A battle between the head and heart

Taiwanese BLs have always come out a cut above the rest, IMHO, and Unknown showcased this perfectly. From the start, there is a solid story, and moreover, it's relatable and offers depth that is rarely found in BLs. You are able to see and understand struggle vividly, and that's a compliment to both the writers, director, and actors.

Unknown comes out as a slow burn, and it's like gradually being wrapped with a warm blanket. You start to feel for the characters, and the pacing assisted in providing context without any drag. Wei Qian struggles for his family, and Xiao Yuan struggles for his love. In both cases, their dedication is entirely pure and salient.

When the story reaches its tipping point, it's an audible change. That struggle from before shifts to something else, and again, attesting to the strength of the actors, you can feel the difference. Life doesn't get easy, but letting the wall down for them allowed for a comfort and happiness. Wei Qian carried himself differently, and the entire time prior to this, we didn't really see him be truly happy -- but then we did and it was magical.

It's one you have to watch for yourself to not just understand but experience.

Read More

A Mixed Bag

Bed Friend wasn't quite what I went in expecting. I planned to watch it for just something sexy to break up the serious shows I have been watching, and it delivered on that element but also had more of a foundation than I thought. As with many BLs, there is a strong line of trauma from one of the characters, and you catch on fairly quickly. I personally could do without this, particularly some of the more time lapsed scenes they depicted (nothing explicit, but I think hinting at it would've been fine or just one brief scene). At some point, I was also frustrated because it felt the trauma was just too much of a plot crutch and not enough of something that needed to be dealt with carefully.

That being said, this BL did a lot of really good things. It handled several topics not often discussed -- STD testing, condoms, and mental health to name some. I was quite impressed that they put these things plainly on the table. On top of that, the boundary setting and partner respect (for the most part) was refreshing. Despite some unhealthy moments, I found their relationship to be quite positive outside the nuance of labels.

I really enjoyed the couple, but what was unfortunate for me was that I felt like it basically wrapped up at episode 8, so I had lost interest for those last two episodes. Still, the intimacy and connection of the characters paired with the handling of some often left out topics gives it a decent rating.

Read More

Worth a Rewatch

Suspend reality and let yourself soar.

I had started this a couple years ago when it first came out, but never got to finish it. Going back now to watch it, the series stuck with me even in the first 6 episodes because I remembered so much, which to me is always a good sign.

I don't typically care much about music in a drama, but I actually really enjoyed it here. There was intensity when it needed to be there, and softness in other points. The music set the tone in a way that often doesn't happen for me. And of course, I love an over-the-top storyline, and can you really get more over the top than a messy family and the mafia?

But truthfully, what really sold this show for me was the support characters. Yes, the main couples and actors were lovely, but the supports just added so much to the show. Chan, the head bodyguard, despite having very little context or story, still gave such a strong character that I felt a connection to him. Then you have Boss, who I initially had a strong dislike for (as they wanted me to, I'm sure), but the character redemption was fabulous. Pair that with other characters such as Erika, Tankhun, and Arm. The cast created such a special story that made it worth so much more for me than just the title couple. And while I am considering Vegas a main, he isn't listed as such, but the way they took you on a rollercoaster with him was wild. He wins for most traumatized character by far, even without them showing you everything (which doesn't excuse his actions, mind you).

Finally, I have to give a mention to the final episode. The series had action sprinkled throughout, but then episode 14 hit and you got punched in the face with it and I loved that. It was everything it needed to be, except I am in agony over going back and forth about Korn.

Needless to say, enjoyable and one I would rewatch again.

Read More

Second half fell flat

So I wrote this long review and accidentally refreshed the page, so I'm going to sum this up quicker.

This drama had potential. The main characters had great chemistry, and from the start the way Palm looked at Nueng set off fireworks. Where they went wrong was with trying to make a plot without fully committing. It didn't feel like organized crime, but instead just like some solo bad guys being shady. I feel they may have avoided actually going down that path because it would've had them acknowledge Nueng's father's involvement in those dynamics, but who knows.

I appreciated elements such as Chopper's redemption arc (but his begging for forgiveness in the hospital was horrific timing), Mam's growth (truly don't think her end got the weight it deserved), and Maggie (seriously, Maggie was not letting anything slide... BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?! Literally fell from the planet after her visit to the hostel.)

I think the cast carried it for me, but what is making me consider dropping the rating even lower is one my most detested tropes -- deciding what your partner needs/wants without ever actually taking them into account or talking with them. Unfortunately, this drama had it happen not only once, but at least twice (in large ways, many more in smaller ones). The end also felt like deflated balloon after Palm did it, so I didn't even really feel committed to most of the last episode, which is sad because the beginning and middle actually really captured me.

I'll watch more dramas with the mains for sure, but this one was just okay for me.

Read More

School drama with a twist

I think it's important to note that I came into this drama with zero expectations. I watched it purely because I think First is a sensational actor (and he is, and was in this yet again) and because his chemistry with Khaotung is fabulous (and it was, yet again).

This is a school drama, much like you'll see in any BL, but it has a twist to it. There's a curse at the school, and it seeks those trying to disrupt order -- in this case, a group of protestors. I have read that it came off at first to people as more of a sci-fi kind of mystery, but coming in without expectations, I honestly just saw it for what it was, and therefore wasn't disappointed by any preconceived notions.

I enjoyed the cast of characters, and Akk's parents are the parents we all deserve. Similarly, Ayan is the boyfriend we all deserve. Akk and Ayan had a different dynamic than you see in most stories. They certainly weren't friends, but they also weren't sworn enemies (from my perspective). I think where I was let down at times with this was some of the more detailed elements. I struggled to understand what started the protesting in the first place, and I didn't think they really expressed the origin of the curse as effectively as they could've. Additionally, it may have been my mindset when watching, but I completely missed when Akk and Ayan started to date beyond Ayan literally just saying "we should date." That felt a bit lazy when it came to the writing, and the actors made the best of those scenes. On the opposite, I was surprised at some of what was behind the "mysteries." I had a guess, but I picked wrong at one point, and then was completely off with another layer of it in the end. It's good to be surprised sometimes.

I plan to rewatch this in the future when I can be more attentive to it, but overall it was a pleasant show with some surprising emotional elements.

Read More

Crazy little thing called love.

Oh boy. This series was a ride and a half, and I'm still not entirely sure about my rating.

There were points when I was so frustrated watching this, but it did a fairly good job at engaging me. I'm a sucker for complex relationship dynamics, and I think each of the pairs in this delivered on that tenfold. So to best assess, let's look at the couples.

Mew & Top: When I started, I wasn't sure about them. Mew's character was relatable for me, and I wanted Top to be a good guy -- but of course, nothing is that easy. The fist shaking and face palming done during certain scenes with them was numerous. Surprisingly, I feel they did a good job at redeeming Top. I was rooting for him by the end, and in a weird twist, I was annoyed by Mew. His character flip due to heartbreak was enraging at points, but they pulled it back together. This was the pair I was least engaged with, though. Also can we talk about the random storyline they threw in at the end? Literally insanity to me because it had zero development and felt like someone was like "but wait... fire!"

Nick & Boston: This dynamic hit so much on Queer as Folk, but couldn't live up to that series. Still, Nick was endearing, though naive. Boston was not meant to be likeable and they did a fantastic job of conveying that. I really wish they would've explored more of his character, especially after what Nick said to him about wanting to be loved. I feel like that hit so hard, but wasn't fleshed out. Furthermore, they tried to redeem Ton, but there was no real moral dilemma evident when he just repeated his usual patterns. I feel like if they wanted us to believe he had some signs of hope, they needed to show that more. Ton grew on me, but like mold grows in a poorly ventilated bathroom. I'm sad but happy in the end that Nick chose himself. Boston has some growing to do, and he can't do it if he is enabled.

Sand & Ray: I actually chose to watch Only Friends because I enjoyed First so much in Note Me. This couple is really the star of the show for me. Ray was so enraging at points, and I think Sand was such a beautiful person, which they conveyed well. They were ying and yang at points, but complimented each other. As someone who works with mental health and addictions, Ray was a particularly heartbreaking character. His one therapy session had me near tears, and I wish we could've seen more of his exploration. I would've loved for them to delve more into the dynamics of recovery and loving someone in recovery. Their chemistry was palpable. One thing that bugged me a bit is the lack of closure related to Sand's dad.

Boeing: Not a pair, but he gets his own line because he created so many feels. Love the actor, hate the character -- so basically, he did another great job at acting. He was like Ton but boss level Ton. Any time he walked into the room, I was ready to throw something at my screen.

The ending felt a bit flat, but I enjoyed by journey (well, most of it).

Read More

Destiny... or something.

Love in Translation has a lot of adorable traits to it. The two mains are very cute together and their chemistry isn't terrible, though also not the best I've seen. There was a lot of silliness, which I enjoyed, and for a large part there was a light-hearted nature. The two start off on the wrong foot, find common ground, and then one is star-obsessed while the other develops a crush. It's sweet and endearing.

Where the drama lost me was in the last couple episodes. I have a huge pet peeve for drama being thrown in just for the sake of having some kind of stressor in the storyline. I wish that they had just let this be a cute, fluff piece instead of adding in that extra layer -- which I say add in, but it didn't actually add anything. It felt silly, but not in the sweet way.

I would watch the actors again, but the drama is one I feel like I'll forget within a matter of days or weeks, unfortunately. Sweet, but forgettable.

Read More

Two for the price of one

When this show came on my radar, I was just excited for the racing component. Granted, that ended up really not being a heavy part of the storyline, it was still an enjoyable element.

Each of the couples have episodes dedicated to them, and to be perfectly honest, I struggled at first with Rain. He struck me as an annoying younger brother. For a lot of it I felt an urge to smack my forehead, but he started to grow on me after a few episodes, so I was glad I stuck it out. There were components until the last portion of their story where I also really appreciated that the "drama" felt like authentic things (related to education, for example) as opposed to something over-the-top. Of course, we ended up getting something like that, but I almost pretend that part didn't exist and just had the wholesome story. Well, wholesome to an extent. The praise kink was next level for Rain/Payu. Whew.

Sky made the show for me. I thoroughly enjoyed his banter and armor. There is always a character with some layers of trauma, and while it again felt over-the-top because this is a drama, I appreciated that they didn't just shove it entirely to the side. Could it have been handled better? Sure, but compared to how I've seen things handled in dramas, it was not bad. Prapai was a wonderful partner and the way he provided reassurance was, imho, very healthy and loving.

The intimacy in the series was top notch. Each couple felt believable in their connections with each other (simple intimacy and otherwise).

I think my biggest gripe is how it ended. It felt incredibly rushed and like an oreo where they forgot the stuffing. I'm hoping the special episode makes up for the rush job, but regardless it was a lot of fun.

Read More

Cute but surface level

This was a cute follow-up for Tharn and Type. I appreciated that the drama didn't feel so layered on, but it again glossed over so many things to try to put a bow on stories quickly. I was disappointed with how they handled things with Type's dad. It felt like "well, he hates you, Tharn, so sorry" and that was it. Again, kind of a shrug without much depth or action. The actors pulled the weight of this for me, but it did feel like a cute story with little substance or development. We still have yet to deal with Type's homophobia and I'm about 10/10 sure we won't even in the sequel. So all in all, it was fine, but that's just about it.

Read More

A mixed bag

This was a rewatch for me as it was one of the last BL series I watched before life taking over for a few years (plus). It was just as problematic the second time around, and I hate myself for enjoying parts of it, but I did. I'm partial to the main actors, as I think a lot of BL lovers are, and so sometimes I overlook the glaring issues.

That being said, despite years between watches, when we got to the exes returning to meddle start of the storyline and then the additional blackmail hot mess express that followed, I remembered a large part of why I was so irritated with the series It felt like a lot of unnecessary drama -- literally just thrown in to draw out episodes. I think that time and energy would've been better spent dealing with Type's not-so-internalized homophobia and maybe starting to better understand and love himself as well as others, but no one asked me so extra drama it was. They also didn't actually deal with the storyline they presented at all. There was no legal involvement for anyone, and the emotional damage of everything and the gravity of the situation was totally glossed over. Hence, again, it was just thrown in to make the plot more dramatic IMHO and without actual forethought or appropriate care.

Techno will probably forever me one of my favorite side characters, though. His facial expressions never ceased to make me laugh and he played the typical side BFF to a T.

Read More

Taiwan BLs Strike Again

Time and again, Taiwanese BLs prove to be favorites. The acting and production just always seems to be a different level than what I am used to with most Thai BLs.

It's totally unrealistic, but I was hoping for a story that was an escape, and this totally fit the bill. I know a lot of people talk about Chen Yi and Ai Di, and I totally adore them too, but I actually really enjoyed the main couple. Zongyi taking time to warm up and the cat analogy was adorable and fitting. I usually get annoyed by overly sweet tie ins with things like baking, because it often feels like it comes out of nowhere, but they actually layered in that element perfectly (I know it sounds like an odd thing to get bothered by, but I think it usually reminds me of Hallmark movies, which I'm not a fan of).

I was not very excited with the amnesia trope, but it made things a bit more interesting. The reunion scene had me tearing up, which is another rarity. To top it off, the twist in the final episode actually was a bit of a twist for me. I knew something was there, but it hadn't hit me until they revealed it quite what it was, and I'm glad they didn't end up killing anyone off.

Thoroughly enjoyable and one I wouldn't want to miss.

Read More

Adorable Storyline & Spot-on Chemistry

I've been away from BL for some time. This was one of the first couple I watched to dip my toes back in after years away. It fit everything I expect from a good BL. It had cliche storylines, was super cheesy at times, but all around was also heart warming and a story where you rooted for the main characters to find their way. I really enjoyed the chemistry and the rivals to lovers storyline is easily one of my favorites. The dynamics of their friends was realistic despite being layered with extra drama (I mean, it is a drama, so checks that box).

Overall a super gooey adorable story that I would highly recommend.

Read More

Poetry in motion

This was a very odd experience for me. I think I was crying most of episode 4 and into the start of 5, and it's one of the only times I can remember being okay if the mains didn't end up with each other. I actually was hoping for most of the last half that it would go a different way, and I'm not used to that.

So let's talk about it. First off, I have to give immense credit to the writers and actors. The way they made you feel the emotions was absolutely insane, to the point where I often wanted to smack Teh and felt like he was breaking my heart. Oh-aew's facial expressions in particularly are etched in my mind now, and the hammock scene in episode two is stuck firmly as its next door neighbor. The middle episodes in particular had you feeling a sense of desperation and the desire they held for each other. It was like you felt a piece of thread being pulled tighter and tighter, and when you didn't think it could be tighter, it did.

I think of it as episode 3 was the crescendo and episode 4 was the crash. Simple intimacies were heavily integrated in the story in a way I think most BL misses, and that made this really special. Pair that with a sensational cast of characters, from Bas and Tarn to Hoon, and finally (my favorite) Tuty

I usually could care less about music in a drama, but this music was really integral and beautiful. It made sense and added to the story. There was always a purpose for everything in this drama I found, even some of the items of clothing provided statements.

If I can give one big takeaway for this, it's that the drama defines coming of age. The delicate exploration, the anxious trials of boundaries, the self-discovery... It's an experience.

Read More

If he's bravery, I must be fear

Every once in a while, a story or show comes along that far and above exceeds the genre and expectations. Not Me perfectly encapsulated that.

The idea of twins and swapping roles has been around for ages (Parent Trap, anyone?), but to see it used in this context and as a BL was completely original and different. Then you take this brilliant idea for twins and you add issues around social justice, ones that two years after airing are still so prevalent around the world. Next, give yourself actors with undeniable chemistry and a cast that fits together seamlessly, and then you add a script worthy of awards. That's where you get Not Me.

Off and Gun have a casual intimacy to them that came across beautifully with their characters. It's the reason why for many they are a top couple, and hopefully will continue to be for years to come. Not only that, but the support roles all served a purpose. Too often there are characters thrown in just because, but that was not the case here. The side relationship involving Yok in particular felt very moving, and it took yet another angle to look at society, the demands it puts on us, and our roles as cogs within the machine -- and what you might do to disrupt that machine.

While not entirely unpredictable, I still found it enjoyable. I saw things coming, but it didn't deter from the overall message or heart of the show, one that has me continuing to think and grateful that a show was brave enough to put spotlight on what others make an effort to hide.

Read More