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10
1
1
On Hold - Coffee Melody
Overall: the series is very slow and the cliche plot point at the start of ep 7 has made me put this on hold. I'll wait until it finishes airing and maybe pick it up again then. Watched on Viki.Content Warnings: non con picture taking, gaslighting (from music boss)
What I Liked
- I appreciate an aggressive/obvious flirt
- cute moments like with the cake
- the rainbow poster in the background when the band is practicing
- Duean Yi's family
- (neutral) it has comedy sound effects
Room For Improvement
- wasn't hooked in the first scene
- the fangirling thing
- slow, I watched at 2-3x speed
- cliche plot point at the beginning of episode 7
- I didn't mind the cartoon flowers but I didn't like the cartoon music notes from the piano
- choppiness between some scenes
- random characters like those tween wannabe pop stars
- odd yellow/purple lighting in his room
- that jerk music boss
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blended different tones very well - a must watch
Overall: there are very few series that manage to balance humor, romance, realism and sadness well, Love in the Big City is one of them. Based on the book Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park which I didn't read and I reviewed the series on its own merits. 8 episodes about 50 minutes each. Aired on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/40771c-love-in-the-big-cityContent Warnings: (2 major ones, see my spoiler comment and how the romance plays out), harassment, unwanted outing, homophobia, non/dub con turned consensual, conversion torture (off screen), punch
What I Liked
- acting/chemistry
- supportive friends
- blended different tones very well
- sweet moments
- intimacy
- character growth
- production value
Room For Improvement
- exposition dump to introduce his friends
- series covered 10 years, so voice overs were used to show passage of time
- odd that a certain aspect wasn't discussed in episode 5
- episode 8 jumped back and forth between flashbacks and the present
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watch suggestions for the 2 main couples
Overall: beautiful vistas, sweeping musical scores, good kissing with on brand drawbacks (a ton of characters/plot I cared nothing about, intended comedy that didn't work). 13 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on Oxin Films YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcQaxIPsTWdNrlWiw7D9H3Fjc3ycc7S3A&si=DcyQk4UKyhaKD5L0 Oxin also produced: My Day, Rainbow Prince, My Story, Our Story, Tie the NotContent Warnings: death, past death/murder, sexual assault, non con kiss, intimate partner abuse and violence, manhandling, stalking, punches, harassment, non con touching, kidnapping/held against will, homophobia, cyber bullying, drugging, (note: episode 9 part 3 flashing lights)
Watch Suggestions (gets rid of love triangles and evil exes/wannabe boyfriends)
- watch episode 1
- watch episode 2: part 2, part 3, part 4 beginning to 2:20 and 6 to the end
- watch episode 3: part 1 beginning to 10, start part 2 at 2:30 and end at 8:25, part 4 5-end
- watch episode 4: part 1, part 2, part 3 beginning to 3:30, part 4 2:30-7:70, 10:35-11:20
- watch episode 5: part 2 (if you want to cackle about a voice over like nature documentary the whole thing) or 9 to the end, part 3 2:20-4:20, part 4 4:30-5:20
- watch episode 6: part 2 4-4:35, part 3 15s-1:50
- watch episode 7: part 1 beg to 8.45, part 2 6:40 to the end, part 3 9:15-end
- watch episode 8: part 3 beginning to 8.20 & 10:40-12.35, part 4 1:20-3:10
- watch episode 9: part 1 1:45-2:55, 8:15-8:45, part 2 4:55-7:25 & 11:15-end, part 3 5:45-6:10
- watch episode 10: part 1 8:30-end, part 2 beginning to 2:30 and 11:20-end, part 3 5:10-7:50 and 12:20-end, watch all of part 4
- watch episode 11: part 1 6:50 to 7:40, part 2 4:55-6:30, part 4 10-end (singing)
- watch episode 12: part 2 beginning to 1:15
- watch episode 13: part 3 1:45-6:45, part 4 11:40-13:20 and 17:30-end
What I Liked
- visuals
- the setting/vistas
- I cackled a couple of times
- intimate scenes
- supportive dad at the end
- production value improved
Room For Improvement
- many characters introduced in the first episode, cared nothing about the evil ex/wannabe boyfriend characters nor most of the plot
- tone/plot was all over the place (comedy, romance, very violent parts, work drama, family drama), and did not mesh well together
- most humor was a miss (the 3 stooges were not funny at all, innuendos can be fun but the frequency and duration made them veer into cringey territory)
- choppy transition in episode 10
- failed to be innovative at the beginning of ep 11 after a promising ep 10 end
- multiple failed redemption arcs
- lack of consequences for 1 villain (also cartoonist villain)
- a character constantly calling the other guy his girlfriend and wife
- 1 year time jump
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This review may contain spoilers
hidden gem
Overall: this might be my favorite multi-generational family drama. Note that it is not a BL series; however, there is a cute BL couple in this. 10 episodes about 55 minutes each. Aired on Viu with a vpn set to Thailand.Content Warnings: manipulation, manhandling, non con recording/sharing, death
What I Liked
- that the whole family tried to help
- almost 5 generations (great grandmother, grandfather, parents and the uncle, Save, his younger sister/the orphans)
- character growth (I cried a few times)
- sweet/caring moments
- the ending
Room For Improvement
- some aspects were a bit heavy handed
- a couple nonsense things like what happened with the computer
- how the grandfather suddenly gave up in episode 5, based on his past actions
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confusing with some dark and sweet parts
Overall: 10 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GMMTV's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszepnkojZI6XS68TbMnSxkKingYfxiXv&si=f3hz9MktxKrIILB- (not available in Thailand)Content Warning: episode 1 part 1 has a jump scare around 16:30, multiples murders shown, kidnapping, manipulation, near murder, trauma; past (murders, suicide, child abuse, near suicide shown)
What I Liked
- mystery
- sweet moments
- the setting, countryside vistas
Room For Improvement
- confusing start with multiple time jumps/memories
- love rival
- a lot of nonsense things
- the wrong character apologized in episode 10
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wanted different pacing
Overall: I wish something had happened earlier so we had more time in the 'after' part. 8 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala (not in Korea or Japan) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5836/punks-triangle-2025Content Warnings: manipulation, vomiting
Watch Suggestions for 6, 7, 8 to remove angst
- skip episode 6
- episode 7 watch 6:30-8:25 and 10:55-23
- episode 8 watch 14:50-end
What I Liked
- styling
- easy to understand premise
- supportive classmates/instructor
Room For Improvement
- voicing inner thoughts/exposition dump
- nonsense: bit of a Clark Kent situation happened, the piercing scene
- too many flashbacks
- rushed finale
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a little better as it went on (watch suggestions)
Overall: unless you enjoy over the top humor with a ton of comedy sound effects follow my watch suggestions. 8 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on Mandee Channel's YouTube (cut), GagaOOLala (cut), iQIYI (uncut) and Viki (I assume cut). Mandee Channel/Domundi also produced Naughty Babe, Bed Friend, Cutie Pie and Why R U.Watch Suggestion (watch the cut version & play at a faster speed unless noted)
- skip episodes 1, 2 & 3 (though shirtless Mai in ep 3 is nice)
- watch ep 4
- watch ep 5 to 48min/standing on the podium
- watch the uncut version of ep 6 15-18 minutes which includes a brief kiss with the side couple (this scene was totally removed from the cut versions for some bizarre reason)
- watch the uncut version of ep 7, can start at 27 minutes with Gus/Tong or to skip over something sad that happened in the past and start at 37 minutes and end at 43 minutes, then you can watch thru to the end with Mai/Jade or skip to 1hr 4min to see their final scene
- watch the uncut version of ep 8 which has a lot of sweet moments and NSFW scenes with Mai & Jade
Content Warnings: hits played as comedy, vomiting (in uncut ep 2), molestation off screen, past death/grief
What I Liked
- enjoyed some of Uea/King's moments (like in episode 5)
- Mai's flirting (wished they had shown why he liked Jade earlier than ep 5)
- Jade's and Mai's supportive family
- cute moments
- how Jade did have agency in episode 8 and initiated things
- good consent/communication in episode 8
- that it has a wide release on 4 different platforms
Room For Improvement
- the three minutes of cringey animation didn't hook me
- Jade's exaggerated/yelling was irritating especially in the beginning episodes
- cringey editing, voice overs and comedy sound effects that didn't make anything funny
- the side couple was oddly hot and cold (note, apparently the cut version removed several of their scenes which is contributing to their confusing interactions with each other)
- not happy with the Uea/King reluctant/violent dynamic, how King was jealous/retaliatory at Uea in ep 6 for just talking to another guy
- slow pacing/repetitive, in episode 6 as an example Mai had almost a duplicate conversation with his mom
- bad decisions with what they cut, I was happy they cut the vomiting scene in episode 2 but why on earth cut an entire scene including a kiss with the side couple in episode 6??? I normally would expect a cut version to reduce a NSFW scene but there wasn't anything to cut up to episode 7 (and then they did cut the NSFW scenes in ep 7 and 8)
- the NSFW scenes were kind of choppy, one of them oddly stopped and then re-started
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This review may contain spoilers
dropping this
Overall: There are valid reasons why people write/read/watch/enjoy FICTIONAL toxic/abusive relationships which I'm not going to get into. Day constantly abusing Itt along with other things has made me drop this series. FYI, this is based on the third book in a series - I have not read the books and believe that series should be able to be watch/enjoyed without knowing about the source material so that is how I'm reviewing this series. Aired on WeTV. Later re-released on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/39900c-love-syndrome-iiiContent Warnings: fight scene/beaten up, violence, blood, intimate partner violence, manipulation, manhandling (likely more content warnings will happen in future episodes)
What I Liked
- Itt's parents
- their friends
- that ep 1 fight scene was just plain fun
- how a former girlfriend is not a cliche evil character
- skinny black jeans and Day's abs
Room For Improvement
- ep 1 Itt screaming about cake for half the episode, I understand that Day likes Itt to rely on him so it's not like he's a victim in all this but the cake screaming was super annoying
- the production should not expect viewers to have read the previous 2 books and understand the characters/story, what we saw was Itt being annoying in episode 1 and then being constantly abused and crying in the next few episodes, this does not make for enjoyable viewing
- scenes dragged on, they spent way too long in the hospital
- a parade of characters in episode 2 made it difficult to know who was who and what their relationship was to one another
- nonsense things like Itt spending multiple days in a hospital for fainting, why were Day and Itt sleeping on couches at their house???
- end of episode 3 looked good but then the beginning of episode 4 skipped over that cliffhanger
- missing and difficult to understand subtitles
- ballad song for the intro/outro was odd given the tone of the series
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past tutor/student short series
Overall: it was fine. It's a spin off from Winter Fever. Aired on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkQFxcEhORR16XwTyqP2g42b9ae5iahbi&si=yUq5u6-zKBVDBwgeContent Warning: non con kiss
What I Liked
- the actors
- intimacy was done well
Room For Improvement
- I almost put harassment as a content warning
- although the younger guy was in university it was a bit of an ick factor that he fell in love when he was in high school and the non con kiss
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super sweet vertical series
Overall: I enjoyed how it focused on the leads. 30 short episodes available on GagaOOLala app and iQIYI app (iQIYI has 5 interview bts episodes).What I Liked
- focused on the 2 leads
- the taller guy wanted to be a puppy/pet
- sweet/caring moments
Room For Improvement
- guy with glasses had that overacting thing, but it wasn't too bad
- didn't show the head pat after he first asked for it
- wanted another couple episodes of them as a couple
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communication struggles
Overall: I think they should have cut the love rival and focused on the low self esteem aspect. 4 episodes about 8 minutes each. Aired on True Film YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkQFxcEhORR2azTx4-IgLsMz-Sb7rYnx1&si=RaMzJuLSTKzR2rp8Content Warning: non con touching/hugging
If you want to cut out the love rival, watch episode 1 until 4:25, episode 2 6:30-end and episode 4 6-end
What I Liked
- visuals
- good kissing
- established couple
- supportive brother
Room For Improvement
- unrealistic not answering who was on the phone in episode 1
- 2 love rivals (actually it was 1 I think, the voice over referred to his boyfriend and not the brother)
- cliche got drunk and forgot and then saw the beginning of something but didn't talk about it
- a protagonist came across as creepy with lines like "I'll keep you by my side and never let you go" (when the other character was sleeping) and "I'll never let you go, you'll get used to it as time goes on"
- I have zero faith this couple will stay together, the one guy's low self esteem will torpedo their relationship, in my optimistic mind he gets therapy and couples therapy and the relationship works out
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My Stepbrother Is My Favourite Novelist!?
1 people found this review helpful
nicely done short series
Overall: I really enjoyed their different personalities and I gave this an indie rating bump. 4 episodes about 10 minutes each. Aired on Nooto YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmz1FNoG1zYHVHiX7zTnjlixJi5YmDE4RWhat I Liked
- how they were opposites in some ways (like messy vs. tidy)
- sweet moments
- a quirky character still felt in the realm of reality
Room For Improvement
- audible gulps
- the series was so short, I really wanted a bit more relationship development between them
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cute vertical series where they started as friends
Overall: this was a well done vertical series with the friends to boyfriends dynamic. 30 episodes about 2 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI app (title is Beyond Childhood Friends, episodes 1-5 are free); GagaOOLala (title is Beyond Childhood Friends) and episodes 1-10 are on mov Short drama YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIBpX20YnmIgyy14zTJZfe3_whB8ECq4o&si=iCNmZXDDz24NUUyOWhat I Liked
- supportive friend
- I chuckled a few times
- a character was forthright
Room For Improvement
- similar to a 'gay for you' trope
- voiced inner thoughts/forecasting upcoming scenes
- refused to communicate and the other guy could have easily guessed what he was upset about
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This review may contain spoilers
poignant short movie
Overall: this 19 minute movie is more of a slice of life; there is an established m/m couple but that's not where the focus is. I watched it on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6001/colors-of-the-funeral-2022Content Warnings: discrimination, death
What I Liked
- established m/m couple
- character growth
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vertical Thai comedy series
Overall: it grew on me a bit. Aired 52 short episodes on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DVBH08eIAkm/?hl=enand several episodes combined on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBJBKT1SWXkHA3sQH8l9Pq_stiuAKv7Oy&si=DcYGUS3o_Lz4DhI1
Content Warnings: bullying, manipulation, non con kiss, blood (for comedy effect), drugging, kidnapping
What I Liked
- intimacy
- countryside setting
- showed a character buying condoms
- sweet moments
- a character's supportive dad
- non cliche ex
Room For Improvement
- bullying the person he liked
- comedy sound effects didn't make things funny
- didn't make sense why he lied because they didn't establish the other character wouldn't like something beforehand
- why did they like each other?
- a character found out the other one lied but didn't tell him something right away
- multiple idiotic plans
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