Pointless Drama and Over Melodramatic Storytelling

This series is marred by something, and I wrestled with trying to find the most appropriate word to describe that. A word that is strong enough and powerful enough to impart disconnect to what is happening in this series. Finally, I found the precise word: Eschew, which literally means ‘to keep away from or shun, avoid, circumvent, boycott, or dodge’. Quite literally everyone in this series does what he can to avoid telling the truth, or face reality, or abstain from communicating effectively, openly, or honestly. It seems to be the driving force of Thai BLs to be as evasive and elusive as you can to create artificial dramas. This is another sad example of that artifice.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/03/07/for-him-series-review-ep-1-to-12/

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A Short Slice of Life But Could Be Better

Strongberry, a name Boys’ Love fans know internationally as one of the most honest and profilic gay production companies in Korea comes back with a short series titled “Happy Ending”. After the success of “Choco Milk Shake” I was pleasantly pleased to see actor Kim Seong Hyuk who plays the silly Kang Dong Ho, in this new series. In the three episodic series, he is paired with Park Jun Mook who plays his good friend Hyun. The pair exist in a pre-established story already in progress which is how Strongberry normally does it.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/03/02/happy-ending-series-review-ep-1-to-3/

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Most Disappointing Watch of 2023

There is no myths here; that went extent along with the dinosaurs. Instead, it is a jumbled incoherent mess of disorganized shifts of scenes packed with individuals for the most part that are astonishingly unlikable, dumb as a box of rocks, naïve, and caricatures. Some are decidedly despicable creatures as well.

The whole universe of this story centers around one of the densest characters I have ever seen. Not only is he naïve and remains so throughout, but he is also the biggest milqutoast and nebbish individual ever in any BL. It was exacerbating to watch him not be able to fend for himself in any meaningful way, with conviction and simply ‘forgive’ people for astonishing bad transgressions against him without making it very clear how he really felt or where he stood. He gives a new definition to the term wimp. I am talking about, of course, the apple of so many guys’ eye for whom I simply could not figure out why. Rak (Kong Montree) who consistently walks around looking lost and functioning in a dream world of his own making. To say he is naïve is to be kind to him. It goes deeper than that. It is as if he wears a sign on himself that says, “Yes, I am really this clueless and as dumb as I look. So go ahead and use me. I really won’t figure it out but oh when I do, I will simply forgive you and move on. Thanks.” For example, his boyfriend had been cheating on him for a while with his own best friend. His passive acceptance of this along with his wounded look made it appear as if it was his cross to bear, and he wore it almost like a badge of honor. When he finally breaks up with him, he allows and tacitly accepts his former boyfriend to visit and harass him without making it abundantly clear that it is finally over, period. At one point, his former boyfriend attempts to rape Rak, and still, Rak forgives him.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/01/05/dinosaur-love-series-review-ep-1-to-8-final-story-ep-910/#more-14438

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The Best Sequel in 2023

I’m literally in tears because the drama ended too soon and there is STILL so much left to explore!

Have you ever felt this inexplicable connect to a storyline or characters that keeps you coming back for more? If you are an ardent fan of the “What Did You Eat Yesterday?” franchise, you will understand the connection. I have been religiously following this show for almost 5 years now and everytime, they make an announcement, my heart skips a beat. That’s how much I love this melodrama and I’m really invested in each and every character in this show. Starring veteran Japanese actors Nishijima Hidetoshi & Uchino Seiyou in the lead roles, this slice-of-life romance focuses on the daily lives and struggles of a middle-aged gay couple. You ask, what is so special about them? Shiro and Kenji are probably the most realistic depiction of the problems faced by a gay couple, in an idealistic, closeted society. Their renditions are so heartwarming and inspiring, you can’t help but get roped in their lives. For now, join me as we reminisce some of the finest moments from the sequel!

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2023/12/27/what-did-you-eat-yesterday-2-series-review-ep-3-to-12/

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A Realistic Depiction of Teenage Romance & Relationships

The human heart is a stormy place, and when paired with thought, it becomes even more tumultuous. Love isn’t logical—it’s a force that heals, torments, and binds, sometimes all at once.

When mixed with thought, love can often feel like madness.

Adapted from the novel Mou Mou by Mu Su Li, the Taiwanese BL The On1y One defies expectations while exploring love amidst emotional turmoil. Starring Liu Dong Qin as the studious and friendly Sheng Wang and Benjamin Tsang as the reserved loner Jiang Tian, the series follows two boys with their own personal traumas who are brought together as unexpected brothers.

I’ve started this review a thousand times—not because I’m sad, though I am, but because The On1y One gave us so much to think about and feel.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/10/03/the-on1y-one-series-review-ep-3-to-12/

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A Beautiful Pairing with a Complicated Romance

Adapted from a novel of the same name, this mini-series is a spin-off of the famous GL “Gap The Series”. This an age-gap GL between Khun Nueng (Faye Peraya) and Anueng (Yoko Apasra), though I want to make it clear that the characters are at the right age to date, so the age difference doesn’t seem inappropriate. The series is a fresh breath of air in between lots of cringy and plain situations. The chemistry between the leads is cute and Yoko’s acting has an innocence to it that will make you adore her with all your heart. Faye as Khun Neung is brilliant, her acting is commendable, her expression doesn’t seem forced or awkward and is very detailed. She has put a lot of effort into her role and while watching the series you won’t find awkward pauses, forced acting, or expressions. Faye has grasped the very essence of Khun Neung’s character, who can mask her feelings.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/06/07/blank-series-review-ep-1-to-6/

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Another Masterpiece from Hwang Da Seul!

In life, we’re all searching for a lifeline—a smile, a sunrise, a reason to keep going each day. For those who know only pain, that lifeline becomes even more vital.

The Korean BL Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo offers just that. It brings together two young men—abused high schooler Lee Do Hoe (Kim Nu Rim) and the equally abused but cheerful Sin Ju Yeong (Lee Seon) who are both desperate for a glimmer of light in a world filled with shadows.

From the moment Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo was announced, I knew I’d fall in love with it. I’m no stranger to director Hwang Da Seul’s work, and I admire how her dramas delve beyond romance to explore the psychology shaping relationships and how people process trauma in their own unique ways, both on-screen and off.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/09/let-free-the-curse-of-taekwondo-series-review-ep-3-to-8/

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A Taboo Romance with an Edge!

I was thunderstruck by the theme of this series. It is a story in an anthology labeled “Club Friday”. Its content is one I have never seen before and certainly involves a very controversial topic. If they had been more adult about its fruition and handled it like a ruminative production, this would and could have been up there as the Best BL for 2024. However, in my opinion, they lacked the courage to push the envelope here to make it more consequential.

Guy (Aon Kasama) lives with his mother, Rin (Yuyee Alissa Intusmith). Guy, a handsome young college student, had a flirtation with a friend of his named Kem (Tae Chayapat). He had been fearful of telling his mother that he is gay. His mother has become a successful businesswoman and developed an advantageous working relationship with a small company whose president is Got (Lift Supoj). One look at him and Guy seems to be smitten by him. Got, an older distinguished looking man, senses that Guy is attracted to him. While Got has never seriously acted on his gay impulses before, he seems to be drawn to Guy as well and uses Rin to get closer to Guy. He manipulates both Rin and Guy into believing that he is in love with both.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/10/25/club-friday-season-16-domestic-incident-series-review-ep-1-to-4/

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The Most Heartwarming Romance Ever

Sometimes, the greatest strength in life comes from the special connections we build with others, especially in those quiet moments when we realize just how much simple gestures like saying “good morning” or “welcome home” truly matter.

In the Japanese BL Sugar Dog Life, the journey of finding that special connection is explored in depth. Adapted from Yoriko’s manga of the same name, the series follows university student Sakuraba Isumi (Tanaka Koki) and police officer Amasawa Kyosuke (Tawada Hideya) two men who are not only drawn together by chance but find in each other the missing pieces they didn’t know they needed.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/10/22/sugar-dog-life-series-review-ep-3-to-9/

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A Endearing Romance between an Introvert & an Extrovert

The central premise of “Monster Next Door” revolves around the age-old question: Do opposites really attract? For Diew (Park Anantadej) and God (Big Thanakorn), the answer is a resounding yes. On the surface, the two seem like opposites. Diew is quiet, introspective, and keeps a small circle of friends—his best friend Game, and his beloved turtle, Khun Shy. God, on the other hand, is outgoing, popular, and thrives on social interaction. Yet, despite these differences, what shines through is their mutual care and understanding. They embrace each other’s true selves, communicating openly to navigate their differences.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/10/19/monster-next-door-series-review-ep-5-to-12/

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A Angsty Romance with Dark Undertones!

The end. Two words. Sometimes sad, sometimes happy, and sometimes left open to interpretation.

Yet, all of them are endings.

Adapted from the manga series Happy of the End by Ogeretsu Tanaka, Keito/Haoren (Sawamura Rei) and Kashiwagi Chihiro (Beppu Yurai) are both broken men whose only experiences with “love” have been through abuse, rejection, and pain.

Their life together begins at “the end.” It’s as if both men are merely existing, waiting for the inevitable, even after they find each other.

Each comes from different circumstances. Chihiro has been raised in a world that rejects him because he’s gay. He’s been beaten down by the love he desperately tries to cling to, until he believes he’s worth little more than the garbage he steals. Keito, on the other hand, is raised in a world of abuse and anonymity, one that has stripped him of his identity, his body, and his heart.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/10/10/happy-of-the-end-series-review-ep-3-to-8/

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OffGun Magic Saves the Day Again!!

“The Trainee” is a lighthearted BL series featuring OffGun in prominent roles. The series revolves around internships, careers, and personal growth. It follows the story of Ryan, Tae, Pie, Pah, and Ba-Mhee, recent college graduates who meet at an internship interview at GoodPick. Gun Atthaphan plays the character of Ryan, who is unsure about which company to choose for his internship. After listening to the advice of his close friend, he decides to apply for an internship at Goodpick. He gets selected as an intern in the Assistant Director department, where he meets Jane (Off Jumpol), his supervisor. Jane is strict but kind-hearted. Despite being strict, he teaches Ryan to be more open and brave in making decisions. The chemistry between Off and Gun is wonderful, and they are very comfortable with each other. Pie starts as a stiff and almost like a loner character, but as the series continues, her character becomes softer, more jolly, and open. She is a very talented character and View Benyapa did a great job playing “Pie”. Finally, let’s talk about our adorable couple, Tae and Ba-Mhee.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/10/09/the-trainee-series-review-ep-3-to-12/

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PingXie Romance Spanning over a Decade!

Wu Xie- I will keep him company from now, solve his problems and lead an ordinary life with him.

This is one of those love stories, that never gets old. I have watched it umpteenth times and still I’m always absorbed in their world like it is my first time. The intriguing sequel to “Ultimate Note” where Wu Xie and Zhang Qiling face separation, “Adventure behind the Bronze Door” is a resonating saga of love nevertheless. The only glitch being that our loving couple, PingXie don’t have much scenes together. The show solely focuses on retracing Zhang Qiling’s life and memories; Wu Xie spends the entire time trying to figure out Qiling’s origins and solve problems that might affect their future. It might sound astoundingly boring, because the franchise banks on the chemistry between the actors playing the protagonists (which is like a revolving door with each installment featuring a different set of actors). “Adventure behind the Bronze Door” didn’t have too many scenes between the lead couple; it was a solemn journey with Wu Xie waiting for Zhang Qiling to return from the Bronze Door. He took it upon himself to figure out Qiling’s origins and clear the issues that have been plaguing the Zhang family. The show is a story of two lovers separated by age and time, reuniting and existing peacefully. If you are looking for PingXie romance, you will be disappointed. But if you want to learn more about our superhero, Zhang Qiling; then “Adventure behind the Bronze Door” has all the answers!

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/10/04/adventure-behind-the-bronze-door-series-review-ep-1-to-32/

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A Beautiful Age Gap Romance Indeed!!

There’s something truly magical about finding love in the most unexpected moments, especially when you thought that chapter of your life had already closed.

Adapted from the manga series Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakutekina Ezuke by Matsumoto Ayaka, the Japanese BL Mr. Mitsuya’sDrama_Llama Planned Feeding takes loneliness and companionship, and turns it into a love story about two men who find comfort in each other.

And it all starts with food.

Novice editor Tomoya Ishida (Sakai Taisei) is unexpectedly given the task of retrieving a manuscript from renowned culinary researcher Ayumu Mitsuya (Yamazaki Masayoshi). From the moment they meet, Ishida is drawn to Mitsuya’s charm and culinary talent. As they spend more time together, Ishida starts to realize that the flutter in his chest is something deeper than just admiration.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/09/25/mr-mitsuyas-planned-feeding-series-review-ep-3-to-7/

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An Endearing Sapphic Romance Indeed

“Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko!” (Ayaka-chan wa Hiroko-senpai ni Koishiteru) is an office romance between Ayaka (Kato Shiho) and her superior Hiroko (Mori Kanna). It starts off with Ayaka’s attempts to woo Hiroko and to get her to notice Ayaka’s feelings. Her initial attempts end up in comic failures because Hiroko presumes Ayaka is straight and her gestures don’t have any meaning behind them. As the show proceeds, we find that Hiroko’s supposed obliviousness is actually a defence mechanism of wilful ignorance that she puts up to shield herself.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/09/24/ayaka-is-in-love-with-hiroko-series-review-ep-3-to-8/

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