Gameboys Level-Up Edition (2020)

Most Accurate BL Show I've Seen

After having a gay LDR for 4 years, this show is incredibly accurate.

It is accurate in two separate ways: The relationship is accurate and the LDR elements are accurate. Most BL shows are for straight girls and so lose a lot of accuracy, but this show is made with LGBT people in mind and it shows. The relationship itself feels more realistic than any other BL show I have seen.

As for the LDR, I had a very similar experience: arguments about jealousy over friends, intruding exes, the supportive girl friend, etc.. and the way the social media parts are integrated is also very well done.

I also loved the format of the show: that every single shot is from the perspective of computers. All of the shots in the show are either from video game livestreams, social media feeds, and phone calls. A lot of the scenes are slightly weird because of this for example when the scene could have been 2 people by themselves, one of the characters is on a call with a third character just so that there is a camera to view the scene from. This, in my opinion, is a good compromise and I don't mind the scenes being a little bit weird if it means adhering to the very unique way that the show is shot.

However there are a few scenes here and there that violate this rule. There are shots that are just from mid air (like any other sitcom would be shot) and I feel these should have been avoided. Some might say that the story should come first and those beautiful scenes made up for the fact that they violated the show's format but I would have preferred some more thought put in to make those scenes follow the format.

Despite that issue, the core of the show remains flawless. The characters are good, the story is great, the relationship is incredibly accurate and the LDR is extremely accurate (at least for me).

10/10

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My first and favorite BL series

I never intended to watch Gameboys. I was bored and decided to rewatch a gay movie on Netflix and settled on Edge of Seventeen. When that movie ended, Netflix suggested Gameboys and I was too lazy in that moment to look for anything else. I could not imagine how much that would change the course of my year.

As I started watching Gameboys, I could feel how hard my eyes were rolling, how much I was smiling, and how much I was shaking my head and tut tutting at their antics, (Cai). Gameboys is so cheesy and light and saccharine (Gav), I wondered if this was intentional or the genre or Filipino culture. Then around episode 3 (Secret Snippets), I found myself at the precipice moment of "if I continue this, I'm going to be really hooked." And I continued, I binged the rest of the series, and I immediately restarted it again and in some ways it feels like I haven't stopped rewatching or at least thinking about Gameboys.

Gameboys is absolutely a masterpiece and I have recommended, coerced, watched it with most of my friends, annoyed the others with how much I've watched and talked about it, and it reintroduced me to BLs.

What I initially liked about Gameboys (and what I still like about Gameboys after watching many more series), is that Gameboys is honest and unashamed of its themes and characters. It is a cheesy, sweet story about two guys who fall for each other over video calls during a pandemic. Gav really is that earnest and sincere and flirty. And Cai--- Cai is a demon twink villain protagonist who I want to sit down and give a stern lecture to and also just hug and tell him it's ok and he's ok.

As I rewatch Gameboys (and also watch it alongside my friends for their first time), I get to come back to this world that seems so real and so much own our world. It is a pandemic story and it's also filmed as video calls and zoom hangouts and timeline statuses and posts but the strength of Gameboys is the strength of Elijah's and Kokoy's acting and their chemisty. When I first watched this series, I wondered if these were strong actors or if the material was within their wheelhouse. I think the answer is both. Then as I learned about how the show was made and that they didn't physically interact or practice or workshop directly together, I was amazed at how strong both of their performances are. You could have told me they had a set made with both their rooms and were looking at each other and was camera trickery that made this series and I would have believed it. So learning that they were actually in their rooms staring at themselves or their sibling holding the camera, I was really impressed that they could give such a clear performance. Watching Gameboys feels like you are facetiming with them and watching their live zoom hangouts. It's a really immersive series. And watching Cai defrost over the course of the series is a treat.

Gameboys is without question centered around Cai and Elijah is a phenom in this role. Nearly every episode and sometimes it feels like every scene he's in, Cai just evokes such strong feelings within me. Like I want to yell at the screen, "bitch, get over yourself" or "girl, calm tf down" yet I never (really) turn against Cai even though I feel he is definitely his own worst enemy. Elijah is able to convey internal conflict and insecurity and pride and sheepishness and lust and regret and anger and pain and that's all within the first couple of episodes. Watching Gameboys with my friends, we're laughing at Cai for his antics while understanding that this dude is just kinda wound tight like that. Cai can and does read as unpleasant or at least highly disgruntled at times yet Elijah always has this way of making me want to hug this dude and help him get past his demon twink ways. It's probably the tears. Like these dudes are the best damn criers and it seems like Elijah always has that one perfectly fat slow moving tear just ready to fire off. And when he smiles, it's just game over. Elijah is able to show a character who has such an inner light and beauty while also having such a strong bitch face and scowl.

Baby. Ok baby, now let's talk baby, baby. Oh Gav. So Gav is definitely the supporting protagonist in Gameboys, yet Kokoy is just as strong in his acting and his understanding of his character. Just within this season, I felt like we can get a good sense of Gav and his character. But also I feel like there's confusion about being confident and flirty versus being a playboy or fuckboy. Like Gav is just so damn sincere and clear with his intentions to court and date and prove his affections for Cai, I feel it is truly a misunderstanding of the term play/fuckboy if one thinks it applies to Gav. Dude is just committed and focused and also again, he's upfront. Like I /get/ it, because I was also very taken aback by Gav my first time watching Gameboys because dude is making major declarations like 5 minutes into episode one. Gav is a romantic bolt of lightning. But unlike lightning, Gav maintains that level of devotion and impact the entire series. Like lowkey, Cai sometimes hella does not seem worth the effort Gav puts in to maintain and carry their relationship but Gav truly means to win Cai's heart and honestly, work bitch. Because Cai does not make it easy and over the series, we see Gav both acknowledge how hard it is for him to both win Cai over and maintain that level of energy and devotion. For me what is a standout about Gameboys as a series is that Gav also acknowledges that Cai is difficult and is not helping or supportive. From the first impression, it could seem like Gav is just a stock romantic archetype but Kokoy is able to really humanize Gav and bring him to life. Gav is just as rich of a character as Cai and while Kokoy doesn't get as much to do within this series as Elijah, Kokoy absolutely delivers a world class performance. Good job baby.

Overall, Gameboys remains my favorite BL series. Other series can deliver more with regards to production value or skinship/high heat or series length but so far nothing has made me happier as a fan/audience member/habitual rewatcher as Gameboys has. Gameboys is just fun. It's fun to watch. It's fun to cry along with. It's fun to get frustrated at the characters. Gameboys is an amazing experience. I love the songs and the sound board. The 8bit remixes to their original songs is so effective and cute and fun. And there are several songs and moments where the music really brings in the feeling of classic evocative drama and sorrow. And something I definitely underappreciated when Gameboys was the only BL series I've seen but now that I've definitely broadened my horizons, it stands out so much is that Gameboys doesn't play out any of their songs/score/music cues. Isang Laro and Pass or Play? are definitely the thematic songs/score of the series but they play just enough in my opinion to be effective without being used every time Cai and Gav look at each other. Pag-Asa, Ikaw At Ako, and Ngayon are always used at just the right moment and they land so well because aside from Ngayon, they're just used once. Gameboys is a series that is so indulgent and overflowing with feelings, yet there is restraint and, more importantly, intentionality with this series. There are call backs and parallelisms and they are used precisely to show that while Cai and Gav do differ so much on the surface, they are so compatible and similar.

I can't imagine being a bl fan and not giving Gameboys a shot. It really is that good and worth all the many, many, many awards they are getting.

To TIFC and EliKoy - thank you and baby, ggwp

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This was a freaking masterpiece. I enjoyed this drama from start to finish. It was fresh, different, and put all the Bl cliches to the test. I am a sucker for the school based dramas.. a sucker for skinship... but this has changed my top 3. This will now be my comfort drama series... hell my comfort BL series.... I am in love with the man characters. They are so handsome and so freaking sweet. If you are into sweet moments then you will love this drama. ....GAV/CAIRO fan for life. This drama dealt with real life situations, and I'm sure that everyone can relate to this drama and what has went on during the pandemic. They raw emotions of this drama was enough to make me teary eyed thinking of what all I went through during this difficult time. Oh and the way GAV says..BABY...... HE makes me melt every time........Why didnt no one tell me that this drama was this good. The Filipino Industry understood the assignment, and baby they delivered. I still think that my Thai dramas reign supreme but baby they coming for your necks with this one. I rate this BL drama a 10 all the way. Thank you for such a heart warming drama...

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I was debating on giving this show a 7.5

But decided to rate it a 9...solely based on Gav's Monica's reference...what does a Generation Z baby from the Philippines know about Monica???
I was shooketh!...when he said Angel of Mine...I was hehe'ing...thinking he unknowingly made a Monica reference but when he said Monica's version...I was like WHAT???
(And yes, I did catch Ariana Grande reference's too but she is the most listened to artist globally so not surprised there)

Anyway...to the review:

This was the first time I've seen a drama like this, where almost every scene had a social media tie to it...it was interesting to see. The pacing was pretty decent...as well as the character building, despite it being such a short series. I wanted to know more about Gav's character...but the focus was mainly placed on Cai. We know he's a gamer, have siblings, a mother, and even small details about the foods he enjoys. We know about Gav's tragic past, but what else? How was he able to send all these gifts to Cai??? Every time he bought something...I was wondering how he was able to afford it.

The story-telling is relevant to the pandemic we are going through and I like how it shows the impact such a pandemic has on people...and it briefly tackles subjects such as mental health, social distancing, mandatory quarantining and other related topics.

The reason I would give this a 7.5 (which I didn't because of the Monica reference)...is because although the story-telling was relevant, it was not compelling enough to warrant anything higher. If you take away the BL element, this story may not be rated so high. Like most cliche stories in Asian dramas we have 2 leads in love, the two second leads create conflict, a period of misunderstandings, and the eventual reconciliation. The physical distance element did add more to the conversation...but it did not deviate from the typical setup of most dramas.

(Just a side note...Gav's dimples..enough said...I have them too so I know what a smile can do to transform a face)

Just some thoughts
I'm from an older generation (Early Millenial)and this kind of thing is actually scary...just imagine years down the line where people only form relationships online...this pandemic has everyone communicating through technology and as a communication graduate, I remember learning that there is some sensory information that we are missing when we communicate in such a way...leaving out the necessary stimulants that will make us form a bond.

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A Very Cute and Unique Show!

There was so much I enjoyed about this show! Everything from the storyline, the characters, and the format was all so well done and so enjoyable to watch.

To start, the concept is such a good idea! The idea of two boys meeting online during COVID lockdown and creating a relationship fully through Facebook, Instagram, and video chats. The format where we pretty much only see through the characters' screens was really cool and original, and made for some interesting moments.

The characters, and the actors portraying them, were such a delight to watch, too! Gav was such an adorable character, and his juxtaposition with Cai's grumpiness was very sweet to see. Pearl was a nice intermediary between the two of them, and she helped the story feel a little less confined. Even the love rivals who appeared throughout the series were well-written and not just one-note villains, which was really nice to see! Everyone's acting was really great, too! Even in the scenes when characters were wearing masks— their eyes were so expressive!

I think the story also had a good balance of romantic-cuteness and the seriousness of the pandemic at large. It was sweet and fluffy and escapist at times, but the characters also were struggling from being cooped up at home for so long and had some personal hardships due to COVID.

All in all, this was such a good series and I'm so glad I got the chance to watch it!

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Something different!

I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable this was, considering the experimental filming style and difficult themes it took a while for me to actually give this series a watch. However, once I did, I didn't regret it at all, the characters felt very real, dealing with current real life problems, and as a result I couldn't help feeling attached to them and also be rooting for the main couple to end up together!

This series is filmed through social media interactions, so there is a lot of calls and social media posts updating on the characters interactions. There are a couple of situations where the characters meet in real life but these parts are expressed with either video footage taken by the characters themselves or 'drone like' recordings so I'd say it's a very interesting style, definitely something I haven't come across before.

The story follows the main characters as they are in a lockdown, because of COVID-19. and highlights many issues that hit close to home for a lot of us I'm sure such as loss, social distancing, isolation etc. Because of this realism I thought that it would be difficult for the plot to not become messy but the story was very cohesive and interesting. The actors did a great job at expressing the characters emotions, considering the difficult themes, I'd say the acting was really good overall. However, there is a lot of crying in this series, not necessarily a negative, it's just INTENSE, but I think this is understandable considering everything they are going through. The only other criticism I have really is that there is a massive overuse of the word "baby". As cute as the main couple are, I really got tired of them calling each other this by around the 20th time.

The side characters are also nice, and are good aids to highlight how difficult being in a long distance relationship can be when other people get to involved. I really liked Pearl, her voice is something you've got to get used to, as she's loud and very enthusiastic about the main couples relationship, but she's very supportive and brought a bit of fun to the otherwise depressing themes. The other characters, Terrence and Wes, I didn't care much for, but they ended up being 'villains' that I felt a little sorry for and were necessary for the story to progress.

I'll definitely be checking out the other releases that involve these characters, I'm a little invested in all of them now and can't wait to see what happens to Cairo and Gav!

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Absolutely adorable and heartbreaking at the same time

I was saving this series for when I had time to pay proper attention to it since so many people SWORE by Gameboys and they were absolutely right.

This was adorable on another level. One of my favorite things of this series was the fact that they could make the whole series work through a screen, considering that taking this different perspective could easily become their worst enemy and made the whole series confusing. However, it worked amazingly. You would know whose screen it was everytime, at least for me there wasn't a single confusing moment concerning that.

The main characters were absolutely ADORABLE. The dynamic they had was so very sweet, the actors did an amazing job and their chemistry was amazing (I can barely stand when actors don't feel comfortable with each other bc if they're not just A+ actors, you would definitely notice the awkwardness). ANYWAY, speaking of characters let's just put out there that Pearl = Queen, she's so funny!!! Ngl, at the beginning she was too loud for me but she kinda grew on me, i want her to be my friend omg. So, characters... One of the things I didn't enjoy that much about Gameboys was the side couple/friends of the main characters (obv not Pearl, again: Pearl = Queen). I found Terrence too annoying, immensely intense over what he shouldn't be and just, everytime he appeared I wanted to skip the scene... Same thing happened to me with Wesley, I felt that these characters had just more screentime than needed.

Another thing that I found insane was how realistic they portrayed the pandemic, considering that where I live it's been months since all restrictions were lifted I feel that the pandemic was aaagesss ago, and it was just two years ago... Everytime they showed the news, the "wear your mask" announcements on social media and all that stuff, including the struggles everyone went through in the pandemic, it hit right in the feels. I cried a couple times just seeing myself in some of the characters during the pandemic, I just love how realistic it all was.

In conclusion, Gameboys was amazing, please watch it.

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Interesting storytelling by using different social media platforms

“Gameboys Level-up Edition” is my first Filipino drama and it took me a while to decide to watch this. Watching a drama with the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown while we’re still in a pandemic might not be a good idea. But I am ready to move on and try to live a semi-normal life, so here I am. And I have a surprisingly enjoyable time watching this.

What I Like:

1. Acting - I almost dropped this drama after the first episode because everything seems so cringey. But then, the emotional scenes started and wow, I am very surprised and impressed by the two leads’ acting. I was expecting some not-so-good acting, similar to other BLs I’ve seen with idols and inexperienced actors. Looking into Elijah Canlas’ profile, I found out he has won multiple acting awards and at such a young age. I have to say, he was really great in this drama. After I got over Kokoy de Santos’ cringey and cheesy scenes, I discovered that he can act pretty well. Both of these young actors are great in their emotional scenes and when tears slowly welled up in their eyes and dropped down their faces, I cried with them.

2. Different issues - This drama tackled some very real-life issues faced during the height of the pandemic. Not only does it explore the illness and medical cases, but also how the pandemic affects everyday communication and relationships. Of course, the focus of this drama is on the budding romance between Cai and Gav - from how Gav courts Cai, slowly falling in love, dealing with relationship issues when unable to see each other in-person, to the consequences of family members passing away. The drama did not forget to pay tribute to the brave men and women who are front line workers and first responders, and also remind us to observe all health and safety precautions.

3. Execution - At first I wasn’t sure how I feel about using social media as the primary way of telling these stories. But I do think this is a very creative way especially during the lockdown, to showcase how young people communicate. We see the characters use ‘fake’ Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, Live streaming/gaming, video calls and Zoom to communicate during the lockdown. It took me a little while to get used to the changing social networking platforms, but I think I end up quite liking this refreshing format.

4. Friendships - OK, Pearl can be really annoying, Gav can be very cheesy and cringey, and Cai can be inconsiderate, but I LOVE their friendship. These guys are so funny during their zoom calls (chatting, exercising, dancing, drinking and game playing). They have really good chemistry and it’s friendship like this that helps keep our sanity during the lockdown.
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5. Cai’s family - What a great and supportive family Cai has. His father’s letter to him was so touching and heartbreaking. I love how Cai’s mother gives him relationship advice and repeatedly tells him how much she loves him for who he is.


What I Don’t Like:

1. Baby Baby Baby - If I hear the word “Baby” one more time, I might have to strangle someone!

2. Cringe and Cheese - Gav is a great guy but gosh, he’s so cringey. The drama needs to dial down on this intense courtship in the beginning episodes. It’s annoying and borderline stalkerish. I am glad I persisted and didn’t drop this drama, but I bet others might not be able to stand Gav’s character and drop it.

3. Pearl - I love her as a friend and she’s super fun to watch, but she’s too over-the-top for my taste. She needs to dial down on her screaming and high pitched voice.

4. Terence - There’s something about Terence that seems very fake, even though I know he’s supposed to be sincere in some scenes. I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s his voice and the way he talks??

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Log In And Never Let Me Go!

So let's talk about this! I really liked this concept. Showing how dating has been during the pandemic! As well as pandemic stuff that we've all been dealing with. It's a new and interesting way to showcase a BL storyline without the tropey stuff that were all used to. It also didn't get too stale with the zoom calls and other social media ways of showing progression in the story. It was paced well and ooh this series was really good!

Moving on to specifics about the story. The dad storyline had me so sad! Especially with the passing from covid and the circumstances of Cai's guilt. That was such an interesting take on the coming out story. Though tragic I loved the conversation it brought up between our two boys Cai and Gav. Feelings are valid and it wasn't his fault at all! Which btw his brother was so unwarranted in blaming his brother at all for dad getting sick. That made me so mad, but he did apologize afterwards so fine. The showing of the harsh realities though to this pandemic and live footage of workers and people coming out of the hospital got me though in the heart. I'm kinda glad I watched it now as opposed to before when it was so scary. My mental health probably couldn't have taken it. The conversation with the mom too was fantastic. She's a good actor first of all and her apologizing to her son for not gaining his trust enough to feel comfortable with coming out. Oof that one hit too!

Concerning secondary characters. Pearl was a queen, though a bit much sometimes I loved her! I'm so glad she wasn't a stereotypical "threat" to the relationship. She was actually a huge help the entire series AND an ex still! Which is great! We need more healthy relationships like that in shows. Also gotta say her telling Terrence's character not to use his mental health as an excuse for his actions was *chefs kiss amazing. Speaking of Terrence, though he was a total d*** at first I'm glad he got redemption for himself by the end. As well as Wesley's character. Noone was just a "villain" they had layers. Like onions lol. So when the intervention call happens with everyone on Zoom it was really good.

Onto the romance. Holy crap this relationship jumped off real quick! There's already jealousy and miscommunication at episode 2 lol! I wasn't expecting that but I guess I should've with an online started relationship. Other than the shocking speed, the romance was actually incredibly sweet and heartfelt. Though we get Cai being super hesitant and Gav is very persistent, it never felt out of place. The "baby"s were a lot after awhile lol but still very sweet! For a show with zero physical intimacy all throughout until literally the end, it was still believable! And it looks like the movie coming out (super excited for that) will delve into that physical stuff which is great and needed to continue the believability! The actors have chemistry but you can only do so much behind a screen in real life too until skinship is needed. How heartwarming it was though and kinda weird to see the actors in an actual room together with no masks on. Sure them meeting at the crosswalk was extremely sweet, but without the masks was special.

Other random stuff before I wrap up. This series had me DYING at times holy crap it was hilarious! The pillows...like come on and with the condom picture! Bro I can't! I will say one thing that semi-bothered me about this was Cai's computer funnily enough. Y'know for a "gamer" his desktop would have wayyyyyy more sh** on it lmao! Totally not believable how clean it was. Other than that, just little things here and there with the acting that could've been tweaked. As well as wanting more from the soundtrack overall. This series is fantastic and a breath of fresh air in the BL world! I cannot wait for the movie (which looks lit and shot really well) and the second season! It's in person now and I am stoked!

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twas my first bl series

i very much enjoyed this and i think it was a great start to watching bl- it had drama, multiple characters, and an interesting storyline with nearly no plot holes, which i think is amazing for a series without any actual physical interaction throughout it. it is still one of my favorites to this day :D

okay i have to make this 500 characters so im going to talk about how much i love cairo (apologies)
cairo is like so cute his smile is adorable and it's hilarious when he tries to pretend he doesn't actually like when gav messes with him lolol also fair warning gav is kinda cringe when he flirts i mean it doesn't really matter it's funny anyways
k done

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Covid safe cringe with allot of social media and facetime/zoom

This drama is something totally different then anything I have seen earlier and probably a very accurate portrayal of courtship during lock-down. about 95% of this drama is social meetings over one screen or another. Yet manages to convey both sorrow, jealousy, longing, and insecurity over the screens.

While one of the main leads seems to need to learn about boundaries the other one is shy and may be in need of a push... but it the guy did come on to hard for my taste. The people in this drama did everything from kiss, to morn, party and even meditated over the internet. Conveying allot of emotions threw the dubbel screens...

I loved how this drama approached several issues during the pandemic showing feeds filled with covid information, respect to the deceased, the front line workers while also tackling the big issue of loneliness during the pandemic issues that many people can relate to (including me who live in a country without lock down).

However this drama did not only tackel issues regarding the pandemic but also the importance to chose when, how and to whom one wants to come out to. Something that is never to be forced or done by any one else.

The chemistry between the leads leaps thru the screens and so does their very unik and lovable personalities. However it did go in to overly cringe at times being even fluffier then a c-drama. I can not say that I was very annoyed att any one and did feel that most of the characters in this drama had fun personalities that complemented each other well. Most of them showed respect towards each other, even if the guy came on a bit to strong in the beginning he did seem to understand the notion of consent. The leads seemed to complement each other well helping one another grow in their own individual pace over the screen with the help of social distancing.

All in all an easy to binge some times sad to watch but interesting depiction of life during 2020 embracing the pandemic instead of acting as if it is not there... that alone makes this worth the watch. And I must say I am very impressed over how this was made.

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