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  • Last Online: 4 hours ago
  • Location: swimming in the BL vortex
  • Contribution Points: 23 LV1
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  • Join Date: July 6, 2021
  • Awards Received: Finger Heart Award1 Flower Award3

BL Compilations

swimming in the BL vortex

BL Compilations

swimming in the BL vortex
Completed
Oh! My Assistant
40 people found this review helpful
Dec 1, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

promising start that fell apart

Overall: I laughed several times in the first episode but the plot just fell apart as it went on. This is based on a web comic (of which I read the beginning). Aired on Viki and GagaOOLala (SE Asia). Eight episodes total, about 15 minutes each.

Content Warnings: manipulation, non con kiss

What I Liked
- the sense of humor and funny moments
- good intro credits
- the female editor was funny and I was okay with the fiancee as well
- that they re-cast the glasses guy and re-shot stuff

Room For Improvement
- they changed something from the web comic and it makes no sense here, why would the assistant make all those demands if he really wanted to work for the artist??? Wouldn't he have zero demands and just agree to whatever working conditions the artist wanted? Why would him acting cold make the artist fall in love with him???
- way too much of the short screen time was spent on the "friend" with glasses (who can't recognize his feelings for 10 years??) speaking of dumb dumbs
- that assistant was super stupid, why didn't he ask the artist what his relationship was with the editor? Even after she was giving them finger hearts and left them alone he thought they were dating????
- in episode 7 the whole confession felt really stiff and the artist was looking in the wrong direction
- bad kissing (aka dead fish lip presses)
- they were dating, since when? the final episode really jumped/skipped around
- I dislike silent simp characters so that letter actually made me mad
- the stereotypical effeminate/trans character at the bar in the beginning (this did not add to the story at all and they could have used that time elsewhere)

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Completed
To Sir, With Love
43 people found this review helpful
Oct 10, 2022
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5

one of the best m/m couples of all time, watch this!!! (need a sequel/Film and Jam as leads)

Overall: it's important to know that this is a Thai lakorn i.e. soap opera. So there is a lot of family drama, exaggerated acting and a bunch of content warnings. It has one of the best m/m couples with amazing chemistry and my main complaint is we didn't get more screen time with them. I could write essays on several of the main characters because they had reasons for what they did even if I didn't agree with their actions. Watched on One31's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXopbKxiivxpBd7rbwDldPMmtdoclonyk

Content Warnings: multiple murders, attempted murder, homophobia, slaps/beaten up/violence, blood, corporal punishment, manipulation, drugging, kidnapping, self harm, suicidal ideation, unwanted outing, and there is a maaajjjjor content warning towards the beginning of episode 1 that is a spoiler and I listed it in the comments

What I Liked
- the half brothers' relationship is my favorite fictional sibling relationship of all time (10/10)
- the m/m couple is one of my all time favorite m/m couples, they have amazing chemistry (10/10)
- there is some really great communication and misunderstandings don't drag on forever
- one of the only times where a character (Jiu) makes a promise and works extremely hard to keep that promise
- the women have major agency, I didn't always agree with their actions but they got sh*t done
- Pin could have been a stereotypical passive female character but was not, and I really enjoyed her character
- the martial arts/fighting scenes were fun to watch
- clear on when the series takes place (starts in 1931 and then a 12 year time jump so 1943); also enjoyed the historical setting
- understandable actions for most of the villains
- Tian dad's character arc

Room For Improvement
- the m/m romance needed waaayyy more screen time (they get only about 5 to 15 minutes per episode out of 1hr+)
- the initial drama dragged on too long, I was hoping for more plot twists and drama to pop up, it really improved at episode 7
- the exaggerated acting from some of the characters was not my thing, it got better towards the end
- the screaming from multiple characters
- lower budget, like with that cgi and the magical glitter
- unrealistic (talking during the major content warning, how a wild animal would behave), I didn't really deduct that much for unrealistic stuff because it's kind of part of the soap opera genre

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Completed
Pit Babe
29 people found this review helpful
Nov 17, 2023
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5

it was a fun ride (need season 2 and a real uncut version :P)

Overall: I enjoyed this series, though I watched most scenes at a faster speed. 13 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI uncut & YouTube cut which reduced NSFW scenes. Note: this was based on an omegaverse novel which I read but reviewed the series on its own.

Content Warnings: murders, sexual assault, blood, kidnapping, parental abuse, punch/slap, beaten up, stalking, manipulation, stalking, non con recording/sharing, violence, child trafficking

What I Liked
- supportive friends
- sweet moments
- Jeff & Alan
- excellent truth about how family isn't always the best
- pretty good NSFW scenes
- visuals

Room For Improvement
- quite a few characters were introduced at once and it took awhile to figure out who was who, there ended up being too many characters and not enough time to fully develop the relationships
- I realized they wanted mystery but it made it difficult to really support the Charlie/Babe relationship and the fact that they changed that plan from Jeff's idea to Charlie's was a mistake
- total nonsense/huge plot holes, many characters shared 1 brain cell
- cliche ghosting trope, Babe also shoved Charlie a bit too much/frequently
- the NSFW needed to be a longer (even in the uncut version) and were choppy at times
- cartoonish villains (and stupid)
- I wish they had either leaned into the omegaverse and explained it more or just omitted it entirely
- not sure how I feel about a certain character's redemption arc

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Completed
Koi wo Suru nara Nidome ga Joto
24 people found this review helpful
Mar 6, 2024
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

is love better the second time around?

Overall: there was amazing tension but I needed more character growth and less love rivals. 6 episodes at 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala.

Content Warnings: manipulation

What I Like
- tension/chemistry
- clear between what were flashbacks and the present
- end of episode 2 they explain what happened in the past and the time gap/why they each reacted how they did makes sense to me (unlike the majority of these types of plots)
- production value

Room For Improvement
- kind of an exposition dump in the first episode, but they didn't have much screen time so I understood why they did that
- too many love rivals (3) in just 6 episodes
- not enough character growth, I needed to see 1 character be real, everything had this fake veneer
- cliche plot point at the end of episode 5
- lack of consequences for some characters "gave me freedom" is NOT how I would describe what happened in high school

Thoughts on Grey Characters/Their Romantic Relationships
Sometimes these characters and their dynamic work for me and other times they don't. Here are the factors that I'm thinking about.
1. was there a realistic reason why the character/s acted the way they did in the past (yes)
2. were both characters grey or was one squeaky clean (they both had character flaws)
3. was there some kind of apology/amend making (kind of)
4. was there character growth (not really)
5. do I believe that the characters will stay together in a happy romantic relationship (maybe)

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Completed
Twins
49 people found this review helpful
Nov 4, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 4.0

want to see the actors in something else

Overall: the leads' excellent chemistry couldn't save Twins' poor writing. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala.

Watch Suggestions (unless you enjoy slow pacing, stupid decision-making and poor communication)
- read the synopsis/watch the trailer and skip episodes 1-3
- episode 4 watch up to 10 minutes, then 29 and then at 36 minutes
- episode 5 start at 17 minutes and can watch on a faster speed to the end
- episode 6 watch 18-20 and 23-24 minutes
- episode 7 start at 18 minutes and can watch on a faster speed to the end
- episode 8 start at 10 minutes and can watch on a faster speed to the end
- episode 9 watch 24-25 and 29-31 minutes
- episode 10 watch 15-30 minutes
- episode 11 watch 12:20-15:20 side couple
- episode 12 watch entire episode

Content Warnings: violence/fight/beaten up, manipulation, non con picture taking/sharing, cyberbullying

What I Liked
- a sports based BL
- good chemistry with the main couple
- a side couple grew on me

Room For Improvement
- needed the twins to be better differentiated similar to Not Me, even if one was dressed like the other, the voice and mannerism should have immediately signaled to the audience who it was, there were a few times I wasn't sure who was supposed to be who in a scene
- slow pacing, entire first episode was set up, watched most of the series on 2x speed
- Sprite needed to say something way earlier, his brother Zee was a nonredeemable jerk and all the characters shared 3 brain cells
- way too many side characters introduced quickly, took awhile to figure out who was who and then several plot threads weren't developed well
- toilet humor at the end of episode 3
- for one couple, the pursuer was a bit too aggressive and the pursuee was a bit too reluctant for too long
- choppy editing
- in episode 10 the fictional 'so drunk can't remember in the morning what happened but was an active participant during' cliche
- final episode rushed several character endings
- terrible characters that didn't get any consequences, just the "leave us alone/don't do this again or else...."
- plot holes/nonsense writing

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Completed
The Luminous Solution
32 people found this review helpful
May 28, 2023
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 4.0
Story 2.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

The Confusing/Boring Solution (interesting premise let down by poor writing/editing)

Overall: although episode 6 finally explained things, they ruined Ryou/Mai. It could have been a masterpiece with solid writing but I regret watching this. Aired uncut on GagaOOLala (1st episode was 1hr11min), cut on YouTube PTG Entertainment channel (1st episode was 45min). I watched the uncut version.

Important Plot Points to Know
- the very first scene is a flashback, there are flashbacks several times but they don't indicate they are flashbacks, the woman in the flashback is a character in the present
- the sandwich dude is playing two characters, himself in the present and his dad in the past
- the world building is explained in the final episode

Content Warnings: non con touching/attempted rape, punch, bullying, manhandling, non con turned consensual, slap, manipulation

What I Liked
- an established couple with realistic relationship issues
- decent solo NSFW scene (only in uncut version)
- camerawork where everyone else moves at a faster speed but the main character doesn't, to show how he's stuck
- the high school storyline up until the 2nd half of episode 5

Room For Improvement
- the way it started was confusing (note, this is a flashback)
- scenes jump with no explanation of how a character got there/when, for example, when/why/how did he get that business card? they never show the one guy being locked in the locker room? (explained in ep 6) why does Patis get a key from that nurse? why didn't they actually show the wish asking scenes in more detail (explained in ep 6)
- they needed to do more world building/hints prior to episode 6, they should not have included that grocery store scene
- episode 6 ruined Mai/Ryou, Mai should have stopped right away, also Ryou's wish was so awful, so we don't even know if the love was real or just because of the wish
- I don't want Thana and Patis together for many reasons
- I'm not sold on that level of tame kissing with an established couple and then how Patis is reluctant many times
- stupid wishes, why ask for a job when you can ask for a trillion dollars???
- cliche female character
- the pink transition effect was distracting
- open ending
- confused why they age restricted their youtube episode themselves as the cut version doesn't have anything in it that warrants being age restricted
- episodes are odd/out of order on their youtube channel

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Completed
Big Dragon
23 people found this review helpful
Oct 9, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 6.5
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

started with a bang, ended with a whimper

Overall: I was hoping for two flawed and aggressive characters having a lot of consensual BDSM NSFW scenes with eventual character change/growth and...I got none of that. Based on a book which I haven't read. Eight episodes at about 45 minutes. Aired on YouTube (cut), GagaOOLala and iQIYI (uncut).

Content Warnings: drugging, attempted sexual assault, non/dub con, death in a flashback, grief, manipulation, blackmail, slap

What I Liked
- that the two main characters were not innocent/angels
- the intro and OST
- I did laugh a couple times with the two bodyguards
- some of the content warnings weren't as bad as I feared (from watching the trailer)
- color symbolism (one character frequently wears red and the other wears green)
- good discussion about marriage equality
- a f/f couple though they didn't have much screen time
- production value*

Room For Improvement
- I heard the novel was 90% nsfw and 10% plot and I honestly would have liked it better if they had kept it that way because the plot they created was cliched and boring
- the BDSM aspect oddly vanished
- the NSFW scenes were mainly flashbacks/short
- multiple dead fish lip kisses
- awful communication skills
- their relationship dynamic kept shifting rapidly for no reason
- the flash forward start was a bit confusing, I'd rather they had shown a flashback from a year ago to set up why they hated each other so much, they kind of explained it later on but not really
- confusing things, they seemed to spend too much time in some parts (like the interviews) but then went too fast/didn't properly explain other things (going from bedroom to the bar, are they on the same level???)
- unrealistic stuff: a super rich person has two incompetent bodyguards, keeping your supplies like that, not stepping on broken glass all over the floor, seems like it took too long for what they ingested to take effect
- them getting frisky with two women and pursuing a woman makes this feel like a "gay for you" trope is around the corner, would have liked if at least one, preferably both had been with other guys
- comedy sound effects
- *bad camera angles

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Completed
Stay with Me
35 people found this review helpful
Jul 7, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

slice of life done well

Overall: this is a slice of life series set in 2005/6 and follows the characters from age 16-18. The writer is the same writer as Addicted (and the book it's based on). The plot/characters are extremely similar but I'm going to rate this on its own and not as compare/contrast. 24 episodes 30 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala & Viki.

BL, Censored BL or Bromance? the answer becomes more and more apparent as the series goes on, I really hope that "lip balm" was brand new lmao

Content Warnings: past murder, attempted murder, attempted rape, sexual assault, torture, mutual bullying/pranks, violence/fights/beaten up/punches, blood, manipulation, intimate partner violence, side couple under 18 and over 18, non con picture taking/posting/cyberbullying

What I Liked
- clear characters/motivations (and showed realistically why characters' feelings towards one another changed, showed why the cousin made the decision that he did)
- showed why Wu Bi was immediately interested
- Wu Bi was impulsive/hot tempered but he did apologize for his actions (later in the series he says that he acts tough but is soft hearted which is true)
- sweet moments
- some funny moments
- happy Wu Bi did that to his uncle
- episode 3 fight scene was not realistic but it was super fun
- Wu Bi and Su Yu clearly communicated at the end of episode 4 and several times during the series
- production value (some really beautiful use of light and reflections)

Room For Improvement
- should have taken out that whole bizarre doctor playing/injuring thing with the kids in episode 4
- nonsense things: could have given the thugs a reason to target Su Yu (like his dad owed them money), also no one called the police with a group of thugs running with weapons in broad daylight? the guards just walked behind Wu Bi, how did Wu Bi know it was that 1 guard out of all the guards
- I disagree with Su Yu's dad, not all parents love their children and even when they love them, if they are awful people then the children do not owe them love in return
- the dubbing, especially with that Taiwanese character
- not a fan of the song with the little girl singing
- the series covers 2 years and it felt a bit choppy at times/more like vignettes
- the green screen at the beach
- although I understand the ending is true to the book, a second season is definitely not guaranteed and that's not a good way to end a series (maybe they could have made a short special episode in case season 2 didn't get made or something)

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Completed
My Dear Gangster Oppa
46 people found this review helpful
Oct 26, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 4.5

could have been amazing

Overall: imagine if Muffin was actually a police officer and we saw her beat up some baddies in one of her outfits, or what if the mafia boss was actually a secret huge romantic at heart? There were so many ways the writing could have been innovative with this premise, but the cliche writing really ruined it, especially in episode 6. It is based off of "The Ideal Relationship" which I have read but I reviewed the series on its own merits. 8 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI.

Content Warnings: deaths/murders, non con touching/attempted sexual assault, violence, drugging, manhandling, stalking, attempted murder, kidnapping, manipulation

What I Liked
- the intro credits style was an homage to the source material
- how Guy was set up as a queer character from the beginning
- the video gaming sequence, unfortunately we only saw 1 sequence
- cute/sweet moments
- Guy showed agency
- laughed a few times (although mostly at huge plot holes/nonsense writing)
- Wahl's girlfriend in episode 6
- (neutral) comedy noises

Room For Improvement
- cliched/nonsense writing (i.e. Tew's idiotic "plans", Guy probably had 6 bullets in his revolver but seemed to shoot waaaayyyy more than that in episode 8)
- Kenji's backstory makes zero sense, maybe if Tew had used him as a human shield then it would have made sense, they made him into a cliche cartoon villain with nonsensical actions/motivations, even episode 7 didn't make enough sense for his motivation, also way too much screentime taken by Kenji
- the voice over was a fast way to set up a character/beginning but not my favorite way to start a series
- the music was sometimes not what I would have preferred, also think they could have removed the comedy sound effects and just let the comedy come through on its own
- tropey (ie multiple accidental fall and catches)
- avoiding physical affection in episode 5 (although Guy was better by the end)
- cliche plot point in episode 6
- Wahl had way too much screen time, needed to devote some of that to Guy/Tew building their relationship

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Completed
You Are Mine
22 people found this review helpful
Sep 15, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
This review may contain spoilers

would like to see these actors again

Overall: it had some fun moments and I'd love to see the actors together in another series, but I struggled with the plot/how the characters were written. I set aside the actual HR nightmare that this would be when writing my review. Aired 10 episodes about 25 minutes each on GagaOOLala and Viki. Note, there are sometimes extra scenes after the initial credits including the final episode.

Content Warnings: past kidnapping, trauma, kidnapping, non con touching, non con kiss turned consensual?, coercion/manipulation, manhandling, slaps, homophobia

What I Liked
- clear flashback and then what is in the present
- cute moments (especially enjoyed episode 10)
- laughed a few times
- supportive coworker
- that vice president guy calling out Xia Shang Zhou in ep 9
- how Yao Shun Yu stood up to the mom
- the interviews at the start of each episode
- (neutral) comedy sound effects

Room For Improvement
- traumatized/cold boss and the nervous/peppy employee dynamic
- the boss's sudden change of heart and the non con touching
- had a crack comedy feel, but then the boss with trauma didn't mesh well with the comedy
- was very tropey, 2 accidental falls in the first 10 minutes of ep 1 as an example
- recap too long, especially at the start of episode 2 and episode 4, I almost thought I was watching the wrong episode
- nonsense plot things like not taking him to the hospital and then not getting him crutches
- almost all of episode 9 and the poor communication throughout
- post credit scene seemed a fast 180 for the mother

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Completed
Kissable Lips
22 people found this review helpful
Feb 3, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 3.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Made Me Unbelievably Mad

Overall: I'm a sucker (haha) for vampire BL. I was willing to overlook too many characters and a totally unneeded love triangle, but episode 8 made me start screaming at my computer in rage. Watched on Viki.

Content Warnings: hypnotizing someone against their will and biting their lips, murders/death, gore/blood

What I Liked
- the premise of a vampire wanting to become human instead of the other way around (a la Twilight)
- I liked that the college student didn't just ghost/run away, but he's really pretty dumb to be alone with vampires...
- good production value

Room For Improvement
- this was some really awful writing, the ending was absolutely abysmal. They could have had some smart plot twists but did not. I need another vampire BL that is done well to destroy my memory of this one.
- they needed to cut characters and really build the relationship between the vampire and college student, they spend like 2 hours together and are soulmates...
- the explanation 10 years ago was disappointing, I thought there was more too it but basically the main vampire was just stupid
- the treatment of his friend (for hundreds of years!!!) at the end was awful. Jun Ho was actually worse when you think about it.
- I'm not even going to get into the just odd/unexplained/poorly thought out world building
- some odd camera shots, too many close ups
- way too many flashbacks that were used as filler
- the extreme blur filter that made the vampire look like a ghost

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Completed
That's My Candy
18 people found this review helpful
Apr 27, 2022
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 3.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

That's A Failed Parody

Overall: I have really enjoyed parodies like The Boy Next Door (bromance) and A Man Who Defies The World of BL, but this was confusing and I did not find it funny. It looks like the company that funded the series is a live streaming app. They could have built a story just around that... an anti-fan and a livestreamer, a livestreamer and his manager, etc. Watched on Viki.

Content Warnings: manhandling

What I Liked
- an established couple with a realistic problem (instead of a stupid miscommunication)
- a medical professional being realistically busy
- that they did show some skinship like the hug in public*
- I laughed...twice

Room For Improvement
- *I think it's a bit odd for one person in an established couple to be reluctant to kiss when asked by the other person at home. Also their kissing was really awkward for two characters in a long term relationship and actors who have worked together several times previously.
- many things that were nonsensical but not funny, i.e. potentially leaving someone who is injured on the side of the road, hugging someone while wearing bloodied scrubs, saying abracadabra while someone is likely dying...
- confusing things, Guy gives up but then they reconcile? Why introduce a fantasy element but then don't use it until the very end? Jing knew about the candy? WTH was that ending????
- many scenes were too long like the brushing teeth scene at the beginning, I watched on at least double speed
- I dislike both main characters, one was extremely immature (what a waste of medical resources) and the other apparently can't set phone reminders
- confusing relationship between the side couple, they were a fake couple and then became a real couple? Though he did clear things up relatively quickly, that's still being a jerk with your arm around your brother and making it look like you are dating.
- 5 minute introduction, with the recap and preview, episodes were about 15 minutes shorter than the listed time

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Completed
Bed Friend
76 people found this review helpful
Feb 18, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 14
Overall 7.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

could have been a 10/10

Overall: there was potential to tell a story well that we never see; however, the title, trailer and plot synopsis all misled viewers into what this series would be about. Bed Friend is not a steamy series about friends with benefits and more about coping with trauma. I am basing this review by the series itself and not based on the novel as I believe series should stand on their own. 10 episodes about 40 minutes. Aired on GagaOOLala (cut version, 1 30 second deleted scene per episode is listed separately up to ep 6), iQIYI (uncut version) and YouTube (cut version). Later aired on Viki (uncut?)

Content Warnings: *dub con kissing/touching/sex (I'll put more in a comment marked with a spoiler), attempted/beginning sexual assault, trauma, past: parental abuse, grooming, molestation; homophobia, victim blaming, manhandling, punch, sexual harassment, stalking

What I Liked
- frenemies to lovers premise (though they needed to show more why Uea hated King so much)
- child actor did an excellent job
- supportive friendship although Jade didn't make me laugh
- caring/sweet moments
- styling
- NSFW scenes (although they are a bit too choppy for me, the actors actually kiss each other and do a good job during them), liked the consensual kitty play
- episode 3, setting clear rules/boundaries, people might not agree/like some of the rules but I appreciate being upfront about what is acceptable and what is not (though I think they both later violated at least 1 of the rules)
- 1 terrible character had consequences
- showed them going together to get checked for STDs
- referenced therapy and medication*
- some good camerawork/cinematography like at the beach

Room For Improvement
- choppy/difficult to gauge how much time has passed, it's never a good sign when a series changes the number of episodes mid airing, scenes would jump quickly, in episode 10 they were in the car and then immediately in different outfits in the office, also what cheapskate stunt was that, don't combine those two events!
- King is not all green flags, starting at ep 1 around 25 minutes, but it continues with him pressuring Uea to move to his condo, victim blaming Uea, also him doing that "plan" without consulting Uea first (though he checked on his second plan)
- Uea's lack of agency, I really wish Uea had initiated some of the plans, it felt that stuff was constantly happening to him or people were doing things on his behalf
- *still felt a very unrealistic "love cures all trauma" message, especially with episode 10 and the scene about turning off the lights
- I realize this is based off a novel but it's just too much trauma, it's trauma after trauma after trauma, I wish they would have focused on 1 aspect and fleshed that out really well
- why did they make every male character in love with Uea???
- the NSFW scenes were too short/not enough/too artistic for a series called Bed Friend and with the premise of friends with benefits, that glass in episode 10 came off as weird instead of sexy
- several terrible characters had no or little consequences, also they didn't clearly show that the half sister didn't know because if she suspected or knew and still pressured Uea to return home, then she can disappear along with his mom
- the office humor and the comedy sound effects were not funny and the tonal shifts were jarring as well
- King's approach/plan in the beginning felt like a very fictional way to go about things, I couldn't tell if his feelings changed or if they were that way from the start
- ep 1 not a fan of an exposition dump for an intro
- both violated the "rules" they set up
- nonsense stuff, he didn't know there was a camera in his office, who put the camera there??? nonsense computer code/screen
- production value issues including odd camerawork, poor editing

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Completed
Love in the Air
110 people found this review helpful
Aug 18, 2022
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 8
Overall 7.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 6.5
This review may contain spoilers

Love In The Air (aka a bodice ripper set in current times)

Overall/Note: This series is based on a novel by MAME (TharnType author) who writes "bodice rippers", i.e. a wealthy, handsome and aggressive pursuer goes after a naive and/or reluctant pursuee where non/dub con is involved and they end up happily ever after. This series has the very FICTIONAL 'mouth says no, but body says yes' idea. In real life, even if a person's body reacts to touch, it doesn't mean that they want it. Just one verbal or non verbal 'no' means to stop immediately in real life. In real life buying multiple burner phones/sim cards to contact someone who has blocked you isn't romantic it's stalking and creepy. In real life spanking someone when you haven't established a role play/boundaries/safe word is physical assault. I think/hope most people can tell the difference between fiction and real life. There are valid reasons for creating and enjoying non/dub con that I won't get into, however steer clear if this is not your thing. On iQIYI and YouTube (varies by country).

Content Warnings: manipulation, dub con touching and kissing, non con touching and kissing, manhandling, homophobic comment, kidnapping, violence, stalking, harassment, past sexual assault references/brief scenes, PTSD/trauma, gang rape

What I Liked
- really was hooked in the first few minutes
- clear time jump
- Ple said that being gay is not a bad thing*
- bisexual representation
- liked the street racing aspect
- the NSFW scenes were well done, most like Rain/Phayu's
- the sweet/caring moments
- that university students were actually busy with school assignments
- how Sky was sassy in the beginning

Room For Improvement
- separating out the two couples didn't work for me, I was bored in the second half, felt like it went in circles
- not a fan of Phayu's "plan" or Rain's "plan"
- how Rain has a crush on a woman and says that he's not gay he just thinks one guy is hot seems to be setting up or is the gay for you trope, related to this
-* the whole conversation around 17 minutes in episode 1 was bad/odd, Rain said Ple's brother must be gay because he said something about another guy, it was good that Ple did call Rain out on it but the whole conversation was not needed
- scenes kind of jumped a bit a few times
- the second episode had too much recap from episode 1, this happened again in later episodes where they showed a lot of footage that we had already seen
- audio issues
- I disliked Pai at the beginning for the initial coercion and then the harassment/stalking but ended up being annoyed with Sky and his lack of communication with Pai and also making Pai do a bunch of chores to prove his love, then I went back to not liking Pai with the yelling in the final episode
- last episode felt rushed
- consequences not shown for those scum of the earth, only referenced verbally

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Completed
Plus & Minus
33 people found this review helpful
Apr 15, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Pluses and Minuses

Overall: I enjoyed how we had working adults (I think these are the first lawyer characters that I've seen). Unfortunately a very cliche plot point towards the end was unnecessary and disappointing but the numerous cameos (especially the enjoyable final episode) knocked my score up to 8.5. Watched on Gagaolala/Viki.

Content Warnings: 2 slaps (kind of acting), fight scene

What I Liked
- the opposite personalities, Fu is more serious and careful, Zheng is more goofy/player and carefree (but I did like that they showed he isn't always super happy go lucky because in real life even really positive people have times when they are sad/angry)
- that they have less common drama jobs (lawyers, laundromat owner, bartender)
- how Zheng apologized to his dad
- the acting, especially you can see how Fu is conflicted and not sure what to think/react
- good production value
- episode 12 moved quickly but was great
- the daughter did a good job and the story she read in episode 12 was adorable

Room For Improvement
- that the sister was recording them
- the cliche of forgetting doing a certain something when drunk
- the cliche plot point at the end especially after Fu talked to Zheng about never doing that (and what terrible timing too)
- the female bartender's cliche plot point
- sometimes the pacing was too slow
- the side couple didn't really hook me, I didn't like the aggressive pursuit/attraction for virtually no reason
- some nonsense things, like tons of lights when camping, lounging around at home in suits

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