wished for a better plot for these great actors (watch suggestions)

Overall: SUKFILM does some things really well such as chemistry/tension. However, the love triangles/cheating bog the series down. Aired 8 episodes about 10 minutes each https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYfaogVGCvwQ_32A8H9oWjdEtXVTWcrja&si=212BSBvITHARKx3G I am watched the cut version, the uncut has longer kissing scenes.

Content Warning: dub con kissing turned consensual?, non con kiss, manipulation, unwanted public outing

Watch Suggestions (to avoid cheating. love triangles and an evil ex)
- watch episode 1 and end it at 9:55
- skip episode 2
- watch episode 3 beginning to 45s, 5:15-7:40, 9:35-end
- watch episode 4 beginning to 1m and 6:40-end
- stop episode 5 at 2 minutes
- skip episodes 6 & 7
- watch episode 8 7:40-end

What I Liked
- acting/chemistry/tension
- visuals
- sweet moment with the first aid
- music (except that the singing was too loud during scenes with dialog)
- a character actually had a decent plan in episode 8

Room For Improvement
- the cliched woman character (which I think has appeared in all 3 of their BLs)
- one character is kind of a jerk/cheater (this is also a running theme in their BLs)
- I can't really be happy with the couple because I don't trust that there won't be cheating in the future

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mixed feelings

Overall: there were parts that I really liked and one aspect in particular that I really didn't. I initially watched for the side m/m couple (they meet in episode 2 and have a few minutes every episode). At times, this series has a bit of a soap opera feel. Watching on Viu with VPN set to Thailand. This is the episode 1 part 1 link https://www.viu.com/ott/th/th/vod/439286/My-Coach  Watch past the credits of the final episode for wrap ups of the characters (Plueng and Yu are at the very very end). 

Content Warnings: past bullying, sexism, punches, manipulation, harassment, drugging, attempted sexual assault, non con kiss, past trauma, homophobia, transphobia, unwanted outing, blackmail, held against will, high school student/coach relationship, bribery

What I Liked
- discussion of issues: i.e. challenges of being a woman in a male dominated career, importance of having safe sex and carrying around condoms, sexual harassment, pursuing your dreams, about being your true self and deserving love and happiness
- the end of episode 14 brought tears to my eyes
- Plueng and Yu, I wish they had had more screen time
- nice to see a darker skinned character and I really liked their conversations with Yu
- the intro song

Room For Improvement
- how both the coach and assistant coach were ogling the bodies of their students (high schoolers) and the things that followed, this just reinforces negative stereotypes of women in male dominated careers

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Terrible Ending In My Room

Overall: I watched the first 3 and half episodes and the last episode (cut version). Very disappointed at the ending.

Content Warnings: kind of attempted self harm/suicide - it's complicated, character death, horror, watching someone without their permission

What I Liked
- there was some stunning cinematography for example in the beginning with the light behind the characters, nice color scheming, music contributes to the mood
- the intro drawing/animation sequence
- the kiss in the final episode was well done

Room For Improvement
- in the cut version, there is zero explanation why Phob didn't turn into an evil ghost?!?
- Phob was too gutless to say goodbye to Phat (but then they did say goodbye, I have no idea why/how that came about)
- time skip and 50ish year old Phat says he married a woman but it didn't work out, he's dying of cancer and his mom died...then Phat and Phob reunite after Phat's death
- free version cuts out parts and it felt choppy in many places

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depiction of mental health struggles (watch suggestions)

Overall: the heart of this series was in the right place, but it took way too much effort to figure out the plot/characters/timeline in this series. 10 episodes about 15 minutes each. Aired on JC Show YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLalG2smk62xFJiyPLSsGxIW_4Znk24W_j&si=J4IbxX_npVilW4Rf

Watch Suggestions (to focus on the main couple)
- watch episode 1, watch episode 2 stop at 14 min
- episode 3 watch 6-10:40
- skip episode 4
- watch episode 5 beginning to 10:30
- skip episode 6
- watch episode 7 3:45-16:20
- watch episode 8 for the first 6 minutes to clearly explain the plot/what is happening
- watch episode 9 7-end
- can watch all of episode 10 or start at 5:20 to focus on the guys' relationship

Content Warnings: manhandling, mental health struggles, self harm, discussion of bullying, past death

What I Liked
- that they tried for a different type of plot
- sweet/caring moments
- visuals
- good music
- behind the scenes (though it was almost as long as the episodes)

Room For Improvement
- conversation with the doctor in episode 1 took too long
- I realize they were going for more an artsy/experimental vibe but they could have made timeline jumps back and forth more clear and what was a next episode preview, also if they had removed the exes that would have made things more clear (finally clearly explained in episode 8 what the situation was)
- in ep 10, it was a well intended discussion about the important of talking to a doctor, but then the character talked about slowly reducing the medicine if stopping and it made it feel that the goal should be ending medication when some medication is life long and life saving and there should be zero stigma taking it long-term
- should have moved the 15 minute behind the scenes footage to separate videos

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First Impression: ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat

Overall: the first episode had a good set up and I appreciated the lack of comedy sound effects that are prevalent in GMMTV's series. 13 episodes about 45 minutes each. Airing on GMMTV's YouTube channel as well as Netflix

What I Liked
- the set up was woven in well (with the interview and information about the band) instead of a blatant exposition dump
- Po's supportive friend
- how both Po's and Thame's past experiences shaped their current views of the situation
- production value/music

Room For Improvement
- the "I can explain" but doesn't explain/other person doesn't wait for an explanation

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First Impression: Eternal Butler

Overall: the first two episodes were fine. I can see my final review going quite a bit up or down depending on how the next 10 episodes go. 12 episodes about 20 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala (Americas, Europe, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, India, Southeast Asia) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5016/eternal-butler-2024-e01 ; iQIYI (available in USA, Spain and ???) https://www.iq.com/play/eternal-butler-episode-1-dst0wmvc9g?lang=en_us ; YouTube (available in African countries, Greenland, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Egypt and a few others) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZCKtVEQmC4

Content Warnings: blood, manhandling, non con kisses (likely other things that they've hinted to)

What I Liked
- easy to understand premise
- the sci fi element

Room For Improvement
- started with a flash forward
- nonsense design with the glasses aspect
- (neutral) sound effects

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3rd Time Is Not The Charm

Overall: I debated even starting this because of the production company (google Motive Village controversy and you can learn about it). But I wanted to support the actors.

Content Warnings: flashback to non/dub con sex (drunk)

What I Liked
- the Forth/Beam kiss was decent
- (neutral) animations

Room For Improvement
- the reboot (season 2 aka season 1 plus extra plot line) ended on a major cliffhanger so I expected this to pick up where it left off but instead we have 2 new characters as the leads with a totally different plot
- the 6 of them sitting around and re-creating their stories was an exposition dump
- there are 3 established couples that didn't really do anything and don't have chemistry/they don't feel like established couples, i.e. an established couple who had a dead fish lip press kiss
- two seemingly straight guys starting as rivals who will eventually fall into the 'gay for you' trope
- production value (odd camerawork, goofy background music that didn't fit)
- effeminate guys stereotyped as boy obsessed/shrill
- boring, they even put a flashback in 27 min to earlier in that same episode
- a stupid competition
- what a weird thing for a person in an established relationship to do when someone asks for his phone number
- no official international release

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First Impression: Ossan's Love Thailand

Overall: has the crack comedy/overacting feel, to be determined with the plot/pacing. I have watched all of the previous Ossan's Love live action series/movies but will try to review this series on its own merits. 12 episodes about 50 minutes each. Airing on GMMTV's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszepnkojZI63DZX1W9UTHeCiGDumJxch&si=gtEBAtl0tBrY42OU

Content Warnings: non con kiss, non con picture taking, past death

What I Liked
- seeing Earth & Mix again and that they switched character types that they normally play
- chuckled a couple times like the monk scene

Room For Improvement
- didn't laugh at most jokes
- Heng looked older in the flashback instead of younger
- love triangle

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interesting premise with too much staring

Overall: I was intrigued in the beginning, but it lost my interest with the lack of meaningful dialogue. Began airing on YouTube November 20th https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Njz75725bXKH1h92Yn-RCgu5EZb_SW-&si=P7Jx-VCWqEIUqr_b, then moved uncut episodes to a different platform and then moved the last 4 episodes (17-20) to WeTV in January https://wetv.vip/en/album/dd8g63nmfpkqdwg

Content Warning: sexual assault, non con touching

What I Liked
- unique premise
- caring moments
- production value for what I assume is a very indie production

Room For Improvement
- voice over exposition
- too much staring/flashbacks, they needed to talk/learn about each other more
- I'm not familiar with the Thai prison system but it seemed odd they had a fully stocked music room and library based on the other facilities and why did some characters have those numbered shirts and other wore regular clothes
- made viewers wait a month for the last 4 episodes, the release platform/schedule felt like they figured it out as they went instead of it being preplanned

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First Impression: I Will Turn Back This Time

Overall: the initial set up made sense and I'm curious to see how the next 5 episodes will go. 6 episodes about 40 minutes long. Airing on YoYo English Channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTB73Ibi_X3FNNIaLL1ZThNGuT0l-fFOL (not available in Japan or South Korea); GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5066/i-will-turn-back-this-time-2025 (not available in Japan, South Korea or Thailand) and Heavenly (I believe it's available in South Korea/language is Korean) https://heavenly.tv/en/detail/839

Content Warnings: mention of past intimate partner abuse?, blood and something major at the end of episode 1

What I Liked
- relationship progression felt realistic
- supportive friends
- production value

Room For Improvements
- the cliche running scene and what happened at the end of episode 1
- 2 sponge baths in episode 1 was one too many

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First Impression: The Boy Next World (uncut version)

Overall: having difficulty with one of the child-like main characters, but I'm trusting in their chemistry. 10 episodes about 45 minutes each (episode 1 was 45:51). Airing uncut on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/the-boy-next-world-episode-1-1dszq3d8c3o?lang=en_us

Content Warnings: blood, violence off screen

What I Liked
- unique premise
- intro got my attention
- great to see Boss & Noeul again
- intimacy and sweet moments

Room For Improvement
- a main character acted like a child (who calls their university friends to complain about not finding their underwear)
- not sold on the world building (why would a character make that jump/assumption with other more scientific possibilities)
- (neutral) there were some comedy sound effects but at least they weren't the entire time

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a soap opera (side BL couple)

Overall: I saw this on a BL list and decided to watch it although it doesn't have English subtitles. I watched the first 2 episodes and the last episode. Unfortunately the sweet established m/m couple breaks up in the final episode (at least they both seem to move on/be happy) but that made me not want to go back and watch all of the episodes especially because I didn't understand most of what they were saying. Watched (not subtitled) on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh45VQur4AvofKLgui5nvD9m96BiIlu8V

Content Warnings: murder/death, held against will, attempted kidnapping, intimate partner abuse, violence, blood (likely more)

M/M couple scenes (from episodes that I watched)
- episode 1 part 5 4:15-end
- episode 2 beginning-2 min
- (they broke up at the beginning of episode 32)

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