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B X J Forever philippines drama review
Completed
B X J Forever
0 people found this review helpful
by BLexplorer
Nov 6, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 4.5
This review may contain spoilers

MISLEADING TITLE.

Alright, so after I was dissatisfied with how Jim and Ben ended up in Season 1, I hope they end up better in Season 2. The beginning of season 2 was slow and very very frustrating. Jim and all of his former friends were looking for Ben bcz he disappeared into thin air. It seemed like maybe Ben died. But, by then end of episode 4, we had a glimpse of Ben living in a village with another guy. There were a lot of loopholes and things that didn't make sense but yes, I have to say, THE FEELING OF WHATS GONNA HAPPEN NEXT WAS CONSTANT. But, IT WAS BECAUSE THE TITLE WAS MISLEADING. IT SAYS "B X J FOREVER", SO, I WAS CURIOUS AS TO WHEN THE COUPLE WILL RECONCILE AND FINALLY BE TOGETHER. UNTIL THE VERY LAST SCENE, I STILL HAD HOPE THAT BEN MIGHT SOMEHOW END UP WITH JIM AS THE TITLE SAYS, BUT NO!
The reasons why I liked the series is-
1) It broke the stereotype of most dramas. Usually, we always see the lead couple ending up togather or even if they don't, if there's a season 2, there's a better ending for them. They usually reconcile. But here, the lead couple, infact, didn't end up together. Not in season 1, neither in season 2. The ending where Ben has finally made a firm decision to move on and never look back was realistic. And Jim ending up heartbroken was realistic too. Because, IRL, things always don't end up the way we want. There's life beyond the first love and people have to let go at a certain point.
2) The supporting charecters like Flo, Olan, Yana had their own stories and own struggles and they finally had their satisfactory ending.
3) It wasn't just a BL. It included sexuality and romantic relationships of all types.
4) MOST IMPORTANTLY, M GLAD THAT BEN DIDN'T DITCH ROY, SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN MOST DRAMAS. USUALLY, THE LEAD DITCHES THE SECOND LOVE INTEREST AS SOON AS THINGS GETS BETTER BETWEEN THE MAIN COUPLE. BUT BEN, DIDN'T LEAVE HIM. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT ROY WAS THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR HIM THIS WHOLE TIME AND HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE DITCHED. EVEN THOUGH BEN DOESN'T REALLY LOVE ROY LIKE THE WAY HE LOVED JIM, HE'S LOOKING FORWARD HOLDING A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND RESOLUTE DECESION. THIS SHOWS THAT EVEN IF THE HEART AND FEELING MAY WEAVER, IF WE HAVE A STRONG WILL, WE CAN LET GO OF PEOPLE AND MOVE ON.

Why I didn't like it-
1) The story was messed up right from the beginning. Season 2 was from Jim's POV. It showed that Jim loved Ben since childhood too. But, that's TOTALLY OPPOSITE OF HOW JIM BEHAVED IN SEASON 1. IN SEASON 1, JIM STARTED TEASING BEN WHEN HE REALISED HE WAS GAY. WHEN HIS GF SHOWED UP, HE ASKED BEN TO HELP HIM PLAN FOR THEIR ANNIVERSARY! I MEAN WHY WOULD SOMEONE ASK THE PERSON THEY SECRETLY LOVE TO HELP THEM PREPARE FOR A SURPRISE FOR SOMEONE HE'S CURRENTLY DATING (FOR MORE THAN A YEAR)? THAT NIGHT, HE SAID BEN THAT HE WAS THE HAPPIEST PERSON, SHE'S THE BEST THING THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN TO HIM..When Ben said "I love you", his first reaction was "I LOVE YOU TOO, YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND". Until much later, when Jim stated getting jealous over Olan and Ben, that's when he realised he loves Ben. Otherwise, he kept using the word "BEST FRIEND" for Ben. He emphasized on it.
2) WHAT WAS JIM'S FAULT EXACTLY? After Jim got into a relationship with Ben in Season 1, He was devoted to him and was ready to face any challenges which is why he publically announced their relationship online (Ofcourse that was kinda impulsive and immature because he didn't think it through). But after he saw Ben and Leo kissing ( not really but so it seemed), he was angry and did say some hurtful things to Ben. But the reason why Ben chose to break up with Jim was because he didn't want Jim to know about the dark past of their parents or be a hindrance in his life. Even before Jim left for Davao, he asked Ben if he's sure about the break up. He was ready to give everything up for him. Later when BEN realised that Jim didn't deserve to be hurt like that, that when he made a " truth reveal" video and explained why he had to break up with Jim. Ofcourse after knowing the truth, Jim was ready to get back to Ben. But Ben was gone... VANISHED!!! Much later in the last episode Ben says that they've hurt each other a lot and he needs healing. WHEN DID JIM HURT BEN??? (after being in a relationship with Ben, Jim didn't do anything wrong expect getting mad when he saw Ben and Leo kissing. That isn't enough to be considered as hurting Ben!) IT WAS JIM'S FATHER WHO HURT BEN NOT JIM. WHY DID JIM HAVE TO SUFFER FOR A SIN HIS FATHER COMMITTED? JIM EVEN CUT OFF TIES WITH HIS FATHER. SO WHYYY????
2) WHY DID BEN PLAY DEAD??
I mean, okay he wanted to run away from Jim because he didn't want to destroy Jim's life (based on what Jim's father told him). Couldn't he just break up properly? Or even if he wanted to vanish, he could've left a goodbye message. He wanted Jim to have a better life. How? By playing dead? IS IT EASY TO LIVE A LIFE AND MOVE ON WITHOUT KNOWING WHETHER OUR LOVED ONE IS DEAD OR ALIVE? NOT JUST JIM, EVEN FLO, OLAN AND ALL OF HIS FORMER FRIENDS SUFFERED FROM THIS. JIM COULDN'T MOVE ON WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED TO BEN. HE WENT ALMOST CRAZY LOOKING FOR BEN. AND THEN BEN FINALLY APPEARED...WITH HIS "SPOUSE". I MEAN ISN'T THAT TOOOOO CRUEL?? ALRIGHT, HOW DID BEN END UP AT ROY'S??? THIS WASN'T MADE CLEAR. Apparently, I assume he had an accident and somehow ended up at Roy's. But where was his mother? Was his mother okay with leaving her son in such a state at a stranger's care? That's ILLOGICAL!!!!
Here, m not judging Ben. I understand Ben is a timid character who chose to run away instead of fighting for his love. He might have considered it as a "sacrifice" for the sake of better life for Jim, but clearly, JIM LED A MUCH MORE MISERABLE LIFE THAN BEN. THINGS GOT WORSE FOR HIM IN EVERY RESPECT. HE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR BEN. I HATE THE SCRIPT WRITER FOR MAKING JIM'S CHARACTER SO MISERABLE!!!
3) VAL was a perfect example of HOW, EVEN TOUGH WE DON'T WANT TO BE PEOPLE'S REBOUND, WE MIGHT END UP BEING ONE. I FEEL HIM.
4) WAS OLAN BISEXUAL? DID HE "LOVE" YANA OR WAS SHE REALLY HIS BFF?? Initially, in Season 2, Yana was his BFF and he was looking for males to "make out" with so I thought he was gay. But later he was jealous over Yana and Amber and almost kissed Yana. And later they were back to being BFFs. So, m confused.
Gosh I've never written such a long review before. It's just that I could feel the charecters and was so disturbed by the plot that I had to write it.
Oh and yes, THE ACTING OF THE ENTIRE CAST, SPECIALLY JIM, VAL, ROY, BEN, FLO..WERE SPOT ON!!! THE MADE THE CHARECTERS COME TO LIFE!!!
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