BL Compilations

3 short episodes with 2 very explicit scenes

Overall: Flying Penguin (South Korea) seems to be similar to Japanese pink film productions, a thin plot with several very explicit scenes. Originally aired on Likey (I think), later aired on Shortime (each episode is 50 popcorn, see app info below) . 3 episodes about 7 minutes each.

What I Liked
- good kissing
- interesting premise

Room For Improvement
- no chemistry between the leads
- nonsense that a character knew how to do some things but seemed clueless about others

Shortime Information (should be able to watch this series in a day for free)
- watch some free episodes first for 25 minutes to get the watch reward challenge popcorn (if you watch later you might accidentally use the popcorn you've accumulated) = 50 popcorn
- My invite link is https://playground.shortime.app/en/invite/NKNIWI - the code is NKNIWI (those are all capital letters, that's the capital letter i) and it should get you a bonus
- daily check in 5 popcorn (increases over 7 days)
- visit Amazon every hour to get 5 popcorn
- 3 always wins (most are 5 popcorn) = 15
- watch as many ads as you need to get to 150 popcorn

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took a turn in episode 3

Overall: I enjoyed the first 2 episodes (though the end of episode 2 seemed sudden), but things took a turn in episode 3 and the story tried to cover too much ground. 6 episodes about 10 minutes each. Aired on Secret of Us YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7BSona1dmx6MOq-2_V50NJrjuUGS-UjO&si=h06-k6G1Bz0RiX3k

Content Warnings: dub/non con kiss, sexual assault, past deaths mentioned, manipulation

What I Liked
- vistas
- visuals

Room For Improvement
- started with a flash forward and then to the present
- one guy seemed completely non interested and then after the sexual assault in the tent they were suddenly soulmates???
- too many story threads, should not have introduced the mom/terminal illness

Ending Spoiler: they reunite but 1 guy appears to have a terminal illness

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surprising depth for what I assumed was a comedy

Overall: I ended up really enjoying this indie series. Originally aired on YouTube, unfortunately it appears videos are now gone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3To3tqb3kw&list=PLSQPiMoYAX3iVDfDFhi_BI_paXO0T9GFG&index=3&ab_channel=%E5%93%88%E5%88%A9%E7%9A%84%E5%B0%8F%E5%89%A7%E5%9C%BA

Content Warnings: non con video recording/sharing, past death, grief, non con touching

What I Liked
- sweet moments
- supportive friend
- good kissing
- made me laugh a few times
- poignant

Room For Improvement
- a cliche plot point of seeing something but it was resolved quickly
- cliche swimming and got a leg cramp
- continuity errors
- (neutral) comedy sound effects

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unique premise (same actors, different characters/stories)

Overall: this is not a reincarnation/time travel plot as all the stories happen in the present day. Instead, the actors play different characters in standalone plots (episodes 3 and 4 were 1 story, 5 and 6 were 1 story and then 7 and 8 tie everything together in a way). 8 episodes about 55 minutes each. Aired uncut on GagaOOLala (not Japan or South Korea) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4812/every-you-every-me-2024 & WeTV
https://wetv.vip/play/296rso568y0ryfg/m4100yjgyjz?ptag=3_5.16.5.13870_copy ; airing cut version on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvw0WLA6w9UQZrmUoifbNDO9S6yUS9ry7&si=JHVZI3-LAPw_9dev Note: watch after the initial end credits as some episodes have a separate plot

Episode 1 - I was a bit confused with the world building but then it made sense. I enjoyed the sweet moments, the friendship (potentially aromantic character as a bonus) and the intimate partner abuse felt realistic. Not a fan of the comedy sound effects and they could have made it a bit faster pacing-wise. Content warnings: intimate partner abuse/violence, manipulation, manhandling, past death

Episode 2 - typical cold CEO/nervous worker plot. That grandma way overstepped boundaries though her heart was in the right place. Enjoyed the sweet moments. Content Warnings: manipulation

Episodes 3 & 4 - I was going to rate this higher; however, I couldn't get into the moping/angst because they explained it much too late. Not a fan of silent simping for years and making a choice for someone without talking to them first. Liked the second couple and the supportive friends/family/coworkers. Content Warning: a major one but I'm keeping this spoiler free

Episodes 5 & 6 - there were peak visuals in this episode lol, I enjoyed the flirting and physical affection. I really disliked the invasion of privacy and the shoehorned plot with the female character. They spent too much time on the past in this episode as well. Content Warning: past death, manipulation

Episodes 7 & 8 - I'm trying to be spoiler free but I had the most issues with these episodes

Watch Suggestions
- end ep 5 at 45min
- watch ep 6 22-35:30
- skip ep 7
- watch ep 8 31 to the end)

What I Liked: I most enjoyed how the actors were able to play such different characters, the styling was great. The commentary on challenges of shipwork towards the end was also unique and interesting.

Room For Improvement: because I didn't see a key aspect of them as an established couple, it was difficult for me to root for them. The non linear storytelling at the end of episode 6 thru 8 made things needlessly confusing. They didn't actually show what didn't work, so I'm not convinced everything has been resolved and it won't happen again. The time jump felt like a cliche way to resolve the conflict.

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still a favorite

Overall: I originally watched this in 2020. Re-watched in 2024, I saw the areas of improvement but the two m/m couples stayed as two of my all time favorites. On YouTube as twenty 22 min episodes and Viki as ten 45 minute episodes.
Note: Shao Fei's piece of hair was sticking up on purpose, I think they called it Fifi lol

Content Warnings: past murders, attempted murder, grief, manipulation, violence, blood, torture, held against will, suicide (off screen), drugging, beginning sexual assault, non con touching, manhandling, past child abuse

What I Liked
- dynamic of enemies to lovers/opposites attract
- Shao Fei & Li An's friendship
- Shao Fei wasn't completely inept, did have some fight and detective skills
- sweet moments
- a few funny moments (though some were too cringey)
- good intimacy
- second m/m couple (but not Jack saying Li An had to take responsibility for (unknowingly) attracting him)
- OST

Room For Improvement
- episode 1 was weird when the sister wore his shirt and acted flirty
- the het side couple didn't hook me, wish they had spent that screen time on the second m/m couple
- confused/zoned out with all the mafia intricacies/plot 
- some camerawork had a low budget feel
- comedy sound effects
- unrealistic parts, i.e. the 2 coworkers handed Li An off to a known criminal
- some truly heinous suits
- wish something hadn't happened towards the end when they visited the grave, didn't deduct points

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excellent chemistry/tension

Overall: the leads really brought it in this university series. 6 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/dy0tqsfvpl73f7f-No.1%20For%20You Also a special edition that has a few extra seconds for paid subscribers (did not see the difference in episode 1) https://wetv.vip/en/play/7isd6uuw6sdr6v0-No.1-For-You-Special-Edition/i0039ifao8c-EP1-No.1-For-You-Special-Edition 

Content Warnings: non con video recording, manipulation/blackmail, non con touching/kiss, homophobia

What I Liked
- sweet moments
- funny moments
- intimacy/chemistry
- that bridge scene was amazing
- supportive friends, the sassy cousin and the mom
- a non cliche female character
- attention to props (rainbow books in the library, the skeleton that changes positions)
- character styling
- music (the actor YU who played Zhou Shu Yi sang the OST "Blue Lover"; the bartender in episode 6 was Alex Chou who was a lead in My Tooth Your Love and also sang "Hard To Let Go" in We Best Love)

Room For Improvement
- stupid plan/approach
- tried to cram too many relationships/plot into a short runtime
- started with a voice over and flash forward
- nonsense cliche in the pool
- ep 4 manipulation and the non con
- gay for you trope
- lack of communication/happened to overhear something

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separate short stories with sci fi elements

Episode 1
Overall: although I enjoyed the premise, it could have used a few changes in its execution. Watched on Imagine Thailand's YouTube channel https://youtu.be/EJR6eFGFOpc?si=Kavwt6G82dBMeO7_ They also made Romantic Station which I enjoyed.

Content Warnings: punches played as comedy/it's complicated

What I Liked
- premise
- production value for an indie production

Room For Improvement
- the comedy sound effects
- camera cut away right at the end


Episode 2 Swop
I liked the sci-fi element, wish they had taken out the non con kisses and replaced it with actually spending time together instead of doing a flashback montage. Glad a character thought about the ethics of it, not sure that I'm totally sold on the ending. Content Warnings: past death, non con kisses, non con touching

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slice of life with some angst

Overall: I thought it was a fairly well done slice of life short indie series but it could have used some improvements. Two parts, 27 minutes total. Aired on Mind Trio's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHWvrNIJL6cWsd5_gigdAGHlGQAC4UYCU

Content Warning: punch

What I Liked
- a realistic confession and running away
- a few cute moments
- production value

Room For Improvement
- voice over exposition dumps
- flashbacks in such a short series
- at first I was confused that there were 3 characters, having a scene with all 3 of them would have been helpful before they had separate scenes
- timeline/how much time passed was confusing, also that extra scene at the end of the 2nd part, was that a flashback or did it take place after the series events?, because it doesn't seem like a lot of time passing and Time seems very fickle with his love
- the punch was not needed
- wish they had just focused it on 2 characters

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some truly amazing parts, worth a watch

Overall: though it followed some sequel plot cliches, there were some amazing parts in this series. This is a sequel to The Boy Foretold By The Stars which can be rented/purchased on Amazon or watched on YouTube with Dekko trial/subscription. 6 episodes about 25 minutes each originally aired on iWantTFC subscription, in 2023 put free to watch on iWantTFCs YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwPOcpjobYWXtv_qxOPMjz8rqD-CZJiaA

Content Warnings: homophobia and two more that I'll put in a spoiler comment

What I Liked
- sweet moments
- Luke's mom and Dominic's dad
- the scene in episode 6 part 3 between Dominic and his dad is a masterpiece
- awesome truths like "it's better to lose people than lose yourself"
- Dominic's friends and Luke not willing to put up with his crappy friend
- at least the love rival/ex weren't cliche
- music

Room For Improvement
- had several often used second season drama plot points and I wish they had been a bit more out of the box
- seemed unrealistic at the end of episode 4 that they showed so many people doing that, one or two would have been more realistic
- the fortune teller character
- it was totally inappropriate for the coach to ask Luke that question in episode 3 but the coach does redeem himself somewhat later on

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Overall: this is a 22 minute short available on Mind Trio's YouTube channel (they did On Cloud Nine and Calculating Love)

Content Warnings: teasing/bullying?, gaslighting

What I Liked
- the actors did a decent job
- a few cute moments

Room For Improvement
- the plot was confusing, they started with a flash forward/flashback and then I wasn't sure what their relationships were to each other (long-time friends, acquaintances, classmates, etc)
- not a fan of the central premise and then how it's an open ending
- maybe I missed something but the reactions didn't make sense, the one guy smiled but he didn't return his feelings, why did he smile and then complain later about the teasing if he enjoyed it???
- the two tropes in the very beginning should have been reversed which would have been more realistic
- the character gaslighting and saying he doesn't have those feelings

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Overall: there were some good plot points in this, but they were obscured by several things. Watched on GagaOOLala.

Content Warnings: death off screen, dub/non con sex (leaning towards non con based on how she addresses him towards the end), fight/slap, past suicide attempt, alcoholism, mental health struggles, defamation?, manipulation

What I Liked
- this does address several realistic issues/struggles that were relevant when this movie was made and are still relevant today (including judgy doctors/people about a woman's past reproductive choices)

Room For Improvement
- it felt that Asako was having a midlife crisis which is a terrible reason to have a child. I didn't like that she didn't just have a one night stand or use a sperm bank. She does explain/show that she wants the feeling of family which she wouldn't get if she did the other options (but this makes me see her character as selfish, not someone I want to route for). I think they could have altered Asako and the plot a bit where I would be happy with their decision (so if the guys had wanted it to start with)
- that part before the final scene came out of nowhere and was so bizarre, I don't understand the reason for it, to show that you should appreciate every moment?
- unlikable characters (and too many), they could have easily cut out some characters especially that female co-worker, it added nothing to the story
- too long, it dragged and cutting out some side characters would have helped move things along

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now I want to re-watch the series!

Overall: the behind the scenes was cute, funny and informative - it makes me want to go and re-watch the entire series. I really hope the two leads can be leads again in another BL, they are really supportive of one another which is great to see. (and I'm still holding out hope for a MODC 2, I'll take any ridiculous soap opera plot device)

Content Warnings: none

What I Liked
- how many takes they did for kissing scenes, lol!
- gave some additional information about scenes
- got to see actors joking with one another
- make sure to watch to the very very end

Room For Improvement
- it might have gotten more views/made more interest in the series if they had broken them up and showed them on YouTube after each episode aired

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super adorable

Overall: this is a micro series/long ad from a perfume company about a college freshmen and a senior. Watched on YouTube.

Content Warnings: none

What I Liked
- a lead used his brain to figure something out (even though perhaps a bit unrealistic, but I didn't care)
- the ending was really cute
- good production value*
- nice music

Room For Improvement
- they should have cut the female character out and used that screen time with the two leads
- *the blur filter was too heavy and the subs were very difficult to read with the white font and no outline or background

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