Faeriedust95
This review may contain spoilers
Disturbing and so far pointless.
The acting is the only thing worth watching in this series.
Honestly, every part of the writing from the first episode to the 4th (which I admit is where I stop) has been absolute crap. The only character that feels like he deserves better than what he gets is Porsche's little brother. All the other characters are bad people to some degree. Even Porsche and Kinn, who we are meant to be the protagonists are not characters that I feel much sympathy for. Also, other than serving as a backdrop to our scary relationship nightmares, does this story have an actual plot? So far, no.
The love story portion of this is extremely problematic. I know this is meant to be mafia and therefore not child friendly, but if you wanted to make it mafia and guns blazing, why advertise it as a BL which is supposed to be romantic? There is nothing romantic or even worthwhile about this story. And since other than the violence and sex, I see no actual plot, I can't imagine that this story is intended to be anything other than a romance. So far, all they've done is set up the relationship between Kinn and Porsche, which, again, is problematic at best.
Kinn is a horrible person. Other than the most basic of character arc, where he meets someone who becomes important to him and falls in love (which is questionable, I want to say possessive lust instead), he has no real value as a character. He is supposed to be the protagonist, but if he's the protagonist, the antagonist is Satan himself. As far as I can see, this character has no redeeming qualities and SPOILER ALERT: he rapes his bodyguard. Kinn takes advantage of Porsche twice when he is in a terribly vulnerable state. One time, amounting to rape as Porsche had been drugged and could not in any way be considered consenting. After that, we are still expected to support this couple and hope they get together? Not on the likely.
The story is also amazingly unbelievable. Apparently Kinn's an amazing fighter, but only when the story calls for him to beat up his bodyguard -- the same bodyguard who bested 4 people in order to protect Kinn when he was running away and unable to defend himself. It's amazing that Kinn was able to improve his skills so much so quickly, isn't it? I mean, how else do we account for Kinn being able to beat up Porsche when the story calls for it but need Porsche's help because he's not able to protect himself when the story calls for that?
Knowing what would be in store for the Vegas and Pete couple IF the series followed the actual book, is just another reason that I can't support this series. The only reason this was written was as a backdrop for porn rape fantasies by writers who probably have no idea what it is like to actually be raped because if they did they wouldn't write this garbage. The series itself isn't much better than the original stories, but at least we don't have to be subjected to Vegas and Pete as they were originally written.
For people who want to watch something with a little vague kind of story based on a mafia family full of violence and action -- you have come to the right place. If you want that and a love story, don't hold your breath. The only love happening in this story so far is the love Porsche has for his brother and the deep and abiding love that Kinn has for himself. I am sure some people are going to come back and tell me that they are mafia, after all, so I can't expect it to be all rainbows and butterflies. And you are right, it is a story about the mafia, but let's don't pretend that it's about love. It's about violence and sex with very little other story beyond that. The overall story itself, other than the abusive relationship going on between Kinn and Porsche, is vague to say the least. Is there a plot and a point outside of the violence and sex and abuse? So far, I'm going to say no. (I realize I've said some of these things twice, call it forgetful, redundant, or placing emphasis -- whatever makes you happy.)
As I said earlier, the only worthwhile part is the talented actors, who have clearly done as much as they could with the poor plot. There is absolutely no redeeming value to this story line, at least up until episode 4. Having learned from the novel what might be coming up, (AGAIN WITH SPOILERS) with Kinn and Porsche somehow ending up happy together and Pete thinking he's in love with the man who tortured and raped him -- I find it disappointing that this series was given the green light in the first place. What does it say about our culture that stories where the worst people do the worst things to each other and end up in love in a hazy pink land of "no, my boyfriend didn't rape me" and also have no real value in the plot department are the stories that are turned into a TV series and promoted to the world?
To be honest, I could be watching porn with no story line at all and feel less shame about my viewing activities. I was conflicted about this story at first, wanting to give it a chance because there aren't very many options in BL, but now I realize that was short sighted. If I want BL to have better options in the future, I have to refuse to support trash BL when it is offered. The only guilt I feel now is that I actually bothered to watch 4 episodes.
Honestly, every part of the writing from the first episode to the 4th (which I admit is where I stop) has been absolute crap. The only character that feels like he deserves better than what he gets is Porsche's little brother. All the other characters are bad people to some degree. Even Porsche and Kinn, who we are meant to be the protagonists are not characters that I feel much sympathy for. Also, other than serving as a backdrop to our scary relationship nightmares, does this story have an actual plot? So far, no.
The love story portion of this is extremely problematic. I know this is meant to be mafia and therefore not child friendly, but if you wanted to make it mafia and guns blazing, why advertise it as a BL which is supposed to be romantic? There is nothing romantic or even worthwhile about this story. And since other than the violence and sex, I see no actual plot, I can't imagine that this story is intended to be anything other than a romance. So far, all they've done is set up the relationship between Kinn and Porsche, which, again, is problematic at best.
Kinn is a horrible person. Other than the most basic of character arc, where he meets someone who becomes important to him and falls in love (which is questionable, I want to say possessive lust instead), he has no real value as a character. He is supposed to be the protagonist, but if he's the protagonist, the antagonist is Satan himself. As far as I can see, this character has no redeeming qualities and SPOILER ALERT: he rapes his bodyguard. Kinn takes advantage of Porsche twice when he is in a terribly vulnerable state. One time, amounting to rape as Porsche had been drugged and could not in any way be considered consenting. After that, we are still expected to support this couple and hope they get together? Not on the likely.
The story is also amazingly unbelievable. Apparently Kinn's an amazing fighter, but only when the story calls for him to beat up his bodyguard -- the same bodyguard who bested 4 people in order to protect Kinn when he was running away and unable to defend himself. It's amazing that Kinn was able to improve his skills so much so quickly, isn't it? I mean, how else do we account for Kinn being able to beat up Porsche when the story calls for it but need Porsche's help because he's not able to protect himself when the story calls for that?
Knowing what would be in store for the Vegas and Pete couple IF the series followed the actual book, is just another reason that I can't support this series. The only reason this was written was as a backdrop for porn rape fantasies by writers who probably have no idea what it is like to actually be raped because if they did they wouldn't write this garbage. The series itself isn't much better than the original stories, but at least we don't have to be subjected to Vegas and Pete as they were originally written.
For people who want to watch something with a little vague kind of story based on a mafia family full of violence and action -- you have come to the right place. If you want that and a love story, don't hold your breath. The only love happening in this story so far is the love Porsche has for his brother and the deep and abiding love that Kinn has for himself. I am sure some people are going to come back and tell me that they are mafia, after all, so I can't expect it to be all rainbows and butterflies. And you are right, it is a story about the mafia, but let's don't pretend that it's about love. It's about violence and sex with very little other story beyond that. The overall story itself, other than the abusive relationship going on between Kinn and Porsche, is vague to say the least. Is there a plot and a point outside of the violence and sex and abuse? So far, I'm going to say no. (I realize I've said some of these things twice, call it forgetful, redundant, or placing emphasis -- whatever makes you happy.)
As I said earlier, the only worthwhile part is the talented actors, who have clearly done as much as they could with the poor plot. There is absolutely no redeeming value to this story line, at least up until episode 4. Having learned from the novel what might be coming up, (AGAIN WITH SPOILERS) with Kinn and Porsche somehow ending up happy together and Pete thinking he's in love with the man who tortured and raped him -- I find it disappointing that this series was given the green light in the first place. What does it say about our culture that stories where the worst people do the worst things to each other and end up in love in a hazy pink land of "no, my boyfriend didn't rape me" and also have no real value in the plot department are the stories that are turned into a TV series and promoted to the world?
To be honest, I could be watching porn with no story line at all and feel less shame about my viewing activities. I was conflicted about this story at first, wanting to give it a chance because there aren't very many options in BL, but now I realize that was short sighted. If I want BL to have better options in the future, I have to refuse to support trash BL when it is offered. The only guilt I feel now is that I actually bothered to watch 4 episodes.
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