Pinoy BL Series
Thailand
Oh My Sexual Episode 7
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Episode 7: Oh My Trio! did little to stop this series' regression. The plot/storyline was still a mess with an entire melodramatic musical number inserted on this episode. Screenplay was tolerable though and acting was watchable at least. But production value was at its lowest. Artistic choices especially with regard to the split-screen shots were generally off. The OST "Ayoko Na Sayo" (I Don't Want You Anymore) by Bry Aquino was ok but it didn't seem to fit the scenes of this episode. Overall, the continuing wait for an improved episode is still very much on.
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My Extraordinary Episode 2
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Episode 2: Paps was a well put together episode. Pace and scene transitions were much better than the pilot episode. The plot/storyline didn't move that much on this episode but we did get to know more about the other characters. We got to know more about Ken's relationship with his best friend Sandee, his brother Lawrence, and his strong-willed widowed mother Monica. Also, we were shown how Ken, Shake, and Heaven started to develop their friendship. I like Heaven. He's funny. I just hope he isn't relegated to being merely a comic relief on this series. He deserves a good character background at least. There were a lot of cute and hilarious moments on this episode. While having Ken's household electricity cut off maybe humorous, it's actually a reminder of how things are in the Philippines. We have a lot of electric companies that provide terrible service that are just too quick to cut electricity when you miss payment. Continuing from the premiere episode, this episode also emphasized the essentiality of the arts. I hope this is maintained all throughout the series. Acting was generally on point. I'm pleasantly surprised how natural and realistic the young actors were on this episode. Enzo and Darwin were really cute especially during their phone conversation. Production design, cinematography, and editing were good although there were some issues with the audio. I also enjoyed Bituin Escalante's version of the OST "Hindi Ko 'To Binalak" (I Didn't Plan This, but was English subbed as Out of Nowhere/I Didn't Wish for This) . All in all, it was another really good episode!
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My Extraordinary Episode 1
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My Extraordinary is the first Filipino (Pinoy) boys' love (BL) series on Philippine free television (TV5). Most of our Pinoy BL series are on streaming platforms (Youtube, GagaOOlala, etc.), with at least one series (Hello Stranger), also on a cable television channel (Cinema One) and a social media platform (Facebook). Given the conservative nature of mainstream Philippine television, getting My Extraordinary on TV5 was huge. Supporters and promoters of Pinoy BL series wanted very much for My Extraordinary to succeed, not so much in terms of views, but more so on producing a quality series that will do away with those stereotypical depictions of members of the LGBTQ+ community. With the release of Episode 1: Keeper of Peace, we can breathe easily now. It was a solid pilot episode. The plot/storyline was intriguing given that the lead characters, Shake and Ken (ShaKen) seemed worlds apart in terms of family background, school status, and economic situation. I felt a certain unease seeing Shake's situation. It's just too familiar for a lot of struggling Filipinos. The pace was a bit fast for me. A lot of things happened on this episode. Maybe they're trying to squeeze so much on the 8 episodes (30 minute television time slot per episode) that were given to them? But since editing was done well, it was still ok. Screenplay was realistic and relatable. From the lead cast members, Enzo and Darwin, to the veteran cast members, Yayo and Jojit, to the supporting cast members, acting was quite good. I'm especially impressed with Enzo and Darwin's performance. And I don't care what others think, for me, Enzo and Darwin are both good-looking! Production design and cinematography were also good. And I love the OST "Hindi Ko 'To Binalak" (I Didn't Plan This, but was English subbed as Out of Nowhere/I Didn't Wish for This) featuring Kenji Exaltacion. On the whole, solid start! I'm excited for the next episodes!
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Episode 1: My Love was a good pilot episode. While the main plot/storyline wasn't exactly bared, there were glimpses of its layers and possibilities on this episode. Starting with the meaningful poem "Bahaghari" (Rainbow) by Nicko Mata was a nice touch. Somehow, it set the tone not only for this episode but for the entire series. Screenplay was generally good. It avoided being preachy and it was realistic enough. Surprisingly, the pair of newbie actors, Aejhay and Brian, were good. Sure, there's room for improvement, but both lead actors can actually act. Kudos to them! Production value was at least average. It's difficult to expect much knowing that its production company (JTL TV) is composed of student and young filmmakers but at least the audio-visuals were mostly ok. The OST "Pangako, Paalam" (Promise, Goodbye) by Dain Mapalo was good. On the whole, it was a solid premiere episode!
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The first three quarters of Episode 8 was a bit shaky in terms of acting. This episode started by repeating the scene with Yul Servo whose acting was just terrible. Also, Aki and (especially) Miko didn't really capitalize on the dramatic scenes given to them, both were underwhelming. But the pace of the entire episode and the fourth quarter scenes made up for the shakiness in acting. For the first time after a long while, we had an episode that didn't felt disjointed or rushed. All the prior scenes logically led to those final scenes that were wonderfully executed. Yes, it was a bit campy with all the fireworks (hey, I love fireworks!), but My Day has been campy the entire season, so it wasn't really a surprise. The kissing scene was intense, it was passionate, yet it wasn't dirty. It was exquisitely done. For sure, it's one of the best kissing scenes in the boys' love (BL) genre. Hopefully, My Day is able to maintain this momentum going to their last four episodes.
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I like endings that resolve most issues. They don't have to be happy endings all the time but at least have most issues settled. Even After's Episode 10 resolved most issues and had a happy ending. Zag will no longer leave so he and Zig will definitely physically meet one day. Zag finally found love. As for Zig, he finally made peace with his mother. Zirgo got his redemption arc and he and Pink might actually be an item. Everybody's happy! It was a good run for this small, low budget, and do-it-yourself (DIY) series. Congrats to Kelly and his cast and crew!
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Boyband Love Episode 1
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Boyband Love The Series has a compelling premise and good general plot/storyline but it needs improvement on acting performance and production value. The pace of Episode 1 was alright although it can still be edited for efficiency. We got a general idea about the personalities of the main characters on this episode. It's another Filipino (Pinoy) boys' love (BL) series that employed the "enemies to lovers" trope but at least we have the Philippine music industry as the backdrop this time. Script needs to dial down on the cringe. Screenplay has to be more natural and realistic. Acting was largely tolerable. The lead cast members were watchable but they need to tone down to avoid overacting. Also, they need to get rid of those unnecessary movements like those distracting hand gestures. Arkin and Gus' chemistry has potential. All the boys are good-looking. Madam Curacha's character needs more depth and I hope they're able to show that her relationship with Baby Boy wasn't exploitative. My main issue with the pilot episode was production value. The stage and office studio backdrops looked cheap. I can understand the lack of budget but they need to be more creative with their set designs even with their limited finances and resources so that production will not appear substandard. They also need to add in their post-credits details about their OST (Same Love) performed by the fictional Pinoy boyband group LMTLSS (pronounced as "limitless"). But even with all these issues, I'm still intrigued where the story of the boys will go so I'll definitely watch the next episodes.
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Quaranthings Episode 4
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Four episodes in and I still can't remember any dull moment from this series. I'm just so amazed how each episode has kept me interested and invested. Episode 4: Sardines was funny, sad, and steamy. The efforts made by Judah to woo Rocky were hilarious. The movie date, the meal date, and the powerpoint presentation were all humorous and witty. Kyo and Royce had exceptional chemistry during these scenes. The dramatic scenes were heartbreaking. I was sad for both Judah and Rocky. Kyo was quite good on this episode while Royce was something else. He's a natural. He never overacts. Everything's just right with his acting. While I generally have issues with drunk sex (because it's not always between two consenting individuals), the sex scene was so tastefully done, I really can't complain. Or maybe I have a complaint? Lol. Maybe next time, no more camera tricks on the kissing, please? Lol. The last lines were relevant to our understanding of both Judah and Rocky. I love how this series is able to give us well thought-out character backgrounds for both Judah and Rocky. As for the production technicals, I'm impressed with how they're able to make do with their limited budget. I can only imagine how even better this series would have been with more finances and resources. The OST "Ipu-Ipo" performed by Kyo sounded good. All in all, Episode 4 was another excellent episode from Quaranthings: The Series.
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Like in the Movies Episode 1
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Episode 1 was a really good episode. I enjoyed it immensely. The series and this episode paid homage not only to Filipino (Pinoy) romantic comedy (romcom) movies and our most popular love teams but also to Thai boys' love (BL) series with the overall Theory of Love movie poster feels, and of course, the series creator being a Polca, with the TayNew post-credit acknowledgement. Some may say that there were too much romcom clichés and BL tropes (like the fake/pretend relationship trope), but hey, who cares, it still worked! I may not like the fact that Vlad exploited Karl's financial predicament to get the fake/pretend relationship he needed, but Karl doesn't seem to be a pushover, so I'm pretty sure that aside from having Vlad pay his rent, he'll also get other benefits from their arrangement. Even with all the clichés and tropes, this series still managed to look fresh. The script, the acting, the production design, the cinematography, the music, the graphics, all felt new. There were a few corny lines here and there (especially during the monologues) but they were negligible given the mostly excellent writing. Dialogues were generally natural and relatable which aided the acting of the lead actors, Ian and Paolo (although they have the same surname, they aren't in any way related with each other!). While there's always room for improvement, for newbie actors, Ian and Paolo did pretty well. They were good-looking too! Adrienne Vergara (who played "Judit" without an "h," lol) was just fantastic. Audio-visuals were pretty neat with very clear intentions. Gaya Sa Pelikula reminded me a lot of Gameboys and Hello Stranger where every graphic, every item, every shot, etc. seemed to have purpose. The OSTs "Unti-unti" by UP Dharma Down and "tyl" by kakie, while not originally made for the series, were nevertheless perfect for the scenes. Overall, I'm really proud of Gaya Sa Pelikula and I'm excited to see more episodes!
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I love Episode 12: Pagtanggap. The plot/storyline was clear. It's all about acceptance -- acceptance about himself on Nin's part and acceptance wholeheartedly given to him by his Boom Harot gang. This episode was definitely the #Pangs episode that will surely jumpstart their spinoff series. Screenplay was good. It wasn't overdramatic and preachy. If it were another series, there would have been a lot of unnecessary crying. This episode was handled beautifully. It had some magnificent lines. As expected, the shirtless pool scene with Tau, Otep, and Nin was nice but the dialogues were nicer. For example, Tau said "If they will judge us, then let them. What's important is we are not hurting anyone." During the big reveal scene that introduced Makisig to the Boom Harot gang, Nicole had this to say: "Remember, there is no problem in loving... What's wrong is people's dirty minds. We are very proud of you... We will support you all the way." Speaking of Nicole, she deserves a good storyline! Across the board, acting was good. I continue to like the audio-visuals of these last couple of episodes. Experiencing the effects of the pandemic, there's something about the beautiful outdoors that calms me. Somehow, it tells me that things will get better. Last two episodes people! I hope this series continues to get better as well!
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Alt.Gameboys Episode 1
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Alt Gameboys (Episode 13.5) directed by Perci Intalan was an excellent special episode. I loved the dark treatment for the most part of this episode with sparkling lights in the end. Somehow it represented the ordeal that a lot of people are going through right now because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's gloomy yet there's always hope. Terrence was really relatable. Those who said that Kyle's the weak link on Gameboys in terms of acting should eat their words! All three actors -- Kyle, Miggy, and Kych -- were awesome. Kych shined as Achilles! I love Achilles as a character. I'm looking forward to getting to know him on season two. This special episode proved once again that Gameboys characters are multi-dimensional and well-developed. Each one has their own story that a lot of people can empathize. I'm excited to find out on season two the outcome of what seemed to be a Terrence love triangle with Wesley and Achilles. By the way, kudos to Gameboys for recognizing the Alter World! On top of all these nice observations about Alt Gameboys, fears that it will ruin the finale were proven unfounded. CaiReel's happy season one ending remained intact. We can all sleep soundly knowing CaiReel are happy, making the most of their time together... probably doing something till morning, lol. After all, Cai is moving to Bukidnon anytime now. See you all on the Gameboys 2 MDL profile page!
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For Episode 3, referring to Nuan, I said "I just hope they don't do him bad on this series." Guess what? They really tried to make Nuan irritating with all his begging, crying, and whining on Episode 7: It Ends. Good thing, I still like what his character represents. Hopefully, the episode title pertained to his pursuit of Joey. Time to move on, Nuan. My wish is that in the end, Nuan finds happiness. As for the other main characters: Kenji showed remorse but as expected, received no punishment for sexually harassing Joey; Wil, like Joey, had tiresome scenes talking to the plant; while Jimmy had another endearing conversation with Joey. On this episode, I enjoyed JoJimmy's scenes the most. Their lines were the most purposive. With those two, you just know that their relationship's progressing. In terms of acting, Drei and Erwin were also the most solid among the five lead actors. French had the weakest performance. I'm happy with Gabo and Robic's improvements in acting. I wish they'll treat Brenda and Jelay not merely as appendages to the boys' storylines. They also deserve decent storylines. Not much improvements on the audio-visuals. Editing was particularly weak. The splicing of scenes wasn't smooth enough. Even with the increasing number of issues that I have with this series, Amore has become a habit, so I'll most probably stick around till March 2021.
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I barely got through Episode 5: True Gamer. None of the Varsity Boys (Terrence, Panter Ali, and Liam) were endearing enough. Their machismo and sexism were really annoying. It didn't help that the Varsity Boys' dialogues were cringy and all three actors were in need of massive improvement on their acting. Dave had preachy lines as well. Not much change on the audio-visuals. Hoping against hope that this series can still improve.
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Oh My Sexual Episode 6
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Because of his good looks, toned body, and sexual appetite, Ken's probably the most sexual of all the characters. His characterization has also been the most shallow. In a way, Ken's the best representation of Oh My Sexual -- sexual and superficial. Episode 6: Oh My Ken! was mostly about form because there wasn't much to say about substance. Halfway through its season, still, Oh My Sexual hasn't really found its footing. Plot/storyline progressed rather slowly while screenplay had its ups and downs -- frankly, mostly downs as shown on this episode. While all the cast members can act, they were pulled down by all the exaggerations. Production technicals remained the same. With the downward trend in its number of viewers, I hope Oh My Sexual improves on its next episodes to ultimately arrest its downward spiral.
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While Episode 8: What Now? ended in a hopeful tone, the scenes leading to the ending were messed up. I felt that the characters didn't really understand each other. They were talking to each other but they weren't listening to each other. It was frustrating knowing issues could have been resolved but they weren't because of miscommunications and misunderstandings. Dialogues were generally difficult to follow and some lines were so long they didn't really aid in delivering the message of this series. I did appreciate that this episode continued to touch on prostitution. Acting was largely uneven on this episode. Production technicals regressed on this episode. Editing of scenes was particularly problematic. Overall, this episode didn't feel like a finale episode. It was more like a preview to J.ACE's next series: O.N.S. Bangkok (One Night Stand in Bangkok?).
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