Quaranthings (2020)

OUTSTANDING! HIGHLY-RECOMMENDED

I remember. I remember the day I was scrolling through my Twitter feed. I saw a poster of an upcoming BL that featured Kyo Quijano and Royce Cabrera. Kyo's photo was the one taken when he was in South Korea at Nami Island while for Royce, he was wearing a denim jacket. That balmy afternoon, I already knew that they will have chemistry by just looking at their visuals with their photos just being collaged side-by-side.

After watching the trailer, I was really surprised. The characters' acting were too natural and what I really appreciate is that, it's a BL that is unique. First impressions? I knew that it's not like a romcom. I knew it would be a heavy drama.

So, I remember. I remember the guilty kind of happiness I felt from being taken away from my midnight routines during Friday. I joined the ride for Quaranthings since Episode 1 and today, it finally ended at Episode 8. I didn't know that two people, Judah and Rocky who were two strong individuals with a lot of complex and emotional conflicts would be the people I'd be going with for almost two months. As a conservative girl, I knew for a fact that this story isn't only for the queers or for the members of the LGBTQIA which is a marginalized community, it is for everyone.

There are some points in the story that me as a girl can also relate and empathize. There were a lot of scenes that I knew somewhere in my life, I've been there like on Rocky's part as being the default breadwinner of the family. The series also tackled a lot of issues and throwing shade about the reality of how the Philippines in general responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also tackled lot of problems between the characters who were really different. One who is an openly gay (Judah) and the other(Rocky)who was closeted. The first 4 episodes were some combination of comedy, romance and some drama. As it progressed from 5-7, it was really devastating and brought a lot of revelations. Both of the leads have a fair share of mistakes and flaws. I felt on episode 7 that I should not choose a side because both of them are valid. And of course, Episode 8? They went full circle. I certainly didn't think that Rocky will repeat all things Judah was telling to him before. I loved it so bad!! I personally pick episode 8 as my favorite. The first 20mins were all conversations and it really answered some questions not yet tackled before. As compared to others, I wasn't able to cry maybe because I haven't been to a struggle of identity crisis and coming out. Maybe because I grew with some gay friends who were fully accepted by their family since they were child. But one thing is for sure, as a straight girl, it's painful to see that some people should experience those kind of process. And those conversations of Rocky and Judah over Empi really pained me. Even in real life, some would lose their jobs, some would lose family, some undergo depression and of course, they are discriminated just after coming out. I think this is also an eye opener to everyone.

Finally, I applaud Rocky for what he did. As a very manly/ masculine guy with a lot of baggages in the past and so many responsibilities, I was so happy that he got to choose himself. Judah on the other hand chose to be kind. I felt during the last episode that they really love each other. Tagos po un sa screen na nagmamahalan talaga sila. I don't know why. maybe because they're so good at portraying it. Because there's a side of asking what ifs. What if it isn't love yet. But hey! It's really love. I think the series just wanted to show that there isn't a right timing for love or right formula or even right pacing. Who cares of it's too fast paced, right? I think, what they wanted to show is that, it's better to fight for someone whom you have feelings for, someone you love for because you don't know when are they gonna stick around. I think this lesson is also very timely. A lesson taught to us by this pandemic being on quarantine. All conflicts were resolved and all the "kiligs" and all sort of romcom vibe were felt during the last minutes of the series. The melodramatic tone shifted to something that's light. After all the flashbacks, all the painful moods were gone. I felt like Judah and Rocky is ready to face the outside world. That's the moment I really felt that Kyo and Royce regained their chemistry after episodes of heavy scenes. The ending was superb! They really reserved the kissing scene and it felt that it was made out of LOVE. I couldn't have it any other. PERFECT! SOLID!

I really want to congratulate the whole team behind this series. I'm so impressed with the storyline. Rod Marmol is really a writer that everyone should look up to. As far as I know, the directors and production team behind this series were same people behind Adobers Studios' "Bakit ka Single?" or "Bakit ka Nag-stay?" I used to watch some of these before and some of it were really heartbreaking and tagos sa puso. I love their grit and passion of creating. I watched some of their interviews and I applaud them.

The portrayal of Royce was on point. I never felt some cringe moments throughout the series. I just knew him because of Quaranthings. After research, I was able to trace that he is a talent of ABS-CBN even long before. He has a lot of potential. I want to tap and applaud Kyo for a wonderful performance. I was impressed of him since the official trailer premiered. I've been watching some of his vlogs for a longtime now because he's so funny. I never knew he would give his all for this series for some who has a comedian vibe and has a jolly personality. He's so on point during the heavy scenes. As a rookie in acting, he never disappointed me for bringing the character of Judah to life. I saw Judah. I didn't see the Kyo who is a vlogger. Jan's acting being a conyo-guy was also natural even for Karl who portrayed Beshie.

As a viewer, I felt like they grabbed the opportunity of having the setting as is and don't need a very cozy apartment/ boarding house. The series is so raw and real, genuine and pure. I don't need to comment on the cinematography. As a viewer, I invest more on the emotions and how the actors portrayed their role. The musical scoring and the background instrumentals brought eargasm. The OST (Sansinukuban) really fitted the story. Karl as a singer really performed it so well.

Now, I remember. I remember that what came before our tear-flooded eyes for Episode 8 were the scenes that bled lessons to a million of viewers here in PH and around the world. Behind those fridays were viewing of Zoomharots on ROD channel, Kalat hours, watching BL reactors' videos to confirm our understanding, the endless laughters shared during interviews with the casts through FB and Youtube livestreams, the jokes on Kalat Hours, and the solid belief and trust that the series will have a happy ending- that it took us more than two months to remove the doubts in our heads to ultimately rally and clamor that LOVE IS LOVE.

It gives me so much of an emotional blow going back to how I spent every night on Friday now that Quaranthings is over. Each single second I find myself in a blank stare meant flashbacks of days and hours we (the viewers and the people behind Quaranthings) shared - and how our lives revolved on Rocky and Judah's universe gave me something to look at and want to get back to. I will definitely rewatch this when time comes my schedule permit. I will forever reserve a chamber in my heart and mind for every invaluable emotions, memories and life lessons the series imparted to me. I will definitely recommend this to anyone.

Lastly, I am also one of those who clamor for Season 2. If it won't happen, I'm still satisfied either. I'm so happy that I met Rocky and Judah. They are so real to me.

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Different

I was going to wait until the show ended so I could binge watch but with all the positive feedback I was seeing, I couldn't wait anymore. It was definitely different from other BL I've seen(and trust me I've seen a lot). It was fresh story with a plot you don't see very often. It was a little cheesy at times, but still cute af. Obviously, I believe if Covid didn't interfere, it would have potential to be even better but the virus is what makes the plot in this series. As good as the ratings are I still think it's underappreciated. The ending gave me anxiety but I wouldn't mind a S2 AT ALL lol

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So much more than meet the eye

This series is so underrated. It may seem basic and ordinary at first glance, but it is packed full of beautiful and insightful moments. Underneath a story of coming to terms with one's sexuality is a deep social commentary on what it means to be loved, what it means to be queer and classism. The series doesn't shy away from some darker topics ranging from self harm and self hatred, to poverty and struggling for acceptance. It doesn't try to preach but uses the characters to bring to the forefront topics very rarely or even never mentioned in BL. Definitely recommend and i can't believe it took me this long to see it.

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Emotional pain is the focal point to this series

It is a story about two guys essentially stuck in a condo because of the Covid pandemic. They do not know each other which makes for interesting dynamics. The dialogue between these two is nothing short of brilliant. This story grows on you because of two things. The acting becomes sincere and believable and the dialogue is superb and top notch. There are such deep meaningful dialogues almost too many to catch in one setting. The screenplay centering around the conversations they had between each other is one of the finest of any BL series. If you want to read my full review of this short but very interesting series, please go to ppbongi.medium.com.

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Quaranthings The Series

I liked this series but was also kind of underwhelmed by it. It didn’t have the most original plot but I wasn’t too fussed by that.

The lack of communication was frustrating, if they had literally just sat down and openly talked to each other, half of the misunderstandings wouldn’t have happened.

I did like that fact that we got too see characters from different walks of life find common ground & deal with insecurities placed on them by the society they grew up in.

I do think the ending was a bit rushed, I would’ve preferred if they’d spent some time away from each other to really work out their individual problems and then come back together stronger & more sure of themselves but that’s just my opinion.
Overall though I did like this series.

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Quaranthings the series

Durante o período mais severo da pandemia de Covid-19, no mundo inteiro as produções artísticas foram afetadas. Com isso, as Filipinas trouxeram uma inovação, que foram as séries gravadas mostrando pessoas em confinamento, iniciando com a primeira temporada de Gameboys e seguindo com dezenas de outras produções, algumas de baixíssimo orçamento, com atores fracos ou medianos, e outras bem elaboradas,com bom roteiro e produção que fizeram bastante sucesso. Uma dessas últimas foi “Quaranthings the series”, que conta a história de como os mundos totalmente opostos de Rocky e Judah se encontram e se fundem.
Eu, enquanto expectadora, creio ser bem difícil conseguir um produto de qualidade diante das circunstâncias em que a série foi gravada, por isso eu não tenho críticas negativas a essa série. Apesar de não longa, a produção conseguiu fazer plausível a rapidez com que os dois rapazes se relacionaram, desde o primeiro dia, utilizando suas dores pessoais que já existiam antes do confinamento, que agora estavam agravadas pela solidão, pela saudade e carência, para fazer com que a aproximação fizesse sentido para os expectadores. Antes eles estavam imersos em seus problemas e sozinhos, agora podiam contar um com o outro e o resto (romance) foi consequência.
Recomendo a série, que além de tudo mostra a desconstrução do personagem Rocky, o famoso hétero top, que falava em ser gay como ser um alienígena, e aos poucos foi se permitindo, abandonando seus preconceitos até se entregar ao amor após seu árduo processo de auto-aceitação.

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a good one with some Issues in storytelling

First of all i want to say, that i definitely support that fact that an open queer actor plays an open queer role in this series.

Also the acting, the story and the atmosphere of this low budget Production is good. That Judah and Rocky are forced to stay in their Appartment makes it more Intense.
The Chemistry of them is well, not outstandig, but okay.

But when it comes to terms i’ve had the feeling, that this more an toxic relationship than an healthy one. So don’t know how to evaluate this one.
The biggest Issue is in the middle part of this series. The Storytellers want to much, to soon. There are so many subjects, like Conversation Therapy, a dead mother, a gay grandfather, an coming out, unemployment, etc.
That’s to much to handle for such small show. But in the finale Episodes it’s getting better and they had some real good talks about their relationship.

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An Unexpected Pleasure!

I stumbled across this miniseries (thank you, oh Mighty Algorithm) and had no particular expectations. But after two episodes I was completely hooked, and ended up binge-watching the rest all in one go. (Not my usual practice.) It surprised me -- a rough gem waiting to be discovered.

-- The story is straightforward but the dialogues are in many cases truly excellent. The tensions and attractions between the two lead characters make for a confused mix of emotions and the scriptwriter did a great job of bringing them out. As a previous reviewer said, this is all about the closet and the damage it does to people trying to figure themselves out. Apart from the main direction of the plot there was ample room to discover the back-stories of the characters, a discovery process which really added to the dramatic tension in the last few episodes.

-- I also really appreciated the realistic social subcontext. Rocky comes from a background that is altogether too real in the Philippines (or Thailand) -- he can't finish his education because his impoverished family is depending on him for support. The script is not heavy-handed and there is no preaching.....but man, do you get the idea. (And Rocky's devotion to his father and siblings makes him even more attractive as a character.) Many many BL dramas from the Philippines and Thailand inhabit an imaginary world where everyone exists in comfortable urban affluence. This one introduces real-world concerns without being moralistic.

-- The acting was really good. Royce Cabrera is excellent (and super-attractive) as the stoic Rocky. (I could have used a bit more emotion from him at various points, but it's part of the character's stoicism and fatalism.) Kyo Quijano is a new actor, and it shows.....a lot of people dislike his character, Judah, who is kind of a spoiled brat. (Gives a bad name to gay people). But I tend to give Kyo credit -- HE's not the spoiled brat, Judah is, and I take the fact that Kyo was able to repel the audience at times with his whining as a tribute to his ability to get into the role. This series is really just about these two characters -- the supporting roles are really really minor. And the two have very good chemistry (despite the huge gulf in their personalities/backgrounds.) Memorable moment for me: Rocky lying on the bed talking about his family concerns. He lies on his back, unmoving and looking straight up; he is controlled and stoic -- even while talking about his greatest anxieties. But then.....a tear runs down his cheek. That just grabbed my heart -- it says so much about concepts of masculinity and what they do to people.

-- This was clearly not a big-budget production, but it was very successfully done. Virtually all of the scenes took place in the shared apartment. The lighting and camerawork were very good and the music, while not memorable, provided nice backgrounds for the characters. I really liked the balcony scenes, where the two (drunken) characters play truth or dare and end up discovering each other in unexpected ways. On the other hand, the "artwork" in that apartment was pretty appalling. That unicorn had to be the most un-subtle piece of neon art ever -- and for neon art that is really saying something!

-- The plot twists up until the end were good enough that I was actually surprised by the ending. That doesn't happen much. And the sex scene was tastefully done. (I liked that they fell into bed first, and starting thinking about their relationship afterwards. That struck me as highly realistic!)

So I would warmly recommend this as an entertaining and rewarding watch. Don't be put off by Judah's whining, and think about what the drama is telling you, beyond just the characters' interplay. There's a lot to unpack.

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This series was a series of contradictions for me. Average.
On the one hand, in some moments such fundamental questions were solved, because for me the most beautiful feeling in the world has a deep place in my soul (episodes 7 and 8), on the other hand, I didn't like the fact that "someone" took away this love he begs, begs and tries to bribe the other.

The opposite was between the main characters of the series. Masculine Royce Cabrera (even though they cast him in the series) and a kind of "hermaphrodite" Kyo Quijano, with whom I could not classify his strange face, whether it is male, female or rather in many cases it seemed to me like a child with thin female palms. The Beshie character also didn't deliver for me, as I didn't know if this grinning creature was a woman or a man and if she was 15 or 50. It's a shame that many BL series are filmed in this spirit, but apparently in East Asia they have success with it.


Tento seriál byl pro mě seriálem protikladů. Průměrný.
Na jedné straně se v některých mometech řešily otázky tak zásadní, protože pro mě ten nejkrásnější cit na světě má u mě hluboké místo v duši (7. a 8. díl), na druhé se mi nelíbilo to, že "někdo" o tuto lásku prosí, škemrá a snaží se toho druhého uplatit.

Protiklad byl mezi hlavními hrdiny seriálu. Mužný Royce Cabrera (ještě že jej do seriálu obsadili) a jakýsi "hermafrodit" Kyo Quijano, u kterého jsem nemohl zařadit tu jeho zvláštní tvářičku, zda je mužská, ženská a nebo spíše v mnohých případech mi připadala jako dětská s útlými ženskými dlaněni. Také postava Beshie mi nedodala, neboť jsem nevěděl, zda je tato šklebící se kreaura žena či muž a zda má 15 let nebo 50. Škoda, že mnohé BL seriály jsou natáčeny v tomto duchu, ale zřejmě ve východní Asii s tím mají úspěch.

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:(((

I loved how natural the dialogue was. They were cute angsty boys that really gave a young adult feel, classic college kids. This felt very queer because it touched on so many aspects of queer life. Gay bars, a flamboyantly gay character, conversion therapy, like the kinds of things that don't really get explored in BL dramas in meaningful ways.

The characters are flawed, which makes them feel more human. But what bothered me was the biphobia. Sure, some people might use the term bisexual before they're ready to come out as gay. I'm sure it's happened before. But what gave Judah the right to assume that was the case for Rocky? I hated how much he kept pressuring Rocky to come out, and how he kept trying to convince Rocky to do it "for his mom" when really Judah just wanted Rocky to come out for himself. Judah constantly pressured Rocky into situations he wasn't comfortable with.

It was a happy ending, and it felt realistic, but when I finished I felt kind of frustrated. Judah's actions really rubbed me the wrong way.

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Awwww ????

This is a short and sweet story. Moves along at a good pace. Character development is brilliant. You get back story (eventually) for both which gives you a better understanding of why they are like they are. Rocky, mean and moody (and beautiful) Judah sweet and vulnerable. Together - no way. But yes! It works! Their chemistry is electric. If you are looking for mad passionate NC this is not it, but the scene where they finally get together is done so beautifully it made me cry. Glenn thrown into the mix causes all sorts of chaos and Judah’s Beshie is a scream!

When Judah says “you are my happiest regret” oh how I sobbed. Delivered so perfectly with so much emotion.

It’s a happy ending so don’t fret. I really enjoyed this short series and it taught me a lot about feelings and emotions and how to express them even when it feels wrong to do so.

Loved it. Watch it. ❤️❤️

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Ugh...

This series caught my attention due to Royce Cabrera, who was one of the leads along with Gameboys’ Kokoy in Fuccbois, a Filipino BL film. Though the story does deal with the covid crisis, it’s nice to see actual human interaction rather than video calling. Story-wise, it’s alright though I bit forced, such as Rocky randomly offering to massage Judah. Not sure how massage was going to help keep Judah awake and not sure why Rocky just ended up caressing Judah’s hair and only barely massaging his temples. Nothing particularly exciting but nothing boring either. Still have to wait to give my verdict as it’s too early. Royce is hot though and it was nice seeing his several shirtless scenes in the first episode. ;) On a side note, I do like how Judah is confidently gay and knows what he likes though I do find him a bit irritating though. Interested in seeing where the story goes from here.

After watching Episode 3, I've decided to drop this series as I have found the last few episodes to be quite boring and dull. The story is quite predictable with its straight-roommate-turns-gay storyline, which has been done better and more interestingly by other BL series. I may revisit this series later on, but most likely not...

Revising the series, I actually kinda enjoyed the latest episodes. Yes, Judah is still annoying but his actions and feelings made sense (excluding posting Rocky's photos online, that was just plain stupid). And yes, he did come onto Rocky too hard, but Rocky did reciprocate though.

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