I truly felt everything they were feeling; a kind of love that knows no bounds
A melodramatic yet heartfelt series that beautifully captures the nostalgic charm of youthful romance. Setting the story in the year 2000 added so much depth and nostalgia to their journey. The production quality was pleasant and visually appealing, while the soundtrack perfectly complemented the emotions of the show. The balance between lighthearted moments and emotional longing was executed beautifully. I especially loved how the series emphasized the significance of art and music.The story begins with a one-sided enemies-to-lovers trope, paired with the playful cat-and-dog dynamic of the second couple, and I instantly saw its potential. Exactly my kind of romance. I appreciate the slow burn and the sincerity in the way the characters communicated their thoughts and feelings. Watching them felt calming and comforting.
There were so many adorable scenes throughout the show, but one of my favorites was the Christmas Eve scene with their first kiss beneath the falling snow. It gave me that nostalgic feeling of young love, especially the scenes where they waited by the phone just to hear each other’s voices, talking until past midnight. It felt so classic and timeless, like the perfect teenage romance.
When it comes to intimacy and chemistry, both couples delivered in very different ways while still portraying the right emotions for their characters. The main couple gave viewers butterflies with their soft, gentle affection and genuine care for one another. Meanwhile, the second couple brought more angst and tension, eventually finding comfort and strength in each other’s support. The main couple was sweet, the second couple was spicy.
I honestly underestimated He Jin’s twisted mindset. I never expected the antagonist to reach the point of attempted murder. I was hoping he would eventually reflect on his actions and receive some form of redemption, but instead, he remained the darkest presence in the story.
Overall, this series reminded me of the hope of meeting someone who will genuinely care for and prioritize me, just as Yu Lei and Ke Ke did for each other. Their love story was truly beautiful. My only minor criticism is that some scenes could have been paced better, as a few moments felt slightly rushed.
The gays are winning. Thank you for another quality BL series this year.
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Gao Tu and his little screentime
Showcasing the A-B-O Universe was a fresh concept for me. I find myself entertained and learn new things with this creative approach of pairing, or what is known as mating in their world. I love Gao Tu, and I am always looking forward to his story every single EPs. Even though there are EPs wherein he has minimal to no exposure, I hold to the drama solely because of him. Li Pei En is so handsome and the most charming actor from the cast. I was mesmerized by his beauty.As someone who hardly kept his Beta-identity for all those years, simply because Shen Wen Lang hated Omega, it was a very fascinating dedication to stay by the side of his crush, even though he thought that it was one-sided. I am always thirsty between Gao Tu and Shen Wen Lang’s scenes, and the production never failed to disappoint me until the finale. That was the end? It was obviously rushed, without a proper conclusion, for my best boy, Gao Tu, and when Shen Wen Lang was finally able to hug him for the first time in eternity, with their child witnessing the dramatic reunion.
For the sake of Gao Tu and Shen Wen Lang, I stayed. Not gonna say anything with other characters as I just come to the point to not mind them at all. I wasn’t a fan of the main couple’s story; every person has their subjective reasoning and avoids pushing others to like something that they don’t like.
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How teenagers act when they’re in love
A very cutesy BL with no drama, just youth being in love. There’s nothing notable about this show except for the chemistry of the three couples, namely, Kim-Mon, Per-Tar, and Teacher Nat-Tan.Chokun and Aston brought me to watch this drama, and they did not disappoint. They perfectly suit their jolly and dramatic characters. The confession scenes from them are just the cutest. Smiling Chokun is so handsome. They even kissed several times, and I’m loving it.
Per-Tar, on the other hand, ignites the flame of romance during the last few EPs. They became the couple I always look forward to in the next EPs. The dog and cat fights are my cup of tea. I want more of them, and hopefully, they can have another drama playing as a BL couple since we only got to see a glimpse of their pairing from this show.
Both Teacher Nat and Tan keep up with their young folks. I adore it so much that one is super classy and serious, while the other one is clumsy and talkative. A polar opposite but they perfectly suit each other.
As far as you noticed, I did not include Shane-Kit as a couple that showcases chemistry. Because they did not manage to mesmerize me. I tried to like them, but all I can feel from their couple is being bland and boring. Individually, they have a likable storyline, but being paired together does not help it at all. I am just disappointed that they are the main couple but failed to reach my expectations.
For these reasons, the drama received a high rating from me on its first few EPs but inconsistently handled a proper plot on its latter EPs, so I lowered the overall score due to this. Nothing special, but not bad at all.
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Rainbow after the rain
Once again, we have another Japanese BL with an uncommon fictional story but with realistic settings. They have their genre that no other BL-producing country can top. I remember how excited I was when this was announced with Ito Asahi as the main lead. Hiroki also thrilled me since he starred in another BL show. The set of casts is so pretty but the MVP of the show must be no other than, Jun Muto. His manliness fits his role as a kind corporate man. He is gentle, calm, and kind. I was even shocked to know that he is also an idol. He can be cute and handsome at the same time. His acting skills were also outstanding.I’ve seen similar shows with the same email conversation setup but this show has more spice. They both have partners who refused to have sex with them and the context of their emails is just pure honesty since they didn’t know each other personally. Most viewers will agree that the best episode of the drama has to be when they finally recognize each other after seeing the female wooden statue in an uncrowded museum. The cinematography and execution were super romantic!
As mentioned in the show, the proverb from its title means that misfortunes happen simultaneously. This applies to both of their struggles to reawaken the spirit of love from their respective pair. The tension even became higher when Hagiwara directly said that he wanted to have sex with Nakarai, and Sei just casually agreed with him. It was not the best intimate scenes I’ve watched but made my whole attention focus on them due to their sexiness and the context of their characters’ story.
Cheating and the messy ride of waves from the four of them. This was a roller coaster of dwelling on emotions and anticipating the outcomes of their actions. In the end, Kaori and Hagiwara decided to break up and I love how well-written their conversation was at the cafe. The same goes with Fujisawa and Sei who manage to release their real feelings and realization after a serious communication.
I love the overall aspects of this high-quality BL. The real-life situations can indicate that people are lustful but we do not romanticize an act of cheating. The same goes for how some people have their own choices of not having to rely on sex to satisfy their desires. The aftermath leads them to walk where their hearts are happy to go and leave their unmoveable current situation.
Sei and Kazuaki being together at the end was a happy ending. After all, these two satisfy their needs, not just in sex, but most importantly from the constant love that they were thirsty to acquire from their previous relationship. The rain does not always signify sadness.
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Urban fantasy drama at its finest
As always, Chinese dramas excel in producing high-quality projects based on supernatural concepts with the touch of their culture and history. This is one of the best series I’ve watched in Wuxia’s category. Alongside the masterpieces such as The Untamed, Word of Honor, Heaven Official’s Blessing, etc. The unique thing about this show is how they set up the story in the modern world. I highly applaud the production staff for presenting extraordinary editing and visual effects. The variety of introducing numerous superpowers was cool and pleasant, all thanks to the smooth delivery of the CGI.The 100th Outsiders Martial Arts Contest was such an anime peak tournament level. The fight scenes, bonds, and the clash of powers were just always the cherry on top within the show. This arc also has my favorite episode. The battle round between Wang Ye and Zhuge Qing. These two sorcerer magic users engaged in an astonishing duel plus the epic animation quality keeps me in my seat so tightly. Both actors are so handsome too that I can’t help but ship them. The camp night out during the middle of the tournament was so cute. I believed that it was the root of their friendships.
My favorite thing about these kinds of dramas is the diversity of groups that they can offer to the audience. We have different sects, clans, families, and sub-groups that provide additional spice to the conflicts. The notable ones are the NTD express, four crazies of sinister pleasure, ten elders, all-encompassing guilds, and the 36 thieves.
Yet, no one can top the major grouping that the show has which is the eight supremes. In this season, we were only introduced to five of these powerful abilities; the Qi Apotheosis, Qimen Manipulation, Dispatch of Detained Spirit, Infinite Heavenly Talisman, and the Double Quan Palm. All are high-powered techniques that we got to see a glimpse of their abilities.
Double Quan Palm was the only technique that was explained to us in detail. It was a creepy magic that allowed the user to control memories by removing, altering, and transferring them to another person. It can also have the ability to regenerate broken parts of the body.
The main point that I admired about the characters is how the oldies believed that the youth are now the savers of the present while supporting them from the side. In the finale episode, we got to see the four new-gen individuals, aside from the MC, who helped him defeat the creator of the double quan palm technique. Some points during the last episode were not explained well but I know they will tackle it in the sequel. Qi Apotheosis is such a broken ability and I am excited to see more from the endpoint of all Qi techniques.
While watching this, I am either laughing, amazed, or crying. The comedy was good as an entertainment but the tragic story was too painful. Even though I watched this two years after the release date, I am still happy that I will not have to wait more longer to see the sequel that was just ended recently as well. That’s all I can say and catch you up in another review after I complete the second season of this well-written fiction.
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The DaouOffroad Effect
Am I too late? Yes.But is it worth it? Absolutely yes!
It got the hype it deserved. I’ve been adding this to my watchlist for so long and finally completed it today. The official trailer does not give justice to how beautiful this drama is. All the casts are new faces for me which makes it more memorable. They did not disappoint as everyone can act, with no cringe and underwhelming performances. It uplifts the overall impact to its highest level.
This show unexpectedly delivers a brilliant comedic approach to the story aside from the element of drama. I was laughing so hard during the interactions between the characters. They perfectly nailed it. Concept quality is above average too. My favorite is the transformation to a younger version from midnight until dawn. The child actor delivers the same personality as his older self; irritable but funny.
Offroad is the ace. I am astonished by how he conveys his role with ease. Daou is great too! He still looks so cute despite always being angry during the earlier episodes. Pond is the deity of handsomeness. I’m glad that they don’t turn him into an antagonist in his present life. Chu is an unforgettable character. She is pretty, cute, and the funniest among the crew. But when she cried, you’ll cry as well. The three-generation family is loveable, no doubt about that.
The charm from Daou and Offroad is so cute and I am always smiling whenever I see them in my social media feeds. It may not be the perfect drama for me but a high rating is worth it for how creative and entertaining this series is.
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Hot take: The only ones with interesting storylines were from the supporting casts
Taiwan and its compulsiveness in making stepbrother romance as a relationship approach in a series. I liked a lot of elements from this drama, but I’ve seen too much of this concept that the impact became dull and redundant. A coming-of-age setup reminds me of some notable C-dramas I watched in previous years, and what makes this more interesting is that they give us the BL flavor to spice up the audience.The substitute teachers and Alors Cafe owners need their show! They captivated my whole attention, and I love them the most. I demand a prequel or sequel that features them more than anyone else. The love tension is so extreme but I was left hanging by that minimal kiss and confrontation at the end. Subjectively speaking, Zhao Xi and Benny stole the show and I’m craving more from them.
Every cast did great with the portrayal of their roles. You can’t guess that these teenagers in the story were adults in real life. The squad isn’t that impactful but they still manage to provide a favorable result of high school friendship. Andy Chen as Gao Tian Yang is my favorite one from them! I’m grateful that the drama introduced me to this Gu Hai version and excited to see his next projects, hopefully, a BL show, in the future. One of my favorite episodes was the sports festival which was chaotically fun and regained the momentum of the drama’s appeal.
I applaud the production for limiting the young couple’s intimate scenes. I honestly think they can make more sexual scenarios and I’m glad they don’t. From what I’ve seen from the latest BLs today, many shows prioritize the R-18 plot more than the quality of their script.
Overall, this drama is good but downgraded by the concept of an incest-like relationship. Thankfully, the supporting characters left a good impression towards the end despite not having their proper closure to the story.
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The world of doors and it’s unveiling mysteries to its players
Game of death. This has one of the best virtual-reality concepts out there, especially in how they featured several doors with their uniqueness and stories behind them. At first, I was intrigued by the BL theme from the original story, so I started to watch and read the novel simultaneously. However, due to the lack of available legal streaming platforms to binge-watch the show, I put a hold on it first because I believed that the drama's quality deserves to be supported legally. And finally, after months of waiting, I completed them today.Chinese entertainment has always been a top tier for fantasy stories. Even though government censorship is taking huge restrictions and limitations, the chemistry is so overwhelming that it doesn’t seem to occur in a bromance drama. Lingling is so cute and handsome that I can’t stop staring at him. Ruan Zhu’s manliness is devouring my entirety. I somehow felt too sad at the ending, that they only reunited after 50 years with Lingling holding their memories alone from the real world.
As it was a game to determine the strongest among them, death is inevitable and occurs in each door. Li Dong Yuan, Tan Zao Zao, and Qian Li’s dying was too painful. It took me a while to recover from their deaths one after another. If there is one character I found annoying, it is not the antagonist but the MC’s best friend, Wu Qi. This boy was just a burden to the team and added no spice to the story.
There are loopholes but I tend to disregard them since I mostly enjoyed the overall aspects of the drama. Turning Ruan Lan Zhu into an AI character as a plot is not satisfying. I rather see him dying in the embrace of Lingling instead of bidding farewell to a virtual role. Nevertheless, the whole concept of the story is virtual reality so they give us a love story between an AI and a human.
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We are each others’ number one, for all eternity
I’ve been spoiled and read several warnings about this show yet I still decided to brace it and see it for myself. Ahh yes, the reviews are all right, this drama hurts me so much. That’s why it has been raining so much since the pilot episode because they surely left us in tears. It was a good cry from a wonderful yet sorrowful love story.I was not expecting it to be in a supernatural and mystery genre. It was a short yet the most meaningful time for the main couple. The unforeseen accident was miserable but a miracle happened, Koichi became a living corpse and froze his own time. I love the creative reasoning behind the meaning of Eternal Yesterday as the title of the drama. The main characters are always and will always be living from the precious memories of the past. The recollection of Mitchan's moments with Koichi.
From the beginning until the end, this show never failed to burst me into tears. All the characters are so lovely and the way that they produced the story of the main characters is just heartwarming. I might be too late to finish this story but I will never regret sinking myself into one of the greatest romances that I’ve seen in all BLs.
“You’re still my number one. I love you the most.”
“Mitchan, thank you for the miracle.”
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A pit chain of romance
Babe, as the main character, is a trash. The drama has a unique flow of story with its composition of humans gaining an extraordinary ability among average individuals. This is a nice foundation of the story and I love the fantasy incorporated in it. However, it is so hard for me to enjoy the drama to the fullest all because of how hateable Babe is.Firstly, they did extremely badly during the pilot episode, take note that the touch of fantasy is not yet revealed here. But the way that Babe treated Charlie like a slave or worse was just cruel. I like Charlie’s character but only without linking him to Babe. The main character should lift the whole show but all I just remembered about him is being addicted to sex and toying with people with a character development that isn’t enough to change my view on him.
A cast with a visually stunning appearance but sometimes they just lack charms to hook me up. Uncle was indeed the best character here and the most loveable one. Throughout the show, there’s only one time that I was amazed by a certain scene. It was on EP11 of the confrontation scene of Uncle Alan and Dean. The acting is on point which even made me put in tears. I love the build of tension from rage to worriness. This specific scene emphasizes the importance of the storyline and building the relationship of everyone included in the drama.
It’s a real pity that I haven’t enjoyed the romance of any couple featured in this. Uncle Alan and Jeff got me at first but eventually vanished after a few episodes. Nevertheless, it wasn’t as bad as compared to some of the Thai BLs I watched yet still Pit Babe is a below-average kind of BL for me. Everyone is obsessed with Babe but I don’t see any distinct features from Babe that are too good for everyone to get obsessed with his personality and always have the attitude. Sometimes, I feel like the story is so focused on executing great sex scenes but loses the more important part of the show which is decency and rationality of how and why these things happened in their story.
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BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen
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I became overwhelmed by the main characters’ cuteness
What a good way to start the year with a fluffy BL! This is extremely fun and I was already mesmerized by the charm of the main couple right after watching the first half of the pilot episode. Both of them are indeed good-looking actors with acting skills that are genuinely adorable.The story is likable with almost no sign of cringey scenes. With only three episodes, this is enough for a worthy time to binge-watch such an entertaining show. Overflowing with cuteness and excitement. I have no major issues regarding the overall production of the show. It's just that I somehow feel disappointed or specifically demanded a lot more intimate scenes like hugging, kissing, and cuddles from the main character. Yet, there is no doubt that I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama set the bar higher for rom-com-inspired BLs. They did it properly without too much drama and a fine execution of scripts.
With this, I was once again blessed to get to know another new face in the world of BL that I will be going to stan from now on. Abe Alan, as the man running in the first place, really got my whole attention. The face card never declines but the great thing is this man knows how to act, plus he is wearing a strong sizzling aura that makes you fall in love with him. His character has an adorable personality that I always feel so fueled with happiness for his loveable nature and gestures. Akutsu Nichika is also an actor to look forward to. I like his acting and the role fits him. I was shocked by the way that the series confirmed the obvious relationship between the two actors’ managers -by showing their own bed scenes moment which were too hot and fancy.
I wanted more but I could not demand more. They already gave us a lengthy duration per episode but since the drama is so good, I am hoping for more. This is exactly the kind of feeling I want to experience each time I finish a good drama -the feeling of joy from a good watch.
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Ain’t that usual kind of game we see from mainstream shows
Love everything about this show. I learned a lot just by watching the tension and plots that the story has to offer. Both of the main characters are loveable in their ways. Their combination was too powerful; one was intelligently clever in technical and scientific aspects while the other one knew how to play with someone right on top of his palm. I swear, their pairing is cuter than some mainstream romance series out there!Meguro Ren is a beast. Never in my mind would I imagine that the actor who played so gentle and sweet in Kieta Hatsukoi could be badass and playful in this drama. This is the first Sana Hayato project that I watched and I am already loving him. At first, the story of this show is something about a deathly kids game based on its title but never expected it to be more realistic and indulgent. It allows me to be interested in how a successful business works, the cycle of stocks and investments, marketing the business, and many other things.
It was a roller coaster of a challenging journey that started with a trivial game plan, to starting their start-up company and making it well-known in the world of business. AI was already a very good concept of a company but then, they are the most selfish person in the world, and they also win the gaming and media industry. I swear, watching them win every time was a sparkling event through my eyes. If a second season is possible, I am looking forward to how they will counter the upcoming big challenges and the new game plan that Haru and Gaku is about to untold during the epilogue.
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The charm of youth
In all Asian countries, China has always been doing great in producing school-based and coming-of-age genres as a series. The transition from old school to the present years settled the firm foundation of making the audience nostalgic and reminisce about the beauty of their youthful days. The best factor that I’ve seen from these dramas is the perfect blend of romance and friendship as the major highlight of their stories. When I Fly Towards You is one of the best examples of a drama that caters to the fantastic era of young adults throughout their lives.I am super invested in this drama, especially during the time when all of them are still in the same school, where all of my favorite episodes come from. It is important for me as a viewer that all characters have their own spotlight to shine and this project provides me with it. All five of them have a story to tell and a path of journey to walk through with their own selves. They always made me cry with happiness every now and then.
It was almost a ten out of ten score for me not until they reached their university and adulthood age when I somehow felt less happy than the previous episodes. Yet, I still enjoyed the show and am grateful to see each of them fulfilling their dreams individually.
Rang Rang, Su Zai Zai, Guran, Jiang Jia, Guan Fang, and the rest of the characters in this show play a remarkable portrayal of their respective roles and they always have a special place in my heart. I love that they made me feel warm and joyful. To be able to look back once more on how beautiful the life of a youth is.
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Oh Yes! Here comes Tseng Jing Hua to once again, slay!
Tseng Jing Hua, the man that you are! He made me fall in love over and over again. Your Name Engraved Herein has a very special place in my heart and Pu Yi Yong and Birdy have the same lovely character that I adore a lot. Tseng Jing Hua is ethereally handsome! The outfits look too comfy for him. His facial expressions are so charming, got too many screenshots from it. Those deadly stares with sizzling eyes, kissable lips, perfectly defined nose-shaped, and his overall existence are too good for me to never get tired of seeing him. The best thing about Tseng Jing Hua is, as an actor, he can act. His speaking voice is so sexy and the way he cried can attack the soft spot in my heart too. This man is very like boyfriend material in general.I saw several bromance clips of the two main characters from various social media platforms before starting to binge-watch the drama. They own the show and there’s no doubt that they are the main reason why the series is enjoyed by many. Their cute interactions are too funny and entertaining -comedy at its finest. My BL heart is even getting happier when Fandy Yan makes his appearance as a supporting role for two-three episodes. Along with Nonkul as the kid who lost his brother during a terrible night of their life. The best part -was the unexpected CPR kiss that Cao Guang Yan did to Pu Yi Yong during the finale.
They can also make you feel emotional. From the death of his father and grandfather to the featured stories of different kinds of left-over emotions in the world. The conclusion of the living corpse, the guy with the tattoo on his back, and the father who lost his child are my personal favorites.
The characters are perfectly cast. I love the mother and father of Pu Yi Yong, the police officers, the father of Guang Yan, Yi Yong’s two friends, and all of the actors in the show. For me, it doesn’t have the perfect storyline but it is enough to make me feel excited to watch episode per episode. I highly appreciate the efforts of everyone to make this show, a successful and memorable one.
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Interesting yet mediocre
All hail to GMMTV’s newly added brilliant talent, Sea Tawinan. A rookie actor who can showcase above-average acting skills along with his superb visual and appealing boyish masculinity; this has captivated me since the release of the trailer.The storyline has its unique charms. I enjoy that they emphasize the differences between the two universes (the snow season and same-sex marriage in Thailand are superb.)
My favorite element of this drama is the color palettes that also fit the main character's job profession as a color grader. The title of every episode was aligned with the characters' plot, outfits/wardrobes, settings/locations, and mood. I once again appreciated the great production efforts of the whole crew in terms of the abundant beautification of the show’s cinematography. My second favorite is the unexpected cameo appearance of several GMMTV’s notable personalities.
I like the show however I feel like something is missing and lacking. It’s either the progress of the story, its impact, or both. It almost feels like another plain BL but fortunately, some scenes lift up the viewers' energy on getting entertained. Those side characters mostly save me from getting bored. Ohm-Nanon still has that undying chemistry, Perth character introduction is an ice-breaker, Neo is just as comedic as he is, and I want more scenes coming from Aou and Boom since they are so cute here.
If the multiverse does exist, I hope our selves living in those worlds are doing great (too).
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