an interesting story lost in the wreckage of terrible writing

I'm back from IdolFactory's ever-confusing two week break, trying to remember what the experience of this story was, and think my final answer is: it's fine. In comparison to GAP, I think Dream GL does a better job of crafting meaningful conflict and motivations... but that's about all the improvement I can give IdolFactory here. The actors are charming with good chemistry, but stilted by fumbled pacing that drags. The story is complex and mature, but the magic of the dream world is fairly scarce which diminishes the girls bond. Production quality is about equal to GAP, with perhaps some more interesting cinematography to match the dreamy setting (as opposed to an office romance). I didn't hate watching this, but IdolFactory will have to make some changes if they want to continue to stand out.

-The Full Review-
STORY:
For the positives, I genuinely enjoyed the story of Kim and Wan and their families. I liked how their relationship to their father's complicated their way to falling in love without relying on (as egregious of) miscommunication tropes. Their bond with their school friends was quite cute and brought a very lively energy to an otherwise sad story. While I really could use a break from lesbian-bride Heng, I don't think the marriage plot was awful... though the resolution was fairly melodramatic and rushed.
Unfortunately, the rest of the story was all over the place. So much time is invested into the acting competition plot-line, only to dissolve without fanfare. Likewise the couple-pair plot creates a huge mess before melting away into nothing. The mother's illness overlapped oddly, denying each of them a true moment to shine and bogging down the second half of the show with too much trauma... and so on. It badly needed another edit to restructure the story for this episode count/timeline.
Additionally, I think IdolFactory has gotten a little carried away with their episode lengths. The extra runtime allowed for frequent slow-mo and dead air as well as so many scenes of people traveling places (with no real reason to include the trip). Cutting back to a true 45 or 1 hour runtime would vastly improve the drag on some of these episode and force the screenwriters to cut some of their darlings.

ACTING:
I've seen some pretty harsh commentary, but I didn't find the acting all that grating. Fay, rather held back by the poor pacing of her character arc, did quite well once Dawan was allowed to grow and show all the sides of her character. I enjoyed the stubborn ferocity of her character and the more playful side that only Kim gets to see. I think she did well navigating the realities of depression, especially for a character who has been navigating these struggles for quite some time.
May, likewise, delivered a very competent performance. Her character was quite subdued, held back by the frustrations of so many things in her life going wrong, and I think she portrayed that exhaustion quite well. While some of the crying scenes were not the most natural, she truly started to shine while navigating Marwin, her mother's illness, and Dawan's tempestuous nature. I really enjoy her as an actress and look forward to seeing her grow.
I wish the female ensemble would have... swapped. I loved Frung, Pear, and Ploy and would have loved to see more of them. They're characters were charming and brought out interesting new sides of the leads. I found Looknam and Songjet.... quite overwhelming. I enjoyed their characters, but wish the director would have pulled them back more often. The friendships were very, very sweet but rarely allowed to develop any kind of emotion.

PRODUCTION:
In general, I think Marvellous Dream was a pretty standard IdolFactory production. Competent production choices informing a quality product with very few technical glitches. Like most IdolFactory shows, the OST was pretty limited and repetitive (I really wish the would expand their music), but the lighting was quite beautiful. Unfortunately, with a fashion-plot show, I have to say the costumes kind of... fell apart. While the actual clothing was quite quirky and enjoyable, Kim's designs were completely heinous. I wish the costumes had taken more of an opportunity to be informed by the story, rather than feeling like a child's Lisa Frank Fashion Design game.

INTIMACY:
I genuinely applaud IdolFactory for continuing to insist on allowing women to be sexual in shows. That said, some of the choreography here was... pretty awkward. I don't quite think we're there yet. Obviously, as they post to YouTube, there is no intention of any upper nudity. But the shots over backs and strategic pillow/blanket placement was not always the most natural. I think this director needs to study some GL to get new ideas on how to keep everyone covered while still delivering a good performance. That said, Fay and May did a wonderful job bringing chemistry and believable passion to the scenes! I hope to see this pair again soon, hopefully with better writing!

In all, I don't think Chao Planoy is for me, nor adaptations of her work. While I enjoyed my time with Marvellous Dream... I started watching several better GLs in the two-week break. I could be convinced to watch it again, but I probably won't do so on my own. Baby steps... baby steps... we're getting there...

Leia Mais

a strong start that doesn't quite nail the landing

I've been following MeenPing since AiLongNhai and this is, without a doubt, their strongest show yet. I love seeing them more comfortable and natural in their acting with experience, and I think P'Golf's style really suited their strengths. The plot was goofy and outrageous, but mostly very, very fun. That said, it kind of fell apart at the end and crashed into a rushed and unsatisfying ending. I wish the last few episodes had managed to maintain the pace and charisma of the first.

-The Full Review-
STORY:
As an All For The Game lover, I have absolutely no room to speak on loving dumb gay-mafia-sports plots. I don't really have any issue with the pacing--as I think making "the big game" more important than the mafia reality is always a stellar choice, especially for less serious shows. I also didn't really mind the throuple-baiting because it was funny! And I will let shows get away with a lot if it's entertaining, even if it feels like a missed opportunity to do something more daring and interesting.
My only real issue with the plot of the show is how it lost focus on the team and then shoehorned back around to The Team Above All. I love Frank, and Atom is an interesting character, but I think a strong version of this show focuses on Ryu and Zen's relationship with their team and their coach. Most of the team was benched after a couple episodes, which made the family scenes at the end fall pretty flat.

ACTING:
I was very pleasantly surprised! It's really been a treat to watch Meen and Ping grow over their careers, and I think they are starting to making some really good choices in their acting. There's a playful banter that they hadn't really nailed yet in their previous works that helps carry the relationship now. Aging them down, surprisingly, also brought out a lot of depth in the characters--especially when we got to see their idyllic, sweet middle school bond. I still don't think we've seen the best of them, and I look forward to seeing what they bring next.

PRODUCTION:
Honestly? I think the production design was so good. My honest to god only complaint is the Tharntype-like room design (Do you think they like basketball?) and the pretty sloppy SFX wounds. The tone brought out by the lighting and soundtrack felt so nostalgic of early 2000s American sports movies and really made such a unique experience in BL. The colors and costume design where vivid and purposeful and really hit the mark. I love P'Golf's bright and neon worlds so much.

INTIMACY:
I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did. MeenPing aren't usually very high heat (or when they try to be, it... gets a little shaky). But I thought the casual intimacy, especially through athletics, really, really worked for this show. Every time they reconnected mid-game and fell back into sync was genuinely moving and natural. The way they orbited each other really stood out and built a very strong foundation for their relationship. I liked it a lot! I don't wish to talk about the finale. I am pretending that one didn't happen.

In all, MeenPing still have me in a completely inexplicable choke hold, but I am happy to be here! I love seeing their progress with each new series and hope they continue to improve. I will be watching whatever comes next. :)

Leia Mais

utterly charmed and the rest comes out in the wash

Really, the thing that matters the most about this series is that the main cast is utterly, utterly charming and carries their stories with grace and humor. This production doesn't always make the best choices and the story line gets sloppy in several places, but the talents of the cast paired with feelgood message takes it across the finish line to become a series I was very fond of. While it may not deliver on the whole premise, a good day is promised and good day was had.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
Hm. Admittedly, this kind of story, one that hits more at after school special than adult series, isn't my cup of tea at all. So for the sake of meeting the story where it's at I'll set aside the more soapbox-y monologues about relationship as simply "not for me." The messages are good and chosen with care, just a little... blatant or, perhaps, juvenile for my tastes.
That said, the plot of Wandee Goodday was pretty all over the place as well. In the first several episodes there are so many plot threads started it's difficult to keep track of what the main story is. This is repeated at the end as several spares are paired despite little connection to the rest of the plot, as well as a few points tied up with a neat little bow that maybe shouldn't have been so simple. I don't necessarily think any of these plot points were bad--just that they were woven together quite sloppily, making the story choppy and disjointed.
My biggest criticism of this story is how Wandee's goals seemed to fall to the wayside as Yak's fight took up a vast majority of the screen time and emotional presence. I would have liked to see more time and space given to his challenges and growth, considering he's the title character. I find a lot of GMMTV BLs struggle to give emotional weight to both leads simultaneously and end up with stories one character facilitates the other's growth (instead of two characters growing together).

ACTING:
I am a huge, and hugely biased, fan of Great Sapol. I absolutely loved him as Inspector M in Manner of death, and I think Wandee Goodday was a perfect and interesting choice to show off his range and charm. Yak felt dimensional, fun, and just that bit heightened that makes romcom characters so lovable. Great especially shined in the way Yak attempts to cover his struggles in good humor and a changed subject,
Despite not having the pleasure of seeing Inn Sarin before, I really enjoyed him! I think that the straight-man side of a comedy duo often ends up going too far, but Dee always managed to hold onto a playfulness and life that countered Yak's rambunctious energy quite well. I wish the script had not abandoned Dee's insecurities so quickly, because I was really enjoying the play between the mature, settled doctor and the stubborn, irrational young person.
Of course, I have to give a shout out to Thor and Fluke. I didn't expect myself to fall for them as hard as I did! Though I don't have any expectations of getting it, I would love to see their whole story properly. The chemistry between these two is absolutely adorable and so tender. Both of their marriage equality scenes really, really got me.

PRODUCTION:
Oh boy. Well, on the first of it. P'Golf continues to provide some truly beautiful neon visuals, though ones that lost their coherency as time went on. A bit more discipline on the colors and use of metatext in the production would have created a neater and more impressive project, but it was quite visually stunning. I particularly loved the bright yellow of the Boxing club and the contrast with Wandee's purples.
My biggest bone to pick with this department is actually with the GMMTV shop. I hate how much the little Dee figure and the elephant pants (both of which are items for sale) took over the show. While the elephant pants were a decent enough choice for Yak, the frequency of their use really limited the costuming of a show that was already fairly limited by uniforms (though huge shout out to Cher's costuming which was... absolute perfection in every scene!). The Dee figurine was... completely incoherent the entire show.

INTIMACY:
In the positives, this show was sex positive and diverse in representations of sexuality. The variety of intimacy shown--from simple skinship to YakDee's more adventurous exploits were treated very maturely (which was very much appreciated considering the moralizing tone of the piece). GreatInn and ThorFluke were both extremely natural pairings that delivered performances explored the characters beautifully.
That said... it was pretty tame? Based on the trailer/synopsis, I was not expecting this show to be so mild. Of course, there's nothing wrong with montage-style sex scenes that fade to black/blurry quite quickly, but I was a little taken aback at just how reserved the show was. It's well done, but it's nowhere near high-heat.

In all, I had a wonderful time with this cast and look forward to seeing what they do next. But this show still brings a vast majority of GMMTV (and P'Golf's) worst habits in a way that prevents it from being truly great.

Leia Mais

a really good time if i don't think about it

Here's the thing: Manner of Death was a phenomenally fun and well made murder mystery thriller of a bl... until precisely the moment I started examining it with a critical eye. So while I continue to find Sammon's themes and moral deplorable, I think it's perfectly possible to have a lovely time with this series! The characters are so charming, the plot is fun and engaging, and all around there's a lot going for this show. But personally.... personally, this story rubbed me the wrong way in several important spots. And while I have a great fondness for these characters, I probably won't return to it any time soon.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
I hated this story. Don't get me wrong: it was a decent mystery. The clues were not particularly subtle, but the plot structure was engaging and it was fun to put the pieces together. It was everything behind the story that I could not tolerate. This particular crime and this particular story had no business being a BL. It is the very definition of using women's pain and trauma as a plot device for men's stories and it's ridiculous.
While the story pays some amount of lip service to feminist response to these stories, it doesn't carry through the subtext and is tonally inconsistent. The episode where we delve into this in detail very nearly ruined the entire show for me because it was so poorly done. I am not a fan of this author or her works, and I am actively considering taking Triage off my To Watch list after DFF and Manner of Death have been so disappointing.

ACTING:
This was such an interesting title for acting! To start with: Mei is a phenomenal talent. Part of the reason it is so disappointing that what should have been Jane's story was squeezed into a genre that sidelines her was that Mei was absolutely ready to command that show. I also really enjoyed Mint as a partner for her, the two sisters created the perfect rapport for the story.
For our leads, Max and Tul are both wonderful. I wasn't convince this was going to be a good show in the first episode, but their tension resolved into a beautiful, fun, and mature relationship. I was really very charmed by their romance. To be honest, some of the more dramatic scenes strained their talents a little, but it didn't really impact the story enough to cause any issue. Certainly, I am still looking forward to catching some of their other work.
The rest of the cast filled in well, with some particularly sweet chemistry from Bhu and Putter, as well as a excellent performance from Great.

PRODUCTION:
Mostly, I enjoyed the production of this story. What caught my eye right away was that despite it's other flaws in the treatment of women throughout this story, the filming of violence against women was very careful not to be sexualized or gratuitous. This was never more clear than in the autopsies, which were careful shot to maintain neutrality.
Outside of this, the costuming was realistic but told the stories of the characters well, the locations were unique and decently dressed, and the lighting was nothing special but nothing wrong. Thankfully, the sound quality was very consistent without any glaringly visible equipment. Over all, the production is not doing anything extremely noteworthy, but it's doing the job and doing it competently.

INTIMACY:
While I wasn't disappointed by the lead actors chemistry, I did think the writing into and out of intimate scenes was hilarious in the worst ways. These poor actors were doing the best they could with the most abrupt tone shifts possible. I would have liked to see a more natural transition between suspicion and moments of romance. But once we'd made that leap and switched into the romance, it was lovely. These actors are clearly comfortable with each other and the characters have a language between them that works well. That said, I had seen this recommended as high(er) heat, and I don't feel that's particularly true (at least anymore).

In all, Manner of Death rather fumbled the ending for me, but I would still feel comfortable recommending it to most people. Just go into it looking for a more mindless thriller than something that is going to tackle hard hitting issues or offer an unusually spicy romance.

Leia Mais

a rather unexpected delight despite a shaky script

I'm working my way through every EarthMix title, and I wasn't so sure about this one going in! The plot sounded a little slapdash and I wasn't quite interested in the realities of body-swapping... so I'd been avoiding it. While most of my concerns were at least a *little* valid, I generally found this series to be a much stronger work than I anticipated. The characters are charming, the actors shine, the plot is compelling and fun, and the pacing wallows much less than some of their heavier series. I found myself watching this much faster than I intended and laughing a lot along the way.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
Unfortunately, the story is the weakest aspect of this series (a rather unusual circumstance for EarthMix, who tend to deliver complex, realistic plots and characters). There is, honestly, almost no real thought put into the circumstances of the body-swap, leading to some slightly stilted and unsatisfyingly flat conflict around the edges. I wish that there had been a bit more care in developing a conflict that would drive such close friends so far apart. That said, the emotional connection between these characters was strong as ever, and Win and Korn's struggle to communicate once they were on their journey was plenty compelling enough to make up the difference.
My only other gripe with the story is that it didn't quite take it's magical premise far enough. Despite incredibly able actors, most of the utility of the body-swap fell to surface level gender jokes. While these are done very well, it is disappointing to see the swapping mechanic fall to the wayside in more emotional scenes, despite being central to the miscommunication. I would have liked to see them explore this more to truly live up to the full potential.

ACTING:
Wow. I am already a fan of Earth and Mix (obviously) and had enjoyed Jan a lot in Cherry Magic TH... but this was truly something else. I have to commend Mix and Jan for their success in building two characters together--it is not an easy task to do and they performed it so well. I have already complained at length, but I wish I would have gotten to see *more.* Jan does such a phenomenal job in matching Mix's high energy and crass body language for Win, meanwhile Mix does an excellent job of holding himself and his voice softly for the scant few minutes he's allowed to play Lin. I am never confused about who is who, and the emotions of these characters travel easily between actors and swaps.

PRODUCTION:
I really have to hand it to the costumes department here. The colors and fabrics are perfectly chosen, creating a bright and slightly unreal world, while still grounding the characters in their professions and personality. As pieces, Korn's jacket and Win's bag easily became recognizable touch stones. Korn's car, the Katin plush, and the bottles of holy water also brought a similar fun stylized-realism that worked with the fantasy plot. It was really a beautiful and bright show to watch.

In all, I really enjoyed this work and would recommend it! It isn't my top title from these actors, but it is a beloved edition to their filmography and one that I know I will reach for again when I need a smile.

Leia Mais

Skip to Ep. 7

I started watching The Hidden Character when it was first airing, but quickly dropped the show after Ep. 3 because I strongly disagreed with premise of the first segment (that actors need to share vulnerable, personal information with the world in order to act authentically). I did not like the gamification of these boys personal stories nor the way Pond chose to offer life advice at the end of each episode. It was fairly sloppily edited with a lot of dragging run time and lack of any kind of story arc that made it difficult to keep track of the cast.

After starting Dead Friend Forever, I came back to give it another try. The second segment (Ep. 4-6) was marginally better. With a focus on team/partner building games and cameos from most of the cast of Kinnporsche, it was lighter and more fun than the first. Still, most of this segment seemed like filler, with very poor attempts to create interesting arcs between the contestants. Where I found the show really got interesting (for me), was in Ep. 7 when the boys actually got the opportunity to start acting and receiving feedback.

From Ep. 7 to the end, The Hidden Character switches from a generic reality show to an interesting opportunity to watch young actors really start to sink their teeth into their craft and form connections with those who will become the cast of the next production by performing scenes (from Kinnporsche) together. That said, wasting 6 episodes on stupid reality shows means that the performances are crammed into a few short episodes with little time to expand on the feedback and rehearsal process. Some of the commentary is cut so short, I fear that viewers with little formal experience in acting won't even truly understand what is being said.

Finally, others have already stated it but the voting system was pretty disappointing. Given a group with such diverse existing fanbases and popularity, it would have been better to include, for example, a percentage of the final score coming from the judges. That said, it has little impact when watching this show retroactively--and especially when you already know how many of them make it into Dead Friend Forever.

Leia Mais

by golly they had a Vision and they did it

I've watched Pit Babe twice through now, and I still think it's some of the most fun I've had in BL. I think what makes this show such a good time is that it absolutely nails a niche genre. While omegaverse fiction has a very particular... public image (?) there's a very specific set of tropes and tone to these stories that Pit Babe absolutely nails. From the over-the-top plot, to the fated connection of the partners, to the mostly silly half-explained powers, to family/pack dynamics, this team has done a pretty incredible job adapting what is largely considered niche porn into an entertaining story with pretty wide appeal. I have truly never had more fun tuning in each week to see what they were going to throw at us next.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
Pit Babe is... a little silly. The story quickly assumes a soap-opera adjacent tone with several secret siblings and evil family empires and sabotage plots... you get the idea. Unlike many BLs, however, Pit Babe succeeds in consistent tone and commitment that allows the reader to get absorbed into this heightened world. There's an intentionality to the goofier aspects that lets the audience laugh *with* the story, not at it. It's not meant to be too serious.
Despite this, the show does a wonderful job of crafting some truly compelling characters (especially in Babe and Charlie). Where the omegaverse plots gets a tongue-in-cheek humor, the characters get absolute care and heart. One of the most intriguing aspects of this screenplay is the way the story does not allow you to celebrate the downfall of those who have betrayed Team X-Hunter, instead focusing carefully on the guilt and loss the remaining members.
My only wish for the Pit Babe plot is that it was a little bit neater. It seems like the team was trying not to acknowledge the more controversial aspects of the omegaverse, and frequently left important plot points unexplained as a result. Watching live, I got the benefit of information from fans who had read the source material. While the actors and production team clearly did intend to reference these events, I'm not sure the plot always made it clearly to the screen. Additionally, the product placement was simply insane.

ACTING:
I find it genuinely difficult to judge the acting of this show, so let's start with the basics: All of the actors are perfectly competent. As an ensemble, there were no weak links or irritating cast members. It was easy to see the genuine chemistry and friendship of this cast on screen in a way that served the story's focus on found/created family. As loyalties started shifting and we got some unexpected team ups, they ably carried a sense of history extending beyond the timeline of the show itself. Among the supporting roles, Garfield and Benz were particular stand outs, giving such a fun and complete life to characters that had a relatively small amount of lines.
Beyond this... I was a little torn? I was genuinely very charmed by most of the actors! In particular, Pavel, Pooh, Nut, and Spy have gained a very genuine fan in me. But I didn't always feel that they pulled off a natural performance. I was just a hair too aware of the actor making choices behind the character to be truly pulled into some of the most intense scenes. I would have liked to see the production take the time required to let these fairly new actors really get into the scene. I hope the success of Pit Babe allows their next productions (which I will definitely be watching!) a bit more room in the shooting schedules.

PRODUCTION:
Pit Babe was making some strong decisions in the production departments, goodness. I should say first, it's definitely watchable. You won't find oddly empty rooms, terrible shirt mics, and other hallmarks of genuinely poor production here. But my god, did the design teams make some baffling choices. My personal beef lies with the props department that let that travesty of a gravestone get a several-minutes long close up without covering all the seams, but there is a special place in my heart for the costume team that put Way in three separate jackets on the same day too. While it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the show, it *was,* at times, distracting.

INTIMACY:
Hm. Here's the thing: Pavel and Pooh have been open about the fact that the NC scenes in Pit Babe were not particularly thoroughly choreographed, overly relying on cast members in an already vulnerable position to essentially improv... and I think it shows. While Pavel and Pooh had some truly excellent scenes that clearly had a lot of thought and story behind them, Spy and Pon were treated to a very odd pose-to-pose montage without a lot of direction or purpose behind it.
I want to be clear here: I don't blame the actors at all. I mean to say that Pavel and Pooh have pulled off something beautiful in the face of unwarranted obstacles, not that Spy and Pon have "failed" in anyway. But on a personal level, I don't agree with this style of direction. It's the creators responsibility to support and protect their actors, and I don't like seeing signs of their insecurity and discomfort making it to the screen/BTS.

In all, I think Pit Babe was fun show and great stepping stone for some overlooked talents. I enjoy rewatching, but I'm looking forward to what comes next even more.

Leia Mais

Watchable and cute, but seriously lacking in storyline.

I already know I wasn't the target audience for this show (high school romance is *not* my jam), so I wanted to really give it a fair shot before reviewing. But honestly? I think my review might have been more positive if I stopped after the first few episodes! While the design of this show is absolutely adorable, with lots of bright colors and space themes, the characters are completely empty and lessons learned are... pretty questionable. I'm also disappointed with GMMTV's continuous fumbling of disabled characters across several shows. This was not the best of efforts, and with several other GLs airing and upcoming... I don't feel like forcing myself across the finish line.

-The Full Review-
STORY:
This story is abysmal. I'll start with the major problems and work down to the nitpicks. Most importantly: the characters lack personality. While Ongsa and Aylin are can scrape by on a cartoonish, stylized choice, Sun and Luna are disappointingly one dimensional. Ongsa, Chareon and Tinh have more chemistry and repartee than any of the couples. Sun is supposedly popular, but 8 episodes in, I don't even know her friends names and she seems to ditch them without question. There doesn't seem to be any depth to any of the relationships--romantic, friendship, or familial.
My second largest issue is the treatment of Aylin, who is portrayed to have autism or some similar neurodivergence. Don't get me wrong: Aylin is leaps and bounds ahead of Penneung from Home School, so I'm grateful for that. But the way she is portrayed as "Luna's project" as someone to change and push into a social creature is just offensive. Half the times the Alien allegory works really well, and have the times it feels like a serious infantilization of an already infantilized group.
As for the nitpicks... I don't like how the show handled Ongsa's self-confidence issues. I understand shows need sponsorships, but to suggest the solution to Ongsa's feelings of "being ugly and unworthy" is to put on some L'Oreal LipstickTM and all the school will fall over you is some seriously anti-feminist drivel. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against femme lesbians... but Ongsa is Not! Or at least she is not portrayed that way until exactly the moment she strives to feel worthy of a girl. I don't think Sun's approach is appropriate either, and hate how her jealous prevents her from hyping up her hot girlfriend.

ACTING:
It was fine. Milk is wonderful at physical comedy and slightly less compelling with the more emotional beats. Love was very cute, but watching Home School simultaneously made it very clear how little she has to work with here. I am not at all a fan of View or her shaky attempts at cripping up, but I know I'm in the minority here. I don't really feel anyone else has enough to work with to properly judge their skills. About the best I can say is that everyone created a very cohesive, heightened, cutesy high school universe, which was nice. They matched energy levels very well, which made scenes fun and bright.
On another note, I wish they'd given this show to more age appropriate actors. While they did a valiant job of making a 27 year old look like a young high schooler, it simply didn't always work. The extreme youth and innocence of the script really worked against the actors here.

PRODUCTION:
All that said, it was enjoyable to watch. While the cinematography was frequently extra slow and drawn out, the set designs and costume choices created a beautiful and bright world. I really enjoyed the way they stylized the youth of these characters and exaggerated their interests to really fill the space. The design of the bedrooms went a long way to filling in the absent personalities of the characters. I, of course, have to take my hats off to the costume crew working over time to make these grown adult women look like they could possibly be in high school--an effect that works way more often than I expected.

INTIMACY:
I haven't watched anything with MilkLove before, and seeing the hype around this pair.... I was expecting more? There's decent chemistry. It's not unwatchable or unbelievable. But I feel like the sound and lighting cues are doing a LOT of the heavy lifting in the romance here. I'm not sure what happened, or if it's just an effect of Ongsa's shyness? They were particularly compelling to me, as a romance.

In all, it's pretty much what I expected from a GMMTV high school romance. They definitely have their audience that enjoys this concept, and I'm glad those people are getting fed. But it does feel like a waste of their talents and time to put out such a shaky end product. I would really like to see GL push harder to develop some truly complex characters and more interesting plots.

Leia Mais

charming and fun, but ultimately inconsistent series

I'm dropping this series. CityBoy_Log was such a fun and lighthearted show that when it first aired. I really enjoyed kind of goofy and dramatic tone of these characters and found the acting to be a lot better than expected! There was a delightful catch-and-release rhythm going on, where they would end on a very dramatic cliff hanger that would turn out to be nothing important in the next episode that always had me laughing. Unfortunately, with the change to volume 3, this lighthearted tone was dropped for a messier, darker story exploring that more seriously explores themes around infidelity and jealousy. It's just not what I was interested in this series for and not something I'm interested in continuing on with.

-The Full Review-
STORY:
CityBoy_Log is an interesting BL in how far it goes to obscure the fact that this is fiction. Having the characters use the actors real names, professions, and work experience may be off-putting to some viewers. This fact didn't really bother me, but I was aware of TAN and Jaejun before I started watching the show... so the fiction was pretty apparent. I like playing with these lines of reality, but I think it might be beneficial to have a bit more clarity on the channel page itself.
For the first two volumes, I thought the storytelling was really clever. Simple, mundane experiences of these people got heightened into melodrama in a way that pure fun and enjoyment. The constant cliffhanger approach I mentioned above was delightful tug making it easily bingeable and exciting to watch. I really do miss this format of low-stakes drama gone melodramatic, and especially mourn the dropped cliff-hanger from the end of the second volume.
The third volume is just.... different. A lot of the silly enjoyment of the earlier episodes are undercut by characters doing annoying and cruel things to each other. While I enjoy a dark and toxic romance, I don't enjoy the swap from something sweet and goofy to something darker within the same series. The first two volumes didn't differentiate themselves enough to support this shift in tone.

ACTING:
I was pleasantly surprised! Despite having a pretty amateur cast, this show had a natural chemistry and a decent amount of talent. While some of the most dramatic scenes ended up a little bit stilted, by and large the performances were believable and compelling. The format also works in their favor, as awkwardness comes across as "candidness" and supports the concept of an unscripted vlog very nicely.

PRODUCTION:
While the physical production is simple and realistic (though nicely done), what really stands out is the vlog editing. It really does feel like a celebrities vlog channel, and plays with those vlogging tropes to help tell the story in a unique way. I especially like the addition of the still shots at the end of every episode that frequently raised the stakes of the cliffhanger event. It's really well done.

INTIMACY:
Despite my issues with CityBoy_Log, I will always praise the lengths they went to in order to normalize queer relationships on screen. It's been a long year of faked kisses and passion-less BL staring kpop idols, and I truly support Jaejun and Jihan being willing to go there with each other. My favorite part of the third volume is the easy inclusion of realistic sexuality between couples. They've clearly worked on their chemistry and aren't afraid to push the envelope of what "idols" are allowed to portray on screen. I think CBL was definitely a step in the right direction for K-BL in this regard.

In all, I still recommend the first two parts of CBL easily. But the third isn't a genre or tone I'm interested in exploring with this story. I'll be keeping an eye on the weekly spoilers in hopes that this show returns to what it originally had to offer.

Leia Mais

hmmm....

To be honest, there was never a point of this show where I was sure if I liked it or not. But there was something about it that kept me from dropping it all the way until the end! I think there's an interesting premise here, but I'm not quite sure it was executed well. An over-reliance on montage and rushed/choppy story made it hard to buy into the romance. Honestly, sometimes it felt more like a cautionary tale about unethical experimentation than a love story, but I was kind of into the vague horror of that! I don't think it was bad, but I don't think it was what I expected or wanted either. In honor of this indecision: 5 stars, dead middle.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
I found the story to be simultaneously the strongest and weakest point of this show. For it's strengths, it definitely had a message that it believed in strongly. The conversation around history and humanity was quite interesting, and I liked the way artificial intelligence complicated Chu Yiping's perspectives. There was a very compelling quality to the way he rationalized Ever 9's humanity, and a satisfying conflict with his Uncle.
For it's weaknesses, however, the love story was... odd? I don't want to say it wasn't clear or believable--I actually really enjoyed the unique ways these two people connected. But we aren't given enough time with them to truly feel that relationship or the strength of it. Too much is left in the montage, so a lot of the most emotional scenes feel fairly unearned. I would have liked to see some better pacing here.

ACTING:
Ah. I guess the problem here lies with the lack of progress. I think both actors were good at the more robotic side of the character--the early days when they were stiff, awkward, and uncomfortable. But I would have liked to see these characters pushed a lot farther as the relationship progresses. We never really get a proper sense of this astronomical change in Chu Yiping that the other characters talk about. And we only ever get glimpses of a natural humanity that could have sold the relationship. It was alright.

PRODUCTION:
The production quality was so hit and miss during this show, but I think my biggest issue was that it missed on things that should be easy. It's fine and understandable if a low budget production has some less-than-impressive special effects! It doesn't really upset my enjoyment of the series. But when there's sloppy make up? You can't afford to take two minutes to fix his foundation? I think it made some of the scenes feel more amateur than they actually were and distracted from the story.

In all, I can't really say I would recommend this show. But I don't think I would discourage someone who was interested in this concept from checking it out. I would say, it stays pretty constant--so if you aren't feeling the first episode or two, you might want to drop!

Leia Mais

exactly what I always wanted ?

I absolutely adored this show from start to finish. Something about the mix of tone was just so compelling to me. While the underlying romance (and other relationships) was so strong and taken so seriously, the rest of the plot wasn't afraid to have fun and lean into tropes in the best way. The action was fun and bombastic, the reincarnation lore was fantastical and epic, the friends were bright and funny, and the chemistry was truly off the charts. I know not everyone will appreciate the way this style sometimes undercuts it's own tension, but I really enjoyed the way the show didn't let itself get bogged down for long.

Of course, I have to give accolades to the cast. Billy is, of course, a wonderful actor (as always). Phaya always has his heart on his sleeve and Billy's ability to show that in every moment is really quite beautiful. Especially as a new comer, Babe is incredible. Easily one of my top actors (I'm lying to seem less biased, he's the top). Nothing ever felt forced or put upon between these two, and the characters were crafted so completely that they could be understood without words from start to finish. It was a really exceptional performance. (Of course, there were many, many wonderful performances from the supporting cast as well).

My only faults with this show were some minor pacing and story issues. I would have liked to see a bit more care and craft in the way information is revealed, especially regarding Phaya and Tharn's past lives. Art's arc in Ep. 7 was so wonderfully done in subtle flourishes and circling narrative, it was disappointing to see the main characters get a less thoughtful info dump of a flashback. In general, I think the writers could have trusted the audience to pick up on clues a little better, as characters frequently repeated information that, at that point, had become pretty obvious. But this honestly didn't affect my enjoyment of the story all that much.

I am absolutely looking forward to the upcoming special episode and whatever BillyBabe have coming next! I certainly wouldn't complain if that happened to be a season 2 ;)

Leia Mais

maybe if you're really bored?

I was so excited for this title because I love circus and acrobatics... but there is not nearly enough of that to keep me watching. With so little effort and budget put into the host club, it's really just the thinnest of gimmicks to differentiate a show without enough plot to stand on it's own. While the cast seems mostly competent and there's a decent (if slightly weird) sense of chemistry, this story doesn't really seem like it has any interest in exploring that. Instead, the plot just kind of moves around perfunctorily without any real sense of character or motives.

I'll admit, I'm not really interested in giving this show second or third chances. The show started out with blatant plagiarism of the kpop group OnlyOneOf in episode one--which the production team later admitted to and apologized for--and it's soured the experience for me. Combined with the way this appears to be one of the shows where Cheewin's got no strong sense of direction or vision? I'll pass. There's plenty of other shows to keep me busy. But maybe if you're just looking for background noise?

Leia Mais

pure romance with a heart of gold

I don't usually pick up titles like this, preferring my dramas to have a little bit more bite than Cherry Magic. That said, I'm glad I didn't give up on this one when it got dropped from YouTube. In the midst of a very dark seasonal line up of BLs, Cherry Magic was perfectly posed to offer a sweet, charming romance that makes you smile.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
At it's strongest, Cherry Magic is a wonderful exploration of stable, adult characters facing a multitude of insecurities, lost dreams, and mundane problems. The warmth with which this show explored these themes and allowed the cast to earnestly support each other through their problems was (despite being a little bit soap-boxy) a really wonderful thing to hear. The romances were sweet and genuine, and built lasting relationships that felt earned. It is, for once, easy to know exactly why these character fell for each other.
That said, it was also just a *hair* too long. Some episodes, especially the finale, tended to drag on so long they dipped from warm and romantic to saccharine. Not *every* lesson needed a long narrated monologue about what was learned, as it really cut up the pacing in some episodes. This show really shined when it kept it simple, and I would have appreciated more moments that were allowed to end before reaching that point.

ACTING:
I wasn't familiar with TayNew before the show, but I was pleasantly surprised with their performances! It's not necessarily a secret that the GMMTV style of acting is not one that I find particularly appealing, but I felt that these two actors managed to reign in the facade to present some pretty relatable characters with delightfully understated performances. There was a wonderful push and pull between their "best behavior" when they are trying to impress each other, and their real personalities when they become more vulnerable and honest. I was particularly impressed with any moment that Achi was given a decently long monologue opening up to Karan (such as confessing he is afraid of heights).
My stand out actor from this show is actually Jan, who gave Pai such a wonderful and exciting warmth and humor. Though her personal character arc was fairly short and largely resolved by the time they returned from the retreat, I always looked forward to her scenes. She brought a really necessary energy to the show, especially when Achi and Karan were dealing with more somber arcs.

PRODUCTION:
All production departments did a wonderful job here. With such a simple framing, focusing on mundane realities, there is not much to say (and that's a good thing)! I did see a post pointing out the costuming departments attempts to make New look smaller through the costuming, and truly it was an admirable quest and I'm surprised how well they did. As always, I wish these productions were willing to put a *little* bit more funds into their idol story lines to make them a bit more believable but, I suppose that's a lot to ask for a side plot of a secondary couple. In general, this show was lovely to watch with well designed scenes and production that subtly enhanced the story without taking on life of their own.

NC SCENES:
Not truly applicable, but no dead fish either! A nice balance between an inherently romance-based plot without falling into sexless bromance tropes.

In all, I'd highly recommend this show to anyone looking for something sweet and romantic, or a pick-me-up when they're really feeling their late 20s/early 30s.

Leia Mais

silly, stupid, and simply superb

Let's start out with the basics--Was this a good show? No, not at all. Was it my favorite show to watch every week and did I have an amazing time? Absolutely. She contains multitudes. This show is not a deep and meaningful exploration of love or masterpiece of storytelling. But it's short and it's sweet and it's very, very cute. If you like Mew or you like Just B or you like your romcoms a little (lot) goofy with quick, convenient endings, you'll enjoy it here! But there's not much more to it than that.

- The Full Review -

STORY:
This story is wildly paced. A slow start, an abrupt end, and about a dozen odd changes in pace and tone along the way make for a... unique viewing experience. Simplifying the plot and doing away with some of the extraneous plot threads would probably have better suited the run time, as well as tempering the hidden traumas to match the lighter tone of the script.
That said, it's fun! The reality show was a cute concept and it the script handled the humor well. The characters were charming and it was easy to root for them through all the mess.

ACTING:
I love Mew, and I think he's a wonderfully charming romcom actor. He's got a very lovable loser energy that boosts his characters transformation. My only real complaint is that I never bought the brooding bad guy persona. JM was a surprisingly good match for him, with an understated and genuine chemistry. His character was quite subdued, but still offered a range of personality without feeling stale or one-note.

PRODUCTION:
Lol. Lmao even. Why is there one dog at the dog cafe? Why are the translation earbuds splatter painted? Why does the manager have a giant painting of Uno with a guitar in his office? What was up with the rooftop pinterest tent? Many decisions did not make sense here. They didn't necessarily *hurt* the show, but it did make it feel... additionally amateur. Better choices could have been made with the budget they had.

INTIMACY:
Truly, I am including this category because it made me laugh so hard I cried. Why did this company evil edit their kiss? We know Mew can kiss. The footage suggests they can both kiss (Sorry, JM, I don't know you like that). Why did you cut 7 times and then start filming the back of his head? What... what was going on here? I just want to know what was so scary about a simple kiss that you had to ruin your own moment that way.

In all, I had a great time and I would watch it again... But I'm not sure I'd recommend it to the average viewer. If you're looking for something silly and fun, this might be a good, quick watch for you! If you don't like BLs that don't invest in their own story, this is probably not going to tickle your fancy.

Leia Mais