Oh My Sexual (2020): An Attempt at Black Comedy

“Oh My Sexual” was an attempt to produce a black or dark comedic Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. Given a documentary-experimental narrative treatment, it was a high brow art for art’s sake engrossed in its own world. Form over substance was evident on this series.

While innovation and promotion of social change in Pinoy BL series are much appreciated, these characteristics should be synchronized with the ability to generate audience comprehension and engagement. Unfortunately, “Oh My Sexual” wasn’t able to do that. It wasn’t palatable and relatable enough for the viewers primarily because it focused on form with little regard for substance. News about the worsening virus outbreak, clips from classic films, lines from Shakespeare’s best dramatic works, etc. interspersed with the characters’ stories were good but didn’t really develop the plot/storyline of this series. “Oh My Sexual” was reduced to a thoughtless tangled web of love and relationship that resulted to individual anxieties and distresses that were magnified during a zombie outbreak. Also, in the end, it wasn’t clear "who were the oppressed whose morale was strengthened and who were the oppressors whose morale was undermined" -- a characteristic of black comedy that was vaguely referenced on this series.

Being a black comedy, dialogues were supposed to make light of serious matters by presenting them in humorous ways in order to prompt reflections. The overdramatic lines from “Oh My Sexual” mostly failed to do that. Screenplay was also incoherent at times.

Given that “Oh My Sexual” was a black comedy, acting was over the top. But at some point, exaggerations in acting just became annoying and exhausting. While all the cast members can act, they were pulled down by all the exaggerations. I can’t help but feel that their talents were wasted on this series.

Audio-visual technicals weren’t that good. There were some unnecessary noises and grainy camera shots. There were times when the editing, particularly with regard to scene transitions and split-screen shots, was distracting. The soundtrack “Ayoko Na Sayo” (I Don't Want You Anymore) by Bry Aquino was ok but it didn’t really fit this series.

All things considered, I would only recommend “Oh My Sexual” to those who want to try an attempt at black comedy in Pinoy BL series, with a friendly reminder that most early attempts at doing something different aren't good.

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Unguarded (2020): A Dark Pinoy BL Miniseries

“Unguarded” was the third related Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series from J.ACE (production company) that revolved around Mark Lee’s story. From a cute Pinoy BL miniseries in “Very Truly Yours” to a daring Pinoy BL series in “Hook Up,” J.ACE turned “Unguarded” into a dark Pinoy BL miniseries. While J.ACE should be commended for doing something different for each of these Pinoy BL series, the results weren’t always positive in terms of plot/storyline. Acting performance and production value did show continuous improvement.

With only four episodes, the plot/storyline of “Unguarded” heavily hinged on its characterizations. Unfortunately, both Lukas and Mark Lee had poor characterizations. While it was already hinted on “Hook Up” and clearly established on “Unguarded” that Lukas needs professional psychiatric help, his character background wasn’t fully developed. What were the root causes of his jealousy, possessiveness, and violence? Basically, what were the factors that made him into a monster? As for Mark Lee, he lacked character development. After “Very Truly Yours” and “Hook Up,” I expected some growth. But Mark Lee’s still insecure, volatile, and whiny on “Unguarded.” And for Mark Lee to end up the way he did (dead, or was he?), it’s frustrating. I’ve invested on Mark Lee and the way he was treated on “Unguarded” was super upsetting.

Screenplay had corny dialogues and repetitive lines. While still generally fine, script got lazy and lousy towards the end.

Acting performance, especially by Niko, was good. Gorgeous Niko was quite scary. Notwithstanding the weak characterization of Mark Lee, adorable Marky continued to improve as an actor on this series.

Compared to “Truly Very Yours” and “Hook Up,” audio-visuals of “Unguarded” were better. I liked the outdoor scenes. I didn’t like that J.ACE didn’t even bother to have a new song. “Unguarded” had the same soundtrack as “Hook Up.”

All in all, I would only recommend rewatching “Unguarded” if you’re into dark Pinoy BL miniseries. If you’re interested in Mark Lee’s story, maybe there’s a better ending for him if misFit Talent Management (formerly J.ACE) pushes through with “One Night Stand บางกอก (Bangkok).” Let’s cross our fingers!

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90 Days The Series (2020): Good Intention, Not So Good Execution

“90 Days The Series” had intended to highlight an old topic -- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma -- that has remained relevant because it continues to be problem in Philippine culture and society. It was a bold purpose for a Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. But unfortunately, the overall execution was found lacking.

“90 Days The Series” spent too much time laying the foundation for the HIV stigma plot/storyline by focusing on Axel and Greg’s problematic relationship only to rush everything towards the end. This series was supposed to have 10 episodes but it was limited to 8 episodes for some reasons. This affected the pace and editing of the entire series. I was really hoping for a complex and/or different handling of the HIV stigma plot/storyline. But instead, with Axel’s death, “90 Days The Series” succumbed to the tiresome bury your gay trope in line with the equally wearisome too good for this problematic earth narrative.

Starting “90 Days The Series” with the meaningful poem “Bahaghari” (Rainbow) by Nicko Mata was a nice touch. But such creativity wasn’t sustained throughout the series. A number of times, screenplay was cringy. There were no funny lines, just preachy dialogues. While the efforts of “90 Days The Series” to promote HIV awareness to combat HIV stigma were commendable, the dialogues nevertheless felt contrived. Don’t get me wrong, there were good and heartfelt lines as well but the whining script just became tiresome towards the end.

Both Aejhay and Brian can act but their acting was monotonous for the most part of “90 Days The Series.” They had generally the same emotional expressions, the same facial reactions, and the same vocal deliveries for most of the overdramatized scenes. And there’s no chemistry between the actors (Aejhay and Brian, Brian and James Andrew). All the supporting cast members need improvement on their acting. Because their characterizations weren’t developed (restricted to being mere video chatmates), they were mostly forgettable except maybe Paul John’s Tito Ricardo.

Production value was at least average. It’s difficult to expect much from “90 Days The Series” knowing that its production company (JTL TV) is composed of student and young filmmakers. Audio-visuals were uneven. There were some sudden audio changes. There were some grainy camera shots. The actors’ make-up distracted more than enhanced the visuals of this series. The soundtrack “Pangako, Paalam” (Promise, Goodbye) by Dain Mapalo was at least ok. But for JTL TV's efforts, kudos are still in order! And thanks to “90 Days The Series” for acknowledging this account, Pinoy BL Series, on their finale post-credits.

All in all, I would only recommend “90 Days The Series” for those who are interested in watching a Pinoy BL series about HIV stigma in the Philippines -- with a fair warning that the series’ intention was good but its execution wasn’t so good.

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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.

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Boyband Love (2020): Different But Lacks Harmony

Not everything was in harmony on “Boyband Love.” Don’t get me wrong, there were things to like about this Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series but they didn’t always fit well together. While featuring the Philippine music industry was different, the various artistic aspects of “Boyband Love” were not always in sync.

“Boyband Love” had a compelling plot/storyline. While the series employed the overused enemies to lovers trope, it at least had the Philippine music industry as backdrop which made it uncommon. Unfortunately, not all the characters were fully developed. In terms of character background, character development, and relationship development, Arkin and Gus were alright. I would have wanted more for Charm but at the minimum, she wasn’t made into a bad person so I’m fine with her characterization. I did find Rico and Mika’s arrangement ridiculous at first but they grew on me. Some may take issue with Rico ending up with Mika but I know real-life couples like them so it’s not as if their set-up doesn’t exist. It does so I’m good with it. One issue I had with this series was how Jaime and Josh were treated. Other than being a gamer and womanizer, not much was revealed about Jaime. And after all the tease, nothing happened to the Jaime and Josh ship. Another issue I had with this series was the lack of depth for Madam Curacha’s characterization. Also, it wasn’t really shown how each main character related with other main characters aside from their designated partner in this series. For example, it would have been interesting if Danny and Rico, the characters portrayed by real-life partners Gus and Louie, had some friendly conversations about being true to oneself.

A couple of times, script was cringy. But there were some good dramatic lines from Aiden and Danny and from Danny’s parents and unconventional family. The good comedic dialogues were mostly from Rico and Mika. But overall, screenplay wasn’t consistent.

Acting by Arkin, Gus, Louie, Regine, Rose, and Brenda was mostly ok. With regard to chemistry, the Arkin and Gus and Louie and Regine ships were acceptable enough. Job and Luise had awkward moments but they were largely watchable. The performance of those who portrayed as the parents of Aiden and Rico were poor.

My major issue with “Boyband Love” was its production value. The set designs looked cheap and substandard. I can understand the limitation in finances and resources but the production company should have been more creative with their set designs. There were some nice songs like “Ikaw Na Nga Talaga” (It’s Really You) by 1:43 and “Nagkulang Ba” (Not Enough) by Gus and Arkin but the main soundtrack “Same Love” by the fictional Pinoy boyband group LMTLSS was overplayed.

All in all, I would only recommend “Boyband Love” for those who are interested in watching a Pinoy BL series with the Philippine music industry as backdrop, but with a friendly note that not everything was in harmony on this series.

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Kumusta Bro? (2020): An Experimental Interactive Pinoy BL Series

“Kumusta Bro?” was the first of its kind: an experimental live and interactive digital Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. It’s different. But different doesn't always equate to good. Because of its experimental interactive format, this Pinoy BL series lacked cohesion and focus in both form and content. Interactions with the Kumu app commenters/subscribers were distracting which hindered the overall narrative of this series.

Earlier in the season, there were promises of something more with mentions of the effects of the pandemic, questions about gender identities and sexual orientations, and struggles with mental health, but later on, the plot/storyline of this series was reduced to a silly and thoughtless tangled web of love and relationship among the main characters with lots of live confessions. Without reference to any consent, these awkward live revelations really felt invasive.

The free-flowing screenplay was circuitous. Some lines were long and repetitive. And some dialogues were corny and cringy. Screenplay was also preachy at times.

Acting and chemistry fluctuated throughout the season. Sometimes the main cast members were fully engaged but other times they looked bored with very low energy. Acting was generally overdramatized. The experimental interactive format exposed the weaknesses of the main cast members. Kristof’s acting was bland and felt scripted while Sky’s acting was monotonous and lacked range. RJ and Allen were generally ok but were bogged down by the tedious script. Rapport among the main characters was inconsistent. Even with all the tiresome crying, none of the main characters commanded any empathy. They weren’t relatable enough. The series was such a waste of talent. The actors deserved better.

Audio-visuals were problematic. There were instances, including during the premiere and the finale, when internet feed was disconnected. These instances were to be expected given the poor internet connectivity in the Philippines which makes you question the appropriateness of producing an experimental interactive Pinoy BL series. Sound was sometimes choppy. The soundtrack “Takot Lang” (Only Fear) by Brian Aquino was at least catchy.

Given all these, I would only recommend “Kumusta Bro?” as a backgrounder for those who plan to watch its upcoming full narrative series (if the producer, Firestarters Studios, pushes through with it). But if the plot/storyline and performance are generally the same with this experimental interactive Pinoy BL series, even with improvements in production, I would advise against watching even the planned full narrative series. It wouldn’t be worth it.

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Safe Haven (2020): An Unremarkable Pinoy BL Series

With respect to plot/storyline, performance, and production, “Safe Haven,” a do-it-yourself (DIY) series, was generally, an unremarkable Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. Substantially, it was simple and technically, it was weak.

While efforts to present common-looking lead characters interacting on social media representing contrasting economic backgrounds should be lauded, “Safe Haven” didn’t really took advantage of these characterizations to provide character depth and character developments that generate realism and relatability in its plot/storyline. This series had a very shallow and slow-paced plot/storyline that employed the overused enemies to lovers trope. While this trope isn’t intrinsically bad, there wasn’t anything special that differentiated “Safe Haven” from other series. Yes, there were references to gender-based discrimination in the workplace but they came across as superficial. Yes, Dave, Terrence, and Panter had character developments but they seemed shallow.

Script was unnatural at times. Screenplay had cheesy lines and long dialogues. Because of these, script was dull and tiresome every so often.

While acting improved throughout the series, it was for the most part, still amateurish. All the actors occasionally overacted. Sometimes, their performance appeared scripted. They also made big unnecessary hand gestures that were quite distracting. Chemistry between the couples was also weak. Still, all actors should be fairly compensated for their performance (cf. social media quarrel between the actor/director and a former cast member).

Audio-visuals were mostly poor. Sound wasn’t consistently clear and there were some loud background noises. Camera work and the quality of shots were pedestrian. There were also mistakes in the computer graphics (e.g. split-screen framing, Twitter handle name, etc.). Editing gave a school project vibe. There were times when scene transitions were just too abrupt. On some scenes, mouth movements were not even in sync with the vocals. The soundtrack “Sunset With You” by Catherine Cafe wasn’t a good fit for this series.

All in all, I would only recommend rewatching “Safe Haven” if you’re really interested in DIY series and have nothing else to watch. Nonetheless, this largely unremarkable DIY series should still be congratulated for the efforts of its cast and crew! Hopefully, Gen-Z Production’s next Pinoy BL series, “Love Lies,” is a massive improvement compared to this series.

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My Extraordinary (2020): The First Pinoy BL Series on Philippine Free TV

“My Extraordinary” was the first Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series on Philippine free television. Given the conservative nature of mainstream Philippine free television, getting “My Extraordinary” (or at least its first episode) on TV5 was huge. While not as successful as other top-tier Pinoy BL series, “My Extraordinary” can be proud of its achievements in terms of acting performance and production value. It’s plot/storyline, however, has received mixed reviews.

Initially, the plot/storyline appeared promising because the lead characters, Shake and Ken, were worlds apart in terms of family background, school status, and economic situation. Regrettably, there wasn’t much development with regard to their relationship since it was cut short by their untimely deaths. Some say “My Extraordinary” was different for combining the BL genre with the paranormal genre but such effort has been done before. I can think of at a least three recent Thai BL series that dabbled on the otherworldly: “My Dream,” “He’s Coming To Me,” and “Ghost Runner.” “My Extraordinary,” nevertheless, had set itself apart from other Pinoy BL series for being one of the first to pursue the supernatural. Sad to say, its treatment of the unearthly wasn’t really that grounded on Pinoy culture. But more than the underwhelming handling of the ghostly turn of the plot/storyline, my uneasiness with “My Extraordinary” had to do with its use of the tiresome bury your gay trope in line with the equally wearisome too good for this problematic earth narrative that tackles homophobia and depicts gay characters as suffering victims without agency who die tragic deaths from an uncaring world. I know what lesson these types of realistic narratives are trying to impart -- that homophobia kills and ruins relationships -- but I expected more than this usual lesson from this series.

Luckily, the plot/storyline was salvaged by a solid script. Screenplay was literary yet very relatable. Yes, there were some preachy lines here and there but there were also substantial comedic and dramatic dialogues. Most of the funniest dialogues that I thoroughly enjoyed were delivered by Heaven. But my favorite lines were the more serious ones from my favorite characters of this series: brothers Ken and Lawrence. From the ghost Ken talking to sorrowful Monica, we got: “Mom, I’m your son. You’ve always known. You were just the last to admit.” And from Lawrence responding to Monica lamenting that Ken’s gay, we got: “So what if he is? What’s wrong with that?” Lawrence also said “So what if Kuya (older brother) is gay? Will fireballs fall from the sky? Is it the end of the world? If something bad happens to Kuya, I don’t think I can ever forgive Mom.”

From the lead cast members, Enzo and Darwin, to the veteran cast members, Yayo and Jojit, to the supporting cast members, Karissa, Z, and Keijee, acting was very good. I’m pleasantly surprised how natural and realistic the performance of the young actors were on this series. It’s a pity Keijee’s Heaven didn’t have the good character background he deserved while Karissa’s Sandee wasn’t really able to fully redeem herself.

Aside from the acting performance, “My Extraordinary” was also strong with reference to production value. The quality of production design, cinematography, sound engineering, and musical scoring was maintained all throughout the series. The soundtracks were all good. I especially liked “Hindi Ko ‘To Binalak” (I Didn’t Plan for This) and “Hindi Niya Alam” (He Doesn’t Know), both performed by Kenji Exaltacion. By the way, thanks to “My Extraordinary” for always acknowledging this account, Pinoy BL Series, on their post-credits.

Overall, I would certainly recommend rewatching “My Extraordinary.” If you’re looking for a top-tier Pinoy BL series with excellent acting performance and production value, “My Extraordinary” is an appropriate series for you. And watch out for its sequel “A Kiss 2 Remember” which I hope will have a much happier ending.

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