PPBongi
California, USA
NOW THAT IS HOW YOU DO IT!
As I was just about ready to give up on Thai BLs, this gave me hope. This is an astoundingly good short side story that encapsulates everything that was good in "I Told Sunset About You' and hopefully is a foretelling of things to come in Season 2. It is an amazingly charming story that is nostalgic yet full of hope for the future with ever so slight forebodings.Increasingly, I am finding Thai BLs so formulaic and lack any intense love between two guys. I am hoping this will break that cycle and show that two guys really can love each other and be able to show it with conviction.
Well done!
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Just an awful series!
To be honest, this was one of the most exasperating series I have ever watched. In a few instances I found myself getting so angry with Minato that if I were literally his friend in real life, I would have told him that his behavior towards Shin is tantamount to emotional abuse if not neglect. He is an awful character and frankly does not deserve the adulation that Shin heaps on him daily. Shin is the worst kind of fool as he cannot ‘see’ (does not want to see) how toxic Minato really is. One day, he will wake up and realize that he is. That will be a sad day. There is no point in rehashing the story. Very little has changed from Season One. Although Minato and Shin are in a ‘relationship’, perhaps on an intellectual basis, there is little on an emotional one and nothing on a physical level. To have one on an emotional one, you NEED two people and a willingness to commit. Ditto for a physical one.I hated this series and detested what messages they leave behind, trying somehow to make toxicity entertaining. I simply did not find this series even remotely amusing.
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Beautiful Coming-of-age Story
I love coming-of-age stories and this is a very good one. An unlikely pair of young men begin to spend time together and in an instant, they have this connection, this bond, that almost seems unshakable. Yet, we know that life has many twists and turns to it. The story is not maudlin but it feels real. They each offered something that the other one lacked. A beautiful picture of completion when they were together. Life is just so beautiful at that age. There is always something special about your first real crush. It is also beautifully filmed.Read my full review at BLBliss.com.
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Incredibly Interesting and Quite Different
I am usually not at a loss for words for a series but this one truly stumped me. Beyond words can describe this series. It is one of the most thought-provoking series I have ever seen. In addition, it is an amazing and an astounding story of life in its most esoteric form. If I tried to describe this series, it would be an almost impossible task as it traverses common reference points and twists life into knots. While the title implies this has something to do with vampires, it does not. But it does have some elements of what the outcome of being a vampire. There is some stunning dialogue in here about life that makes it so worth watching. On the other hand, there is some of the worst acting (not by any of the major stars, however) I have ever seen for the English speaking parts. But, honestly, this was a guilty pleasure of mine that overall, I liked. This barely qualifies as a BL series but the relationship is just so charming and full of hope. If you want to review my full review of this what I thought is an interesting series, please go to ppbongi.medium.com. It is free to review and you can leave your comments.Was this review helpful to you?
A Genuine Surprise!
This series tricks you. It lulls you into thinking it is going in one direction, only for that to be a ‘red herring’. Or maybe not? That is what made this series so immensely enjoyable and entertaining to watch. This is honestly a beautiful series to absorb because it takes you from the expected to the unexpected. More importantly, you feel these characters.This is ground-breaking in a sense that it tackles a fairly common condition with dignity and gives it a plausible ending. This is often a misunderstood medical condition and hopefully this series will shed some light on something that often brings pain, aguish, guilt, and confusion to an induvial no matter what direction the person has chosen to lead.
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LIGHT is a Rare Gift
LIGHT is a rare gift that shines brilliantly in a sphere of emptiness. It has all the elements of a tragic story. It is dark, brooding, sad, and depressing. It visualizes graphically the level of pain an individual will endure until a point is reached that breaks his will. This is a short movie and defies the description of powerful. This is simply an outstanding movie, short as it is. It will no doubt be on my Ten Best of 21. It moved me deeply and immensely.My full review is on my blog site at BLBliss.com.
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Sex in this series is the theme, pure and simple
Erotic, sensual, and steamy. This breaks the mold of every other BL series out there by a mile! It is astonishingly different with twists and turns I did not expect and deeply appreciated the production efforts. This really is an astounding series that needs to be seen to be believed. Undoubtedly, this will not be for everyone and some may not appreciate its darkness or its delve into the occult. While others might not have liked the acting here, I thought it was brilliant, entertaining, and on point. There is a lot of sex in this series. It is one of the most erotic BL series I have seen, and it is not afraid or ashamed to display it. It is raw, lustful, and manipulative in most cases interspersed with a softer, gentler aspect, on occasion. You can review my full review of this very good series (just too short) at ppbongi.medium.com.Was this review helpful to you?
A Masterpiece
This is a masterpiece of cinematic genius, brilliant writing, and profound acting. I BELIEVED each one of these scenarios. I simply cannot say enough good things about this BL series. While most of it will make you feel good, there are a few, and one in particular, that will make you cry and leave you with a hole in your heart the size of the universe. These snippets of everyday (gay) life is so true to reality and so profoundly well done that this has to be labeled a masterpiece. I was deeply moved by all of them. Suspend yourself and allow your thoughts to just get into the stories. I just wish they had English translations of the interviews of the actors during the credits. I write a (free) blog and this will definitely be one of my all time favorite BL series. I shall post my review shortly but check out my other reviews if you so desire. ppbongi.medium.com. Please watch this gem. It is nothing short of perfection.Was this review helpful to you?
Bad Boys Trying to Look Good
There is an axiom about individuals being drawn to ‘bad boy’ imagery and this is the classic case of that. The story became so convoluted and twisted in its outcome that when I finished the series, I did not care. It was all so contrived. This series tried too hard to make these characters ‘likeable’. They are not. They are rotten to the core, looking at life rather cynically and fatalistically. They would lie, cheat, steal, murder, and torture, to gain power, control, and wealth. They are despots guised as human, smiling as they look at life cheaply. I did not understand nor appreciate this series. It left me feeling confused by all its hype.You can read my full review of this series at BLBliss.com
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Sensual and Raw
This is an astonishing very short movie (24 minutes) that captures more in that short period of time than most other BLs do in 12 episodes. It is crisp, exact, intense, erotic, and has a clear message. There is no endless bantering to get to a story. It is there in your face almost immediately. It is not pretentious nor contrived. A major caveat is the stumbling block to a solid relationship. The acting is raw and genuine with a story that feels true and real.See my full review at BLBliss.com
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Pit Fall
This series is full of lust and desire, but truth and honesty, not so much. I have seen my fair share of bad BLs, but this one stands out for having no scruples. None overall and none with any of the characters. In addition to one of the most idiotic and obtuse plots I have ever come across. In a nutshell, a completely unrealistic storyline with sinister characters and a lot of spurious acting as well. The screenplay is simply awful in this series. Most of these characters are caricatures and they come across that way. It is overblown with self-indulgent personalities, a poor script, mediocre acting, absolutely exasperating main characters with me absolutely loathing with a passion the entire characterization and approach of Charlie, a storyline that is sick and demented, but great very rehearsed love-making scenes. Absolutely none of this worked of me.Was this review helpful to you?
Too toxic
This is indeed a story of love. An ugly love. A toxic love. A painful love. One I could not wrap my head around. Yet here it is. A love centered around two very unhappy people full of joyless functioning and longing for one another in the most ardent way. This is an exceptionally well-acted series of fascinating and memorable characters, be they people you want to love or hate. Honestly, I felt nothing for this series, except a profound sense of sadness. It never got emotionally deep with any of the connections for me to feel, care, or commiserate with. For me, there are much better end of world series than this one - TIL THE WORLD ENDS and LOVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD.Was this review helpful to you?
TOXIC!
This is one of those BLs where you will have quite a difference of opinions. Frankly, I am a bit surprised that anyone found this series even remotely entertaining, to any extent an affectionate BL story, or even well-acted. It actually sickened me to watch this series as a gay person to see so much toxicity detailed under the guise of love. And apparently audiences fell under its spell because it is presented so prudently.I do not want to spend too much time on the toxicity of this series especially for those of you that have seen this and still see it some sort of ‘love story’. Even if I numerically listed the breadth of examples, you will still not see its harmfulness. And that saddens me. For those of you who have not seen this series, then look out for them with an open mind; they are glaring and obvious and disgusting and you cannot sugar-coat their effects. Hopefully, you will see them.
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Entertaining but not memorable
I am sorry to say but this series is ok and entertaining but pretty standard stuff. And it is full of tropes and the romance borders on being boring to watch. But there really is so little of it to watch. The acting in this series is very good and the singing is passable if not good in a few songs. But the musical production numbers simply suck. They are not good and do no present these guys at its best. Frankly, in about 2 weeks I shall not remember much about this series as it is pretty forgettable. The only thing that is noteworthy is the connection and comradery of the band group. This is really a romp through nostalgia.I have my full review of this series at BLBiss.com.
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Entertaining and fun!
To someone unfamiliar with the customs and culture of Taiwan, this type of a story can be intriguing. The story development is hit and miss in the beginning, but in the latter half of the series, once the relationship is established, it becomes enjoyable. Overall, this is an entertaining BL series that honestly does not take itself too seriously and as such provides for some amusing anecdotal interactions. In a strange way and one I cannot fully explain, they make a cute couple and I want to see more of them. It has been set up for an obvious Season 2 and I do hope there is one as I am oddly compelled to watch them. I find them intriguing and enjoyable.Was this review helpful to you?
