Hidden gem slice-of-life

What do you get when you combine the most green flag pairing in BL with good communication, realistic character arcs and solid chemistry? Monster Next Door.
This is most likely going to be a comfort show for me, it’s really lovely.

I am literally shocked by how well done this was. It was surprisingly well paced. A lot of BL have the curse of the 11th episode but they managed to skirt it. They had some conflict but they resolved it, communicated properly and then there was time remaining to build back up the good vibes. My heart is left warm.

The personality MBTI thing at the beginning was kind of weird and it does have its slightly cringe moments but it’s all pretty forgivable. Like the show did low key have people treating introversion like a terminal disease lol. Really my only major gripe was that it was a little long. Probably could have been trimmed down to like 8 or 10 episodes.

Anyway, if you’re looking for something light-hearted and lovely, look no further. This is 2024s sleeper hit.

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Clean and simple

I really enjoyed this! It’s super easy watch that I think could easily be a comfort watch.

The plot isn’t super complicated or anything, it’s really just a best friends to lovers, unrequited to requited love story. I liked the fact that they got together pretty early and the subsequent storyline followed their challenges.

There’s a super unnecessary breakup but after they get back together they give the viewer enough time to enjoy the sweetness again.

I hate the OST. If I hear “you’re my rabbit” one my time I’m committing a war crime.

This show was literally like a Taiwanese BL reunion lol. We had the leads from Be Loved In House: I Do, one of the leads from History 4, and the leads from MODC reuniting lol. I’m sure there were some others as well that I missed. I don’t know what strings they had to pull to get them all together but kudos. The MODC reunion made me tear up lol (this is the second show they’ve reappeared in together).

The leads have great chemistry. I liked the side pairing as well.

Overall, it’s a recommend from me.

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Totally Underrated Supernatural BL

I don’t understand why this has such a low score? It’s a unique plot with good acting and interesting characters. Then again, maybe it’s because of the cut version that is more easily accessible, I watched the uncut version which allowed the narrative to breathe more.

I’m a massive “He’s Coming to Me” fan, so ghost BLs aren’t an unusual concept for me. However, this was executed in a very different way (though both involve mystery elements). Something In My Room was able to engage me and get me invested in learning more about the characters.

The acting is pretty good, a couple moments that felt overacted in the crying scenes but some were also very effective. Wept at the ending, so that at least means they brought it there for me (it’s a huge fail if I can’t cry, I literally cry at everything). Chemistry was pretty great, I’d be happy if the leads paired off again.
Side couple didn’t do it for me but I did love Dream (Luck annoyed me and lowkey someone should press charges for the hacking thing?).

There are some plot holes. Some things that never really get properly explained. Like did Phob kill himself? He walked in front of a car and it’s never brought up again? Also the person that hit him literally drove away like nothing happened and y’all don’t wanna know who it was? Wtf lol. That probably the biggest one.

The ending is bittersweet but not devastating. Definitely not the happiest ending, but not the saddest either. I was happy with it in the circumstances.

Overall, it’s a recommend for me! Not sure if I’d ever return to it but maybe.

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Unique Perspective and Overall Good Storytelling

I quite enjoyed this! Despite being more of a slice-of-life, the story is unique and the characters are well written.

My review will contain major spoilers. Please read with caution.

The story: I thought the way they laid out the story added a lot of intrigue to what could have been a fairly bland story. They mixed in the mystery around the nunnery to juxtapose the mystery around Amber. Though I feel like there could have been more correlation between the two.
I thought for sure that Amber was trans but instead he turned out to be intersex, another underrepresented minority. Either way, his story broached topics around sexuality and gender identity that are often not seen in BL. I feel like his own journey with gender identity was glossed over but overall the topic was mostly handled with care.
However, YuHe outing Amber? Not cute. I really liked her character and it was unfortunate that she betrayed Amber’s trust like that.
The random suicide attempt? Also a strange writing choice and not handled well.

The lead pairing had good chemistry and all of the relationships were well fleshed out. Including friendships and sibling dynamics (not just romantic).
The acting was hit or miss but when it hit it hit hard. The actor that played Amber had some really emotionally impactful moments. I feel like he was probably the standout of the cast.

The soundtrack also kinda slapped imo.

Would I recommend? Yes! Not sure if I would rewatch this but I would definitely recommend giving this one a shot.

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Exciting, Well-Paced and Unique

TL; DR: While Dear Doctor, I’m Coming for Soul isn’t perfect, it is an exciting supernatural hospital drama with a satisfying conclusion.

WOW. I literally have been avoiding this drama because of the low ratings but I don’t know what people were on rating this so low.
It’s not perfect, but I felt like it was a well-paced, well-scripted take on a killer/healer storyline. And the ending is lovely, only a little bit bittersweet with a lot of hope.

It’s a unique storyline and I personally found the conflict quite exciting. I anticipated every episode and devoured this show in a couple days.

The characters, even more antagonistic characters, are fully fleshed out and three - dimensional. It’s really not something you see very often but everyone had complete characters arcs over the course of the show.

There are a couple of flaws, such as the moral back and forth. It was a bit annoying when Prakan went back and forth about whether or not he was okay with Tua being a Soul Reaper. It lasted a few episodes and I was kind of just like, dude use your words, you’re an adult.
Acting was also a little bit lacking at times and didn’t pack the emotional punch it needed to. I’m a crier and I unfortunately didn’t feel enough to cry. That being said, the leads actually did have good chemistry, so points for that 100%.

One thing I wish they talked more about, Tua is not killing these people lol. The show keeps acting like he is. He is just guiding them to the afterlife. I feel like they should have shown what happens when a soul isn’t guided or something to express why this role is important.

The ending, I personally thought was perfect for this show. It is the happiest possible ending they could have given in this plot. Is it sad that Tua has to wait every 20+ years for Prakan to reincarnate? Yes. Is it also super romantic? Absolutely yes. It’s bittersweet and lovely that Tua watches his lover grow old, helps guide him to the afterlife, then waits to do it all over again (which is absolutely what is implied by the ending).
Really solid, satisfying endings are hard to come by in BL (and most shows in my opinion). This one was so well-paced and fitting that it solidified this show as a higher ranking for me.

I absolutely would recommend.

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Short and sweet

This is a surprising little gem! Short, sweet and doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. I disagree with others that say this should be longer, for this particular plot this was the perfect length. There wasn’t anything else that needed to be said, so no need to drag it out.
That being said, I would absolutely love to see the leads in this star in something else together, they had good chemistry and played off of each other well.

Honestly, a lot of things about this was surprising. It’s well-paced, the writing is pretty solid, and the acting is good.

Plot was totally predictable, but I don’t think they thought they were surprising anyone when X’s long-time crush was revealed. Admittedly, it might have been nice to see some background to X’s crush, as well as some good, old-fashioned pining.

I really liked the friend group in this. We always stan well-meaning himbo besties. Q’s coming out scene with his friends was actually quite lovely.

Overall, it’s a recommend from me.

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Questionable writing but overall enjoyable

Was I the only one that thought Palm’s character type was going to be the rough and tumble, super casual, rural boy type? Like this boy worked on a boat and likes wearing Hawaiian print shirts, you’re telling me he’s the quiet, reserved, loyal dog type? Missed opportunity.

I have conflicting feelings about this. On one hand, I did enjoy it. On the other hand there was something that was preventing me from getting fully invested in this story.

Getting the elephant out of the room, it’s totally GMMTVs response to Kinnporsche. Another drama I have mixed feelings about lol. It is different, in some ways that are better and in some ways that are worse.

The good: the overall vibe of this show. They’ve cast this sort of warm glow around everything that makes it feel sort of dream-like. It gives this show a unique essence about it that I haven’t seen before. I can’t explain it but I actually do quite like that part of the show.
The leads have good chemistry, likely because they have starred alongside each other before. They felt comfortable and I love a good longing stare lol.
I also like the soundtrack. The choice to mix Thai songs with Western songs worked with the overall feeling of this show.

The bad: I feel like they didn’t know what kind of show they wanted this to be. Is it a mafia, crime drama? Is it a teen romance? Because they didn’t commit enough to either one it just felt very unrealistic.
The choice to have this set around high schoolers was an interesting one. They were probably hoping that it would make the show stand out or appeal to a broader audience but it ended up feeling more like a teen drama posing as a mafia drama. Like why would Nueng’s mom want a HIGH SCHOOLER as her son’s bodyguard. That just doesn’t make sense lol. And then when Nueng, you know, an 18 year old starts running the company…????? It would’ve been better if they committed to them being adults and properly delved into the mafia element.
You say this company is built on illegal business? Where?? Where are the drugs, money laundering, etc. I haven’t seen it, so for all I know this is just some random company that people are willing to kill over.
The writing decisions are definitely the most questionable part of this series lol.
Acting also isn’t completely there. The actor’s are young and they have improved from their roles in FUTS. They have potential, so I’m not gonna hate too much.

Overall though, I would recommend giving this one a watch. There are tons of BLs out there, but despite this one’s flaws, it is still one of the better one’s out there.

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Simple story, GREAT execution

This is a fantastic example of how you don’t need a great plot, you just need great execution. This is a perfect way to handle a mostly light hearted, teen romance. Would totally recommend this to younger BL fans just getting into BL.
The pacing is great for high schoolers, it felt like we were following the blossoming first love of two young people. It’s bubbly, awkward, and sweet.
I have seen a lot of people compare this to Bad Buddy, which is probably because the follow a similar formula. Simple plot, well-paced, great acting and great soundtrack.
I thought all of the characters were well written, ESPECIALLY Tinn’s mom. She’s strict at first but the show slowly shows different sides of her from his relationship with her husband and how much she loves Tinn and wants him to be happy.
The two leads are junior actors but they added a surprising level of depth to their characters for being so new.
I really enjoyed this, it’s definitely a top BL for me.

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The Dentist BL is Actually Good?

This was surprisingly great. I really didn’t know what to make of it, based of the description but it was actually a really good BL.
The story isn’t particularly complex but it is well paced and the actors have good chemistry. There’s a good mix of comedy to drama to romance.

The side pairings are light, but feel fairly fleshed out. Alex and RJ probably deserved a little more screen time to properly conclude their storyline.

The lead’s dynamic is very healthy. They are good at communicating through their issues. The importance of communication is emphasized when a character ISN’T communicating, further expressing that they will become even healthier in their relationship with time.

This will be a great comfort BL, and I could absolutely see myself rewatching this. I recommend!

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Cute but a little long

This was a very sweet little story. Probably a little long for what it was. There wasn’t a whole lot of plot, so they probably could’ve made it 8 eps and it would’ve functioned the same.
I do agree with the other comments that this ran in circles a bit, but I honestly thought it would be more frustrating based on what people led me to believe.

The age gap is problematic but nothing really happens between them when Shin is underage.

Acting is good, though there aren’t too many emotionally impactful moments. Even those that are didn’t pack much of a punch for me, and I am a notorious crier.

Chemistry between the leads was surprisingly good. They even have a decent kiss, which is unusual for Japan (unless it’s a really twisted drama lol).

Other than that, I don’t really have any strong opinions. It was a good one time watch. I would recommend if you’re looking for something light and not plot heavy.

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Easy binge, suspension of disbelief required

I felt like it had a bit of a slow start, but once I got into it I was really invested.

The plot is pretty solid, especially if you know a bit of background on the political climate in Thailand around protests and authoritarian rule.
The twists and turns are also well executed.
I do think some of the characters motivations are a little bit unrealistic. Some of the writing decisions really had me scratching my head a bit. Probably my biggest question was around Akk and why he needed so desperately to succeed? It felt like he needed some stakes or external pressure outside of the teachers to influence his actions.

The acting is good and the chemistry is there between the mains. The side couple could use a little work, they felt a little uncomfortable with each other despite starring together in other dramas. The leads did a really great job expressing their emotions, especially in high emotion scenes—which is a testament to their acting. I was especially fascinated by Akk, I’ve seen him in other dramas but he really shined in this role. He has a charm about him that is lowkey mesmerizing? Especially when he smiles lol

Anyway, production budget was definitely low but I think they made the best with what they had. Audio is a little wonky at times but I’ve definitely heard worse loool. They probably could have cut a couple episodes, and made the show a little more tight.

I would recommend, a must watch BL

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A little slice of history and an underrated gem

Gameboys is one of those series where it really doesn’t sound all that great on paper but it ends up being a surprising diamond in the rough.

I was not sold on the COVID-19 theme, and I didn’t think I would be interested in watching a drama that is mostly over web conferences. However, Gameboys is an extremely sugary sweet story that deserves more attention than it’s gotten.
I believe, in part, the reason why it isn’t getting as much attention as other BL dramas has much to do with the reasons I too was reluctant, as well as the fact that people aren’t familiar BL in the Philippines. Which is unfortunate, because it really is a great series.
While I still am not sure how I feel about the COVID-19 theme, this did wring some genuine tears from me.

The story isn’t what makes Gameboys great, it’s the cast. Acting was honestly some of the best I’ve seen in BL. The cast had enough talent to really evoke their character’s emotions, which ultimately made Gameboys feel really immersive.

OST was okay but there are some singing/rapping bits in the series that made me physically want to crawl into myself. Not my cup of tea but others would likely find it cute.

I’m giving this a highly recommend. It was a quick, fun watch, I devoured it within a day. If you have any reservations about watching, don’t, because you’re missing out on one of the best BLs of the year.

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2 Moons... again?

I’ll admit, I was originally very skeptical of this series. Back when it was announced that 2 Moons was getting remade with a new cast I was not pleased. It’s funny to think that, back in 2017, the original 2 Moons was my favorite BL series. Looking back, it no longer is but this was a fun watch nonetheless.
Frankly, the story isn’t particularly special. Though, I suppose there isn’t really other dramas that focus on the moons of each faculty. That aside, it’s a pretty standard college drama formula. Of course, like most Thai BLs, there are a few engineering students sprinkled in. Though there is something pleasantly pure about the long-time high school crush concept.
Wayo and Pha get a lot of flack, and while some of their drama is tedious, I think they had good chemistry and I really liked how they discuss boundaries and their overall approach to communication.
For most, Ming and Kit were the breakout couple, much like in the original 2 Moons. No doubt, they had great chemistry and Joong shined the brightest of the cast with sheer boyish charm. 2 Moons 2 (and 3) will not be the last we see of him, for sure.
Forth and Beam were also a nice couple, though they had little time to develop.
Will be interesting to see how they approach the next season, since we were left on a pretty large cliffhanger. I’m assuming a lot of drama is on the horizon but I’ll be excited to see what happens next.

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Returning to an Old Fave

Writing this review after a rewatch in preparation for Love by Chance 2.
This was hands down my favorite BL for a hot minute and, while it no longer is, it still holds a special place in my heart.
Ae and Pete are still a rockstar coupling two years later. It’s honestly kind of devastating that we will likely never see them together again after the drama between Saint and Perth’s manager. External drama aside, their relationships is healthy and supportive and there is little time spent on miscommunication. They talk through their problems which is more than I can say for a lot of dramas.
I was also a massive fan of TinCan. What can I say? I’m a sucker for the cold, rich boy that falls for the spunky cinnamon roll trope. Bonus points for enemies to lovers. Double bonus points for Tin being totally Whipped for Can. I’ll be excited to see where they go in season 2.
Now, this drama is not without issues. My rewatch definitely had me reflecting on some of the more prominent flaws and plot holes. There are actually 4 couples in this but the two less prominent couples aren’t often talked about (for a good reason). Definitely my biggest concern surrounds Techno and K*ngkla’s relationship, which is toxic at best and an outright crime at its worst. The pseudo incest plotline isn’t great either and it’s literally been done twice.
That being said, I can ignore these flaws for the sweetness that the main story provides. While it’s not the most unique or interesting concept, Love by Chance thrives on AePete and TinCan’s great chemistry.
The OST is also pretty solid, and I believe there’s continuity between season 1 and season 2’s music, which is pretty nice.
There was a great balance of humor to drama, which makes this a fun watch. After all, I considered this my favorite for a long while (we’ve just been spoiled with so many good BL’s, it’s difficult to keep up). Highly recommend to anyone that wants to see great chemistry amount to a satisfying ending.

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