"Let us not be afraid to love": Reminder that even in today's challenging world love will always win

By way of introduction:
After that fairy tale kiss between two boys so different from each other who became lovers during the school retreat that closes the award-winning boy love movie (BL) 'The Boy Foretold by Stars' (2020), Dominic and Luke , they are now entering a new stage in their relationship.
But being in a same-sex relationship at a strict Catholic all-boys school should never be easy. The pressure from their friends, their parents, teachers and the rest of the students is a practically insurmountable obstacle to a romance, even if it is destined by the stars. Despite everything that life throws at them, Dominic and Luke try to be strong and maintain their love.
Produced by iWantTFC, Clever Minds and Dreamscape Entertainment, the drama is based on trans Filipina screenwriter and director Dolly Dulu own personal experience, captured in her play "Ang Hangal."
With this interesting premise, the series brings back actors Keann Johnson and Adrian Lindayag, who play Luke and Dominic, respectively, to reprise their roles as high school students at an all-boys Catholic school, whose friendship turns into a beautiful romance.

The story:

After passing through the Metro Manila Film Festival and the success recognized by the public and critics of 'The Boy Foretold by Stars', the sequel series takes us through the last weeks of high school for the newlywed couple. formed by Dominic and Luke. We are now close to the final exams, the granting of sports scholarships and university courses, the graduation ball, the selection of the Valedictory, the preparation of the speech at the end of year ceremony...
And in this context, as disapproving glances and harsh realities begin to confront the main characters, it remains in doubt whether their bond will continue to exist after graduation day.
In this scenario, Luke, a straight boy who believes in destiny, and Dominic, an openly gay teenager who scoffs at predestination, are forced to take fate into their own hands, without any deck of cards or coin toss able to decide for them.
"Sugal ang pagmamahal, hindi ito para sa mga duwag" ("Love is a gamble. It's not for cowards"), says fortune teller Baby R, played by none other than Iyah Mina ('Horrorscope', 2021), in a iconic role.
From the events narrated in the 2020 film, life continues for the new lovers. Luke still has to tie up loose ends with his girlfriend Karen (Rissey Reyes). On the other hand, Gio (Vaughn Piczon – 'Fractured', 2023), Dominic's childhood friend (and secret admirer), returns to his life out of nowhere, and will also confess secrets.
In addition to trust issues, the couple also faces obstacles in the form of rejection after a "scandal": the two boys are reprimanded for kissing during the prom by the conservative directors of an all-boys Catholic high school.
The parents of both boys will know about the romance and sexual inclination of their children and will take positions on the matter.

Of actors and characters:

The character played by Adrian Lindayag is great. He takes his character and elevates it to the greatest heights and proves that effeminate people like him deserve their place in leading roles.
It is not common for effeminate gay men to be portrayed as romantic leads in LGBT+ productions. As an effeminate gay man, this actor plays the character of Dominic to perfection.
Beyond the viewer identifying with the way Dominic moves or speaks, his acting skills make him the ideal protagonist.
The interactions with his friends Timmy (Leinard Ramos) and Miguel (Jan Rey Escano) are so genuine and natural that you'd think the three of them really were a high school barkada.
When Dominic says one of his heartbreaking lines to Luke, you feel the impact of his words. Even his singing voice contributes to how attractive and charming it makes his character.
His performance is so moving that the actor doesn't need to open his mouth for you to feel something for Dominic. The trembling of her lips, the suppressed word, the tears falling, her eyes red from crying... are enough to make you want to cross the screen to give her a hug.
And Adrian knows perfectly well how the high school student he represents acts, feels and thinks.
Viewers can identify with Dominic, while also admiring him and seeing that they too are more than worthy of finding love, regardless of how society generally views them as mere comic relief.
Keann, remembered for appearing in the BL drama 'Worth the Wait' and starring in the LGBT+ film 'Run', both from 2021, is treading strange waters, especially for someone who has believed he is heterosexual his entire life.
The actor embodies his character perfectly, suddenly discovering that he has fallen in love with another boy. He appears insecure, he does not know how to confess his sexual orientation to his mother, he does not understand what is happening in his life, he turns to the fortune teller looking for what the cards are intended for him and for Dominic, he bravely faces the harassers, who are none other than his same childhood friends who now disown him for his relationship with another boy, for being "a faggot."
However, most of his lines are of support for Dominic and how to overcome all conflicts together.
The secondary characters of Karen and Gio will bring problems to the couple, but will only serve to strengthen the bond between them. After admitting their feelings, Gio and Karen accept that both Dominic and Luke are happy and that they fit into that equation. The journeys of these characters are totally refreshing. As viewers, we go from being skeptical of Karen and Gio to rooting for them because of the maturity they exhibit with their actions.
Philip (Jemuel Satumba - 'Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle', Japan, 2021) and other students disapprove and, to some extent, are disgusted with Luke and Dominic's romantic relationship. They demonstrate bigotry and homophobia, but they cannot prevent queer love.
On the other hand, Pim (Quiel Quiwa) and Mr. Oyco (Jethro Tenorio) show how equally rampant internalized homophobia is.
Outside of school, the series also shows how Dominic sees his queerness as something to be absolved of, which is a feeling that many LGBT+ people can relate to and is a reality that society as a whole can highlight more. Queer viewers may feel some discomfort watching these scenes play out, but it just goes to show how painfully real they are.
Despite discrimination and homophobia, a defiant celebration of queer life and love dominates the series. In the same classrooms and hallways that ostracize them, Dominic and his friends continue to bravely strut their stuff, standing up to bullies and bigots.
Dominic's relationship with Luke is proof that even in the eyes of the most hateful, anyone deserves happiness, regardless of how they choose to identify themselves. Some may say that such a depiction can only happen in a "perfect" world, but that's exactly the point the series is trying to get across: that stories like the one told here shouldn't need to be in a perfect world to exist.

Some reflections:

'Love Beneath The Stars' perfectly captures the innocence of a queer high school romance, telling the story of strange young love in its purest form.
As in 'The Boy Foretold by Stars', the six episodes of the Kapamilya digital series, titled 'Love Beneath the Stars', address topics such as sexual orientation, gender identity, homophobia, bullying, lack of understanding towards homosexuals, the stance of Catholic schools and parents when children come out, but here you will explore them further. And it is appreciated then that the director has opted for the series format, which gives her the opportunity to delve deeper into the characters and conflicts.
And the fact that the location is a Catholic school also adds a little extra flavor to the comedy-drama.
Although it sometimes treats these conflicts too superficially, we get a light and addictive series, with a great and emotional happy ending, which will bring both tears and smiles to the viewer.
And if for queer people high school is a difficult place, finding love is one of these institutions, especially if they are centers of religious education and exclusively for children, this could be an unrealizable dream. However, as fantastic an idea as it may seem, 'Love Beneath The Stars' proudly proves that it is still possible.
'Love Beneath The Stars' is not your typical love story between boys. The narrative of the romance between Dominic and Luke possesses a level of charm that surpasses most Pinoy BL output. The main difference from the rest of the crop of productions of this genre in the Philippines lies in the way the director chooses to approach certain themes and events.
I find it interesting the way it displays Dominic and Luke's love relationship. Their bond, without sacrificing passionate displays of affection for each other, depends on a healthy, innocent intimacy, which only amplifies how free of malice their romance truly is. That is, what the series demonstrates with these representations is that queer romances can be as chaste, honest, and sincere as any other type of romance.
The series ends with Dominic's powerful farewell speech, in which he exclaims "Wag tayong matakot magmahal!" ("Let us not be afraid to love.") As simple as it may seem, it serves as a reminder to many that even in the challenging world of Today, love will always win.

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And how better could it be if each of the boys is the other's home?

Welcome to Your Home and our world

What would the world be like where the homosexual does not have to repress himself, hide his condition, fear being judged, harassed, discriminated against by others? What would that great house be like for the inhabitants of the Earth in which love between children can be free and you do not have to fear critical glances and finger pointing or hide your own essence?
From the first episode, the Pinoy BL audiovisual 'Your Home The Series', produced by Arcana Studios Inc, defines what "home" is for each of the main characters.
Thus we can follow Bart, who lives in the modest comforts of the house he has known all his life, the picturesque fictional town of Barrio Balay, an area of ​​mountains and lakes; and also to Bryce, who lives in a world of comfort in a space that he alone occupies. Each of them represents the type of home in which the viewers themselves have lived, expressing their respective definitions and how it plays a vital role in their future.
However, they both feel alone in the world, and they need to have someone by their side to accompany them, to help them make life more bearable: the first, because his parents died when he was a child, and the second, because their parents live abroad.
'Your Home The Series' takes an approach to imagining the "ideal world" that many people dream of, focusing on members of the LGBTQ+ community who fight daily for acceptance and respect in society in a tenacious fight to end to prejudices.
From director Amiel Kirby Ballagtas, the series serves as a letter of introduction to actors Kurt Mendoza ('Fit Check'), who plays the humble and dreamy probinsyano Bart Arceo, and Renz Kieser, who plays the arrogant, haughty and conceited boy rich man from the city Bryce Fajardo.
They are joined by Marc David ('Stay-In Love', 2020-2021) as Bryce's childhood best friend, Josh Villareal, Eurwin Canzana ('Rainbow Prince', 2022) as famous beatboxer Edwin Panganibanm and Angelica Radaza like Brendalynne Apurado, Bart's friend, all also in their first acting job.
Amiel Kirby Ballagtas, who also works as a screenwriter, joins Donna Rey and Jonathan Penarejo, to write a story that is born from an original idea by Dale Reciña about the coming of age of two young people who seek to find that special place where they can finally go call “home,” even if that means venturing outside your comfort zone.
The sound and music of Nhiko Victor contribute in the effort to tell us about the youthful adventures of accepting who you are, the different discoveries and the adventures of finding love, friendship and making dreams come true.
Jonathan Penarejo's editing and beautiful photography take us to stunning locations in the Philippines, each chosen with great attention to detail. The mountainous and city landscapes enhance the narrative, adding layers of cultural and emotional depth. From the waters of the lake near Bart's house and where the boys' emotional meetings take place, drawing the colors of the rainbow in the lens and with natural light, to the vibrant streets of the city, both day and night, Each scenario feels like another character, and contributes to enriching the general narrative.
As the producer describes it, this coming-of-age story is full of possibilities, creating a world where boys' love can be accepted by society, where it doesn't matter who you're attracted to, where you can be different because of your sexual preferences. It will not generate comments from those who do not know or deny this type of relationship, since judgment is left aside.
From the beginning, reflections abound in the form of monologues loaded with poetry, as we all do in times of loneliness, spending time mentally thinking about how this life has made the protagonists and their lives what they are, how to face situations can offer a sense of satisfaction, longing, or perhaps hope for the next day.
Using first-time actors brings a genuine, raw energy to their performances, making the characters incredibly relatable. Their performances are so natural and spontaneous that the viewer can at times consider that we are not watching a television series, but rather that we are witnessing from our window or balcony how real-life events unfold with ourselves or our neighbor as protagonists beside.
The characters' journeys, struggles and triumphs are portrayed with such honesty that they reflect the experiences of many members of the LGBT+ community.
And how better could it be if each of the boys is the other's home?

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Until recently, romantic relationships tended to last longer. The members of a couple tried to bring the relationship to a happy conclusion and fought to be with someone they loved.
But somehow, the emergence of dating apps into our lives causes people, when faced with loneliness, disconnection and discouragement, to leave their lover and look for another partner online. "Why put in the effort to make what I have work, when there are so many fish in the sea?" is a reality many face.
The idea of ​​reflecting the feelings of many people (queer or not) who experience this situation comes from director HJ Habac.
'Meet Me Outside', the Filipino series from the creators of the fabulous 'Gaya Sa Pelíkula' and 'Marahuyo Project', blames the lack of romance on the thousands of human beings who prefer not to want to make the effort to commit because "it is much more easy to pick up your cell phone and connect with someone else to hang out".
With a script by Juan Miguel Severo ('Gaya Sa Peíkula', 'Dear Karl', 'Heaven's Waiting') and newcomer Jesse Rey Baban, we see the birth of a love relationship within the entire range of possible relationships in the dating world virtual, as well as the imposition that surrounds those first dates in which we try to give a better version of ourselves.
I find the creativity of the people behind the camera very striking when designing the opening credits as text message notifications. And in this sense, Mark Vince Gregorio also contributes in editing and photography.
The plot revolves around James, a rich young influencer from Manila with thousands of followers on social media, who has just suffered a tough breakup. However, upon arriving at the La Estreas resort, located in Rizal, his life will change when he decides to leave his wounded heart behind and get back into the game of the dating universe. In this case, he establishes a connection both in the digital world and in the real world, with Dale, a hotel worker, who for some time has had a secret crush on the idol he follows on social networks.
Here Kaloy Tingcungco and Genesis Redido, who play James and Dale, respectively, prove themselves again as actors, after their respective debuts in series precisely with LGBT+ themes, since the first is known for playing Martin Ilagan, a secondary character in 'Boys' Lockdown', from 2020, while Redido gave life to Joseph "Otep" Malaya, in the drama 'In Between', starring him alongside Migs Villasis, also from the same year.
'Meet Me Outside' is better written and performed by its two leads, a department in which they did not excel in their respective acting debuts.
The audience will get to know the characters as they talk in a friendly manner, which is pleasant to see as they feel as if they were two real characters. It seems very genuine to me, as I feel like a connection was forming in a world where, no matter how connected we may seem, we are often very far apart.
In this way, we can get to know that Dale is a humble local, breadwinner of the family economy, very clingy and playful in sexual and romantic matters, who considers that physical contact is his main language in love, so it would be difficult to get involved in a long distance relationship.
On the other hand, we will learn that James had an open relationship with his partner, but his ex-boyfriend violates the only rule of the agreement: falling in love with the other boy, the reason for the recent breakup.
While Jame wanted to see the face of the person he's talking to, Dale thinks that the guy on the other end of the line is only interested in proposing sex. However, Dale has never established a relationship with a guest because he considers it inappropriate due to his status as a hotel worker, in addition to the fact that the visitor is only on vacation, and would eventually leave in a few days.
And despite acknowledging that relationships are difficult to maintain with someone you meet online, since everything moves so quickly, Dale and James meet, talk, and establish a loving connection. As James assures us, he and Dale are taking risks and hoping their romance works.
The viewer will find convincing in Episode 2's use of Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" to represent the nervousness, the hesitation, the growing tension between the two protagonists as they interact via text messages via the dating app gay.
The structure of shorter episodes than usual for this type of series makes the show work, giving it a certain charm and keeping everything at a really good pace. However, this undermines the possibility of better developing the characters and conflicts.
'Meet Me Outside' also shows that kisses and erotic scenes are not necessary to show great chemistry between the two protagonists.
The soundtrack, in which you can hear the songs "Pavement" and "Danger", composed by April Hernandez and performed by TheSunManager, as well as "Silent Night", a traditional song, and "Pahintulo", by Shirebound & Busking, It fulfills its function of emotionally reinforcing and underlining the tones during various specific moments of the series.
So, dear reader, I invite you to watch 'Meet Me Outside'.

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An honest and emotionally captivating love story

'Hello Stranger' follows the life of Mico Ramos, the shy and socially inept college freshman, whose future revolves around four well-planned goals: get a college scholarship, graduate with honors, attend medical school and be rich. Having a girlfriend is not part of his plans, since a courtship could be, as he himself expresses, a distraction from his studies.
It has the best three friends that any teenager could dream of: Kookai (Vivoree Esclito), Seph (Patricio Quiroz) and Junjun (Miguel Almendras). The four are part of an unpopular group of virgins and nerds, the Young Padawans, of which Mico is the leader.
The new coronavirus pandemic has caused the only contact between them and between them and the outside world to be through cell phones and, above all, virtual online meetings.
However, the protagonist's plans will be turned upside down when he organizes an online trivia night with his barkada, and Xavier de Guzmán, a popular and arrogant basketball player on the university team, arrives uninvited, insults them and virtually, without intending it. …changes everything Mico had planned with his life.
What would be Mico's surprise when he discovers, the next day, that his lively Literature teacher, Ms. Tina, whom the four friends call Jedi Master in a parallel universe, entrusts him with a rescue mission: to partner with Xavier to Make a school project together for your subject.
Xavier cannot refuse, as he is about to be kicked off the basketball team due to his low grades in Literature class. And this time he will not have the help of his girlfriend Crystal (Gillian Vicencio), who always does his academic work for him. He has to wade into the water even if it is up to his neck, as the student project, which consists of creating a dialogue based on a selected poem, “ Sa Kasintahang Nilimot Na,” by Benilda S. Santos, will be graded after being performed virtually.
Mico, for his part, will not be able to avoid contacting the haughty and failed student, since the final result of the other in the subject depends on the evaluation of one.
Did she know what the Jedi Master was doing when she paired Xavier and Mico for the class project? Did you know that this circumstance would cause significant changes in the lives of these two strangers, who didn't seem to like each other very much?
It is evident that all this happens with a well-defined objective: there would not be a story to tell if Xavier and Mico had not begun their relationship between insults and bad faces due to the hostility created beforehand, if there were not a school assignment to complete and the two of them paired to carry it out.
The truth is that if they learned anything from their schoolwork, it is to be honest with everyone, especially with yourself, and express what you really feel or you risk losing the person you love. In this sense, from the Literature teacher we will hear: "Happiness should not be based on how people perceive us, but on how we really see ourselves."
The series, filmed with zoom, revolves around this premise, and is revealing for those who hide their true identity. With just the right drama, it exposes only honest feelings waiting to be expressed from one to the other, seen from Kookai's confession to Mico, Seph's to Kookai and, above all, the one that the public impatiently awaits: the declaration of love. from Mico to Xavier.
It is never easy to confess deep emotions, but the protagonists find the courage to express their feelings, and thus find the freedom that is denied to them by a patriarchal and heteronormative society that tells you that loving someone of the same sex is not correct.
Even knowing that their feelings may not be reciprocated, the protagonists are convinced that choosing silence always leads to regrets and that those who are brave enough to be honest with themselves will be rewarded with the truth, because our own destiny is in our hands, we love who we want to love, and our choice and decisions in life will always win.
Therefore, the series strongly insists that what matters is that LOVE will always remain LOVE, and no one can break that.
'Hello Stranger' is not perfect. But what distinguishes it from other BL series is its simplicity and at the same time a great love story; its good writing and execution, in which each episode advances and deepens the story and makes the viewer intensely anticipate the next chapter.
At the same time as a romantic comedy and about coming of age, the series is directed by Filipino filmmaker Petersen Vargas, who has several films and series focused on identity and sexual diversity, such as '2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten', winner of the Best Film award at the Cinema One Originals Film Festival (2016) and Audience Award at the Turin LGBTQI Film Festival (2017). He is also known for being the creator and director of the first Filipino gay web series, 'Hanging Out', and the short film 'How to Die Young in Manila', starring Elijah Canlas and Kokoy de Santos.
A team of screenwriters led by Patrick R. Valencia (Always Be My Maybe) and made up of Kookai Labayen, Ella A. Palileo, Isabella Policarpio, Joanna Marie T. Reyes, Rhed Sandico, Daniel Saniana and Kris Ann de la Peña, are the charged with drawing characters and developing conflicts that revolve around the love attraction and unlikely relationship of Mico and Xavier, two seemingly straight boys, as they navigate schoolwork in the midst of a pandemic as strangers, enemies, partners, friends and much more further.
Although the series is not the most innovative in its plot, it makes up for it in the way in which all the characters do their staging and carry the plot.
The team behind the cameras, in which Carlos Mauricio also excels in Photography, comes together to provoke a roller coaster of emotions, while they let us visualize a calm and sincere story about the healthy love relationship of Mico and Xavier.
The acting of the protagonists is great. The character of Mico, played by actor JC Alcantara in his usual self, will bring tears to your eyes through his pain, and laughter due to his contagious joy and overwhelming joy, with his expressive eyes, sometimes tearful, sometimes smiling, and marked dimples that furrow his face. With a convincing performance, he adorably looks, shyly, away when he realizes that he has found love.
"Why do we have to become partners in this project? Why do you have to become friends with me? Why are you always teasing me? Why do you listen to me talk about my problems? Why did you give me the chance to find out who I really am I met the real Mico thanks to you. I learned to love because of you. I didn't want this to happen. And to be honest, this isn't really your fault. I like you, Xavier. You are the only thing that was never in my plans. But you are the only thing that makes me happy. I thought you taught me to fall, but honestly you are the one who taught me and showed me that I can fly," Mico will confess to Xavier.
And he, at another time, will respond: "Mico believed in me more than I believed in myself. He not only changed me. He made me a better person."
As for Tony Labrusca, he categorically dispels all doubts that the viewer may have about his character in the first episodes, proving himself worthy of the role of Xavier as the 8 chapters of about 20 minutes each progress, exuding the development of a character from a very popular bad boy image on social networks with more than 25 thousand followers on Instagram, to growing personally and spiritually as a man who deals with the confusion of having fallen in love with another man, at the same time that capable of feeling pain and expressing emotions.
Both actors, with amazing chemistry that exudes genuineness, convey love outside the heteronormative bubble with such reverence and authenticity.
With exquisite cinematography, all the supporting roles have their fair share of on-screen moments, achieving high marks.
I don't want to end the review without mentioning the soundtrack, in which its main theme stands out, "Kahit Na Anong Sabihin Ng Iba", performed by the same actors, which already occupies an important place among my favorite music.

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We have the closure of Nam Yi and Jae Min's love story.

A young and sexy South Korean gay couple must face different obstacles to achieve happiness. Both would like to seal their union and live together, perhaps even get married, but equal marriage is not legal in the country and homosexuals are discriminated against and rejected even by their families, who see homosexuality as a crime.
Let us remember that in the first season of this South Korean miniseries of four episodes each, the love relationship between Kim Nam Yi, played by Lee Hoo Rim, and Choi Jae Min, a role assumed by Choi Seung Jin, did not have a happy ending, because between The two intersected the homophobia that persists in South Korean society, in which LGBTIQ+ people face legal challenges and discrimination not experienced by the rest of South Koreans.
Once this obstacle is overcome by the two boys' decision to move forward in their relationship, the couple's harmony and happiness is put to the test once again, when Tae Ha (Jeong Ri U), a handsome university student, is placed between the two. two after falling in love with Jae Min and causes him to doubt his love for Nam Yi.
Will adversity be stronger than love between young homosexuals Kim Nam Yi and Choi Jae Min?
The bad news is that this is a low-budget miniseries, so the visuals and sets aren't as impressive as blockbusters. But isn't that the case with so many works of art that emerge in support of gay aesthetics?
Being low budget, it needs a good plot to captivate the viewers. This is how it tells a moving story of eternal love between two high school friends who meet again some time later, living between their 20s and 20s. They have both lived their lives trying to conform to heteronormativity, but have failed because they have essentially sought each other and long to form a couple.
Even though they face social pressure and jealousy, their love still manages to become something beautiful.

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A film that leaves BL lovers with a bad taste in their mouths.

Teen films are always a good idea. Portraits of a generation are like fascinating stories that allow us to understand the unique characteristics and experiences of those who make it up in a specific era. The transition from adolescence to adulthood, known as "coming of age", is presented differently depending on the cultural and temporal context in which it is situated. Furthermore, maturity is not reached in the same way for everyone and it is these stories that increasingly interest the public because they allow us to analyze society and also ourselves a little.
Kamijo Daisuke, in his directorial debut, is responsible for the film proposal 'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' (ひだまりが聴こえる), from 2017, the real-time adaptation of the shōnen-ai genre manga of the same name written and illustrated by Yūki Fumino, a mangaka who began her professional career in 2013. With her delicate and poetic style, her work was published for the first time on October 27, 2014 by Printemps Shuppan.
The script is written by Takahashi Natsuko, known for writing the series 'Hana Yori Dango' and the films 'No Touching At All' ('Doushitemo Furetakunai'), 'Seven Days: Monday - Thursday', 'Seven Days: Friday - Sunday', 'Does the Flower Bloom?', among others.
The plot of this romantic drama of the youth, school and Yaoi genre begins by narrating the difficulties that Kōhei Sugihara has hearing, since the current university student had suffered from a sudden sensorineural hearing loss during high school. Circumstances have led him to become a lonely, distrustful, introverted, unsociable and distant young man with great difficulties relating to other people. He himself admits to feeling "out of place wherever he goes."
Thus, Kamijo Daisuke presents us with a love story between two teenagers of the same gender, and analyzes the problems that the world can pose for a person with hearing problems.
Kōhei's entire life changes when he accidentally meets Taichi Sagawa, who offers to take notes in classes for him in exchange for the lunch that the disabled student gives him every day. Kōhei will soon discover that he can hear the loud voice of the new acquaintance without difficulty.
This is how a friendship develops between a boy who had always had problems socializing, because his hearing problems caused him to be marginalized by his classmates, and another cheerful, optimistic, determined and empathetic, energetic boy and extrovert who lives practically in poverty, needing to work while attending university in order to survive. Both will help each other and, little by little, they will give in to their feelings, unleashing a beautiful story of friendship and love.
Taichi will make Kōhei open up to the world once he assures him that his hearing loss is not his fault. Taichi's kind words pierce through Kohei's usual defense mechanisms and open his heart, causing his feelings for Taichi to turn into love. Now they are more than friends and less than lovers. Still, this relationship changes Kohei forever.
Thanks to Taichi, Kōhei begins to smile and integrate into the social life of the campus. Others also begin to see him with different eyes. Taichi becomes the friend he never had or perhaps lost when he lost his hearing and was ostracized. Taichi teaches him "that there may also be a place for him on the other side."
Taichi and Kōhei challenge gender norms on a journey of self-discovery. His story takes us into themes such as the search, the formation of identity, personal growth and the transition to adulthood. But it also addresses feelings such as loneliness, happiness, marginalization or improvement.
It is not a simple love story between two teenagers, but rather it represents the problems that can arise in a romantic relationship when one of the two members of the relationship has a hearing disability. Thus, beyond a standard love theme, 'Hidamari ga Kikoeru' is a call to eradicate the mistreatment and discrimination that society carries out on minority groups, be it the disabled or the members of the group. LGBTIQ+.
In this way, the film becomes a manifesto to demand the equality of all human beings. Being different, something highly punished in Japan, should not be seen as something bad, but rather should be integrated into society until, one day, there is no discrimination of any kind for the mere fact of being different from others.
The main roles of the film distributed by Nippon Shuppan Hanbai are played by Hideya Tawada and Akira Onodera as Kōhei and Taichi, respectively. The former is known for his role as Takigawa Kinji in the series 'Shuriken Sentai Ninninger' and in the films 'Shuriken Sentai Ninninger the Movie: The Dinosaur Lord's Splendid Ninja Scroll!', from 2015, 'Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. ToQGer the Movie: Ninjas in Wonderland', from 2016, among others.
For his part, Onodera Akira has his first leading role in Taichi, after playing the character Amamiya Masaki [Young] in 'High&Low: The Red Rain', Inukai Manabu [Classmate] in 'Daytime Shooting Star' or Sakamata Kiyone [Mysterious teenage boy] in the series 'Rinsho Hanzai Gakusha Himura Hideo no Suiri'.
The cast is completed by Mitsuya Ryo as Yokoyama Tomonori, Takashima Reiko as Sugihara Ryoko, Yamazaki Ami, Igeta Hiroe, Fukumoto Yuki, Hiranuma Norihisa, Nakamaru Shinsho.
The ending of the film is to be regretted. Although the development of the plot is very similar to the story created by Yūki Fumino, its closure has nothing to do with the original. Instead of the magical and emotional ending of the manga, the one in the film directed by Kamijo Daisuke leaves BL lovers with a bad taste in their mouths.

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Two boyfriends who return to make the viewer fall in love

In 'Stay by My Side', the romantic and supernatural comedy broadcast between July 7 and September 1, 2023, Isaac Yang plays Jiang Chi, the son of a renowned family of doctors who defies his parents, because they They want the young man to follow in their footsteps in a career in Medicine while he dreams of being a lawyer.
The boy who in the early years of the century dreamed of specializing in Fine Arts, had to wait until 2023 to star in his first LGBTIQ+ themed series, after his debut in the film 'Leaving Virginia', from 2020.
The mastery with The way the actor plays the characters he has played until today distinguishes him as one of the most promising faces on the current and future Taiwanese acting scene.
For his part, Hong Wei Zhe plays Bu Xia, an Anthropology student and owner of a sports scholarship as one of the best players on the university basketball team. With this role, the Taiwanese singer of Yue Hua, also taking his first steps in the television industry of that Asian island.
Throughout the series, his character, rich in nuances, goes through dramatic moments, as well as hilarious ones, as he discovers that he has a paranormal ability to be able to hear ghosts murmuring in his ears. However, he will understand that being close to Jian Chi, his enemy and new dormmate, will allow him to escape the nightmare of having to face annoying "apparitions" every day.
Bu Xia's interest in having Jiang Chi help him, with his close presence, to "exorcise" the ghosts, will be interpreted by him as his dormmate having fallen in love with him.
This misunderstanding will lead to an unexpected and unlikely romance between these two young people with great differences in personalities, giving rise to a pleasant and fun series.
Vidol, the Taiwanese streaming platform that makes BL series such as 'VIP Only' (2023), 'Anti-Reset' (2024) and 'You Are Mine' (2023), gets 'Stay by My Side Special' (免疫屏蔽番外篇), update the viewer on the evolution of the romance between these two boys, a year after the events narrated in the series.
Bu Xia and Jiang Chi, who seem to us, due to their tender and constant romantic interaction, to be two college sweethearts living the fullness of romantic happiness, allow the viewer to expand their vision of the couple's bond from a physical and emotional point of view. and spiritual, while, with the same intensity, it exposes old and new conflicts of the lovers, because in addition to dealing with economic problems or the possibility of coexistence after graduating, now the ghosts "haunt" Jiang Chi, because already in the finals from 'Stay by My Side' this character had agreed to be the one who heard the voices of the spirits or wandering or lost souls, instead of Bu Xia.
The Special episode will allow us to appreciate the personal growth and as a couple of the protagonists. Bu Xia is able to recognize that he has been a child protected all his life by his grandfather, his sister and the apprentices of the temple owned by his family, and now by Jiang Chi, but today, thanks to love, he can take the reins of his life and take responsibility for both himself and the man he loves.
Although Jiang Chi does not have the support of his relatives for rejecting his parents' impositions, this does not prevent his determination to love, care for and protect Bu Xia, demonstrating that he is a character who has gained maturity and growth.
Bu Xia and Jiang Chi, who seem to us, due to their tender and constant romantic interaction, to be two college sweethearts living the fullness of romantic happiness, allow the viewer to expand their vision of the couple's bond from a physical and emotional point of view. and spiritual, while, with the same intensity, it exposes old and new conflicts of the lovers, because in addition to dealing with economic problems or the possibility of coexistence after graduating, now the ghosts "haunt" Jiang Chi instead of Bu Xia, Well, already at the end of 'Stay by My Side' the future lawyer had agreed to be the one who listened to the voices of the spirits or wandering or suffering souls.
The Special episode will allow us to appreciate the personal growth and as a couple of the protagonists. Bu Xia is able to recognize that he has been a child protected all his life by his grandfather, his sister and the apprentices of the temple owned by his family, and now by Jiang Chi, but today, thanks to love, he can take the reins of his life and take responsibility for both himself and the man he loves.
Although Jiang Chi does not have the support of his relatives for rejecting his parents' impositions, this does not prevent his determination to love, care for and protect Bu Xia, demonstrating that he is a character who has gained maturity and growth.
Bu Xia and Jiang Chi are lavish in showing the love and affection they have for each other, in showing their constant concern for each other, and they will take the step of continuing their life together after graduating, which demonstrates the constant evolution of the couple. The chemistry between the two is evident.
The Special Episode gives us Hong Wei Zhe performing "Newton and Apple", the opening theme of the series, accompanied by Isaac Yang, who is not a singer.
'Stay by My Side Special' has the added bonus of incorporating two new faces from the world of Taiwanese entertainment, as singers Chu Yv Ching and Eason Lee make their debut as actors by giving body to the Sanctuary trainees. Let us remember that the latter is the one who performs the closing theme: "Answer If You Hear", in addition to "Falling in Love", another of the songs that make up the soundtrack of the series, along with "Changed", by Yu Ching, and "Mr. Ya Li Shan Da", by Luna.
Joining the cast are Liao Wei Po as Guo Zheng Hong, Superway Hsu as Bai Yun Haom and Kevin Chang as Lan Bai Wei, members of the university basketball team and friends of the two protagonists.
Cai Fei Qiao is in charge of closing the cast, playing Haunting ghost.
The script for 'Stay by My Side Special' is in the hands of this actress, recognized for writing the script for the acclaimed drama 'Unknown', 2024 and being the executive producer of other classics of the genre: 'We Best Love: No. 1 For You' and 'We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd', as well as for playing Mrs. Yao, Shun Yu's mother, in 'You Are Mine Special', released in May 2024.
We have already seen the Special Episodes of 'VIP Only', 'You Are Mine', and 'Stay by My Side Special'. The only thing missing is the 'Anti-Reset' Special, scheduled to be released soon.
The public could consider that this audiovisual is a perfect closing to the series, as it manages to answer questions that remained latent, but Vidol seems to think otherwise, periodically returning us to the protagonists of the BL series in one way or another.
With the introduction of Chu Yv Ching and Eason Lee, the creators may be considering the relevance of developing a series in the future in which the two of them are the protagonists, while Isaac Yang and Hong Wei Zhe intervene in supporting roles or as guest artists.
Or is it my desire to continue watching this couple of actors?
The success of 'Stay by My Side Special' could be decisive in this endeavor. So from now on I give my support.

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'Pray in Love Special' follows in the footsteps of police officer Yuan Shao Hu (Zheng Nan Zhong), and Yang Qi An (Huang Li Feng), the first concerned about the danger that threatens the illegitimate son of the Yang family, interested in this in seeking revenge for his mother's suicide due to a political conspiracy in which his father is involved, events narrated in 'Pray in Love', the series that follows the love relationship that emerged between these two young people as they seek justice.
The short film, a prequel to Taiwan's first Ganghood-style LGBTIQ+-themed romantic series, which mixes mystery and crime, begins when the character played by Zheng Nan Zhong, remembered for his participation in the Taiwanese drama 'Amazing Grace', from 2020, He arrives home at night, drunk, after participating with his coworkers in the celebrations for his promotion, to discover that the character played by Yang Qi An, the renowned actor leading the Taiwanese drama 'Anti Reset' (2024), the Chinese film 'Kinematics Theory' (2018) and the also Chinese series 'The Ambiguous Focus' (2018), has abandoned it.
In compliance with his police work, Yuan Shao Hu must attend the wedding of the son of a renowned politician the next day, where he is surprised to learn that the person who is getting married is none other than his vengeful boyfriend Yang Qi An. , who has pretended to agree to a marriage that, for political reasons, has been arranged by his biological father, Yang Qing Hai.
'Pray in Love Special', which does not even have the entire short film, the latter containing 20 minutes in length, seeks to raise funds to be able to film the second story created by "Xia Hua Art" after 'Wu Xie', since its creators, director and screenwriter Maxine Hsieh, and producers Kumi Fu and Willson Chiang, after obtaining the Arts and Culture Grant from the Film and Television Office of the Taiwanese Ministry of Culture in 2021, have not been able to obtain the financial resources necessary to carry out their work.
Let's support the work of SoulChill, the same studio that produces 'Innocent'.

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Love overcomes misunderstandings, rivalries, differences and ghosts

A love that overcomes misunderstandings, rivalries, personality differences and ghosts

'Stay by My Side' begins with an unexpected and involuntary collision between Gu Bu Xia, the Anthropology student and owner of a sports scholarship as he is one of the best players on the university basketball team, and Jiang Chi, the future lawyer and son from a famous family of doctors who has just been transferred to Yong Yu University.
After several setbacks, these two young people, soon declared enemies, begin to live in the bedroom occupied by Bu Xia, since Jiang Chi has been forced to make a living by his own means after defying his parents, who want the boy to continue his steps in the career of Medicine.
Starring Isaac Yang as Jiang Chi, and Hong Wei Zhe as Bu Xia, the romantic and supernatural comedy with an LGBTIQ+ theme revolves around the unlikely romance between these two young college students with major personality differences, marked by paranormal ability of one of the protagonists, which provides a pleasant and fun novelty to the audiovisual product.
Soon the tender, light and happy series will introduce us to the lives of both characters. While Jiang Chi is an excellent basketball player, he does not seem interested in joining the varsity team, not wanting anything to distract him from his studies. Additionally, he works several part-time jobs to avoid being financially dependent on his parents.
For his part, the orphan Bu Xia has been raised by his grandfather, a spiritual medium, in a temple run by his sister Gu Bu Tao (Jin Cheng). After the death of the old man, the shy and insecure Bu Xia hears ghost voices murmuring in his ears, a circumstance that will worsen just as the new roommate enters his life.
Bu Xia, who has lived alone in his bedroom until Jiang Chi's arrival, will soon come to a conclusion: being close to the boy who now sleeps a few meters from his bed brings him peace, as the ghosts feel self-conscious and flee before him. Your presence. The more he interacts with Jiang Chi, the less he hears the voice of those who "pull the chain." That is why he will try to always have him around him..., but he hides the reason from him.
For his part, the law student mistakes Bu Xia's camaraderie as if the boy was flirting with him. "Could it be that Bu Xia has fallen in love with me?" he will ask himself. Jiang Chi comes to think that he is the object of his dormmate's love interest.
As a result, the supernatural element spices up a series with greater originality than the classic college romances, while the relationship between the two boys takes us on a journey surrounded by mystery and intrigue and in which love can overcome misunderstandings, differences in personalities and even outwit the ghost chase.
Likewise, the series will allow us to appreciate how two rivals can come to love each other with such madness and passion, to the point of one of them accepting the transfer of the uncomfortable ability to hear ghost voices that the other suffers.
Vidol, the Taiwanese streaming platform that makes BL series such as 'VIP Only' (2023), 'Anti-Reset' (2024) and 'You Are Mine' (2023), commissions Cai Fei Qiao, known for being the screenwriter of the acclaimed drama 'Unknown', 2024, the executive producer of another classic of the genre: 'We Best Love: No. 1 For You' and 'We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd', and for playing Mrs. Yao, Shun Yu's mother, in 'You Are Mine Special', released in May 2024.
Lovers of the genre will be pleased with 'Stay by Me Side' for its strong BL content, for the tender and constant romantic interaction of the protagonists, for portraying two college sweethearts living the fullness of romantic happiness, for exploring the bond of the physical, emotional and spiritual couple, for their happy ending.
Likewise, fans of BL series will like the complicity of Bu Xia's sister and Jiang Chi, both interested in the young man's well-being and happiness.
I like the character played by Hong Wei Zhe: a boy who shows traits of insecurity and cowardice in the face of paranormal phenomena, who doesn't? But he leaves us with a memorable memory, especially when he discovers that he has fallen in love with another boy, and there he acts not infrequently in a childish and insecure way as well. What sometimes overreacts? His contagious laugh, his innocent eyes, his angelic face redeem him from excesses.
The mysterious and reserved character played by Isaac Yang is equally convincing, especially when he seeks to protect Bu Xia from ghosts and everything that could affect him. He is a lover who gives himself completely to the loved one.
I would have liked the series to delve deeper into the denunciation of possible homophobia (the reasons are not clear), perceived when Bu Xia and Jiang Chi's relationship becomes gossip among the other university students, who will try to obtain invasive photos of the loving couple, or make annoying comments in physical and virtual settings.
Isn't Taiwan the only Asian territory where Equal Marriage or Homosexual Marriage has been approved? Is sexual diversity not widely accepted by the Taiwanese population? Are same-sex sexual relations not legal? Why then consider the fact that two boys holding hands and attracting each other on a university campus or on the street in Taipei a public spectacle?

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A love that surpasses the arc of time and the lives of the two lovers

Liu Li is a BL-themed novelist who wants to love vehemently, so that he can then express his thoughts in writing. Under the pseudonym Morris, he has published two best-selling novels based on his real-life experiences, but today, after the rejection of his platonic love, he suffers from writer's block and cannot find inspiration to write the third book, which he has already demands his editor.
Seeking inspiration, he sits at the same table every day at Old House, his favorite meat noodle and hot sauce shop, located in the lower part of the building where he rents an apartment, and where he makes blue origami birds for hours, while waiting for the arrival of the muse.
Gu Jin, or Boss Gu, as his employees call him, who was a successful advertising executive until his resignation, caused by a scandal involving his despotic mother, decides not to give up in the face of adversity and takes advantage of his culinary vocation to set up his own restaurant. business as chef and owner of Old House, where he will meet Liu Li.
Starring Stan Huang as Gu Jing, and Chen Xuan Yu as Liu Li, 'VIP Only' (保留席位 / Pao Liu Hsi Wei (Bao Liu Xi Wei), the Taiwanese LGBTIQ+-themed romantic comedy-drama spins in around the love relationship between the handsome and attractive chef who owns the creative and retro restaurant, and the shy boy with a vocation as a novelist who, although he has never been in a relationship, recognizes that as a writer he has many ideas about what it means to be in love.
Director another dreams of continuing to promote his career as a writer.
Based on the script written by Cai Fei Qiao, Xiao Yi Wei and Chen Liang Ci, 'VIP Only' is a tender and delicious story of love and improvement marked by literature and cooking, a relationship that arises between stoves and tables restaurant; a chef with high culinary skills and a regular customer.
Vidol is the Taiwanese streaming platform that makes this and other BL series such as 'Stay by My Side' (2023), 'Anti-Reset' (2024) and 'You Are Mine' (2023).
Like many of the dishes prepared by the chef, the love between the two young people simmers. It all begins when Gu asks Liu Li to go on dates with him to stimulate his imagination and inspire him to continue his work as a writer.
This is how in the middle of a role-play in which they both date each other and pretend to be in love, love surprises them.
Between plates of food, Gu reading Liu Li's novels, hearing about each other's lives while folding origami, or the novelist's determination to learn to cook because Gu is very passionate about the culinary art, both boys will leave getting to know each other and becoming closer, until they discover that they have much more in common than they think, since they were friends in childhood.
Liu Da Ren (Tim Cheng) and Lai Dai Yi / "Lai Tsai" (Kurt Huang), Gu's employee at the restaurant the first and Liu Li's friend the second, will help the two boys in their romance. However, their love will be put to the test when Wu Shin (Kevin Chang), the boy the writer was in love with, returns and tries to win him over.
The cast is completed with the performances of Hsiao Hung as Yao Shun Yu, and Parker Mao in the role of Xia Shang Zhou, protagonists of the Taiwanese BL drama 'You Are Mine', in which they embody these same characters.
The chef will also hallucinate with joy/madness when he discovers that Liu Li thanks Wu Shin for having inspired him to write two best-selling novels, and for teaching him to be brave and confess his love to the person he loves, and chooses him.
The love that unites Liu Li and Gu will surpass the arc of their lives and time, through the book written by the former and inspired by the latter and the romance they live.
Almost everything in 'VIP Only' could be on the verge of crossing the thin line of cheesy, or vulgar melodrama, but it is redeemed by the tenderness of its story, the truth of characters who support each other and manage to overcome difficulties while experiencing personal growth, the chemistry between the two protagonists and the interpretive flexibility of Stan Huang and Chen Xuan Yu.

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With the title "I'm sticking with my past because you are my future", the special episode of the Taiwanese LGBTIQ+ themed romantic drama series 'VIP Only Special' ( 保留席位 番外篇 / VIP Only Extra Episodes, Bao Liu Xi Wei Fan Wai Pian, Pao Liu Hsi Wei Fan Wai Pian) brings us return to Gu Jing, the handsome and attractive chef who owns a creative and retro restaurant, and Liu Li, the BL-themed novelist who rents a room upstairs from Gu's restaurant, to update the viewer on their romantic relationship.
On this occasion, the setting in which the characters develop will not be the meat noodle shop owned by Gu to which Liu Li goes every day to carry out his writing work, but rather a natural environment of rivers and mountains where the characters will go couples to enjoy a weekend.
Starring Stan Huang as Gu Jing, and Chen Xuan Yu as Liu Li, the episode will confirm that the author who uses the pseudonym Morris continues to write and publish best-selling romance novels based on his real-life experiences, having Gu and her tender and exciting love life are the main source of inspiration.
Directed by Lian Yu Zhe (Anti Reset, 2024), the episode, about 28 minutes long, gives us romantic interactions between Liu Li and Gu Jin, with tender and deep kisses added, which will delight lovers of the genre.
Based on the script written by Cai Fei Qiao, Xiao Yi Wei and Chen Liang Ci, the audiovisual delves into the relationship between the two boys who began to fall in love when Boss Gu asks Liu Li to go on dates with him to stimulate his imagination at a time when he suffered from writer's block and found no inspiration after being rejected by his platonic love.
Without the usual beard and with a candy in his mouth, the Taiwanese actor Stan Huang, with his fiery look and charming smile, has the power to continue making the public fall in love. This time I find it much more attractive and fascinating.
With the growing chemistry between the two protagonists, the audiovisual allows us to appreciate how the two boys live in harmony and support each other, allowing them to overcome difficulties and experience personal growth.
I would like Vidol, the Taiwanese streaming platform that makes BL series such as 'Stay by My Side' (2023), 'VIP Only' (2023), 'Anti-Reset' (2024) and 'You Are Mine' (2023) , continue releasing Special Episodes and new dramas of the genre.
The public will also be able to enjoy how the audiovisual returns to Yao Shun Yu (Hsiao Hung) and Xia Shang Zhou (Parker Mao), the protagonists of 'You are Mine', a Taiwanese drama of which we were also recently able to see a Special Episode.
Much more can still be extracted from 'VIP Only'. I would love to see, for example, a romantic relationship between Liu Da Ren (Tim Cheng) and Lai Dai Yi/"Lai Tsai" (Kurt Huang), as well as Gu's chance to convince Liu Li's parents to accept the marriage love relationship between the two boys "with the same attitude that you used with my parents", referring to the way in which the young novelist defends Gu from his abusive mother in the series and affirms that there is a loving bond between the two.

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Libraries are not only incredible places, dedicated to providing unique services, such as supporting training, research, teaching or the transformation of information into knowledge.
Between books, the constant hustle and bustle of users requesting various library services, this noble institution, with thousands of years of history, can be the perfect setting for two boys to meet again and fall in love.
Kang Woo, the director of the romantic drama 'Blossom Campus', knows this by locating in this academic and cultural environment the setting in which Yoon Chan (Choi Dong Ho), in his first foray in front of the cameras, and Kim Min Jae (Son Byeong Hoon), develop a romantic relationship.
Explicitly or implicitly, in his already suggestive work, the South Korean director stops to reflect the most secret, emotional and internal gears of youth, and offers, on this occasion, a series in which he once again portrays those microcosms to the that we all belong for the mere fact that at some point we have lived, are living or will live that period of a person's life that is between childhood and adulthood, to bring to light their most recognizable conflicts. It is that instant empathy that gives strength to his stories, sometimes silent, subtle and too calm, but with a lot of inner substance.
With backgrounds, symbolisms and homosensual and homoerotic imaginaries that seek to make the public react to their stories and provoke emotions, after writing and directing films such as 'Sweet Curse', 'Some More', 'I Don't Care', 'Secret Roommate' ', 'Dom' and 'Gay Out Soon 5: Free Dating', and the series 'Long Time No See', with 'Blossom Campus', filmmaker Kang Woo once again explores another recurring theme in his already extensive work: his vision of homosexuality from a personal point of view and through the years.
The result is a fun and tender audiovisual, very emotional and addictive, which puts all its weight on the faces of the attractive cast, especially the two protagonists with a captivating chemistry. It is, in short, everything that is as nice, happy and tender as a romantic, musical and youth comedy should be and that, without abandoning the spirit of the genre, has interesting dramatic readings.
The series, with an LGBTIQ+ theme, is a fresh story that vibrates while bringing to the table important themes such as self-discovery, innate vocation, dreams, friendship, love, acceptance, sexual awakening and the search for happiness and identity, seen through Min Jae, a transfer student from the Faculty of Music with a specialization in Applied Music at Hankook University, who on his first day at the new study center accidentally receives help from Yoon Chan, the clumsy and eloquent Taekwondo lover and student at the Faculty of Culture and Sports Arts.
Min Jae is a boy who has had to live his life alone, without family and in an environment of poverty. Since he does not want to appear pitiful to others, he has chosen to hide his inner sweetness. Armed with a shell, he tries to act tough and cold in front of others, until Yoon Chan appears in his path.
Audiences will like Min Jae's character for being a warm and shy person who will have several part-time jobs to support himself, such as being a barista or librarian at the university library. Here he will meet again with the star student who specializes in combat sports, who, in turn, does not know how to approach others and has never had friends. So when Min Jae approaches him first, he gets happy and will try to make him his friend.
Min Jae will react like a tsundere, and will initially have a distant, reserved and even hostile demeanor, but little by little he transforms into someone warm, sensitive and friendly towards the cool and tall young man who only shows feelings for Min Jae, while remaining cold towards others.
Min Jae has been curious about Yoon Chan since they met. He doesn't know what emotions and feelings overcome him every time he is in the presence of the lonely young man full of laughter and energy who doesn't care much about other people... except Min Jae.
The public will be able to enjoy the performance of Choi Dong Ho, an actor with a high capacity to transmit emotions, in a genuine and convincing way, who demonstrates with his performance that far from seeking grandiloquence, he immerses himself in his character with the simplicity that characterizes to those who understand that true art lies in authenticity.
The budding relationship between the two boys will be tested with the arrival of Jeong Woo Hyuk (Kim Yoon Sol), known for his participation in 'Man In The Shower', a new Applied Music student, who will also fall in love with Min Jae. Her character adds layers to the narrative and will keep the audience guessing about the evolution of the love triangle.
The series allows us to see how the actions and emotions of the characters change, all thanks to Yoon Chan's constant aegyo attack against Min Jae, causing fun and hilarious moments with his actions, in addition to the necessary reflection on the topics addressed. However, his own personality will trip up the young athlete, who will need the help of Min Jae's teacher, played by veteran actor Jo Yoo Seok, to be able to recognize his feelings and overcome fears and insecurities.
With realistic representations, the series will provoke the viewer to ask several questions, such as: What will happen when the music student who radiates a calm, meticulous and reflective demeanor, continually crosses paths with the taekwondoka with a strong personality, introverted and somewhat clumsy, but with endearing silliness that increases its charm? Will a chance encounter between them be enough to cause their paths to intertwine and, over time, their bond to deepen and blossom into a romantic relationship?
Although Min Jae thinks Yoon Cha is a very strange guy, for some reason he will still think about him. Their encounters multiply when Min Jae accepts the job as a librarian, which brings them closer together. Since their first stumble, the two have become entangled and closer, leading them to develop a romantic relationship.
The infatuation between Min Jae and Yoon Chan begins slowly; they circle close to each other but keep their distance, wanting to show indifference to disguise their interest. Yoon Chan ends up being much better at that game: he knows better than to stare for too long or too intensely. In contrast, Min Jae's furtive glances end up staying focused as if he is asking a question with his eyes.
In this Matchbox X Strongberry production, the lives of the two will meet, causing a definitive impact on them. The union will be revealing for both of them, who will begin to feel things that they cannot control.
"Although at first glance there are many things that separate us, there is something that unites us equally, feelings," said Kang Woo.
Those feelings are what he is looking for with the series. It is the emotions and feelings that are there, hidden, but on the surface, that the director wants to uncover with this story. A story of friendship and the discovery of sexuality, of homosexual love that, however, is far from anyone's prejudiced views.
In 'Blossom Campus' the characters discover that they attract each other, they fall in love, but there is no censorship on them. They both discover that they feel something else. Something they can't control. And that, in addition to being human, is beautiful. Because the first love, the real one, you only live once. Whether you are heterosexual or homosexual, whether you are a musician or an athlete, whether you are empathetic and happy, or introverted and clumsy. And therein lies its value. That although at first glance there are many things that separate us, there is something that unites us equally. The feelings. We all feel. And no one is immune from that.
You don't just visualize Kang Woo's dramatizations, you absorb them. His films and series show us beautiful people with impeccable taste while they intensely live their days of adolescence and youth. Passion and drama put a stop to those lives, but what stands out most about his work is the palpable quality they have.
In the director's work, this passion and drama are expressed with words, silences, actions and music whose strength is increasing and also in the vibrant and visceral textures that surround the characters: the shelf full of books, the light and the shadow, the small table on which the university texts are placed, the computer on, the cafe where lovers meet or work part-time, the combat uniform worn by the athlete in a practice session, glimpses of the sweat...
The viewer will experience memorable scenes, such as the one on the roof, or when each person fixes the other's apron, as it is very suggestive, or when Min Jae, who has an instinct for self-defense, lets Yoon Chan into his house, and The barrier until that moment between the two is broken and he accepts it.
As the drama ends in suspense, there is the possibility of a second season, which we will wait to delve into the romance between two friends who have become so close that they cannot deny the love that unites them.
I cannot finish this review without reaffirming my commitment to fighting harassment and cyberbullying towards the artists involved in this project, as Strongberry also did at the time.

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As viewers, what can we ask of a Special Episode?

As viewers, what can we ask of a Special Episode?

We would ask precisely for the incredible closure that the cast and creators of 'You Are Mine Special' have given us.
This is the perfect ending to the 2023 Taiwanese drama 'You are Mine', as it delves deeper into the relationship between Yao Shun Yu (Hsiao Hung) and Xia Shang Zhou (Parker Mao).
And yet I ask for more of the love story between the director of the Xia company and the boy who becomes the company's new employee.
It is not surprising that it reaches a rating of 8.1 points on MDL and other platforms.
But this episode has the added bonus that, in addition to the audience being able to witness the evolution of this couple of lovers after the events narrated in the series, it has also served to give the possible beginning of the romance between Xiao Yang (Bobo Luo) and Li Hui Wang (Yorke Sun).
Surely we will see them as the main couple of some series in the near future, and I have no doubt that Hsiao Hung and Parker Mao would be there again in that case to play the characters that have summoned us here.

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An unrequited love

Kenneth (Andrei Desales), is trapped in a "friends with benefits" relationship with his friend Rayu (Jude Maquiling), in which he gives everything and gets nothing in return.
But chaos emerges after an unintentional mistake, and Kenneth must face the consequences of loving a boy who doesn't love him: like Icarus, Kenneth will have to pay the consequences of flying near the sun.
Directed by Angel Aguihap, the short film 'Icarus', produced by The Hillside Echo, is a bittersweet story of two college students involved in a one-sided homosexual relationship in which one gives everything, but the other is unable to return more than affection. superficial.
Premiered at the 10th FCU Duag Student Film Festival, the film, with an LGBT+ theme, won several awards, including Best Director, for Angel Aguihap; Best Set Design, for Nick Andrei Desales, who in turn won the award for Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor for Jude Maquiling, Best Photography and Best Poster for Joshua Solis.
This is a great short film because it has an excellent script and wonderful direction.
The film will make us reflect on the many dangers of sex without "conditions", especially in a long-term situation like that of the two protagonists. Within the framework of their unconventional relationship, Kenneth has developed feelings for Rayu, but it will not be reciprocated. Rayu has built a wall around himself that Kenneth will never be able to tear down.
With admirable performances, I was particularly impressed by the performance of the actor who plays the role of Kenneth. Her bitter crying, her pleading, her little hiccups of pain as she tried to express her feelings and emotions to Rayu, watching his tears flow freely, are heart-warming images. The viewer will feel compelled to hug him to provide comfort and protection.
It strikes me that the Bisaya language, also known as Cebuano, was used in this Filipino film, since in general I have enjoyed the use of Tagalog.

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Clear and strong message: the fight for LGBT+ rights in Taiwan has not stopped

Inspired by the "skirt week" controversy at Banqiao Municipal High School in Taiwan, where students fought for men's right to wear skirts in the student center, the short film 'Rose Skirt' (玫瑰色的裙), from 2021, tells how while the well-intentioned students carried out the exercise in a playful and boisterous manner, Xiao Yan, the only boy in the class who really has desires to crossdress, remains silent and hides his longing.
From Taiwanese writer, director and producer Angel I-Han Teng, 'Rose Skirt' is a queer coming-of-age short that depicts the ambiguity of growing gender consciousness in teenagers. Yan, the teenage protagonist of the story, faces his desire for feminine expressions while struggling with feelings of guilt and shame. Is it internalized homophobia? Is it homophobia? The truth is that he is afraid to admit his true self to everyone.
Starring Xiang-Dao ChenKey, Yi Rou Kao and Etsen Chen, the film continues the filmography of a filmmaker interested in addressing issues related to identity, gender, feminism and human rights with a subtle sensitivity.
These themes are addressed by the filmmaker since her first work as a screenwriter of 'Bao Bao' (親愛的卵男日記), from 2018, directed by Shie Guang Cheng, or 'The Fragrance of the First Flower', winner of the Gold Award in the GagaOOLala Pitching Sessions, and 'A Balloon's Landing'(我在這裡等你), from 2024, among other film pieces.
The short film addresses a conflict already seen before, but from a different angle. When society downplays the issue and affirms that a man, regardless of his sexuality, can wear women's clothing, they drown out the voices of those who really want to cross-dress.
In a subtle way, the filmmaker uses this conflict to weave a deeper and more delicate narrative. But what is striking is that the short film is set in Taiwan, the only territory in Asia where LGBT+ people have achieved some social and human rights achievements, such as the legalization of same-sex marriage.
The filmmaker's message is that, despite what has been achieved, the members of this human group still suffer from misunderstandings and humiliations, which generate fears and insecurities. The objective of the film is clear and forceful: to point out that Taiwanese LGBT+ people must still continue the fight for full recognition of their human rights.

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