Started Strong But Lost Steam Halfway...

I was excited to learn that another BL has begun airing when I saw a YouTube comment under Sakristan mentioning that In Between has begun airing! And a Pinoy BL that doesn't center on video calls! Revolutionary! Lol. But it is nice seeing pinoy BL that doesn't have a virtual format. Hopefully, we'll get more of that in the future.

In regards to the show, I was pleasantly surprised with the crisp, clear cinematography, which shows that this series had got budget! The acting is decent and several actors tried too hard to be emotional or funny, but it wasn't anything glaring (unlike Sakrisitan lol). The story started off with the breakup of the two leads, which was quite sad. However, it quickly reverted to a lighter, colourful atmosphere. The tonal shift was a bit jarring to be honest. The story was a bit slow so far, but I am interested in seeing how Otep and Tau's relationship will play out and why Otep felt so uncomfortable around Tau after spending time in L.A.

For me, there was too much unnecessary filler scenes in Episode 2. Did we really have to learn about the "two truths and one lie" of the friends, which took up like half of the episode? This series is only 5 episodes. Shouldn't they focus more on the main couple? The main couple's chemistry was palpable and their scenes were quite nice. Hopefully, the next few episodes will have more of them and less of the friends.

Episode 3 was also quite slow though it was nice to see the episode focus of Otep and Tau’s relationship. The flashback scenes of Otep and Tau secretly dating one another & being all happy were quite nice. The cinematography is still quite impressive. I’m excited to see the next episode!

Episode 4 was also slow, but I liked it. There's a lot of filler in this series, but I am enjoying it a lot! I love #TauTep's dynamic. There's this realism of heartbreak and sacrifice that touched me. I am glad that they have decided to extend this series though as 5 episodes would not be enough for this story. I'm hyped for #TauTep to get back together!

Episode 5 was quite good. However, it was disappointing to hear Tau say that he doesn't like boys, just Tep. Excluding that dialogue line, this series is progressing quite nicely. There's less filler and TauTep's relationship really pulls you in, It's definitely one of my favorite BL's currently airing at the moment along with Hello Stranger.

Episode 6 was also quite good as it showed some kilig moments between TauTep such as them brushing their teeth together in front of the mirror and teasing each other! My heart! It was also revealed that on of TaeTeo's friends, Ronin, whose friends constantly joke about being single, is actually secretly gay and that he has a boyfriend! It seems like knowing that Tau and Tep are in a relationship will give him the courage to come out to his friends. I love that! Gay people inspiring others to come out and to be true to themselves! I also wonder who the shirtless guy in the last scene is and what his role will be in the story. Is he Tep's boyfriend from America? I guess we'll just have to wait to find out!

Episode 7 was quite nice as we got to see some more kilig moments between TauTep and learned more about the "pangs' couple. So far, I don't see much chemistry between Ronin and Makisig but hopefully, in the following episodes, their chemistry will improve. On a side note, what happened to the shirtless Orion dude from the end of Episode 6? I thought that he was Tep's LA boyfriend, but Tep said that that was a lie (unless he was lying). I was expecting Orion to be addressed in this episode, but he wasn't. Hopefully, it will be addressed in Episode 8.

The series is starting to slow down as it begins to temper its story as there isn't really much in terms of story progression.

Overall, this BL series was decent as it started off strong but quickly became repetitive and dull when it got extended due to its popularity.

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One of My Favourite Pinoy BL's Along With Hello Stranger!

My Day is probably the most anticipated filipino BL's, especially on social media! I see so many people mention how excited they were for this series, so of course, I had to check it out when it aired. The first teaser which showed the elevator scene wasn't anything special, but its trailer was very impressive, showcasing a budget and production value that I have yet to see in pinoy BL's. I love that pinoy BL's are getting high budgets! For the budget though, couldn't the slightly blurry cinematography be crisper? The audio could also be clearer. The music, though pretty, is a bit too much, making it feel like a Disney fairytale story with its flourishes which clearly it isn't. The acting could be better also as it felt like everyone was trying too hard. However, I love that this series is taking the classic story of poor meets rich, but with a BL twist. The story is quite interesting and I am already completely hooked just by watching the first episode. Yes, there are some flaws in the story, mainly the mean girlfriend trope and the comedic fat gay trope, but the set-up of Ace and Sky's story is perfect. I love that the series will be exploring parental expectation/pressure in Ace's character.

On a side note, I was surprised to hear some English swearing with a few f*ck's said within the first episode. Also, when Sky's brother threw water at Sky's girlfriend when she was frightened by an insect falling on her, I died! That was comedic genius! I LOVED that moment and couldn't stop laughing!

On a different side note, I'm okay with product placement in series but when the product being advertised is an instant skin whitening lotion. Just no. There's already a huge colorism issue in Asian countries. We don't need our BL's to perpetuate the idea that fair skin is better and more desirable than darker skin. And there wasn't just one skin whitening product placement, but two! All in one episode! Hopefully, there won't be anymore distasteful product placements in the series.

Episode 2 wasn't as strong as the first episode. There wasn't any progression in Ace and Sky's relationship at all. Just Sky continuing to mess up and Ace getting angry at Sky. On a side note, it's kinda weird to see someone so mean and arrogant be so kind and tender towards his pet dog. Ace with his dogs reminded me of Jeffree Star and his own dogs to be honest lol. The plot of this episode felt forced and predictable. Of course, Sky had to go to the bathroom and leave Jam in charge of Chukchuk whereas Jam just so happened to get a phone call and just so happened to take the call outside, leaving the door open for Chuchuk to escape. Why couldn't Jam take the call inside? There was no one near him who could hear his conversation anyways? It was so obvious that Sky was going to mess up again and get on Ace's last nerve. Hopefully, there will be some actual progression between Sky and Ace in the next episode.

Episode 3 was much better than the previous episode as there was actual progression in Ace and Sky's relationship. As many other people have stated, Ace's attitude change was quite abrupt and random though very much welcomed. It was nice seeing him start to care for Sky. I hope that both of their girlfriends won't come on the trip so that Sky and Ace can start to deepen their relationship!

Episode 4 was quite good too! I loved seeing Sky and Ace's relationship develop and deepen during a team-building vacation at a resort! I LOVED how Sky chose Ace over the girl during the grouping activity! I lol'ed! So many kilig scenes! My heart! The product placements were quite random though. I cannot wait to see the next episode! My Day has become my favourite BL that is currently airing!

Episode 5 was another great episode in which Ace and Sky's relationships continued to grow! So much KILIG!!!!!! I LOVE IT! Also, Ace's coming out to Kim was quite touching. I am LOVING this show! Definitely my most favourite BL series that is currently airing at the moment!

Episode 7 was a bit slower as it focused on the cake competition but the ending brought quite a surprising turn to the story. At first, I was so sure that Ace of Cakes was going to win the competition, but then I realized that story-wise, it would make more sense to have them lose so that there will be more material to mine from. On a related note, Ace's father needs to f*cking chill! The fact that an intern got second place is hugely impressive, especially since he was competing with top chefs from top cake companies around the world. I highly doubt that Ace of Cakes won first place at the cake competition every year before. And anyways, if the cake competition was so important, why did Ace's father give it to Ace? Why not give Ace something smaller, especially since the father thinks that Ace is so incompetent? It didn't make much sense.

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Story's Potential Squandered...

I've heard a lot of SCUD's films from the online gay community but have never watched one of his films until now. It's pretty much what I expected from what I've heard of his films. A dull affair between two attractive guys, one of which is gay while the other is straight but feel obligated to stay because he is taken such good care of. It is problematic in its depiction of homosexuality, especially with its idea of a gay person trying to turn a straight person gay, reinforcing homophobia. The story did have potential, but the writing and directing was a huge letdown. At least, the guys were hot lol...

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Quality Writing & Acting But A Bit Too Slow For Me...

Damn! Right from the get go, this season talks about femme-shaming even from Pom, who is femme himself and actually more femme than the person who he met from a hookup app. It also addresses the promiscuity in the gay community. The query from acquaintances about who's a top and who's a bottom, which is demeaning and none of their business. The bottom-shaming and guilt that bottoms feel. The exhaustion of being a bottom and always having to 'prepare' oneself. A throuple. So many gay concepts which I loved!

However, I found the series to be quite slow. Much slower than the first season to be honest. I felt like this season dragged quite a bit. There were a number of times when I was like, "When is this episode gonna be over?" A more impactful story could have been told with a shorter duration (in my opinion).

On a side note, it is nice seeing a fat guy being one of the main characters in a BL, especially one that does not serve as a comic relief. There should be more fat guys in BL's! More fate guys in traditional BL's please!

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A Realistic BL...

I've heard raves about how Gay OK Bangkok was real. That it portrayed real gay Asian people and their lives. As a gay Asian, I HAD to watch this series.

And it was a breath of fresh air seeing BL series portray gay people realistically, portraying the issues that gay people come through, such as the rampant hookup culture, the emphasis on looks, relationships and cheating. However, I do admit that I prefer BL's that are fluffy and rose-tinted though as they make my heart sing which Gay OK Bangkok doesn't. Gay OK Bangkok is more akin to the LGBT films and TV shows that the Western world releases.

It is unfortunate that Pom, my favorite character (and many other people's favorite character), didn't get the love that he was seeking and that he was constantly rejected. He knows that he's because of his looks and that he is femme, which are both down upon in the gay community unfortunately. It's hard and I can completely relate...

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Touching Though a Bit Too Good-Natured For My Taste...

Touching and engaging though a bit too quiet and good-natured for my taste. I wanted some tension, some excitement to get my heart racing. The final product though is fine itself.

Loved the honest depiction of the gay experience: of the struggle and the importance of finding others like you to help guide you. I wished when I was younger that I had a gay mentor that I could look up to for inspiration and strength.

This is my second Japanese BL after The Pornographer. Japanese BL's are quite different from Thai and Taiwanese BL's. They're more mature and quieter. It is interesting that there hasn't been a 'kawaii' Japanese BL yet. I would love to see one that is more fun, upbeat and not so serious.

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Unique Premise But Execution Could Have Been Better...

I was really excited to watch this BL as several people mentioned that it was their favourite BL. My first Studio Wabi Sabi production! Beautiful premise, but the execution could have been better. Not a fan of the Korn and In storyline to be honest. I find In to be kinda annoying and the love between In and Korn to be random, superficial, and rushed. Their relationship felt more like just an infatuation from In and Korn reluctantly giving in to In's advances rather than love, especially one that will transcend time and be worthy of suicide. Their story should have been fleshed out more. You don't believe that Korn and In are soulmates who are meant to be with one another. And to have their weak 'love' be the basis of the love between Dean and Pham kinda takes some semblance of truth away from the story. Their circumstance didn't warrant a suicide at all. The stakes weren't there. The double suicide came across like a cheap plot device used to create drama. Kinda disgusting of the writer to be honest. Couldn't Korn and In run away instead of commit suicide? They do have their own condo and were planning on eloping anyways. And like why didn't In's father stop In from committing suicide? Like he only shouted, "Don't" right when In already had the gun to his head. Like what?

However, in regards to Pharm and Dean's story, I really liked it in the first few episodes. Those moments when Pham and Dean came across one another made my heart so full! However, the story got aimless quickly as there was like no real destination; no end goal for the story to go towards, no momentum. In other BL series, usually, the protagonist and his love interest will get together after one of them gives chase and the other resists initially but finally relents. That's the end goal. But for this series, Pham and Dean are technically like together just 3 episodes in, so there's nothing to build towards, nothing to resolve (uncovering the past lives of Pharm and Dean as an end goal only came about like episode 9). They both love each other and there are no obstacles to their 'perfect' relationship. Even Alex (who is absolutely beautiful) who flirts with Pham, Pham doesn't give him a second glance because he only has eyes for Dean. They encounter their first moment of friction (when Dean forced himself on Pham) in episode 10 but it gets resolved a minute later. Not sure what the purpose of Dean forcing himself on Pham served but it was never addressed.

Without the reincarnation angle, Pham and Dean's story would be quite simple to be honest. They found each other quickly and it was love at first sight. That's it. And even with the reincarnation angle, they weren't actively searching for answers to their 'visions.' They just have flashback memories once in awhile and that’s it. The search is a subplot as the story focuses on their relationship, which is already rock-solid. And the search was so quick like literally two episodes because Dean luckily had a friend whose father is a police officer.

The last few episodes were pretty engaging though. That grandma confession moment in episode 10 was powerful! I literally held my breath throughout that entire scene. And there were some other powerful, touching moments sprinkled here and there. That finale was kinda messy. Pham finds out that Korn is his uncle and he decides to attempt to commit suicide? That makes absolutely no sense since he already knew he was related to Dean; that he (Intouch) is Dean's granduncle. What difference does knowing that Korn is his uncle make that makes him want to the condo with a gun to commit suicide. Nothing! Yes, Pham could have gotten a psychotic break where In 'took' over Pham's body, but why then? Why not earlier? The attempted suicide seemed like just a cheap plot device to amp up the tension. The last episode was touching though and it was nice to see the effects that suicide can have on a family, especially over something trivial like sexuality. I was pleasantly surprised to see them acknowledge the issue that I had in the back of my mind throughout the series, whether Dean and Pham love each other due to the 'red thread' (their past selves loving each other) or in spite of it.

It is interesting that the reason why Korn's father didn't want Korn to date a guy is because he fears what others would say, not that he is homophobic himself. And the reason why In's father didn't want In to date Korn is because Korn's father is a criminal.

There are a lot of tender moments between Dean and Pham, which pulls at your heartstrings and makes you wish that you had someone like that in your life. Their portrayal of intimate moments is probably the best when compared to other BL's that I've seen. Better than Tharntype, which I find tacky. Better than GMMTV, which are too PG. Better than History 3: Trapped and Addicted, which are more sexual.

The performances were good all around. I must say that Fluke, the actor who plays Pham, is very good at crying though it can be a bit much at times. The amount of crying in the series is way too much! It kinda takes away from the story in a sense. Because there is so much crying, you get numb and annoyed whenever someone cries due to a past memory. Like chill, fam! And though I found Pham to be so cute in the beginning, he began to irritate me. He literally doesn’t have any personality traits, other than cooking for his friends (his friends are using him but he’s clueless), being cute and crying a lot. And always getting embarrassed when his friends or Dean's friends brings up his relationship with Dean or when he sees a photo or video of him with Dean posted on social media. And being squeamish with Dean even though Dean is his boyfriend.

On a side note, the flourishing musical score that backgrounds scenes of Dean and Pharm is beautiful but it doesn't fit the story. It sounds more like the backdrop for an epic adventure film like Mulan to be honest.

On another side note, it was pretty nice seeing a fat person in a Thai BL series in the role of Manaow. I have watched a ton of BL's over the past several weeks and have yet to see an actual fat person, so the representation was nice. It sucks that everywhere you go, fat people don't get representation, even in American media. Manaow is the comic relief though. The crazy, hyper, obsessed, fujoshi fangirl. Hopefully, we will see her relationship with Pruek more in the sequel, Hemp Rope (weird title). And apparently, the actor who plays Pham, Fluke, is gay (according to a Reddit reply), so that's pretty cool also! He's so lucky to be able to get intimate with Ohm Thitiwat, who is the hottest BL actor in my opinion.

On a different note, I absolutely love the theme of reincarnation! The idea of soulmates finding one another again in a different lifetime makes my heart stir and those were the most powerful moments in the series; whenever reincarnation was at play. One of my favourite films, Cloud Atlas, also deals with it. We need more high concepts for BL like this and He's Coming To Me instead of the standard school setting.

On a final note, It would be nice to be able to meet your soulmate, feeling incomplete and having an vague idea of loving someone growing up until you actually see them and your heart swells. You feel overwhelmed, warm and longing. I wonder if there are people who felt this in this world...

P.S. I realized how much I wrote for this review. Damn! I had a lot of thoughts! Anyways, I enjoyed the series. Yes, it had a number of flaws, but its premise was unique. I am looking forward to and will be watching its sequel, Hemp Rope.

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Watching the first 6 episodes, I was kinda bored with the story which felt slow and pedantic. I didn't find the characters interesting either so I stopped watching only to come back to it after watching 'The Untamed.' As it is one of the highest-rated Thai BL series, I had to finish it to make a final judgement. I found the series to be too earnest, too heart-on-the-sleeve, too poised which makes it feel unnatural, and too unrealistic like how Type fell for Tharn so quickly or how . Also, the amount of sexual assult in the first few episodes was shocking and kinda turned me off. The series does deal with internalized homophobia so props for that, but I wished that they delved deeper into that topic. It would have been cool if they mentioned the difference between pedophilia and homosexuality and that in a gay couple, neither has to be the 'wife,' but it is understandable that they didn't as it would have been quite complex. This series is quite heavier and dark than other BL shows as it deals with rape, murderous jealousy, pedophilia and mental illness, but unfortunately just skims it. Overall, it was slightly entertaining though I did watch it on 2x speed. The story just didn't grab me as the previous BL shows that I've seen (The Untamed, SOTUS and 2gether).

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Cute and Fluffy At the Start But Gets Aimless and Dull...

Short, cute and fluffy. This mini-series is essentially a glorified ad for a grocery chain, called Tops, which is also the name of one of the series' leads. It's smart, effective marketing to make a low-budget BL to promote their products. Props to them for that. The series showcase various recipes in each episode. The salmon-egg-avocado dish in episode 5 looked amazing! I really wanted to make and eat it to be honest! There isn't really a story or plot and thus, the story quickly gets aimless as you do feel like it's just a glorified ad series. Just two roommates who have a secret crush on each other and who go about their daily lives, cooking, playing the guitar, hanging out at home, etc. I do like how they wear masks, wash their hands and use hand sanitizer though. This series was most likely filmed during the COVID 19 crisis. I wonder if this series would have still existed if not for the pandemic. Possibly not due to the BL genre exploding in part due to the pandemic, which gave many people (including myself) the time to binge-watch and become obsessed with the genre. It's pretty cool seeing BL series like Ingredients and Gameboys take advantage of the pandemic to create something unique!

Though there were a lot of filler episodes, episode 10 was actually quite nice. We were introduced to Win’s family and learned a bit about Tops’ family. I really liked learning that Win was pursuing his dreams instead of working with the family business, which his brother tries to guilt him. Tops’ spiel to Win about the importance of chasing your dreams while still maintaining a relationship with your family was also touching.

After watching Episode 12, I've decided to drop this series as nothing is happening. Though the series can be cute and charming at times, there isn't enough of a story to keep me interested for 10 more episodes. I may revisit it in the future. I may not. We'll see...

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Meh...

Watched this series due to the main couple also being paired in the more popular 'Ingredients' The Series. And it's quite different in tone. Practically the opposite. Whereas Ingredients was sweet and adorable, this is series and heavy with melodrama. He She It was quite confusing. Yes, I understand the story, but there's a bunch of plot holes and plot points where characters make decisions that don't make much sense. The timeline of the story is also all over the place. Props though for attempting to do a supernatural BL though the series didn't hit its target. Hopefully, there will be more supernatural BL's in the future!

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HATED THE GENDER SWAP BUT NEVERTHELESS A STUNNING WORK OF ART...

Wow! I was absolutely captivated by this film! I felt my entire being drawn towards the screen, hanging on to every word and emotion! I decided to watch this movie due to Ohm Pawat (whose performance was good but I felt like he was trying too hard in his emotional scenes), but fell in love with the poignant story and the immaculate directing. The themes of regret, reincarnation, love and second chances all explored with great depth and feeling. I know that this film will stay with me for awhile and I am grateful to have experienced watching it.

The only issue that I had with the film is the gender swap. Why did they decide to make the reincarnated Dew a girl instead of a guy? Was it to make it more palatable for general audiences? I'm guessing that that is the case, which is nonsensical because Love of Siam, the first Thai BL and one of the most popular Thai films, literally dominated the award season in its year.

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Watched the FrameBook Cut of Make It Right beforehand, so I watched the 'Book & Frame Full Story Part 2' on YouTube for the sequel season. And I musrt say that Ohm was FINE in this series! It's amazing to see how hot he became in only one year! And his hair! Beautiful!

FrameBook's story is relatively tame in this series. No conflict or tension. Everything is amiable until Book's sex tape was leaked. This plot point didn't feel natural. It felt shoe-horned in to create random drama. Like his ex just so happened to be drunk one night where someone took his phone and released the sex tape. How coincidental!

Anyways, Book and Frame's relationship gets quite dull as Frame continues to try to reach out and help Book, but Book pulls himself away. The story doesn't make much sense either. It was very manipualtive to try to create drama that feels unearned and fake. The sex tape gets released. Book becomes depressed and pushes Frama away. They reconcile. Book tries to kill himself. His parents apologizes. They hug it out. A random person flirts with Book. The end. Book was so annoying in this series. Book doesn't deserve Frame at all! Not wanting Frame to kiss him in public when he literally had a sex tape leaked. Anyways, Frame deserved better!

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Strong First Half But Nonsensical In Its Second Half

Entertaining and enjoyable in its first half where logically the story made sense. However, the story started to unravel in its second half where logically, it became a bit messy. And a few questionable subplots like the Thai Reddit posts, which served no purpose and why everyone at the school just so happen to reply to it. Too much time was spent on side characters and not enough on Korn and Knock's relationship in my opinion. I could care less about Phubet and Professor Kavitra's relationship. And the investigation to uncovering Pleng's motives could have been portrayed much better to be honest. It was a bit tame. Anyways, it was nice seeing an older gay in a BL in Doctor Bright. However, he was sleazy and promiscuous. Hardly a good portrayal of an older gay guy.

On a more positive note, I absolutely loved the friendship between the characters. There's like this unbreakable bond between them, which makes my heart fuzzy. They're the kind of friends that I wished that I had in real life. And I loved Yihwa. Such a great friend! Also, It's nice seeing two semes (tops) get together though. All the BL's I've seen have an uke (bottom) and a seme. However, there is always one confident gay and a panicked gay to put it into crass terms. It's pretty cool seeing a different side of Thailand with the floating market.

Not a fan of all the drugging for comedic purposes though. Or that ugly girl joke at the end. Ugh. So tacky! Acting is a bit weak from the entire cast. Max and Tul aren't able to emote properly, but they are attractive; probably the most attractive BL pair that I've seen to date.

I cannot wait to see how the characters' stories play out in the sequel!

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Watching 2gether Felt Like Falling In Love For the First Time

Cheesy, awkward with ridiculous, over-the-top, manipulative plot points, but I absolutely love this series. Yes, the story is lacking, but the chemistry between Win and Bright is immense. Their chemistry is undeniable. The show concentrates on Sarawat and Thine's relationship first and the story second. It's like the writers just throw random situations at the couple to make audiences respond viscerally, getting angry whenever there is friction between Sarawat and Thine. An article puts it perfectly: "just a montage of elaborate scenarios designed to make your heart skip and legs quiver." I haven't watched a series or film that has made my heart hurt, race and flutter so many times. Yes, the show is manipulative, but it works. Absolutely charming, adorable and cute, watching the show is like experiencing all the highs and lows, the melodrama, the thrill of first love; the flirting, being chased, being loved, loving another person, getting jealous and being happy. On a site note, Win's performance is so good, especially considering that this is his first series!

This article perfectly articulates the beauty of 2gether: https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/tv/258771-reasons-thai-series-2gether-works

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Cute and Amiable

I learned about this series from a BL Instagram page and was happy to have a new BL to watch! It's not bad so far. The production is low-budget, but the foundation of two best friends having feeling for one another is laid out nicely though their confession was quite quick and rushed. I wonder how many episodes this series will be as MDL lists that it's only two episodes, which wouldn't be enough. If it actually is only two episodes or just a few episodes, then the rushed confession is understandable. It's a promising start. I'll see where it goes from here.

Episode 2 was fine. Not particularly interesting but not boring either. The music in this series is quite beautiful, I must say. It was cute when Tan confessed to Sine about his feelings and sad when Sine rejected him, but at least there was an almost-kiss at the end. I guess that there will be more episodes than just 2.

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