I love watching REALLY poorly made BLs. Every year I search for the absolute worst one. For 2025 it was easy because I stumbled on this series and got to see the worst BL of 2025 in less than 2 hours.
There's so much I could say about the ways this didn’t work, but others have already covered them. But I hope future BL crews watch this just to see what not to do. The only positive thing I can say about the series is the thing that made me most frustrated while watching it. The leads have solid chemistry (shown only in the later episodes) and obviously tried to convey a genuine love between the characters. Unfortunately for the actors and audience, EVERYONE behind the camera failed.
I can't wait for the second season. I'm sure it will be filled with endless music, random pointless dialogue, kisses that look like the seme is trying devour the uke's entire face and LOTS of plants!
If you like bad BLs, this is a must watch. Nonsensical from start to finish, basic acting, no script, stuff just happens to fill time, but there's abs!! The episodes are barely 8 minutes and most of the dialogue is ridiculous, but it's not unwatchable, because there's abs!!! Abs, face wash, makeup, hair care treatments and luggage are all this "series" is selling. Idk how they got so many sponsors, idk why anyone agreed to "act" in this, idk what I just watched, but I was mildly entertained so I won't give it a 1/10.
It's the last day of 2025 and I'm back to celebrate my all-time favorite pair PerthSanta and the characters that brought them together. I'm not sure how many times I've watched episodes 9-16 (and their scenes in 17-24), but each time I love it.
Yes, Yotha was a walking red flag and Gun was pushover. And this is yet another Thai BL set in college with engineering students. But for me it works. Their chemistry is perfect and watching them fall in love and stay in love over time was wonderful. I've seen hundreds of BLs and usually they end soon after the couples get together. I'm so glad we got to see their relationship progress in the latter parts of the show. Those extra scenes will always be some of my favorites 🖤🤍
I was also the same. Almost wanted to quit but I held strong and got to understand what had happened in the first…
Thank you for the explanation. Based on what you wrote, I can understand much more why people are so into the series. I really appreciate your response.
I definitely see why this is rated so high. This was a delight from start to finish. I loved Asahi and Watarai and their relationship developed so organically, it just worked. Their friends were also wonderful. I'm so glad this wasn't condensed to 6 episodes, the runtime gave time for us to learn about both characters and that was great. This was truly one of my favorite BLs of 2025.
I think this is my favorite JBL of the year. Both characters were so believable and interesting. The pacing of the story was ideal, and the story was fully developed. Also, the ending didn't feel rushed unlike most short series these days.
I loved the early episodes when Chiaki was gruff but also innocent and adorable everytime he met AE. I loved that we got to see AE's perspective throughout the series and not just at the very end. I loved watching the relationship between Chiaki and AE grow over time, but I loved watching the relationship between Chiaki and Enaga even more. And I loved the punk aesthetic soooo much!
From the vibes to characters, I can't think of anything I didn't love about the series. This was really great.
I do think it was because Daisuke was given a much more flexible script while Daigo remained melancholic throughout…
Thank you for sharing those details. I feel like if those scenes were included in the series, my overall feelings would have been different. After they spent soooooo much screentime focused on work and using the same flashbacks repeatedly, I really just wanted to see real build up between OG Ogami and Kano. But that didn't happen.
I do think it was because Daisuke was given a much more flexible script while Daigo remained melancholic throughout…
It seems like people who read the novel felt a stronger connection to the series than I did. Since I don't know anything about the parts of the story that were cut to make it fit into 6 episodes, I'm left without a complete story and never got so see fully fleshed out characters. So I don't know if the actor playing Kano was portraying the character perfectly. All I know is that he never once made me think he was in love with real Ogami. Oh well, I know every show doesn't resonate with every person.
I didn't read the novel and I feel like I'm the outlier, but this one really let me down. The premise was great but overall it was a salaryman story with a bit of parallel worlds and a tiny dash of BL at the very end to appease the target audience.
If there had been 2 episodes between 5 and 6 that showed Ogami's perspective or let Kano do anything besides scowl, look down and get upset, their romantic relationship might have felt more connected to the story that was actually told. But that didn't happen, so even in the last 15 minutes there were still misunderstandings and two people who barely knew each other said they loved each other because that's what was in the script.
Maybe my expectations were unrealistic, but I love Japanese BL. Even without any physical contact, great stories can convey when/how/why two characters fall in love with each other and make the audience invested in that relationship. A story doesn't always need a long runtime to do that. But in this story, Kano spent more time with Ogami 2 than he did with the real Ogami. I'm glad a lot of people liked it, I wish I did too. But I do think the actor playing Ogami gave it his all from start to finish, he was the only reason I stuck with it until the end. I'd like to see him in another BL with a different script and a partner who actually acts like he wants to be with him.
I'm sure I'll get dragged for this but I'm confused how so many people on here are loving this series. It's starts with one of the leads raping the other who is passed out in the car. Call me crazy, but I have no desire to watch these 2 spend the next 5 episodes falling in love after a start like that.
I know we live in an era where writing the word rape is a taboo, but including rape in a series/movie and then glossing over the assault is completely normal. I also know this is based on a manga and these days the majority of yaoi has one lead raping or sexually assaulting the other lead, but that doesn't make it ok. I've been reading yaoi and watching BL for a really long time. My favorite movie is Double Mints (it includes a brutal gang rape). I'm not a prude, I promise. But I'm gonna pass on this one, because it's obviously not for me.
If anyone wants to share why they think this series is so good, without any personal attacks or name calling, I'd love to read your thoughts. I'm not judging people who like the series, but I am genuinely confused by the praise for it that I'm reading on here.
I didn’t read the manga, so I didn't know what to expect. I'm leaving a spoiler comment below. I think I enjoyed…
I thought overall most of the technical aspects (production, editing, lighting, costumes, sound and acting) were fantastic. For the majority of the film Suzuki's chaotic nature mixed with Sugiki regalness made for an enthralling watch.
I felt all of the emotions and was captivated by the story. But the last scene took me completely out. For most of the film's runtime, it felt grounded in reality. Dance politics, racial politics, clashes between styles of dance. What they introduced felt real, even though I know nothing about the dance world.
But the final dance felt like pure wish fulfilling fantasy. That could have been fine if that was how that rest of the movie was, but the change was jarring. I can't believe for one second that that room of people wouldn't even have gasped at two men dancing together and then kissing.
If the story is unfinished in the manga, I don't think this was the time to make a movie about it. Or at least not this movie. The strong chemistry between the leads and the intriguing story was wasted by the ending. I'm sure a second film could be a decent conclusion if both leads return, but since that may never happen, I left feeling let down and thinking about what could have been.
I'm fine with open endings. But I'm not fine with endings that don't fit within the world the film has created. No one can convince me that a room full of older rich people who are used to "traditional" manners would have just gone along with what they did and then either or both of them would have been allowed to dance anywhere professionally ever again. I want to live in a world where that could happen, but the film never once showed me that it existed in a world like that.
I didn’t read the manga, so I didn't know what to expect. I'm leaving a spoiler comment below. I think I enjoyed it slightly more because I didn't know what to expect, but I wouldn't really recommend it unless you're prepared for the ending.
I thought I loved Ogami 2 more than Ogami 1, but now it's switched. I also thought the plot developed a lot in episode 4. Looking forward to the final 2 episodes.
I know JBLs tend to do a great job with salaryman/office worker stories compared to BLs from other countries. I also know Japan CAN do a great job creating a believeable/interesting romance with a very short runtime. But we're at the half way point and I'm just not convinced.
Minus the height difference, there isn't much here other than a guy who hates his job, stays in his head all the time and has a nice coworker. It's hard to imagine this finishing great, since it still feels like we're at the beginning stages of the story and relationship.
Omg! If someone at GMMTV isn't working on a sequel that focuses on TawanAran, I will have lost what little faith I have left in that company!! In about 5 minutes of total screen time together, TawanAran have been one of the most interesting/messy/gorgeous on screen couples ever.
I've seen A LOT of BLs, I've never seen a couple like PerthSanta. They are the definition of "perfect together". The show is great overall, but I need more TawanAran.
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There's so much I could say about the ways this didn’t work, but others have already covered them. But I hope future BL crews watch this just to see what not to do. The only positive thing I can say about the series is the thing that made me most frustrated while watching it. The leads have solid chemistry (shown only in the later episodes) and obviously tried to convey a genuine love between the characters. Unfortunately for the actors and audience, EVERYONE behind the camera failed.
I can't wait for the second season. I'm sure it will be filled with endless music, random pointless dialogue, kisses that look like the seme is trying devour the uke's entire face and LOTS of plants!
Yes, Yotha was a walking red flag and Gun was pushover. And this is yet another Thai BL set in college with engineering students. But for me it works. Their chemistry is perfect and watching them fall in love and stay in love over time was wonderful. I've seen hundreds of BLs and usually they end soon after the couples get together. I'm so glad we got to see their relationship progress in the latter parts of the show. Those extra scenes will always be some of my favorites 🖤🤍
I loved the early episodes when Chiaki was gruff but also innocent and adorable everytime he met AE. I loved that we got to see AE's perspective throughout the series and not just at the very end. I loved watching the relationship between Chiaki and AE grow over time, but I loved watching the relationship between Chiaki and Enaga even more. And I loved the punk aesthetic soooo much!
From the vibes to characters, I can't think of anything I didn't love about the series. This was really great.
If there had been 2 episodes between 5 and 6 that showed Ogami's perspective or let Kano do anything besides scowl, look down and get upset, their romantic relationship might have felt more connected to the story that was actually told. But that didn't happen, so even in the last 15 minutes there were still misunderstandings and two people who barely knew each other said they loved each other because that's what was in the script.
Maybe my expectations were unrealistic, but I love Japanese BL. Even without any physical contact, great stories can convey when/how/why two characters fall in love with each other and make the audience invested in that relationship. A story doesn't always need a long runtime to do that. But in this story, Kano spent more time with Ogami 2 than he did with the real Ogami. I'm glad a lot of people liked it, I wish I did too. But I do think the actor playing Ogami gave it his all from start to finish, he was the only reason I stuck with it until the end. I'd like to see him in another BL with a different script and a partner who actually acts like he wants to be with him.
I know we live in an era where writing the word rape is a taboo, but including rape in a series/movie and then glossing over the assault is completely normal. I also know this is based on a manga and these days the majority of yaoi has one lead raping or sexually assaulting the other lead, but that doesn't make it ok. I've been reading yaoi and watching BL for a really long time. My favorite movie is Double Mints (it includes a brutal gang rape). I'm not a prude, I promise. But I'm gonna pass on this one, because it's obviously not for me.
If anyone wants to share why they think this series is so good, without any personal attacks or name calling, I'd love to read your thoughts. I'm not judging people who like the series, but I am genuinely confused by the praise for it that I'm reading on here.
Suzuki's chaotic nature mixed with Sugiki regalness made for an enthralling watch.
I felt all of the emotions and was captivated by the story. But the last scene took me completely out. For most of the film's runtime, it felt grounded in reality. Dance politics, racial politics, clashes between styles of dance. What they introduced felt real, even though I know nothing about the dance world.
But the final dance felt like pure wish fulfilling fantasy. That could have been fine if that was how that rest of the movie was, but the change was jarring. I can't believe for one second that that room of people wouldn't even have gasped at two men dancing together and then kissing.
If the story is unfinished in the manga, I don't think this was the time to make a movie about it. Or at least not this movie. The strong chemistry between the leads and the intriguing story was wasted by the ending. I'm sure a second film could be a decent conclusion if both leads return, but since that may never happen, I left feeling let down and thinking about what could have been.
I'm fine with open endings. But I'm not fine with endings that don't fit within the world the film has created. No one can convince me that a room full of older rich people who are used to "traditional" manners would have just gone along with what they did and then either or both of them would have been allowed to dance anywhere professionally ever again. I want to live in a world where that could happen, but the film never once showed me that it existed in a world like that.
Minus the height difference, there isn't much here other than a guy who hates his job, stays in his head all the time and has a nice coworker. It's hard to imagine this finishing great, since it still feels like we're at the beginning stages of the story and relationship.
I've seen A LOT of BLs, I've never seen a couple like PerthSanta. They are the definition of "perfect together". The show is great overall, but I need more TawanAran.