Watchlist - completed in 2023

Office Japanese BL with a friends-to-lovers trope that could have been exploited better

I would recommend this to people looking for a BL office romance. It has some defaults in its storytelling and does not exploit all of its potential but it is still a pretty compelling watch if you like friends-to-lovers trope.

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Quite loose adaptation disappointing in some aspects

I would not necessarily recommend this to people unless you really like one of the main actresses or if you enjoyed the manga and are curious to see its adaptation.

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Original story quite fascinating but odd pacing and ending

I would recommend this to people that enjoy movies by acclaimed director Park Chan Wook. It is not the most well-known of his filmography but it is worth a watch for its interesting concept. Strangely enough, even though both pieces are very different from another, it made me think somewhat to "Squid Game" as a comparable recommendation.

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Horror movie lacking in suspense, thrills, characters development and logic

I would not recommend this to people unless you like Park Min Young and want to see her in something quite different. This film deals a lot with animal cruelty and can therefore be triggering. The statement at the end of the movie, explaining that "no cat were hurt during the filmmaking" was a big relief because of the awful treatments of the animals in some scenes.

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Entertaining action sci-fi movie, not surprising and flawed but does the job

I would recommend this movie to people looking for an entertaining sci-fi movie. If you enjoy shows like "The Mandalorian" or movies like "Star Wars" or "The Guardians of the galaxy", you might like it (even though you will for not be surprised by anything if you have seen / read a lot of similar stuff).

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Not a lot to say so far but I want to watch this BL series for sure!

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a BL story set in Hong-Kong. So far, nothing has happened but I enjoyed the atmosphere of the episode and it successfully managed to make me curious of what's going to happen next.

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Enjoyed the thematic and the bromance, less convinced by the romantic side of the relationship

I would recommend this to people looking for a cute and rather platonic BL story in the countryside with little angst. It has a likeable pairing which for me lack a bit of chemistry and passion, but it is still a very sweet watch.

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Enjoyable with diversity in the couples featured; does not exploit well-enough fantastical element

I would recommend this to people looking for a drama featuring pretty diverse couples. If you liked teen shows like "Skam" or "Skins", or even movie like "American Pie", you might enjoy this. It is comparatively much more tame but it still has a similar vibe following teenagers and young adults trying to figure out themselves.

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A buddy cop movie with an atypical ghost element

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a comedy with an interesting premise and like buddy cop movies. It is not very memorable, nor very deep, gritty or dark but it is quite entertaining and fun, which is sometimes just what you need.

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An almost fairy tale BL story in a remote village in Thailand

I would recommend this to people looking for a BL story with a lot of turmoil and feelings combined with remote village storylines and rural atmosphere. If you have enjoyed "Crash Landing On You" or even "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" where people from 2 very different worlds meet and fall in love with each other, as well as learn a lot from their interactions with villagers, this might be just right in your alley !

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Interesting concept but I got super bored...Maybe a case of "it is me, not you"

I would not recommend this to people. I feel there are better romantic movies out there and that this one is overall pretty bland and forgettable...

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Culmination of an addictive master-servant BL Story

I would recommend this to people that loved the series. It is the culmination of the love story and is pretty satisfying. I still feel that I'm left wanting to see even more of them, so that they can even go deeper into the psyche of the two main protagonists and the evolution of their interesting dynamic. I'm a bit sad that it is probably the end of the road with those characters... But still what an enjoyable ride ! I think I am going to read the novel if possible !

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BL arranged marriage story : kind of an insane premise makes for an enjoyable ride despite its flaws

I would recommend this to people looking for a BL with an age-gap and that like cold CEO vibe vs. cheeky and spunky guy. It is a simple and fun watch, do not expect a lot deepness or even angst from it. The drama content is very much matching with its title.

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Important movie for South Korean cinema, start of Lee Joon Gi stardom <3

I would recommend this to people that are curious to see the movie that made Lee Joon Gi's talents recognised. Personally, I first discovered him in the 2005 drama "My Girl" and clearly I do not regret to have finally taken the time to go back to watch his first big movie performance for which he was particularly (and rightly so) praised for. If you like historical movies and are not afraid of a gut-wrenching poetic journey, you will likely enjoy it!

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Not the best iteration of the "Itazura na kiss" story but entertaining and nostalgic enough

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a rom-com movie with a forced proximity trope between a genius, rich and cold male lead and an innocent, air-headed and clingy female lead. It is quite stereotypical and it has be done so many time, but it is still entertaining. If you have seen previous adaptations, you might find yourself disappointed like me as a lot was forsaken for the sake of brevity. If you are new to the story, you might no see as many flaws and be able to enjoy it for what it is: a cute and likely not that memorable romance. 

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Strongly disliked one of the storylines, stayed for the indie vibe and artistry

I would not necessarily recommend this to people as I only enjoyed one of the two storylines. It is really short so you might want still to give it a go, at least for the artistic vision. It seems that the production team has decided to work on redoing this story in another format (with more & longer episodes)...Not sure if I will watch it unless they drastically improve the content of the storylines in the upgraded version.

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Action movie with a sci-fi angle: not that original but beautifully acted and produced

I would recommend this to people looking for an action movie with a sci-fi angle and some stellar acting. It is not original at all and the antagonists actions and dialogs can be a little cringe, but if you love Gong Yoo and/or Park Bo Gum, it is for sure worth the time.

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Cute sequel to Cutie Pie, mostly enjoyable fluff because why not ^^

I would recommend this to people that enjoyed Cutie Pie, do not expect a lot suspense or intensity, but enjoy the fluff and the fanservice.

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Enemies-to-lovers mystery school BL - what an interesting combination carried by a great pairing !

I would recommend this to people looking for a different kind of BL story set up in a school and coupled with a mystery. The writing is not without flaws and sometimes it can feel a bit cheap in terms of production, but the sizzling chemistry between the main actors and their great acting make it very easy to forgive those little defaults.

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Disappointed by main storyline, stayed for characters, cast and some great shonen action moments

I would recommend this to people that enjoyed the 1st season and want to see more of the "counters". I think if you like the characters and the mythology of the story, you might enjoy it. However, the story is clearly weaker than in season 1, if you do not find interesting the main storyline followed through this second season (like it was my case), you might be disappointed.

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Movie revisiting TxT 2022 US Tour: wish it went deeper but still felt a lot of emotions watching it

I would recommend this to people that love TxT. It is a nice complementary watch to revisit the 2022 US Tour in another way. Even though I wish it would have been deeper on some aspects, I'm still grateful in a way about the fact that they shared both the joyful times but also the more painful moments. It was done in a controlled way but at least it does not totally brush off the difficulties faced. It is beautiful in a way to know that just one year later, in summer 2023, the group successfully headlined the Lollapalooza festival.

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Not memorable nor original but cute BL office romance lacking substance

I would recommend this to people that enjoy BL story in an office setting. It will for sure not revolutionize the genre but it is a sweet drama, not memorable but which is fun to binge-watch.

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Good thriller in a small town: amazing acting that transcended the material given

I would recommend this to people looking for a dark police thriller carried by really good actors performances. If you enjoyed series such as Mare Of Easttown or police novels, you will enjoy this.

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Very cute in some aspects but lacking to much in storytelling, pacing and developments

I would recommend this to people looking for a short BL romance with a fantasy element and cohabitation trope. If you have enjoyed drama such as "The Master's Sun" or movie such as "Marry My Dead Body", you might enjoy this because they share some similarities (either in the concept or the humour). I find it lacking in terms of story as well as relationship development but there are quite a bit of very lovely-dovey moments.

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Unhinged and exciting performance of Kim Seon Ho, you might never see him the same way ^O^ 

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a thrilling action movie and do not mind gore. If too much blood is not your thing or if character likeability or relatability is important to you, do not watch this movie. I had personally a good time watching it and I am wondering if a second watch would help me appreciate some of the characters and plot elements better (such as the ending which left me an uncanny feeling regarding what the movie's morale and meaning).

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Incredibly well-acted meaningful story + impressive action scenes = Instant Favourite !

I would recommend this to people looking for an action series with some slice-of-life elements, impressive cast, superheroes vibe and amazing cinematography. It is quite graphic in the violence depicted so you might want to skip it if you are triggered by that. If you enjoyed series such as Heroes (only looking at its very good *season 1*), I would strongly advise to give a chance to "Moving".

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Entertaining survival drama with a good cast but some defaults in the writing and production 

I would recommend this to people looking for an action survival series with some horrific elements. Despite the flaws in the writing as well as some misses in the making, it is an entertaining show, very binge worthy and carried by a good cast. If you enjoyed the manga Attack on Titan, the Kdrama Happiness or some of the seasons of American Horror Story, you will likely appreciate this as well. In terms of gore and horror, they could have gone further but it was still pretty strong, so be mindful if you have any trigger.

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A bunch of misfits trying their best at football: enjoyable for its last third but forgettable

I would recommend this movie to people that are looking for a different kind of sport movie. If you are fan of one of the actors / actresses, it is worth giving it a shot. Rather than really being about football, it is much more slice-of-life with a lot of misfits characters trying their best all together.

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Important staple of the South Korean cinema: thought provoking but not enjoyable per se

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a noir action thriller centred around vengeance and quite enigmatic. It is an important piece for South Korean cinema and even though I did not "enjoy" it, I still think it is worth the watch and that it leaves a lasting impression on the viewer.

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Mostly dumb but overall entertaining slapstick police comedy 

I would recommend this to people looking for a blockbuster police comedy with a good ensemble cast. It is a fun ride which lack substance and characterization but does the job in term of entertaining value. And sometimes, that is enough for sure.

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Youth Romance set in 1999 : painful and healing 

I would recommend this to people looking for a youth romance both painful and healing and that will for sure provide you a nostalgic throwback feeling. If you enjoyed movie such as the Japanese "Orange" or the Reply series (1997 / 1994 / 1988), you will likely appreciate a lot this film.

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Interesting for the various directing approaches but not riveting 

I would recommend this to people looking for a different kind of storytelling, an hybrid piece between series and movies. It is a bit of an OVNI and difficult to really say at the end if I enjoyed it or not, but it is worth giving it a shot (especially if you like IU and given its shortness).

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BL movie too short for the romance to make sense 

I would recommend this to people looking for a dark story. It is lacking in terms of storytelling to make the romance believable but it is not a boring watch for sure. The movie depicts a lot of abuses so be mindful of the tags if you have any trigger as it is pretty graphic.

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Frustrating BL story due to so much miscommunication but good chemistry & production

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a BL series with cohabitation trope as well as lot of sexy moments and who do not mind toxicity / red flags in the romance. If you really dislike miscommunication issue and/or really dumb/dense hero(ine), you might get very frustrated as well but as it is very short and supported by good performance, I still think its entertaining qualities outweighs its flaws.

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Side Ep with the "villain" point of view: totally dispensable and less interesting than main series

I would recommend this to people that like the main series. It is totally dispensable and you will not miss anything by skipping this. But still, if you are finding yourself wanting more from those characters and their universe, it is a relatively satisfaying watch (despite the repetitive aspect of of some scenes). To be noted, this side episode should be watched after viewing episode 8 of the origin series.

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A lot of defaults, quite entertaining in its first half then fizzling out

I would not recommend this to people as I feel there are much better BL stories out there ,featuring more convincing musical sequences as well as better chemistry/acting. Despite its numerous defaults, I cannot say that it was not entertaining so you might want to give it a shot if you are looking for something very light and fluffy and do not mind some editing issue as well as some poor acting and storylines.

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Splendidly messy, highly entertaining ! Hot, wild and thrilling ! 

I would recommend this to people looking for hot, wild and thrilling BL. If you are not afraid of messy relationships, you are in for a real treat. I would have loved for the drama to be longer even though the conclusion was good and satisfying (despite what felt as some shortcuts), that's why I would gladly watch a second season if they decide to make one.

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BL almost parodic with a fanfic/shipper point of view that could have been exploited more

I would recommend this to people looking for a classical BL in a university set up with fanfiction / shipper reference and parodic/comical elements. It is pretty spicy with a lot of eye candy as well which makes its flaws in writing and in production a bit more forgivable I suppose.

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The secondary couple stole this BL series <3 Bonker but also entertaining drama !

I would recommend this to people looking for a BL story with sizzling hot chemistry as well as a lot of dramatic elements. If you do not mind bonker plot and low budget production, I would strongly advice to give this a shot. The story of the secondary couple stole the show, even if you decide to not watch this drama, do yourself a favor and go watch some compilation video about the story of Chen Yi and Ai Di <3 !!!!

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Platonic friends-to-lovers BL, quite disappointed by the acting

I would not recommend this to people because I feel that are better BL stories out there. If you really enjoy Japanese school life drama and/or friends-to-lovers trope, you might want to give it a go. It is mainly the acting that decreased a lot my enjoyment of the show and appreciation of it is pretty subjective after all.

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Emotional well-acted roller-coaster romance during the Qing invasion of Joseon Dynasty 

I would recommend this to people looking for a very good historical drama with good acting and set during an interesting period of time. If you do not enjoy melodramatic moments and just want a cute / fluffy romance, this is not the drama to watch as it is pretty rough for the heart.

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Caricatural but fun at first, collapsing in its second half with conflicts not handled well 

I would not necessarily recommend this movie as I think it collapsed in its second half with a shift to a more "dramatic" tone with some internal and external conflicts that were not handled very well and a resolution that I found very expected and quite cringy. If you are looking for a very light movie to watch, easy for the brain and some mindless fun, you might still want to give it a shot. Sometimes, it is clearly what you need and it is perfectly valid as well.

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Enjoyed the musical moments and the bright colours & costumes, disappointed by the romantic aspect 

I would not recommend this movie as I was disappointed by the plot and the romantic aspect of the scenario. The premise is good and there are good musical moments...but the overacting and almost parodic directing choices as well as the lack of nuance in the storytelling prevent me to recommend this.

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Quite fun despite some pacing issue and unlikeable characters 

I would recommend this to people looking for a "found-family" movie with a zombie twist. It is a rather original take on the zombie genre and is quite fun to follow despite some issue in its pacing. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of emotions and connections I felt toward the characters, I would have love to be more engaged... It is kind of a mix between 2 movies "A Werewolf Boy" and "Extreme Job", so if you enjoyed one of those, you might want to try this one as well!

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Fun and light fanfic-like reverse harem movie: a bit frustrated by the ending cop-out 

I would recommend this to people looking for a fun and light high school movie with a reverse harem trope. It is really not deep and there are quite a bit of problematic elements not addressed at all, the morale/message is unclear with an ending that feel like a cop-out...But despite all the flaws, it is a really entertaining and enjoyable watch.

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Heroine falling in love with her older brother's best friend: such a wholesome and romantic story

I would recommend this to people looking for sweet romance with an age-gap trope done really well and convincingly without any cringe factor, just wholesome. At its core, the story is super classic. There is also not a lot to be found in terms of secondary characters and layering of storylines. It is super simple and direct, and sometimes, that is just what you need. A wholesome romance, not too long and sweet to the eyes.

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Not my cup of tea despite interesting premise 

I would not recommend this to people because I cannot say that I enjoyed the movie. As it is quite short ans has an interesting and original premise, so you might want to give it a go if you are looking for a pretty raw BL. It leans strongly into the melodramatic genre which I would have appreciated more with a better characterization and storylines. Be aware that this movie can be very triggering: it is graphic, violent and depicts very toxic relationships.

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Entertained at first but in overall disappointed by the scenario and pace of the story 

I would not recommend this to people. It is a very over-the-top BL story with a cute dog, a questionable CGI tiger and wonky scenario: it is entertaining at times and quite ridiculous at some other times. If you are a fan of Cutie Pie / Cutie Pie 2 and/or of Domundi actors, you might still want to give it a shot for some of the couple pairings.

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Enjoyed the slice-of-life aspect and nostalgia throwback, romance could have been better 

I would recommend this to people looking for a coming-of-age story set up in a South Korean high school in the early 1980's. It has a strong slice-of-life tone, romance being more secondary than the main focus of the script which is more about the growth of teenagers living through high and low of high school in the countryside.

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Not really a BL but rather a strong, raw and brutal psychological story with a lot of trauma 

I would recommend this to people looking for a strong psychological story with a thriller / dark side and involving very traumatic events happening to the characters. It is completely gripping and gut-wrenching. This film is full of triggers, shocking scenes and very graphic: be mindful and check the tags (or even maybe the spoils if you want to make sure this is a movie you will be able to digest). 

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Thrilling dark BL with master - servant relationship: captivating, wish it was longer! 

I would recommend this to people looking for a captivating BL relationship with subservient/dominant tones. Given the context in which the characters are evolving, be aware that it is a pretty toxic, violent and triggering story. It is very thrilling and chocking at the same time, I wish it would have been more developed on some aspects (especially regarding the past of the two main characters) but it might be me being greedy.

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Very short entertaining princess-guard romance with some flaws in the production and acting 

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a very short bodyguard romance with a vague historical vibe. If you want to see a series where the power lies more into the hand of the woman in the relationship than in the man's, and if you do not mind choppy editing, this drama will suit you.

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Despite flaws in writing / characterization, entertaining action movie with beautiful filmmaking 

I would recommend this movie to people looking for an action movie and who enjoy revenge trope. It could have been much better in terms of scenario and characterization but it has a nice pace and with very pleasant for the eyes filmmaking. Be mindful of the triggers as it is very violent and includes a lot of problematic and traumatic elements.

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Delightful waste - objectively bad but enjoyable

I would not recommend this because it is objectively not good. It enters the category of delightful waste, you might hate it, watch ironically (or even maybe unironically enjoy it for what it is) but there are for sure better high school romance out there.

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Very good idea but unfortunately too short to fully capitalize on its potential

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a different kind of BL story. It is super short so you might feel that the story is not reaching its full potential but I still think that it is worth giving it a try given the originality of the concept.

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Pacing issue + unlikeable character made it impossible to enjoy, despite great acting of Lee Joon

I would not recommend this movie unless you are a big Lee Joon's fan and want to see the movie which really made him prove to the public his skills as an actor. Be aware that this movie can be pretty triggering as it is graphic, violent and with depictions of sexual assaults.  

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Found family and friendship matter far more than blood ties, series brought up a lot of emotions 

I would recommend this to people looking for a great family drama. There are quite a lot of characters and they take their time to develop each of them. It is a very satisfying watch which can brought a lot of emotions. The ending was a bit tiring in terms of scenario for the last arc and a bit too quick at the same time. I would have loved a smoother landing but I was not disappointed in any case.

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Great performance of Nam Joo Hyuk that could not save the drama from script and pacing flaws 

I would not recommend this to people unless you like one of the main actors or the source material (which I have not read). The idea is good but the writing does not support it properly and the pacing felt oddly sluggish given the low number of episodes. Though if you are a fan of Nam Joo Hyuk, you need to watch this drama because he is brilliant in it. Be mindful if you have any trigger, it is very violent.

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Dazzled by the filmmaking, hopefully there is a sequel to develop more the compelling lore 

I would recommend this to people looking for an historical / fantasy movie with amazing production value and captivating lore. If you enjoy beautiful kimonos, meticulous decors with a lot of details as well as romance involving fantasy elements, this one is for you.

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Incredible side characters & secondary romance that stole the show to the detriment of main couple 

I would recommend this to people looking for a more slice-of-life BL with nuanced storylines and very good ensemble cast. The cinematography is good despite some editing hiccups and there are some really memorable scenes in terms of acting and stakes. The pacing could have been better and the main romance is a bit lacking story-wise (especially compared to the other storylines) but the series has enough qualities despite its flaws to be worthwhile.

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Painful to watch, I had moderate expectations and was still very disappointed and annoyed 

I would not recommend this to people as there are much much better BL series out there. Unless you really like one of the actor and/or over-the-top comedy as well as you do not mind overacting, I would suggest to do yourself a favor and avoid this at all cost.

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