EllisInRealLife
This review may contain spoilers
Solid idea but lackluster execution
*I don't spoil the identity of Enchante in this review*
While Enchante isn't the BL harem that it presented itself as, it's still an enjoyable romcom with electrifying chemistry from the main pairing. Personally, it took me a while to get over the disappointment of this BL not being a harem. But once I did, I was able to enjoy it for the mystery/romance that it really was, despite the occasional flaw.
For one, I just couldn't wrap my head around the Enchante "character" and how they didn't easily sniff out the liars. I do understand that the actual mystery wasn't about "who is Enchante?" but more like "why are at least three guys lying about being Enchante?" But the tactics used by Akk and Theo to identify Enchante were a bit cartoony. To be honest, the entire aspect and execution of the Enchante "mystery" (right down to the reveal) requires the viewers to suspend all disbelief.
Screentime among the supporting cast could have been utilized a lot better. Even with only 10 episodes, there's a decent amount of filler and not enough character or relationship development apart from Akk/Theo. And even though the show isn't exactly a harem, the concept still calls for a certain amount of development between Theo and the ambassadors. However, the Akk/Theo relationship was prioritized above all else, which made for the Enchante mystery to be even less engaging. Tbh, they should have revealed Enchante halfway through the 10-episode run and then went in a different direction for the 2nd half of the show. I would have liked to see more from all of the ambassadors. The subplots involving them were bare minimum screentime, if that.
Theo was one of the flattest protagonists that I've seen in a while. The series starts with him losing his grandma, who took care of him for his entire pubescent existence, and then he moves from an entirely different country before settling in right away. We, as the viewers, never really get the sense that Theo has suffered a great loss and is going through a reverse culture shock all at the same time. These conflicts could have provided great obstacles for Theo to overcome as an individual character, or even be used as talking points for Theo to bond with the other ambassadors. But they never really do anything with Theo's tragic predicament, which makes Theo's hasty decision to move back to France in the last episode all the more bewildering. The opportunity to properly set up Theo's homesickness and departure was there but it was completely untouched until the very last minute, which inadvertently made Theo look selfish and unlikable.
But in all the ways that the show came up short, the chemistry and romance between the two leads didn't. Though, with Enchante coming fresh off the heels of Bad Buddy and mostly airing simultaneously with Not Me, the intimacy between Akk/Theo can sometimes feel a little tame in comparison. In a lot of ways, Enchante may feel slightly outdated in the ever-evolving BL subgenre. Enchante follows every beat of a typical romcom BL: lack of communication, misunderstandings, jealousy, nonexistent peripheral vision, forced last minute side couples, etc. But the cinematography, locations, and music are amazing and really leans into the French-inspired theme of the show.
Overall, the short 10 episode run makes this easy to recommend to anyone who just wants to enjoy a generic BL with a cute main couple.
While Enchante isn't the BL harem that it presented itself as, it's still an enjoyable romcom with electrifying chemistry from the main pairing. Personally, it took me a while to get over the disappointment of this BL not being a harem. But once I did, I was able to enjoy it for the mystery/romance that it really was, despite the occasional flaw.
For one, I just couldn't wrap my head around the Enchante "character" and how they didn't easily sniff out the liars. I do understand that the actual mystery wasn't about "who is Enchante?" but more like "why are at least three guys lying about being Enchante?" But the tactics used by Akk and Theo to identify Enchante were a bit cartoony. To be honest, the entire aspect and execution of the Enchante "mystery" (right down to the reveal) requires the viewers to suspend all disbelief.
Screentime among the supporting cast could have been utilized a lot better. Even with only 10 episodes, there's a decent amount of filler and not enough character or relationship development apart from Akk/Theo. And even though the show isn't exactly a harem, the concept still calls for a certain amount of development between Theo and the ambassadors. However, the Akk/Theo relationship was prioritized above all else, which made for the Enchante mystery to be even less engaging. Tbh, they should have revealed Enchante halfway through the 10-episode run and then went in a different direction for the 2nd half of the show. I would have liked to see more from all of the ambassadors. The subplots involving them were bare minimum screentime, if that.
Theo was one of the flattest protagonists that I've seen in a while. The series starts with him losing his grandma, who took care of him for his entire pubescent existence, and then he moves from an entirely different country before settling in right away. We, as the viewers, never really get the sense that Theo has suffered a great loss and is going through a reverse culture shock all at the same time. These conflicts could have provided great obstacles for Theo to overcome as an individual character, or even be used as talking points for Theo to bond with the other ambassadors. But they never really do anything with Theo's tragic predicament, which makes Theo's hasty decision to move back to France in the last episode all the more bewildering. The opportunity to properly set up Theo's homesickness and departure was there but it was completely untouched until the very last minute, which inadvertently made Theo look selfish and unlikable.
But in all the ways that the show came up short, the chemistry and romance between the two leads didn't. Though, with Enchante coming fresh off the heels of Bad Buddy and mostly airing simultaneously with Not Me, the intimacy between Akk/Theo can sometimes feel a little tame in comparison. In a lot of ways, Enchante may feel slightly outdated in the ever-evolving BL subgenre. Enchante follows every beat of a typical romcom BL: lack of communication, misunderstandings, jealousy, nonexistent peripheral vision, forced last minute side couples, etc. But the cinematography, locations, and music are amazing and really leans into the French-inspired theme of the show.
Overall, the short 10 episode run makes this easy to recommend to anyone who just wants to enjoy a generic BL with a cute main couple.
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