Pinoy BL Series
Thailand
This review may contain spoilers
Even After (2020): A Grounded Pinoy BL/Gay Series
With an effeminate gay boy as one of the lead actors and characters, some people might not consider “Even After” a boys’ love (BL) series based on traditional definition. But since I subscribe to the idea that concepts and definitions continue to evolve, I have no problem that this series self-identifies as BL. Like in real life when we are asked to respect how people self-identifies, we should also put weight on how a series self-identifies. “Even After” is a Filipino (Pinoy) BL series and it’s also a Pinoy gay series. It’s grounded on the experiences of an empowered effeminate gay boy which isn’t usually depicted on BL series.
“Even After” had a simple plot/storyline about Zag’s search for love during the quarantine and lockdown period. Along the way, we met Zag’s friends Pink and Zebbie and of course, Zirgo. More importantly, we met Zig, the love of Zag’s life. Zig had mommy issues which was made even more complicated when his mother asked Zag to broker peace between mother and son. “Even After” provided everyday lessons on when to meddle with your partner’s affairs and when to give him space. Zag didn’t always get it right but in the end, everything worked out just fine.
Screenplay had cheesy lines here and there, but there were also funny dialogues. There were comical and cute banters between ZigZag as well. There were preachy dialogues but there were also sensitive lines (“You’re that place I would always want to go back to... even if the road is ZigZag…”).
Acting wise, the lead actors and the supporting cast members needed improvement. Kelly and Kristoffer did improve throughout the series. Lennox, Abel, and Princess Q were ok in the end. But the performance of Claire, who played Cassandra, Zig’s mother, was just off for the most part of her scenes.
“Even After,” a do-it-yourself (DIY) series with not much budget, was pretty weak in production design, computer graphics, sound engineering, musical scoring, and editing. Until the end, you’d still see the mute button while ZigZag talked on split-screen. It did have a good soundtrack in “Dalawang Mundo” (Two Worlds) by Bianca Nicole Millare.
Overall, I would still recommend rewatching “Even After.” If you’re looking for a grounded Pinoy BL/gay series about an empowered effeminate gay boy, “Even After” would be an apt series for you.
“Even After” had a simple plot/storyline about Zag’s search for love during the quarantine and lockdown period. Along the way, we met Zag’s friends Pink and Zebbie and of course, Zirgo. More importantly, we met Zig, the love of Zag’s life. Zig had mommy issues which was made even more complicated when his mother asked Zag to broker peace between mother and son. “Even After” provided everyday lessons on when to meddle with your partner’s affairs and when to give him space. Zag didn’t always get it right but in the end, everything worked out just fine.
Screenplay had cheesy lines here and there, but there were also funny dialogues. There were comical and cute banters between ZigZag as well. There were preachy dialogues but there were also sensitive lines (“You’re that place I would always want to go back to... even if the road is ZigZag…”).
Acting wise, the lead actors and the supporting cast members needed improvement. Kelly and Kristoffer did improve throughout the series. Lennox, Abel, and Princess Q were ok in the end. But the performance of Claire, who played Cassandra, Zig’s mother, was just off for the most part of her scenes.
“Even After,” a do-it-yourself (DIY) series with not much budget, was pretty weak in production design, computer graphics, sound engineering, musical scoring, and editing. Until the end, you’d still see the mute button while ZigZag talked on split-screen. It did have a good soundtrack in “Dalawang Mundo” (Two Worlds) by Bianca Nicole Millare.
Overall, I would still recommend rewatching “Even After.” If you’re looking for a grounded Pinoy BL/gay series about an empowered effeminate gay boy, “Even After” would be an apt series for you.
Was this review helpful to you?
