An insightful look at the BL industry that unfortunately doesn't live up to expectations
NO-SPOILER REVIEW
This series is a refreshing meta take on the drama industry that isn't afraid to tackle problematic aspects of the entire BL genre. I really really wanted to like this series more but unfortunately, while it starts out with a great premise, the actual storytelling and execution suffers from many issues.
Pros
- A unique and refreshing premise for a BL series that tries to break problematic tropes and offer a wider variety of characters.
- A good example of a BL series showing working adults instead of the same old school-based setting.
- A good example of a BL series showing more diverse characters - a strong female character and a comparatively more gentle male character who are both portrayed in positive ways, parents/families with diverse sexualities, etc.
- A talented cast with decent chemistry
Cons
- Several plot points felt somewhat arbitrary and overly convenient, including ties between certain characters. Most things that took place in flashbacks actually didn't really add to the story and were actually a big detractor for me. The same story could have been told without the forced backstory.
- Some characters lacked depth and at times seemed to be hollow caricatures based on single motivations. It was hard to identify with them or feel that they were actual people.
- The pacing at some parts was excruciatingly slow. Certain scenes just dragged on and on. I'm not sure if they were just looking to fill time, but scenes that should have been emotional and impactful just ended up feeling downright boring because they were being dragged out so much.
Overall
- While a lot of fans seem to really like this series for tackling some of the BL genre's biggest issues, this series itself unfortunately suffers from its own issues on the production, script, and story side that made it less enjoyable than I had been hoping for.
This series is a refreshing meta take on the drama industry that isn't afraid to tackle problematic aspects of the entire BL genre. I really really wanted to like this series more but unfortunately, while it starts out with a great premise, the actual storytelling and execution suffers from many issues.
Pros
- A unique and refreshing premise for a BL series that tries to break problematic tropes and offer a wider variety of characters.
- A good example of a BL series showing working adults instead of the same old school-based setting.
- A good example of a BL series showing more diverse characters - a strong female character and a comparatively more gentle male character who are both portrayed in positive ways, parents/families with diverse sexualities, etc.
- A talented cast with decent chemistry
Cons
- Several plot points felt somewhat arbitrary and overly convenient, including ties between certain characters. Most things that took place in flashbacks actually didn't really add to the story and were actually a big detractor for me. The same story could have been told without the forced backstory.
- Some characters lacked depth and at times seemed to be hollow caricatures based on single motivations. It was hard to identify with them or feel that they were actual people.
- The pacing at some parts was excruciatingly slow. Certain scenes just dragged on and on. I'm not sure if they were just looking to fill time, but scenes that should have been emotional and impactful just ended up feeling downright boring because they were being dragged out so much.
Overall
- While a lot of fans seem to really like this series for tackling some of the BL genre's biggest issues, this series itself unfortunately suffers from its own issues on the production, script, and story side that made it less enjoyable than I had been hoping for.
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