PPBongi
California, USA
Enough of the nonsense
The story was an endless loop of misunderstandings, misinterpretations, miscommunications, or deliberately no communications. For those of you who are familiar with the movie GROUNDHOG DAY, this same theme repeated itself over and over again throughout 10 episodes. Just when one thought the message between the two would become clear some trope, or cliché or misunderstanding or no communication would thwart the message, or the other person would storm off in a huff and be mad or take offense. It became so exasperating to watch episode after episode of these same behaviors occur repeatedly. And the withholding of information almost drove me to drop this series. The prequel to this was so good. This was just plain awful. They are just so scared to show real gay love.See my full review of this series at BLBliss.com.
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Mesmerizing
Honestly, I was mesmerized by this short series. It captivated me from the beginning. Perhaps it was the way it was portrayed. In a real sense, there is a very sad augury about these characters that hangs over them like a shroud. Yet, an opening for a hopeful ending is bestowed if the task can be completed.If you take it simply as a cute fairytale of love, it really does work. What one must keep in mind is that this series is never meant to be in-depth.
If you want to read my full review of this interesting BL, please do so by going to BLBliss.com.
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A Good Ending
This series in my opinion has been mischaracterized. It is no more than what you see. It is contrived in parts and perhaps the story is a bit implausible, but it has character and a rather profound message. What appears to be a one night stand is not. Sure, the characters are flawed and the outcome is no shock. But to pretend that it is a one night stand is simply wrong. I know the ending got a lot of criticism but not from me. I thought the ending was creative and somehow fit the character of this short series. I liked the ending a lot and for me it seemed, well , a natural outcome.To read my full review, please go to BLBliss.com. Thanks.
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Heartbreaking, Breathtaking, and Emotionally Stunning
This is what this series is. It is not a BL series in the classic or traditional sense but a ‘coming out’ series that shows the pain and heartbreak of acceptance. It is a story about a friendship between two boys. I must depart for just a second to commend the director for his absolute commitment to nuisances, mannerisms, and details that were captured by the young actors that carried over to the older ones. It is not easy to carry the personalities and idiosyncrasies of a person without looking like you are mimicking them, but he did it with these two young actors. They are superb and studied their older characters to display their same characteristics. It is a thing of beauty to watch. Their friendship developed fast and intense as children. I cannot say enough about the acting of the two main characters. The intensity of connection to one another is simply palpable. This is very close to being a BL masterpiece. For my full review, please read it at ppgongi.medium.com. Any comment would be appreciated.Was this review helpful to you?
Magically Beautiful!
I surprised myself on how much I loved this story. (This series is also known as COME TO ME). It is way more complex than it first appears. It starts out as perhaps just another ‘ghost’ story, but it twists and turns into this beautiful and magical tale of friendship, love, trust but ultimate corruption and death. There are so many twists and turns to this series that I simply did not know how it was going to end. It is a story of friendships, of beautiful commitments to each other, to the realization of love, and to growing up and facing death. While this is a BL series (and it is), it is so much more than that. It is a beautiful tale of friendships, companionships, unrequited love, and real love. There is not a lot of overt romance but the subtleties of it are throughout this series. My full review of this beautifully acted and beautifully revealed series can be read at ppbongi.medium.com. Enjoy this series!Was this review helpful to you?
Think Back to When You Were Young.....
I am reticent to call them BL but they do involve the blossoming of very young feelings of romance between juvenile boys. I am not sure what the reason for their production except for simply giving these young actors an opportunity to hone in on their acting talents. They are simple stories of bromances, or maybe simple connections of friendship between boys, or even ‘puppy love’. There is nothing elaborate here nor is there is there any deep hidden meanings. It is just what happens sometimes with young boys when they realize that they may be ‘different’ or they now think differently about some of their friends or guys in their age group.Sure, these small vignettes are not very long and are not particularly well acted (they tended to be very wooden) and do look more like a training rehearsal for more roles for them, but that is not what made these stories very entertaining and effective. While they are raw, there are some spurts of genuine emotions able to break through and shine in each of them. They are soooooo young and I can imagine that roles like this would make them perhaps uncomfortable. However, they did a pretty good job of showing that in subtle ways they are attracted to another guy. We know it is ‘puppy love’. The production value of these tiny snippets is surprisingly good and so is the camera work. If you like, you can read my full review of this charming series at ppbongi.medium.com.
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Never Quite Got There
Overall, this series was a 'tease'. It could have been great but it never quite got there for me.. Thank goodness for the 5th episode otherwise, I would have been left hanging. There is an obvious intense relationship going on but when it really matters, it falls flat. Don't be afraid. Let us see some intensity in the relationship without necessarily going off the cliff. I know this series is short but things can be done without saying anything. Just a little more would have been so much more satisfying.Was this review helpful to you?
Refreshingly Different and Adult
This is an adult story not necessarily based on romantic notions. It is not ashamed of what it is. It is a love story that is sad yet hopeful at the end. This is a profoundly moving story shown through lustful eyes but with a realism that is so pensive. There are some profound enigmas in this story that leaves you with a sense of wonderment as to the depth of love one can have for another. There is such a wonderful blend of Italian food and music into this Japanese movie that is breathtakingly moving. But please be aware, it is not hide its sexuality.Was this review helpful to you?
Not entertaining and simply disconcerting
This series is misguided, misconceived, and misdirected. It other words, it missed. The entire series was so unfocused and presented in almost a cartoonish manner that I did not know if this was to be taken as a comedy, drama, fantasy, or romance. So how did this series fall apart? While the concept of the story itself was interesting, it never fully committed itself to seeing it to its completion. Was it a comedy? A drama? A fantasy? A romance? It tried to be everything and failed at all of it. This series went for cuteness but did not understand the price it paid to get to that end. It sacrificed a lot of integrity to get there. I found its underlying message subtly abusive and disconcerting, not funny, and mostly sad. And very little understanding of what it is like to be gay. Its negative message overpowers its cuteness and slight humor. Personally, I cannot dismiss so readily the attempted rape, the bullying, and its cringeworthy ending that made me feel uncomfortable.Was this review helpful to you?
Changes the Direction for the BL Genre
Nothing that I can say will mean anything as I sure everything has been sad and no doubt better. This is an exceptional series and changes, or at least should change, the direction of BL series. It is not filled with breakable characters holding stuffed animals and whining and pining for another for 10 episodes. This is a genuine GAY love story not filled with crap about loving the person not the gender nonsense. Surprise! They are both guys and they know it and are not ashamed of it. How refreshing! They totally nailed these characters to the point that there connection was palpably real. I think there are certain series that literally changes the course of a genre. SOTUS is certainly one and 2GETHER is another (it really did) and this is the third. This series made gay relationships look real, normal, and frankly nice. THANK YOU!Read my full review at BLBliss.com/
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One of the Best "BLs" of 2021. A Masterpiece!
I know, I know. While a case could be made that this is not a BL in the true sense of the definition, you can not argue that it is a story about love in so many different ways. It manifests love in a simple story of connection and humanity. While this movie/series is short, it packs more into its story than most high production series do. There are no tangents; no side-stories. This story is about real people, facing real problems, yet taking the time to connect with nature, with each other, and yes even express love in a simple gesture of a hug. I was incredibly moved by this breathtaking series of one person touching the lives of others and they in turn reciprocating with kindness. It showed the absolute power of unconditional positivity in treating each other with respect and kindness. These values still mean something. And the acting is nothing short of brilliant. This is going to unquestionably be on my Top 10 Best BLs of 2021, however it is defined by others. It shows and displays the purist form of love - kindness and connection. My full review of this gem will be on my website shortly at BLBliss.com. Please watch this series/movie.Was this review helpful to you?
Twisted a Serious Medical Condition...
To accept this series, you have to buy into its core belief or concept. This core belief was a functionally based condition that I simply could not wrap my head around either logically or scientifically. Apparently, for some individuals with ‘sudden sensorineural hearing loss’ when it rained, you lost your ability to hear but could still communicate and hear your ‘soulmate’. While I am all for ‘poetic license’, this was carrying something real so farfetched that it simply is not believable whatsoever. Even if it were remotely possible as a medical condition, you would not suddenly develop it nor suddenly lose it as the series implies. I am all for ‘fantasy’ but this one I had a hard time wrapping my head around. Even as a good story. And therefore, I could not. So, I stopped trying.The true issue here is the lack of communication, not some misused medical condition that sounds fanciful. Not a particularly good or interesting series except for the character of Lomfon.
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Awful
Honestly, you would be better off watching paint dry than subject yourself to this tedious, drab, lackluster, and boring series. So far, this is one of the worst I have seen this year (2023). Everything, and I mean everything about this series is insipid. I thought Cutie Pie 1 was so toxic with this one not much further behind. I found this series just too dysfunctional to enjoy, too boring, and absolutely pointless. The actors looked bored, depressed and very underwhelming performances. The love scene, if you want to call it that, in this series I had to fast forward through because it was just too painfully unimaginative to watch. How can you make love boring? Skip it if you can.Was this review helpful to you?
NOT a Dating Series
Contrary to popular opinion, this is NOT a gay dating show. It is a 'reality' show that allows individuals to explore feelings for others. It was established to see if two people after exploring and getting to know one another could date, especially away from the limelight and lure of the cameras. I think it was a stunningly creative and beautiful concept that permitted guys to see others and check out compatibilities. Then date - away from the limelight and into reality. There was no 'rose' here; only a chance for one.It took courage to expose yourself and to show the world that you are gay and proud, especially in a country that sees you differently. For that they deserve kudos.
But remember, this is a 'reality' show full of rules, regulations, and contrived situations that in essence is not real. Therefore, the chances of successful relationships developing are slim to none. That does not take away from its impact nor beauty. It was a breath of fresh air for the whole world to see that gay men, like their straight counterparts, act, do, feel, behave, and pain all in the same way.
But remember, always take these kinds of 'reality' shows with a 'grain of salt'. Life when the cameras are turned off is actually the real world.
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Poignant Yet Beautiful and Outstanding
A simple basic story of an individual down on his luck who happens to meet someone who will change his life. But the road to his happiness is detoured by an unexpected trauma. This trauma happens often to individuals who are marginalized or society thinks of as unworthy. This trauma carries with it a stigma that will never leave you and you must carry it alone. But it does not mean that you need to be alone. The depth of a love for someone shines brightly in this series and is a beautiful example of what love truly is and its power of commitment in healing the soul. This is an outstanding series of great inner beauty. It has rawness, guts to tackle the issues it does, and a strong sense of great story telling. While sad, it is not maudlin. But it is real. A beautiful story with stunningly handsome lead actors in roles that had to have been emotionally draining to do. I applaud their commitment to making their roles real and genuine.This breaks the mold of the stereotypical BL series. It is not at a college. It involves a young man with an older. And it deal with REAL issues still facing the gay community today. This is outstanding BL series. I shall (shortly) post my full review of this awesome series on my website at BLBliss.com.
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