Romeo and Romeo, Almost

Bad Buddy should have been a great enemies to lovers story, but it fell way too short of its potential, turning into a predictable college romance that does not stand out much from other college BLs. What went wrong?

When I complained that this series was a cliché, another user pointed out that this is expected because the story is based on Romeo and Juliet. I disagree. Romeo and Juliet has been called the greatest love story of all time for a reason. Although we know how it goes, we still root for the fated lovers. Their romance does not get old. Every generation reads it and creates its own adaptations of it – and what can be more fitting for our time than a queer adaptation of the timeless classic?
This is why I believe that not the story itself, bu the way in which it was presented spoiled this series.

Two families whose houses are next to each other have been feuding for years. Their sons, Pat and Pran, build a forbidden friendship that eventually blossoms into something more. Their friend groups also have beef with each other, though, and this complicates things for the two boys.
This premise is great comedy material. I do not understand why it was so underutilized. We got only snippets of the two families fighting, although such fights could have created many hilarious moments in the first half of the series. But no, the production team went back to the campus cliché, forgetting that an essential part of Romeo and Juliet is the pointless, long rivalry between two households.
Pat and Pran, and their friends also did not bicker nearly as much as they should have. The transition from enemies to lovers happened too quickly.
As if this was not enough, the mood of the series was spoiled by product placements that looked annoyingly out of place in the scenes.

I would have dropped this series earlier if not for Ohm and Nanon's acting. Although I consider their pairing to be more of a bromance than a romance, they were a delight to watch.
However, Jimmy, whose character is important to the story, was one of the main reasons why I did not get past episode seven. To say that his performance was unconvincing would be generous. The production team should have chosen a more experienced actor – casting a newbie alongside veterans is not a great idea.

Overall, this series did not manage to keep me interested in Pat and Pran's story. If you have decided to watch it, my advice is not to expect much. This is a forgettable story.

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A Surprisingly Enjoyable Mess

Objectively speaking, this series does not deserve the high rating that I am giving it at all. Most of the criticism that other reviewers have leveled at it is completely valid. The plot is a disaster, and the acting ranges from mediocre to bad. If you are looking for a well-written story, Never Let Me Go should not be on your list.

That being said, I enjoyed this series a lot. I am surprised myself -- I usually have no patience for poor acting, plot holes, and characters making obviously stupid decisions. What is it that made this mess so fun to watch for me? Let's see.

1. Good kissing scenes.
If you are tired of the classic "lips barely touching and not moving" kisses that plague BL series, Never Let Me Go will delight you. Palm and Nueng's kisses are intense and leave no doubt that the two of them actually want each other. Hot, hungry, passionate -- this is how I would depict PondPhuwin's romantic scenes. Unlike other reviewers, I believe that they have great chemistry together and that their acting was most believable during the romantic moments.

2. Striking visuals.
GMMTV knew what it was doing when it paired Pond and Phuwin. These two are maybe the most visually pleasing BL couple not only in their company, but in general. Their looks compliment each other so well. Pond gives off a bad-boy vibe, while Phuwin is classy and expensive, like a prince. Turning off your brain and watching beautiful people flirt with each other can be entertaining too. If you, like me, happen to be in the mood for that, Never Let Me Go is a good choice.

3. Rich bottom, poor top.
Now, this is a self-indulgent reason to like this series, but I am really into this trope. A prince and a servant, a billionaire heir and a bodyguard -- these are my kind of romances, and PalmNueng delivered what I was hoping for. Other reviewers point out that Pond looked like a kicked puppy the whole time, but I think that he did a good job conveying the inner conflict of someone in love with a person way out of their league. If you like the "spoiled, rich, and pretty bottom and smitten top" trope, you will have a great time watching Nueng and Palm.

This is all that I can praise Never Let Me Go for. Its drawbacks are many and glaring, and for me, they almost outweighed the good things about it. Had I not been as into the "rich, pretty boy and his bodyguard" trope as I am, I would have probably not finished this series. You should either turn your brain off and watch for the visuals and the hot romantic scenes, or do not watch at all.

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Good Prosecutor

I have mixed feelings about this series. On one hand, it is the most fun that I have had with a Korean series. On the other hand, I had to skip many scenes in every episode. This story manages to be both entertaining and boring, so I cannot decide if I should praise it or criticize it. Let me tell you what I liked and what I disliked – you will decide for yourselves whether to watch it.

1. What I did not like:

The plot is consistently predictable.
South Korea produces a large number of procedural series. It is natural that at some point making up a unique story in the genre becomes challenging, and I did not expect much from the scriptwriters. However, this script did not live up even to my low expectations. I could see almost every plot twist and story development coming from miles away. I knew who the bad guys are immediately because they either look and behave obviously suspiciously or proclaim their evil plans out loud like Disney villains. I quickly started skipping their scenes.

The story underestimates the viewers' intelligence and memory.
The outcome of the investigation that it focuses on can be predicted by anyone who has watched a procedural series – or a romantic comedy, or any other genre in which Korean scriptwriters have included characters who solve crime, catch elusive criminals, and punish corrupt influential people. Every time new information was revealed, though, the script of Bad Prosecutor spoonfed it to me. Furthermore, the same flashbacks were shown three or four times – a waste of screen time.

2. What I liked:

Jin Jung is such an interesting main character. He is a brave, smart, principled person with a kind heart and a great deadpan sense of humor, who quickly endeared himself to me. The comedy in Korean series usually does not appeal to me, so I was surprised to realize that with the bad prosecutor the fun does not fizzle out. As the story progresses, he becomes increasingly more entertaining. If you, like me, prefer subtle humor, you will enjoy watching him a lot.
Doh Kyung Soo did a great job playing his unconventional character. The only time that his performance was a little unconvincing was when he had to portray shock and grief.

For me, Shin Ah Ra is one of the most likeable Korean female leads that I have seen. She is neither a damsel in distress nor rude, violent, and unreasonably stubborn. A kind person and a supportive, understanding partner, she makes up for her lack of physical strength with intelligence and observational skills. Aside from several scenes in the initial episodes, she is also free from the hysterics and screeching that characterize the behavior of many women in Korean series.

Jin Jung's friends are another highlight. Quirky and hilarious, they introduce an element of unpredictability as they stumble through the missions that Jin Jung assigns to them. For a second female lead, Baek Eun Ji is a surprisingly nice, cool person. I like that the scriptwriters did not go for the clichéd trope of making her toxic, manipulative, and evil. Go Joong Do and Park Jae Kyung are also memorable, each in his own way. They do not fall into the category of supporting characters whose scenes I skip.

The romance is cute, subtle, and unproblematic – just how I like it. Although there is no physical intimacy, it is obvious that Jin Jung and Shin Ah Ra are fond of each other. They made me root for their relationship – both as friends and co-workers and as a potential couple.

Overall, this series is worth the watch if you are looking for a light-hearted, funny story with likeable characters and heart-warming interactions between them, but not if you want an intriguing crime investigation. Although he likes to punish bad guys and defend good people, Jin Jung is not a morally gray, relentless vigilante, so do not expect anything intense. This story is more like a well-written, way funnier version of Café Minamdang.

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Entertaining Action Spoiled by Inconsistent Writing

I was not impressed by Squid Game. With all due respect to the fans of Alice in Borderland, though, I have to say that for me this series is even worse than the South Korean one.

The first four episodes were great, almost on the same level as Squid Game in terms of gore and intensity, and the characters were just as interesting. I found the main character, Arisu, to be more likeable than his Korean counterpart. He is a good, principled, and smart person, so I cared about him and wanted to know if he would survive. Furthermore, the games seemed to me to be more clever than the ones in Squid Game.

Then, in episode five, the story started going downhill at a rapid pace. I felt like I was suddenly watching a different series. What should have been a survival story began to resemble a badly written mafia movie. Instead of games, I was fed tragic backstories and unnecessarily dramatic dialogues, mostly from characters whom I was given no reason to sympathize with. If the scriptwriters thought that I would feel sorry for a crazy mass murderer who tried to rape a woman because he was bullied at school, they thought wrong. They should have at least put some effort into making those tragic backstories less clichéd. At some point, I started skipping most scenes.

Aside from Arisu, the other character who kept me watching through these absurd episodes was Chishiya. Morally gray, charismatic, and smart, he was intriguing. The fact that the scriptwriters did not assign him a tragic backstory made him even more appealing. Murakami Nijiro, who plays him, is a great actor. He nails the Cheshire Cat smirk.

The last episode made a relatively successful attempt to improve the story and reach the quality of the initial episodes, but the plot twist in the end was neither emotionally devastating nor particularly surprising.
What made the final plot twist in Squid Game so memorable for me was that the character who turned out to be evil had convinced me that he was harmless and good, and I had come to care about him. I felt betrayed, and I had missed the clues, which had been in front of me the whole time, partially because I did not want to believe that this character was capable of such evil.
Things were not so with this series. The character who was revealed to be the mastermind behind the games had almost no screen time, so I did not care about them any more than about the extras. There were not any hidden clues that would have pointed to them. At the same time, though, every time this character was shown they looked confident and slightly unhinged. It was not difficult to figure out that they were plotting something.

Overall, I think that fans of Squid Game might not enjoy its Japanese predecessor that much. The production team of Squid Game learned from the mistakes of this series and delivered a story that, while flawed, is more consistent and thrilling than this one.

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Atmospheric

Wuliang is a small masterpiece. From story to acting, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways, and the twist in the end, while expected, made me happy with its wholesomeness.

When I saw that this movie is only forty minutes long, I was skeptical that it would manage to develop its intriguing premise. I was pleasantly surprised – the script does not waste even a second of its screentime. The two main characters are fleshed out well, and the plot is brought to a satisfying conclusion. This movie would have been brilliant if it was longer, but it is still great the way it is. As someone who likes wuxia, but does not have the time to watch fifty episodes, I appreciate its conciseness.

In terms of chemistry between the main characters, this story is a match for The Untamed and Word of Honor. The Chinese have become masters of introducing obvious homoerotic subtexts to friendships and selling them as bromances. Po Xiao and Feng Ren are so obviously queercoded that calling what they have a bromance is difficult.

Overall, if you like wuxia and BL series without kissing, you will enjoy this movie. Uniquely atmospheric, it also has beautiful cinematography and gorgeous actors.

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Laugh-out-loud Funny

This is the funniest movie that I have seen in a while. The humor in Korean productions usually does not appeal to me, but this time I laughed from start to finish. Extreme Job is a worthy representative of its genre.

The story revolves around four disaster detectives and their chief, Go Sang Gi, who, despite having been in the force for twenty years, has still not been promoted to Captain. The squad is so notorious for their incompetence that other detectives are hesitant to entrust cases to them, so when Go Sang Gi's friend Chief Choi of the organized crime division asks him to take on an important case for him, Go and his four subordinates seize the opportunity to prove that they are capable and worthy of promotion. Going undercover as chicken men, though, they get more than they have been prepared for as their restaurant becomes incredibly successful.

This premise is great comedy material, and both the script and the actors deliver on it. There is not one weak performance in this movie. Everyone is hilarious. Of course, the five main actors stand out with their brilliant comedic timing and chemistry.
The story might not be unique, but it is so well-written that it entertains and even surprises. The high-quality production and the OSTs, which fit their scenes well, make watching it even more enjoyable.

Overall, if you are in the mood for a comedy, this movie is a great choice.

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Much More than Just Action

This series is the first installment of the franchize. Aside from telling a beautiful story of love, friendship, forgiveness, and sacrifice, it introduces the world of High&Low, and particularly the five gangs that comprise SWORD, a shaky alliance created to limit aggression among the gangs in the area.
Each of these groups has an episode dedicated to it, so I think that you will not have any difficulties memorizing them. If you have already watched High&Low The Worst, the spin-off that focuses on the delinquents of Oya High, you will see both familiar and unfamiliar faces here, but you will figure out what is going on quickly.

Each gang has its own ideals and mission. The White Rascals aim to make the town a safe place for women. Rude Boys have created a haven for the most desolate people, who have nowhere else to go. Oya High? Well... They fight for the sake of fighting. Comprised of the worst, or best – depends on the perspective – students in the country, whose average age is 23, they spend their time punching each other to determine who will rule Oya. After graduation, the strongest and most unhinged are recruited by other gangs.

The story revolves around Sannoh Association, which the S in SWORD stands for, and its founding members, the Hoodlum Squad. Quiet but fierce, wise but scary, their leader Cobra values the well-being of the Squad above everything else and goes to impressive lengths to protect it. His childhood friend and right-hand man, Yamato, distinguishes himself with the kindness of his heart, which at first glance seems so unsuitable for gang life that he is deemed stupid by some of those close to him, but which proves to be a powerful force for good in the course of the story.

The delicate balance of SWORD is upset after Yamato spontaneously protects Chiharu, who has recently transferred to Oya High, from the school's leading delinquents. Not to spoil this twisty story for you any more, I will just say that from that moment on things go south at a rapid pace, the stakes are high, and the action never ceases.

Aside from the thrilling fighting scenes, what makes this series so special, though?

1. "If we keep fighting like this, in the end we'll all perish together."

If you are tired of putting up with unlikeable characters, which are a dime a dozen in modern cinema, and of not being able to tell the good side from the bad side because both are using the same horrible methods, this series is for you. The gangsters of SWORD might be violent, but they have principles and a clear understanding of what is good and what is bad. For instance, the production and distribution of drugs is strictly forbidden. Although problems and misunderstandings are usually solved with fists, the characters do not tolerate the "end justifies means" mindset. They are also loyal and forgiving, and ready to put their pride aside and compromise for the greater good. Two of the story's main messages are that people make mistakes, but they deserve second chances, and that no matter how strong you believe that you are on your own, dismissing and betraying the friends who want to stand by you makes you weak. By making the villains well-dressed and sophisticated, the story also reminds us that the real evil of society are not the poor people who survive as they can.

2. "Wounds from fighting will quickly go away, but bonds will never disappear."

The true treasure of this series are the friendship and bromance. If you have had enough of toxic onscreen couples, this is the right series for you. From Cobra and Yamato's unshakable love for their friend Noboru, to Yamato and Chiharu's bromance that borders on romance – yes, what they have for each other has no heterosexual explanation – to Rude Boys' devotion to Smoky, it will make your heart swell from happiness and restore your faith in people. Outstanding.

Overall, this series is a gem not only in its genre, but also in general. It will keep you entertained and rooting for the Hoodlum Squad and the others for all of its ten episodes. You might have seen that some of the reviewers were not satisfied with the ending. I think that it fits the story, though, and sets the stage for season two. My only complaint is that Noboru's escape from his captivity was not explained.

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More than Just Attractive Guys Fighting

This series might not deserve a ten-star rating, but it is so incredibly entertaining and feel-good that I cannot give it a lower one. Just as its sequel, High&Low The Worst, it had me glued to the screen and smiling. It brims with so much action, bromance, friendship, and humor that it is difficult not to binge it. The action scenes are top-notch, and the characters are likeable. But what else makes it so special?

I used to dislike action movies because those that I had seen were nothing but plotless violence. What distinguishes this series from movies of that kind is that its story has several different layers and is not only about groups of student delinquents fighting for the leadership position at Oya High.

Murayama, the eccentric but wise leader of the part-time students, is torn between his attachment to the school and his desire to open a new chapter in his life. His advice to younger and less experienced Tsukasa is one of the movie's most memorable quotes: "A man who stands around and says "I'll become number two" or a man who becomes number two after striving to be the best, but ultimately failing. Even an idiot would know which is better."

Fujio, Tsukasa's best friend, spends time with his grandfather in the countryside, learning valuable lessons about life. To live you have to fight against the obstacles that life throws at you, but not all fights are won with fists. Fujio and Grandpa's touching and thought-provoking conversations convey what being young means: "A frog in the well does not know how big the ocean is, but it knows how blue the sky is. Fujio, you know how blue and deep the sky is. I am not worried about anything."

Timid Jamuo faces the challenge of being the only weakling in a school in which your survival depends on how strong and precise your punches are and, against all odds, demonstrates that being a leader is not only about throwing fists.

Finally, Tsukasa, the sleeping lion of Oya High, struggles with a loss of confidence and purpose after his cru– best friend transfers to another school. The action aside, High&Low The Worst Episode 0 is essentially five episodes of Tsukasa pining after Fujio before finally reuniting with him in the sixth episode and fighting the built-up tension out under the rain as a ballad plays in the background. There is no heterosexual explanation for what Tsukasa has for Fujio in this series. Lines such as "I want to see that view with you" and "Fujio, I will be waiting for you. You can come back anytime," accompanied by fond looks and smiles, tell volumes. Who is open-minded enough to see will see it.

Each of these stories is interesting in its own right. It is up to the viewer to decide which one of them is the main one.

Overall, I think that if it does not interest you in the franchize, this series will at least entertain you a lot. It is also short enough not to take more than one afternoon of your time.

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Action Done Right

Hollywood producers can definitely learn a thing or two about how action should be done from High&Low The Worst. This movie is an absolute gem in its genre – the best that I have seen since Crows Zero. Whether you are looking for a well-written plot, realistic fight scenes, or fun, likeable characters, you will find all of these and more. Now let me tell you in detail what makes this movie so great.

1. Top-notch Action.

The highlight of this movie are the long fight scenes. What distinguishes them from those in most action movies that I have seen is that they do not rely too much on slow motion. The viewer is exposed to the full chaos of a battle between two large groups of violent delinquents. The changing camera angles and the fact that the lead character does not miraculously emerge unscathed from every fight adds realism to the scenes, while the witty banter between opponents and the absence of excessive gore makes them satisfyingly entertaining. Although I usually skip the fighting in movies because it bores me, this time I was glued to the screen.

2. Gorgeous Guys.

The visuals in this movie are jaw-dropping – and I do not mean only the lead actors. The number of Oya High and Housen Academy students that can become top models is really high. Almost every scene left me wondering at whom I should stare. They all look like they have stepped out of an anime! Whoever was in charge of the casting deserves a raise. My only complaint is that the majority of extras looked too old to be high school students.

3. Well-developed Plot with Likeable Characters.

This movie is a great reminder that action does not have to be plotless. It has an interesting and well-written storyline that drew me in almost immediately. Although I am a newcomer to this franchize, I did not have any difficulties understanding what is happening.
I also appreciated the fact that the main characters are all fleshed-out well. Each one of them has his own problems and motivations that make him easy to sympathize with. The eccentric Murayama became a favorite of mine by the end, but I rooted for everyone else just as much.
The spin that this movie does on the power of friendship and found family tropes also works really well and does not seem clichéd. Despite all the fighting and screaming, there are many heart-warming moments of genuine friendship – something that is difficult to find in movies nowadays.
Most importantly, the ending ties everything together, leaving no plot holes.

4. Bromance.

The bromance is the second highlight of this movie. I do not know if the production team chose to underscore the chemistry between Fujio and Sachio on purpose, but more sparks flew between those two than between most onscreen romantic couples that I have seen.

Overall, if you have two hours to spare and you are in the mood for action, watch this movie.

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Feel-good Enemies to Lovers Romance

This series stepped up the game of Korean BLs. From plot to production quality, to acting, it charms, touches, and entertains, while managing to avoid clichéd tropes, misogynism, and toxic relationships.

The whole cast delivered brilliant performances. I usually notice weak acting quickly, and I cannot overlook it. This is why I am impressed that in no scenes did I feel like any of the actors is lacking.
Park Seo Ham deserves special praise. Watching him was such a satisfying experience for me. It is rare that I see actors pour their whole hearts into their role, but it is obvious that Seo Ham has done so. Kudos to him.

The plot of this series shows that you do not always need a unique storyline to hold the viewers' interest. Jae Young and Sang Woo's story is a typical high-school enemies to lovers romance. However, the way in which it is told distinguishes it from similar stories.

The characters are likeable.
Jae Young breaks the stereotype of a popular student. Although he teases Sang Woo relentlessly in the beginning, he is not a playboy or a bully. He is a kind person and a talented designer, who quickly wins the viewer's heart.
High-achieving students might see themselves in Sang Woo. Focused on doing his best at school and pursuing his dream of becoming a game developer, he has not spared time for human relationships and has remained emotionally immature. His character development conveys an important message. As much as he has trained himself to think and act like a computer, Sang Woo learns that always prioritizing your ambitions over the good people who are there for you paves your way toward a lonely, miserable life.

The romance is sweet, realistic, and healthy. Despite the misunderstandings that they have to deal with, they both work to resolve their conflicts instead of acting illogically to create more drama. Kudos to the scriptwriters.

The highlight of this series for me were the OSTs, though. It is rare for a BL series to have such great, catchy songs. Romantic Devil became a favorite of mine. I still listen to it, although I watched this series months ago.

Overall, Semantic Error should definitely be on your list if you are into well-written BL romantic comedies.

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True Boredom

True Beauty is essentially the high school version of My ID Is Gangnam Beauty.
It has its good-hearted, clumsy girl who was bullied for her looks, its cold and extremely good-looking male lead, who is again played by Cha Eun Woo, its second lead, for whom the viewers root more than for the main lead because he is a better person, and a group of supportive friends. The story is a cliché – one of those in which you have no idea why the male lead fell for this particular girl and you are not motivated much to care about their romance. Furthermore, it requires you to suspend a lot of disbelief because the idea that someone can wear enough make-up to transform her face completely and no one will notice that thick layer of make-up is ridiculous.

The couple in whose story I was invested were Soo Ah and Tae Hoon, the classmates who have been together for a long time and still managed to be more interesting than Joo Bal and Su Ho. The other thing that kept me watching until episode seven was that I wanted to know what happened to Su Ho and Seo Jun's friend and if the two of them will become close again – they had more chemistry with each other than either of them had with Joo Bal – but I eventually stopped caring about that too.

Overall, this series did not manage to hold my attention because it is too predictable. Unless you enjoyed My ID Is Gangnam Beauty a lot, you like the actors, or you want to watch sixteen episodes of Cha Eun Woo's being handsome, there is nothing interesting to be seen.

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Plot What Plot? Porn Without Plot

I mean no offense to the fans, but how is this the best BL series ever made? Just how? Is it because of the relatively high-quality cinematography, the fancy suits, cars, and houses, and the hot guys’ doing "sexy" [non-consensual] stuff? I am sorry, but all of this, even if it was a hundred times fancier, will never outweigh a well-written storyline like the ones of classics such as SOTUS, He's Coming to Me, Theory of Love etc., which convey the beautiful essence of BL. Shame on the production team for advertising this as a BL series, when it has virtually nothing to do with the genre. BL does not equal gay porn and hopefully never will.

I dropped this series after episode five because it was becoming disgustingly intolerable. The moment I saw Kinn rape Porsche while the latter was drugged I knew that this series is not for me – and judging by other reviews, there are worse things coming in the next episodes, including incest and more rape.

Episode one was interesting. After that, though, I could not understand if the production team had a mafia story, a dumb comedy, or just kinky porn in mind. I saw a lot of people praise Bible's acting. There were not many scenes with him in the initial episodes, so I cannot tell about him, but Mile and Apo were mediocre. In the lead actors’ defence, though, their characters are horrible people who behave illogically – no wonder they had trouble relating to them and portraying them. I liked Jeff Satur's acting and character. I was planning to continue the series because I was curious about him. However, the rape scene, which the script excused and romanticized, turned me off completely. There simply is not, and will never be, a scenario in which rape is sexy.

Although I liked Freefall, this song and the other OSTs are also just not it. Jeff Satur has a lovely voice, but his songs do not suit the vibe of a mafia series. They would have fitted a romance drama way better.

Visually pleasing actors and BL tropes thrown here and there cannot save a series that is literally the epitome of the Plot What Plot? Porn Without Plot tag on AO3. If this sets the standard for future BL series, I will stop being a fan of BL.

Edit: I forgot to discuss Tankhun. Knowing what happened to him in the past, I did not find his antics funny. I was actually disturbed that a character with serious childhood trauma was used for comedic relief. He is the survivor of a kidnapping. Making fun of such things should not be normalized. Shame on the production team for doing so.

I would also like to address the claims of some reviewers that since this series has a mafia concept, the fetishizing of rape and everything else that I find disturbing about this story is permissible.
First, this is not a mafia series. This is a soap opera thinly disguised as a mafia series. The mafia concept is highly underdeveloped and unrealistic.
Second, I encourage the apologists of this series to watch actual mafia movies. I recommend Casino, The Godfather, Goodfellas, The Irishman – they are considered four of the greatest movies in this genre. They are way darker than this series, which looks like a ridiculous fanfic compared to them. There is so much violence in them. There are toxic relationships, between couples, friends, and family. There is sex. They depict the world of the mafia in graphic details. However, not one of them is fetishizing non-consensual sexual activities, incest, or anything else of this kind. Bad actions and bad people are not excused. Their toxic relationships are not romanticized. If you watch even one of them, you will not think of calling this series a mafia one anymore. You will see it for what it is – a badly written kink fanfic.
Third, this series was marketed as BL. However, it deals with serious topics in a way that is not suitable for a substantial part of the usual BL target audience, which includes minors. Exposing minors to ideas like the ones promoted in this series – rape can be sexy, toxic relationships can be romantic etc. – is wrong. I thought that filmmakers were past the 50 Shades of Gray kind of "romance", but apparently not.

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Perfect Chemistry

Our Skyy 2: Star in My Mind is an interesting case of the special episodes being way better than the series itself. The plot, while simple, managed to correct some of the series' mistakes. For instance, the supporting characters now have their own stories and relationships -- Typhoon got his happy ending, and the other friends had things to care about aside from Dao and Kluen's relationship.

Another highlight of the episodes was the important message about jealousy. In many BL series, jealousy is presented as hot, but it is not -- being jealous of your partner means that you are insecure in your relationship with them. It was so great to see Dao underscore this.

Most importantly, Joong and Dunk have more chemistry than a Chemistry textbook. If in Star in My Mind they had good chemistry, here it is through the roof. They are one of the few on-screen pairings -- not only in BL, but in movies and series in general -- whose characters I can genuinely believe love each other, are in a relationship, and have slept together.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by these two episodes. Even those of you who did not enjoy the series much might like them.

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One Step Away from Greatness

The first four or so episodes of this series were so action-packed and engaging that I couldn't believe my eyes. Was I really watching a Thai BL? Would The Sign be a sign of big improvements to come? It had everything that the Thai BL audience is starved for: a setting away from the college campus, a unique story inspired by Buddhist mythology, fated soulmates, and a bottom who is a match for the top in strength and ability.

My excitement fizzled out soon, though. It is not that The Sign became bad after the promising first episodes -- it was still a good series with likable characters, funny humor, and green-flag romance. But it could not meet the high expectations that it set in the beginning. The complex storyline, which consisted of several different threads, lost its way and began to meander, spending time on characters whose connection to the main plot is not clear and leaving plot holes. I believe that stories in which a lot is going on are more interesting to watch, but it seems that in this series, there was too much going on for the scriptwriters to handle. Furthermore, the ending was underwhelming, as the resolution of the main couple's conflict with the villain, which the story had been building up towards since the beginning, was done off-screen, by talking it out with him. This is so out of character for that villain.

Billy and Babe have amazing chemistry, and the whole cast delivered great performances. The production team deserves praise for their attempt to make a series that is different and better than what we usually get. They have succeeded in many ways. The Sign is one step away from greatness -- a step that could have been overcome by a good scriptwriter.

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The plot sank like the Titanic, but the Chen Yi x Ai Di ship sailed like the Flying Dutchman

The title of this review pretty much sums up my thoughts about this series. I binged it around the time when the last episode came out, and all I can tell you is that I cannot tell you what this story is about. The only thing I remember is that the plot makes about as much sense as a fever dream. It does not matter, though -- I skipped half of it to get to Chen Yi and Ai Di's scenes faster. The main couple, while played by attractive and competent actors, failed to engage me in their story and was forgettable to the point that I now have difficulty remembering the two characters' names.

I am sure that I am not the first person to write this in their review, but I would have dropped this series if not for Chen Yi and Ai Di, who carried it on their backs from start to finish. If you read 100 reviews fangirling over this ship, I will be the 101st. It is one of those rare cases when all elements needed for a great BL couple -- story, acting, chemistry, looks -- come together to make a ship that tugs at all the right heartstrings. Louis Chiang delivers a brilliant performance, turning the already likeable Ai Di into the best character in the show. Nat Chen charms and disarms as the quiet, manly, and possessive Chen Yi. The chemistry is off the charts. Furthermore, their story is the only meaningful and engaging part of the plot -- if they were the main couple, Kiseki would be a good show.

Is this series worth watching? Chen Yi and Ai Di's scenes are. I watched and re-watched them many times. They kept me up at night. I am not so sure about the rest of the show, though. You can give it a try, but you will probably stop caring about what is going on as soon as you get to Chen Yi and Ai Di.

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