Watchlist - completed in 2024

Meta and cute, wish they would have developped more the side story which really intrigued me 

I would recommend this to people looking for a fluffy, cute and fun BL with some interesting meta references and a cohabitation trope. I wish it would have been more angsty and complex but it was clearly not the objective of the story. I would have really loved for the series to develop much more some of the sides characters (especially the secondary romance) but it was still a very easy and pleasant watch pretty entertaining.

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Solid drama with great acting: some of the incarnations stole the show ! 

I would recommend this series to people that are looking for a thriller with a fantasy twist. Given the topic, this drama can be very triggering and is super violent. There are some elements I wish would be better developped but it is overall a very solid show which manage in only four episodes to keep you on your toes...It is never easy to review a series at the halfway mark, I hope the second part will successfully manage its landing because Part 1 raised my expectations.

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A really nice and heartwarming youth romance - a stand-out in this genre <3 

I would recommend this to people looking for a sweet highschool romance. It is pretty classic for the genre but it is really well done and was able to brought me a lot of feelings when I watch it. The filmmaking, the directing and the acting combined to a well-conceived scenario will provide you all the feels.

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A good conclusion to the story with some predictability but impactful with its great cast 

I would recommend this to people that have seen Part 1 of course. It is a proper conclusion to the story, it does not aim for subtlety but is impactful. The performance of the cast (from both Part 1 and Part 2) makes it a very good watch even if there are some little things I wish would have been a bit more developed regarding the lore itself. As Part 1, be aware that this series is super violent and graphic, so you might want to check the tags if you have any trigger.

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Interesting and fun concept but very repetitive story with too little character growth 

I would recommend this to people looking for a mindless but funny Japanese high school drama. It is quite classic for the genre but set in the 80's which bring up a bit of a different flavor. I think that I have seen similar series that are better but it is still an entertaining watch for either the real afficionado (or in contrary people that have not seen a lot of dramas in this genre and will have therefore less fatigue regarding the repetitive side of some scenes).

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Entertaining but the romantic aspects were weaker, I was rooting for some people to NOT be together 

I would still recommend this TV show to people that are looking for a good dating show. If you have liked the previous seasons, this one takes a different turn that might feel more enjoyable (or less if like me you are more interested in romance, angst and pining than in strategy and exploring options).

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Societal critic supported by a strong cast and impressive storytelling: very deep and impactful! 

I would strongly recommend this movie to people looking for a film providing a critic of Japanese society, discussing important topics and very well acted. The ending made a very strong impression on me...I will not spoil it but the message behind it really moved me deeply. There are some triggering aspects to the movie but it is not too graphic, a lot happens in subtext and is understood as the story unfolds itself. If you are looking for some fluff or slice-of-life movie, it is not the film for you. But if you are ready for some great and poignant storytelling, give it a shot!

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Movie missed the mark on many aspects, wish it would have taken a much darker road! 

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a BL with some horrific elements. It could have been much scarier but it is at least different from usual BL stories. Scenario could as well have been better, the idea and concept is interesting (while a bit crazy in its starting point) but the way it devevelops and the ending felt flat. There are better BL movies out there but if you like Zee and Nunew, it might be worth your time to see them in a very different setting than their previous drama. 

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Eye candy with some splendid visuals but some flaws in writing and pacing (especially in 2nd half) 

I would recommend this to people looking for a high production value rom-com with some fantasy elements. Despite some flaws in the writing and pacing (especially in the second half), the casting, directing and filmmaking make it worth it. I was mesmerized by the decors, the clothing and the visuals of both male lead and female lead, they really brought a dreamlike quality to their relationship. If you enjoyed drama as "My Love From The Star", you will likely enjoy this.

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BL addressing captivingly a difficult topic, very memorable moments but wish for different ending

I would recommend this to people looking for a BL story quite deep and which is very healing while approaching a difficult topic. Its treatment of disability feels relatable and real. The acting was solid and despite some minor flaws in the writing and questionable scenaristic choice in the ending, it is very worth the time as it will leave on the viewer a lasting and resounding impression.

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Worth it for amazing Didi Yuan Zhi and high production value, not for the central romance 

I would recommend this to people looking for a martial arts historical drama with some fantasy elements, high production value and featuring an interesting family conflict mixed with internal politics. The central romance is not the best aspect of the show but there are some storylines around more "secondary" relationships that are really well done and keep the viewer invested. This series allowed me to discover newcomer Tian Jia Rui who amazed me with his strong screen presence in the role of Didi Gong Yuan Zhi. Just for him, I think it is a really worthwhile watch despite some flaws in the pacing and in the writing, as well as an ending that felt too rushed. 

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Cute matchmaking show for DoMunDi TV production to find its next HIT BL pairing *_____* 

I will recommend this to people that are looking for a different kind of TV show. It is low budget but very charming. If you like BLs series, it is interesting to witness the creation of new couple pairings. 

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BL Movie with an interesting intention but too short to really captivate me 

I would recommend this to people looking for a short BL indie movie. The question approached by the story feel very real and the way it is discussed makes sense. I did not find it very captivating as it was too short to feel connected with the characters. It is of course a very personnal opinion as I think it could really touch the heart of some other viewer. As it is very short, give it a shot ! I enjoyed learning about what Komorebi means.

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Disappointing, tries to do too much in too little time / do not convey a convincing BL story

I would not recommend this to people as there are better school BL out there. This series had some really nice tropes but completly failed to exploit them. I wish they would take the two same storylines (teacher/ student as well as the other side romance) and make it very gritty and dark...I wish they focus solely on those two relationships and give them enough room to develop and be believable. Anyway, too many wishes...It could have been really special but was rather plain instead.

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Despite frustrating ending + writing flaws, worth it for the butterflies that the romance provides! 

I would recommend this to people looking for a Youth BL that really put the focus on developping in a wholesome and believable way the relationship between its main leads. The scenario might be a bit wonky at time as well as the actions of some of the side characters but the main relationships (as well as the two actors acting as leads) is really worth the time invested. Be aware that the ending might be frustrating, but the journey of the romance really offset this point to my eyes.

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Dark mature BL with strong psychological elements, wish it was longer to even better explore those

I would recommend this to people looking for a mature BL story. It is a dark story involving a lot of heavy topics, toxic elements and it can be triggering in the way the relationship forms itself. If you enjoyed this movie, I would strongly advise to give a chance to the manga from which this movie is an adaptation.

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Despite its undeniable qualities, story did not grab me mainly because of pacing and editing issues

I would recommend this movie to people looking for a realistic life BL. It dives into deep topics (much deeper than what the poster would have left presupposed) and it will for sure not leave the viewer indifferent. Despite its qualities, I cannot omit the fact that the watching experience for me was not the best, as I felt bored at various points and the movie catched my interest concretely almost at the end....Still, I think it is worth to give it a try.

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Despite its short length, this series still felt like a loss of time... 

I would not recommend this to people as there are much better dramas out there. Even if you are looking for some soap, brainless series to just entertain yourself, there are for sure more fun and better things to watch. It felt like a loss of time, the story was really uninspired, boring and overall badly acted.

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This drama is like catnip to me <3 Love it !!! I'm emotional thinking back to it...

I would recommend this strongly to people looking for a Youth BL, it is very fluffy but at the same time deeper than it appears. It is an healing watch that will brought you all the feels. If you enjoyed "Our Dating Sim", I really think this one might win you heart as well. It left me with such a lasting impression on me and I will gladly rewatch it <3. 

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Not for me...I found it boring and difficult to connect with the story 

I would not recommend this to people. Maybe if you are in the right mood or if you are a fan of Gun, it can be interesting to watch it...I also think that a second watch might really help to understand some of the layers of the scenario and better grasp the intentions of the screenwriter. However, even if that is the case, I will likely never watch it a second time because clearly the entertaining factor was totally missing for me... 

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So many issues, grotesque but somewhat entertaining in a confusing way.

I would not recommend this movie because I am very ambivalent about my feelings about it. It is objectively bad on so many aspects but still it is so WTF that it might be worth a watch (?). It is super gruesome and graphic, so if you are squimmish, it is definitely not for you. The scare level is not really there because of the acting and context in which the characters evolve make everything pretty unconvicing. 

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Despite heavy/manipulative way to handle the life lessons...Still enjoyed some of the cases & hero

I would recommend this to people looking for a mystery formulaic series. If you enjoy drama with kind of "case of the week" stories, you will likely enjoy this. I also think there are a lot of "reflective"/"life lessons" moments that could resonate with the viewer. For me, those were too heavily handed to appreciate all of them and I wish the various episodes had a stronger common thread allowing me to be more investing in the overall story. The show has a relatively open ending, so I will definitely watch the Special Episode...And then maybe the movie to round it up.

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Lack a point of view, too middle-of-the-road screenwriting making it rather bland despite the topic

I would not recommend this movie if you are looking for a darker take on fairy tales. It is really a matter of taste and expectations. Personally, I enjoy a lot Kaori Yuki mangas where she often revisit in a very dark and grim way various fairy tales...I would have wished the movie to take a similar approach. Here, it is more a family movie with a mystery for which I found the resolution pretty clumsy as well. 

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Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji stole a place in my heart ~~~ 

I would strongly recommend this to people looking for an historical saga splendidly built, with amazing characters and relationship developments as well as some great acting. It is an adaptation of a Chinese BL novel (which I have not read -yet) and despite the censorship in China regarding those, they manage quite successfully to make the viewer understand the subtext behind some of the relationships.

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(Feeds Notes while watching: 47-50 + link to other post in spoil comments)

Despite a trope I love, disappointed by the writing, acting and production value...

I would not recommend this to people because there are BLs out there featuring much better that kind of relationship (for example "Where Your Eyes Linger" with also "heir/bodyguard" relationship, or "Utsukushii Kare" for more a "master-servant" bond)...At first, I was full of forgiveness regarding the weaknesses in the production, the choppy editing, as well as the flaws in writing and acting...But it became so nonsensical that even a trope that I usually like very much could not save the drama. 

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Not an essential, more a nice side quest to 'The Untamed' series' lore 

I would recommend this to people that are missing The Untamed series. If you watch it without any big expectation, it is an easy watch featuring lovable secondary characters from this amazing drama. It does not bring anything new to the universe and original story but it is a quite short and entertaining watch. 

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Disturbing: I'm not sure about the what and why, icky but kinda grossly fascinating 

I would not recommend this movie as I am so unsure of what to think of it after watching it. It is pretty short so you might want to give it a shot if you like indie movies featuring somewhat obscure and disturbing topic.

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Uninspired BL movie: banal story + bad acting 

I would not recommend this to people as there are much better BL highschool romance out there. It is only the second production from Philippines I watch and I must say that so far, I'm not convinced about what I have seen. I still want to discover more from this country because I think I might just be not lucky so far with my picks. 

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A BL with a quiet and meditative charm...Not very memorable but harmless and sweet 

I would recommend this to people looking for a BL with a really appeasing slice-of-life feeling. It depicts a sweet coming-of-age story with a platonic and heartwarming romance in a summery setting. If you are looking for an angsty show with passionate characters and a lot of turmoil, this is really not the series you should watch. But if you are looking for a charming and calming drama, this might be a good pick for you.

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Very disappointed by the writing and pacing, too many secondary couples without substance

I would not recommend this BL as I felt there was pacing issues and the writing was really not strong enough to have interesting elements during the full duration of the drama. There are not enough good ideas and plot points for the length of the series, the screenwriter could have taken some shortcuts on some repetitive developments and focus a bit more of her energy in building one secondary couple (-just one of them) to improve pacing. I enjoyed much more comparatively the two other BLs that I have seen from the same screenwriter Lin Pei Yu (namely "We Best Love" and "Kiseki Dear to Me"): those two were not without flaws in the writing but were really nice to watch despite of it. In the case of "My Tooth Your Love", the acting and the production are not strong enough to compensate the issues in the storylines itself and make it exciting enough.

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The script failed in making me understand the characters' choices...and therefore to care about them 

I would not recommend this movie to people because it was not an enjoyable watch for me even if I must admit that I will likely remember some scenes for a long time because of a few striking images. Be aware that this movie can be very very triggering, be mindful of the tags if you have any.

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An exciting game show that will put your brain on fire in a very entertaining way !!! 

I would recommend this to people looking for an entertaining competition show with a lot of mind games and exciting intellectual battles. This show is really all about participating with your skills foremost and your brain power. There is some strategies but no tricks nor manipulation nor hidden alliances...The objective is clearly to prove yourself with your intelligence alone and that's really refreshing overall.

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Love or lust...Intricate and layered with jealousy, fear, passion and a lot of bad decisions 

I would recommend this movie to people looking for an historical movie with a gut-wrenching love story. The romance is really interesting in the dynamics that it explores. I wish the scenario would have spend more time on some aspects of the relationship and I got frustrated by some choices made by some characters...But overall, I was very satisfied by this movie and its ending as well.

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Beautifully filmed autumnal & sweet BL story 

I would recommend this to people looking for a cute BL series with a friends-to-lovers trope as well as in the youth and music genres. It is not super deep or revolutionary but very enjoyable to watch thanks to the amazing filmmaking and fashion. A feast for the eyes with a lot of fluff.

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Some amazing performances and discoveries among the cast, lost some steam towards the end 

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a survival show with some great singers and performances. It is pretty entertaining with a good cast and the concept of forming a vocal group is quite fresh. It lost some steam along the way and production could have done a better job to spread out content and to make the finale more exciting.

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Loved the intention of the story, the main actors chemistry...A bit too short to conclude solidly 

I would recommend this to people looking for an adult BL story, which manage to bring together an innocent youth love with a mature romance when they reunite. It is a bit of shame that the last conflict and the conclusion are less solid than the introduction and middle part of the series but it is overall a very enjoyable watch.

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Not enough screentime for interesting elements + subpar acting: underwhelming overall 

I would not recommend this to people as there are better BL in high school out there. There are a few moments that are cute (mainly relating to the friendship building between two characters rather than the romantic relationships), as well as some elements that could have been super interesting if more developed and better acted. However, the numerous flaws in terms of scenario, acting and production (especially of the music scenes) make it a series that I would not recommend.

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Short fantasy movie super impactful, left me with a deep lasting impression 

I would recommend this to people looking for a short wuxia / fantasy movie. Given the way it manages to convey so much in so little time, it is totally worth taking the time giving a shot to this gut-wrenching tale. The story is so interesting and has so much potential that I cannot help to wish that it would have been a full length duration movie.

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Too bad the storytelling around the stakes and the editing hindered my enjoyement 

I would not necessarily recommend this to people as I did not particularily enjoyed my watch. My main issue with the film is coming from the scenario and the way the story is building up the characters. I did not manage to engage with the main roles and in an action movie, rooting for the good guys and understanding from where they are coming from is critical to really get me invested and care about the story. Here, I started to care much too late and felt that the 2/3 of the movie was not as exciting as I would have wished.

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A beautiful journey to heal yourself thanks to music, brotherhood and 1990's vibe 

I would recommend this to people looking for a very solid youth drama set in the 1990's. If you enjoyed movies like "Back to the Future" and dramas such as the "Reply" series, you will for sure immensely enjoy it! If you are a fan of musical genre shows, this one is also clearly made for you. I personnally really loved it despite some issues with the pacing of the script and the way I would have liked a bit more development on some elements, especially towards the ending. 

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Really interesting idea but unfortunately not enough time to exploit it 

I would recommend this to people looking for a short BL, as it manages to express a lot in a small amount of time. I wish it would have been longer and I like the questioning that the drama opens and on which the viewer can only ponder: is it acting or it it real ? 

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"Don't be afraid of the cracks. That's where the light comes in." 

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a forbidden romance concept with a lot of angst and chemistry. I watched it week by week but I think it would make an excellent binge watch. The script is not without flaws in terms of pacing as well as narrative choices but overall the payoff in terms of love story is so good that it is really worth it and you forgot all the defaults thanks to the good acting and chemistry of the two main male leads.

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Memorable melodramatic love story with great cast and filmmaking 

I would recommend this to people looking for a good romantic story full of turmoil and emotion as it is centered arount the encounter of two broken-by-life human beings. The story in itself is not without flaws but is quite poetic and the sincere performances of the two main leads brought up to a higher level the scenario.

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Despite writing flaws, swoon-worthy romance with a touch of sorrow carried by super strong cast 

I would recommend this to people looking for an emotional love story. Given the episodes length, It is quite an investment in terms of time and there are some issues with the writing in the second half of the series. However, despite its flaws, I truly enjoyed the drama thanks to the incredible acting, great OST and iconic romantic scenes.If you loved other dramas from this writer (such as My Love From Another Star and Crash Landing on You), you are in known territory and should like it as well.

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A lot of interesting ideas but not enough time to develop them 

I would recommend this movie to people that are looking for a short wuxia movie. If you need a bite-size watch, this is clearly a good choice if you do not expect too much from it. In the same vein, I liked (even better) "Painted Skin: The Guo Jingming Edition", so if you enjoyed that one, you might want to give "Wuliang" a shot.

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How to escape toxicity and self-loathing in the midst of (b)romance 

I would recommend this to people looking for a more serious BL story. Rather than being about a romance, it is more a bromance to me and what makes it really worth it is its realistic and nuanced ending. I wish there had been more time to develop the romance but I appreciated the overall take of the scenario regarding the evolution of the characters.

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Sinked because of poor editing & writing, despite steamy looks of hot ML

I would not recommend this to people as I feel the series fell apart mid-way through. The most exciting part of the drama can be seen in the intro generic, so honestly if you watch it, you have seen the best of what the show has to offer. I did not mind the choice they made regarding the romance, it was interesting but what was really disturbing is the way it was edited with the couple of last episodes coming back on past elements of the story. 

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Yamazaki Kento shines so much as an anti-hero host! Great concept solidly acted! 

I would recommend this to people looking for a drama that will take you on a journey alongside its (anti-)hero. It mixes genres well with supernatural, thriller and romance elements.The acting is very solid with some passionate and captivating moments. There are some loopholes and the ending would have benefited from more time but I honestly found the watch incredibly rewarding with a lot of emotional payoff.

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Uncanny feeling after watching it 

I would not recommend this to people as it was not an enjoyable watching experience to me. As explained, it might be a case of me not being in the right mindset when watching it but I really was unable to connect with the story and to feel invested into the romance.

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