My beautiful, messy ocean

Who needs a plot when you've got a Holland? Seriously I could watch that man in anything, he's just such a damn engaging screen presence.
But even my obvious bias aside, this show is alright! Yes, it's messy, that's undeniable, but it's damn charming.
The relationship progression and overall pacing of the show are very well executed and the leads' chemistry is fantastic.
I suppose there's just something about stories full of strange little guys (gender neutral) that really appeals to me - I absolutely adore all the characters here, odd ducks the lot of them.
The series is wonderfully calm and, inhabited exclusively by weirdos though it is, feels fairly grounded. At the same time it never strives to take itself all too seriously which strangely enough gives the emotional scenes more room to breathe and make an impact. I don't know, something about it all just worked for me.
The soundtrack is absolutely fantastic as well and perfectly underscores the story's tone.
It may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but it perfectly accomplishes what it set out to do - tell a gentle, refreshing story about a genuine queer romance.
I highly recommend you give it a go and see for yourself, you might just end up loving it.

Read More

A thoughtful, realistic queer drama that is most definitely worth your time

This show is a masterpiece. That much cannot be denied. It is visually gorgeous, has an amazing soundtrack, fantastic acting, incredible writing, and one of the most realistic portrayal of queer experiences and relationships I have ever seen in a TV show.
The fact that this is not your average 8, 10-minute episodes K-drama is frankly nothing short of a miracle and if this is the level of quality we can expect from Korean film makers if they are given the resources they need to tell the stories they want to tell, then we can only hope and pray that this show is just a forerunner and that there is more to come.

I will admit, however, that this is a melancholy show. It feels gritty and real and just a little bit heartbreaking.
Now, I don't personally enjoy shows like that and I did have some significant trouble getting into this one, not matter how technically excellent it is on every level.
If you are someone like me, someone who prefers a lighter, more humorous approach to serious topics you might also have some difficulties with this. But I truly believe it's worth watching anyway.
Not only do I think this show is something so unique and well-put together that it has to be experienced at least once, it also has a wonderful, fiercely joyful happy ending. I found it so satisfying, in fact, that I was tempted to go and rewatch the entire thing immediately just to experience it all over again.
I promise you this show will not break your heart, at least not without putting it back together again.
Give it a shot, this story is very much worthy of your attention.

Read More

Much deeper than anyone's giving it credit for

This show is one of my all-time favourite queer TV shows and I don't say that lightly.
The story starts off with the classic character tropes of "big manly jock guy whom everyone fawns over" and "timid, heartwarming orphan who wants nothing more in life than to repay the kindness of the people who took him in" - and then it flips the whole thing on its head.

From the very beginning Haebom is not your typical, heteronormative damsel-in-distress archetype. He is fairly introverted and clearly very conflict-avoidant, but he has boundaries that he enforces and defends uncompromisingly from the start.
Over the course of the show, as he gets more and more confident, he starts sticking up for himself slightly more often, but he is not and never has been a pushover.
Taesung, in turn, is far removed from the strong, protective hero stereotype. While he genuinely wishes to help Haebom and does occasionally actively confronts his bullies, he stays mindful of Haebom's wishes for him to not interfere and never tries to swoop in heroically during a conflict, he always lets Haebom handle it himself first.
This puts the two on a fairly even footing with each other and as the story progresses they begin to balance out each others' strengths and weaknesses exceedingly well - Taesung is good at confronting problems head-on and facing people directly, Haebom knows how to elegantly solve and de-escalate precarious situations.
The fact that Haebom at one point calls himself Taesung's "knight in shining armour" and Taesung agrees, is a further subversion of tired old tropes and showcases their deeply loving and respectful "Lean on me if you need to, I'll lean on you in turn" dynamic perfectly.

Another thing the show handles wonderfully is jealousy and insecurity in relationships. Between the two of them Taesung is the touchier, clingier partner while Haebom is more reserved and independent. However the two of them are always on the same page about these issues. They openly acknowledge Taesung's occasional jealousy (which, by the way, never stems from any fear of infidelity or a desire to control Haebom's actions) and find workable compromises.
It's okay to want to spend time with your partner, it's okay to be clingy sometimes. Just as long as all parties involved are happy with their situation and other important aspects of their lives, such as work or social connections, aren't negatively impacted.
From the first episode onwards these two continuously check in with each other to make sure they aren't overstepping any boundaries and that they are both happy in their current situation.
In fact, when Taesung does become insecure in their relationship, and when he does become overly clingy, Haebom immediately recognises this as odd and unhealthy behaviour and sets out to find the cause of the issue.
Furthermore, as an added bonus, we get to see two romantic partners directly asking each other for affection; "Can I have a hug please?" "Can I lay on your arm?" "Please just hold me for a minute". Depictions like this are as incredibly rare as they are wonderful, and I very much appreciate that the creators of the show chose to portray the characters like this.
All of the above then adds up to a nuanced and realistic portrayal of a healthy relationship that honestly made me want to weep with joy a little bit.

Lastly I want to mention one more great strength this show has - its cast of deeply likeable yet complex supporting characters.
From Taesung's mother and Haebom's complicated relationship with her, to Jin Ah and Yong Hee who frequently act entirely independently from the main characters rather than serving as nothing more than a duo of backup yes-men, all these characters are unique and their stories compelling. They bring some interesting depth to what could otherwise have been a fairly shallow, fluffy story and round out the show perfectly in my opinion.

This show isn't perfect, it does have its flaws, but it is so much more than what it appears to be on the surface.
So if you are looking for a low-angst show with truly interesting queer characters and a story with much more complexity than anyone seems to be giving it credit for, then this is very much the series for you.

Read More

Disco Mob

From the moment the intro song started playing, I was hooked.
The whole show just oozes with an incomparable style and charm that really sets it apart from any other show I've ever watched. Its makers had a clear vision of what they wanted to create and they just went for it. Never have I seen a show so utterly committed to the bit.
Every single segment is a masterclass in trope subversion, which, combined with the often tongue-in-cheek humour and some truly stellar performances from the main cast, results in a uniquely hilarious and entertaining final product.

Now I will say that if you are looking for something that is romance heavy or that goes in-depth in its critique and dismantling of the genre, then you won't enjoy this. The point of this show is to make fun - make fun of its viewers, make fun of the genre, and most importantly make fun of itself. There are a couple of digs made at some slightly more serious problems of the genre, but nothing weightier than that.

So if you're in search of a comedy that really knows what it's doing, has a few light sprinklings of genuinely emotional moments, and is just plain fun to watch then you will certainly find it in this show.
I've also re-watched the intro at least a dozen times by now, so I'd say for that absolute masterpiece of an opener alone it's worth giving this show a shot.

Read More

I Cherish It

This show was so wonderfully easy to fall in love with.
It tells the story of two best friends who happen to fall in love with each other and the journey that love takes them on.
What kind of love are they feeling? Is it really romantic? And if they really are in love, shouldn't something between them have changed? Whatever the answers may be, they'll figure it out together!

The deeply lovable cast of characters (I especially adored some of the side characters, such as the two teachers), solid writing, and realistic, yet truly charming and funny dialogue all work together to create that inimitable warm summer feeling of days gone by. This show teaches us the importance of cherishing the things and people you love. It will gently take you by the hand and take you on a slow, nostalgic trip down memory lane until there's nothing left in your heart but a vaguely gooey warmth.
It made my life slightly better for having watched it and I think it might just do the same for you if you give it a shot.
Go watch it.

Read More

A rare gem that even surpasses its predecessor

Where the first season showcased the slow buildup of the character's connection and culminated in them embarking on a tentative relationship with each other, this season explores Hira and Kioyi's slow-changing relationship as they work on building a life together and figuring out what it means to be happy, not just with each other, but with themselves.
I was already very fond of both characters after the first season, but through watching this I grew to love them more and more. Both of them have grown quite a bit since the end of the last season and as the story dives deeper into their thoughts and motivations, they start to feel more and more like real, flawed people in search of and deserving of love.
Kioyi specifically finally starts to show more of that fierce vulnerability we got to see glimpses of at the end of the last season and it both makes him a perfect instigator for Hira's deeply needed character growth, and serves to deeply endear him to the audience (or at least to me, although I don't think I'm alone in this).
I also highly appreciate how all the conflicts develop realistically and resolve satisfactorily while neither being drawn out unnecessarily to fuel the angst and drama, nor getting wrapped up too quickly or neatly in order to just get to the happy ending already.
In short: This season continues the well-paced, well-balanced, and beautifully portrayed story of two slightly strange but sincerely lovable characters as they continue to face life's challenges together and figure out how to keep changing and growing for and with each other. An actual masterpiece of a sequel.

Read More

The Most Beautiful

First of all I have to admit I went into watching this show with mixed feelings. I absolutely cannot stand relationships with unbalanced power dynamics and consent issues between characters I'm supposed to be rooting for will send me running for the hills faster than you can say "But it's just fiction"; so you can see why I'd be hesitant to watch this show.
If that's what worries you about this show, if those are the reasons you are hesitating to watch it, you have nothing to worry about.
This is not a show about a master/slave relationship, this is not a show glorifying abuse, this is not a show that treats issues of consent and power dynamics lightly. This is a show about two lonely people who find themselves unexpectedly gravitating towards each other, who clash and bring out the worst in each other at first and slowly learn to fit together, to help each other grow, and to reach for what they want rather than keeping their dreams and desires at arm's length.

The pacing is incredibly well done, especially considering the short runtime of the series, and fully allows the characters to grow and evolve and gives the audience enough time to let each scene really sink in and linger.
Both leads, strange and wonderful people that they are, are given clear motivations for their actions, the choices they make, although they may not always be the best, are inarguably fitting for the characters, and their chemistry is undeniable.
From the beginning both of them recognise something of themselves in the other, they are kindred spirits of a sort, and their complete inability to express or make sense of this connection is what leads to the perpetual push and pull dynamic between them. Nothing they do comes (at least in my opinion) from a place of malice or a wish to do each other harm, they are both just desperate people who are so trapped in their own preconceptions of the world and each other that it takes several years and many incendiary clashes before they manage to claw their way through those constraints and towards each other.
This whole story is underscored by an absolutely masterful combination of visuals and sound that bring the characters to life in a way that I can only describe as genuinely breathtaking and the entire show culminates in an explosive climax that ties everything together so perfectly it left me in awe.
As intense as all this sounds, there is also a fierce charm to this show, a warm sincerity and even humour that serves to humanise the characters and to ground them in a way that makes even to most dramatic scenes and actions feel believable and real. Here's to you, little rubber duck.

In short: It's a slow journey full of twists and turns that is utterly captivating to watch. If you give it a chance to tell its story, you will find something entirely unique and compelling in this show, an irresistible draw that grabs you by the collar and pulls you in whether you like it or not and takes you for a wild and beautiful ride.

Read More

Empty with a side of cute

I was really excited for this drama to start airing and I'm honestly pretty disappointed with what we ended up getting. There was so much potential there and yet...
But I am still a sucker for sapphic romances and for cute girls in general and this show delivers on both.
It may be shallow and somewhat rushed, but the story does feature several such genuinely sweet moments that I couldn't quite convince myself the show wasn't worth my time.
Hopefully this is just a forerunner for better future projects - I'm looking forward to a time where I can enjoy my lesbian content without bad scripts, short runtimes, or offensive trans stereotypes (seriously, what's up with those? neither trans women nor effeminate men exist solely for comic relief in other people's stories and it is insanely harmful so many shows insist on reducing them to these poorly written running gags) ruining the experience.

Read More

A joyous roller-coaster ride

Oh but I adore this little indie production.
I have a weak spot for that inimitable shoe-string budget charm a lot of these small projects bring to the table and this film is an excellent example of why that's the case. You can tell how much love and effort was put into every single aspect of the movie and that passion is what makes it shine.
The story covers more ground than quite a few full-length shows do but the pacing is well done and the individual performances are all so excellent they lend a feeling of authenticity to the story that I greatly enjoyed.
I hope to see more from these film-makers in the future but for now I am more than happy to simply watch and rewatch this little gem ad nauseum.

Read More

Some really mixed feelings about this one.

Part of me really liked this show. The visuals were lovely, the writing was great, the acting was absolutely stellar, and the production value overall was clearly high.

So why did I dock it so many points then? Well, there were unfortunately some real consent issues between the main couple.
Let me elaborate:
First, there is the age difference. True, it may just be 3 years, but the maturity levels between an 18 year old and a 21 year old are still vastly different which leads to a power imbalance in the relationship. I will say, that this power imbalance was not really very present with these two, especially during the second half of the series so I ended up feeling significantly less put off by the whole thing, but it's still worth considering if you're sensitive to these concerns.
The second and much bigger problem was the way Yui treated Sayuri at the beginning of the show. She showed very little regard for Sayuri's boundaries and there were two dub-con/non-con kisses which is always a big red flag for me.
On the other hand, once Sayuri actually initiated a proper relationship in the second half of the show, their dynamic was incredibly loving and respectful and I found myself genuinely invested in their relationship and how authentic it felt.
It was also incredibly refreshing to see young women, specifically young queer women, talk about sex and intimacy so openly and without shame, massive props to the screenwriters for that.
The supporting cast, specifically the two parents and Sayuri's friend Nao, were also brilliant and each added to the story line in meaningful ways rather than just existing to create conflict between the two leads.

In conclusion I am incredibly conflicted in my feelings about this show. I would however still recommend giving it a try. Everyone's mileage varies when it comes to what they find acceptable in relationships, so someone who is less bothered by the issues I brought up might really enjoy this show.
And those who are bothered might still end up getting something out of the experience of watching, just like I did. When the series does something right, it does it *really* right, which is an especially pleasant surprise given the time period during which the show aired, so for that alone I consider it worth watching.
Give it a go and form your own opinion, good or bad, this show is definitely worth talking about.

Read More

The very definition of short and sweet

This little gem to me embodies everything a short film should be. It has great acting, precise editing, good sound design, likeable characters with distinct personalities that serve as more than just vessels for the plot, and, most importantly, it has an actual narrative with a beginning, a climax, and a conclusion, all of which are perfectly paced for maximum effect.
My only gripe with this movie would be that, despite the whole premise being centered around a first kiss, we don't actually get to see said kiss.
But maybe that's kind of the point as well. We as the audience don't have to see the kiss in order for the narrative to work. It's a private moment that we have neither cause nor right to intrude on. Besides, the kiss isn't what's important, it's only a starting point for the real story - the characters' growing and changing relationship.
All in all I say give this one a shot. I promise it's five minutes very well spent.

Read More

Messy, Queer, And Fun

This little movie has a fairly simple premise and pulls it off with panache. It's a short glimpse into the wonderful, messy, overlapping lives of a group of queer women as they spend an evening drinking together and it feels incredibly real.
The writing and acting are both fantastic and without the level of quality they provide to the show I don't think this would have worked nearly as well as it does. If the only plot you have is your characters, they have to feel believable and this movie manages that expertly.
I'd recommend this short to anyone who likes mature slice-of-life type stories or who simply wants to bask in the joy of getting to watch queer women simply existing.

Read More

A perfect conclusion

Oh hell yeah, that's how you do a story climax right!

Where the first half focused on introducing the characters and setting up the plot, this second half gives us some more insights into the characters' inner lives. It explores the fascinating seesaw of power between the two - the restrictive labels of Senior and Junior, the class difference, and Seiryo's relationship with Shino which lends him a certain amount of power in Yuzuru's eyes.
It also dives a little deeper into the euphoric sense of vertigo that comes with finding someone who likes you, just you, as a whole, and adores the things that other people have repeatedly criticised you for. This not only endears the viewer further to the characters (although if you've not grown incredibly fond of them at this point I don't know what to tell you), but also serves to make the ever-building, all-consuming tension not only bearable but enjoyable as well.

The camera work and editing continue to enhance each scene until the story finally culminates in a truly fantastic and incredibly touching penultimate scene that genuinely made me pump my fist in the air and go "Now THAT'S how you do buildup and breaking of tension!"

I don't think I really need to say anything to make you watch this movie, this is the second half after all, if you're here you've already started watching anyway.
But if you're just scrolling through these reviews and fondly remembering the movie, let this be your sign to go rewatch it, rewatch it right now! You already know you'll love every minute.

Read More

A masterpiece that has stood the test of time!

When I stumbled across this movie for the first time I thought "Huh..." and somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind I started to vaguely recall having read the manga years ago.
So I thought "Why not" and decided to give the movie a shot. And absolutely nothing could have prepared me for how much I've grown to love it.

From the very beginning the movie has a distinct quiet feel to it, a sort of understated grace that is incredibly hard to pull off without becoming boring. But bore me this did not!
The, let's be honest, fairly shallow and fluffy story is given depth by absolutely stellar performances and gains an undercurrent of authenticity and, for me personally, an aching sense of nostalgia. It effortlessly conjures up the absolute, razor sharp, stepping-around-landmines tension of being a queer kid, who maybe isn't even aware they're a queer kid yet, making a queer connection for the first time with such incisiveness that I found myself absolutely speechless.

And that feeling didn't let up. The entire movie is an absolute masterclass in tension. From the recurring theme of archery, the creaking drawing of bowstrings, to the ceaseless push and pull of the main characters' dynamic - that hesitant reaching out and pulling back of two people who are terrified, terrified of wanting but much more terrified of not being wanted in return - to the long static shots, the lingering close-ups, and the drawn-out continuous takes. It all adds up to steadily build a breathless sort of tension until you feel as if you're being forced to walk a tight-rope of emotions.
It's absolutely incredible.

If you like slow-building romances, stories with lots of tension but very little angst, or movies that speak volumes by deliberately saying very little out loud, then I couldn't recommend this movie more.
It's also a very faithful adaptation of the manga so if you're a fan of the source material you'll very likely love this as well.
Go watch it and then go watch the sequel, I promise you'll be in for an absolute treat.

Read More

I liked it in spite of myself

I don't know what it is that makes this show as enjoyable as it is, but there's just something about it.
The premise is interesting but poorly executed, the writing is solid but the plot doesn't exactly make sense, the acting is great but the characters are underdeveloped. So why in the hell does it work so well then?
I can't answer that question with any certainty but I can sure try.

My favourite part of the show are the characters. Yes, they are somewhat underdeveloped and don't really have character arcs as such, but they are all incredibly, bizzarely charming.
Our prince is as sweet as sugar, he is a ridiculously kind and gentle person who is very inconveniently stuck in the body of a royal. He is almost as much of a fish out of water as Eun Ho and watching him doing his best is as funny as it is sweet.
Our bodyguard is the epitome of the tortured, brooding servant utterly devoted to his master and absolutely no-one takes him seriously. He waves around his sword and makes threats and vows to protect the prince with his life and mostly all he gets in response is "yeah yeah we got it, calm down and come join our cuddle pile instead".
Our hapless time traveller steals the show by virtue of being utterly, hilariously unflappable. No matter what happens to him, no matter how strange his environment is, he faces it all with an attitude of "Yeahh this might as well happen" and then simply gets on with his day.
The dynamic between the three is incredibly entertaining to watch and there are many fairly unsubtle hints at a potential polyamorous relationship between them, which makes the whole thing even more enjoyable.

So take all that, mix it with an absolutely gorgeous wardrobe and a story utterly devoid of angst, shake it vigorously, and what you get is this odd, off-beat, wholly charming show. It's not a good show by any common metric, but it is undeniable fun to watch and at the end of the day that's what's important.
So give it a shot, you'll very likely be entertained.

Read More