asianblreviews
The idea is better than the execution
A talented fashion designer in search for the perfect model, one whom his clothes were made for, finds who he has been looking for. And ends up finding love too.This sounds wonderfully romantic, but the idea is better than the execution when it comes to Behind Cut.
Behind Cut starts to lose its way somewhere in the middle, with poorly-done scene transitions that really started to affect the flow of the story. Also, too many ideas were crammed into an 8-episode miniseries as it ends up not really spending enough time on most.
What saved Behind Cut was the above average chemistry between Kijin and Yeongwoo, with their heart-to-heart talks over udon or beer about their hopes and dreams for the future. I really liked the final kiss scene but it was, unfortunately, still not enough to salvage the entire series.
Read my full review here (mild spoilers): https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/02/02/behind-cut-review-2021/
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Everything you could ask for in a mature, crime-themed BL
Max and Tul are back and they have more than delivered. I want to describe this series as a BL romance dressed in noir, but that would be overly reductive. In fact, an important point to note is that the series still holds its own even if Tan and Bun weren’t romantically involved – I’m glad they were, though, because their palpable sexual chemistry just made it all the better.The series starts off with a murdered girl. A whodunnit premise drives the narrative, but this soon evolves to something far more complex.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the characters inhabit a sinister reality where nobody can be trusted fully. Sometimes, they are also forced to straddle legally and ethically grey boundaries. All these factors, plus cliff-hangers and twists, provide for surprisingly propulsive episodes that keep you wanting more.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/11/29/manner-of-death-2020%ef%bf%bc/
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Call Me By Your Name x Thai BL
With its stunning visuals, ITSAY is easily the most beautifully-produced BL I’ve encountered. The BL delivers both aesthetics and substance. However, the intensity of emotions revolving around a turbulent sexual awakening makes it difficult to binge watch or rewatch frequently.Burgeoning young love aside, what really makes this series stand out is not so much the plot, but a strong undercurrent of sexual tension that consistently propels the narrative.
The pacing is also unlike most BLs as it moves a lot slower. Some scenes are long drawn out, dramatizing the effect of waiting restlessly in loneliness. In several instances, the deliberate lack of dialogue becomes purposeful, with actors relying on their eyes to convey wordless desire through the gaze. It’s sequences like these that arguably make ITSAY so unique and so memorable.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/18/i-told-sunset-about-you-2020/
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Interesting universe swap concept with unfulfilled potential
Vice Versa is one of the more aesthetically pleasing shows produced by GMMTV. And although it may be a body switch BL, thankfully, you don’t actually need to do any mental gymnastics to figure out who’s who. (GMMTV is kind enough to use the actual characters in most scenes even though they’re really in someone else’s body.)Science fiction lovers, however, may be a little disappointed to know that the show flounders a little when it comes to the science and logic of its story – in short, there are obvious plot holes. Personally, I thought this was a shame. Vice Versa presented a fantastic opportunity for GMMTV to explore new genres and push the boundaries of storytelling.
Most of the episodes are filled with fluffy scenes of Jimmy and Sea spending time with each other, or their gang going about their lives trying to produce a movie. It's a great JimmySea debut given that their chemistry is excellent. However, the show would have been far more holistic if it also showed the other side of the swap – what happened to Tess and Tun in the other universe, and how are they holding up in their portkey search? Much of the science fiction is backloaded in the final episodes, when I would have liked to see it throughout the series.
Still a great BL with pretty solid acting, though.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/10/01/vice-versa-2022-review/
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Like A Tale of Thousand Stars but …better? :O
I thought this would be a tired remake of A Tale Of Thousand Stars but I was wrong. I actually liked it better than ATOTS! (Fight me ahahahha.)You will notice many similar elements, which may be initially off-putting. There’s the rural mountainous setting, a cute volunteer teacher, rich urbanites who can’t get used to the village lifestyle and a sad backstory involving a traffic accident. It’s almost as though someone in GMMTV gave up brainstorming and said, “ayyy, let’s just recycle those ideas”.
As the second part to Star And Sky, SIYH doesn’t try to do too much in 8 episodes. While this means that the story compromises on the depth that you would expect from a full-fledged series, it makes up for it with compelling characters and tight writing. Most importantly, the chemistry between Kuafah and Prince is great.
Unlike ATOTS, which I found slightly complex plot-wise, Sky In Your Heart is a warm and fuzzy pick-me-up at the end of a dreadful day.
The only thing I didn't like was how their misunderstanding and concerns were glossed over pretty quickly in the final episode (prob due to to time constraints) so the couple is not shown working through their problems together. If you can overlook this detail, you'll be blown away by how Kuafah and Prince make for an unbelievably cute pair. I had doubts seeing them individually, but together, they’re really something else. Seriously, my cheeks hurt from all the smiling.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/23/sky-in-your-heart-2022-bl-review/
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All characters are flawed, there is no real hero or villain
KinnPorsche is largely amoral towards any crimes and mafia activity. It also hardly passes judgment on what kinds of behaviour are ‘wrong’ or questionable, merely serving as a mirror to reflect how the flaws of damaged humans.The series vacillates between three poles: the dark (violence), the light (humour), and the fluffy (romance).
Kinn’s family and their bodyguards speak only one common language – violence. Entangled in a complex web of rivalries where their survival is threatened, Porsche quickly learns that trust is a commodity that few can afford in Kinn’s world.
Kinn is drawn to Porsche’s playful innocence and carefree nature. But the realisation sinks in quickly; there’s no way they can live like other ordinary couples. If only he could shed his skin and be rid of his responsibilities to become neither a leader of a mafia ring nor his father’s son – just Kinn, a man who wants to be with Porsche.
And here comes the fluffy part. At times, the relationship between Kinn and Porsche seems just like any other typical BL. They rain kisses on each other’s cheeks and whisper sweet nothings like teenagers in love.
The trailer for KinnPorsche created the impression that the series is sinister, violent, and moody. But the show turned out to be less dark than I expected. Personally, I found some of these supposedly humorous moments a little cringey to sit through – the worst of the lot being Porsche’s incompetent fails in the earlier episodes, which made him look unnecessarily immature and silly.
But overall, KinnPorsche is an amazing BL. With moral ambiguity, wild intimacy scenes (a word of caution: I strongly recommend you watch it with headphones), stunning fight sequences and a very different brand of ‘romance’ from what BL fans are used to, KinnPorsche is groundbreaking in its own right.
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/10/kinnporsche-2022-review-bl/
My analysis of the last episode + all unanswered questions here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/11/kinn-porsche-ending-explained/
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More food videography masterclass than BL
Unlike most Thai BLs, Bite Me moves at much slower pace. I’m fine with slow-moving shows but some scenes were needlessly sluggish.The biggest problem is that it has an underdeveloped storyline, which is a real shame because the storyline between Aue and Aek got off to a promising start.
The BL gradually lost its way. The show was set up to hint at both Aek and Aue’s development chefs, but this was hardly addressed. The strangest thing was that the introduction of potential antagonists (Mu and Wiphob) also turned out to be quite unnecessary. None of these characters or tensions were properly fleshed out.
Bite Me definitely succeeded as a food videography masterclass because of all the artistic food preparation scenes. But as a BL with proper drama? Nah, not even close.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/11/27/bite-me-2021/
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Weak resolution & ending but the rest of the show works
The initial worry was that this would turn out to be another F4 Thailand-esque bully-redemption-arc type of story, but in the BL universe. If you’re reluctant to watch this because you think Kanghan’s character is going to be horribly problematic, well, I’d have to tell you that you’re kinda right. But it gets better real quick.The first episodes are a hard(er) watch precisely because Kanghan’s character is downright insufferable and cringey. It’s nothing to do with Perth’s acting, mind you, but rather, demonstrating how Kanghan is in an awkward phase of his teenage life where he’s still processing his identity and self-worth.
Some commenters are quick to point out that Chimon doesn’t look like he’s too whipped for Perth, but I wouldn’t worry about this. The romance develops organically and has its sweet moments – more importantly, the actors are decent enough to carry the narrative.
It also has some pretty awesome side couples featuring Marc and Pawin. I’ve been following them since My Gear And Your Gown and I think they make a pretty good second couple.
In my opinion, though, the show also wasted a perfectly good opportunity to showcase more of Saifah and Name’s relationship, which had a completely different dynamic from Sailom and Kanghan.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/11/16/dangerous-romance-2023-bl-review/
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Unfair to hold it to typical BL standards
You can’t go in expecting typical BL material. But if you appreciate two troubled guys finding comfort in each other, this is it.With a little reading between the lines, there is still plenty of evidence to suggest that their relationship goes beyond just friendship.
As a detective, Ichiro is a stickler for law and order. A lonely young man with a tragic past, he rarely lets anyone in, mostly keeping to himself. On the other side of the law, Shiro is a young and ruthless yakuza leader who turned to a life of vice and violence after his sister’s disappearance. While he has an outgoing exterior and nonchalant attitude, this only masks his deeper fears of abandonment.
Brought together by a chance encounter, the yakuza leader and the public security bureau officer discover a more profound connection than they expected. They are the unlikeliest of pairings but what can I say? Opposites attract.
A fairly wide range of characters propel the show forward. The backbone of the narrative is a sinister plot involving a network of politicians, agents and gang members. And this is really what drives the show. The relationship between Ichiro and Shiro is, unfortunately (and disappointingly for some), secondary.
But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the story for what it is. Even the is-this-BL-or-not ambiguity.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/kei-x-yaku-review-2022-unfair-to-hold-it-to-typical-bl-standards/
Analysis of why I think they're more than friends: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/kei-x-yaku-episode-breakdown-why-theyre-more-than-just-friends/
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You’re cute in every universe out there
Played by the same male leads, the characters are hopelessly drawn to each other in all of the universes they inhabit. This series is perfect for people who get bored easily.What’s commendable is that the characters in various storylines not only look different, but also behave extremely differently in terms of how they display their emotions and respond to difficult situations. The dynamic between each couple is also not the same.
The clever part of the series is that it ties together a collection of several storylines involving vastly different characters, played by the same actors.
Top and Mick have done well on this front, as versatile actors who are able to capture every character’s unique essence. They also have superb chemistry across all their characters (some obviously more electric than others), which is quite a feat if you ask me.
While you’ll be able to grasp the storyline completely even with the cut version, the unfortunate reality is that the story comes out a little choppy and truncated. Watch the uncut version for maximum enjoyment!
More reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/
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A letdown :(
The story was supposed to be new and original – an action-packed romance with a stockholm syndrome storyline. I had higher hopes for this series given the trailer, but it didn’t quite match my expectations.Ohm is a superb actor as usual, but Q (played by Lengso) is a supremely challenging character. While Lengso did a commendable job, some scenes left me feeling like he wasn’t ready for a role this deep. Perhaps it would have been better to start him out with a more straightforward BL. Or maybe I’m just an OhmLeng hater :( Because Kidnap hasn't convinced me of their chemistry.
Kidnap The Series is supposed to be so much more than just romance. It's supposed to demonstrate how relationships change after being put to the test. But I was disappointed by how these relationships didn’t have much substance to it at all. The conclusions felt unsatisfying.
I liked that the series featured themes of crime and corruption, which always carries the potential to be emotionally complex and morally ambiguous. BUT unfortunately, the conflict was resolved rather poorly and I don't know what point the show was trying to make. It's a shame that with such promising themes, everything was just so…underbaked.
Other reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/
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A little scary, a lot of wholesome entertainment
Veteran stars Tay and New continue to deliver spectacular chemistry. Their chemistry was so good that some scenes left me questioning whether the series was hinting at something more than a friendship.But no, it’s just a very compelling bromance. Even though Peaceful Property isn’t a BL, it doesn’t have to be.
But be warned – I couldn’t watch this series after sunset. The first few episodes took some getting used to because the ghosts were just so scary!
I only put up with the scaries because the storyline proved to be sufficiently compelling. And also, I love TayNew (more on that later). While the ghosthunting format for Peaceful Property is somewhat predictable, the series actually had several unpredictable twists. Overall, the series was also really entertaining and well-done. It strikes a good balance between humour, drama, horror and romance and explores what a ‘home’ means for the different characters.
More reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/
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A space for you and me
The story starts out with a voice – bright and clear in a crowded sea of noise. Kouhei, who has a hearing impairment, has trouble hearing others. But he hears Taichi’s voice loud and clear.Hearing what someone has to say is the first step to being understood, but as Kouhei’s hearing impairment worsens, he quickly realises that true understanding is not always about what is spoken.
Taichi is the first hearing person to take a genuine interest in Kouhei's disability without judgement or pity.
While something more than friendship blossoms between two young men, I Hear The Sunspot is not just a beautiful romance.
It has also been lauded for being an extraordinary social commentary on disability. There are so few BLs that make disability a central theme of the series, let alone present issues in a nuanced way. The beauty of I Hear The Sunspot is in how space is created for others without diminishing the space of others.
Other BL reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/
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A treasure in its own way!
Why is it called Takara’s Treasure? I have my guesses.Takara has fond memories of his grandfather taking him out for a Ramune soda and getting to keep the marble after he finishes his drink. But to Takara’s mother who vies for riches and expensive jewellery, marbles are not valuable even though they can be sparkly.
Takara enjoys holding a marble up to the light and seeing the universe within a glass circle. It’s his way of seeking beauty and hope in the simplest of things. The point that this show makes is that the notion of ‘treasure’ is highly subjective and personal. The very same marble is both treasure and garbage.
When Takara looks into Taishin’s eyes, he sees himself reflected in his eyes – as glassy, shiny and pretty as marbles.
Ultimately, it’s down to Takara to prove that he sees Taishin as his kind of treasure. Just like the marble in the Ramune soda bottle.
More reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/
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Ngl I enjoyed this so much I think I’m obsessed
This show had me kicking my legs and screaming – Daou and Offroad’s chemistry is off the charts here!Century of Love is a unique series that combines period drama and fantasy with classic BL elements.
The key conflict in the series is Vee’s identity as Wat’s reincarnated soul. San’s objective in finding Khun Wad is twofold: to break the century-old curse cast upon him, and then live happily ever after with his soulmate. When a woman shows up purporting to be the real Khun Wad, San and Vee’s love is tested.
A real conundrum. If the person you end up loving isn’t the Destined One as foretold by the gods, will you rebel against fate just to be with them?
Herein lies the subtle twist in Century of Love. It originally appears to follow a “destined soulmate” plot trajectory, but later upends this by providing the main lead with an opportunity to make a choice for themselves.
Century of Love is romantic not because San has been waiting for his soulmate (and suffering physical pain) for 100 years. It’s the fact that San eventually chooses someone despite the fact that he doesn’t know if this person is truly his soulmate.
San simply does not care anymore. Because a life without Vee is not a life worth living anyway. What’s love if it isn’t a promise to be together even without the guarantee of happily-ever-afters?
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