A Mother's Struggle For Her Son

“Monster” is an intriguing movie, told from the perspectives of 3 individuals, a single mother who is overprotective of her son and wants justice for him, a well-meaning teacher who finds himself in the middle of an almost impossible situation in which he is falsely accused of hitting a child, and a young boy who is coming to terms with himself and his feelings for a friend. Although not quite the psychological thriller one would expect, “Monster” does a great job in shifting our perspective, in as much as we are constantly being asked “who is the monster?”, while viewing the movie. We are not looking for a monster, but rather seeing victims of circumstances that we empathize with throughout the film and the question of who the monster is becomes the furthest from the audience’s concerns.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/04/03/monster-movie-review/

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An Enjoyable Ride As Always

The natural tendency is to want to compare this to the first season of “Ossan’s Love” or the movie. I know the mind naturally gravitates towards the comparison. But once you get into this second season, within about 5 minutes, your mind will readjust itself and begin to process that you are watching something very distinct, very different, and very original. For those of you who have not seen season one, you do not need to watch that to appreciate this series. It is nothing like the first season, yet it does feel recognizable. Some faces are indeed familiar. Tanaka Kei reprises his role as the bumbling Haruta Soichi while Yoshida Kotaro also remains as Kurosawa Musashi. However, the setting is very different. Kurosawa Musashi is a Captain for the Kenku Peach Airlines and by sheer luck and a little bit of personal tenacity, Haruta becomes a CA (cabin assistant). Typical of Haruta, he is ‘late’ on his first day on the job. Yet his lateness is for a reason that envelops Haruta like an aura – his compassion. His overriding need, almost compulsion to help people above anything else. And his unwillingness to explain/defend himself as he knows it is futile. He is unequivocally late.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/03/27/ossans-love-season-2-love-in-the-sky-2019-japan-8-episodes-2-special-episodes/

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The Most Endearing Romantic Classic Ever

This story is a classic one as it reflects an age-old tale of a ‘mid-life’ crisis. While season one is 5 years and the sequel movie is 4 years ago, both ‘hold up’ today as being relevant, funny, and still charming. Beyond that, both are wondrously entertaining. My husband, by all accounts, is a movie buff, and when it comes to watching movies, he calls me an ‘old curmudgeon’. For those of you unfamiliar with that term, it means someone who is a faulter, grumpy, and a whiner, especially about comedies. They never hold my interest for very long. I proved him wrong not just with “Love or Dead” but with season one as well. It is funny. Very funny – throughout. And it completely held my attention. That is hard to do. To sustain a level of humor and constantly recreating realities that are funny is not easy to do, but this series and movie does so with great skill. The comedic timing is sheer perfection, and the physical comedy is outstanding especially for Tanaka Kei as Haruta Sochi. Many others also displayed great comedic timing as well. That is a reflection not only of good acting talent but also of exemplary directing.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/03/23/ossans-love-season-1-and-love-or-dead-2018-19/

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A Great Historical Experience, But Could Have Been Better

Indeed, this is a visually stunning movie that is certainly entertaining. With a big bag of popcorn (or snack of your choice) and a relaxing chair, you will thoroughly enjoy this movie. Filled with handsome men, a relatively interesting but a bit slow-plodding plot at times, elegant chorography, breathtaking cinematography, and beautiful costumes, you are in for a treat. Is it memorable? Well, no, not really, but it sure is fun to watch.

It is a story of two dancers. During a performance before officials, one is so impressive, not just for his dancing skills but also for his beauty and is asked to ‘personally perform’ for his uncle who is a high official. Khun (Apo Nattawin) and his companion Wan (Bas Asavapatr) are an interesting pair. Both young and handsome, but with Khun looking after Wan, almost like a brother. Their backstory is somewhat vague. Unfortunately, both are accused of killing the official Khun was asked to entertain even though they had attempted to intervene in the assassination. However, to gain pardons for the crime of murder that they will be charged with since they are phrai, (of the lower class), they agree to go to Siam to conduct a cloak-and-dagger operation and steal documents that are proving that the group of Chinese known as Tua Hia are plotting a rebellion.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/03/16/man-suang-movie-review/

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A Saucy Thriller With Raunchy Content

This series is an erotic roller-coaster ride through the world of gay love. If non-gay people want to know what it is like to be gay, then this is the series to watch. Not the idealized versions of BLs. This is what the world of gayness is, whether you want to believe it or not, accept it or not. It is what it is. Sure, it is the darker side, but it is no less real than the ornament sanitized version of what GAY love is via BL. In other words, this is its antithesis. This expresses the real world.

It is a potpourri story that is at times impossible to follow and logically makes absolutely no sense; it has a ‘soap-opera aspect to it. And I loved every minute of it. Why? Because, it presents the darker side of ‘BL’. And if you think for one second that this world either does not exist or is not real, then you are misinformed and mistaken. As it does. What this story does is capture all the issues facing gay men today in a raw, gritty, realistic fashion. Sometimes a bit over-the-top dramatically but never ever unrealistically. To be sure, the problems are overblown, but never its lasciviousness.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/03/14/playboyy-series-review-ep-1-to-14/

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An Intriguing Romance Between Two Long Lost Friends

Whether we realize it or not, we, as humans, are always looking for another person(s) to connect to. A person who understands us. A person who can become the place we come home to. A place to rest. A place to be.

Adapted from the manga of the same name by Tsurukame Mayo, the new Japanese BL Perfect Propose gives its characters a place to come home to—a place to be comfortable being themselves.


For six episodes, the series quickly traverses a seemingly simple but surprisingly profound and compelling story about two men who met and connected as children before reuniting years later. Hirokuni Watari (Kaneko Shunya) is an overworked corporate employee with little time outside the office. Fukaya Kai (Nomura Kota) is an orphan who works in the food industry for an older man who took him in after he tried to dash and dine. They come face-to-face when Hiro collapses from the weight of his responsibilities and finds himself peering up at Fukaya Kai, the face of the man he’d promised to marry when they were kids.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/03/06/perfect-propose-series-review-ep-3-to-6/

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A Phenomenal GL Romance With Stellar Casting

Adapted from the manga of the same name, “Tsukuitai Onna to Tabetai Onna/She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat” is a queer drama which focuses on the relationship of two women. More than relationship, it focuses on how a neat and genuine bond can be developed by friendship that progresses to a romantic inclination.

I have always admired the Japanese way of showing any relationship with so much simplicity yet leaving a message so deep that it affects you genuinely and this is not the first Japanese queer show that revolves around food as we all know. We all have already loved and watched “What did you eat yesterday?” and this show is on the same level as it. Because it is not too flashy or filled with unnecessary or complicated situations.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/22/she-loves-to-cook-and-she-loves-to-eat-season-one-series-review-ep-1-to-10/

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Could Have Been Better

Within the dynamic and ever-changing realm of Thai Boys’ Love (BL) series, “Night Dream” presents a moving story of love, friendship, and personal growth. The protagonist of the show is Night, a senior literature student who finds it difficult to write his final novel because he has never experienced love. The story takes shape as Night makes contact with Dream, a buddy he hasn’t seen in a long time, who helps him understand the nuances of love.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/21/night-dream-series-review-ep-1-to-6/

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Not Exactly An Entertaining Watch

Adapted from the web novel “Pit Babe” (พิษเบ๊บ) by _alittlebitch (also known as alittlebixth), Peter Nopachai’s rustic adaptation ended on a high note. Based on the fictional ABO/Omegaverse universe, the show’s ratings skyrocketed because of the natural chemistry between the various pairings littered across this universe. While the storytelling was indeed faulty in some places, the stellar casting made up for the odd pacing. This was one of those shows that leaves you with mixed feelings; I won’t say that I was exactly enamored with the series. Nevertheless, it was flavorful in its own ways. There are reasons to watch this show; let me list them first before we journey into the disaster zone!

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/14/pit-babe-series-review-ep-3-to-13/

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A Solemn Tale of Love, Redemption and Reconciliation

Love. Death. Redemption. Realization.

Life is full of never truly looking at ourselves while also learning to understand exactly who we are.

And this is precisely the kind of story the Thai BL 7 Days Before Valentine offers. It’s a theatrical, intense story about a man named Sunshine whose love life hangs by a thread. Just as he grapples with the daunting task of charting his life’s course after an unexpected breakup, fate intervenes in surprising ways. A mysterious Cupid reaper, wielding powers beyond comprehension, emerges with a proposition: to restore Sunshine’s lost love within the span of seven days by having him wish away a person each night. Yet, as the intricate web of fate unfurls, it becomes clear that every boon comes with a price. As Sunshine embarks on a journey of choice and reflection, he learns that some lessons are worth their weight in gold.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/13/7-days-before-valentine-series-review-ep-1-to-12/

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An Endearing Bromance Between A Genius Chef & A Young Mathematician

“Fermat no Ryori: Where Math Meets Culinary Excellence in a Flavorful Drama”

In the realm of Japanese dramas, where stories often sway towards romance or mystery, “Fermat no Ryori” emerges as a refreshing anomaly, seamlessly blending the worlds of mathematics and culinary arts. The series, a captivating journey of self-discovery, brings together the unlikely duo of Kitada Gaku, a gifted mathematics enthusiast, and Asakura Kai, a renowned chef, setting the stage for a unique exploration of life’s intricate recipes.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/10/fermat-no-ryori-series-review-ep-1-to-10/

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Could Have Been A Better Watch Indeed

When Lovemedia Thailand first started with the promotions, “Twins The Series” was marketed as a sport themed BL. Whilst the Thai BL industry is filled with high school dramas or engineering misnomers, we were never offered a full fledged sports drama. As such, the expectations were high from a cast that included handsome hunks who seemed to fit the bill of volleyball players. Either ways, I was never enthusiastic about sports labeled shows. But then my X timeline was filled with spoilers once the show premiered; the end result- I gave in to the urge. The pilot episodes were pretty lame and dragged on; nothing substantial to hold onto. So, why did I continue on this journey? Despite the mediocre writing with abundant potholes, the lead pairing manage to savage the show. Without pulling any punches, let’s dive into this review!

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/09/twins-series-review-ep-1-to-12/

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A Heartwarming Show Depicting Friendships and Love

I have been watching reality tv dating shows for as long as I can remember and no matter how much other people found it refreshing and true, I always felt every moment of it was scripted. Whether it is about their interaction, connections, fight or arguments, for me everything felt fake and too much formulaic.

Surprisingly, “Boys like Boys” was like a new refreshing introduction to me to Taiwan’s first LGBTQ reality dating series. While observing the episodes, I saw how realistic it felt to watch a relationship as it progresses from friendship to dating in real life. For me, It was as pragmatic as a reality tv show can get. The most positive thing about it was that the show focused on the contestants getting to know each other, developing a good friendship before getting into a relationship, which is what ideal relationships come close to. The way every contestant was not afraid of speaking out about their feelings and what they want without being too dramatic felt good to watch. Personally for me, I felt a lot closer to Eri, as I found him to be a genuine and real person; well he has a very kind and good heart. The show had a total of six contestants named Bobo, Shih-Feng, Nio, Gino, Guan- Yu and Eri. The introductory scenes were nice and everyone seemed unique, kind; they respected each other so much that they made sure to ask each other pronouns so as not to offend anyone and make them uncomfortable. Gino and Guan-Yu were one of the couples who I thought had a wonderful chemistry. Eri’s friendship with everyone was my favorite part about the show, especially with Bobo, who was also one of the contestants. As the show kept moving two more contestants, Jiang- Han and Susu were introduced. Personally, I felt more connected to Eri, Bobo and Gino.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/01/11/boys-like-boys-series-review-ep-1-to-10/

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Could Have Been So Much Better

The series begins interestingly enough. Even with a worn-out theme of a withdrawn boy who has an unrequired love for his best friend, it was charming for a while. Their friendship seemed sincere and intense. Guy (Ping Krittanun) is a lonely, reserved, socially isolated young man. He is the classic ‘wallflower’ that no one pays much attention to. However, who suddenly pops into his life is Wahl (Winner Nichakoon), a rather outgoing, socially adept, yet surprisingly caring young man his same age. But strangely is possessive of Guy. Over the years Wahl becomes his only friend outside of some gaming acquaintances he meets online. While Wahl has had a steady girlfriend, Guy still pines over Wahl wishing for something to happen between them but knowing that nothing will. Yet always feeling as if there is a deep connection between them.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/01/03/my-dear-gangster-oppa-series-review-ep-1-to-8/#more-14455

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An Intriguing Adaptation with a Stellar Casting

I pondered endlessly on how to best handle this review. Should I make a detailed comparison between the Thai and the Japanese versions? Should I compare the acting calibers of the main pairings in both versions? And ultimately, which version was better?


Seemingly confused and baffled by these questions, I realized that the best option was to review this show as a separate entity. Adapted from the manga series “Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!” (30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい) by Toyota Yuu (豊田悠), the Thai version is a rustic adaptation of the original work (be warned, it isn’t a remade version of the Japanese adaptation). As such, it has a flavor of it’s own and needs to be savored as the main course and not a side dish. When I first saw the official trailer starring Tay Tawan & New Thitipoom, I was slightly apprehensive. Having watched them play the main lead in “Dark Blue Kiss”, I knew they have a phenomenal chemistry. As veteran actors, you can’t condemn their acting skills. My worries were related to the fact that I absolutely loved the Japanese version. Akaso Eiji and Machida Keita left a memorable impression in my mind, and I was unsure if TayNew could recreate the same magic. Let’s address the elephant in the room as we talk about the other pairings as well!

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/03/05/cherry-magic-thai-series-review-ep-3-to-12/

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