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  • Location: Wisconsin, United States
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Xika93

Wisconsin, United States

Xika93

Wisconsin, United States
Completed
Baker Boys
14 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
Dec 30, 2021
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 6.0

Good acting, but a confusing "plot"

For those who don’t know, Baker Boys is based off the manga series “Antique Bakery.” I mention this because a) a lot of people expected a BL storyline, which if you’ve read the manga that’s NOT what this story is about at all and b) if you read it, you’ll understand why some of the artistic decisions this adaptation took worked and why others did not.

Story: If you’ve read Antique Bakery, you’ll understand that the story takes place over several vignettes rather than an overarching story. I think in order to keep the viewers’ attention, the writers felt obliged to create an overarching plot which meant stretching out some of the vignettes into larger stories. However, this sometimes creates disjointed and tiring plots. The first 5 episodes are rough to get through because they keep introducing all the plot points and worry about resolving them later. Then, when they finally resolve them, they’re drawn out longer than necessary.
Episode 6 is really where the show starts to find its footing, and it’s frankly the best episode of this series in my opinion. Going forward every episode starts to capture the vignette storytelling and all for the better. We still have the overarching mystery, but it takes a back seat to the more interesting character developments that happen in individual episodes. I wish the series would've focused more on containing plots to individual episodes rather than desperately dragging them out for filler.
Finally, the whole “Family Detective agency” plot did not work for me. The actors were fine, but the characters seemed very amateurish, and they only serve as filler for a lot of the episodes. Their whole social-media, investigative journalism operation just doesn’t make sense…but then again other Thai dramas have shown how ineffectual the Thai police are so maybe that was the angle. However, he culmination of the murder-kidnapping mystery was actually quite good and actually gave the series some suspenseful action it needed for a satisfactory ending.

Cast: If you watched the “Sweet Day Tour” special before the series, the director goes into his reasoning for choosing the actors he did for the main cast, and I think he was spot on. Weir is portrayed slightly different from the manga, but Singto’s portrayal is to die for; his humor and coyness is amazing, and out of the whole cast he captures his character the best. Pluem and Foei are tied next for character portrayal. They’re both funny and entertaining when they’re in the background for an episode, but when they have their spotlight episodes they deliver an emotional performance that really sells their character development. Finally, there’s Lee. I generally like Lee as an actor, but I think he might have struggled a bit in Baker Boys. Lee has a trouble with conveying vulnerability, and he sometimes looks stiff doing so (I’ve noticed this in other dramas of his), which makes it a little hard for his character development in the final episodes. I think he captured the character the writers created, BUT Punn is the furthest away from his portrayal in the original work. Punn is written as very shallow and not very bright. Baker Boys captures neither his business acumen nor his quiet empathy as seen in the manga. I don’t fault Lee for this, I think the writers thought he’d be more entertaining as the laughable and clumsy ladies man.
The rest of the minor characters are a mixed bag. Jamie does a very good job as Mone, it’s just her character’s significance to the plot gets lost as she (and her parents) act as filler for the plot. However, when she needs to be humorous or emotional, she delivers a good performance. Unda does an amazing job as Piglet for such a young actress. I enjoyed her screentime and she was very compatible with Foei. Wave Khoo as Jean was also very true to his character, but like Jamie/Mone he has a very specific plot point and once that’s resolved he becomes filler for a few episodes as well. For the sake of spoilers, I won’t comment on some of the other minor characters, but most do well when their spotlight comes.

Music: The background music for the series was ok. Sometimes, dramas pick background music that ends up being more distracting than entertaining, but this is not the case for Baker Boys (though I’m not sure why the Tony Bennett like music was chosen). The closing themes are also just ok, but it’s hard to tell because they don’t really have any other purposed to the show. The producers clearly felt obliged to have a unique theme song or two for this series (I wouldn’t expect anything less from GMMTV), but it would’ve been nice to have them featured more in the actual episodes themselves.

Did I need to lower my expectations of this show? Yes, I tried to look at this show as its own entity separate from the manga, but even then, you will find yourself bored with the plot at times. Do I regret watching Baker Boys? No, it has its shining moments making it worth a watch through and if you are a fan of any of the actors and actresses that appear in this series, you’ll enjoy them in this.

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Completed
Good Old Days
9 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
Sep 16, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

A show that really makes you think

Good Old Days has a unique concept and pretty different from GMMTV's usual fare. I started late on this show, but, once I got going, it didn't take me long to get caught up. Certainly, some stories are stronger than others, but all of them captivated me in their own turn. While the show ties up loose ends by the end of the series, at the time, none of the stories really had a happy ending and that's alright. It makes the show more real and the characters more human.

First of all, I appreciate shows with an anthology narrative. Each of the 6 stories exist on their own and yet are tied back to the running narrative of Hey's life as the shopkeeper. It's something GMMTV doesn't tackle very often, but they did an amazing job with this one. If I had to rank them I would put them in this order: 1)Bond and Relationships, 2) Road to Regret, 3) Memory of Happiness, 4) Love Wins, 5) Somewhere Only We Belong, 6) Our Soundtrack
However, the stories at the bottom aren't bad, just not as good the ones above them. This show tackles a lot of difficult (and dark) issues but in a very real way. The characters are forced to face these issues one way or another and they all have to sacrifice or lose something before they come out on the other side. None of these stories have a true happy ending, but rather a satisfactory ending. The objects in this show are also "stars" in their own way. It would be very easy for the object to just exist in the background of the story, following the characters, but all of the objects carry so much meaning and you feel that. In some stories, the object is the focus of the story and in others it fades into the background but in an ever present way. I never felt like I lost sight of the objects' importance and the weight they were carrying for both the characters and the story. It really captures the idea of that "every object has a soul."

With such a large cast, it's hard to address all the actors and actresses, but I think they all did an amazing job and gave great performances. I especially liked Krist and his role as the shopkeeper. His character development is very different because we don't see his story until the end, but up until that point he plays the role of omnipotent shopkeeper very well. In these types of shows, usually the shopkeeper is some old, worldly person, but the irony of Hey is he experiences the world through other people and yet that's how he able to understand people. I thought Krist did an excellent job capturing this essence of the character.

The only real disappointment I have with this show is they wrapped everything up so nicely. I don't know how extensive the source material for this show is, but I would watch a sequel series with new stories. Good Old Days is definitely worth a watch and is definitely a higher show than most. It's really a show that will make you think and reflect on life and how people face their problems.

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Completed
Oops! Mr. Superstar Hit on Me
8 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
Jul 26, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

An easy watch without all the drama

I’ll admit, I didn’t have very high hopes for this show given how cheesy the title sounds, but I was relieved to see it was only 12 episodes and not as dramatic as its predecessors on the Monday/Tuesday line-up. While Oops! Mr. Superstar Hit on Me is filled with tropes and clichés, it’s an easy watch if you want to see some of the up-and-coming GMMTV actors and actresses.

The plot is not terribly original, and the story goes about how you’d expect it to go. If you’ve ever watched “Kiss: the Series,” it’s basically that but with an age gap. There’s a lot of overdone clichés and tropes: ML who’s a bigshot, but immature, FL who everyone thinks she’s using a man to get power (because I guess all women are out to do that in Thailand?), sleezy ex-girlfriend (and reporter) who are sleezy because they can be, and side characters who should know better, but only make things worse.

However, there are several ways this show shines through. While the main couple doesn’t always have the best chemistry, they do have their cute moments. Frankly, until we get to the drama-filled final fourth, seeing Cake’s and Ton’s relationship develop from indifference to caring was heartwarming. Additionally, I thought the concept of “taking responsibility” was given a bit more depth than I normally see in Thai dramas. Usually, the characters just assume that’s the thing to do without really questioning the broader implications. Here, Cake and Ton wonder if “taking responsibility” really translates to love or not. Finally, this show doesn’t present the age-gap to just create drama (cough Devil Sister) but uses it to create character development for Cake and Ton.

The acting is alright for this show. Gawin is one of my favorite actors and his acting is always so emotional and natural; he didn’t fail to deliver. Pong, as a well-seasoned actor, was also very good, though I didn’t always agree with the character. The rest of the actors are so-so. For most of them, this is only their second show (Jane, Fluke, Milk and Boom) and that shows at times, but perhaps this show was perfect for their improvement.

I wouldn’t say this show was groundbreaking, but I didn’t hate it which is a success for the Monday/Tuesday line-up. Some might think the story was a bit rushed with only 12 episodes, but I appreciated the pacing. Even though every plot line isn't wrapped up nicely, the story doesn't drag on with unnecessary drama. It’s an easy watch if you’re looking for something cute and funny, just be prepared for all the clichés.

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Completed
10 Years Ticket
4 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
Feb 2, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

Emotional Masterpiece

It's rare that so many factors align to give us a such a beautiful and amazing series as 10 Years Ticket. This show has everything: great acting, great plot and storytelling, great music, and near perfect pacing. Be warned, this show is an emotional one and even the feel-good moments come in the aftermath of tragedy.

Plot & Storytelling - At it's core, this story is a crime mystery with romance thrown in on the sides. Early on, you get the sense of what really happened (or rather what didn't happen) with Mai's murder; however, the why and how are not so evident and you need to watch the whole series to see how it all plays out, which I appreciated. Aside from this main storyline, virtually every character has their own micro-plot happening. These plots are just dropped in wherever it seems convenient, but are wonderfully woven together. I'll admit not all of them are resolved, but that didn't bother me because they weren't throw away subplots. They have purpose and enhance the plot. Mind you this plot is dark and emotional and you can't help but root for something better for all the characters.

Characters & Cast - Although the cast is large, all these characters are well conceived and developed throughout the series. Again, each character has their own story and tragedy. The way the actors are able to portray these characters is phenomenal and none feel forced. Above all, they are feel like real people: they all have their good traits, but also their weaknesses and faults. The theme of this show is based heavily around the relationships between the older and younger generations. We see the faults and weaknesses of that older generation and watch as the younger generation tries to be better. It took a lot of skill, on both sides, to portray that struggle and I think all the actors accomplished that.

I really don't have a lot of criticism of this show. I do think at times, the plot drags a little but these moments are few and far between. Additionally, towards the end, there was a rush to resolve some of the conflicts of the minor characters and introduce subplots that hadn't otherwise been alluded to. However, 10 Years Ticket is well worth the watch. I think what I found most compelling is it left me with insights into Thai culture that other shows don't do. This show felt real and the characters and their lives felt like they could actually exist.

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Completed
Devil Sister
2 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
Jun 14, 2022
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 4.0

The Taming of the Shrew, but worse

Devil Sister…wow, just wow, there is a lot to unpack from this series. Cringy is one thing, but this show was problematic. Combined with its basic plot, this show just did not land and it seems a surprise to me that we got in 2022. Originally, this show was slated for 2020, which it might have fit in with other shows of its time. However, having taken over the time slots for “The Player” and “War of Flowers,” both of which had strong female characters, this show seems like a few steps back. This show has a lot of misogyny and male entitlement, not to mention gaslighting and basic manipulation. I felt like I was watching some weird adaptation “The Taming of Shrew.”
Also, “Devil Sister” where does this title come from? I get it is based off the novel “Beauty and the Guy,” but it seems like the plot was changed a bit for this adaptation. So, the real question comes down to which of these sisters is supposed to be “devilish?” I assumed Irin because in the first couple episodes she does some pretty nasty stuff, but then it never goes anywhere. The story just focuses on the endless circles she drags her two love interests through and she never really develops as a character. Is the “Devil Sister” Inn then? Well maybe? For the vast majority of the show she gets mad and does some pretty self-destructive stuff, but then they decide to use mental illness as a catalyst for Inn’s nastier actions, which is just another problematic plot point that doesn’t create any character development.
Let’s be clear, the problem is not the actors or actresses. None of them are rookies and they deliver performances that you’d expect. The real problem is they play such unlikeable characters. Namcha is the most toxic character. He is clearly immature and entitled and we’re supposed so feel sorry for him because…. he’s handsome? Caring? Well maybe to animals and Irin, but he manipulates everyone else around him. He has 3 women pining after him and uses them to get what he wants. Additionally, he spends much of the series insisting Irin MUST love him because he’s so in love with her. The show tries to pass it off as romantic puppy love, but it turns creepy and petty.
Irin is not much better. I get she has a tragic backstory, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for aggressive behavior. In the first episode, she gaslights her former security guard hard, and frankly I never redeemed her after that. From there she just doesn’t appear to be a mature adult. We are assured Irin loves her sister, but I don’t see it. I’m not saying Irin had to pander to her sister, but she needed to act like a 30-something adult and communicate. She hurts all the other characters because she has, for a reason that’s never really explained, to play this tough and nasty boss character.
To go with Irin is her sister, Inn. I wouldn’t really classify Inn as toxic. She is clearly suffering from mental and physical illness and has some self-destructive habits, but I am still not convinced she was manipulative or evil. She’s a tragic heroine being emotionally abused by everyone else: Namcha, Irin, her grandfather and even Jin. Yeah, she’s a bit immature, but the writers clearly use her mental illness as a plot device to progress the plot rather than taking it seriously.
Finally, there’s Jin. I can’t tell what the writers wanted for his character. I think he's a foil to Namcha’s character, but frankly I ended up with more sympathy for him rather than disgust. His love for Irin is persistent, but sincere. He’s gotten grandpa’s approval to marry Irin but finds she’s being stalked by an ex-boyfriend (Irin never tells Jin that she still has feelings for Namcha). So, Jin logically responds with trying to keep distance between the girl he genuinely loves (and he wants to win her love, not force her) and this creepy guy who follows her all around the place. At points it’s suggested he maybe has ulterior motives, but when the outcome of his actions is shown, he’s never seen taking advantage of them to his benefit. Therefore, it’s hard to hate him and he seems caught in the middle of family drama.
While the main couple clearly faces societal problems, this series really doesn’t start to redeem them in that light until episode 13 and only after they’ve shown how horrible they were. I could maybe let that slide, but the toxic themes that run throughout the show make it a problematic show for 2022. GMMTV should’ve just let this series slide into the dustbin, but I hope they take some lessons from it that outdated tropes are outdated for a reason. Stick with your more progressive themes GMMTV, it will make for a better show.

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Completed
The Three GentleBros
1 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
Dec 6, 2022
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5

A story about Arty

Three GentleBros (3GB) is one of the better dramas to come out this year. From the beginning, I thought the concept was original, even if its execution wasn’t always so. While there is some heavy plot recycling throughout the series, I wasn’t as tired as I normally am after 18 episodes because having the three mini-stories kept me engaged.

Within each mini-story, there are essentially two plotlines going on: the budding relationship between the main couple and the tension between whichever son and the mom. The overall stories are pretty rinse and repeat and the synopsis is pretty much what happens each time. There is the added device of “my mom is trying to marry me off, let me pay a girl to fake date me.” However, there is enough individuality with how the relationships develop and the personalities of the sons that keeps it interesting. Additionally, I found each relationship development got better with each story, rather than worse.

Per usual, these are all seasoned actors and actresses who give very good performances; however, I’m going to only focus on the mom and sons. Mam did a very good job as Pim. Even though I detest Pim, the character required someone who balance between manipulative and well-intentioned. However, Pim never seems to learn her lesson and keeps making the same mistakes repeatedly, I’d much rather have seen the show try to justify her behavior towards her sons based on experiences from her past. I don’t care for Luke, I keep watching his shows and I never like him any better. Itch was ok, but for as much as he hates his mom, he’s the most like her and I don’t feel like his character grew all that much. Conversely, I liked Tay as Thames. I think Thames is a hard character to play because it runs the risk of a wooden performance. Thames is calculating but wants to feel a connection and that gives him a sense of sincerity when dealing with Nueng.

Frankly, I feel like this whole show was really about the final son, Arty. He not only appears in virtually all the episodes, but we see his growth throughout all of them. I admit, I was put off by him in the early episodes because he was so coddled. However, even in the first 12 episodes, we see the hold his mother has on him lessen. By the time we get to his story the stage is set for him to have some introspection and we see how much emotional trauma his mom has put him through and continues to put him through. By the end of the series, he is the one who has grown the most.

Overall, this show had an original concept, good acting, and some decent themes if you know where to find them. I wish the writing was just a bit better to gives us more unique stories between the brothers. If nothing else, watch the last 6 episodes to see Gun’s story arc, which I maintain is the best.

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Completed
Meow Ears Up
1 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
May 31, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

Sweet Little Love Story

I would say this show is more of a love story, rather than being wholly classified as either BL or GL. It certainly has elements of BL, but would I consider it the height of BL art? Probably not. Is it an absurd and cute little love story that will make you laugh? Most definitely. It just makes you feel good inside because it doesn’t complicate things with too much drama or overdone tropes.

The plot is very simple for this one, it is just a love story between several couples, plain and simple. Well, those couples are comprised of “The People” and…well I guess actual people. The central theme is pretty simple as well with Meow and Dermdem coming to grips with trusting people after getting burned by them. However, this theme only pops in and out at certain points of the series and resolves itself in the end without bogging down each episode. Personally, I enjoyed the format of taking us on a different adventure each week, but I realize that’s not for everyone; that might be one caution about the show.

My other caution is that you can’t take this show too seriously. The concept might seem ridiculous and there are a lot of unanswered questions about shapeshifting animal people that will never be answered. However, the joy of this show is that no one is pretending to take it seriously. I know how that sounds but if the writers were asking us to suspend our disbelief while delivering a serious message this show wouldn’t be half as good. Since their goal, though, is to deliver a funny, feel-good show centered around a ridiculous concept, it just becomes pure joy, and the delight is in watching love blossom between the main couples.

Many of the actors and actresses are rookies and at times that shows. James is probably the best and he always goes all out in a character (he is amazing in “The Effect”). He is not afraid to be over-the-top and plays a very convincing cat-person. Gap needed a little more work. He had some good chemistry with James, but he is very stiff in the early episodes. Not to say he doesn't have potential, but it might take a series or two more to get there. Kris and Po, thank goodness we got a GL couple and not just the acknowledgement of a GL couple, but the actual development of their relationship. I liked the opposites dynamic of the two characters, and they were a bit more natural than the other characters. Finally, Bright and Bodo. Once their relationship was introduced, I was more eager to watch this show because of them than the main couple. Faiyen is so adorable, and, like James, Bright is not afraid to embrace the ridiculousness of a cat-person. Evan is a bit harder to critique because he supposedly doesn’t have facial muscles to emote things (might be a bit of a concept stretch). However, Bodo is able to channel that lack of facial expression into his verbal expression which only adds to the chemistry these two had in the show.

Ultimately, give this show a chance. You may have to adjust your expectations if you wanted a high-caliber BL, but once you do this show becomes so much more enjoyable. The chemistry of the characters/actors is amazing and it will leave you giggling like a fool to see the weird antics they get themselves into. So go watch it right meow.

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Completed
Drag, I Love You
0 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
May 19, 2022
22 of 22 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 3.0

A great concept that fell flat

I was excited to see Drag, I Love You this year. After reading the initial concept, I thought it would be a good blend of drama and drag. While the initial episodes lived up to a higher standard of plot and directing, later episodes really fall by the wayside as the plot goes around in circles by trying to be a RomCom.
The premise of DILY is actually pretty good. A drag nightclub doubles as a front for illegal drug smuggling, ok I can get behind that. In the early episodes, this plot point was done very well; most of the scenes took place in the Mambo Cabaret and we got a glimpse of the art of drag, if maybe slightly eschewed. We also get a theme of challenging gender roles and sexuality. Captain Prabsuek is a “man’s man” who solves all his personal and professional problems with toughness. However, he must recondition himself to go undercover as a drag queen at the Mambo Cabaret, which is also the whole point of drag in the first place. Having actual drag queens as part of the cast gives the story more natural humor in the early episodes and had me hooked.
However, I think the biggest critique of DILY is that it just…KEEPS…GOING. Every week was a guessing game of whether this show was going to be 10 episodes…12?...15?...22! There was just so much filler by the time we got to the final weeks. As a result, some of the plotlines get tiring and over-the-top. The undercover plot becomes unrealistic, like really the police chief is going to let Prab continue to be a drag queen without producing any results? The whole RomCom aspect that develops between Noona and Prab is also dragged out to the absurd. And, unfortunately, the whole what is gender and what is romance becomes pointless when you already can see what’s going to happen in the end. In short, this series could’ve been a lot better if it was, well…shorter.
My award for top acting actually goes to Namtan. Having come off The Player, where she played a scheming socialite and to go to feisty tomboy was seamless, she is a versatile actress. Guy as Decha was also amazing. It was enjoyable to watch his transformation from suave businessman to insane and desperate crook. This, of course, leaves the main cast. The main couple did nothing for me. Grace was at times whiny and full of herself and is quick to throw stones, in a drag hall, about what other people’s sexuality means to them while she’s a woman pretending to be a trans woman. As for Luke, at times he’s leaning a bit too much into the gay man stereotype and he just seems to be overacting as Patty through much of the later episodes.
Ultimately, this show isn’t bad, some of the absurd circumstances are genuinely funny, but you can tell the director transitions to use drag and gender as a gimmick to create forced and over-the-top humor. This story just doesn’t have any moral takeaway and when you try to find one, it’s undermined by falling into LGBTQ stereotypes. It’s hard for me to recommend DILY because the early episodes are really good, but if you manage to stick around for all 22, you will get tired of it. So, I guess watch at your own risk?

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Completed
Rainbow Prince
0 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
May 15, 2022
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.5

It deserves a chance

So, I just finished watching this and I know several other people have reviewed this already, but I think this show deserves some acknowledgement for what it tried to do even if certain aspects flopped. I won't sugar-coat this series...it needed a LOT of work and I'm not sure who gave it the green-light to air with so many blaring issues. That being said, with the Filipino BL industry as up-and-coming as it is, this show actually did a lot of things right.

I'll start with the things I didn't like because, with any luck, I can leave people with some hope for this series with it's positives. The acting is horrendous! Scenes are awkward and, more often than not, the actors seemed to have a hard time remembering their lines once they were in front of the camera. As my husband commented at one point "it's like the scene was done in one take and they called it good." However, I think a lot of the awkward acting has a lot to do with the directing. I think a lot of the actors and actresses had potential, but at the end of the day, it's the director who decides if the take they got is good enough and the stitching together of those scenes into an episode is coherent. Clearly, there was something going on behind the scenes causing this lack of judiciousness. Honestly, this is where a lot of the negative rating lies.

Despite the acting and editing, Rainbow Prince has a lot of good things going for it. For starters the plot and concept is pretty good. I realize the idea of an undercover prince seems a bit absurd in 2022, but it's a fairly unique concept for a BL drama. Also, this series as a musical was also ambitious, but spot on for a gay series. Obviously, not every song is hit (cringe, the ChukChuck song) and at times it's weird when decide to break out into song and dance, but those power-ballads (be still my heart, Darwin Lomentigar) were actually pretty catchy and singing (even if it was clearly dubbed) was good. If Disney ever decides to put its money where its mouth is and give us a complete LGBTQ movie/series, they could take some pointers from RP.

Additionally, not everyone was bad at acting and there was a lot of potential. The adults....clearly they had some issues memorizing and delivering their lines. The younger actors, though, actually some pretty good and natural delivery; that's not to say they're great, but there was potential (especially the drag queens and the bellhops). The main couple, and this is important, had chemistry. This is the biggest thing in a BL is making sure the actors (who I never assume are part of the LGBTQ community, unless I know otherwise) are comfortable portraying gay characters. Yes, Adrian's body far outweighs his acting skill, but you know what, I think that gave him the confidence to play a gay character and he makes a convincing gay, playboy prince. Eurwin, too, seemed very comfortable portraying a gay character (and arguably he's probably the best actor in the whole series). Together, they make a believable couple, doing things that gay couples do in real life like blatant flirting, being romantic or handsy in public and lots of innuendoes. It's not a traditional romance as we see in a lot of BLs, but I was happy because I'm usually screaming at the tv as to why a couple has to be so shy about everything.

Ultimately, Rainbow Prince deserves a chance. At the very least, it will satisfy your BL fix for a more real-life portrayal of gay romance. You will cringe and you will be disappointed with many scenes, and, ok, the ending needed some work. However, there are definitely some scenes you can go back and watch that'll make you feel warm and fuzzy or make you laugh. So, give it a chance and appreciate its attempt even if it's not the high-point of Filipino BL.

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My Dear Loser: Happy Ever After
0 people found this review helpful
by Xika93
Nov 25, 2020
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 4.0

Weakest of the My Dear Losers

Out of the 3 series for My Dear Loser, Happily Ever After was probably my least favorite. Honestly, I was just trying to get to the end of the series so I could see Sun and In again in the later episodes. I know this is a drama, but I struggled to suspend my disbelief as things seemed to keep getting worse for Ton and Korya.
Ton and Korya's relationship is...yikes...how has this couple stayed together for 10 years!?! Korya tries the hardest in the relationship and yet she is constantly berated for being a nag and about her weight. In regards to her nagging, Ton doesn't have very good life habits for someone who is in their 30s and has been in the workforce for a decade. Korya's points are all valid and striving to be helpful. As for her weight, I hope Esther did not suffer too much from having to be called "fat" or "double-chinned" for 11 episodes worth of filming on top of the fact the director constantly put her in comically large clothing to drive the point further.
The impractically of this relationship aside, there was some good character development and acting from the supporting cast/characters. I loved Por's character! Pompam was a great actor in this and was good at conveying the ups, downs and challenges his character faced. Jeng and Jitra's relationship was also very well portrayed. Like Ton, Jeng still had a lot of growing up to do and Jitra's no-nonsense response to his behavior balances them out; plus, they're the comic relief of the show. Finally, there is Win. Poor Win, he has everything, but the thing he wants. He serves as the voice of reason for all the characters; I spent most of this series yelling at the screen, "Yes! Listen to Win!" In the end, at least, it seems there is hope for him to move on and find something new for his life.
Like the other My Dear Loser series, I think the director thought she could slap a trope onto the main couple and that would write and lead the plot until the end. This series is a little bit of a slog to get through, but it does have some golden moments and if you make it to the end, the final episode does make you smile at seeing how the My Dear Loser trilogy concludes.

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