give my respect to the fresh face artists played the roles. They gave justice to each of their portrayed characters. They came in with different flavors and they are very diverse which is really good in a show. They did well in their acting even though they are just freshies in the industry, especially Genesis (Otep). Genesis (Otep) was really amazing in his acting, he did very well with carrying the baggage of emotions in every episodes. I love how he expressed the characters feelings and emotions.

In totality, I did enjoy having this show in my schedule because it soothes me everytime I watch it. It just not tackle the relationship of a same-sex couple, but it also teaches us how love, friendship and trust are made.

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One of My First Favorite Pinoy BLs released in 2020

This is one of the FIRST Pinoy BLs aired in 2020 that I loved. Glad I watched it on its very first day of the release and fell in love right away. You can see my comments in every segment in every episode.
I love how they made everything as natural as ever. The script and the acting are very natural. Yes, I won't deny that I noticed their actings from the first few episodes a little different. I won't say that they can't act but it was not the usual performance. But there were no awkward acts or moments between the actors. Their acts are natural like friends interacting with friends, and that what made this series unique!
The cinematography was also awesome.
Honestly, I have rewatched every episode the nth time. I'm not kidding. There was no heavy drama but I shed tears every time I rewatch the sad scenes.
I just watched the season finale but I already missed them. This series became very close to my heart. I'm emotional right now.
But there was a good news... Glad to hear that there will be a season two.

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Never Reaches Its Full Potential

This is a very romantic story with solid performances and a very nice flow to it. However, it does have its issues. The biggest one is the not quite believable love between the two main characters. While there was some chemistry, there was no spark, no passion, and no real connection between the two. They ‘played’ the parts well and made a beautiful couple, but there just was something about the sincerity of the attachment I found missing and lacking. But that did not totally negate the overall positivity of this series. Everyone here is certainly likeable and all did a good job of acting. However, some I liked more than others. If you want to read my full review of this series, please go to ppbongi.medium.com. I have more to say there and also about the 'Pangs'.

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NOTHING BUT FILLER

I would say 95% of reviews and comments all say the same thing, so no big revelations here. Good potential wasted. Not a big fan of this one.

It started strong. I liked the fact that the main couple had a pre-existing relationship. It was a different story than we're used to. Loved the friendships (often my fav part of any BL). Initially thought the actors were decent, though that changed as I continued to watch and their newbie status revealed itself.

At first, I liked the non-linear story-telling. That can be effective when done well. (key phrase, when done well). But quickly the time cuts became confusing. It would take me a minute to figure out if it was the past or the present. Then all the filler started. I'm not a big fan of this in any series and Thai BL is heavy with this trope. If you have effectively told your story, and your actors are capable, you do not need to remind me of a previous scene to help me understand a characters emotions. You definitely do not need to remind me of the very last scene I just watched. It's clear in my mind. (Side note: I wonder if directors use this device because they don't think the actors can carry the emotional weight of a scene, so they feel the need to cut away from bad acting? Just a thought). There was even one instance with the Pangs where Makisig is on the phone, leaning against the wall while another man putters around behind him (another lover? never explained), they cut to Nin, and when they cut back, Makisig is in a black shirt sitting on a couch. Is this another phone call? A different time? A continuity error?

Now, some here are saying all the filler is the theme of the series. It's those In Between moments that are most important in a relationship. Okay. But do I need to see the entire scene? Multiple times? And again I would argue that if you have done your job well, I understand the importance of those in between moments the first time I see them. I don't need multiple reviews of those moments.

The worst instance for me was in the finale. This is arguably the most important moment in the series, Tau & Tep are revealing their innermost feelings, but rather than stay in the moment and let us experience it, they cut away between every 3 or 4 words (not even complete sentences) to show us the same filler moments for the 1000th time. I watched the whole series. I know how their relationship has evolved. I want to watch them get fake married, not see them riding a bike. ARGH!

I have 3 other issues. Perhaps I missed it (but I will never go back and rewatch this series to find out, so maybe some of you can help me out.) When Tep's mother realizes she may have inadvertantly broken them up, she encourages Tep to call Tau and sort it out. But he doesn't (right?). In fact, when he shows up for the party, Tau believes him when he says he's in a relationship, and has to apologize for breaking up with him (seemingly for the first time). 1st issue... was that really an apology? Explain yourself. Tell your side of the story and make your lover understand. I'm sorry doesn't cut it. 2nd issue: So... Tep knows why Tau broke up with him... but he DOESN'T call? He avoids him for a year? You find out the love of your life made an incredible sacrifice and that in fact you could still end up together, but you don't call him? Then you return a year later and prank him ("I have a BF in LA") rather than reveal your true feelings. The pranking is well established, that's what these guys do... but honestly, realize when you should prank and when you should be open and honest. Then there's a time cut and miraculously they are back together without ever having hashed out the past. That's an important "in between" moment I would have liked to have seen. WHich brings me to issue 3: The big prank at the resort. 4-5 episodes of this? Ugh. What a HORRIBLE prank to pull on someone you love. To make him think that Ri was hitting on him, to promote jealousy... and you claim it's all in the name of love. That's cruel. Once Tep starts to get upset, any decent BF would pull him aside and comfort him, but not Tau. He didn't even have to reveal the prank, but he could still comfort his lover. This made me hate Tau. I don't care how sweet his words were after that. You put me through hell and then expect me to put on a wedding suit? As someone said here, "learn to read the room". I have other issues, minor story points, and directing choices but enough.

The acting was serviceable. I liked Nics best of all. I didn't dislike Biancx like many here. Nin and Makisig were okay. The leads were decent. I have to admit, I watched this on my phone, so some of the subtlety was lost on me. I'm not sure I saw actual tears ever. But again, that could just be due to screen size. The script was also very repetitive (and I'm not even talking about the filler). In one scene, I counted characters say the same phrase 8 times, and not for effect. It was just lazy writing, not moving the story or the scene forward at all. So frustrating.

While I would certainly like to watch a Pangs series, I WON'T. Because I'm afraid the writer and director will make all the same bad choices they made here. And In Between Season 2 is a definite non-starter. Great potential. Wasted.

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Acting and actors

The ACTING and CHEMISTRY make all the difference in the film. Not just that of the main actors, but the supporting cast as well. They do an amazing job at making you feel like you are looking in on a real friend circle. The chemistry the friend group has is great. The main actors sucked you into their relationship so fast it's head spinning and you feel like you're a part of that circle cheering your friends on as they find happiness. The only complaint that maybe had was their lack of sensuality it doesn't kill their believability because of the good acting. They just seem like one of those couples that have been together for a while and express affection by tickling, teasing, and joking which makes me want them together more. Think because I came into the series excepting not to like it I got a great experience. It is simply the story of two friends that happen to fall in love and the people who love them. Like the Filipino more serious and flirty Friends.

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