an ambitious diamond in the rough, once you know what you're in for

Playboyy, I think, is something quite special. Before I get into a review though, I want to clarify what Playboyy *isn't* because I feel this show is getting a bad rap from viewers who came in with false expectations and were disappointed by the reality:

This show isn't really "BL" in the traditional sense. While there is romance, it is not the focus of the show. The romantic relationships frequently take a backseat to the the personal development of characters and the relationships between friends. It is also nowhere near "an idealistic world free of homophobia" (or, as in more modern BL, a world where gay love triumphs over societal homophobia)--it is a very real and harsh world where the characters are hitting rock bottom. Finally, a lot of the NC scenes aren't *trying* to be sexy or titillating. They function as pieces of the plot and often depicting negative experiences.

I think going into the show with these expectations in mind makes it a better experience. But on with the review:

-The Full Review-

STORY:
I, personally, really loved the story of Playboyy. As someone who has experienced losing friends badly to drug addition, I found Nont's story particularly raw and effective (and, honestly, quite triggering). I thought the decision to use an ensemble cast and a weaving narrative was especially effective in creating a real sense of this disadvantaged and isolated community caused by societal prejudices. It was very satisfying to watch these narratives bump into each other, often in completely accidentally and tragic ways.
While I agree some of the story was over the top or hard to follow, I didn't find it particularly detracted from the quality of the show. I like getting a little exaggerated in my narratives and I think it fit with the highly stylized production. While it wasn't a water-tight plot, I think it was probably the strongest script in the past year in terms of really exploring the depths of the characters and their conflicts. None of the characters felt like extras or like they were leaning on tropes. Each individual had their own story to tell and had their moment to shine.

ACTING:
The acting in Playboyy is a bit hit and miss. As a stand-out star, Dech is absolutely untouchable. Nant/Nont are a monster of a roll that swings between camp, performative highs and truly raw, exposed lows, and he brought me along with him every step of the way. Really, really impressive work. Shell was a wonderful partner for him, matching him in almost every scene and developing a unique and intriguing chemistry. I also greatly enjoyed any scene with Parm and/or Aun, which always felt very grounded and warm, and was continually impressed by Korn, who managed to maintain a necessary friction between Zouey and the rest of the cast.
Beyond these actors, the performance were a little bit shakier. Some of the actors struggled with stilted line deliveries (and I don't mean the English, which I've never had a problem with) or unnatural body language. I was never quite sold on Jack/Chat or Jeffy/Fay as couples, though each actor shined in other areas (such as Chat and Korn's wonderful friendship). In particular, and unfortunately, I found Hymn took a stylized drama and crashed it into melodrama more often than he stuck the landing. That said, I still found this ensemble created a style that played to their strengths well and rarely rendered a scene ridiculous.

PRODUCTION:
Production is where this show really, really shines. The lighting is absolutely gorgeous, full of intentional color, harsh shapes, and neon texts. Each arc and couple has their own world and visual language that helps sort out the massive cast and is, quite frankly, beautiful. The highly stylized, theatrical sensibilities also help highlight the moments when humanity comes crashing in and we left very broken characters in plain framing. It's really, really beautiful to watch.
I know I'm in the minority here, but I love the costuming of this show. I think the underwear was a phenomenal way to juggle the desire for nakedness with the reality of film-making and the comfort of the actors. If you allow it to, the underwear becomes part of the style and lets the characters exist, naked and vulnerable, without becoming exploitative. I also loved the way fashion (especially Nont's) brought it's own sense of drama and feeling to the characters. Realism clearly wasn't the goal here, and this department delivered.

INTIMACY:
Finally, because it has to be talked about, I think the way the NC scenes were stylized were nothing less than brilliant. Playboyy telling a story about the human condition through sex, it is not making porn. When the characters are feeling good and feeling pleasure, the audience is allowed to find the sex scenes hot. But more frequently, the scenes depict a vast variety of other emotions. When Zouey is feeling awkward, nervous, and uncomfortable, the scenes are made awkward with clumsy blocking and...eccentric soundtracks. When characters are being hurt, the scenes are painful and brutal and shocking--escalating quickly and making you wish it would slow down or resolve to something different. It's incredibly effective.
I've been very disappointed at the way BL fans discuss sex in this show, as if the only purpose of an NC scene is to provide spicy fanservice for the viewer to get off on. The old Oscar Wilde "Everything in the world is about sex. Except sex, which is about power." definitely holds true here. For these characters, sex that is about their own pleasure is rare and the show mirrors that reality. But that doesn't make the scenes bad or "accidentally" ridiculous. It is an intentional part of the story and, in most cases, very effectively done.

In all, this isn't a show that I would widely recommend to everyone, largely on account of the seriousness of the subject matter. But I am infinitely grateful that this show exists and is pushing the boundaries of what stories are acceptable to tell in BL. I've genuinely enjoyed my time in this world, and I very much look forward to the to be continued. :)

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an interesting project that got lost in the woods

Oh boy, what to even say. When I started watching Dead Friend Forever, I was having such a wonderful time. A fun, if not particularly original, concept, a familiar cast (for those who watched The Hidden Character), and the promise of lots of bloody, vengeful violence promised a great time. I had a whole murder board of clues going and did weekly recaps with my friends. For a while, this was one of the best titles on a line up of five or six actively airing shows! And then.... it really went wrong. DFF feels like a major case of "bit off more than they could chew" from every department.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
While there were a few high points, the story for Dead Friend Forever was incredibly uneven. Some characters, like Non and Tee got beautiful and moving individual story arcs that really explored the depths of their guilt, anger, and pain. Some characters, like White, Fluke, and Top barely manage to scrape their way out of the second dimension. The writers never quite managed a competent ensemble, and most characters had little to no connection to each other despite being friends for years through extremely traumatic events.
On a grander scale, the plot was... even worse. The authors had a horrific over-reliance on flashbacks. The worst example being a detailed flashback after a "Previous Episode" segment that contained most of the same clips, forcing the audience to watch them Twice in a Row. I hate this device because it creates one certain history (as opposed to allowing characters to lie/misremember) and denies the audience the more interesting scene of getting to watch the characters argue it out and react to the various betrayals and shocks.
Finally, I won't spoil the details of the ending, but a single prop/plot washed out so many of the intriguing clues and mysteries with a singular (and pretty stupid) answer. I used to look forward to rewatching this series to see the little pieces and exchanges I missed, but it slowly became clear that... that wasn't really going to be a concern anymore. Most of those "clues" are just red herrings for the audience to chew on while they wait for the grand reveal.

ACTING:
Let's start with the good! Barcode is a phenomenal talent, as always. Non proved to be a monster of a demanding, tragic role, and Barcode handed him very ably despite his youth and relative inexperience. While some of the "horror" scenes got a little repetitive (mostly due to the authors), all of the most emotional and raw scenes were really beautiful. He's a joy to watch. JJay and Ta were powerful acting partners for him, rising to create some truly genuine interactions that carried the heart of the story. Fuaiz and Bump continue to improve as well.
The rest of the time.... Yikes. Despite an over-reliance on flashback (as opposed to watch two characters have a difficult conversation), the acting still managed to be largely melodramatic with a lot monotone shouting and unnatural flailing. In some of its worst moments, it was difficult to tell (even broadly) what emotion a character was supposed to be portraying. I never did decide if some of these relationships were genuine? Friends with benefits? Revenge? It was that unclear (in the acting). I think that the stakes in this show were simply too high and too distant for a largely rookie cast to grasp effectively.

PRODUCTION:
For the most part, Dead Friend Forever provides its usual level of quality expected by a Be On Cloud production. Lighting, set dressing, costumes, and props all look great (with a few minor continuity errors that we mostly found because we were looking so hard for clues!)! It was a joy to pick out little details around the set that enhanced the story and provided clues. I don't have an issue with the quality of the show here. That said, editing could have used some work. I know this genre deliberately obscures, but time and distance became so unclear that it genuinely began affecting my understanding of the story.

INTIMACY:
:/ I was not a fan of the way intimacy was handled in this show. Most of the NC scenes did not connect smoothly with the plot (Why did we need a Tee/White sex scene?) or the choices being made for specific characters outside of their NC scenes (Phee is... different in the sheets, I guess?). I don't think this story was the appropriate place for "sex for sex's sake" intimacy, as it was NOT a romance, and I don't know that they adequately justified (most of) the NC scenes they did choose to include. I would have liked to see more thought and work go into connecting these moments to characters involved and the relevant plot.

In all, I have actively withdrawn my recommendation of this title to most of my friends. I will definitely not be so hasty to recommend an unfinished show from this team again.

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simple, refined storytelling

I picked this one up on a whim, based on a couple of gifsets that caught my eye, and I really enjoyed it! This story a slow, thoughtful character piece that works with a very simple (though not unimportant) central conflict. The characters were charming and funny, with plenty of good chemistry to propel the story. The story-line was decently constructed and well suited to its short runtime, despite some moments that were a little more awkward than they needed to be. Like most JBL, the production design was nothing flashy, but competent and correct for the story. I enjoyed watching this story circle and am leaving with a great fondness for these characters.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
What I really liked about this story is how pared down the conflict was. One simple decision representative of their characters respective weaknesses, followed by years of silence and a chance to start again. The crafting of the story around this question was masterful, and the staging of the ending really satisfied this arc.
What didn't work so well was the actual construction of these pieces. The pacing was occasionally odd and the story didn't quiet nail achieving a consistent tone throughout. I was somewhat of a let down to see the characters lose some of their humor in the end, and it cause the show to feel more disappointing than it actually was.

ACTING:
I loved these actors. I have nothing but praise for them. The subtlety to Robin's performance that was beautiful, and I truly enjoyed watching him have quiet, sad conversations with because so much was going on underneath. I also thought that he and his younger counterpart built a very believable character arc of growth together.
In contrast, Makoto brought an energy and movement to the story without going over the top or looking absurd next to Robin's subtlety. You could feel his youth, even in adulthood, in his restlessness and lack of confidence. The two styles played very well with each other and revealed the joy in the relationship, even as they were very rarely happy on screen.

PRODUCTION:
The production value of this show was solid, but I think they could have been a bit more creative, even without losing the realism. It often felt like we'd missed opportunities to tell more of a story or reveal characters by maintaining such simple design choices. Despite this, it worked. It told the story effectively and never detracted or caused confusion. I just wish they'd done... more.

INTIMACY:
I liked the intimacy in this show. I think it suited the characters and was used sparingly and when required by the plot to good effect. I also really enjoyed the threat of intimacy with other characters. Characters who know Takashi as an adult better than Akihiro are threatening to him, whether or not that intimacy was sexual. The series handled that distance and struggle well, allowing it to be mature and multifaceted (and not just about sex). I really enjoyed it.

In all, I would easily recommend this show, though I think some people looking for a more dramatic title may find it's simplicity underwhelming.

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a unique living room drama with a lot of heart

I went into this show confused, as in I had gotten the false impression that this was a show about a man struggling with depression. And while it's not Not that... it turns out this is not the show that the tumblr gifsets showed me. I was really happy with what this show was though! Circular, slow, and domestic, what I truly loved about this show was how unique and unchanging the characters were. Very little changes about their situation throughout the show, but their understanding and point of view is completely different. Each episode is compelling and complete, despite it's bite-sized run time. It's simple, but it works really well.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
I love this story. The characters are so unique and their problems are unique to them. Several times throughout the course of the series there's the set up for an event that 99% of the world would fine completely mundane (like working with a friend a coffee shop), that the audience knows is going to be a disaster because of these two people's personalities. It's not just very fun, it's great character work. Everything feels hand-tailored to this story and this story alone.
I also truly love how understated the story, and particularly the ending of the story, is. The story fits the characters created by it and the amount of growth they've gone through in the series. It never takes the Romantic, quick fix when it's clear the characters are not ready to admit their true feelings. It's frustrating, but in a satisfying way that gives the conflict depth and truth. And it allows the ending scene to shine so brightly despite it's simplicity.

ACTING:
For the most part, I was really impressed by the acting in this series! It's pretty hard to successfully pull off characters who are so closed off and keep things so close to their chest. Both actors did a wonderful job of letting that armor crack occasionally, and showing what was brewing underneath. They built a very natural, despite the unusual circumstances, chemistry with each other that drove the entire story.
I also really appreciated the humor and energy that Manju added to the story. No part of the story really drags, but her energy and light really carries the show through the sadder and more emotional moments without becoming mired in the sadness. She played well with both leads, revealing sides of their personality that the other had never seen before.

PRODUCTION:
This was a really simple show, but all the elements of production worked together quite nicely. I think the real star of the show here is the lighting, which effortless transforms a basic apartment from something simple, to some stifling and cold, to some warm and homey over and over again as the leads clash and come to understandings. The costume design was also excellent, playing a huge role in softening Segasaki, especially in his younger years.

INTIMACY:
While the NC scenes were well done and used purposefully, I loved how what really shined in this show was the casual intimacy they clearly lacked in the beginning of the show. The most vulnerable and intimate scenes--the bath scene, Yoh getting drunk and clingy, early morning cuddling before they were both really awake--were both rare and startling in their softness.
I also really loved how many different types of intimacy were portrayed in such a short run time, with very little judgement on any of them. Particularly, the note about sex and misery (despair? can't remember the exact wording?) going hand-in-hand was a breath of fresh air. Each scene of intimacy felt specific, purposeful, and tailored to these specific characters. Very well done.

In all, I had a great time with this series and highly recommend it! They did so much justice to this premise and this script, and clearly put a huge amount of care into the series.

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a surprisingly satisfying title

It's not a secret that I am not a big fan of GMMTV or Aof. Unlike many fans, I tend to find their writing a clumsy sort of saccharine, with a real tendency to explore serious/complex themes in ways that come off quite offensive and simplistic. I had mostly expected, like A Boss and a Babe, to have this show be a pretty mediocre show I pushed through for the enjoyment of watching actors I enjoy. I was pleasantly surprised to have been sucked into this world almost immediately and treated to one of the strongest, neatest scripts I've seen in a while. A Tale of a Thousand Stars manages to be a rare gem that pulls off everything it was hoping to accomplish in spades.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
I didn't really have any expectation of liking this show, so I didn't know much more than "organ transplant romance" and "Mix Sahaphap" going in. When I realized this was an organ-transplant-*voluntourism* plot, I was immediately nervous that the show would fall into a lot of irritating tropes like glorifying the traveling volunteer, insulting the local communities, or ignoring the harm these patchwork solutions do to the communities they serve. Thankfully, this show (for the most part) managed a very nuanced look at the industry.
Between the way that Tian doesn't really have any expectation of the career beyond finishing what Torfun started, the careful focus on the members of the community as complete people, and the quick and complete way that Tian's clumsier efforts to "help" are refuted, 1000 Stars largely manages to avoid the major pitfalls of this type of story. While some points may continue to be a little overly idealistic, I find it to be a nuanced and interesting exploration.
Aside from the community aspects, which do (to my joy) take a large portion of the screen time, I loved this romance dearly. Nothing is quite as good as a slowburn that is powered by character psychology and genuine conflict (over misunderstandings from plot-mandated lack of communication). Watching these two characters learn to understand each other and trust their forming relationship is truly beautiful. I especially appreciate these characters awareness of the others feelings, even long before they begin discussing it. It's a very mature relationship.

ACTING:
I absolutely adore both Earth Pirapat and Mix Sahaphap--I only started this show because I was so impressed with their work in Moonlight Chicken. Both of these actors bring an absolutely natural and beautiful vulnerability to their characters with a compelling chemistry. The way the two of them create connection in silence, communicating only with their eyes, is really quite remarkable. I am definitely going to be working my way through everything they've ever done.
Aside from the leads, I absolutely have to commend the child actors. It's a heavy script and there is a lot of focus on the children and their emotions. These kids carried out their parts beautifully, becoming a truly individual personalities and recognizable group of kids rather than a monolith of "the class." I really believed in their school community and the bonds they shared with each other and Tian. It is not an easy task, and the whole production should be proud.

PRODUCTION:
A necessary simplicity, given the setting, but the quality of the production was truly top notch. I have to especially commend the costumes team for the visual journey of Tian becoming part of this community. Some stand out selections include: Tian's traditional shirt when he goes into Chiang Mai, Phupha's button up date shirt, Torfun's scarves, and Everyone's wedding outfits. Just really excellent choices.
I also appreciated lighting design of this series. A lot of the night scenes got very dark, but for once I think it enhanced the series rather than inspired comparisons to Lord of the Rings and "when you could actually see what's happening on screen." The dark and stillness of this community became a very present aspect of the series. I loved the scenes when you could only catch glimpses of the actors expressions (and they always ensured you could see the action when necessary).

In all, this title has shot right to the top of my list. It's a perfect choice when you are looking for something slow, romantic, and healing. It's a really beautiful story.

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very cute, but little else

I watched this title with my friend who loves ForceBook (after Only Friends). It's very sweet! The characters are quirky/fun and the plot is cartoonish. While it could be slow, it wasn't ever so bad that I was bored or wanted to drop it. We wanted to watch Force be hot and silly on our TV screens, and that was certainly accomplished. As a pick-me-up or feel-good show, it definitely has it's place.

That said, the story wasn't particularly original or well done. Particularly, a lot of the plot with Tian and Thoop was either haphazard, rushed, or a rather inappropriate tone to the rest of the story. It takes a sweet, unoriginal romcom and makes it just clunky and long enough to sink the rewatch value. I had fun!... but I won't be picking this up again.

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must a show be good? is it not enough to get silly with it?

To be totally honest, I watched Ai Long Nhai with a 102+ COVID fever and I think it rewired my brain chemistry. So while My Dear Gangster Oppa is certainly not a masterpiece of a show, I had a really fun time watching. It's silly, goofy, campy, and tropey, with not a lot of substance underneath. It probably didn't need to be as long as it was and Certainly should have spent some more budget on the sfx wounds. But it did make me laugh and smile, and I genuinely looked forward to watching each week. It's a pretty big step up from ALN all around, and I look forward to see what these guys work on next.

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Slow, but not without merit

I went into this title completely blind and had a fairly good time! I liked both of the lead actors and found their chemistry compelling enough to get through the whole series. This year, I've really been enjoying bls with average adult leads struggling with more mundane relationship problems (rather than eccentric millionaires or mafia men). Despite a usually goofy and over-the-top tone, it managed to hit some really lovely beats of character growth.

That said, the getting through was a bit of a slog. None of the supporting character plots were particularly interesting to me, and I ended up skipping forward through them towards the end. The show could have used a major edit and probably half the episode length. I don't really care either way if a show has NC scenes, but this show struggled to tie the sex into the character plots. Disjointed, it felt more like fanservice than an actual function of the story.

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and all that jazz...

Honestly, I wasn't planning to watch this one... but I couldn't skip out on supporting my blue haired bias. I'm glad I did though! Compared to A Shoulder to Cry On (by the same company), this series had a much tighter plot, more interesting ensemble cast, and better production quality--particularly some really excellent score, which was vital to this series. While I still have my gripes with some K-BL tropes that get overused and abused here, I was prepared for them going in and didn't find that they significantly detracted from the story. I may have tuned in for Hangyeom, but I'd definitely watch it again on it's own merits.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
In general, I really enjoyed this plot! I spent a lot of time with music majors in my schooling, and some of the ridiculous antics were really nostalgic. I liked the push and pull of the four main characters, and felt that the structure of the story worked well for the run time and pacing. The flashbacks and dream sequences worked well and weren't overused, though sometimes it was confusing if the voice-over was meant to be taken as ongoing dialogue.
What I didn't like, as has driven me away from a huge amount of K-BL, was the rampant homophobia. I understand that homophobia is a real issue faced by many people, especially in conservative countries, but three separate characters doubling down on how disgusting and weird being gay is... is a little much. I would have at least liked to see some of these characters unpack those thoughts a little bit more.

ACTING:
I was quite happy with acting here! I am definitely a fan on Ji Hogeun now--I was very impressed with his performance. I liked most of what Kim Jinkwon brought to the table, though his character ended up being a little bit static for my tastes. As a pair, I thought they were very sweet! I particularly enjoyed their flirting in the classroom as an insight into them as a couple. They established a strong sense of intimacy.
Of course, I came here for Hangyeom, but I'm happy to say his comedy was a delight and really brightened up the story. I also enjoyed the few moments where he was allowed to settle into something more serious. Kim Jungha was an interesting match for him, and I'm not sure I truly cared about where the show took them. But it was competent and complimented the main couple at least. It was definitely not a lack of talent.

PRODUCTION:
To begin, for the most part the production value was very nice. Good compositions, evocative lighting, good costuming choices despite being limited by school uniforms, and excellent set dressing (especially of the piano room and the jazz bar). It felt quite polished throughout and established a good tone. I especially likes how it leaned on lighting tropes of this genre.

INTIMACY:
C's get degrees, my guy. Listen, it's fine. I get it. I know that I can't put the expectations of other countries media on K-BL, especially when tangling with idol actors. And there definitely *were* kisses, so it's doing better than most. But I really am just tired of shows that will double and triple down on how "gross and weird" being gay is, and then go out of their way to avoid showing any "controversial" intimacy, even if it's as simple as a kiss.
The main couple kisses, and it's a little bit dead fish (though they do try). The second couple "kisses" and it's a trick of cinematography. It's fine. It is the absolute minimum required to tell this story effectively, and they do it decently well. But I'm not going to get excited about it or praise it. In my opinion, it definitely doesn't feel like a story for queer people, that takes joy in the love between two men, but rather a story that happens to have queer characters dotting their I's and crossing their T's.

In all, Jazz for Two exceeded my expectations, but my expectations were pretty low. I would recommend it and I did enjoy it, but it's not really one that hits me hard in anyway and definitely reinforced some of my grievances with K-BL. It was good. It could have been great.

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a really good time if i don't think about it

Here's the thing: Manner of Death was a phenomenally fun and well made murder mystery thriller of a bl... until precisely the moment I started examining it with a critical eye. So while I continue to find Sammon's themes and moral deplorable, I think it's perfectly possible to have a lovely time with this series! The characters are so charming, the plot is fun and engaging, and all around there's a lot going for this show. But personally.... personally, this story rubbed me the wrong way in several important spots. And while I have a great fondness for these characters, I probably won't return to it any time soon.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
I hated this story. Don't get me wrong: it was a decent mystery. The clues were not particularly subtle, but the plot structure was engaging and it was fun to put the pieces together. It was everything behind the story that I could not tolerate. This particular crime and this particular story had no business being a BL. It is the very definition of using women's pain and trauma as a plot device for men's stories and it's ridiculous.
While the story pays some amount of lip service to feminist response to these stories, it doesn't carry through the subtext and is tonally inconsistent. The episode where we delve into this in detail very nearly ruined the entire show for me because it was so poorly done. I am not a fan of this author or her works, and I am actively considering taking Triage off my To Watch list after DFF and Manner of Death have been so disappointing.

ACTING:
This was such an interesting title for acting! To start with: Mei is a phenomenal talent. Part of the reason it is so disappointing that what should have been Jane's story was squeezed into a genre that sidelines her was that Mei was absolutely ready to command that show. I also really enjoyed Mint as a partner for her, the two sisters created the perfect rapport for the story.
For our leads, Max and Tul are both wonderful. I wasn't convince this was going to be a good show in the first episode, but their tension resolved into a beautiful, fun, and mature relationship. I was really very charmed by their romance. To be honest, some of the more dramatic scenes strained their talents a little, but it didn't really impact the story enough to cause any issue. Certainly, I am still looking forward to catching some of their other work.
The rest of the cast filled in well, with some particularly sweet chemistry from Bhu and Putter, as well as a excellent performance from Great.

PRODUCTION:
Mostly, I enjoyed the production of this story. What caught my eye right away was that despite it's other flaws in the treatment of women throughout this story, the filming of violence against women was very careful not to be sexualized or gratuitous. This was never more clear than in the autopsies, which were careful shot to maintain neutrality.
Outside of this, the costuming was realistic but told the stories of the characters well, the locations were unique and decently dressed, and the lighting was nothing special but nothing wrong. Thankfully, the sound quality was very consistent without any glaringly visible equipment. Over all, the production is not doing anything extremely noteworthy, but it's doing the job and doing it competently.

INTIMACY:
While I wasn't disappointed by the lead actors chemistry, I did think the writing into and out of intimate scenes was hilarious in the worst ways. These poor actors were doing the best they could with the most abrupt tone shifts possible. I would have liked to see a more natural transition between suspicion and moments of romance. But once we'd made that leap and switched into the romance, it was lovely. These actors are clearly comfortable with each other and the characters have a language between them that works well. That said, I had seen this recommended as high(er) heat, and I don't feel that's particularly true (at least anymore).

In all, Manner of Death rather fumbled the ending for me, but I would still feel comfortable recommending it to most people. Just go into it looking for a more mindless thriller than something that is going to tackle hard hitting issues or offer an unusually spicy romance.

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first does not mean best, and that's fine

I'm watching GAP for the first time in 2024, with two Idol Factory GLs in the pipeline (one in partnership with the Thai government), 23.5 airing on GMMTV, and a FreenBecky movie about to hit cinemas--not even to mention the other GL projects from smaller companies cropping up every day. And I think it's important to acknowledge that all of this owes something to GAP, even if GAP isn't very good. The first doesn't have to be perfect, but it has to be made. It's got to be fun and get people excited, and I think GAP did that well. Even though this will never be a favorite for me, I still very much respect the effort and look forward to what this team has coming up next.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
It's not controversial to say that GAP has... a lot going on. And most of it questionable at best. It's not that it's "unhealthy" or "toxic" or anything, I like a good dark romance just fine. But this story was sloppy and didn't bother to earn most of it's emotional moments. Sam and Mon rarely talked about anything real and it was difficult to see what they even found to love in each other. The back third of the show in particular continually seesaws on the character development, leaving everyone rather pale and two-dimensional. It's a real shame.
That said, the script managed to scrape together some fun scenes. Sam and Mon's friends and coworkers are always a delight, injecting much needed humor and life into the story. Sam and Mon also excel when they are funny and most of their early flirtation is genuinely enjoyable to watch. Most of the characters, at least the ones who are not evil, are charming and loveable and kept me going through the slog of some of the worst of the melodrama. Enough, at least, to convince me to give the author a second chance.

ACTING:
The acting here... isn't great, but I'm not sure how much of that is a result of the shaky story versus the actors skills. Both of the lead actresses had some really lovely moments in their acting... and some really stiff/awkward scenes. With such inconsistent storytelling, I imagine it was difficult to craft a comprehensive character. That said, while some of this was due to the style/tone of the story, it was not often balanced by enough true connection to make the jokes land well. The ensemble was particularly weak, with the exception of Looknam and Heng.
Despite this, I did enjoy the chemistry that Becky and Freen created. Even at their stiffest and most intolerable character moments, they played off each other well and had a believable attraction. In their best moments, it was enough to truly start getting excited about future projects with better scripts and productions. I think it's very likely that one day this show is looked on fondly as the fumbling first starts of a young cast and production company that grows into something much better.

PRODUCTION:
On one hand, I really loved so many of the costuming choices. They were insane, but they were really fun and sold the type of story being told here. The wedding outfits alone were so good we almost forgave the episode for all it's previous sins. While some of the locations have been used to death already (how many times must someone cry about their engagement on the death stairs lol?), the production design and lighting was decently good, if sometimes a little random.
What really was Bizarre was the musical choices. I'm not quite sure why they chose to reuse themes the way they did, but it was not an effective way to create an emotional response. At the very least, they should have used different versions of the same songs to differentiate between tension, sadness, and sex scenes. It was all a little ridiculous. Along with the frequent fumbles in sound quality and visible mic packs... sound department has a lot to answer for here.

INTIMACY:
For the positives: I do enjoy that the girls didn't get doomed to hair braiding and were allowed to be sexual beings. I think that Becky and Freen served a really excellent performance that expressed true desire in their sex scenes--I don't think any of the weirdness is their fault. However, the scenes were blocked.... oddly! I'm not sure what SCOY looks like, but coming to GAP from having watched The Sign, it's odd how abbreviated their sex scenes are and how frequently they are... let's say taking turns? Instead of having a moment of mutual pleasure.
I don't care what other reviews say about "the male gaze" and "fetishizing" because it's all stupid! I am a lesbian, GL is *for* sapphics. I want GL to be treated equally and to be allowed to have as much much hot, weird, kinky, awkward, and unfounded sex as they want. GAP was a great step in the right direction, but it's still holding back. QL has a long way to go in this regard.

In all, I am not upset that I watched GAP, but I probably won't rewatch it any time soon. I think it's worth watching because of the history it brings, and I think it's worth watching because it can be fun and Becky and Freen are genuinely quite good. But I am also not going to pretend that I am satisfied with this series or even particularly enjoyed it. It's a start, and I'm looking to see what comes next.

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a rather unexpected delight despite a shaky script

I'm working my way through every EarthMix title, and I wasn't so sure about this one going in! The plot sounded a little slapdash and I wasn't quite interested in the realities of body-swapping... so I'd been avoiding it. While most of my concerns were at least a *little* valid, I generally found this series to be a much stronger work than I anticipated. The characters are charming, the actors shine, the plot is compelling and fun, and the pacing wallows much less than some of their heavier series. I found myself watching this much faster than I intended and laughing a lot along the way.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
Unfortunately, the story is the weakest aspect of this series (a rather unusual circumstance for EarthMix, who tend to deliver complex, realistic plots and characters). There is, honestly, almost no real thought put into the circumstances of the body-swap, leading to some slightly stilted and unsatisfyingly flat conflict around the edges. I wish that there had been a bit more care in developing a conflict that would drive such close friends so far apart. That said, the emotional connection between these characters was strong as ever, and Win and Korn's struggle to communicate once they were on their journey was plenty compelling enough to make up the difference.
My only other gripe with the story is that it didn't quite take it's magical premise far enough. Despite incredibly able actors, most of the utility of the body-swap fell to surface level gender jokes. While these are done very well, it is disappointing to see the swapping mechanic fall to the wayside in more emotional scenes, despite being central to the miscommunication. I would have liked to see them explore this more to truly live up to the full potential.

ACTING:
Wow. I am already a fan of Earth and Mix (obviously) and had enjoyed Jan a lot in Cherry Magic TH... but this was truly something else. I have to commend Mix and Jan for their success in building two characters together--it is not an easy task to do and they performed it so well. I have already complained at length, but I wish I would have gotten to see *more.* Jan does such a phenomenal job in matching Mix's high energy and crass body language for Win, meanwhile Mix does an excellent job of holding himself and his voice softly for the scant few minutes he's allowed to play Lin. I am never confused about who is who, and the emotions of these characters travel easily between actors and swaps.

PRODUCTION:
I really have to hand it to the costumes department here. The colors and fabrics are perfectly chosen, creating a bright and slightly unreal world, while still grounding the characters in their professions and personality. As pieces, Korn's jacket and Win's bag easily became recognizable touch stones. Korn's car, the Katin plush, and the bottles of holy water also brought a similar fun stylized-realism that worked with the fantasy plot. It was really a beautiful and bright show to watch.

In all, I really enjoyed this work and would recommend it! It isn't my top title from these actors, but it is a beloved edition to their filmography and one that I know I will reach for again when I need a smile.

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Skip to Ep. 7

I started watching The Hidden Character when it was first airing, but quickly dropped the show after Ep. 3 because I strongly disagreed with premise of the first segment (that actors need to share vulnerable, personal information with the world in order to act authentically). I did not like the gamification of these boys personal stories nor the way Pond chose to offer life advice at the end of each episode. It was fairly sloppily edited with a lot of dragging run time and lack of any kind of story arc that made it difficult to keep track of the cast.

After starting Dead Friend Forever, I came back to give it another try. The second segment (Ep. 4-6) was marginally better. With a focus on team/partner building games and cameos from most of the cast of Kinnporsche, it was lighter and more fun than the first. Still, most of this segment seemed like filler, with very poor attempts to create interesting arcs between the contestants. Where I found the show really got interesting (for me), was in Ep. 7 when the boys actually got the opportunity to start acting and receiving feedback.

From Ep. 7 to the end, The Hidden Character switches from a generic reality show to an interesting opportunity to watch young actors really start to sink their teeth into their craft and form connections with those who will become the cast of the next production by performing scenes (from Kinnporsche) together. That said, wasting 6 episodes on stupid reality shows means that the performances are crammed into a few short episodes with little time to expand on the feedback and rehearsal process. Some of the commentary is cut so short, I fear that viewers with little formal experience in acting won't even truly understand what is being said.

Finally, others have already stated it but the voting system was pretty disappointing. Given a group with such diverse existing fanbases and popularity, it would have been better to include, for example, a percentage of the final score coming from the judges. That said, it has little impact when watching this show retroactively--and especially when you already know how many of them make it into Dead Friend Forever.

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by golly they had a Vision and they did it

I've watched Pit Babe twice through now, and I still think it's some of the most fun I've had in BL. I think what makes this show such a good time is that it absolutely nails a niche genre. While omegaverse fiction has a very particular... public image (?) there's a very specific set of tropes and tone to these stories that Pit Babe absolutely nails. From the over-the-top plot, to the fated connection of the partners, to the mostly silly half-explained powers, to family/pack dynamics, this team has done a pretty incredible job adapting what is largely considered niche porn into an entertaining story with pretty wide appeal. I have truly never had more fun tuning in each week to see what they were going to throw at us next.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
Pit Babe is... a little silly. The story quickly assumes a soap-opera adjacent tone with several secret siblings and evil family empires and sabotage plots... you get the idea. Unlike many BLs, however, Pit Babe succeeds in consistent tone and commitment that allows the reader to get absorbed into this heightened world. There's an intentionality to the goofier aspects that lets the audience laugh *with* the story, not at it. It's not meant to be too serious.
Despite this, the show does a wonderful job of crafting some truly compelling characters (especially in Babe and Charlie). Where the omegaverse plots gets a tongue-in-cheek humor, the characters get absolute care and heart. One of the most intriguing aspects of this screenplay is the way the story does not allow you to celebrate the downfall of those who have betrayed Team X-Hunter, instead focusing carefully on the guilt and loss the remaining members.
My only wish for the Pit Babe plot is that it was a little bit neater. It seems like the team was trying not to acknowledge the more controversial aspects of the omegaverse, and frequently left important plot points unexplained as a result. Watching live, I got the benefit of information from fans who had read the source material. While the actors and production team clearly did intend to reference these events, I'm not sure the plot always made it clearly to the screen. Additionally, the product placement was simply insane.

ACTING:
I find it genuinely difficult to judge the acting of this show, so let's start with the basics: All of the actors are perfectly competent. As an ensemble, there were no weak links or irritating cast members. It was easy to see the genuine chemistry and friendship of this cast on screen in a way that served the story's focus on found/created family. As loyalties started shifting and we got some unexpected team ups, they ably carried a sense of history extending beyond the timeline of the show itself. Among the supporting roles, Garfield and Benz were particular stand outs, giving such a fun and complete life to characters that had a relatively small amount of lines.
Beyond this... I was a little torn? I was genuinely very charmed by most of the actors! In particular, Pavel, Pooh, Nut, and Spy have gained a very genuine fan in me. But I didn't always feel that they pulled off a natural performance. I was just a hair too aware of the actor making choices behind the character to be truly pulled into some of the most intense scenes. I would have liked to see the production take the time required to let these fairly new actors really get into the scene. I hope the success of Pit Babe allows their next productions (which I will definitely be watching!) a bit more room in the shooting schedules.

PRODUCTION:
Pit Babe was making some strong decisions in the production departments, goodness. I should say first, it's definitely watchable. You won't find oddly empty rooms, terrible shirt mics, and other hallmarks of genuinely poor production here. But my god, did the design teams make some baffling choices. My personal beef lies with the props department that let that travesty of a gravestone get a several-minutes long close up without covering all the seams, but there is a special place in my heart for the costume team that put Way in three separate jackets on the same day too. While it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the show, it *was,* at times, distracting.

INTIMACY:
Hm. Here's the thing: Pavel and Pooh have been open about the fact that the NC scenes in Pit Babe were not particularly thoroughly choreographed, overly relying on cast members in an already vulnerable position to essentially improv... and I think it shows. While Pavel and Pooh had some truly excellent scenes that clearly had a lot of thought and story behind them, Spy and Pon were treated to a very odd pose-to-pose montage without a lot of direction or purpose behind it.
I want to be clear here: I don't blame the actors at all. I mean to say that Pavel and Pooh have pulled off something beautiful in the face of unwarranted obstacles, not that Spy and Pon have "failed" in anyway. But on a personal level, I don't agree with this style of direction. It's the creators responsibility to support and protect their actors, and I don't like seeing signs of their insecurity and discomfort making it to the screen/BTS.

In all, I think Pit Babe was fun show and great stepping stone for some overlooked talents. I enjoy rewatching, but I'm looking forward to what comes next even more.

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hmmm....

To be honest, there was never a point of this show where I was sure if I liked it or not. But there was something about it that kept me from dropping it all the way until the end! I think there's an interesting premise here, but I'm not quite sure it was executed well. An over-reliance on montage and rushed/choppy story made it hard to buy into the romance. Honestly, sometimes it felt more like a cautionary tale about unethical experimentation than a love story, but I was kind of into the vague horror of that! I don't think it was bad, but I don't think it was what I expected or wanted either. In honor of this indecision: 5 stars, dead middle.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
I found the story to be simultaneously the strongest and weakest point of this show. For it's strengths, it definitely had a message that it believed in strongly. The conversation around history and humanity was quite interesting, and I liked the way artificial intelligence complicated Chu Yiping's perspectives. There was a very compelling quality to the way he rationalized Ever 9's humanity, and a satisfying conflict with his Uncle.
For it's weaknesses, however, the love story was... odd? I don't want to say it wasn't clear or believable--I actually really enjoyed the unique ways these two people connected. But we aren't given enough time with them to truly feel that relationship or the strength of it. Too much is left in the montage, so a lot of the most emotional scenes feel fairly unearned. I would have liked to see some better pacing here.

ACTING:
Ah. I guess the problem here lies with the lack of progress. I think both actors were good at the more robotic side of the character--the early days when they were stiff, awkward, and uncomfortable. But I would have liked to see these characters pushed a lot farther as the relationship progresses. We never really get a proper sense of this astronomical change in Chu Yiping that the other characters talk about. And we only ever get glimpses of a natural humanity that could have sold the relationship. It was alright.

PRODUCTION:
The production quality was so hit and miss during this show, but I think my biggest issue was that it missed on things that should be easy. It's fine and understandable if a low budget production has some less-than-impressive special effects! It doesn't really upset my enjoyment of the series. But when there's sloppy make up? You can't afford to take two minutes to fix his foundation? I think it made some of the scenes feel more amateur than they actually were and distracted from the story.

In all, I can't really say I would recommend this show. But I don't think I would discourage someone who was interested in this concept from checking it out. I would say, it stays pretty constant--so if you aren't feeling the first episode or two, you might want to drop!

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