A cute, warm story that you should check out.

This is gonna be very short but sweet, just like the kiss scenes in this movie.

I haven't watched the series yet (I thought that I would watch the movie first to see if I liked the production) but I probably will do that soon.
The story was a nice change for once. I, who have been watching around 60 BL dramas just enjoyed the fact that there was an openly queer character already at the start of the movie, and I loved the fact that we gays got the "typical" straight triangle drama, where they actually say that they like someone and that everyone in the triangle was guys.
I definitely recommend this movie for a cold winter evening where you feel kinda shit. It will lighten up your mood immensely with its cuteness and warmth. It really showed that you can bring a lot of drama with only a gang of five people.
I'm kinda sad over the lack of kisses tho, but the story was cute and a nice change for once.

Samuel, 2022

Read More

worse than season one

Okay so, season one did many good things, but this season was just so flawed.

Ait constant acting like a 5-year-old and not believing James telling him that he and Marco haven't done anything. Then Marco (being in love with JAMES for FOUR years prior to all this) goes and has sex with Bas who just hours before tried to commit suicide? It doesn't feel very realistic to me. Plus, with Bas's background with sexual abuse - him having no struggle with being intimate but having PTSD from it overall made it all look so unrealistic. Like what the f'ck!
They could have done so much good stuff with this series and Michaels's acting as Bas was extremely talented (I would never be able to cry that much in a series, and with so much feeling sharing to the public through the screen). There are so many themes and topics in this series that are so important to talk about - suicide, self-harm, non-supportive family, toxic masculinity, abuse and so much more. It was like they tried but failed halfway.
Still, there are a few good scenes but I couldn't really appreciate all that because of all the small (and big) details that made me so frustrated and almost wanting to quit the series. If it would have been any longer I'm sure would have.

- samuel

Read More

LOVE IS JUST LOVE :)

Hi peeps! I watched the last episode yesterday and with no bigger spoilers, let's just say that I cried, laughed, cringed and smiled through the whole series. But now to the review :)

STORY
Okay, so where do I start? I think the reason I waited so long before I started watching this series was bc first; I didn't know it existed until I saw it in a recommendation video on youtube, and secondly; I had a little problem with the storyline at the start. I really like the meaning behind this series, that love has no boundaries. But, to not spoil too much, I had a little problem with the thing that they met when Thun was about 10 years old. Mes has been dead for 20 years, which means he's around 40 years old. So that made me cringe a little bit.
But overall I think the writers did a whole good damn job with writing a story between a living human and a dead spirit. And it makes you aware that you should not take a day for granted, that you really are blessed to have this life. I love that it made me feel something. This isn't a story between just two lovebirds that have a problem accepting what they feel for each other. It's also about Mes story and him finding out what really happened 20 years ago.

ACTING/CAST
Singto and Ohm. Singto as Kongbop from Sotus and Ohm from Make it Right.
That's where I found them first and think of when I see their faces. It was a little cringe to see them together because of that but it also made me really happy that two of my favorite actors made a series together. And they did a really good job with it too, They gave the whole story life.
Singto, who played the ghost Mes, made me feel all the feelings his character feels. He was so cute sometimes, but once it was a heartbreaking moment, he turned into this really professional actor who was serious and tried his hardest to make the viewers proud of him. And I really am proud.
Ohm, who portrayed the character Thun. I haven't seen so much from him until this series but I have rewatched Make it Right three times with him in it. To not spoil too much; when the last episode came ohh boooy. He was the one really putting the story together, screamed, cried, and acted like a god. I really loved his acting and am looking forward to seeing more from him.

MUSIC
okay so, I haven't so much to tell you about this but I liked the music. It made me feel safe and I could feel even more with it in the background. I loved that it wasn't some text in it, instead they have chosen to use classical music that gave the series a really personal touch from all the "engineer and school" series. So thumbs up for the music from me. :)

REWATCH VALUE
I'm definitely gonna watch this series again so I can understand the whole plot some more. I want to look after details that I missed the first time, and I'm going to be more into it this time too I think. Bc of the whole first episodes, all I could think of was that Mes is 20 years older than Thun. But now I'm gonna rewatch it and just focus on the love between them and look at the story.

So? Some last words? Yeah, be sure to watch the end alone in your room with no one home, you're gonna need it. It's a happy ending but yeah, I don't wanna spoil something hihi :) Watch the series with an open mind and just enjoy!

- samuel

Read More

wow, wow, wow.

Okay so, this isn't a review - or yes, but mostly me just ranting about stuff.
This whole work amazed me. The actors were perfect for their characters and Michael (playing Bas) made me cry, laugh and so angry. The actor playing Tee - made me hate him from the bottom of my heart.
As someone who has watched multiple BL series and movies for maybe two years now (over 50 series in total) was terribly uninformed and had no knowledge that the BL industry can be this bad. I knew some of it (like how the actors are not allowed to be in relationships and can't be seen with someone because of rumors) and that alone made me furious, but that sexual harassment is a thing was never something that I expected.
Thank you guys for making this eye-opening series. I look forward to seeing season two, I've heard it's amazing, even better than this one.

- samuel

Read More

a series talking about the hard yet, beautiful, stuff

Hi friends! This was my first time watching this movie, and let me tell you, I loved it! Sad, but really really well made. (btw, found it on Netflix if you're going to watch it.)

STORY
I love-hate this film. The story is important, horrible, and beautiful all at the same time.
It's not your typical sweet romance BL series that makes you laugh and go 'aww' each scene. Instead, it's very heartfelt, crying-worthy and important.
Okay so, some background. The year was 1987. The story is about two boys (Birdy and Jia Han) and their growing love for each other while they're at a Christian High School in Tiwan. Of course, no one is 'kind' to homosexuals and those who catch staring at a guy in the showers get beaten up by their peers (so watch out for that if you're sensitive). Basically, t's not a school where you can openly love your lover if you're queer.
Their way of telling the story with different perspectives and flashbacks is so well done and beautiful that I had to pause at some of them just to think about the quality of the film and how cool that they came up with it. You really get to SEE Jia Han's point of view and how he slowly gives in for his love for Birdy and gets proud and protective of it although it's viewed as wrong by those around him.
One of my favorite things about the movie was that the dialogues were such masterpieces and they said so much with so few amount of words. It brought such emotions through the actors and into me. It has unexpected turns everywhere and I'm in shock that they were able to come up with all of them.
I LOVED THE ENDING. I was really worried that I would hate it and that it would be really sad, but jokes on me. It was such a good closure of the story and heartfelt. Kudos to the director for coming up with that one! After all that young forbidden love it was really nice to see them having to grow up and still remembering that time of their life and their first love. And when they meet again - that we get a backstory and explanation of their love and actions. And how they still can be friends and now are almost fine with their sexualities.
Final words of this part; The movie does a good job showing people how some humans, in real life, had these types of problems and fights just because they couldn't love the person they wanted to - and the fact that it's still like this in most of society is crazy and really upsetting. I'm so surprised to see that the directors choose to not include the typical stereotype "I'm not gay, I'm just in love with *name*" That was so amazing at it made the story much more mature in my eyes.
Also; I saw that someone said that this wasn't a happy ending movie, but yes it was. Maybe not that they lived together as lovers forever but they continued being friends and have a lot of memories to share.

ACTING/CAST
I'm in love with all the actor's performances and bravery portraying a different love from their society's mainstream, how well they play their characters and says with such emotions their part of the story. Would love to watch more of their work in the future. The one who plays Father Oliver, Fabio Grangeon, his acting was *chef kiss*. Also Birdys, Tseng Jhin Hua, acting.
There's great chemistry between the two main characters and you can really see and sense their love and deep attraction to one another even if it's not something their allowed to act on.
Although, LET ME TELL YOU, Edward Chen (portraying Jia Han, the main character). That man! His acting skills in this movie were gorgeous and really really impressive. I've seen one of his works before this one but they cannot compare. He has grown so much as an actor and wow, I'm looking forward to seeing him in the future. Hm crying, laughing and loving on the screen gave chills all over my body. Jian Han is clearly so in love with Birdy that it's almost as you feel the love too. Just with his eyes, you can hear all the words he can't explain or say out loud bc of the world and society he lives in.
Also, they're were well-written characters with believable stories and actions that resonate with me as a viewer. and they are always talking not direct about their feelings but you see that they both understand the other one's intentions.

MUSIC
This. This part of the movie - I was so so amazed at the way they had chosen to put it in. It's so subtle that you almost not even aware of it, but still brings that well-needed mood to the scene and overall story.

REWATCH VALUE
10/10, I'm certainly going to rewatch this with all of my friends at least one or two times.

SOME LAST WORDS
The summary: WATCH! If you skip this movie, well then you've skipped a good part of history that's worth knowing. You're not going to be disappointed, and if you are well them I don't know what earth you're from.
And keep in mind that I'm asexual so literally the only reason the story part got 9.5 is because of me feeling a bit uncomfy at some scenes. So to my fellow asexuals out there, keep in mind that you might want to skip one or two scenes - if you're like me.
BUT the rest of the scenes are really important, so don't skip all of it!

- samuel <3

Read More

Finished Episode Three, And I'm Not Disappointed.

There's FINAlLY another series out there that works as a teaching moment, not just hot guys making out and having "cute" problems to force a plot.

The amount of consent and open communication practised by both Team and Win is amazing. Even with something as simple as when Win leaves Team without taking his hand, to have him choose if he wanna follow or not.

Sure, I'm only at episode three, but oh my god- yes.

Thank you so so much for making this a story that other BLs can use as a role model. Thank you for making it something more than just them making out and having communication struggles that leads to hot make-up sex. Thank you for making them human, and for not making this just another disappointment for me.

I'm so so so looking forward to watching future episodes.

Love,
Samuel

Read More

This drama is a ten out of ten, and here's why:

There are so many great reviews already on this page, so I'll tell you my perspective of things and what this story means to me.

I started this series, not knowing what the plot would be or who the characters were. Around episode six, I started my regular crying routine as soon as it reminded me of my own story. This drama is like a soft blanket that I can use when I'm feeling down, confused and frustrated.

So what's my story then?

Well, I'm Vlad and they were Karl. I fell for them head over heels over the course of a year, until one day I just couldn't continue being their friend. We had moments, where I could swear that they liked me back, and in which I desperately wanted to kiss them, if only for just a second or two. I dreamed about them, took pictures (even if they hated having them taken), gave corny compliments and cuddled while waiting for our classes. We bonded over k-pop and could chat about the different groups for hours.

But when I finally confessed, I got nothing. Nada.

It was over a game where I had gotten a question if I liked someone. Remember: I had liked them for over a year now, physically bubbling with love. So I wanted to stop living in a fairytale that very second. I looked over at them, sitting next to me and blushed while saying, "Yeah, I like you."

Our friends started giggling like a bunch of children, waiting for their response. They smiled, us having cuddled just moments before as if we had been lovers for real. But it was as if they'd lost their mouth and their words with it. So I got even more embarrassed and took cover behind them like a child, hearing a friend laughing and saying, "You know that you could've just answered yes or no for that question, right?*

And no, that hadn't even crossed my mind.

So I went to use the bathroom, freaking out while texting my best friend about it, before returning with them now eating ice cream like crazy. I tried to check how they were - if they had something to say back to me now. But I got nothing, again.

And then months followed of me waiting for them to at least give me an answer, until I had to see that that was the answer. They stopped cuddling, chatting, sitting beside me, texting me- yet they pretended like nothing was wrong, that I hadn't just laid my heart in front of seven people in a room, including themselves.

So when reaching episode seven, all of this returned, making me cry like a baby once again.

In other words: This drama is a 10/10 for the acting, music, visuals, script and having a story highlighting one of the many struggles of being gay, and how we're only human, deserving love just like everyone.

Thank you for making it. Thank you for giving me a blanket to help with my story, to spread awareness, and for showing us that it's okay to be ourselves, and it's okay for the other person to take their time while you need to be proud.

Love,
Samuel

Ps. I'm down for chatting in the comments below if you feel like it. <3

Read More

My engineer; a series that's quite cheesy and cringe, but sometimes enjoyable.

Hi friends! This is my second time watching this series, and there's quite a lot to discuss so let's just get into it, shall we?

STORY
Uhm okay. So I wouldn't say that it's everyone's cup of tea, but there are still some good parts if you know where to look. As I said, this is my second time I've seen this series (this time with a friend) and I enjoyed it much more with someone beside me to discuss the story with. Sure, there are some parts that we laughed and screamed of joy at, but also a lot of scenes that I wanted to skip. The storyline is cheesy and problematic, just in a boring or concerning way.
Couple number one: Bohn (the big baby) and Duen (the one that always says he's sorry)
First of all Bohn. He's pretty controlling, always angry and toxic. Like, he gets jealous ALL THE FUCKING TIME and it gets annoying after the first times of him dragging Duen along and trying to kiss him just so he can whole that he "owns" him or something. Then there's Duen, the sweet baby who always wants to do the right thing, cooks for his boyfriend and tries to take it slow. This boy just wants a life where he can hang out with his male friends without getting dragged along by his boyfriend that wants him to explain himself and then kiss him. Like how would even stay in that relationship?
Couple number two: King (the plant boy) and Ram (the doggie boy). My babies.
These two should really sit down with Bohn and talk to him about trusting his boyfriend, taking it in his time and respecting his life where he wants to have friends. King respects Ram, helps him and tries to comfort him but NOT asking him like it's a fucking interview. Just like Ram says; King understands him. Ram is this really focused on his task boy that doesn't want to talk to EVERYONE. He's caring for those he loves and wants to protect them from all harm. When you get to know him, you know you've found someone special that's worth your time and loving. Even though this couple is not official (yet) you clery see that this is going to evolve into a great relation in season two.
Couple number three: Boss and Mek. The husband and wife since ages back in time.
Well well well. First of all, poor these boys. I mean I wish they had told each other about their feelings at day one. Mek is crealy missreble with Boss dating someone else in the start of the series. I know that's a part of the story but i would rather have seen them being this couple from the start. And its kinda creepy yet sweet with Mek and his wall of fame portaing Boss and their friendship. Plus; they go from zero (aka friends) to lovers in a minute...?
Couple number four: Frong and Thara. The couple that has not quite started yet.
It's sweet, but I don't understand the fuss about it. That FrongThara and RamKing would be the ones that everyone's there for. (please don't hate me for this tho) I mean, almost nothing has even happened - but I guess that's something for season two.
Final words of this little rant; I'm mad that they made Ryan have a voiceover (he who plays Mek) just because he can't Thai that well. They could just have announced that he was a forgien student and that he was learning. And I hate that they had that typical stereotype thing that always in gay relations: "Im not gay, I'm just in love with *name*..." - like why canä't they be pan/bi if that is so important? Why making them a straight that's in love with one boy?

ACTING/CAST
Not that much to say about this but, the overall acting was sweet but not that good and belivbale. Let just say its certainly not one of the best I've seen in the BL drama community.
I have nothing against the actors, however some of the cry scenes and the love scenes dosnet work for me. But yeah, I'm quite harsh when it comes to this just because I feel this is the most important part (plus the story) to make it great.
I was glad to see that I didn't know any of these actors from any other series, because that usually fucks with my head haha. And also, Perth's (potraing Ram) acting was one of the best in this series. I love his way of showing Rams personality and you can see that he knows his character very well even though he's the polar opposite of Ram in real life.

MUSIC
They are constatly using the same music over and over and that annoys me a bit. For example, when its a sad scene it's this piano melody and when its a dramatic (even tho some times it's not, in my opinion) there's this action song. But sometime it was well needed to make the mood right however they maybe could have had more traks to use.

REWATCH VALUE
I'm probably not going to watch this again, if not with a friend. I just keep waiting the RamKing edits on youtube and are happy with that. Maybe even one or two MekBoss ones too.

SOME LAST WORDS
The summary: I would say that if you're really bored or looking for something cheesy and with some quite disturbing plots, yeah sure watch this. But its not a "Trapped" or Until we meet again" quality in this series. (actors, music, story) But theres some worth watching parts (aka RamKing) so yeah, watch it for those two.

- samuel <3

Read More

This series had so much more potential.

Okay, so I've only seen four episodes and a bit of the fifth. But the scenes feel so so random?
Like there's comedy and the next second there's this romantic music out of nowhere?

Maybe it's just not my style of editing, but how the heck am I supposed to follow all these twists and turns, and it's not only the scenes, the friendships are really f'ucking weird. If they now have a certain community and vibe of the staff, certain rules to follow - where- I don't know?

Am I alone in feeling that this series and plot had so much more potential?
I can clearly see that they have the budget, so why is the writing so weird?

Still, I will probably finish the series, but I have to stop five times each episode just to process the plot because it all just feels so random and weird.

I just feel like they tried to do a similar thing as "Trapped" but it flopped horribly.

EDIT - I watched ep. 6 (spoilers)
Oh my fucking god. The kiss, the water kiss. They were freezing, Kinn asking for a HUG, hugging, then the gentle kiss that seemed to make Porche weak in the knees, and Kinn then pausing, saying that they have to go up. I guess Kinn felt like it was a bad idea due to his feelings for Porche and Kinn's father saying that it can't happen again (as it did for Kinn with a former lover?)
EDIT 2 - still watching ep 6.
WOW okay, their acting! And the way that Kinn and Porche have gotten so much closer in a healthy way in this episode makes my eyes a bit blurry. This episode made my rating go from a six to a seven. I'm actually glad that I didn't drop the series.

- Samuel [2022]

Read More

A series worth remembering for years to come!

I finished this series a few minutes ago. and am so happy to have found it!

The plot was what some would call a "basic" idea, but it impressed me beyond words. - It follows White and Black (yes, I know; who names their kids Black and White? But bare with me, because it works really well for them), a pair of twins that got separated ten years ago because of their ability to feel the other one's feelings; ex. when dying or feeling extremely happy. But Black gets into an accident, making White join his gang to find out who it was who hurt Black - while pretending to be Black, aka taking his place.

Some hiccups of the production would be the extremely abrupt jumps from scenes. It made me kinda confused the first few times, thinking my computer was acting up. But if you just look past it, I'm sure you'll adore the series. The soundtrack is beautiful, the plot well written and the characters are rounded with lots of perspectives of life.

And the ACTING; yo! Gun Atthaphan's acting gave me chills at times. Especially when he had to act like two completely different characters (the twins), even sometimes in the same scene at once. He's so f*cking talented, it's beyond anything I've seen in a Bl Drama before. He made me love White and despise Black, being the same face for both of them. - And the other actors, and actresses (there's even a trans character!) are really good too. But Gun stood out to me, not gonna lie.

The series also takes up some interesting perspectives on life, especially societal struggles, making you reflect on your own society and laws. It shone a bright light on rich people acting above the law, while the lower society had to take the scraps thrown at them. - But it also shows no regard to whether the characters in question are gay or not. There's not a single character that acts up when two guys enter a relationship, and it's such a nice change from past BL dramas, not gonna lie.

If you've read this far; please give it a chance. I promise that you won't regret it! It's a "mafia" gang, going up against the rich, with QUEER sprinkled all over the place. What more can you want?

What I loved most about this series though was the fact that I really couldn't see where the plot was leading at times. I always tend to have a gut feeling about where the characters are heading. But this one made me think and think and think, making me crazy at times. And that was really special to me, making the series ten times more enjoyable.

GO WATCH IT NOW!

- Samuel, 2023

Read More