DNA Says Love You (2022)

A refreshing and original story.

This was a surprise - it went places I couldn't have predicted, and that's a pretty big plus in a genre where everyone can plot out the entire series with 95% accuracy after watching the opening credits. This also has a stronger LGBTQ+ sensibility than usual without leaving the BL genre.

The main character, Le, is a sincere and unselfconscious nerd (a very handsome one), who doesn't waste a lot of time agonizing over his sexuality, only his mother's feelings. In fact, there's a twist to the story that reveals he loves someone because of their gender, not despite it, which is a nice reversal of the norm.

The acting overall is good. There are a few times where it was a bit much, but not often, and it's made up for in some very moving scenes which all of the main cast pull off well.

There is a standout side character played by Lin Wei Jie, who is so cute I can't stand it. I really hope we see more him.

This is well worth your time. There are a couple of eps in the middle that lag and where the series appears to abandon its originality and uniqueness, but it gets it back in a major way, so don't give up.

Read More

So happy I stuck with this gorgeous show

After the first couple of episodes I was tempted to give up on this one. I thought it was lacking in lots of ways and really wasn’t keen on the flashbacks. I kept hanging on in there because I liked the actors and wanted to know Amber’s backstory. Also, it’s a long time since I watched a Taiwanese BL and they have a particular vibe I like. They tend to put the story before execution which I find to be a massive up-side to low budget dramas. They quite literally walk you through some scenes (slow motion car crash being prime example - no spoiler - it's the first thing you see) to tell the story, and leave you to fill in the gaps. Which is perfectly do-able and makes a nice change after being spoon-fed so often. It was imaginative with the way they framed the shots too - it’s a bit like reading a comic. So yeah - some of the things I initially felt were lacking I decided to embrace as part of its charm. I sped through the flashbacks which are mostly at the beginning of each episode. By episode 6 I was really into it, and after that it just got better and better.

Cast/characters:
I really liked Tannie Huang as Yu He. She's a bit in your face and I’m surprised I didn’t find her irritating – but happily I didn’t. I thought she was cute and very human. I was a bit gutted by the way she behaved after discovering Amber’s secret but thought it was (sadly) the most realistic reaction. It was true to her friendship with Ah Le and maybe turned out to be the catalyst everyone needed in the long run. I liked how honest she was about her feelings and thought her relationship with her brother was really touching - esp during their conversations in episodes 9-10. The actor playing her brother is also in Plus & Minus but I'm finding his role in that a bit limp, so wasn’t expecting to like him so much in this.

The second couple were sweet and funny and wholesome. They didn’t dominate the story and I didn’t feel I wanted more or less of them but was glad they existed. Lin Wei Jie is so fricking cute.

I fell in love a little bit with Eric Lin who plays Amber - I felt like he really embodied the character. His acting was understated - he came accross as self-contained but painfully lonely. He’s just lovely to watch.

I don’t want to slag Lukas Huang off in any way because I got a strong sense of Ah Le. I was convinced of his good nature and he carries this reassuring solidness - but the scenes in which he needed to convey extreme emotion seemed a little bit pained. I’m referring mainly to the conversation he has with his mum in the final episode. That conversation though I found really moving – the words just kept rolling out of him. It's the most beautifully written coming out scene ever.

The relationship between Amber and Ah Le is really caring and pure - they are so gentle with each other. That's the main reason I liked this drama so much. Pre final episode (which I loved every minute of) my favourite part of the show was in episode 11 - their converation and hug, followed by the teddy-shaped coffee. It felt like a real interaction and comforted me.

Also loved the music.
Will totally re-watch it.

Read More