Meet Me Outside (2020)

A Short yet Raw Portrayal of the LGBTQ+ Experience

‘Meet Me Outside’ is a short, honest, and sweet drama that has a runtime of a little over an hour about two broken souls who find solace in each other at resort. Juan Miguel Severo, the screenwriter behind the brilliant drama ‘Gaya sa Pelikula’, also wrote this so to say my expectations were high would be an understatement.

While I didn’t love ‘Meet Me Outside’ as its predecessor I definitely enjoyed it. The plot was pretty straightforward and simple but the cast really made it their own. Both Genesis (Dale) and Kaloy (James) perfectly portrayed the characters. You could feel the chemistry between them right from the start and as the episodes progressed so did the chemistry. The main complaint I have with this drama is the length. I felt the sixty or so minutes we spent with Dale and James were not nearly enough time to flesh them out. But that’s less of a outright criticism and more of a personal preference.

The OST was not that memorable but it definitely helped immerse the audience into the story rather than pull them out of it. The cinematography was very pretty too despite the fact that the majority of the drama takes place in one place. I liked the way the director enhanced the characters feelings through the use of different camera angles.

One last thing I want to point out without giving away any spoilers is that ‘Meet Me Outside’ felt as if it’s truly meant to be a story for and by LGBTQ+ individuals. It was unafraid to dive into certain issues and certainly managed to capture the raw vulnerability of heartbreak.

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Meet Me Outside (2020): A Short and Sweet Pinoy BL Microseries

Even though “Meet Me Outside” was an obvious product placement for Blued app, currently the largest gay social network app, it was still a pretty good series. Being a Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) microseries, “Meet Me Outside” was short, with the entire series less than an hour long. I would have wanted longer episodes, but this series, with all its cute and romantic scenes, was nevertheless a worthwhile watch. It was short and sweet.

“Meet Me Outside” was about two young men, who were alone for the holidays for different reasons, who gravitated towards each other after a conversation through the Blued app. Albeit simple, its plot/storyline was actually realistic. Dale and James’ characterizations were generally relatable. I empathized with both Dale and James. Their reactions to situations were mostly understandable. I did found the character development of Dale from timid Dale to confident Dale a bit abrupt, but overall, it was still alright. Sure, I would have wanted an intimate kiss here and there but their cuddles and hugs were also fine.

The realism and relatability of the plot/storyline of “Meet Me Outside” were reinforced by its impeccable screenplay. Dale and James’ conversation about love and relationships was genuine and sensible. Their banter were cute and romantic.

Acting on this series was largely believable. I love Genesis and Kaloy! They’re both charming and endearing! Their character portrayals on “Meet Me Outside” were quite different when compared to their characters in “In Between” and “Boys’ Lockdown” which only proves that they can act. Also, there’s something about their chemistry that’s undeniable.

Audio-visuals of this series were clean and clear. While not particularly made for this series, I still liked all the soundtracks especially “Pahintulot” (Permission) by Shirebound & Busking.

On the whole, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Meet Me Outside.” It was short and sweet.

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