Reviews

Has GMMTV’s GL Series Entered Its Dark Age?

Good Points:

Jan and JingJing’s acting was absolutely wonderful.

Jan delivered a stable yet consistently high-level performance, and JingJing’s explosive acting power was genuinely impressive.

Bad Points:

(Structure)

First of all, the structure was just terrible. Why did they wait until the latter half of the story to bring in Wine’s past trauma, which should have been one of the most important elements? (The series did depict Wine’s trauma from her previous workplace to some extent, though.)

If Wine had been deliberately written as a mysterious character, with the full picture of who she was gradually revealed as the story progressed, or if there had been a convincing mystery element that justified keeping her past hidden, then revealing Wine’s past in the latter half of the story might still have made sense.

That kind of thing should normally be shown early in the story — in the case of Enemies With Benefits, around Episodes 1 to 4. From there, the story should have shown Wine overcoming that trauma through her relationship with Lal, and then, in the final arc, brought back the source of that trauma as the ultimate test she had to confront.

But in reality, every bit of character depth came too late. By the time they finally started digging into Lal and Wine, I had already lost interest in them, and I was bored with the story itself.

That is what makes it so frustrating. Lal and Wine had enough potential for me to like them, so it feels like such a waste.

(Too Many Unnecessary Elements)

First of all, the side-couple storyline was completely unnecessary.

Lal and Wine were already underwritten, and yet the show threw in even more romantic elements for the side characters in the second half. At that point, it was nothing but noise.

Tangkwa should have been a character who represented the beliefs that Wine could not directly express to Lal. She should have been used to give Wine more depth, showing why she respects Wine and what Wine means to the people around her.

Proud, meanwhile, could have been a tricky character who enters the story midway through, but is also serious and sincere about her work — someone who occasionally shakes up Lal and Wine’s relationship as a counterbalance.

In the early stage of GMMTV’s GL series, there have been successful side couples in works like 23.5, Us, and Whale Store xoxo. But in Enemies With Benefits, whether because GMMTV’s GL series has entered a mass-production phase or not, the side-couple elements ended up feeling extremely sloppy and unnecessary.

(The Setting Is Too Weak)

This series sometimes tries too hard to create tension around the idea that “it would be bad if people at work found out about them.”

But honestly, all I could think was: “Would it really be that bad if they found out?”

The reason is simple: the story never properly shows the threat or background behind what would happen if they were exposed.

If they really wanted to make the idea of being found out feel dangerous, they should have shown something in Episode 1, like Lal witnessing two employees in a relationship being forced out of the company. That would have made her think, “This company is dangerous. We absolutely cannot get caught.”

But the atmosphere in the workplace is actually pretty light. It feels like everyone would probably accept them anyway, so there is no real sense of tension.

Far from feeling like a threat, the employees in Sales and Accounting actually seem to want Lal and Wine to get along.

It is also a waste that the employees in Sales and Accounting mostly become background characters or comic relief. They should have been important supporting characters who helped explain why Lal and Wine are respected, and why their different versions of “being right” clash with each other.

Instead, they simply ended up as comedy devices.

As for Lal and Wine themselves, they were extremely hostile toward each other from the beginning to the middle of Episode 1. But after sleeping together under the influence of alcohol, the very next day, the distance between them suddenly shrinks as if all that hostility had never existed. Then one of them suddenly asks the other to become friends with benefits.

That was way too abrupt.

The show should have carefully portrayed the process of them gradually getting closer. If it had done that, it could have created the kind of painful, frustrating tension where they have physically crossed the line, but they are not lovers, and their emotional distance is still nowhere near as close as their bodies have become.

That is what the story should have shown.

(Conclusion)

Lately, I have been nothing but disappointed in GMMTV’s GL series.

From 23.5 to Whale Store xoxo, they were releasing one god-tier work after another. But from Girl Rules onward, everything suddenly turned to crap.

They do not need to make multiple series at once. I want them to carefully create one high-quality drama at a time.

Laying down a production line and mass-producing GL series like a factory is not the answer.

Leia Mais

really good drama for patient people

really good drama..
first 12 episode is very fun and entertaining but miscom and problems started to get very irritating and i lost my interest to continue and watch it.

a fan of zhou keyu since chuang but yeah..
i waited for a long time for this and kind of dissappointed but okay

after 12 episode im still curious about the ending i tried to watch to ep 15 with 1.5x speed. but i just cant... instead i am more interested to another ongoing drama in iqiyi aswell.

the female character is really irritating for me as she kept approaching the male character ins

Leia Mais

Romanticized Abuse & Stockholm Syndrome

This show almost got it. It was so close! But they ruined it by romanticizing abuse (both romantic and parental).

One of the main characters is kidnapped and held hostage for years by a man who made her "into a play thing," which means he was sexually assaulting her. While in captivity, she swore to kill him. But here comes the Stockholm Syndrome. She goes to hell to break him out of his prison. Once he's free, he immediately tries to harm her. Despite all of this, she tries to sacrifice herself to save his life. In the end, she locks arms with her abuser, signifying their future relationship. What the actual hell?

A father wouldn't help his son get out of a life-threatening situation, but it's shown as justified.

Why do so many C-dramas have these really messed-up dynamics?

Leia Mais

SECRET RELATIONSHIPS - REVIEW

Story: Secret Relationships is one of those dramas that constantly keeps you second-guessing everything you think you know. Every episode reveals another layer of the characters, making it almost impossible to view them the same way from beginning to end. What I loved most is how the series isn't afraid to explore darker, more uncomfortable themes. Every relationship is messy, intertwined, and deeply toxic in its own way, yet the writing makes you understand why the characters make the choices they do. No one feels completely innocent or entirely evil, and that's what makes the story so compelling.

The flashbacks are also one of the drama's biggest strengths. They aren't just there for exposition—they gradually provide the missing pieces, showing how these relationships were built, how they flourished, and ultimately how they fell apart. Every revelation adds new context and completely changes your perspective. While it's not a light or easy watch, it's an emotionally gripping drama that rewards your patience with excellent storytelling and complex character development. If you enjoy psychological relationship dramas where every character has depth and hidden motives, this is definitely worth watching. Overall a captivating and well-written drama that proves not every relationship is meant to be healthy, but every story deserves to be understood.

Acting/Cast: The cast delivered strong performances across the board, making every episode engaging and emotionally intense. Each actor brought depth to their character, allowing the tension, manipulation, and emotional conflicts to feel believable and keeping me invested from start to finish. The standout for me was Kim Ho Young. His performance was captivating, especially as his character gradually unmasked his true identity. Every revelation was executed with precision, making him the driving force behind many of the series' most memorable moments.

My only criticism is that the romantic aspect felt underdeveloped. While the psychological drama and character dynamics were excellent, the romance lacked the same emotional weight and chemistry, making it less impactful than the rest of the story. Overall, the outstanding performances easily outweigh this minor flaw, making the acting one of the drama's strongest assets.

Music: The soundtrack did its job in supporting the mood and emotional tone of the series, but it never stood out as a defining element. None of the tracks were particularly memorable or left a lasting impression after I finished watching. While the music fit the scenes well and never felt out of place, it was more of a background complement than something that elevated the overall experience. Good enough for the story, but ultimately not a standout aspect of the drama.

Rewatch Value: Despite already knowing the outcome, Secret Relationships has a high rewatch value because of how cleverly the story is structured. The flashbacks at the end of each episode become even more rewarding on a second watch, as they provide the missing context, reveal the characters' backstories, and explain why each of them has such a powerful emotional hold on Jung Da On.

What initially feels confusing or ambiguous gradually makes perfect sense once all the pieces come together. The final episode, in particular, delivers a memorable twist that completely recontextualizes the story and leaves a lasting impression. It's the kind of series that's worth revisiting—not just to relive the suspense, but to catch the subtle details and foreshadowing you likely missed the first time.

Leia Mais

Healing and emotional drama

For anyone who has struggled or is struggling to make their dreams come true, I suggest watching this drama. This demonstrates realistic portrayal of trying to find footing in the film industry filled with people with jealousy and resentment. There will be many tears but also hope and relief. Finding solace in someone else who is also struggling and being there for each other is the ultimate cure for depression. The touch on mental health theme can be heavy but it can also be healing.


The acting of the staff was wonderful. They will be sweeping every award next year. Overall loved this drama and can’t recommend it enough.

Leia Mais

Trite Melodrama

The plot is a badly thought out fustercluck, the cast is way too big, and a lot of time is wasted on terribly directed, dead end intimate scenes, with zero intimacy. Only half of the lead couple can deliver a line, but the other half is very good at looking like a thwarted child and hanging off his love interest like an oversized handbag. The resolution of the brother’s thread at the end was farcical, though he was a slight consolation for the hero. The villain was a highlight, in a cartoonish way too, and very ornamental. The father did what he could with a terrible script, but could only do so much. I would just give this one the go by. it’s not good, even by the standards of vertical dramas, and the upside is that it’s not gAI slop.

Bad-bad-bad! 😳

Leia Mais

? Bring Headphones… The Chemistry Is Explosive! ?

Wow… just wow! 🔥 This BL drama is so hot, romantic, and completely addictive. Damn! 😅 Every single episode is full of fireworks. I absolutely love both storylines, they’re equally captivating.

The chemistry between the leads is amazing! I honestly don’t know how they managed to film those scenes with straight faces. I would be laughing the whole time… and I’d definitely need tissues in every episode (not for tears 🤣).

The scenes are soooo hot… deeeem! 🥵 Definitely use headphones (or earbuds) 😅🤣. The passion and tension are beyond my expectations. Just wow!

I can’t wait for each new episode! ❤️

Leia Mais

at least getting a star for do hoon , without him this overall drama is ass only character i liked was Eun i hated the mom , dad , the brother every single character in the movie . The mom was annoying at the end and how it was ass how there was no charge for murder, the dather was a bad one being a gangster which he should be in prison i wish eun died or left the family they didnt deserve a sweet and innocent girl growing in a family with a murder mom , gangster dad , bully brother. AT THE END THE GANGSTER FAMILY GOY WHAT THEY DESSRVED THEY DIDNT DESERVE EUN THEY ASS

Leia Mais

Great visuals, fights, brotherhood and street vibe

“When you were in that coma, it was like a living hell. At that moment, time stopped for me” - You threw these words to your friend’s face, who just woke up from a coma, and then in the next minute you beat him to nearly dead again lol.

Although I didn’t enjoy this movie as much as the first series, I gave it the same rating. I think it’s a great movie, with great visuals, fights, street vibe, great music and brotherhood, as expected from the first series. I loved it, especially the final battle at the end when the five S.W.O.R.D gangs decided to team up and fight against Kohaku and those bad guys working for a big South Korean mafia group, in order to protect the town where they were born and raised from those dangerous criminals. I didn’t expect this saga to get involved in serious political matters, but it did and I love that. I think politics exists everywhere, and everything and everyone is involved in politic matters, whether we acknowledge or not.

To sum up, the Korean mafia group wanted to use Kohaku to destroy the S.W.O.R.D gangs to destroy their rival, Kuryu Group, which is a big Japanese yakuza organization. They both wanted to take over the S.W.O.R.D district for a new illegal construction. The Kuryu Group had been using wealth and power to take control over the area for years, including bribing to the corrupt police with dirty money earned by committing several serious crimes in the area, such as drug manufacturing, murder, and human trafficking aiming at young women and girls. I think they can be considered as the main antagonist and the biggest threat to the allied S.W.O.R.D. gangs. In this movie, it was revealed that their goal is to destroy the 5 gangs to construct an illegal, government-backed casino used to conceal political corruption.

Those guys working for the Korean mafia group is just as bad as the Kuryu Group. In this movie, those evil crimes I mentioned above were committed by them. Ironically, it was that gross criminal Seungri who played the role of that group’s leader. I can’t stand his disgusting face and voice, and also wonder what he was thinking and feeling when he was offered to play this role, when he is also a disgusting criminal himself in real life. I bet that sick psychopath was just having fun showing a bit part of his true self to the world without anyone realizing.

I felt so bad for the Rude Boys gang, when this time a lot of their people were brutally killed, and their leader was seriously wounded and probably even terminally ill and could die any time soon. They are also the poorest among the gangs. Basically they are a found family including orphaned people, abandoned by their own parents since they were born, and live in a dump. Oh my god, whenever I think about them, it’s so heartbreaking.

I couldn’t fully enjoy the movie mainly because I couldn’t stand the face of that disgusting psychopath and those lame Might Warriors dudes whom I already disliked since the second season of the main series.

Leia Mais

Coba hitung berapa kali "Ni shi wo de" disebut? wkwkwk

Jujuuuurr, aku dah hampir mau ngedrop ni series, soalnya Bu Xia ngeselin banget diawal-awal. Tapi aku somehow kayak ter-hipnotis sama komentar dan ulasan di page ini, jadi kupikir apa salahnya kucoba ikutin dulu ceritanya? eh ternyata waww ini beneran bagus sih, walau ada aspek-aspek yang kureng ya tapi forgivable lah yaa soalnya the amount of cuteness will kill u (becandaa/ tp beneran imoet bgt gakuaatt)..

Plot 7.0 + Story (development) 8.5

Plotnya sih udah lazim ditemukan di BL lain, kalau mau yang seremmm banget ada tuh Khemjira atau kalau mau yang ceritanya tentang pacar hantu yang super horny ada tuh series pendek korea (lupa judulnya hehe). Jadi untuk plot ngga ada kebaharuan, tapi gimana cara mereka mengembangkan plot dan dituangkan ke scenery dan hasil eksekusinya overall bagus, well done.

Acting 10/10

The fact that i got annoyed by Bu Xia diawal2 tu emg beneran ngebuktiin kalo actingnya bagus. Semua disini pinter main ekspresi, beneran berasa nonton soap opera bukan yang actingnya feel amatiran (IYKYK). Oiya banyak banget scene imuuuuttt bangettt ya tuhan gw ga kuat bgt cuteness aggression could kill me huhuu. oiya ibaratkan lagu, Bu Xia dan Jiang Chi ibarat kayak lagunya Naykilla yang baru rilis tuh, "My Mine Gueh". Literally mereka announcing "hak milik", either Bu Xia terhadap Jiang Chi atau Jiang Chi terhadap Bu Xia. Coba, kalian hitung berapa kali mereka bilang "Ni Shi Wo De!" (lu tuh milik gue) atau pas ngomong ke pihak ketiga, mereka bilang "Jiang Chi shi wo de!!" (that one iconic scene sebelum kepalanya Bu Xia dipitak sama kakak dia wkwkwk, lucu bgt sih Bu Xiaaaa). Intinya ini tontonan ringan yang sangat worth it ditonton pas lagi stress biar ngga makin stress gegara nontonin series yang ceritanya heavy kayak C-BL yang baru-baru ini rilis.

Music 8.5

Plus point karena ngga makek AI Slop (iya ya tau ini tuh series 2023 tapi kan AI tuh technically udah di-komersilkan sejak 2022). OST yang di outro nya enak didenger, tapi belum sempet browsing ntu lagu jduulnye ape.

Rewatch Value 7.5

I just wished Bu Xia karakternya bisa diubah gitu pas di awal2 hehe biar kalo mau rewatch ngga harus ngelewatin fase-fase dia ngeselin dulu. bisa sih skip langsung ke episode tertentu tapi feelnya beda donkkk


intinya bagus banget ini sangat worth it untuk direkomendasikan ke temen temen lu yang baru kenal BL karena ini ceritanya light, ngga ada NC, fluffy dan imut kyut cutesy.

Leia Mais

Engaging but Never Gripping

The drama serves as an interesting, casual watch that easily holds my attention, even if it never quite hooks me enough to make me binge-watch it. The absolute peak of the series is the heartbreaking and intense sequence where Ye Li remembers the tragedy at Mount Li. It is a beautifully poignant moment that genuinely moved me to tears, and the OST playing during that scene was excellent.

While the main characters have a convincing bond, the lack of romantic scenes left me wishing for more. Because both Ye Li and Prince Ding are victims who share a common enemy, they could have made a truly spectacular team; instead, they go about their revenge in their own separate ways. The pace definitely dragged during the final three episodes, but it wasn't a total loss—just an okay finish.

Leia Mais

If God Teaches Us to Love — Then What's the Point?

The series has become a massive global phenomenon, breaking records and sparking conversations in more than 160 countries—and honestly, it's not hard to understand why. It's visually stunning, full of careful symbolism and subtle visual storytelling. One shot that immediately stuck with me is when Barth tells Tanrak they're completely alone, only for the camera to slowly pull back and reveal Jesus on the cross behind them. They're never actually alone. It's a beautiful reminder that, in Tanrak's eyes, God is always present—even in the moments he's trying hardest to hide.

The visual storytelling is consistently this strong. Tanrak presses every daisy Barth gives him between the pages of his Bible and, with each bouquet, quietly paints another flower onto the ceiling above his bunk—the same bunk he's slept in since arriving at the seminary, where nothing in his life had ever truly changed until Barth walked into it. Even the bathroom becomes symbolic: it's where Tanrak retreats whenever his world begins to fall apart. It's where he first seeks refuge during his crisis of faith, desperately trying to find comfort in the only thing he's ever known.

Episodes five and six completely broke me.

Watching Tanrak burn the notes they wrote to each other, the pressed flowers hidden inside his Bible... I couldn't stop thinking about how much fear, shame and guilt someone must carry to believe they have to destroy something as innocent as the proof of their first love.

The series also handles Father Arnon brilliantly. He begins as a calm, compassionate mentor, almost a father figure. But as Tanrak's feelings for Barth deepen, Arnon slowly transforms into something far more intimidating. The scene where Barth and Tanrak hide between the stacked mattresses while Arnon's shadow creeps across the wall—introduced only by the shine of his leather shoes—is genuinely unsettling. He becomes almost ghostlike, constantly watching, constantly present. More than anything, though, it's a reflection of Tanrak himself. The institution that once gave him purpose slowly becomes the very thing he fears most.

Kongdech's confrontation with Tanrak hit just as hard, albeit for very different reasons. When he tells Tanrak that what disappoints him most isn't being lied to, but the fact that Tanrak apparently no longer wants to become a priest alongside him—and then asks, "Don't you want to see your parents in heaven anymore?"—I honestly had to pause the episode.

What an unbelievably self-centred thing to say to someone who's already drowning in guilt.

Instead of asking his best friend what he's going through, Kongdech unknowingly reinforces every fear Tanrak already carries. You can literally watch Tanrak break under the weight of those words.

What surprised me most, though, is that this isn't actually a story about religion rejecting queerness.

It's a story about two boys falling in love.

That distinction matters.

The series never frames Tanrak's love for Barth as something inherently wrong. He never denies loving him. He never even denies desiring him. His struggle isn't that he believes love itself is sinful—it's that he fears abandoning the people and the life that shaped him. Over time, his feelings stop being framed as lust and become what they've always been: love.

By the final episode, Tanrak doesn't choose between Barth and God.

He chooses both.

I can absolutely understand why this series has resonated so deeply with queer people who grew up religious. For many viewers, I imagine it feels genuinely healing to see faith and queerness coexist without one destroying the other. Even the inclusion of the trans woman in the finale quietly reinforces that idea: faith can still belong to people who've spent their entire lives being told otherwise.

For me, however, it's a little more complicated.

I didn't grow up religious—if anything, the opposite—and my relationship with the Catholic Church has always been deeply sceptical. Because of that, the ending felt just a little too optimistic.

Throughout the series, Tanrak's shame feels painfully real. His fear feels earned. His guilt feels believable. But when everything is finally resolved, it almost feels as though the institution quietly steps back and says, "We never actually had a problem with your sexuality. That was simply your interpretation."

That was the one moment where the series lost me.

I would have preferred it if the Church had remained exactly what it often is for many queer people: an institution capable of causing profound harm without needing to be redeemed by the narrative. Sometimes the damage is real. Sometimes the shame isn't self-inflicted. Sometimes it's taught.

There's one scene in the finale I still can't get out of my head.

After Tanrak and Barth spend the night together, Tanrak wakes before Barth, walks silently into the bathroom and begins holding the cross of his rosary against the flame of a lighter. The scene cuts away before we see what happens next.

My interpretation was that he was trying to punish himself.

It's such a devastating image of internalised shame that the almost utopian ending which follows feels like it's happening to a different version of Tanrak altogether.

Even so, I think Ticket to Heaven is one of the most impressive Thai BLs in years. It's beautifully acted, visually confident and emotionally fearless. It isn't perfect, but it's the kind of series that stays with you long after it's over—not because it has all the answers, but because it's willing to ask difficult questions.

And there's one line I don't think I'll forget anytime soon:

"If God teaches us to love, but we're not allowed to love each other, then what's the point of having God in this world?"

That one sentence alone captures everything the series is trying to say.

Leia Mais

I loved this show!

Just a heads-up: I watched this drama quite a while ago, so this review is based purely on my goldfish memory.

I'm an absolute sucker for twin-swap stories. If a drama has that trope, there's a good chance I'm going to eat it up. I loved Sprite so much ♡ he was so funny!

The only thing that really bothered me was Zee. I understood why he was upset but he was low-key being petty as hell. What pissed me off was how he treated First and that made it difficult for me to sympathize with him. 😒

Overall, I had a really good time with this drama. It's definitely one I'd recommend if you enjoy twin-swap plots, lighthearted BLs, and don't mind a little bit of drama along the way. Even though it's been a while since I watched it, it's one that has stuck with me, which says a lot.

I wasn't a fan of Jack and Mike's ending.

Leia Mais

Amazing Drama

This drama is incredibly captivating. Both lead actors portray their characters in a way that feels so real and true to life. The male lead is an exceptionally well-written character, and Bai Jingting brings him to life perfectly with his outstanding performance.
As for Zhang Ruonan, she never fails to amaze me. She portrays Wen Yifan's sadness with such depth and authenticity that I found myself crying through many episodes because of her emotional acting.
The two leads are a perfect match for this drama. Their on-screen chemistry is natural, heartfelt, and one of the biggest reasons the story is so enjoyable to watch.

Leia Mais