Total Eclipse off the Heart

I found this drama surpassed my expectations. I will say that the whole premise of the eclipse, even making the title of the drama “the eclipse”, was a bit misleading. It really had nothing to do with the drama or the story line whatsoever. Frankly I think it was a gimmick for marketing. But that aside, the story of a school demanding perfection and rules that many considered to be outdated in a modern society, coupled with a exploration of sexuality and the taboo of how it has been viewed in the past vs now, was really the heart of the story. The acting of the two main leads has really improved, and I liked how they played against their typical typecasts. I thought that they really had a lot to learn from each other. The whole story is really be more of a coming of age genre than it is anything supernatural. It’s about the expectations that pressure us as we go from high school into “adulthood “. And then you add in things like the death of a loved one, first love, conflict, and trying to figure out your place in society. At times they simplified these issues a bit. But overall I think that some of the criticism has been quite harsh against the drama. I will agree that the title and set up is a bit misleading. But I was riveted to find out the answer to the “mystery “of the uncles death. It wasn’t quite what I thought it would be, which was a nice surprise. It was very emotional and I actually cried. It may not be the best example of the genre; for that check out “He’s Coming to Me”, which did the mystery and supernatural storyline a lot better. However, this is still definitely a BL worth watching.

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The Answer is in the Title

Taiwanese make some of the best BL out there. Their stories are original and usually well acted. This one was no different. I should have figured out the mystery of Wen Wen from the title. But somehow I didn’t. My mind kept going to Amber being a reincarnation or maybe body switch. But either way, the story showed that Wen Wen was the same person no matter her appearance. The love Le had for “her” was more than superficial, it was her heart and personality. The clue to that was the fact that Le was attracted to Amber’s qualities from the start because they were the same qualities Wen Wen had. I really liked the romance of the story. It was subtle, and centered more on friendship and deep bonds than sex. This is definitely rewatchable!

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Sign me Up for the Mafia!

So far the very few action BL‘s that I have watched have been pretty tragic or even boring, just overall unsatisfying even if the acting was good, and far from riveting. So I went in with expectations hopeful, but overall realistic. The two leads are to plainly put it… Hot. The sexiness is probably the most charismatic, full of chemistry couple I have ever seen in BL since Tharntype. But they have officially beat that couple. If I were to compare this couple as far as being Starcrossed lovers, or a duo whose names will be synonymous with one another, would be my favorite book BL couple from “Addicted Heroin”.

You just know that after that first episode their chemistry is just gonna continue to be off this charts. They’re acting as well as physical chemistry just really gelled for me. I have unfortunately seen a lot of subpar acting in BL‘s. But this one was worth the wait. I’m not sure if it’s because they had longer to rehearse and spend time together, or if they would be good actors in any other series. But they really impressed me on this one. Even the side actors were pretty good.

I would say that youngest brother Kim was probably the weakest actor out of the brothers. You can tell that he was just there for eye candy. Also I thought that his plot really ended up not going anywhere. Throughout the whole series he seems to be trying to find dirt on his family, or the minor family, possibly even Porsche’s family. But the story ends up not going anywhere and leaves you wondering what the point of it was. I guess to give him air time? To make him relevant as a romantic side couple? Even younger brother Porchay had more relevance!

I also thought in the last two episodes I was all of a sudden in a Lakorn! It got a bit melodramatic and didn’t really seem to fit the whole rest of the action love story theme. Without giving any surprises away (though it wasn’t that much of a surprise), it seemed more like a “gotcha” moment that they wanted to try to surprise people with. I also felt like there was something not quite right with how they tried to end the surprise. It didn’t really seem to make sense and I still doubted what the characters were telling was the truth. I don’t know if that was to try to set up for a second season or not? But I feel like the season ended well and really a follow up would be pointless.

A minor sidenote is the music. I normally hate Thai music. And I’m sorry to offend anyone out there who is Thai, or who loves that music, but out of all the Lakorns I’ve watched and BL‘s I’ve lot watched I have never been a fan of the music. I think most of it ends up sounding the same and sounds pretty corny, to tell the truth. And I love pop music, especially K-pop! But there’s just something about Thai pop music, and in these dramas the music they use, that I just can’t stand. However, I really did like the intro and Outro song of the series. It was very different from what I’m used to hearing. It was actually quite catchy and I liked the rock element of it. Even the slower song that they ended up singing I thought it was very well done.

Overall I would have to say that this BL is in my top five, no I would say even top three, BL‘s ever. As far as including books and TV series I would say it’s in my top five for favorite couples. You’re not going to get much in the way of social issues or heavy emotional plot, but you’re going to get tons of chemistry and love which I think a lot of us are in it for.

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Even Love Scenes Couldn’t Save It

About the only good thing about this drama was the love scenes. It was nice that they showed real passion interaction and not anything that had overtones of rape, which you usually get an a BL. However the story was very bland and quite trope-ish. It’s basically like a heterosexual romance story you would have read in the 80s, with the whole arranged marriage and misunderstanding and stoic leading male. The acting wasn’t bad, but I have seen better and it may have helped the story if they’re acting had been a little bit better or more convincing. I would’ve given this a six if not for the production value and the love scenes. That was about the only real passion I saw in this drama. But it’s nothing that I will remember or want to watch again

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Beautiful Truths In a BL

I love this as a stand alone in the series. If you can, watch the short prelude to this (its about 10 minutes) as its gives a little more of Haruhiko’s point of view. I wasn’t a fan of the other movies in the series. I like the characters in this part of the narrative better. I think they fit at a better part in Rio’s life. He even says that when his old lover (from Mood Indigo) briefly reenters and basically asks why they can’t work instead. Because they are too much alike. That simple. Their time has passed.

There were some really deep thoughts in this movie that went beyond a typical BL. It really made me think. Why we are drawn to people we love, for instance. Its a thinking persons BL and just a really well written movie no matter what genre it calls itself. Its also sexy, romantic, and introspective. Well worth it if you can find a subbed version out there!

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Stand alone in the Mame Universe

Whatever you think… Like or dislike about Tharntype… I feel like the way this was produced made it a standalone in the BL universe or more importantly in the Mame universe. I think it gave the viewer a chance to get to know Fiat apart from that slightly detestable character that we got to know in Tharntype “part two”.

I think what can be appreciated here was the fact that Fiat and Leo were friends for a very long time before they became boyfriends. It was well-established that they had a long-standing relationship and Fiat really depended on Leo, which you had a glimpse of in Tharntype but you could see why depended on him so much after the very abusive relationship with his mother. It also explained his slightly promiscuous lifestyle. I think it was his way of seeking love, because his mom basically taught him that nobody could love him except for her. And when she left he didn’t think there was anybody that would be able to love him. Warped for sure.

I definitely noticed an improvement in the acting this time around. The chemistry was definitely there between the actors playing Fiat and Leo. Especially in the love scenes and the kissing. Was there room for improvement? Yes, for sure. But definitely more chemistry than most BL‘s that I see. I didn’t feel that with the second couple, Leon and Pob. I felt they were a waste of time, frankly.

Overall the true treasures in this whole drama were Leo’s mom and the girl friends. His mom, and even his dad, were so accepting of the relationship. The mom was awesome! She really loved Fiat like a son, even more than her actual sons. LOL …and the girl friends of Leo and Fiat (I can’t recall their names now!) were super supportive and didn’t run to stupid stereotypes.

For the haters of Mame out there… I really don’t know what to say… I feel like she has a certain audience within this genre and if you don’t like her style of writing and this style of BL, then don’t read it and don’t watch it. It’s not going to be your type of thing and it’s not going to interest you. So stop criticizing it or stop watching it. Is not going to make you happy and you are just going to find things to nitpick about it. Yes there are going to be controversial things about it. There are going to be politically incorrect things about it. There are going to be things that are going to be raw and things that are going to trigger you. Not everything is going to be safe and rainbows and roses all the time. There will even be toxic crap. But that is life and that is part of the reading and TV watching experience. The key is if there is a message or something learned from it at the end. And I think that usually there is with her writing. It’s not always perfectly done, true. But some of that is probably lost in translation. Literally.

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I Need To Read More Romance Manga!

This Jdrama gave me renewed hope in Japanese rom-coms. Usually Jdramas tend to be campy and over the top for me. Don’t get me wrong, this one has its moments too. However, the actors seem to be aware of this and it comes off as laugh-out-loud rather than cringe. I liked that the actor they chose for the main lead was not a stereotype “flower boy”. He was very masculine, gruff, and not your typical Japanese Romantic lead. He looked like he should be working on a fishing boat, not a Mangaka. According to his bio, he is acting against type in this drama, but it works well! His acting and chemistry with our FL is stellar. And our female lead?? Comic genius! Her facial expressions and tone may seem too obvious at first, but what a great foil to our ML! The kid is heartbreaking at times and yet lovable. He has great acting chops as well. Overall I am so happy to have read a review article of this drama and gave it a chance. I would say it rivaled any Kdrama I’ve seen recently, and that’s very high praise indeed.

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Was I Just Bamboozled??

So I just finished watching the series. And I have a distinct feeling that I was just bamboozled. Some people might not be familiar with that word. Basically to be tricked, fooled, deceived, lied to, to be led to believe one thing while the truth is another.... and it kind of makes me feel empty. Let me explain.

From the get-go the series has been straightforward about its meta-ness and the BL industry. At times quite a harsh eye-opening reality for us BL lovers. Of the sacrifices to integrity and artistic expression that a writer may feel, the lie that actors may live in order to appease demanding fans, the overall sacrifice that people in the entertainment industry have to make when it comes to their family or relationships. The veil of fantasy and reality of the industry was constantly being lifted. So it’s not like that wasn’t always there in the back of my mind.

However, as I got more invested into each episode of the series I think I was slowly losing cognition of that fact. There was the realistic portrayal of facing your fears, facing the disapproval of your family, having the courage to defend a love that you believe in, and even going outside your own comfort zone. All of the scenes that the lead, Gene, went through started to feel very real. A testament to the actor’s skills, for sure. But it made me forget about the story that was within the story. This is where the bamboozled part comes in.

Up until the end of episode 11 and the beginning of the final episode 12, I would’ve said that this is probably one of the best BL‘s that I ever watched. Heck, I would go even further to say one of the best Thai love stories that I’ve ever watched. And then the writer, producers, director, whomever was in charge, ruined it. They ruined the whole drama for me.

They took all the real feelings that I had from these characters, and their story, and they reduced it down to one big meta-moment. The “gotcha!” moment. The wink-wink, tongue-in-cheek...bamboozled moment.
You ruined it for me Wizard. You shouldn’t have pulled back the curtain.

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Now I feel Full...

I just finished watching season one and two back to back. And I have to say, I disagree with a lot of the reviews. I think season two was just as good as season one, if not better. And it fleshed out all of the couples more. Especially the cousin (the former Doctor) and the CTO. Their stories really intrigued me. How one has Aspbergers and his little oddities, and the other has what looks to me to be some kind of personality disorder (maybe mild sociopathy?).

I thought the explanations for what happened at the end of season one made sense, at least in drama world. The thing is, truth is stranger than fiction. Some weird dramatic things can happen in relationships, especially when you have family interfering. So I think it’s plausible for the separation to have been the way it was and for the reasons it was explained in the story. Miscommunication is often the downfall of many relationships.

As far as some complaints about there being non-con in the relationship… I did not see it that way… I think they have a complex relationship with a lot of history and push-pull. And frankly, Su Li held the upper hand in the relationship pretty much ALL the time. He may be the “bottom”, but he has Gu under his thumb. I did not feel like their relationship was a matter of dominance. I think that Gu was drunk and his emotions were coming out finally that he had held in for so long. And the fact that they were implied to have had sex, I feel like it was consensual from the way Su was acting before the cut scene.

I hope that if they have a season three they will delve more into the relationship with Yi and Xuan. I feel like these two could really save each other, and maybe understand each other better than anyone else can understand them. They are two oddballs meeting in the night. But I am intrigued to where they could take their story. If they end their story with season two though, I will still be happy. I could leave the series at two seasons and feel complete. I will definitely rewatch it again!

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Snackable BL

I really loved the main couple in the show. I felt like their enemies to lovers story line was a bit fast paced, but the chemistry between the two actors really carried over to their characters and it hooked me in. It’s a short, snackable BL at only six episodes, a small bonus episode making 6 1/2. I thought the acting was great, considering what this genre usually serves up. The couples were attractive, which no doubt helped with their chemistry. The storyline wasn’t a hundred percent unique for sure. But as you’ll see in season two I think they improved a lot on the unique storyline. I would’ve been mad if season one ended the way it did but they redeem themselves with continuing the story in a season two, which is usually unheard of in a BL. Definitely be ready to watch season one and two back to back for complete satisfaction. I will definitely rewatch this again. Hoping there is a season three to flesh out all the couples and their stories.

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More a slice of life drama than a romance

This was one of the most anticipated BL dramas that I wanted to watch in the past year. The story, and the actors that would be playing the parts, really intrigued me. The storyline that involves organ transplantation, specifically the heart, is not a new idea, but it certainly hasn’t been overdone either. There were many parts of the drama that lived up to my expectations. The acting, the cinematography, the dilemma in the story of someone else’s life being sacrificed for your own. And overall I really liked the themes that were presented of camaraderie , family, friendship and living a simple contented life.

However, to call this a romance....is a little generous. I would call it bromance more than anything. I did not feel romantic chemistry between the main couple, though they had good acting chemistry. I know it may be petty, but I was extremely disappointed to not get any kind of affectionate overtures from them until the last episode. And until the last minute they didn’t even kiss each other! Now I understand culturally there is a difference in how romantic couples may show their affection. As well as the characters personalities. But you also have to sell me on some kind of physical attraction in order to believe that these two seemingly heterosexual man all of a sudden are romantically interested each other and want to spend their life together. I would be interested in reading the book and seeing if it differed in this way. Maybe they were trying to keep it rated “G” in order to appeal to a larger audience on television?

That said, I don’t feel like I wasted my time watching it. The child actors were very good and adorable. I liked the themes and the general storyline and how one can change their life for the better. But I would not watch this again, and I definitely would not recommend it to someone as being a romance. It’s more like a slice of life drama.

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MY Manner of Death? Boredom

I know the year is still young, but this is the most disappointing drama of the year for me so far. I had really anticipated this for months. I love the chemistry of Max and Tul, admittedly mainly in the “Together with Me” series. Well, they DID have some good chemistry in this drama.

At any rate I do not think that their acting was suited for this genre. Especially Tul’s. He was not believable age wise as of a medical examiner, and as far as his acting went he was not believable for playing that character. I think Max fit the characters personality fairly well. I am sure that producers thought that since they had such good chemistry in other dramas that they would really fit well in this drama together. I just don’t think it was the right story for them, or maybe the right genre.

As for the story itself, it had some good twists. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but there were a few surprising moments in the last few episodes. I think this would’ve been better as a straight up suspense mystery, without any romance added to it. Overall the acting wasn’t too bad, the music was pretty forgettable. I like the idea behind the story of the medical examiner, just wish they had different stories throughout instead of one main mystery.

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Color Is Addictive

I went to college for graphic design and one of my favorite classes was color theory. There’s something fascinating about the fact that humans can see such a range of colors when so many other creatures can’t, like dogs for instance. I love how they made color, or rather the ability to see color, something that could be an addictive thing for someone who was deprived of it for so long. Korean dramas always do unique storytelling the best; I think of any dramas from all over the world.

This drama wasn’t really about the “boys love” to me, or romance. It really was a story of how we can depend on something and make it our whole life, and actually become obsessed or addicted with the need to have it in our lives. Is it healthy to pursue at all costs? Or worse to deprive yourself? This drama was really a metaphor for that more than it was about anything else. In the end were they addicted to love, or were they addicted to the new experience both of them were feeling after being deprived for so long, or were they addicted to the feeling of being needed by someone?

My biggest complaint is that the story didn’t really have a chance to get fleshed out the way it could have if it had a standard 16 to 24 episodes that you see in a typical Korean drama. Web dramas have some of the most unique storytelling, but the side effect to that is they are short. It’s almost like watching a movie. I wish they would’ve had more episodes to explain more of this world of monos and probes. Like other reviewers I have unanswered questions.

Overall I’m satisfied with how it ended. I doubt there will be a season two, as typically Korean dramas don’t do that. But even if it did somehow get to season two, I don’t know that it would be able to complete the story in the way any of us would really want. And it might actually end up being more disappointing. I’d rather wonder how long this couple will stay together, and if their love can withstand obsession. I’d like to think they will be each others anchor, meeting somewhere in the middle of the color spectrum.

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Sexy Hot...Mess

So this is campy, like everyone says. And it also has some continuity and acting issues. HOWEVER, starting from episode 8 its a SEXY mess. So you have to go into accepting that it won’t be the best BL you’ve ever seen, nor will it be the most politically correct. But it shows probably more passion and affection than I’ve seen in most, even TharnType. I think Filipinos know how to do it! ;) Plus the couple seem like they would be a genuine real couple. I can imagine a Season 2 taking place 10 years later and these too would have their puppy children and interfering in-laws and 10th anniversary party with chaos ensuing. Then later they would have sexy time ;) and that song by Paul Ramirez?!?!? I LOVE it!! Downloaded it from itunes and can’t stop playing it!!

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