First Impression: Wandee Goodday

Overall: looks to be a spicier romcom and I'm here for it. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Airing on GMMTV's YouTube channel.

What I Liked
- intro got my attention, though not a fan of flash forwards/backs in general to start a series
- did laugh a few times
- asexual representation
- established couple (hope they have more screen time)
- Wandee isn't a total pushover

Room For Improvement
- the slapstick comedy sound effects detracted from the humor a few times
- the very fictional so drunk a person is passed out and then a few minutes later appears not drunk at all
- friend leaving him extremely drunk, he should have said he had a hospital emergency and called a taxi which Wandee then didn't get into

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First Impression: Inverse Identity

Overall: I'm giving this the benefit of the doubt as the first episode was only one and a half minutes long. 9 short episodes total. First 3 will be on YouTube, the rest will be paid? on their PPeach app and might be released later on YouTube. PPeach YouTube playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8QwMuXkPNuYrJwq3_Gh6rw4HxMkGaIZy&si=OQx5ByyeKA5DG8D9

Content Warnings: kidnapping/held against will, violence

What I Liked
- clear premise
- production value for what I assume is a very indie production

Room For Improvement
- the episodes are extremely short, would have preferred a 15 minute short movie
- their other "BL" short series were very light on romance which I understand as they are dealing with censorship but they could have more hints/longing looks, etc.

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fashion industry romance with a side m/m couple

Overall: I enjoyed the fashion industry setting, but it became very soap opera like in parts and dragged at times. 10 episodes broken into 2 parts for 50 minutes per episode total. Aired on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/honrgjq1uhtv8gn-Intern%20In%20My%20Heart

Information for the age gap: first met when he was 8 and she was 21ish, in the present he is 20 and she is 33, based on how this played out I didn't include it as a content warning
Content Warnings: near suicide, non con touching, bullying, non con picture taking/sharing

BL Relevant Scenes
1a 9:45-11
2b 17:15-end
3a 5:15-6 & 19:30-21
4a 14-16:30
4b 6:30-7:40 & 14:10-15
5a 12:30-14:15 & 18-20
5b beginning-2:15 & 13-18:10
6a 5-6:10, 8:40-10 & 18-19:30
6b 8:50-10:30, & 12:10-13:40
8a 21:30-23 & 32-end
8b beginning to 3 & 8-13:30
9a beginning-6:30, 8:20-12, 20:30-23:30, 26-end
9b 21-26
10b 18-18:40 & 20-21

What I Liked
- sweet moments
- friendships (though he shouldn't have touched the guy when the guy didn't want him to)
- character growth

Room For Improvement
- exposition dump
- comedy sound effects
- cliche see something and don't clarify what it is
- stupid decisions/unrealistic actions

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shorter movie that focuses on bullying and discrimnation

Overall: although it's very low budget, I gave them points for trying to address serious real world problems in about 43 minutes. Aired on YouTube https://youtu.be/p3vl7la7-oA?si=OVtJfstzAUw1aF55

Content Warnings: near suicide, sexual assault, bullying including physical bullying, cyberbullying, non con picture taking/sharing, unwanted public outing, held against will, manipulation, violence/punch, homophobia

What I Liked
- the scene of them eating ice cream
- addressing issues like homophobia, marriage inequality, bullying
- friend called out the teacher and the bullies
- supportive parents

Room For Improvement
- they shouldn't have had the friend do that if they wanted the viewer to want two characters together
- bleeping the Thai swear words was distracting, they likely would have been fine with not bleeping them on YouTube
- not translating text messages
- subtitles, though I didn't really take off points for this because at least they added something
- an open ending with the m/m romance aspect

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First Impression: My Stand-In

Overall: the first episode was interesting if a bit choppy. Very similar aesthetics to KinnPorsche which makes sense because it shares a director and screenwriter. It was adapted from the novel "Professional Body Double" by Shui Qiang Cheng which I haven't read and I'll base the series on its own merits. 12 episodes about an hour each. Airing uncut on iQIYI. First episode link: https://www.iq.com/play/my-stand-in-uncut-episode-1-1iwuiu9rlww?lang=en_us The production company also produced I Feel You Linger In The Air.

Content Warnings: a major one that is complicated but I'm keeping this spoiler free

What I Liked
- the premise
- showed a condom and discussed sexual position preferences
- production value (some really nice camera shots)

Room For Improvement
- a voice over with exposition dumps
- felt choppy at times, a lot of time jumps though they were clear
- some of the music didn't seem to fit the tone
- wish a character hadn't been shown as extremely drunk at the end of episode 1

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First Impression: Blue Boys

Overall: was impressed by this indie production's first 8 minute episode. Airing on SUKFILM YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYfaogVGCvwTczUW4K1YELu_cWQfUQ21a&si=XHU_5KTTd0CELjmS

What I Liked
- tension/chemistry
- indirect way at first to say he didn't have money, used context clues instead of exposition dumps
- the production increased episode count from 2 to 4 based on positive feedback about the series

Room For Improvement
- a text message wasn't translated
- didn't love that they were doing something before what happened at the end
- $10USD seems a bit high for 1 month of channel membership (so far to see 1 uncut scene that is 2 and half minutes long)
- this is obviously an indie production, but I think they could have collaborated with a coffee shop to get a free location in exchange for naming them as a sponsor/publicity

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not what I expected

Overall: this was portrayed as a cross between "I Became the Main Role in a BL Drama" and "My Personal Weatherman." However, it's more like "Living With Him" which I enjoy, but I'm missing the fast paced steamy relationship I thought the leads would have. 10 episodes about 25 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4205/at-2500-in-akasaka-2024-e01

What I Liked
- premise set up well
- that Shirasaki is forthright at times

Room For Improvement
- voice over for plot set up
- slow pacing
- don't see why 1 character is extremely attracted to the other character

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heartwarming slice of life/romance series

Overall: this might be one of my favorite friends/roommates turned into romantic partner stories so far. 8 episodes about 25 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4215/living-with-him-2024-e01

What I Liked
- caring/sweet moments
- that they have past history but have things to learn about each other due to their time apart
- clear flashbacks and enjoyed seeing them when they were young
- ex girlfriend isn't a cliche
- a character is a bit naive but he does figure things out and communicates
- supportive family members, dynamics felt realistic
- production value

Room For Improvement
- not a fan of starting a series with a voice over exposition dump
- episode 2 had a too long recap of episode 1 at the beginning

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when hurt people hurt and love each other (we need a season 2)

Overall: an angsty series with good tension, but a few too many unanswered questions for my taste. 5 episodes about 20 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI, first episode link https://www.iq.com/play/gray-shelter-episode-1-1yzhwhotbkc?lang=en_us

Note: see a comment with spoiler for my thoughts on the ending

Content Warnings: parental abuse

Timeline Notes (the flashbacks weren't very clear)
- episode 1 starts in the present and then at 6:05 the rest is flash back
- episode 2 starts in flashback, goes to present at 10:30, flash back 19:25-20 and then returns to the present (the package is from his bio dad at the beginning, not step dad)

What I Liked
- a more serious vibe
- tension
- good for the girlfriend for not putting up with that
- acting
- production value

Room For Improvement
- there were 2 main issues that were alluded to but never directly explained that I wanted the answers
- that friend was a huge a**hole for ratting him out to his dad, can't believe the main character apologized to him
- could have shown things a bit more directly, I thought that beep was his phone going off, didn't realize someone was leaving the apartment which gave important context and showed 1 character was slightly less of a jerk than I thought he was
- they needed to make the flashbacks/present differ more, it made things needlessly confusing in the beginning
- pacing was slow at times and then the end felt rushed/incomplete

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excellent chemistry

Overall: I'm enjoying the mystery element, but my final score will hinge on how well they explain things in the final two episodes. 6 episodes about 35 minutes each. Airing on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/x9f8tbtrynespbk-Memory%20in%20the%20letter%20(Uncut%20Ver.)/x0048wdyxbh-EP1%3A%20Memory%20in%20the%20letter%20(Uncut%20Ver.)

Content Warnings: punch/parental abuse, stalking

What I Liked
- unique premise
- mystery aspect
- sweet moments
- chemistry

Room For Improvement
- though I'm normally not a fan of montages to show time passing, I think they needed one because it seemed a bit rushed for what happened at the end of episode 1 to happen
- love rival
- Christmas music
- the dad's redemption arc was poorly done

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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
- starting with a flash forward/montage for the episodes
- cliche leg cramp scenario
- multiple stupid "plans"
- needed more screen time with the 2nd m/m couple

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