4
10
1
2
spooky/campy/romantic
Overall: the dynamic was good but I'm neutral on the ending. 7 episodes about 15 minutes each. Aired on Regal Entertainment YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7SneaZWMW0pKKXwXHp9rjxF-KSh9m5CpContent Warnings: death, grief, manipulation
What I Liked
- dynamic between the leads
- caring/sweet moments
- chuckled a few times
- good dream
- non cliche female character (the ghost)
- blooper reel at the end of ep 7
Room For Improvement
- the pace could have been tightened at some places, for example I'd suggest starting episode 1 at 3:15
- an abrupt transition from night partying scene to both of them shirtless
- that peck needed to be a little longer
- not a fan of the ending though it's about what I expected
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pandemic era enemies to lovers BL
Overall: I enjoyed it when it first aired on YouTube in 2020 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL87uyU6xM7Lfd2QD0K93fthRzAkA51x2B&si=ititymR4vVArHhXN and I enjoyed it 4 years later when I re-watched it on GagaOOLalahttps://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4270/hello-stranger-2020-e01
What I Liked
- dynamic
- music
- sweet moments
- non cliche female characters
- the friend group (they were maybe a bit harsh at 1 point but I understood their frustration)
- that there were some in person scenes, it wasn't 100% video/phone call/text interactions
Room For Improvement
- comedy sound effects in episode 1 (either went away or I didn't notice them in later episodes)
- that there were 2 female antagonists/the rushed side couple that developed
- (neutral) although Xavier bothered me at times, I thought his reactions were realistic
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an okay follow up to My Biker
Overall: I was a bit disappointed with the plot in the sequel, though I did like the more realistic vibe. About 35 minutes long. Aired on Wayufilm's YouTube channel https://youtu.be/-JNhFEbulXc?si=MfBagI18jMzGWIdbContent Warning: homophobia
What I Liked
- sniff kiss attack
- production value for an indie production company
Room For Improvement
- pacing too slow/dragged at times
- though I appreciated looking at internalized homophobia, I didn't have any confidence that there was enough character growth to lead to a happily ever after
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messy characters (watch suggestions for BL)
Overall: although I think they did a good job telling the story they wanted to tell, that story was not interesting to me with the amount of cheating and terrible decision-making. Note that every 4 episodes the story re-sets from other characters' perspectives (the middle 4 were my favorite episodes and I did like some plot lines in the ending 4). 12 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on Viu.Content Warnings: near rape, sexual assault, minor?/non-minor, pregnancy loss, blood, manipulation, blackmail, addiction, vomiting, gaslighting
Watch Suggestions for BL Scenes
- episode 5, 24:40-25:40 & 32-33:40
- episode 6, 22:15-22:30 & 38:55-41
- episode 7, 28:10-33:05
What I Liked
- a trans character that felt like a real person instead of a stereotype
- diversity in sexual orientation
- I hated the beginning of episode 8 but I did like that they showed a 'freeze' response because most people just think of 'fight' or 'flight'
- showcased complicated emotions around pregnancy and pregnancy loss
- touched on struggles of being trans and also being in a relationship with a trans person
- production value (music, start was in gray scale, ending credits changed)
Room For Improvement
- there were 22 characters and it was impossible to remember who was married to who, exes with who, cheating with who, related to who, etc.
- I had no interest in a whole bunch of characters/their plots
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disappointing special, mostly recap
Overall: I was hoping to see some progression of the relationships, sweetness and spice, but it was mostly recap and insurance product placements (only 17% or 8 minutes was new footage not related to product placements). Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/deep-night-2399g3ygk5o?lang=en_us"Special" Breakdown (47 minutes total)
first 2 minutes was the same scene as the ending scene of episode 8
1.5 minutes of intro credits
1 minute of new footage which looked like it was from the real world/was not scripted
30 seconds of new footage
22 minute recap with Wela doing a voice over (happy Wela clarified something, but didn't like that he basically did a relationship game)
2 minutes of mostly new/extended footage with 1 relationship (this was cute)
6 minutes of insurance ad product placement (new footage, this was okay but wish they hadn't done the product placements back to back)
4 minutes of new footage starting with the mom and then Wela and Khem, some kisses and beginning of something with a very abrupt end to the scene
2 minutes of ending credits
4 minutes of the same aerial silk performance in episode 8 but slightly longer and without cuts to other characters (they could have released this as a special clip separately)
1 minute of more credits
(adds up to 46 minutes but close enough)
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Ossan's Love Returns Spin-off Drama: Haruta to Maki no Shinkon Shoya
1 people found this review helpful
confused by the title but worth a watch
I think when most people hear "wedding night" they think of something steamy. However, this 10 minute special is definitely not steamy (and I'm annoyed that they cut away from the kiss at the end). It shows Maki & Haruta talking about chores, finances, doing a house tour and generally being sweet. It also does not take place after their wedding ceremony but during episode 1 so I would suggest watching it after you've watched episode 1. Aired on GagaOOLala.https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4081/ossans-love-returns-tver-spin-off-2024
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great visuals with an annoying plot
Overall: I love to see established couples and hate this plot which we've already seen many times before. Aired on GagaOOLala and later released on YouTube. Special was 35 minutes long.Content Warnings: manipulation
What I Liked
- visuals
- the scene at the end (but it needed another minute or two)
- although they shared 1 brain cell, the friends were supportive
- message on the cake
Room For Improvement
- everyone is just back to being friends with everyone else
- we've seen similar plots with established couples before
- comedy sound effects
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loved the destination but not the route to get there
Overall: I loved the ending to their story but wish the writers had done something else plotwise. This is one hour, aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/ainhai-episode-1-26ex87suy4w?lang=en_usWatch Suggestion: watch the funny dream sequences at 5 minutes and 21:30 then skip to 29 minutes and watch thru to the end (and watch after the initial credits)
Content Warnings: manipulation
What I Liked
- the two dream sequences were funny
- caring/sweet moments
- good kissing/intimacy
- the supportive dads
Room For Improvement
- such a terrible "plan" from Ai who is supposed to be the one with more brain cells, Ai could have just said, "I have a surprise for you, meet me at this location on this date and time" instead of the first half that we got
- several errors in the subtitles but I didn't deduct points for that
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would like to see more episodes
Overall: this is an indie project and I hope they can continue the story. 3 episodes about 5 minutes each, aired on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@g3210/videosContent Warnings: attempted sexual assault, non con kissing, non/dub con touching, vomiting
What I Liked
- the animations
- intro song
- different takes on tropes
- a few funny parts
Room For Improvement
- it was unclear who was doing the dreaming in the first episode
- established 1 character as straight and the other had a girlfriend
- the random assault while Dick was passed out
- needed more lighting
- subtitles were too small/hard coded
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more realistic series/angsty vibe
Overall: there were aspects I really enjoyed and others not as much. Watch the prologue first https://youtu.be/W333cGTtTf0 Prologue plus 5 episodes about 15 minutes each. Aired on Jupiter Entertainment's YouTube channel. The company said they are going to re-tell the plot but with more time which I'm ambivalent about.Content Warnings: dub/non con kiss, manipulation, slap, non con video taking/sharing, unwanted public outing, bullying
What I Liked
- a more realistic/darker vibe
- clear flashback (though no transition to the present)
- the shipper grandma
- NSFW/kissing done well
- good consent in episode 3 when a character says he's not ready
- production value (especially music, lighting, cinematography)
Room For Improvement
- very cliche female character with basically no repercussions for terrible things done
- I'd rather they had removed the m/f couple instead of using her to tell the story, then the two couples could have more screen time and we don't really get the m/f couple's story
- each story was too rushed, they should have focused on 1, an example is how feelings seem to change instantly but we don't see why
- episode 1 was very much of a set up episode
- it would have made more sense if the grandma was coming into the room and he stuffed the picture in his pocket so she wouldn't see instead of him just putting it in his pocket and forgetting about it
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This review may contain spoilers
par for the course (happy for the better trans rep!)
Overall: I think it's my favorite series overall from Oxin Films. 8 episodes about 15 min each. Aired on Oxin Films YouTube channel.Content Warnings: intimate partner violence off screen, non con recording, blackmail, manhandling, violence/torture, kidnapping, parental abuse, homophobia, slaps
What I Liked
- started with showing instead of telling that she isn't interested in the wedding (asking him to make all the decisions, saying she is busy, (although later there is an exposition dump)
- finally a trans female character who is not a stereotype
- GL representation
- laughed a few times
- honest discussion between Shao and Louise (though they need even more communication), discussion about virginity
- good NSFW scenes (though I wish they left in some of the original sounds instead of covering it all with music)
- supportive moms and siblings/friends
- the lack of a super severe piracy warning (it's not going to stop people who pirate stuff)
Room For Improvement
- there are too many characters for a short runtime, wish they had cut characters/narrowed the plot a bit more, that stuff with the brother and that violence was not needed at all
- the final episode made no sense especially Briggs' action (or lack there of), why couldn't the dad be the source of drama, lack of wrapping up/fully explaining plot lines
- Shao placed such importance on his first time so I was very disappointed with how that happened (and also totally unrealistic to be that coherent after being that drunk which is why I didn't label it as dub or non con)
- the innuendo jokes go on a bit too long/too many of them
- wish they had made Louise slightly more likable sooner
- the brother asking about his sex position was bad
- gender is fluid should not be equated with preferred sex position
- characters just randomly show up at the right time at the right place with zero explanation
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why/when did they fall in love???
Overall: I liked the premise of this indie production but there were too many characters and it fell apart for me. Watched on GagaOOLala.Content Warnings: non con kissing, non con picture taking/blackmail
What I Liked
- the mom and the supportive principal
- support for same sex marriage
- GL rep in episode 4 (though very brief)
- that there were more than a couple of students in a classroom and also more than a couple teachers in the teacher's lounge
- the kisses weren't great but there were more than one
Room For Improvement
- too many characters and as a result the plot/characters were not well developed, I really didn't see why the two leads loved each other so much
- I was bored and did not really care about the characters or their relationship (see previous point about there being too many characters)
- not a fan of the exaggerated acting from Masumi
- just ignore the bonus scene at the end of episode 4, I didn't like them tossing that right at the end (unless they address this in the second season)
- the ending credits were too long (5 minutes out of a 30 minute episode)
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quirky - BL adjacent
Overall: this has a type of exaggerated humor like in Ossan's Love. This isn't my favorite type of humor, but others might enjoy it. Watched on GagaOOLala. Two episodes about 23 minutes each.Content Warnings: head smack
What I Liked
- the dream with the licking a lime off of him
- interested to hear the history of some drinks and recipes
- fyi the nosebleed is referencing anime when a character gets excited and has a nosebleed
Room For Improvement
- that personality tells you a person's sexual position
- I just didn't find the humor that funny
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darker slice of life short series
Overall: I would categorize this as a slice of life/coming of age series rather than a BL, it is definitely worth watching and I hope they make a second season. Aired on YouTube and Facebook.Content Warnings: please look at my comment as some are spoilers
What I Liked
- interesting premise, nice twists
- Tang had a realistic reaction with throwing a sheet over the mirror
- backstory given for why Tang acts how he does
- that it showed a darker side of an aggressive pursuit
- cute moments
Room For Improvement
- wanted more of Neo's backstory
- some timeline confusion but it makes sense by the end
- the subtitles have errors but I didn't take off for this nor the obvious product placement
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bingeable BL series
Overall: this is a small production that uses video calls/tech and is reminiscent of Gameboys in the premise. Watched on YouTube.Content Warnings: manipulation
What I Liked
- the cute moments
- I adored the information that was brought up in the final episode as this is something commonplace that is almost never discussed in series/movies
- closing credits
Room For Improvement
- (similar to Gameboys), I'm not a fan of a really aggressive pursuit of a very reluctant stranger, it comes across as harassment instead of romantic (for me at least)
- the cliche 'agree to anything'
- there was something that I didn't like throughout but if I talk about it then it will be a spoiler, things made sense in the end
- the ending was rather abrupt, I could see them doing a second season
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