Extremely Strong 1st Half Which Slightly Fizzles Out in its 2nd Half...

This was my first K-drama that I watch while it was currently airing. To be honest, I've never heard of this K-drama before. I was just randomly browsing through Netflix, saw the notification bubble, clicked it out of curiosity and the title "It's Okay To Not Be Okay" piqued my interest. So, I clicked on it, read the synopsis and watched the trailer. It seemed interesting so I gave it a try and BOY, am I glad that I did! The production was stunning! The animated opening was beautiful! The cinematography was interesting and caught my eye for being adventurous. By the middle of the first episode, I was hooked! With her stories, Go Moon Young is like a female Tim Burton, who I was completely in awe of back in the day when I was in high school. She also reminded me of Jo Yi Seo from Itaewon Class with her antisocial behaviour though I do prefer Go Moon Young more. Moon Kang Tae is extremely attractive and the most attractive male lead of a K-drama that I've seen thus far no doubt. The chemistry between Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Ye Ji is electric! The acting is all-around top notch! The story is intriguing and engaging! I loved how this is a drama with a mystery in its background about the unsolved deaths of the two leads' parents and the reason for the mental illness in each family. Without a doubt, the best drama that I am currently watching at the moment! Hopefully, the drama is able to maintain its momentum throughout the rest of its episodes!

Upon watching Episodes 3, I continue to be impressed! Everything is just so good! The story. The acting. The production. The visuals. The costumes. Ugh. The back-and-forth banter between the two leads is just perfect! And I love how they can help each other to grow to become more fully themselves. And that last scene at the end where Kwon Gi Do is on stage having his voice heard whilst avoiding his father's campaign workers while Gang-Tae looks on longingly at his freedom and utter joy. STUNNING! To stop being so repressed and to just let go. To be free and have fun. I can only wish...

On a side note, I'm having a hard time trying to put my feelings of this drama into words. Everything is just so good! It's easier for me to criticize than to praise as I can point out plot points or story elements that don't make sense. However, if everything is consistently good from episode to episode, I don't really need to point out anything.

Upon watching Episodes 5 and 6, I felt that Gang-Tae's transition from being nervous and suppressed around Moon Young to being happy and loving seems a bit rushed. Same with Moon Young being cold and calculating to being warm and affectionate to Gang-Tae.

Watching Episodes 7 and 8, I kinda felt like this series is losing steam as it was pedal to the metal in the beginning but was unable to keep that momentum, which is understandably hard to do. The episodes are still entertaining, but I wouldn't say that they're compelling unlike the first few episodes.

Upon watching Episodes 9 and 10, I realized that the horror-fantasy elements that were present in the first few episodes kinda disappeared for some reason and the series became just a standard drama, though still a good one at that.

Episodes 11 and 12 were quite riveting as the mystery surrounding Gang-Tae and Sang-Tae's murder gets revealed and the romance between GT and MY is shown to be ill-fated. I hope that GT is realizes that it is not MY's fault that her mother killed his mother. We can't blame the actions of one's parents on them. And it looks from the preview of the next episodes that he doesn't blame MY. I truly hope that MY's mother will be caught and that MY and GT will have a happy ending... I'm so sad that there is only 2 weeks (4 episodes) left. I'm going to miss waking up late on the weekend and watching this drama right after I eat lunch :'(

Episode 13 was very slow and a bit dull to be honest. Only the last scene was interesting as it was shown that the nurse was the mother, not the patient. What an unexpected twist! I've always thought that the nurse was kinda weird and a bit off. But if I remember correctly, the nurse never interacted with MY. For someone who is willing to kill another to keep her daughter, the fact that she is able to distance herself from her daughter whenever MY visits the hospital doesn't make much sense. Either way, I'm hyped for the next few episodes! We're in the home stretch now...
Episode 14 was also quite slow and dull to be honest. I felt that there was a lot of filler as they drag out the confrontation with the mother. Also, there were a few questionable plot points, such as why GT decided to leave ST unprotected at the house instead of stay with him and MY at the cursed castle where he could protect them both. Also, why wasn't there any police at the cursed castle or any protecting MY, GT or ST? There weren't any police even looking for the mother, which didn't make any sense. And why didn't GT call the police after the mother kidnapped ST? Anyways, there's only two more episodes to go. I'm still interested in seeing how this series ends.

Episode 15 was underwhelming with quite a few plot points that don't make sense. The mother is angry that MY doesn't listen to her because of GT but MY thinks that her mother is dead. So, how can she listen to her mother when her mother is literally hiding underneath a different face? That doesn't make any sense. The mother's reason for killing GT's mother makes no sense either. All GT's mother did was suggest that MY go get help. She didn't try to take her daughter away or try to report to the authorities. There must have been teachers or other adults who saw MY's antisocial behaviour and talked to her mother about getting her help. If MY's mother is triggered that easily, she must have killed several people before which she hasn't. So, it doesn't make any sense. And anyways, I'm pretty sure that MY would be completely fine with GT killing her mother since her mother did kill his mother and she actually wanted to kill her anyways. But no, save the mother so that the mother could kill MY or GT. And anyways, how did MY get there so quickly without a car? The climax where GT and MY truffle with MY's mother was also quite underwhelming. Hopefully, the season finale will be better.

Episode 16, the season finale, was good. It wrapped up all the plot lines in a nice way and showed ST seeking independence from GT, allowing him to live for himself.

All in all, this Kdrama was entertaining. The cinematography and production design were excellent. The characters were well-developed. The acting was all-around good, especially Oh Jung Se who portrayed the autistic ST perfectly! His performance was Oscar-worthy! The story however was lacking. The first half of the series was strong! It was unique, interesting and fascinating. There was a fantasy/horror edge to it. However, the series delved into a standard melodrama in its second half and all that potential was wasted. The drama was good, but nowhere near what it could've been if it leaned into its macabre, fantastical element which would have differentiated it from the other Kdramas out there. Crash Landing on You, the first Kdrama that I watched, still remains as my favorite K-drama so far...

Read More

How Depressing... :'(

Ugh, what a depressing ending. Initially, I was so elated to see that the special showed sweet moments between Yan Fei and Hai Qing as there weren't much in the original series. However, it turned out to be just a dream. Yan Fei was still waiting for Hai Qing to return by the end. :'(

The dream did feel a bit too shiny to be honest. And I wasn't sure why Hai and Yan talked like they haven't talked to one another in awhile when they probably called each other everyday.

On that note, why did he go to America to study art in the first place? Couldn't he have stayed in Taiwan and continued to study art there? Is America really that great when it comes to studying art and painting? Either way, he could easily come back to Taiwan during the breaks that he must have. Yan Fei has the money for the flights.

Either way, overall, Dark Blue and Moonlight is still an excellent series and one of my favourite BL series ever! I will continue to recommend it whenever I can! It is highly underrated and deserves to be regarded in the same light as other top-rated BL series like SOTUS and Addicted!

Read More

Touching Gay Stories...

A compilation of short films focusing on gay love, whether it be coming out, first love, etc. from Blued, the popular gay social network. I was surprised when I first heard about this series. The fact that a social network was producing a BL series was quite different though smart marketing. I have used Blued before but wasn't impressed with it so I deleted my account. This series made me think about possibly giving Blued another go. Anywho, each episode was like a short film, with a self-contained story about gay love. Out of the first four episodes that were released on Blued's YouTube channel, my favourite so far was Episode 2 (Secret Crush) which was just so adorable and cute! Episode 4 was also quite touching as it depicted love lost. I'm excited for when the other episodes get released!

On a side note, I love that Chinese BL is getting produced by releasing it online rather than through TV channels and networks! Hopefully, more Chinese BL's will be produced like this!

Read More

A Different Kind of Reality Show... One that is Real & Thus, Beautiful...

I have heard so much about Terrace House, but never checked it out until the COVID 19 crisis gave me the time to binge-watch the latest season and I fell in love. I love how simple and ordinary the show is, which is what makes it compelling, unique and beautiful. You see ordinary people going about their ordinary lives, trying to find love and happiness. You see people pursuing their passions. You see people struggling with their level of talent in their professions. You see people lost, struggling to find a passion. You see people help one another, whether in love or life. You see people help push someone to pursue their dreams. The community and friendships that are born and evolve in this space is beautiful and natural.

Some notes that I took while watching the show back in March 2020:
Why does the show release weekly episodes just for Netflix Japan while international countries get an entire part (12 episodes) a month after the last episode gets released on Japan? I would much prefer to see the show weekly than binge watch 12 episodes. I couldn't even follow the terrace house Instagram account or any of the housemates accounts for fear of being spoiled. What is the reason for this? Maybe something to do with Fuji Television, which co-produces the show with Netflix, but it is a Netflix production? Is someone knows the reason why?
Studio Commentators are so impressive. They predicted that Haruka and Risako were going to clash. They predicted that Vivi and Ryo would fall for one another.
I absolutely love the studio commentators! A genius idea that makes you feel like you are watching the housemate along with them and seeing how other people react to the housemates. Seeing other people's reactions is such a huge part of entertainment! There are so many YouTube channels dedicated solely to reactions. Not surprising though as it makes us feel less alone. Anyways, I absolutely love You and Ryota Yamasato. I love his humour and love how he so genuinely wants to see the housemates get into drama. And love Torichan's devotion to Ruka. And Shochan is so cute though he's a bit quiet.
Talk about each housemates, even the ones who left the house in parts 1 and 2
Hana: Love how happy she is for other people's dates and achievements. But she has to stop obsessing over Ryo and peeking when he hangs out with Vivi
Ruka: I miss him so much! The best part of this season by far! Everyone else pales in comparison. Everyone loves him! He gets along well with everyone. On a side note, he should model. Everyone praises his good looks and modelling could be close to feeling like a superhero in a sense. I thought that Ruka was gonna stay until the very end as being among the housemates has really helped push him to grow out of his shell and go towards his dream. Talk about his dream o becoming Spider-Man. I cried when he nnonced that he was going to leave Terrace House
Tupas: kinda surprised that someone as straight-edge as him would apply to the show in the first place, hopefully he'll be able to loosen up and be able to find a career path, he's probably my favorite at the moment as I am also straight-edged and hope to find a career path that I would be happy in. His goal with Emika seems dangerous, like he's using her to fulfill this fantasy of getting the popular girl because he was unpopular in school, which will end up in failure because Emika won't be able to fulfill that fantasy, no one will. He has to take Lily Franky's advice and let the past in the past. Tupas breaking down talking about how lonely he was and how happy he is to be at the house breaks my heart. I could completely relate and knew what he was feelin as a lonely guy with no friends in my 20's To feel accepted by others and be part of a group is such a rewarding thing. Having people to come home to is a blessing.
Vivi: states that she wants to find a long-term partner at Terrace House, but she will be moving to LA soon to pursue acting, like what? The show would help leverage her popularity no doubt though, so over all the praises about her appearance, no other female housemate has received as much praise for her looks until she arrived and she also happens to be white, for someone so mature and with such a great oulook on life and who gives such great advice, I expected her to have a set career path, not just an 'aspiring' actor who doesn't seem to have actually acted before. On a side note, it's interesting that the two white people on the show are both models, no surprise though as white people in Japan is rare and seemem to be able to find work modelling easil, she's too straightforward and gives such great advice (Kai's comedy)
Ryo: He does not like to be put in an uncomfortable position and evades responsibilty as he never initiated the convo with Vivi or Hana, but he did state that the next person that he dated, he wanted to marry and he wouldn't be able to marry something in a long-distance relationship - but his last convo with Hana at the BBQ restaurant was commendable where he took responsibility and apologizedit, y
Kai: he's got this surfer aura about him, he doesn't give good advice though especially when it comes to Hana's infatuation with Ryo - Hana pushed Ryo to hang out with her at Kai's advice and clearly Ryo didn't want to, surprised to hear that he is an introvert because why would you apply for Terrace House?,
Best moments: when Ruka and Kaori pushed Ruka to take steps to pursue his dream, Ruka getting emotional when Kenny annonced that he was leaving, Ruka's Carbroccoli pasta dinner, Peppe seeing his dream achieved when he saw his mango in a convenience store, Vivi having a beautiful conversation with Tupas about love and life, opening his eyes and realizing that he can't continue to blame others for his life - As someone who was forced to go to dental school due to my parents, I felt inspired seeing her break it down for Tupas and feel compelled to live life by my own terms.
Niino: I like a slender person with big boobs. What?! He thinks that he's such a catch when he's really not. I already hate him within minutes of his introduction. And asking Tupas if he made out and "done the deed" with Emika. What?! How is that any of his business? So, he is fatphobic and crummy. He makes me wanna barf.
Shion: seems similar to Ruka being shy and innocent
I have never cried this much while watching a show, maybe Crash Landing On You
On an ending note, I wonder if COVID-19 is gonna affect the show. I searched up online on Wikipedia and it seems that the entertainment industry is still working though I'm not entirely sure.
I would love to participate in Terrace House, but I'm gay and can't speak Japanese. There should be an American version or at least, international versions in different countries, how cool would that be?

On a side note, RIP Hana. It's unfortunate the amount of hate that she received due to the show to the point where she killed herself. It does take a lot out of you, having your every decision and action be dissected. We also saw Kimiko struggle with the online backlash. I wonder how Hana's suicide will impact future seasons of the show. Hopefully, in the future, producers will have mental health screenings to make sure that contestants are mentally strong enough to withstand possible online vitriol.

Read More

Overrated...

Seeing how Goblin is considered to be one of the most popular K-dramas of all time, being the most popular drama on MDL, I had to watch it. I wonder why it's so popular since though it is good, it isn't that good. There's plenty of K-dramas that are much better than Goblin with mainstream appeal like Crash Landing On You. I think its popularity can be attributed to the age and social class difference between its ML and FL. A wealthy older man with a poor, young student. Since its a bit taboo, the drama gets controversy which gets eyeballs to this drama. It also helps serve as wish fulfillment for older men who lust after young women and young women who dream of an older man taking care of them, akin to Lolita.

Anyhow, I thought that this Kdrama was addicting and engaging though I wouldn't say that it grabbed me like Crash Landing On You. The story didn't make much sense at times and there are moments that made me scratch my head, but it's an interesting melodrama that kept my attention nevertheless. That is until the last several episodes, which were melodramatic, nonsensical and boring unfortunately.

I didn't care for the main couple (Goblin and Ji Eun Tak) to be honest. Not because of the age/class difference but rather because their story was quite boring. I prefer the relationship of the second leads (Reaper and Sunny), which was charming. Whenever there are scenes with the first leads, I would get restless and anxious for them to be over so that I could get Goblin and Grim Reaper scenes or Grim Reaper and Sunny scenes. I love the bromance between Grim Reaper and Goblin! To be honest, I ship them. I would have preferred that they got together instead. That would have made a better, far more interesting drama in my opinion.

On a side note, it's impressive that Gong Yoo starred in the one of the most popular K-drama, Goblin, and also one of the most popular Korean films, Train to Busan.

Read More

Loved the gay representation as this is one of the very few BL Korean dramas out. However, I found this series to be way too rushed with characters who make choices that don't make any sense. Like if Gitae approached Gisoo to kill him then why did he form a relationships with him instead of just killing him right away? Or why the foster father was so obsessed with killing Gisoo for having a relationship with Gitae? Yes, Gitae is one of his rival brother's henchman, but still. And if the foster father hates gay people so much, then why would he take in Gisoo? This series could have been better if it was longer, but I'm pretty sure that due to budgetary constraints, they had to make do with what they have. Imagine what could have been if they had a full-scale budget?

On a side note, how cool would it be to get a big-budget K-drama like Crash Landing On You but with gay leads? Anyways, hopefully, Where Your Eyes Linger, a BL K-drama that has been hailed as the first BL K-drama will do better with its low budget. If it does well and becomes popular, top K-drama companies will be more confident in greenlighting big-budget stories with gay leads. *fingers crossed*

Read More

Would Love to See This as a Series!

Promising premise. Nice production value. Confusing story though. So does Dr. Tiln keep dying then, coming back to life? Is he reincarnating everytime? Does he heal from his injuries? Felt like watching a concept trailer that the creators would show to people to try to get their project funded rather than an actual short film. I'm pretty sure that was the purpose of this short film and it did pique my interest to be honest. I would definitely watch the full series. I'm getting tired of the standard university storyline for BL's. It's cool seeing all the high-concept BL's coming in the next few years!

On a side note, Sammon, the writer of the novel that this short is based on, also wrote Manner of Death, which MaxTul may be starring in! It's pretty awesome that he can write, draw (he did the artwork for his books) and is a doctor! Wow!

Read More

A Different Kind of BL... One that is Beautiful, Messy & Real!

Slow-paced. Contemplative. Addicting. Frustrating. Beautiful. Real. Many viewers disliked the two leads, but I loved them. They were flawed and real, which made them beautiful. Pin Jun learned to let go of Hai Qing because he knew that Hai loved another man. Pin Jun loved by allowing his lover to find happiness, being grateful for being able to experience loving Hai for a period of time. Hai Qing was able to reunite with the love that he lost a year ago. Yan Fei learned to let go of a toxic relationship and was able to embrace a new one. One that was meant to be. Soulmates that were meant to be together in the dark blue and moonlight.

It was very smart for the writer to have the two leads reunite so late. It made us viewers wait. We felt compelled to continue watching to see when they will reunite. And the wait was literally unbearable! It may turn some people off, but I absolutely loved it! It was real, though its circumstances felt a bit forced. Hai wasn't able to call Yan because the lifeguards threw his phone into the pool. They bullied Hai because he got angry at one of them for not doing their job but rather flirting. Their action didn't make much sense as Hai could have easily reported it and they would have gotten penalized. Also, I felt like Hai Qing and Yan Fei could have easily met. They went to the same gym! It's not hard to go to the gym (specifically the pool) at around the same time that they did when they first saw each other on a weekly basis. Surely, they would have met one another. Other questionable plot points include when did Ping Jun become Hai's math tutor and when were they in the same class? Also, the alternative party where Jimmy gets his fortune read is a bit too on-the-nose and blunt.

I was so happy that Hai Qing and Yan Fei got together at the end! Hai Qing only loved Pin Jun because Pin was really good to him. It took a lot for Pin to realize this and learn to let him go. However, that is the reality for a lot of people. Many people settle. They choose to stay with someone because that person is really good to them, not because of love.

I also loved how they touched on the fears of a parent when their child decides to pursue an artistic endeavor rather than a stable job, which is a theme that other BL's have surprisingly yet to explore. Also, I enjoyed how the series dealt with the struggle of coming out to traditionalist parents.

Dark Blue and Moonlight has become one of my favourite BL series ever! It is different which sets it apart from the crowd! I hope that more people will watch this series and I will make sure to promote it whenever I can. I absolutely adore stories with chance encounters like this. Hopefully, I myself will be able to experience a chance encounter love sometime in my life...

On a side note, I loved the grandpa! He was so supportive, kind, innocent and funny!
On another side note, the poster for this series is so BEAUTIFUL! The best poster for a BL that I've seen thus far!

P.S. If you finish this series, make sure to watch the special that takes place after this series, which I will be doing now.

Read More

Yearning Personified...

Been excited to watch this ever since I got into BL's a few weeks ago, especially since it is hailed as the first BL K-drama! Watched the first two episodes on Viki using the free trial. Apparently, the first episode is free for anyone to watch, so watching it will help give the views to let Viki know about the popularity of the series. So far, I am unsure what to make of the show as it if still too early. However, I can say that the story is set up nicely as we are introduced to the characters, their relationship, possible obstacles that they may have to overcome, and some background information on the characters. Since the series is quite short, thrusting us right into the middle of their relationship is smart. The production is surprisingly quite good. The cinematography is sharp and clean. The acting is also top-notch. Newcomer Han Chi gives an effortless performance of being a flirty playboy and Jang Eui plays a composed friend whose veneer begins to crack in terms of his relationship with Tae Joo. The chemistry/tension between the two leads is palpable and I cannot wait to see where the story leads them. As an aside, I do like how the mother of a possible third wheel is so supportive of the blossoming relationship between Tae Joo and Kang Gook though.

On a side note, Kang Gook's hair is kinda weird in the back, right?

On a different side note, I hope that this series does well. If it does, then K-drama companies will be more confident to greenlight big-budget productions with gay leads! We need something like Crash Landing on You, but with gay leads! How awesome would that be?!

After watching episodes 3 & 4, I loved seeing the tension between Tae Joo and Kang Gook ramp up in the presence of a possible girlfriend. Tae Joo is beginning to realize that he has feelings for Kang Gook and is lashing out due to jealousy. Not sure what purpose Tae Joo becoming friends with the people who wanted to beat him up served though. That part was kinda confusing and didn’t make much sense. Anyways, I cannot wait for the next few episodes! I’m so sad that it’s only 8 episodes. Can I just say how impressive Han Chi’s acting is! And for his first series too! He’s a complete natural!

Upon watching episodes 5 & 6, I continue to be impressed. The story is maturing to the point where Tae Joo realizes his feelings for Kang Gook, who deflects his own feelings. Seeing the constant push-and-pull between them is captivating. Jang Eui Soo finally shows some range when Kang Gook lashes out at Tae Joo. Han Chi continues to impress me with his acting chops, showing vulnerability, heartbreak and anger in one scene! The different emotions that he is able to convey with just his voice, eyes and face is very impressive! I still cannot believe that this is his first acting gig. I cannot! I truly hope that he will achieve the success and fame that his talent deserves!

Upon watching episodes 7 & 8, I was a bit disappointed. I felt that these last episodes weren't as strong as the previous episodes in terms of storytelling, emotional impact and character development. Kim's reason for reporting that he saw Tae Joo and Kang Gook kissing was flimsy. I was also confused that the homophobic father's punishment wasn't more severe. Not sure why parents think that sending their children away will make them more well-behaved and not gay. If anything, they will have more freedom, more freedom to be themselves and to do things that they've always wanted to do but couldn't when under the watchful eyes of their parents. Seeing Kang Gook fight to get to Tae Joo was touching though a bit too dramatic. Also, I was confused as to why the father would let Tae Joo go home with Kang Gook before flying to England. I didn't like the time jump which was weird. Kang Gook working at the cafe of the girl that he rejected where he is constantly fawned over for his looks by the girl's mother and by customers. His friendship with Kim was kinda random too. I did like that Kang Gook and Tae Joo were able to get their happy ending though I'm not sure why it took 3 years.

All in all, it was a good BL series and an impressive foray into BL for K-dramas! Hopefully, this series will continue to garner views and support, allowing more Korean BL's to be produced in the near future! The time for change is now! We demand more Korean BL's!

Read More

Immensely Enjoyable Though It Does Drag Out It's Main Mystery...

I first heard of this K-drama on Reddit and checked out its trailer, which didn't really interest me. However, the comments all praised the show. Just browsing on Netflix, I came across this title and decided to give it a shot in part due to its 8.7 rating on MDL and the fact that I was in the mood for a light-hearted rom-com. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of the K-drama. The lead actress' acting turned me off as she literally overacts way too much. Everything is so dramatic and over-the-top for her. However, I came to appreciate and enjoy her antics as it works in this story. By the end of the first episode, I was hooked! The story isn't anything profound or special, but it is fun, entertaining and engaging. I am completely invested in the story. The love interests, all possible fathers for Noh Ae Jung's daughter, helps propel the mystery of who is the biological father. By the end of the first episode, we believe that it's Oh Dan Oh, the write. However, by the end of the second episode, we are made to believe that it's Oh Yeon Woo, the teacher, who is SO CUTE by the way! I cannot wait for the next episodes!

On side note, K-drama is literally killing the game! I'm watching 11 currently-airing BL's and 2 K-dramas, yet the K-dramas are easily the best in terms of quality, story-telling, innovation and production. I look forward to watching and following future Netflix Original K-dramas! I'm sold! Netflix was so smart to partner with K-drama production companies!

As a viewer posted in the comments section, "altho the episodes feel super long by the end of each one i look at the preview and im like AHHHHHH i have to keep watching~" This describes my feelings for this show exactly or more specifically in Episodes 3 & 4. Yes, it was slow and it felt very long, but by the end, I was hooked and could not wait to watch the next episode. This show is really good with their cliffhangers, I give props for that. I love how information is withheld and we, the audience, are made to come up with our own theories and guesses on who the father could be...

Notes: I absolutely adore Oh Dan Oh! I love how fervent and strong his love for Ae Jung is. I love his confrontational banter with her. I love his child-like, jealous personality. He's my favourite of all the men, no doubt! Not a big fan of Oh Yeon Woo though he is quite beautiful, I must say. I truly hope that Oh Dan Oh and Ae Jung will reconcile their differences and choose to be together again... And I absolutely loved the banter between Dae Oh and Ha-nee! It's like a true father-daughter relationship! I truly hope that he's the father...And I want to know why Dae Oh and Ae Jung broke up 14 years ago! Was it because she was pregnant and she was scared that he wouldn't want it? DId their love burn up too quickly?

I've watched Episode 9 and though I'm still quite entertained. The series does unnecessarily drag out the mystery of who Han-ee's father is. It also drags out the reason why Ae Jung left Oh Dae Oh (which I truly hope will be revealed in the next episode). I'm guessing that maybe the reason why Ae Jung said that he either had to die or leave Oh Dae Oh back then could be due to her immense guilt for sleeping with Ryu Jin. Anyways, as other have also mentioned, we fall in love with Oh Dae Oh more and more each week while hating Ryu Jin and Oh Yeon Woo more and more each week. Ryu Jin for being a fake friend and Oh Yeon Woo for constantly, like constantly, pushing himself on Ae Jung even though she has clearly told him that his actions were making her uncomfortable. I continue to hold the torch for Oh Dae Oh! Hopefully, he is revealed to be Han-ee's father and wins back Ae Jung.

The story is messy and doesn't make much sense at times, but the series is so addicting. Everytime an episode ends, I need to watch the next one, especially when the episodes all end in cliffhangers.

In Episodes 10 and 11, though I do love Dae Oh and am really enjoying this drama, the idea that a mother and her daughter needs a man to help protect them is idiotic, absurd and dumb! On a similar note, the idea that a child needs a father and a mother to be happy and fulfilled is also old-fashioned and completely baseless as there are a ton of children out there with single parents or with same-sex parents who are thriving under the love and support of their parents.

Episodes 13 and 14 were quite messy, random and melodramatic where characters makes decisions that don't make any sense. That was quite selfish of Han-ee to deprive her mother of romantic love when she already knew that she was the reason why her mother dropped out of school. And why didn't Ae Jung tell Han-ee that her father didn't leave her but rather that she left him over a misunderstanding? What happened to telling her the truth? But of course, everything will be alright after Dae Oh risked his life to save Han-ee and Ae Jung from the gangsters, causing Ae Jung to reveal her feelings to him and allowing Han-ee to forgive him. I'm getting tired of this drama and just want it to end by this point.

The last episode was quite useless and unnecessary. The story didn't make any sense. All in all, this series is highly entertaining. I was addicted to the series that is until the last several episodes where the story's logic started to stretch thin and characters made decisions that didn't make any sense. I would still recommend this drama for anyone interested in some addicting fluff.

Read More

Cute!

Learned about this short film from a BL Instagram account. It was only about 7 minutes so I had to watch it! And it was cute and adorable though a bit rushed (which is understandable as it is a short film). I would love to be able to see this short film fleshed out into a full-length BL series. That would be great!

Train and train stations have always been romanticized in films and TV shows. Whether it is a departure of a loved one, the arrival of a loved one or a chance encounter with a future loved one. Trains and train stations hold a special place in my heart. Whenever I ride the train in my hometown, I secretly wish that I will cross paths with a future lover, that I will catch someone's attention and that they will approach me, making small talk or ask for my number. This has yet to happen and I doubt that it will, but still, I still hope...

Read More

Cut But Kinda Cringey Then It Become Dull...

Cute, but a bit cringey in its first half. Unfortunately, I was so bored and uninterested in its second half.

Xia Hao fell for Yu Xi a bit too fast in my opinion. His attraction was kinda out-of-nowhere too. One minute, he hated him. The next, he likes him, putting in so much effort to chase him. And his personality did like a complete 180, pass the point of believability. It's so awkward and cringey seeing him act all cute, love-dovey and over-the-top because he is 'in love' with Yu Xi. Sun Bo Xiang and Lu Zhi Gang's relationship was also too quick in my opinion and I didn't care for them. Both relationships quickly get dull and stale as there is no conflict or tension. Nothing to build towards.

And of course, there's the standard "I don't like guy. I just like _____" which is plentiful in BL series unfortunately.

Lu Zhi Gang has good intentions as he probably sees Yu Xi as a little brother, but what he did by telling Xia Hao off is selfish. Ultimately, it should be Yu Xi who decides whether or not he wants love in his life, not some outsider. And Yu Xi still studies hard and he will no doubt he able to continue to achieve high marks. Maybe with love in his life, he will feel even more motivated to do well in school. And he's happy. Happier than he was when he was alone. That must count for something.

It's so stupid for Xia Hao and Yu Xi to make out on the couch in the living room with the possibility of Xia's family coming in anytime. It's just so dumb and unrealistic.

I thought that being gay was legal in Taiwan. Why did Yu Xi get in trouble at school for going to a gay bar? And why didn't Xia Hao blame the person who the photo was from? Especially since that person is friends with his ex-girlfriend.

The infamous ending. I was initially expecting that Xia Hao wasn't going to get into a top 5 university to be honest, but when he did, I knew that one of the main characters probably died. To be honest, I enjoyed the ending. It was interesting and brought something new and different to the series, especially since I was quite bored during the second half. Not sure what the purpose of the inclusion of a Yu Xi doppelganger was though. And Xia Hao became straight with a possible female love interest. Ugh. And he reaffirmed that he didn't like guys, only Yu Xi. Ugh.

On a side note, Wayne Song (Xiang Hao Ting) is absolutely beautiful though! Probably the best-looking BL actor I've seen thus far! His hair! His cheekbones! His jawline! Stunning!

Read More

Watching for TinCan Only...

I was so excited to watch this sequel as I LOVED TinCan's relationship from Love By Chance. Unfortunately, along with many other fans, I was massively disappointed watching the first episode of Love By Chance 2. Why did the writer choose to retell Tin and Can's story? That made absolutely no sense at all! Not only does it make it confusing, but it also lets down the fans who have waiting for the continuation of Tin and Can's relationship after the upsetting rejection at the end of Love By Chance. Not only is the story a mess, but the characters of Tin and Can were flat. Tin was boring (instead of smoldering) and Can was whiney (instead of cute). The cinematography and editing was also quite lacking. It's as if this sequel series has a lower budget than the predecessor, which doesn't make any sense. Should the sequel have a better budget because of the success of the first series? So far, I am not impressed at all. I don't think that this series will get better unfortunately. I can only see it getting worse. Hopefully, my prediction rings false though...

Second episode is better though Ae being all moppy and sad is starting to get on my nerves. TinCan's chemistry is improving though and I'm starting to get a semblance of what they had in LBC so that's a good sign.

TinCan's dynamic isn't as electric as it was in the first season, but it's still quite good. I could care less for the other couples though. It's still to see TinCan's relationship actually progress from the heart-breaking finale of season 1 in Episode 7 of this season. Still don't understand the reasoning why the writer decided to tell their story from the start again (unless she didn't have enough material for an entire season focused on TinCan). Anyways, this has become one of my favourite BL's that I'm watching at the moment! Cannot wait to see the next episodes!

Read More

Visually Stunning But Doesn’t Make Any Sense...

Exciting and thrilling at times (especially ep 19-28), but confusing, messy, convoluted, nonsensical, and aimless at others. So many plot points that don't make any sense. Characters whose decisions and actions don't make any sense. A villain with a weak resolve. It is like a epic fantasy Chinese version of Game of Thrones with its themes of feuding families and desire for power (though not as good). The series is visually stunning though. The production design is absolutely beautiful. The costumes are stunning. The hair gorgeous. The classical Chinese music soars wondrously. It is unfortunate about the Chinese censorship on lgbt content in film and series though. The Bl relationship could have been so much more. It is still pretty cool seeing a series with a close male friendship and that is based on a BL series get so much attention worldwide though! On a side note, I felt that the series was completely overrated. I've read people talking about how this series ruined every BL for them as there wouldn't be anything as good or that there is only a 'before' and 'after' after watching the series. Hilarious! Thai BL are much better. They're shorter and actually have BL content.

Read More

My Favourite Film of 2020 So Far...

I've been waiting for this film ever since it was first announced to be coming to Netflix worldwide on December 24th. Being a gay Asian male, this film was one of my most anticipated of the season, alongside Wonder Woman 2 and Soul. And I was not disappointed! My heart was full by the end of this touching story of two teenagerso fall in love and then, reunite as adults several decades later. Though there were some structural issues, such as the unnecessary flashback scenes, and some head-scratching plot points, such as the random inclusion of a French Canadian priest or the way-too-convenient reunion at the end, I still LOVED this film!

On a side note, as a Canadian, it was weird seeing Ji-an visit Niagara Falls as if it was located in Montreal lol.

Read More