Happenstance (2020)

This is wonderful.

This is a beautiful series, very well written, thoughtful and moving.

Be warned that the ending is not likely the one you wanted, but when you see it you'll know that it's perfect - and beautiful and moving. This series is heavily layered, with a lots of symbolism and it moves into the long shadow the Marcos era casts over the Philippines. It contains not one single tired BL trope, so if you're looking for something different, and with a supernatural element, this might be for you.

It's not perfect. The production quality is just OK, although it's very well shot. The ambiguity of the mirror scenes was well-done and you're left questioning what is really happening and what isn't. Most of the problems are sound-related.

The acting is... not spectacular. The main character, Wade, is played by Kiko Ipapo, who does not display a huge range - he's a bit stiff and flat. While he won't blow you away, he's good enough for you to know how Wade feels about Jose Manuel, and the conflicts he faces, so the series works. And good God is he beautiful - I know it's shallow, but I could stare at him all day (this is not a series you're likely to rewatch, but you might want to review the shirtless scenes several times). The other main is a little more skilled.

I understand this series won't be for everyone, but for me it's one of the higher-tier BLs, and well worth a watch.

Read More

Awesome idea for a series

What a great idea for a BL series. That is a 10. What actually got on the screen was much less than that but still I was eager waiting to see how it ended. I'm glad the ended it such that it could have really happened but a fantasy ending with them somehow really getting together as young men would have been more romantic and more fulfilling of an emotional experience. For sure this could be a redo series. The middle to end episodes seemed to be dragging. They could have done much more to enhance the ending and milk the middle and build to the ending. Both Kiko and Jovani are much better than the scripts they were given, though they both did great with what was given to them. I hope to seem them again in another series.

Read More