3
Just an awful series!
To be honest, this was one of the most exasperating series I have ever watched. In a few instances I found myself getting so angry with Minato that if I were literally his friend in real life, I would have told him that his behavior towards Shin is tantamount to emotional abuse if not neglect. He is an awful character and frankly does not deserve the adulation that Shin heaps on him daily. Shin is the worst kind of fool as he cannot ‘see’ (does not want to see) how toxic Minato really is. One day, he will wake up and realize that he is. That will be a sad day. There is no point in rehashing the story. Very little has changed from Season One. Although Minato and Shin are in a ‘relationship’, perhaps on an intellectual basis, there is little on an emotional one and nothing on a physical level. To have one on an emotional one, you NEED two people and a willingness to commit. Ditto for a physical one.I hated this series and detested what messages they leave behind, trying somehow to make toxicity entertaining. I simply did not find this series even remotely amusing.
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It Has Style!
There is only one reason to watch this series. And that is because this story has Style. Style gave this series distinction. He IS the series and the only reason I finished this rather mundane and pedestrian story. Principally, the story is ridiculously silly. The whole story was so superficial and unoriginal. The ending was completely laughable. What I also detested about this series was the trickery of the plot into making it look like these guys were saints when fundamentally, they were sinners. You had murderers fall in love with two guys, who were scam artists and fast talkers and ‘sold them out’ as the expression poetically goes. They betrayed their trust. We tend to not want to see that as part of the story, but it is. Frankly it is all of that and more, which makes the story ugly and twisted. Hence, this plot and theme became so disconcerting. The story is lifeless, trite, cliché, unrealistic, and a version or a form of a storyline that has been done in the past. Only exaggerated to an unbelievability level. Dunk as Style gave this series just the push it needed to keep my interest. Otherwise, I would have dropped this series.Was this review helpful to you?
Bad Boys Trying to Look Good
There is an axiom about individuals being drawn to ‘bad boy’ imagery and this is the classic case of that. The story became so convoluted and twisted in its outcome that when I finished the series, I did not care. It was all so contrived. This series tried too hard to make these characters ‘likeable’. They are not. They are rotten to the core, looking at life rather cynically and fatalistically. They would lie, cheat, steal, murder, and torture, to gain power, control, and wealth. They are despots guised as human, smiling as they look at life cheaply. I did not understand nor appreciate this series. It left me feeling confused by all its hype.You can read my full review of this series at BLBliss.com
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Beautiful Coming-of-age Story
I love coming-of-age stories and this is a very good one. An unlikely pair of young men begin to spend time together and in an instant, they have this connection, this bond, that almost seems unshakable. Yet, we know that life has many twists and turns to it. The story is not maudlin but it feels real. They each offered something that the other one lacked. A beautiful picture of completion when they were together. Life is just so beautiful at that age. There is always something special about your first real crush. It is also beautifully filmed.Read my full review at BLBliss.com.
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Looks Good But Is Not
There is an American expression that is so apt for this series. It goes something like this: “To snatch defeat from the jaws of victory”. That seems to be so apropos to Bls as of late, especially for Japanese ones. They start out so promising and slowly slide downhill into mundaness and then burst into a flurry at the end as if everything is and can be exculpated. This time, it just does not work. The story is flat, the characters are flat, and the production is even flatter. It all feels so lazy. This series had potential but squandered it away by telling a story that went nowhere and came to life only at the end. Why do we have to wait until the end to get good drama?Was this review helpful to you?
A nothing burger served on a slab of soggy bun
Honestly, this is a well acted series but a bad, bad story. It takes a self-indulgent, arrogant, delicate flower and tries to make him a self-indulgent, arrogant delicate flower. Sure, there are moments of real drama and abuse in his life and kudos for dealing with issues. But they are done so with such superficialities and everything else is presented from a one-sided perspective. This relationship is completely one sided - one gives and the other takes. That may be fine in the beginning that will get old fast. The overall story is confusing, disjointed, and is chaotic. And the lovemaking scenes are some of the worst. I fast forwarded through them. They are gratuitous and so rehearsed that they are phony and show no chemistry at all.Was this review helpful to you?
Stop Romanticizing Bad Behavior!
I have seen a lot of BLs but admittedly, this series is one of the most problematic and deeply troubling stories I have ever seen. Cinematically, it is treated so superficially and almost cavalierly one might miss its profundities. This is yet another complex and troubling story on both psychological and emotional levels that is coated in superficialities that, I cried, after watching. Sometimes, series so deeply affect me because I realize how reflective of a society’s mores they are and how hallowing and unpleasant those normative standards seem to an outsider looking in. What looks like acceptable behavior in essence should not be. I find it all so tragic and sad. I wonder again if I am projecting my own set of scruples onto a society that does not think like I do. But I honestly do not think so. Some behaviors ought to be universally condemned as wrong and a society, any and all, needs to agonize over considering that not everything that is standard is good. You can read my full review of this series at BLBliss.com.Was this review helpful to you?
Incredibly Interesting and Quite Different
I am usually not at a loss for words for a series but this one truly stumped me. Beyond words can describe this series. It is one of the most thought-provoking series I have ever seen. In addition, it is an amazing and an astounding story of life in its most esoteric form. If I tried to describe this series, it would be an almost impossible task as it traverses common reference points and twists life into knots. While the title implies this has something to do with vampires, it does not. But it does have some elements of what the outcome of being a vampire. There is some stunning dialogue in here about life that makes it so worth watching. On the other hand, there is some of the worst acting (not by any of the major stars, however) I have ever seen for the English speaking parts. But, honestly, this was a guilty pleasure of mine that overall, I liked. This barely qualifies as a BL series but the relationship is just so charming and full of hope. If you want to review my full review of this what I thought is an interesting series, please go to ppbongi.medium.com. It is free to review and you can leave your comments.Was this review helpful to you?
Back Handed But So Deliciously Entertaining!
Deliciously back-handed and sinister is the best way to describe this series. And I loved it. It is the ultimate ‘soap-opera’ that sings to you majestically. It is three love stories each more vapid than the other. Yet compelling watching. This is a very messy and chaotic series that at times is exacerbating to watch. It slips so much into the standard soap-opera mindset of how characters are supposed to act and behavior. At times, one just wants to shake the protagonists and say what is wrong with you. You fell for this before; why are you falling for this again? But it is exactly why we watch these series. It brought a charm and wit that was sharp and crisp for a change. And surprisingly adult-like in solutions. Do not look for any real plot to the story. It just goes from one conflict to another with the superficial love storylines in between. Every one of these characters is flawed and to some degree unlikeable. There is jealousy, obsession, emotional blackmail, messy desires, dishonesty, mistrust, and a lot of pain. The emotional pain components are done well, which gives these characters heart and a relatability factor. So, in a sense, we find them compelling to watch even if they are not the most moral or ethical standard-bearers of the day. They become intriguing. Thus, the series is astonishingly entertaining and certainly keeps one’s interest throughout.Was this review helpful to you?
A Sad Story But Remarkably Real
This is a great case study of unrequited love on both sides with neither one having the courage to say what they really mean. It is profoundly sad and so much time was wasted on misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and LACK of communication. But oh the tenacity to right the wrong is beautifully portrayed and full of sentimentally. The acting is well done, more so in Phupha episode with the Nanfah seemingly a bit belabored. Yet, it has such profoundly moving scenes in it that I was profoundly moved. These two are very sort but accomplish a lot of emotions in a very short period of time. Just a remarkable human story. Sometimes told with subtly; and sometimes with symbolism. But all so meaningful.Was this review helpful to you?
Sweet and Cute
It will take almost as long to write this review as it will to watch this short video. It is a coming-of-age story between a student and his tutor. It reminds us all of our first crush and how excited and sweet that moment was. There is not much you can say about this gem except that it is over almost as quick as it begins. It hits the highlights of our emotions in our first crush. Desire, lust, frustration, anger, and finally bliss. It will make you feel good and you can revel in reminiscing about your first crush. And for me that was a long time ago.Was this review helpful to you?
A Genuine Surprise!
This series tricks you. It lulls you into thinking it is going in one direction, only for that to be a ‘red herring’. Or maybe not? That is what made this series so immensely enjoyable and entertaining to watch. This is honestly a beautiful series to absorb because it takes you from the expected to the unexpected. More importantly, you feel these characters.This is ground-breaking in a sense that it tackles a fairly common condition with dignity and gives it a plausible ending. This is often a misunderstood medical condition and hopefully this series will shed some light on something that often brings pain, aguish, guilt, and confusion to an induvial no matter what direction the person has chosen to lead.
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LIGHT is a Rare Gift
LIGHT is a rare gift that shines brilliantly in a sphere of emptiness. It has all the elements of a tragic story. It is dark, brooding, sad, and depressing. It visualizes graphically the level of pain an individual will endure until a point is reached that breaks his will. This is a short movie and defies the description of powerful. This is simply an outstanding movie, short as it is. It will no doubt be on my Ten Best of 21. It moved me deeply and immensely.My full review is on my blog site at BLBliss.com.
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A Masterpiece
This is a masterpiece of cinematic genius, brilliant writing, and profound acting. I BELIEVED each one of these scenarios. I simply cannot say enough good things about this BL series. While most of it will make you feel good, there are a few, and one in particular, that will make you cry and leave you with a hole in your heart the size of the universe. These snippets of everyday (gay) life is so true to reality and so profoundly well done that this has to be labeled a masterpiece. I was deeply moved by all of them. Suspend yourself and allow your thoughts to just get into the stories. I just wish they had English translations of the interviews of the actors during the credits. I write a (free) blog and this will definitely be one of my all time favorite BL series. I shall post my review shortly but check out my other reviews if you so desire. ppbongi.medium.com. Please watch this gem. It is nothing short of perfection.Was this review helpful to you?
Infantile
This series is awful. I wish there was a kinder way to say that, but there is not. I wish in all honesty it had never been made as it wasted the talents of all the performers in this series. Or, at the very least, did not let them shine very much. What made this story so bad is its worn-out plot, cliché storylines, and predictable outcomes. For sure, there are a few touching moments but not enough to save this disaster of a series. And unfortunately, the acting is unchallenging and superficial. The series is filled with every trope in the playbook. If one of these series used even less than half of the standard ones, I would be ever so grateful. They continue to treat gay relationships like sitcoms. It is just a show. No depth. No sincerity. No exploration. No realness to them. It is like ‘playing house’ when you were children. All pretend; no substance. They cannot even kiss without the world falling down on them or even worse, fireworks going off. Please stop with the fireworks when two guys kiss. Overall, this is a childish, immature presentation of gay and straight teenage relationships, with a tired and trite plot, and I am sorry to say poorly acted and I am guessing more so poorly directed to make them all appear to be immature schoolboys and schoolgirls.Was this review helpful to you?
