Pinoy BL Series
Thailand
In a lot of ways, Hook Up is an improvement of Truly Very Yours. Hook Up had a more interesting plot/storyline with its reference to a dating app, improved acting, better camera shots, etc. But I had problems with parts of its screenplay for Episode 1: Findr, particularly the conversation between Lee and his best friend Des. Why was there a need to pressure Lee to clarify whether he's gay or straight (just a reminder, there's a host of other gender identities and sexual preferences other than gay and straight!)? Was it really necessary to force him to out himself? And in the conversation, Des subscribed to all those terrible gay (and bi) stereotypes! I was so uncomfortable all throughout their conversation. For "confused" teens like Lee, friends like Des are not really helpful. I wouldn't want a friend like her. It's a good thing the banter between Lee and Henry was generally cute (except the forced heterosexual nicknames Mami and Papi) which saved this episode for me. Given all these, will I still watch the next episodes? Just so I can see how Lee and Henry's relationship develops, yes, I'll watch the next episodes. The chemistry between Lee and Henry seemed really promising.
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In Episode 2, we were reminded of the anxieties and distresses exacerbated by being in lockdown. We were also introduced to Zag's best friend and provided with an explanation on how Zig got his nickname. But all and all, the plot/storyline did not really move much in this episode. This episode had cute moments but also corny moments. Acting and editing still need improvement. The OST "Dalawang Mundo" by Bianca Nicole Millare was good. Since the episodes are short anyway, so I wouldn't mind watching the succeeding episodes of this series.
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I must admit I'm late to the party with this one. I only found out about this series yesterday and the second episode is scheduled for tonight! With an effeminate gay boy as one of the lead actors and characters, some people won't consider this series as boys' love (BL) based on traditional definition. But since I subscribe to the idea that concepts and definitions continue to evolve, I've no problem that this series self-identifies as BL. While it shares a lot with Japanese yaoi and Thai wai/y, Pinoy BL can also be different anyway. Episode 1 gave us a glimpse to a simple plot/storyline and provided some character backgrounds. I love the fact that this series represented an effeminate gay boy's search for love which is usually not depicted in BL. The screenplay had cheesy lines here and there but there were funny dialogues as well. I also love the fact that Kelly looked like everyday Filipino gay boy which makes him relatable. While Kristoffer has his charms, he's not overly handsome which also makes him relatable to a lot of people. Acting-wise, both lead actors need improvement. Kelly was a bit overacting while Kristoffer was underacting. They also need to work on their chemistry. Production-wise, the series seemed decently made even with low budget [it's a do-it-yourself (DIY) series]. It's a promising start for this series. I'll definitely watch the next episode tonight!
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Another 10+ out of 10 episode! It would have been one of the best boys' love (BL) series endings but luckily we get 3 more episodes. I'm confident that The IdeaFirst Company will not ruin this episode and this series with lousy Episodes 11-13. Episode 10: Pass or Play 2 is the best episode so far. This episode had everything I love about this series. It had advocacies--shout-out to our frontliners in the Philippines and marriage equality in Taiwan! It had contexts--not only COVID-19 but also the poor internet connectivity in the Philippines was finally represented in this episode! And the last scene was shot in Pasig! I love Mayor Vico Sotto! This episode made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me get excited (kilig) a lot! The screenplay was impeccable as always! I also love the new OST "Ngayon" sang by Dex Yu. And this episode gave us not only shirtless Gav, but also shirtless Cairo! Man, those two are really, really good actors. They were able to convey a lot of emotions even with their masks on. Those eyes can speak! And just when we thought it's the last scene, we get an even better post-credit scene. The hugging with plastic (and the double meanings that went with it) and finally the kissing with plastic (maybe not as hot as we've seen in other BL series, but definitely one of the most meaningful and touching) were great! I'm excited for Episodes 11-13! Now, let me watch Episode 10 again, hahaha!
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Kumusta Bro? Episode 2
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While Episode 2: Virtual Jowa improved from the pilot episode, it's still difficult to fully appreciate this experimental live and interactive series because of the lack of cohesion and focus in both content and form. There were additional details here and there but in general, the plot/storyline did not move much. Yes, the interaction with the Kumu app commenters was more purposive in this episode but it still hindered the overall narrative. There were still some corny and cringy lines but both lead actors improved on their acting and chemistry. In this episode, they were both more engaged without having to go overboard. Rapport between Thirdy and Bench was more evident in this episode. Needless to say, the banter and game that ended with both showing off more skin was the highlight of this episode. The cliffhanger wasn't that exciting. All in all, because of the live and interactive format, I don't think Kumusta Bro? will generate as many viewers as other Filipino (Pinoy) boys' love (BL) Series. Pinoy BL Series fans are just not used to this type of format.
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Similar to the previous episode, Episode 3: Pangako is a bit dragging. There were some scenes that could have been edited better for faster pace. While I generally like non-linear narratives that traverse different times, I prefer it when they're done in a much quicker tempo. The episode was a bit slow for my liking. The episode highlighted perspectives on friendship, love, and same-sex relationships. While the dialogues could have been delivered better, it was generally ok. Acting still needs improvement but the chemistry between the lead actors was at least evident in this episode. It didn't matter if Migs was wearing basketball jerseys, shirtless or singing, he was oozing with sex appeal in this episode. Migs singing the OST "Mahal Kita, Paalam" was definitely a highlight of this episode. If indeed In Between has only two remaining episodes, I don't know how it can present a cohesive and complete narrative. Let's hope for faster pace and more episodes! I think eight episodes would be nice.
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Just when we all thought it will be over by next week, we get news from Gameboys' Pinoy Reactors Meet that the series has been extended to 13 episodes. Frankly, I still don't know how I feel about it. Lol. But one thing I'm sure of, I really enjoyed Episode 9: Say It With Love. It was the cutest and sweetest episode of Gameboys. The pillows and the shirts got me giggling. Lol. While there were still some tearjerker scenes with, of all people, Terrence and Risa (both showed good acting by the way), it still was generally a fun episode. It was a bit cheesy but in a very endearing way. While the scenes with Terrence and Risa provided some sort of closures to their storylines, some storylines still need conclusion. Foremost of course is Cai and Gav's face-to-face meeting which should happen really soon. With the extension to 13 episodes, new storylines were also introduced. For example, who is Karleen Gregorio? Will her storyline extend to Pearl Next Door? Needless to say, the most surprising new storyline is Leila's request for her family to move to Bukidnon. I'm anxious on how they will resolve this new storyline. Production design, music, and editing were mostly ok. Initially, I didn't like the montage of touristy places that were shown because the graphics were not that seamless but after some more thought I realized that these places included Cairo, one of the places Cairo's parents wanted to visit and will not be able to visit anymore and with that, I think my heart skipped a beat. In a way, the montage also represented the Philippines and at the same time, it also showcased how international Gameboys has become. So, what's in store for Gameboys' Filipino and international fans in the next 4 episodes? Well, I'm excited and I can't wait for next week to come!
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Hello Stranger Episode 5
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Although the plot/storyline didn't move much in Episode 5: Hello, Sadness!, we did get to know more about the support cast. Kookai and Seph's relationship seemed to be progressing albeit slowly. I love Junjun. I think Migs Almendras is the best actor among the Hello Stranger cast members. I also love Meanne Espinosa's Miss Tina Moran. As for Xavier and Mico, they were only good during the start and end of this episode. In between, I got really bored. Frankly, I enjoyed the scenes with Junjun, Kookai, and Seph more than the scenes with Xavier and Mico. But I did enjoy Mico and Xavier taking off their masks at the start and Xavier saying in the end that the song he sang was for Mico. In terms of the technical aspects of production, I found some scenes grainier, particularly, the camera shots of Miss Tina Moran. They should have given Meanne a better phone with the best camera! Lol. Overall, I didn't enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed last week's episode. With only three episodes left, I hope they get to the main conflict of the story soon so that there's still enough time to properly resolve it.
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Kumusta Bro? Episode 1
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The first of its kind in being live and interactive, Kumusta Bro? is indeed different from other Filipino (Pinoy) boys' love (BL) series. Unfortunately, different doesn't always equate to good. Owing to its live and interactive format, the plot/storyline lacked focus. Yes, there were mentions of past and potential relationships, mental health, and the pandemic but none of these themes seemed to stick. Too much interaction with the Kumu app commenters was actually distracting. The free-flowing screenplay was generally ok with a few corny and cringy lines. Acting and chemistry needs improvement. Sky was occasionally over the top while Kristof seemed bored at times. Both needs to improve their relatability. Audio-visual technicals were problematic. There was an instance when the connection/feed was cut. Sound was sometimes choppy. OST was LSS-catchy though. Overall, I think I will really need to dig deep to find motivation to continue watching this series.
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Just finished watching the season finale of Sakristan. What started really boldly in terms of plot/storyline ended very timidly. It was disappointing to be honest. Not much dialogue and acting in this episode. The finale did showcase where Sakristan has been consistently good at -- cinematography and music. Production design and editing were just ok. If it's any consolation, Sakristan will go down in history as one of the pioneers of Filipino (Pinoy) boys' love (BL) series alongside Gameboys, Truly Very Yours, Hello Stranger, In Between, among others. But unfortunately for Sakristan, in terms of quality, it will be considered in the lower tier when compared to the likes of Gameboys and Hello Stranger.
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What we got from the two-part Episode 2: Dati were glimpses into Otep's and Tau's secret relationship in the past. Just how do you deal with an ex with whom you share the same group of friends who doesn't know about your past relationship? While the plot/storyline gradually became clearer in this episode, the pace seemed a bit slow. There were some good lines here and there though. Slowly, ensemble acting appeared to have found its groove but still needs improvement. Production design was similar to the pilot episode. Audio and editing was better in this episode. Still no good OST for this series. All in all, the snippets from the past were good but the plot/storyline needs to develop the here and now in order for the series to move forward.
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I hate what Episode 8: No Matter What did to me. It had me crying almost the entire time (all 27.12 minutes!) while watching it. But still, this is my favorite episode. I love this episode. I'm so confused. Lol. In a lot of ways, this episode resolved most of the issues tackled in this series. It showed the difficulties and heartaches brought about by the pandemic as well as the incompetence of the government, the resiliency of the people, and the brave heroes in these trying times. It also addressed the predicaments of being outed when obviously you're not ready to come out yet. The importance of having the support of one's family (and friends) was also highlighted in this episode. I love Cai's brother, mother, and father (and Gav and Pearl as well)! All these were made possible because of the compact narrative, amazing editing, and clear direction done in this episode. The OST "Hiling" sang by Joshua Ronett was a perfect fit for this episode. All the characters (including Terrence!) were also made multi-dimensional in this episode. Acting by all the actors was great. I actually ran out of superlatives to describe Elijah's and Sue's acting. They were simply outstanding in this episode. Their scene together would have been my favorite if not for the last scene when finally after 8 episodes, Cai is now Gav's Baby! That last scene alone made all the crying worth it!
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Hello Stranger Episode 4
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Episode 4: Hello, Happiness! was a cute episode. As some of the commenters/viewers have guessed, last week's closing scene was only a dream sequence. I didn't like that part but luckily, there were plenty of things to like in this episode. I liked the references to the Stonewall riots (1969) as well as "The Last Dance" (2020). I also liked the sweet and sexy scenes in this episode. Screenplay, with its sweet lines, was better than the previous weeks. Having Xavier and Mico "sleep together" virtually was really nice. And it's always a wonderful time anytime Tony goes shirtless! Lol. Acting still lacks a certain umph (except maybe Migs' acting; he seemed natural and realistic). The chemistry of the lead actors seemed to be improving though. The quality of the production design, cinematography, musical score, and editing was generally maintained. And the face-to-face meeting was a nice way to end this episode -- I just hope it's not another dream sequence! Of course it's not! Lol.
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Episode 7: The Wall was not really a good episode. It's a bit preachy and I got bored with the long dialogues. I've given up on the screenplay and acting in this series. While definitely there's improvement when compared to the first episodes, overall, they're still underwhelming. Like in the previous episodes, the best parts of this episode were those without dialogues and with only the OSTs. Cinematography was fine while editing was a bit off in this episode. Credits wasn't even provided in this episode. Next week is Sakristan's finale. I hope Sakristan is able to at least resolve all the issues it brought up throughout the series.
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I just finished watching the two-part Episode 1: Muli. The plot/storyline seemed promising. It opened dramatically with Tau breaking up with Otep. While it's obvious Migs is more experienced in acting, Genesis did held his own in the opening scene. I felt that Genesis needed to dial down a bit but his acting overall was fine. Migs may not be an Elijah or a Kokoy but he did have different layers in his acting. Both Migs and Genesis looked sexy in their own way so that's a plus. I love their look. They seemed perfect for their roles. Most of the support cast have acting experience. I remember Renshi, Lara, and Shiara from the movie "Class of 2018" (2018). They were ok but I felt that like Genesis, Lara needed to tone down a bit to avoid overacting. The screenplay was realistic enough. Production design was alright. The use of Baybayin was really nice. Editing was generally satisfactory although there where scenes in the first part wherein the audio was not perfectly in sync with the video. Music was also up to par but the series needs a good OST. Overall, it's a good pilot episode and I'll definitely watch the next episode!
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