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Started off great but tried to do too much with too little time
Jiwoong really did an excellent job as a tortured vampire living among humans, underscoring the fact that desire, in all its forms, can indeed lead to some tumultuous times.The start was great – I was fully captivated by the idea of Junho and the hunger (quite literally too) in his gaze, conveyed perfectly by Kim Jiwoong. But by the end, poorly constructed characters and sequences leave lingering questions about the side characters and plot unanswered.
Poor writing seems to be the biggest problem when it comes to South Korean miniseries. While nobody is expecting an in-depth look into the motivations of characters, a story that is well-held-together is really the minimum.
Verdict: It would have been so much better if the story was more focused on main leads
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/02/27/kissable-lips-2022-review-started-off-great-but/
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We need more full-fledged BL period dramas
A word of caution: If you’re the kind who requires a solid buildup for romantic relationships, you should avoid miniseries in general. There just isn’t enough time for that kind of depth to simmer.Nevertheless, TWY still manages to captivate because it makes the point that two people who don’t belong to this world can still find comfort in belonging to one another. I found it profoundly romantic when they spent their afternoons painting and taking in a beautiful scenery made even more special by each other’s company.
It is highly ambitious to do a time travel + period drama + romance show without it being convoluted or illogical, but on the whole, I think TWY managed. The story was generally well-written and there were no major logical gaps in the plot.
It would have been ideal if certain narrative arcs were fleshed out further, but all in all, a solid effort given the short episodes.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/22/tinted-with-you-2021-review
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Nothing that is particularly stand-out
I don’t know if it’s just because the series had to be crammed into 8 episodes, but My Sweet Dear seemed to have gaps in its storytelling with things that went unexplained or unaccounted for.The couple have a decent chemistry and you can expect the typical personality pairing that seems to work well in many BLs – one being extremely outgoing and amiable while the other is aloof and somewhat hostile (think To My Star, or Mark/Kit in Gen Y).
This series also sees some pretty cute and unexpected moments but nothing that is particularly stand-out, unfortunately.
If you don’t take plot development so seriously, this show is easy to stomach. Pun intended.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/11/22/my-sweet-dear-2021/
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Looking forward to future Gemini Fourth projects
I love Gemini and Fourth. I really do. And from MSP, I think they definitely have something good going for them. For new and inexperienced actors, their chemistry is way above average. BUT one thing’s clear to me – they are far from reaching their maximum potential in MSP.Unlike shows like 2moons or Star In My Mind, where one male lead is ultra cool and the other is a bit of a nerd, Gun and Tin’s characters both had their derpy moments. And unlike other shows where the tsundere male lead might be a bit of a ‘bully’ (in a bid to get the attention of their crush), Tinn spares no effort in helping Gun achieve his goals – even if it means putting himself second. This commitment towards setting up the person he loves for success is what makes Tinn such a likeable character.
Their romance is sweet and pure, reminding all of us about the exhilarating joys of first loves, crushes and confessions, and watching the process unfold is simply delightful.
I'm giving it an 8/10 because the first half was a 7, second half was a solid 8.5. Maybe this particular brand of humour (esp in the earlier episodes) was not really my thing, or perhaps the initial episodes didn’t have the punch I was looking for? Overall, MSP is a wholesome romance story, without toxic drama or horrible friends. All in all a perfectly decent show to watch.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/02/24/my-school-president-2022-bl-review/
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Could have been a 1 hour special episode
Remember how Cutie Pie is a yaoi fever dream? Cutie Pie 2 takes this to a whole new level. It took a lot for me to finish the first episode – and not without fast forwarding some parts hoping that the second-hand embarrassment would go away.This sequel doesn’t have much of a storyline – it is a fluff fest made to sneak in more scenes of Zee/Nunew and Max/Nat furiously making out. I'm not a big fan of either couple. In fact, I would much rather watch a mature BL involving Zee and Max (LOL, Domundi are you seeing this??).
But anyway, the third and most overlooked couple, Neur and Synn, is the real reason why I even started watching this.
I actually liked that their very first intimacy scene was filled with awkward start stops and blunders – it’s a realistic look into how intimacy is built between two people who are not yet familiar with each others’ bodies.
In short: I only watched this for Neur & Synn, skipped most of the over parts, and realised that the sequel could have been a 1 hour special episode.
My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/01/29/cutie-pie-2-you-review/
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180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us
5 people found this review helpful
Very different from the usual BL series
The show is centred around the interconnected relationship between a mother, her son, and his dead father's first love.The mother, Sasiwimol, is hard to like as a character. Her shrill, almost-desperate, voice fills the space with all the thoughts that nobody asked to hear. She insists that cares about nothing but her son – and yet, there are plenty of instances where she positions herself as the centre of the universe, a character flaw that reveals a deeper insecurity to be wanted.
What is deeply unsettling about Wang and In’s relationship is that Wang is never just Wang. He will always live in Siam’s shadow, and through him, In can finally be reconnected to the person he didn’t have the courage to love.
Personally, as beautifully heartwrenching the story was, they were a couple I just couldn’t get behind. I can’t decide if 180 Degree Longitude has truly succeeded in what it set out to convey – first loves and loss, new journeys and redemption. It has all the classic traits of a typical indie flick – beautiful visuals, long and ambiguous conversations, and explorations of literature and philosophy.
Done well, it should evoke a profound sense of emotion in the viewer, and when done poorly, it comes off as cringey and tryhard. 180 Degree Longitude was neither for me. There are times when I really liked the dialogue, and other times when I felt the series was trying to be artistic for the sake of it.
My favourite part of the series wasn’t the storyline or characters – it was actually the soundtrack.
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/180-degree-longitude-passes-through-us/
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I'll never get over Bad Buddy. So this is what chemistry truly means.
When I watched the first episode, my heart sank. Not because it failed to live up to the hype after the wildly anticipated trailer, but because it was too good. How could any series sustain this quality for 12 glorious episodes? Somehow, Bad Buddy managed.While the trailer made the series seem like a typical rivalry-turned-romance kind of story (which is fine), the show delivered so much more nuance.
Pat and Pran are forced to compete only because of rivalry between their families and faculties. From two people who can’t openly be friends, they have become two people who realise they can’t just be friends. What drives the series wasn’t so much the competition between Pat and Pran, but them navigating their friends’ and families’ expectations of who they should associate with – a particularly relatable theme for those of us living in Asian societies. To what extent should we accommodate others when it comes to love? This question is also the crux of what made the last two episodes even more heartbreaking and realistic.
A joy of watching Bad Buddy is that it feels like you are rooting for two of your good friends as they fall in love with each other. Expect Tier A acting (I won’t belabour the point on how Ohm and Nanon expertly use their eyes to communicate deeper emotions), explosive chemistry and best of all, no cringey moments. Ohm and Nanon were simply the most natural fit for their characters. Bad Buddy is an experiment gone right for Ohm and Nanon – (just) friend, acting partner and soulmate – who not only excelled as their characters individually but are also definitely better together.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/21/bad-buddy-2021-review/
Why I'll never get enough of Pat and Pran in the series: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/24/why-ill-never-get-enough-of-pat-pran-in-bad-buddy/
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Promising take on ‘soulmates’, cringey execution
The whole soulmate / destiny thing is horribly cliched unless the plot is properly thought through and executed.I couldn't get myself to like Saengtai and Patt either. Saengtai is a petulant, somewhat unreasonable individual, and always in need of rescuing. His fight with Patt was a product of his poor decisions and even poorer communication, exposing the fragility of any relationship built on “destiny”. Also, their relationship was really cringey.
The side couple, Tian and Lomfon, turned out to be more interesting and in my opinion, more compatible than the main couple. Their conclusion is not one that’s unexpected, but the writing could have been a lot smoother.
Verdict: What was this? The plot had potential but the execution was just awful.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/08/05/la-pluie-2023-bl-review/
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The people I rooted for didn't end up together
I was reluctant to watch this because what could be so great about watching rich brats chase after damsels in distress? Fast forward 5 days and I’ve somehow inhaled the episodes.The F4 universe is so alluring because it’s a fantasy for people like you and I. A story about rags to riches, redemption and dignity, all at once. The show tells us that everyone is lonely and frightened in their own way – even those who can own anything in this world.
Genuine connections become the great leveller. With that true connection, no prince charming is truly out of reach (isn’t that what we want to hear?). The sell is sweet, but the execution, especially when it came to Thyme and Gorya’s relationship, fell flat.
Unfortunately, the people whom I’m supposed to be rooting for just didn’t have my support. I was all for Ren and Gorya, and Thyme and Lita. I don’t mean Gorya should have chosen Ren (although I certainly would have). I think feelings are a lot more complex and irrational than that. But my criticism would be that the main couple was pretty unconvincing.
Emotional connection and compatibility were lacking. They seemed like siblings when they bickered, and I couldn’t see them as a proper couple. Thyme was too immature for Gorya, and Gorya, far too naïve to play the games in his world. Thyme also stood in contrast to Ren, who never tried to throw money at his problems. Unlike the others who were constantly thinking about themselves, Ren was a protective, considerate friend who fought for others when it mattered.
In short, he was too likeable as a character, and Thyme was too awful.
The fairytale of F4 may very well be that that ordinary people have a shot with society’s elite in a tale about innocent young love overcoming all odds. But let’s not forget that plenty of the characters had problematic traits that were glossed over with a weak redemption arc.
To me, the F4 fantasy is how problems of the world will go away because we can expect fundamental changes from the worst versions of people. But hey, if you can look past the problematic aspects, it’s a pretty entertaining watch.
My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/10/f4-thailand-2021-review-the-people-i-rooted-for-dont-end-up-together/
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Krist & Gawin are good, but not great with each other
With most time-travel storylines, one can expect the usual live-life-to-the-fullest tropes and standard themes like the interplay of friendship, family and romance. I was hoping for more plot twists or surprises but overall, the show still hit the right notes in a nice balance of funny and heartwarming.When it came to the main couple, unfortunately, I have to say it – I’m not fully convinced of the GawinKrist pairing.
There was nothing inherently wrong with their on-screen chemistry. Both of them were super professional, delivered the scenes perfectly, and brought out the necessary ~feels~ when the situation called for it. They were good but they just didn’t fly when paired with each other.
If anything, BMF shows the importance of having 2 people who look effortlessly good together. This was a perfectly decent story, with well-constructed and likeable characters, and a talented cast.
And yet, something still felt off between Kawi and Pisaeng. One day, Gawin will find his OTP, but it’s definitely not with Krist.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/08/13/be-my-favourite-2023-bl/
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An anti-hero type of BL
If you’re willing to look past the lakorn-esque stylistic treatment of Laws Of Attraction, Jam and Film continue to deliver in this addictive series.The magic of Laws of Attraction is that it demonstrates complex motivations and the inconsistent behaviour of individuals. It’s not so clear who the bad guys are because you end up rooting for their character anyway, even if they have done some pretty questionable things.
As the narrative unfolds, the lines between the “good people” and “bad people” are increasingly destabilised as Charn turns out to be a classic anti-hero.
Unlike Khun Chai where Jam and Film have a cute and wholesome dynamic, Film is a total corporate gangster in Laws of Attraction. With a really creepy smile too.
Overall, “To Sir With Love” is still my favourite JamFilm show, but as a series, Laws of Attraction is compelling enough to keep you hooked.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/09/24/laws-of-attraction-2023-bl-review/
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2 solid couples, this is how you do a BL!!
I believe many of us have long moved past the phase of watching high school shows, but you have to trust me on this one – Eclipse is a masterpiece. Although the trailer came off as mediocre when GMMTV first unveiled it, the plot is anything but tired.The BL is solid. The storyline is solid. I can’t ask for much more.
It’s rare for a BL to have 2 extremely solid couples – but I was as excited to watch Akk and Ayan as I was to watch Kan and Thua. Both couples absolutely nailed it.
This is the first time I’m watching First and Khaotung being paired together, and gosh, it is worth the wait. Khaotung generally takes on roles that are ‘softer’, so watching Ayan is a breath of fresh air. Because of his personality, Ayan is always looking to push the boundaries, especially with Akk, and it’s this confidence that defines the main couple’s dynamics. Pulling Akk’s face closer to his, kissing him on the cheek – Ayan constantly taunts and challenges Akk, just to see how much he can get away with before Akk pulls away.
I never thought I would see Khaotung being a bad boy, but here we are. Did he pull it off perfectly? Oh yes, watching them really makes my heart flutter.
Neo often plays the joker, but in Eclipse, he’s serious and intense. And I’m so glad we get to see this side of him. He and Louis first appeared in Fish Upon The Sky, where their chemistry was largely forgettable. Eclipse really brought out the best in them.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/10/28/eclipse-2022-review-bl/
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Worse than Season 1, even a ham sandwich would have been more interesting
So, I’ve watched (both seasons of) 2Moons as well as Gen Y Season 1 and at this point, it’s confirmed: the franchise has plunged off the cliff and there’s no salvaging this.The 'conflict' involving Mark and Kit made no sense in this season. In fact, it was the most ridiculous self-inflicted problem ever.
And Wayu and Thanu – they have zero chemistry. Wayu’s character is weak, mopey and awkward, while Thanu is stiff and uncharismatic. Even though they’re supposed to be dating, their relationship is hardly believable.
And if you were wondering what happens with the Pha storyline after he was mysteriously reintroduced at the end of the first season, you would be disappointed to know that… well, nothing very meaningful happens. I don’t wish to spoil what happens with Pha eventually, but just know that it was ridiculous.
Overall, the series really could try harder. On second thought, perhaps they should stop trying.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/03/09/gen-y-2-2021-review-worse-than-season-1/
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Ending could have been better but this show gave me serious butterflies
It’s not often that a BL gives me butterflies in my belly – after all, I’ve watched so many and they tend to be more of the same these days – BUT THIS DEFINITELY DID THE TRICK.The romance is great and will be well-worth your time. As the two men wrestle with their desires for each other, the episodes get progressively more intense, culminating in mounting sexual tension and explosive passion! Energy! And footwork!
The show dances around themes of destiny and fate, making the suggestion that everything runs in cycles. Jom and Yai are destined to meet, even when they are hundreds of years apart. But the show is also about change and resistance in hope of a better tomorrow. It touches on reforming antiquated master-servant relations, rejecting blind adherence to traditions, and the struggle against the patriarchy.
For the most part, I Feel You Linger In The Air has great story progression and complex characters. But as the show slips from the past back into the present, the ending feels a little sloppy and audiences are left wondering wtf is actually going on.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/i-feel-you-linger-in-the-air-2023-review/
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Wonky execution with lots of strange scenes
The story is all over the place at times and I’m not sure what I’m really supposed to be focusing on. The undying love and bond between Yi and Diao? Their backstory? Or Yi’s quietly handsome assistant who seems to be their biggest shipper?BUT there were also some wildly ridiculous (but honestly fking funny) moments – a terrible CGI of a tiger, some peculiar scenes fuelling the ZeeMax fantasies, and a parent (like an actual daddy) hitting on Kondiao??? Ahh I’m dying, stop it.
All in all, MaxNat is not my favourite BL pairing. And Naughty Babe has definitely not changed my mind. This spinoff had good potential but the execution was wonky.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/11/09/naughty-babe-2023-bl-review-max-nat-still-not-delivering/
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