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This review may contain spoilers
tonal switches
Overall: the comedy and darker vibes did not mesh well for me. 10 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI and GMMTV's YouTube channel.Content Warnings: murders, blood, fight, held against will, manipulation, past: murders, violence, blood
What I Liked
- seeing Boun and Prem again
- mystery elements
- the broccoli reference was fun as was My Golden Blood on the TV
- caring moments
Room For Improvement
- jarring tonal switches between attempted humor and mass murder
- several nonsense character actions/reactions and convenient world building, for example characters blaming something that happened 10 years ago on a character who was imprisoned during that time
- comedy sound effects didn't make things funny
- styling: the black robes and black outfits were corny
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slow pacing with unbelievable characters (watch suggestions)
Overall: one character was unbelievably naive and then the other was oddly cruel in episode 7. 10 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4529/takaras-treasure-2024 except Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and PhilippinesWatch Suggestions
- watch episode 1
- watch episode 2 beginning to 2 min, 4:30-5, 15-16:35, 17:30 to the end
- watch episode 3 at 4:30-6
- start episode 4 at 8 minutes
- watch episode 5 at 17:40 to the end
- start episode 6 at 8 minutes
- watch episode 7 at 4-8:20 and 14:40-15:35
- skip episode 8
- watch episode 9
- episode 10 was oddly anticlimactic, you could just watch at 22:40 to the end
Content Warnings: see the comment under a spoiler for 2 of them, stalking
What I Liked
- that it didn't start with a flash forward or back
- meet-cute subverted trope
- I did laugh at the terrible hiding skill in episode 4
- episode 9 was good
Room For Improvement
- Taishin was unbelievably naive (he still asked that question in episode 10, what on earth) and Takara was oddly cruel for not telling Taishin the truth in episode 7
- a glacial pace with their relationship
- odd how very similar behaviors were categorized differently
- nonsense stuff: how they carried tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, food, etc in those small backpacks
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struggled with Segaski
Overall: I loved everything about this except Segaski. 8 episodes about 20 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala & Viki.Content Warnings: intimate partner abuse (see my explanation at the end), stalking, manhandling, non con bondage
What I Liked
- acting/chemistry
- NSFW well done
- production value
Room For Improvement
- Segaski is an abuser and a jerk (get your own soy sauce), this went beyond miscommunication
- lack of growth from Segaski, he actually got worse as the series went on, in episode 7 he apologized for believing Yoh can be an independent adult/trusting him which was definitely not the apology I was looking for, towards the end there was a hint of growth but then he backslid again
- why was Segaski so stupid, Yoh told him that he wanted someone who was nice/caring and smiled at him, but Segaski was forbidding him from seeing his friends, pulled him around and threatened to confine him to their apartment?!?
- the NSFW fizzled out, though there was a little in ep 8
- cliche getting sick after being in the rain but at least it was before and not after they had sex
I really hope people realize this is fiction and not a model for a healthy relationship because Segaski is an abuser
1. financial abuse - it is apparent that Yoh is very aware he is financially dependent on Segaski, they don't show us that he has anywhere else to go, I think it was either ep 3 or 4 Segaski reminds Yoh that he provides everything for him
2. Segaski forbids Yoh from seeing his friend in episode 4, Yoh is a grown adult and should be to go or see his friends when he wants to, Segaski in episode 7 again is angry hoping Yoh doesn't visit his friend
3. stalking - Segaski stalked Yoh, he never apologized for this but Yoh apologized for seeing his friend/coworker, those who are abused will say the problem is their fault when it was actually the abuser's action/fault (i.e. Segaski shouldn't have stalked Yoh or forbade him from seeing his friend)
4. physical abuse - pulling someone by the wrist is abusive unless there is an emergency and a person is yanking another person out of danger, in episode 7 Yoh was uncomfortable when Segaski tied his hands together and said he couldn't be trusted to be on his own although we know Yoh can be an unreliable narrator and then later it seemed like he might like it but it didn't start out as consensual bondage
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cringey and sweet (watch suggestions)
Overall: talking to Yuka felt cringey (it's not as bad after the first episode), but there were some very caring/sweet parts in the series that I enjoyed. 12 episodes about 1 hour each. Later aired on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/title/82679752Content Warnings: past bullying, coercion, non con touching, trauma, cyberbullying
Watch Suggestions (to focus more on the romance with the main and side couples)
- episode 1 watch 1hr 1min - end
- episode 2 watch 17:20-end
- episode 3 watch 18:45-end
- episode 4 watch 9:50-11:45 and 15-44
- episode 5 watch beginning-4:50, 12:50-29:30 and 32:40-end
- episode 6 watch 5:55-10:10, 14-19 and 23-end
- watch episode 7
- episode 8 watch 41-45, 51:55-53:35 and 56-end
- episode 9 watch beginning-5, 16:45-20, 54-1hr 1min
- episode 10 watch 11-16:05, 20-26:10, 45:30-53:40
- episode 11 watch beginning-22:30, 39:30-52, 57-end
- episode 12 watch 15-18 and 40-end
What I Liked
- a gaming setting
- that his coworkers were nice instead of the normal backbiting we've seen in workplace settings
- they showed the viewer why he was so attached
- in episode 2 that he rescued his boss
- odd how everyone was watching them like The Truman Show
- supportive friends
- that they showed a realistic long distance relationship
Room For Improvement
- the brief exposition dump was not needed
- overall it veered into a bit too cringey like him setting out the figuring at his very first work meeting and saying what he said
- nonsense, a company wouldn't let customers know officially with 6 days left???
- the boss should not have been coercive especially because he knew how much the character meant to him
- comedy sound effects didn't make things funny
- episode 8 love rival/jealousy stuff
- ghosting with the side couple
- wasn't quite happy with how it ended, the leads didn't interact until 40 minutes of 51 in the finale
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peak Thai comedy
Overall: this was a wild ride and I enjoyed myself immensely. 8 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired internationally on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6712/wooju-bakery-2026-e01 (not in Japan, Thailand or S. Korea which has it on Wavve streaming platform)Content Warning: held against will, past murders, attempted murder
What I Liked
- unique premise
- visuals
- styling (especially the sequins, iridescence, deep v necks, semi see thru shirts and large earrings)
- some touching moments between the leads
- adored Princess
Room For Improvement
- the comedy did not work all of the time
- AI in episode 1
- choppy at times though it kind of fed into its chaotic charm
- unanswered questions
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This review may contain spoilers
Thai romcom with some heaviness
Overall: I support Saint and all the actors but the the comedy didn't mesh well with some heavy plot points. Based on the book "Wanjai Phuyai Jom" by Naoto which I haven't read. 12 episodes about an hour each. Aired on Idol Factory's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4D0KlUVq4IyHCM1l3v94GC0SJ3EUG8fl&si=EmHX_4KfrB2NSdKrContent Warnings: fight, non con kissing, intimate partner abuse, pretended to commit suicide, attempted murder, beaten up, violence, blood, manipulation, bullying, coercion, sexual harassment, past child abuse, cyber bullying, kidnapping, beaten up, dub/non con kiss, manhandling
What I Liked
- chuckled a couple times
- happy to see Saint on screen again
- good they called out that teacher/student relationship and the teacher had consequences though I wish he had had other consequences
- the grandma
- his brother, though he should respect boundaries
- the end of the finale
Room For Improvement
- jumps from serious moments to ridiculous moments (like that inflatable mall thing in episode 3)
- they brushed the intimate partner abuse under the rug, in the real world she'd likely be dead in a couple of years
- nonsense writing: why couldn't he have gone to another school or studied at home?, the parents weren't concerned about what almost happened to him?, if it's that dangerous then they should have had him go out of the country
- though I didn't have an issue with the age gap per se (Yo was 19 and Jom was 28-31), it was not appealing to see Yo in high school wearing the high school uniform and Jom acted like a parent with a rebellious kid many times
- the villains were cartoonish and practically twirled their mustaches
- zero interest in the high school bullying stuff and redemption arc
- love rival and his redemption arc
- noble idiot trope/refused to communicate cliche
- most humor didn't work for me
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Boys In Fluffy Love
Overall: watching this fluffy romcom gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. It was my favorite GMMTV series so far. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI (U.S., Canada and Thailand) https://www.iq.com/play/boys-in-love-episode-1-1p80isfbzyg?lang=en_us and GMMTV's YouTube channel for likely everywhere else https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUGbwUQ5jeQContent Warning: unwanted outing
What I Liked
- vibrant/youthful (but not childish) feel
- opposites attract dynamics
- supportive friends (though they seem to share a brain cell)
- flirty moments
- sweet/caring moments
- the apology in episode 2
- lack of communication didn't drag on forever, felt realistic to try to figure things out
- bisexual representation
- worked through challenges together
Room For Improvement
- voice over to set the story/exposition dumps (but I appreciated not starting with a flash forward or flashback)
- nonsense, 'no uniforms' does not mean complete chaos with fake weapons and Halloween-like costumes and perhaps it's different in Thailand but where I live teachers would never invite students to a housewarming party
- one guy in a side couple totally ignored the other's boundaries in episode 4
- a teacher asked a very personal/inappropriate question and at times he felt too immature to be in a romantic relationship
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comedy that works sometimes (watch suggestions)
Overall: wish it would have focused more on romantic/sweet moments of the main couple as I did not find the side plots interesting. The series is based on a book which I haven't read and I'm reviewing the series based on its own merits. 8 episodes about 50 min each. Aired here https://www.oned.net/video/6369378014112 with English subtitles.Content Warning: mental health struggles
Watch Suggestions (to focus on the m/m relationship and if the humor isn't your style)
- episode 1 watch 15-33
- episode 2 watch beginning-9:40, 12-14, 37-end
- episode 3 watch 5-9:30, 12-15, 36-end
- episode 4 watch 13-16:30, 18:15-21:45, 32-end
- episode 5 watch 9:50-12:30 and 35:20-end
- episode 6 watch 23:30-25:30
- episode 7 watch 30:30-35:50
- episode 8 watch 17:30-20:30, 25-29 and 40-end
What I Liked
- the entrance of one character was funny and I chuckled a couple of times
- different premise for a BL series
- the grandpa
Room For Improvement
- a character repeatedly called the other character 'bestie'
- what's with the random kid that keeps hitting him/running into him
- could have started the 1st episode at 15 minutes and not miss anything
- wasn't into the side plots with the stylist/barista and the cats, the guy was a jerk in episode 4 so even his plot line with his grandpa didn't pull at my heartstrings as it should have)
- nonsense that they wouldn't send their best after multiple failed attempts
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too many side characters/plot
Overall: this fell into the trap of several KBLs before it, too many characters/plot in a very short runtime. Aired two 14 minute episodes per week on GagaOOLala and Viki.Content Warnings: anxiety struggles/mental health struggles, manipulation, grooming?, under 18/age gap relationship?, stalking, punch
What I Liked
- the wedding venue was gorgeous
- showing anxiety medication being used
- a few cute parts
- there was a little mouth movement in the kisses, liked that they held hands
- that roommate/friend was sweet
Room For Improvement
- the tried to do too much and it came across as confusing, jumpy/choppy, in episode 4 there is a random scene in the daytime and then suddenly the next scene with two different characters is at night with no transition scene, I'm not 100% sure what happened in the past/what their relationship was, I was not invested in the main characters' relationship
- ignoring boundaries repeatedly is not attractive to me
- cliche ghosting/poor communication combined with a time jump
- ep 1 why was the pianist not dressed up, I know it said he was a substitute but it looked like he had time to practice/could have grabbed a suit/dress shoes (he was wearing white sneakers), or they should have added a scene where the wedding coordinator said he had to play in 30 minutes, he said he just had what he was wearing and she said that's fine
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This review may contain spoilers
something different that partially worked (spoilers in the content warnings)
Overall: I absolutely loved Jiu/Tian in To Sir With Love, but Charn/Tinn's dynamic didn't really work for me in Laws of Attraction. Aired 8 episodes on One31's YouTube channel (not in the U.S.) and on iQIYI subbed in some countries including the U.S.Note: this is a lakorn style (soap opera) so things are meant to be over the top (like that jump flying kick in ep 1)
Content Warnings (pretty much all of them and there are some really disturbing ones): murders, attempted murder, fights/beaten up/violence, blood, manipulation, blackmail, corruption, non con touching, parental abuse, torture, bullying, animal death, arson
What I Liked
- the secondary m/m couple, wish they had more scenes and showed things instead of alluding to them (I heard One31 is a more conservative channel so that could be why we don't see steamy scenes)
- mystery elements with what has happened in the past, what exactly happened in episode 1, characters' motivations
- flirty Charn
- absolutely loved the ex and his shirt allergy
- soap opera vibe, loved that flying kick
- sweet family moments, that grandma was awesome
- marriage equality advocacy
Room For Improvement
- Charn/Tinn's romantic dynamic didn't work for me because
1. it seemed to be a few days or couple of weeks after something that is sooooo awful and we have Charn hitting on Tinn, I couldn't enjoy their romance with that plot point in the background
2. why/when did Tinn trust Charn?
3. Charn is a flawed character which is fine but what he did to innocent people in the past is beyond redemption, I'd be okay if he was with another deeply flawed character but they put him with a squeaky clean character and it didn't work for me
- plot holes/contradictions/because the writer said so stuff (how on earth would that law office do that, we see a character injured in the back but then bleeding from their head, etc)
- needed more screentime to flesh out the plot and characters, felt rushed
- the final episode was very jarring, we'd see something extremely violent and then instant cut to pure fluff
- dead fish lip presses between two adult characters (somehow murder/blood is fine but the company couldn't do more than the presses?)
- upbeat music when a character was talking about something extremely serious in episode 2
- the special effects were low budget but I didn't take off points for that
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This review may contain spoilers
gritty yakuza story with romance
Overall: this was a darker story and I didn't review it against fluffy stuff. 6 episodes about 25 minutes each. Adapted from the manga "Anata wo Korosu Tabi " by Asai Sai which I haven't read and I reviewed the series on its own merits. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5800/the-journey-to-killing-you-2025-e01 (not available in Thailand, Japan, Korea or Taiwan)Content Warnings: past (murders, incest, assisted suicide, blood, domestic abuse/violence, child abuse); rape (see the spoiler comment for more info), violence, blood, animal death, attempted murder, threatened/near suicide
What I Liked
- a darker premise
- acting
- styling
- caring moments
- production value
Room For Improvement
- nonsense stuff: in the past why didn't he call for help in episode 2, why did 1 character wait 7 years to make a move on the other character, miraculous healing power, not wearing something in episode 5
Spoiler for the type of ending:
it's a happily ever after for the leads
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golden retriever and black cat by the seaside (watch suggestions)
Overall: I wasn't totally hooked at the beginning but it grew on me. Based on the book "Love Sea" by MAME. There is also a Thai live action adaptation. I reviewed this series based on its own merits. 12 episodes about 30 minutes each. Note there is a bonus scene after the initial end credits. Aired on GagaOOLala (not in Japan) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5665/love-sea-the-home-for-lovers-2025-e01Content Warnings: past intimate partner abuse, violence & child abuse, trauma, manhandling, attempted murder, blood, beaten up/punches
Watch Suggestions (take out some of the content warnings and focus more on the m/m couple)
- watch episodes 1 & 2
- episode 3 skip 9:45-11:45 and 21:35-end
- episode 4 start at 6 min
- episode 5 start at 9 min
- stop episode 6 at 25:05
- episode 7 watch 17-19:20, 20:10-23:45 and 26:30-27:55
- episode 8 watch 4:30-6:50
- episode 9 watch 10-12:45
- episode 10 watch 27-end
- watch the 2 specials (eps 11 & 12)
What I Liked
- visuals
- ongoing intimacy and showed the use of a condom
- seaside/small town location for part of the series
- a character was blunt like in response to the thin walls he said he wanted them to hear
Room For Improvement
- I liked the opposites attract dynamic, but not when one was hot and cold, this improved
- there seemed to be some mind games with the women and they felt separate from the rest of the story especially in the first half, also some lackluster kissing
- production issues like odd shots, night scenes were too dark, a character bought a bunch of clothes, but then wore the same outfit for multiple days
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entertaining historical romance with thriller elements
Overall: I thought it was a good blend of a historical setting, romance and scary parts, though it definitely could have used a little bit more runtime (1hr 40 minutes before the credits) to flesh the story and characters out more. If you aren't a thriller/horror person, it's not that bad, just watch it at a faster speed and turn down the sound. Originally aired in theaters in Thailand. Aired on Netflix Thailand (need a Netflix subscription and a vpn to Thailand).Content Warnings: past death, attempted murder, violence, blood, jump scares, manhandling
What I Liked
- historical setting, I was so immersed I didn't realize it was a historical setting for awhile (thought he just liked vintage cars lol)
- integrating thriller/horror with romance
- sweet moments
- good kissing/both into it
Room For Improvement
- needed more runtime to better show/explain things like instead of the monk saying a character lost something we could have had a short scene of him looking for it/that other guy getting rid of it, why was he not in the hospital towards the end did he imagine that part? who exactly was that one dude at the beginning, was the before aged 25 made up by him, why? instead of a 'getting to know you' montage we could have had more scenes actually shown, they didn't have time to really develop those two male side characters
- choppy parts, were inside during the day then she says to get food then suddenly they are together and it's nighttime
- a few 'because the writer said so' like a character taking something off before he sleeps even though he knows he shouldn't
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skip episodes 3 and 5
Overall: nothing really happened in this series and when something did happen it felt extremely contrived. You can skip episode 3 (a whole bunch of stupid jealousy) and 5 (a whole bunch of counseling sessions with all combos of characters). This is set in the Love Mechanics universe with mostly new actors. 6 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala and YouTube.Content Warnings: dub/non con kiss, homophobia
What I Liked
- the supportive friends (but had waaaayyyy too much screen time)
- a few cute moments
- Ana's mom and dad
- mentioned how expensive medicine is
- they do allude to them having sex but don't show anything
- that Fuse stands by Ana and they talk in the car in episode 4 about what happened and stands up for their relationship again
- neutral, there are comedy sound effects
FYI the title Future might come from the character's name, Anakhot, which means "future" in Thai.
Room For Improvement
- the plot is bogged down by not needed conversations/texts with Ana and Fuse's parents and friends, in the final episode out of 40 minutes there was a 4 minute scene towards the beginning and a 4 minute scene at the end with just the two of them (and even at the end it wasn't just the two of them exactly), so only 8 minutes of 40 minutes was spent on the protagonists with each other?!!!!! The plot in these 6 episodes could have easily been cut down to 2 episodes.
- Ana is set up to be very shy and then there is a (pointless) 1 year time jump and suddenly he is extremely forthright/flirty???
- a bunch of characters were introduced really quickly but I figured out the main couple at least
- nonsense plot and dialogue, who on earth would say 'you have to be my wife/bottom' to a near stranger, do they like each other, why??? completely ridiculous (and not in the fun way) jealousy
- the protagonists seem too immature to be in a relationship with anyone
- that bizarre conversation with that guy at the end came out of nowhere, and why does it matter if someone has had many partners or has many partners, what century are we living in
- loud and constant music
- crying without tears
- many subtitle errors that negatively affected understanding what was being said, I wish Gaga had cleaned up the subtitles I assume they were given by the production company
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wish it was longer/had a special episode
Overall: with only 6 25 minute episodes, they needed to take out/reduce screentime of the main conflict as there wasn't enough time to properly develop their relationship. It's still cute with a solid ending. I gave this an indie rating bump. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/1p9j07cqimg?lang=en_us&sh_pltf=4 and seems to also be airing on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0P6L1kgy3ITUD-fneCgsyV7-PgDeZuRO&si=vb2NTEwOIj-EXVIXContent Warnings: punch, past homophobia, cyber bullying, non con touching
What I Liked
- different personalities
- up front about who they were attracted to/sexual orientation
- noble idiot trope interrupted
- a character sided with the guy he loved and stood up to his own company
Room For Improvement
- the 2 false accusations (in reality it is extremely rare to falsely accuse someone of this)
- rushed romantic development, needed more time to focus on their relationship
- (neutral) quite a lot of far away/camera blocked shots for the kissing and also the interrupted kiss
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