PPBongi
California, USA
Nearly Perfect Propose
This series is a phenomenally gentle story of two individuals who by happenstance meet as boys in childhood with one becoming his savior and then 10 or so years later, they meet again where in the end the other becomes his savior. The story goes full circle. This is an exceptionally well-acted series, given its short duration. So much had to be accomplished and shown in such a short period of time. Even the supporting performances were so spot on. However, who really steals this series are the two young boys who play the younger versions. Surprisingly, for a Japanese BL, they did a good job of showing a connection and were unafraid to kiss with a certain commitment. It seemed honest, genuine, and realistic.Was this review helpful to you?
A Surprisingly Moving Series!
With very didactic moments as well even though it is perhaps categorized under the general category of Comedy. And yet a highly suspect series. One that glosses over a glaring ethical issue that is hard to ignore. Nonetheless, it delicately handles the situation innocently enough as if it is not even an issue or problem. It is the fact that a high school student falls in love with a teacher; and a teacher who falls in love with a high school student. Putting it that way, it sounds immoral, which, most assuredly, it is not. Genuinely a sincerely warm, and smartly done love story done without the slightest hint of impropriety. But I liked this series a lot. It was funny, poignant, scrupulous, and highly principled. Although formulaic at times, it still is entertaining and fun to watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Great Title But Nothing Else
I really, really wanted to like this series. With every fiber of my being, I was hoping it would come through at the end with something to make me like it; but it just did not. This manifests more like an ‘afternoon school special’ or a Hallmark movie. Seemingly sweet, cute, and feels adorable and you think has a point, but it really does not. It is all so superficial. It started out much like a light romantic BL with catchy music to draw you in, assuming this will be cheery, light-hearted, and charming. Unfortunately, this series is self-absorbed, unromantic, and honestly, irritating.If you want to read my full review, pleas go to BLBliss.com.
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This Series Has Heart & A Message
I know my reviews of these floundering BL series perhaps is a bit too heartfelt, but I have great admiration for struggling productions who are making an effort to tell a story in their own way, no matter what the obstacles. So, therefore, I am willing and do indeed overlook many of the production flaws so that we can understand what motivates and drives these productions – a belief in themselves and an effort to tell a story with sincerity and commitment. Indeed, that is what this series is. It is a surprisingly intense BL series full of real people with genuine problems told perhaps a bit overdramatically. But as uncomfortable as the story is, there is nonetheless an underlying veracity to its message.Was this review helpful to you?
Nothing Special
Yet again, another Thai BL that, one, does not live up to its expectations, and two, does not live up to its title. This was a typical formulaic standard, trite, and tropey BL that I could have written even if I were in a coma. It is pretty much epigonic. Only the names were changed. Had this been more creative or even a thought-provoking series or one that even tried to be a little bit different, perhaps it might have been more impactful. As it is, it became another run-of-the-mill BL with little creativity with one exception. That exception and disappointment was the secondary relationship. They were most interesting but were not the main focus. Too bad. They were way more developed than the primary couple.Was this review helpful to you?
Gore, Guts, Gays!
Wow! What a ride this movie is! You must be warned, however. This movie is a ‘hack-and-slash’ gory romp of blood and guts. So, if this is not your thing, I suggest you do not watch it. I loved it even though I generally dislike these types of movies. Despite what you might imagine, it is a gay-themed movie but certainly not BL by any stretch of the imagination. However, there is no romance here; it is just eroticism. This movie is based on a real lifestyle of gruesome theater that was popular in France in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. While it was characterized by the ‘grotesque” drama, it stresses horror and sensationalism and explored the darker aspects of human attributes. This movie takes that to a whole new level.Was this review helpful to you?
More reflective than Season One
While it is the continuing story form Season One, this story is a bit more reflective and perhaps slightly sobering. Greg is able to get closure on some of his issues while Papa Rich has too much of a storybook ending. Not suggesting that everyone does not deserve one, but it seemed a bit too neatly wrapped up. This series is very short in length which diminishes its impact on its character development. Meanwhile, Tupe provides the comfort and foundation that they all rely on and a real sense of security which is the real testament to the actor who plays the part, Rex Lantano.If you want to read my full review of this entertaining series, go to www.BLBliss.com.
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Solid story, surprisingly well-acted and HOT!
The play on words of the title of this series is so deliciously appropriate and nuanced that it simply further enhances this rather well-done series, despite its negative reviews. I liked it – a lot. Does it have issues? Yep! A lot of them, but it is still a very worthy series. It is a hot, steamy, erotic, and an adult BL that has a point and gets to it quickly and easily and does not rely on a lot of cliché themes to get there (well, just a few, but they are cute). This ensemble cast has some of the hottest and most sensuous men (and women) in it. They are all handsome, gorgeous, erotic and guess what - they can act! And they were not afraid to get into the lustful sex scenes and express it. That is such a departure from the typical and usual Thai BLs and is so refreshing. And the story itself was quite entertaining. A simple one, really, but made too complex by having too many characters and too many subplots. Not that they were not interesting; on the contrary, they were. However, this series is so short that the major focus simply should have been on the main characters.Was this review helpful to you?
A Masterpiece!
This series, hands down, is one of the best BLs for 2023. It is sheer perfection – from acting, to production to total chemistry between all the actors. This is one of the best ensemble casts to come alone in a long time. The screenplay is brilliant because it surprises you with angst and pathos yet culminates with a beautiful sense of reasonable adult resolution. This is a surprisingly deeply emotionally charged series, well-hidden however. This is one of the better ones because it was told with devotion. And as close to a masterpiece in both screenplay and sheer quiet force as you can get. Well done!Was this review helpful to you?
Pulled at heart strings but no romance
This story could have been interesting, especially by the title alone. Yet, it managed to be simply another trope-filled cliché-injected cute story that had little plot and no romance to it. And the whole notion of ‘naked dining’ ending up simply being a ‘red herring’. It was a weak affectation of a main character used once or twice in this series but adding nothing to the story or its plot. That is too bad as that whole concept was an interesting notion and could have been a uniquely individual characteristic that could have been more greatly explored as part a personality than simply more-or-less a quasi-shock-valued gimmick. Why create it if you were not going to explore it to its fullest extent? A rather tedious and boring BL.Was this review helpful to you?
One of the better Ones
It's imagery of a soft, nicely done, homespun BL series is earned. It has such a nice feel about it and the chemistry between the two leading men is unique and somewhat special in places. Is it magical? For me it was not, completely. There is certainly a warm glow about this series and the subsequent sentiment that comes from it. It is a story that devolves and then evolves. While this series broke ground in breaking down stereotypical connections and storylines, I am just not as enamored with the relationship with Seon Yul and Ye Chan as others who have critiqued this series. While Ye Chan is the epitome of what love is, I am not so sure that Seon Yul is capable of reciprocating. Thus, my slight disinclination.Was this review helpful to you?
Take at face value, otherwise....
It's cuteness is obvious and its protagonists are adorable and you want them to succeed. I am guessing it is a 'comedy' but underlying it has some dark undertones and a lot of pain is obvious. A word of caution about this series, however. Take this series at face value. If you delve into it too deeply you will find it to be an ugly story, full of fragile and vulnerable individuals with harassment all around. So, only look for the humor; otherwise, you might want to weep at its sadness that also surrounds them. One scene in particular is hard for me to get over as a intensively dislike use of physical hitting for no reason other than anger. That seems to be 'ok' in BLs and it is time for that to stop and for it to be called out.You can read my full review of this BL at BLBliss.com.
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This series should be relabeled as the Cher Series
This is a 'so-so' romcom BL. The story itself is a rather mundane one with versions of its basic theme done 10 zillion times before. Rich CEO falls in love with someone of less stature than him with everyone around him knowing that but trying to pretend that they are unaware. What makes this one more remarkable is Book Plookphol as Cher (Laem). He brings such life to a character that I have not seen in a long time. He has such a charismatic presence about him that comes through even with his smile.Was this review helpful to you?
A Masterpiece! Sheer Perfection!
I do not use these words lightly but this series is as close to perfection as one can get. and does show that you can have a good story, awesome acting and have a BL all under one umbrella. You do not need to compromise. This series is so much more than a BL or a love story. It is a story of sensing and knowing what is going on with the one you love and feeling them and knowing them as well. It is as if their ‘eighth senses’ are intertwined. Even in its darkest time, it never seemed lost or hopeless as their kas had once been touched and they were bound together - inexorably. This story could have been so maudlin and melancholic; yet was not. It was dark for sure, every broody. But it felt honest and promising.Unquestionably this is one of the finest Bls for the year 2023 and not to be missed.
You can read my full review of this brilliant production at BLBliss.com.
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Sad in the beginning; Sad at the end
This series never veered far from its core value of sadness. It was sad at the beginning and remained so throughout and added a healthy dose of gloominess. While it had magical moments, none reached a pinnacle or reached any insights to changing behaviors. It has a masterful feel of darkness enveloping it from its subject matter to its cinematography to the depression of its characters. Even the weather is gloomy. It takes you on a mournful journey which interestingly enough you are not sure if it will be completely successful in its glumness or maybe lead to hosannas from heaven. It does neither, at least for me. It has one of the worst 'getting-back-together' scenes I have ever seen.Was this review helpful to you?
