A kind of A-Z of different possible BL themes

I watched most of these stories towards the end of the period in which the show aired, so I can't voice the criticism that the series was too long and drawn out.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting a lot. However, by the end of the series I was suitably impressed by the range of plots and themes. There was also a nice mixture of comedy and pathos from the comedy of errors in Marry Go Round to the shocking denouement in Friends Forever, as well as the knotty ethical dimension to a story like (1626). And in between we had the understated and very relatable tension of Right Place, Right You, Lucky Love and Fake Love, for example. Those last three, in particular, were good examples of how situations do not have to be particularly dramatic to hit home.

Although there is often an expectation that series of this kind should be perfect, rounded products that are aesthetically and emotionally satisfying, I think there is also a place for productions that are innovative and engaging without quite overcoming a sense that they are 'a work in progress'. My Universe is not perfect by any means, but you got the impression it was trying to bring a nuanced approach to a number of classic tropes and to some extent it achieved that aim.

Another highlight for me was the haunting beauty of the little musical interlude that marked breaks within individual episodes, as well as appearing at certain moments to highlight emotional realisation. There was a nice example of this in Lucky Love.

Overall, I found quite a lot to like in this series despite some weaknesses. It had an individual feel to it and the fact that things were not always sorted out neatly at the end of every story added a certain realism too. Conversely, the twist at the end of Refund Love seemed somehow to fit as well.

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