Slow, but not without merit

I went into this title completely blind and had a fairly good time! I liked both of the lead actors and found their chemistry compelling enough to get through the whole series. This year, I've really been enjoying bls with average adult leads struggling with more mundane relationship problems (rather than eccentric millionaires or mafia men). Despite a usually goofy and over-the-top tone, it managed to hit some really lovely beats of character growth.

That said, the getting through was a bit of a slog. None of the supporting character plots were particularly interesting to me, and I ended up skipping forward through them towards the end. The show could have used a major edit and probably half the episode length. I don't really care either way if a show has NC scenes, but this show struggled to tie the sex into the character plots. Disjointed, it felt more like fanservice than an actual function of the story.

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atmospheric and romantic haunted house (sponsored by chiang mai tourism)

I picked this show up on a complete whim, only knowing that it was written by the same author as IFYLITA (Violet Rain) and that people liked that show (I haven't watched it yet) and it has really made my autumn! The Hidden Moon is slow, atmospheric, and winding... but on purpose, and done well. It's the perfect show for anyone looking to sink their teeth into a ghost story that's more melancholic than scary. It comes off rather like one of the individual ghost-of-the-week stories from Peaceful Property (especially the ones with bittersweet endings), but stretched over ten episodes. While that won't be a pace and tone for everyone, I think the right audience will really enjoy this story. The same goes for the production, which carries the haunting in unique of creative ways.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
Personally, I found this story really intriguing. It had a creepy, eerie quality throughout most of the series that drew me into the story. I was never quite sure where the characters stood or what was really happening in a way that meshed quite well with the reality (or, rather, the unreality) of the story. I especially enjoyed that scenes/dialogue that felt strange, foreboding, or awkward, usually revealed themselves later down the story. There were some really good clues!
My only real negative to the storytelling is that the plot dropped a bit in the middle and hit a lull for a couple episodes. Right in the middle the reality got so muddled it was difficult to keep all the threads together. It was unfortunate that some of the eerie tension is resolved at this point, leaving a bit of a dull spot. If you stick with it, though, the story definitely picks back up as Khen starts putting the pieces together.

ACTING:
This cast is almost all rookies, and you can tell--but I don't think it hurts the story in anyway. The characters themselves are quiet, thoughtful, and halting, so any stumbles made by a young cast are absorbed pretty easily into the narrative. It's a bit genre specific though, with both the haunting and the historical context playing into acting choices--so don't be taken by surprise when stiffer choices are made.
In particular, I really enjoyed Kin's work as Khen. The character is a quiet, peaceful personality that isn't truly suited to be the main character of any story, which makes it quite fun when he's put in that position and only has his stubbornness to hold onto. He's difficult to get a feel for, and that really enhances the various turns this plot makes on his story.
I also very much enjoyed David, especially when he was being a slightly sinister and suspicious man. His take on haunting was quite a lot of fun, and the slow fall into romance was quite deftly done. I wasn't originally sure on their chemistry together, but they developed a really pleasing patter by the end, something I don't think is quite easy to do in this tone of story.
The ensemble was good together--there was a constant polite friction that fit the way these characters are half-friends-half-coworkers-half-something-more. The way that politeness is eroded by the haunting was one of my favorite parts of the early story.

PRODUCTION:
I'm going to be controversial here--I LOVED the cinematography and editing of this show. Here me out, because I know that a lot of people hated it. The editing of this show is abrupt and jarring, but it does this on purpose. Our POV character is experience an unreal/supernatural phenomenon and the cut is accordingly non-real. I loved the way that editing would make me feel like I missed a step, only to learn that Khen had also missed that same step. It was very good use of visuals to tell the story and did contribute to my ability to "solve" the mystery.
I also have to give major props to the costuming, which full of texture and truly gorgeous. I loved how the costumes both separated the time periods and erased them--choosing "timeless" pieces that could exist in both eras for many characters. The textures and colors on Mas's accessories in the opening scenes were so good I had to pause and screenshot to talk about them at length on twitter. Really good work.
On the flip side... the CGI was. Something. I wish the team had perhaps found different solutions to some of the CGI. I'm sure at least some of the more ridiculous moments could have been re-framed or covered with practical effects. I'm not even that picky with CGI (I watched Dhevaprom happily!) but it was... pretty rough in a way that frequently broke my engagement. And that's hard to recover from in such an atmospheric story.

INTIMACY:
I loved the chemistry between the lead characters. So much of this show is about tension, and it was easily felt in their performances. I especially liked the cyclical nature of their development--sometimes threatening, sometimes sweet, sometimes teasing... constantly trying to find that balance between worlds and states of being. The intimacy in this show isn't for fanservice, and I felt served the narrative very well. I would happy to see this couple again (or, honestly, any of the side couples).

In all, I don't think this show is for everyone--especially given that the Thai BL audience tends towards louder, campier, and more energetic productions. But if you are a fan of more romantic, quieter pieces.... this is a really, really good one. It is the perfect mood for a rainy, chilly autumn night. I really enjoyed myself.

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a neater, though not necessarily more polish gl

The Secret Of Us is a wonderful change of pace in Thai GL. With (relatively) mature leads, minimal boyfriend drama, and cleaner production values it's easy to get swept up in enjoying the drama and antics of these women's lives. An entertaining story, charismatic actresses, and a good sense of pacing carries this story above the pack in a GL-heavy year (and I hope there's many more to come). That said, the script is still relatively weak and focus on being pretty sometimes overtakes the opportunity for a more heartfelt performance. It's a step up, but I hope we don't stop here!

-The Full Review-
STORY:
This story is a bit... shaky. While Earn and her devotion is quite sweet and charming, the context behind it is paper thin. Despite the break up hinging on her mother's health, we almost never see Earn interact with that mother again. Likewise, there are many other plot points (and characters) that are treated as vital to these women's lives... only to disappear the second their entertainment value is spent. It feels... sloppy. I enjoy the chance to get to know adult women with prior history and firm ambitions, but the script struggles to fill out their lives.
Additionally, I found the finale episode to be quite weak. A large piece of plot is introduced and solved in 3/4 parts, leaving the final moments to largely montage wrap up. It felt oddly rushed and empty at the same time, leaving a rather pale impression after so many weeks of enjoyment. I would have liked to see the plots more connected throughout the episodes leading up to a finale that resolves them in a more satisfying manner.

ACTING:
This one is tricky. I think Orm and Lingling are both enormously talented... but the show did not truly showcase that. The chemistry is undeniable and the character work consistent, but everything is plastered over with perfect hair, perfect make up, perfect costumes, and perfect lighting. There is no real sense that these are real women, rather than actress dolls. It severely undercut the emotional pay-off of the more dramatic scenes, despite these actresses clearly giving it their all.

PRODUCTION:
This whole show is very shiny. Everyone has is perfectly dressed with glass skin and designer clothing, living in magazine houses with sports cars. I'm not sure this was always the right move or mood for the story. It made the characters and their problems feel more distant and false, creating a detachment to the story instead of getting to explore the circumstances of these women and their love.
That said, it was a beautifully shot show that was easy to watch. The lighting was always gorgeous and romantic, creating a strong tone for the story to build off of. I especially loved Juepak's colorful and lively costuming, and the levity it brought to the story. Each prop specific to Lada and Earn was well designed--especially the puzzle, Earn's scarf, and the music box girls. Their appearances helped tie the story together.

INTIMACY:
I really enjoyed Orm and Lingling together. Despite Ch. 3 mostly offering low-heat and... poised intimacy, they brought a real affection and comfortability with each other. It was easy to believe these women were in love and desired to be near each other, and truly beautiful to see the way they gently cared for each other. While I'm always advocating to allow women to be as sexual and present as their male counterparts, this seemed like the right tone for this company and this production (as opposed to a cop out). I really enjoyed it.

In all, this was probably one of the cleanest GL productions I've seen yet, but I'm not sure it was my favorite. I would like to see some of the improvements made here mixed with the heart and passion of less-polished works. I enjoyed the lead actresses immensely and would love to see them in something again soon.

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excellent, heartfelt ensemble storytelling within a quiet piece

This was the first show I've watched with any of these actors in a main role, and I couldn't be more pleased with my experience. I've long since admired P'New's skill at handling large episode counts, intimate friend groups, and and a quieter, more mature romance and We Are brought all these things in spades. We Are follows a large ensemble of friends and the way their knitting together of friendships and relationships changes the lives of the individuals. It's quiet and generally low-stakes, but the actors bring a weight to these college friendships and romances that makes you feel how important they are to the characters at hand. It ends up being the story of choosing to be gentle, supportive, and brave with those closest to you to foster uplifting communities. I really enjoyed it a lot.

-The Full Review-
STORY:
I absolutely love this story. Each character felt true and dimensional in their own story. It's easy to grasp Peem's aspirations, as well as the life that shaped his personality. Phum's issues with his parents are not expanded on extensively but they are felt throughout his character. The treatment of Toey, the baby of the group, is consistent and serves as an anchor to unite the group when things aren't going well. Even Beer, Matt, and Mick (who have comparatively smaller roles) feel like real installations in their lives and a great representation of friends on the periphery of a core group.
My only real issue with this storytelling is that there was a sometimes awkward pacing with a focus on flashbacks. I felt that the story could be improved if, for example, Q and Toey's history was more naturally integrated into the events of the story. We tended to move from one couple to another in rotation, with large flashbacks to convey prior history, when stronger development between inter-couple relationships proved a more interesting way to discover backstory and emotional mindsets.

ACTING:
I'm noticing this is a rather unpopular opinion, but this show absolutely rocketed Phuwin to my top 10 Thai actors. Between finishing this show and writing this review (less than one week) I've started (and finished) Never Let Me Go and started in on Summer Night. There's a delicacy to his character work that was particularly effective with Peem's gentleness, but that didn't prevent him from truly shining in the boyish, loud, and playful moments. I truly enjoy watching his performances.
For Pond, I thought Phum sat very naturally in his skill set. It was quite satisfying to watch him melt and become a livelier and more active friend. I think that P'New's direction really suited his style and allowed him to make that transition much more realistically and comfortably than in NLMG. The growth was quite stark and I am very proud of him,
Next most stand out performance, to me, was Winny as Q. His character was quite quirky, quiet and reserved--but not necessarily out of a sense of shyness or self-consciousness. I loved the give-and-take of his attentions, as well as his blunt manner of navigating the world. The equally un-self-conscious way he became a sweet and affectionate boyfriend was so cute.
I picked up this series for AouBoom (if you can really say that--I'd only seen them in Midnight Museum, which was hardly a major role lol), and I was surprised, but pleased with their chemistry. I'm not sure what I was expecting from them as a pair, but Aou, especially, walked a line of a character who could be quite annoying very well. You could really feel their character's fondness for each other quite well.
As for the rest, there was no one I was dissatisfied with. Everyone in this ensemble managed to match each other's energy in an infectious and driving way. The connection between the characters was the only thing holding this story together, which is always a difficult task. But the chemistry never collapsed and the ensemble functioned well together. I particularly enjoyed how many "dramatic reveals" had at least three or four other cast members in the background reacting in unison. It was really well done!

PRODUCTION:
I don't have much commentary to make in the production of this show. P'New favors a naturalistic style and that is very apparent here. The costuming and set pieces are suited to the piece and competently assembled, but not particularly attention grabbing. It's clear they production team preferred to highlight the performances of the actors over artistic staging--which I think works just fine for this piece.
For the positives, the most intimate scenes (Q and Peem on the steps, Loy Krathong, conversations in the dark at camp, the gallery show, etc) came off very intimate and warm with just subtle shifts in lighting and framing. I love being allowed to just watch actors act their asses off without a lot of distracting tricks and magic. And this show certainly delivered.
For the negatives, I thought the paintings were really uninspired. With so little time and energy spent on other aspects of the production, and with the importance of painting and art to so many of the characters, I really expected Peem, Q, and Toey's artwork to be.... better, lol. Q, even, barely had a recognizable style/interest despite being the Maestro. I would look to Not Me as a better example of a show that pulled of art students work successfully within a narrative.

INTIMACY:
As I said, I was new to (almost) all of these couples and had no baseline for their chemistry or work together. All of them sold their relationships. I enjoyed that each couple got a unique style of intimacy that reflected their personalities--which is not always the case in ensembles this large. I particularly enjoyed the way that Phum and Peem's sense of intimacy developed ahead of actually confirming their relationship, and their struggles in navigating what that means for them. The use of casual affectionate touch was also quite beautiful in this series.
I found that the NC scenes were rather typical to GMMTV. I think they suited the tone of the story fine, but were a little bit generic? Many other moments of intimacy were more valuable to the characters than any of the sex scenes, which made them feel quite tacked on or simply to fulfill a quota. They didn't detract from the story, but they didn't add to it either. I would really like to see a GMMTV that manages to include sex in a more meaningful, character-motivated way. But these sweet first times were fine.

In all, I really enjoyed this story and it's been sticking with me a lot more strongly than I expected when I first started it. The characters (and their actors) are very charming and it's a feelgood, warm story. It actually made me quite excited for Perfect10Liners because I'd forgotten how good P'New was with juggling broad stories about friendships. I would recommend We Are to anyone looking for something acting-heavy and sweet.

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a strong start that doesn't quite nail the landing

I've been following MeenPing since AiLongNhai and this is, without a doubt, their strongest show yet. I love seeing them more comfortable and natural in their acting with experience, and I think P'Golf's style really suited their strengths. The plot was goofy and outrageous, but mostly very, very fun. That said, it kind of fell apart at the end and crashed into a rushed and unsatisfying ending. I wish the last few episodes had managed to maintain the pace and charisma of the first.

-The Full Review-
STORY:
As an All For The Game lover, I have absolutely no room to speak on loving dumb gay-mafia-sports plots. I don't really have any issue with the pacing--as I think making "the big game" more important than the mafia reality is always a stellar choice, especially for less serious shows. I also didn't really mind the throuple-baiting because it was funny! And I will let shows get away with a lot if it's entertaining, even if it feels like a missed opportunity to do something more daring and interesting.
My only real issue with the plot of the show is how it lost focus on the team and then shoehorned back around to The Team Above All. I love Frank, and Atom is an interesting character, but I think a strong version of this show focuses on Ryu and Zen's relationship with their team and their coach. Most of the team was benched after a couple episodes, which made the family scenes at the end fall pretty flat.

ACTING:
I was very pleasantly surprised! It's really been a treat to watch Meen and Ping grow over their careers, and I think they are starting to making some really good choices in their acting. There's a playful banter that they hadn't really nailed yet in their previous works that helps carry the relationship now. Aging them down, surprisingly, also brought out a lot of depth in the characters--especially when we got to see their idyllic, sweet middle school bond. I still don't think we've seen the best of them, and I look forward to seeing what they bring next.

PRODUCTION:
Honestly? I think the production design was so good. My honest to god only complaint is the Tharntype-like room design (Do you think they like basketball?) and the pretty sloppy SFX wounds. The tone brought out by the lighting and soundtrack felt so nostalgic of early 2000s American sports movies and really made such a unique experience in BL. The colors and costume design where vivid and purposeful and really hit the mark. I love P'Golf's bright and neon worlds so much.

INTIMACY:
I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did. MeenPing aren't usually very high heat (or when they try to be, it... gets a little shaky). But I thought the casual intimacy, especially through athletics, really, really worked for this show. Every time they reconnected mid-game and fell back into sync was genuinely moving and natural. The way they orbited each other really stood out and built a very strong foundation for their relationship. I liked it a lot! I don't wish to talk about the finale. I am pretending that one didn't happen.

In all, MeenPing still have me in a completely inexplicable choke hold, but I am happy to be here! I love seeing their progress with each new series and hope they continue to improve. I will be watching whatever comes next. :)

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utterly charmed and the rest comes out in the wash

Really, the thing that matters the most about this series is that the main cast is utterly, utterly charming and carries their stories with grace and humor. This production doesn't always make the best choices and the story line gets sloppy in several places, but the talents of the cast paired with feelgood message takes it across the finish line to become a series I was very fond of. While it may not deliver on the whole premise, a good day is promised and good day was had.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
Hm. Admittedly, this kind of story, one that hits more at after school special than adult series, isn't my cup of tea at all. So for the sake of meeting the story where it's at I'll set aside the more soapbox-y monologues about relationship as simply "not for me." The messages are good and chosen with care, just a little... blatant or, perhaps, juvenile for my tastes.
That said, the plot of Wandee Goodday was pretty all over the place as well. In the first several episodes there are so many plot threads started it's difficult to keep track of what the main story is. This is repeated at the end as several spares are paired despite little connection to the rest of the plot, as well as a few points tied up with a neat little bow that maybe shouldn't have been so simple. I don't necessarily think any of these plot points were bad--just that they were woven together quite sloppily, making the story choppy and disjointed.
My biggest criticism of this story is how Wandee's goals seemed to fall to the wayside as Yak's fight took up a vast majority of the screen time and emotional presence. I would have liked to see more time and space given to his challenges and growth, considering he's the title character. I find a lot of GMMTV BLs struggle to give emotional weight to both leads simultaneously and end up with stories one character facilitates the other's growth (instead of two characters growing together).

ACTING:
I am a huge, and hugely biased, fan of Great Sapol. I absolutely loved him as Inspector M in Manner of death, and I think Wandee Goodday was a perfect and interesting choice to show off his range and charm. Yak felt dimensional, fun, and just that bit heightened that makes romcom characters so lovable. Great especially shined in the way Yak attempts to cover his struggles in good humor and a changed subject,
Despite not having the pleasure of seeing Inn Sarin before, I really enjoyed him! I think that the straight-man side of a comedy duo often ends up going too far, but Dee always managed to hold onto a playfulness and life that countered Yak's rambunctious energy quite well. I wish the script had not abandoned Dee's insecurities so quickly, because I was really enjoying the play between the mature, settled doctor and the stubborn, irrational young person.
Of course, I have to give a shout out to Thor and Fluke. I didn't expect myself to fall for them as hard as I did! Though I don't have any expectations of getting it, I would love to see their whole story properly. The chemistry between these two is absolutely adorable and so tender. Both of their marriage equality scenes really, really got me.

PRODUCTION:
Oh boy. Well, on the first of it. P'Golf continues to provide some truly beautiful neon visuals, though ones that lost their coherency as time went on. A bit more discipline on the colors and use of metatext in the production would have created a neater and more impressive project, but it was quite visually stunning. I particularly loved the bright yellow of the Boxing club and the contrast with Wandee's purples.
My biggest bone to pick with this department is actually with the GMMTV shop. I hate how much the little Dee figure and the elephant pants (both of which are items for sale) took over the show. While the elephant pants were a decent enough choice for Yak, the frequency of their use really limited the costuming of a show that was already fairly limited by uniforms (though huge shout out to Cher's costuming which was... absolute perfection in every scene!). The Dee figurine was... completely incoherent the entire show.

INTIMACY:
In the positives, this show was sex positive and diverse in representations of sexuality. The variety of intimacy shown--from simple skinship to YakDee's more adventurous exploits were treated very maturely (which was very much appreciated considering the moralizing tone of the piece). GreatInn and ThorFluke were both extremely natural pairings that delivered performances explored the characters beautifully.
That said... it was pretty tame? Based on the trailer/synopsis, I was not expecting this show to be so mild. Of course, there's nothing wrong with montage-style sex scenes that fade to black/blurry quite quickly, but I was a little taken aback at just how reserved the show was. It's well done, but it's nowhere near high-heat.

In all, I had a wonderful time with this cast and look forward to seeing what they do next. But this show still brings a vast majority of GMMTV (and P'Golf's) worst habits in a way that prevents it from being truly great.

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a really good time if i don't think about it

Here's the thing: Manner of Death was a phenomenally fun and well made murder mystery thriller of a bl... until precisely the moment I started examining it with a critical eye. So while I continue to find Sammon's themes and moral deplorable, I think it's perfectly possible to have a lovely time with this series! The characters are so charming, the plot is fun and engaging, and all around there's a lot going for this show. But personally.... personally, this story rubbed me the wrong way in several important spots. And while I have a great fondness for these characters, I probably won't return to it any time soon.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
I hated this story. Don't get me wrong: it was a decent mystery. The clues were not particularly subtle, but the plot structure was engaging and it was fun to put the pieces together. It was everything behind the story that I could not tolerate. This particular crime and this particular story had no business being a BL. It is the very definition of using women's pain and trauma as a plot device for men's stories and it's ridiculous.
While the story pays some amount of lip service to feminist response to these stories, it doesn't carry through the subtext and is tonally inconsistent. The episode where we delve into this in detail very nearly ruined the entire show for me because it was so poorly done. I am not a fan of this author or her works, and I am actively considering taking Triage off my To Watch list after DFF and Manner of Death have been so disappointing.

ACTING:
This was such an interesting title for acting! To start with: Mei is a phenomenal talent. Part of the reason it is so disappointing that what should have been Jane's story was squeezed into a genre that sidelines her was that Mei was absolutely ready to command that show. I also really enjoyed Mint as a partner for her, the two sisters created the perfect rapport for the story.
For our leads, Max and Tul are both wonderful. I wasn't convince this was going to be a good show in the first episode, but their tension resolved into a beautiful, fun, and mature relationship. I was really very charmed by their romance. To be honest, some of the more dramatic scenes strained their talents a little, but it didn't really impact the story enough to cause any issue. Certainly, I am still looking forward to catching some of their other work.
The rest of the cast filled in well, with some particularly sweet chemistry from Bhu and Putter, as well as a excellent performance from Great.

PRODUCTION:
Mostly, I enjoyed the production of this story. What caught my eye right away was that despite it's other flaws in the treatment of women throughout this story, the filming of violence against women was very careful not to be sexualized or gratuitous. This was never more clear than in the autopsies, which were careful shot to maintain neutrality.
Outside of this, the costuming was realistic but told the stories of the characters well, the locations were unique and decently dressed, and the lighting was nothing special but nothing wrong. Thankfully, the sound quality was very consistent without any glaringly visible equipment. Over all, the production is not doing anything extremely noteworthy, but it's doing the job and doing it competently.

INTIMACY:
While I wasn't disappointed by the lead actors chemistry, I did think the writing into and out of intimate scenes was hilarious in the worst ways. These poor actors were doing the best they could with the most abrupt tone shifts possible. I would have liked to see a more natural transition between suspicion and moments of romance. But once we'd made that leap and switched into the romance, it was lovely. These actors are clearly comfortable with each other and the characters have a language between them that works well. That said, I had seen this recommended as high(er) heat, and I don't feel that's particularly true (at least anymore).

In all, Manner of Death rather fumbled the ending for me, but I would still feel comfortable recommending it to most people. Just go into it looking for a more mindless thriller than something that is going to tackle hard hitting issues or offer an unusually spicy romance.

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a rather unexpected delight despite a shaky script

I'm working my way through every EarthMix title, and I wasn't so sure about this one going in! The plot sounded a little slapdash and I wasn't quite interested in the realities of body-swapping... so I'd been avoiding it. While most of my concerns were at least a *little* valid, I generally found this series to be a much stronger work than I anticipated. The characters are charming, the actors shine, the plot is compelling and fun, and the pacing wallows much less than some of their heavier series. I found myself watching this much faster than I intended and laughing a lot along the way.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
Unfortunately, the story is the weakest aspect of this series (a rather unusual circumstance for EarthMix, who tend to deliver complex, realistic plots and characters). There is, honestly, almost no real thought put into the circumstances of the body-swap, leading to some slightly stilted and unsatisfyingly flat conflict around the edges. I wish that there had been a bit more care in developing a conflict that would drive such close friends so far apart. That said, the emotional connection between these characters was strong as ever, and Win and Korn's struggle to communicate once they were on their journey was plenty compelling enough to make up the difference.
My only other gripe with the story is that it didn't quite take it's magical premise far enough. Despite incredibly able actors, most of the utility of the body-swap fell to surface level gender jokes. While these are done very well, it is disappointing to see the swapping mechanic fall to the wayside in more emotional scenes, despite being central to the miscommunication. I would have liked to see them explore this more to truly live up to the full potential.

ACTING:
Wow. I am already a fan of Earth and Mix (obviously) and had enjoyed Jan a lot in Cherry Magic TH... but this was truly something else. I have to commend Mix and Jan for their success in building two characters together--it is not an easy task to do and they performed it so well. I have already complained at length, but I wish I would have gotten to see *more.* Jan does such a phenomenal job in matching Mix's high energy and crass body language for Win, meanwhile Mix does an excellent job of holding himself and his voice softly for the scant few minutes he's allowed to play Lin. I am never confused about who is who, and the emotions of these characters travel easily between actors and swaps.

PRODUCTION:
I really have to hand it to the costumes department here. The colors and fabrics are perfectly chosen, creating a bright and slightly unreal world, while still grounding the characters in their professions and personality. As pieces, Korn's jacket and Win's bag easily became recognizable touch stones. Korn's car, the Katin plush, and the bottles of holy water also brought a similar fun stylized-realism that worked with the fantasy plot. It was really a beautiful and bright show to watch.

In all, I really enjoyed this work and would recommend it! It isn't my top title from these actors, but it is a beloved edition to their filmography and one that I know I will reach for again when I need a smile.

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Skip to Ep. 7

I started watching The Hidden Character when it was first airing, but quickly dropped the show after Ep. 3 because I strongly disagreed with premise of the first segment (that actors need to share vulnerable, personal information with the world in order to act authentically). I did not like the gamification of these boys personal stories nor the way Pond chose to offer life advice at the end of each episode. It was fairly sloppily edited with a lot of dragging run time and lack of any kind of story arc that made it difficult to keep track of the cast.

After starting Dead Friend Forever, I came back to give it another try. The second segment (Ep. 4-6) was marginally better. With a focus on team/partner building games and cameos from most of the cast of Kinnporsche, it was lighter and more fun than the first. Still, most of this segment seemed like filler, with very poor attempts to create interesting arcs between the contestants. Where I found the show really got interesting (for me), was in Ep. 7 when the boys actually got the opportunity to start acting and receiving feedback.

From Ep. 7 to the end, The Hidden Character switches from a generic reality show to an interesting opportunity to watch young actors really start to sink their teeth into their craft and form connections with those who will become the cast of the next production by performing scenes (from Kinnporsche) together. That said, wasting 6 episodes on stupid reality shows means that the performances are crammed into a few short episodes with little time to expand on the feedback and rehearsal process. Some of the commentary is cut so short, I fear that viewers with little formal experience in acting won't even truly understand what is being said.

Finally, others have already stated it but the voting system was pretty disappointing. Given a group with such diverse existing fanbases and popularity, it would have been better to include, for example, a percentage of the final score coming from the judges. That said, it has little impact when watching this show retroactively--and especially when you already know how many of them make it into Dead Friend Forever.

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by golly they had a Vision and they did it

I've watched Pit Babe twice through now, and I still think it's some of the most fun I've had in BL. I think what makes this show such a good time is that it absolutely nails a niche genre. While omegaverse fiction has a very particular... public image (?) there's a very specific set of tropes and tone to these stories that Pit Babe absolutely nails. From the over-the-top plot, to the fated connection of the partners, to the mostly silly half-explained powers, to family/pack dynamics, this team has done a pretty incredible job adapting what is largely considered niche porn into an entertaining story with pretty wide appeal. I have truly never had more fun tuning in each week to see what they were going to throw at us next.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
Pit Babe is... a little silly. The story quickly assumes a soap-opera adjacent tone with several secret siblings and evil family empires and sabotage plots... you get the idea. Unlike many BLs, however, Pit Babe succeeds in consistent tone and commitment that allows the reader to get absorbed into this heightened world. There's an intentionality to the goofier aspects that lets the audience laugh *with* the story, not at it. It's not meant to be too serious.
Despite this, the show does a wonderful job of crafting some truly compelling characters (especially in Babe and Charlie). Where the omegaverse plots gets a tongue-in-cheek humor, the characters get absolute care and heart. One of the most intriguing aspects of this screenplay is the way the story does not allow you to celebrate the downfall of those who have betrayed Team X-Hunter, instead focusing carefully on the guilt and loss the remaining members.
My only wish for the Pit Babe plot is that it was a little bit neater. It seems like the team was trying not to acknowledge the more controversial aspects of the omegaverse, and frequently left important plot points unexplained as a result. Watching live, I got the benefit of information from fans who had read the source material. While the actors and production team clearly did intend to reference these events, I'm not sure the plot always made it clearly to the screen. Additionally, the product placement was simply insane.

ACTING:
I find it genuinely difficult to judge the acting of this show, so let's start with the basics: All of the actors are perfectly competent. As an ensemble, there were no weak links or irritating cast members. It was easy to see the genuine chemistry and friendship of this cast on screen in a way that served the story's focus on found/created family. As loyalties started shifting and we got some unexpected team ups, they ably carried a sense of history extending beyond the timeline of the show itself. Among the supporting roles, Garfield and Benz were particular stand outs, giving such a fun and complete life to characters that had a relatively small amount of lines.
Beyond this... I was a little torn? I was genuinely very charmed by most of the actors! In particular, Pavel, Pooh, Nut, and Spy have gained a very genuine fan in me. But I didn't always feel that they pulled off a natural performance. I was just a hair too aware of the actor making choices behind the character to be truly pulled into some of the most intense scenes. I would have liked to see the production take the time required to let these fairly new actors really get into the scene. I hope the success of Pit Babe allows their next productions (which I will definitely be watching!) a bit more room in the shooting schedules.

PRODUCTION:
Pit Babe was making some strong decisions in the production departments, goodness. I should say first, it's definitely watchable. You won't find oddly empty rooms, terrible shirt mics, and other hallmarks of genuinely poor production here. But my god, did the design teams make some baffling choices. My personal beef lies with the props department that let that travesty of a gravestone get a several-minutes long close up without covering all the seams, but there is a special place in my heart for the costume team that put Way in three separate jackets on the same day too. While it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the show, it *was,* at times, distracting.

INTIMACY:
Hm. Here's the thing: Pavel and Pooh have been open about the fact that the NC scenes in Pit Babe were not particularly thoroughly choreographed, overly relying on cast members in an already vulnerable position to essentially improv... and I think it shows. While Pavel and Pooh had some truly excellent scenes that clearly had a lot of thought and story behind them, Spy and Pon were treated to a very odd pose-to-pose montage without a lot of direction or purpose behind it.
I want to be clear here: I don't blame the actors at all. I mean to say that Pavel and Pooh have pulled off something beautiful in the face of unwarranted obstacles, not that Spy and Pon have "failed" in anyway. But on a personal level, I don't agree with this style of direction. It's the creators responsibility to support and protect their actors, and I don't like seeing signs of their insecurity and discomfort making it to the screen/BTS.

In all, I think Pit Babe was fun show and great stepping stone for some overlooked talents. I enjoy rewatching, but I'm looking forward to what comes next even more.

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Watchable and cute, but seriously lacking in storyline.

I already know I wasn't the target audience for this show (high school romance is *not* my jam), so I wanted to really give it a fair shot before reviewing. But honestly? I think my review might have been more positive if I stopped after the first few episodes! While the design of this show is absolutely adorable, with lots of bright colors and space themes, the characters are completely empty and lessons learned are... pretty questionable. I'm also disappointed with GMMTV's continuous fumbling of disabled characters across several shows. This was not the best of efforts, and with several other GLs airing and upcoming... I don't feel like forcing myself across the finish line.

-The Full Review-
STORY:
This story is abysmal. I'll start with the major problems and work down to the nitpicks. Most importantly: the characters lack personality. While Ongsa and Aylin are can scrape by on a cartoonish, stylized choice, Sun and Luna are disappointingly one dimensional. Ongsa, Chareon and Tinh have more chemistry and repartee than any of the couples. Sun is supposedly popular, but 8 episodes in, I don't even know her friends names and she seems to ditch them without question. There doesn't seem to be any depth to any of the relationships--romantic, friendship, or familial.
My second largest issue is the treatment of Aylin, who is portrayed to have autism or some similar neurodivergence. Don't get me wrong: Aylin is leaps and bounds ahead of Penneung from Home School, so I'm grateful for that. But the way she is portrayed as "Luna's project" as someone to change and push into a social creature is just offensive. Half the times the Alien allegory works really well, and have the times it feels like a serious infantilization of an already infantilized group.
As for the nitpicks... I don't like how the show handled Ongsa's self-confidence issues. I understand shows need sponsorships, but to suggest the solution to Ongsa's feelings of "being ugly and unworthy" is to put on some L'Oreal LipstickTM and all the school will fall over you is some seriously anti-feminist drivel. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against femme lesbians... but Ongsa is Not! Or at least she is not portrayed that way until exactly the moment she strives to feel worthy of a girl. I don't think Sun's approach is appropriate either, and hate how her jealous prevents her from hyping up her hot girlfriend.

ACTING:
It was fine. Milk is wonderful at physical comedy and slightly less compelling with the more emotional beats. Love was very cute, but watching Home School simultaneously made it very clear how little she has to work with here. I am not at all a fan of View or her shaky attempts at cripping up, but I know I'm in the minority here. I don't really feel anyone else has enough to work with to properly judge their skills. About the best I can say is that everyone created a very cohesive, heightened, cutesy high school universe, which was nice. They matched energy levels very well, which made scenes fun and bright.
On another note, I wish they'd given this show to more age appropriate actors. While they did a valiant job of making a 27 year old look like a young high schooler, it simply didn't always work. The extreme youth and innocence of the script really worked against the actors here.

PRODUCTION:
All that said, it was enjoyable to watch. While the cinematography was frequently extra slow and drawn out, the set designs and costume choices created a beautiful and bright world. I really enjoyed the way they stylized the youth of these characters and exaggerated their interests to really fill the space. The design of the bedrooms went a long way to filling in the absent personalities of the characters. I, of course, have to take my hats off to the costume crew working over time to make these grown adult women look like they could possibly be in high school--an effect that works way more often than I expected.

INTIMACY:
I haven't watched anything with MilkLove before, and seeing the hype around this pair.... I was expecting more? There's decent chemistry. It's not unwatchable or unbelievable. But I feel like the sound and lighting cues are doing a LOT of the heavy lifting in the romance here. I'm not sure what happened, or if it's just an effect of Ongsa's shyness? They were particularly compelling to me, as a romance.

In all, it's pretty much what I expected from a GMMTV high school romance. They definitely have their audience that enjoys this concept, and I'm glad those people are getting fed. But it does feel like a waste of their talents and time to put out such a shaky end product. I would really like to see GL push harder to develop some truly complex characters and more interesting plots.

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charming and fun, but ultimately inconsistent series

I'm dropping this series. CityBoy_Log was such a fun and lighthearted show that when it first aired. I really enjoyed kind of goofy and dramatic tone of these characters and found the acting to be a lot better than expected! There was a delightful catch-and-release rhythm going on, where they would end on a very dramatic cliff hanger that would turn out to be nothing important in the next episode that always had me laughing. Unfortunately, with the change to volume 3, this lighthearted tone was dropped for a messier, darker story exploring that more seriously explores themes around infidelity and jealousy. It's just not what I was interested in this series for and not something I'm interested in continuing on with.

-The Full Review-
STORY:
CityBoy_Log is an interesting BL in how far it goes to obscure the fact that this is fiction. Having the characters use the actors real names, professions, and work experience may be off-putting to some viewers. This fact didn't really bother me, but I was aware of TAN and Jaejun before I started watching the show... so the fiction was pretty apparent. I like playing with these lines of reality, but I think it might be beneficial to have a bit more clarity on the channel page itself.
For the first two volumes, I thought the storytelling was really clever. Simple, mundane experiences of these people got heightened into melodrama in a way that pure fun and enjoyment. The constant cliffhanger approach I mentioned above was delightful tug making it easily bingeable and exciting to watch. I really do miss this format of low-stakes drama gone melodramatic, and especially mourn the dropped cliff-hanger from the end of the second volume.
The third volume is just.... different. A lot of the silly enjoyment of the earlier episodes are undercut by characters doing annoying and cruel things to each other. While I enjoy a dark and toxic romance, I don't enjoy the swap from something sweet and goofy to something darker within the same series. The first two volumes didn't differentiate themselves enough to support this shift in tone.

ACTING:
I was pleasantly surprised! Despite having a pretty amateur cast, this show had a natural chemistry and a decent amount of talent. While some of the most dramatic scenes ended up a little bit stilted, by and large the performances were believable and compelling. The format also works in their favor, as awkwardness comes across as "candidness" and supports the concept of an unscripted vlog very nicely.

PRODUCTION:
While the physical production is simple and realistic (though nicely done), what really stands out is the vlog editing. It really does feel like a celebrities vlog channel, and plays with those vlogging tropes to help tell the story in a unique way. I especially like the addition of the still shots at the end of every episode that frequently raised the stakes of the cliffhanger event. It's really well done.

INTIMACY:
Despite my issues with CityBoy_Log, I will always praise the lengths they went to in order to normalize queer relationships on screen. It's been a long year of faked kisses and passion-less BL staring kpop idols, and I truly support Jaejun and Jihan being willing to go there with each other. My favorite part of the third volume is the easy inclusion of realistic sexuality between couples. They've clearly worked on their chemistry and aren't afraid to push the envelope of what "idols" are allowed to portray on screen. I think CBL was definitely a step in the right direction for K-BL in this regard.

In all, I still recommend the first two parts of CBL easily. But the third isn't a genre or tone I'm interested in exploring with this story. I'll be keeping an eye on the weekly spoilers in hopes that this show returns to what it originally had to offer.

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hmmm....

To be honest, there was never a point of this show where I was sure if I liked it or not. But there was something about it that kept me from dropping it all the way until the end! I think there's an interesting premise here, but I'm not quite sure it was executed well. An over-reliance on montage and rushed/choppy story made it hard to buy into the romance. Honestly, sometimes it felt more like a cautionary tale about unethical experimentation than a love story, but I was kind of into the vague horror of that! I don't think it was bad, but I don't think it was what I expected or wanted either. In honor of this indecision: 5 stars, dead middle.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
I found the story to be simultaneously the strongest and weakest point of this show. For it's strengths, it definitely had a message that it believed in strongly. The conversation around history and humanity was quite interesting, and I liked the way artificial intelligence complicated Chu Yiping's perspectives. There was a very compelling quality to the way he rationalized Ever 9's humanity, and a satisfying conflict with his Uncle.
For it's weaknesses, however, the love story was... odd? I don't want to say it wasn't clear or believable--I actually really enjoyed the unique ways these two people connected. But we aren't given enough time with them to truly feel that relationship or the strength of it. Too much is left in the montage, so a lot of the most emotional scenes feel fairly unearned. I would have liked to see some better pacing here.

ACTING:
Ah. I guess the problem here lies with the lack of progress. I think both actors were good at the more robotic side of the character--the early days when they were stiff, awkward, and uncomfortable. But I would have liked to see these characters pushed a lot farther as the relationship progresses. We never really get a proper sense of this astronomical change in Chu Yiping that the other characters talk about. And we only ever get glimpses of a natural humanity that could have sold the relationship. It was alright.

PRODUCTION:
The production quality was so hit and miss during this show, but I think my biggest issue was that it missed on things that should be easy. It's fine and understandable if a low budget production has some less-than-impressive special effects! It doesn't really upset my enjoyment of the series. But when there's sloppy make up? You can't afford to take two minutes to fix his foundation? I think it made some of the scenes feel more amateur than they actually were and distracted from the story.

In all, I can't really say I would recommend this show. But I don't think I would discourage someone who was interested in this concept from checking it out. I would say, it stays pretty constant--so if you aren't feeling the first episode or two, you might want to drop!

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exactly what I always wanted ?

I absolutely adored this show from start to finish. Something about the mix of tone was just so compelling to me. While the underlying romance (and other relationships) was so strong and taken so seriously, the rest of the plot wasn't afraid to have fun and lean into tropes in the best way. The action was fun and bombastic, the reincarnation lore was fantastical and epic, the friends were bright and funny, and the chemistry was truly off the charts. I know not everyone will appreciate the way this style sometimes undercuts it's own tension, but I really enjoyed the way the show didn't let itself get bogged down for long.

Of course, I have to give accolades to the cast. Billy is, of course, a wonderful actor (as always). Phaya always has his heart on his sleeve and Billy's ability to show that in every moment is really quite beautiful. Especially as a new comer, Babe is incredible. Easily one of my top actors (I'm lying to seem less biased, he's the top). Nothing ever felt forced or put upon between these two, and the characters were crafted so completely that they could be understood without words from start to finish. It was a really exceptional performance. (Of course, there were many, many wonderful performances from the supporting cast as well).

My only faults with this show were some minor pacing and story issues. I would have liked to see a bit more care and craft in the way information is revealed, especially regarding Phaya and Tharn's past lives. Art's arc in Ep. 7 was so wonderfully done in subtle flourishes and circling narrative, it was disappointing to see the main characters get a less thoughtful info dump of a flashback. In general, I think the writers could have trusted the audience to pick up on clues a little better, as characters frequently repeated information that, at that point, had become pretty obvious. But this honestly didn't affect my enjoyment of the story all that much.

I am absolutely looking forward to the upcoming special episode and whatever BillyBabe have coming next! I certainly wouldn't complain if that happened to be a season 2 ;)

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maybe if you're really bored?

I was so excited for this title because I love circus and acrobatics... but there is not nearly enough of that to keep me watching. With so little effort and budget put into the host club, it's really just the thinnest of gimmicks to differentiate a show without enough plot to stand on it's own. While the cast seems mostly competent and there's a decent (if slightly weird) sense of chemistry, this story doesn't really seem like it has any interest in exploring that. Instead, the plot just kind of moves around perfunctorily without any real sense of character or motives.

I'll admit, I'm not really interested in giving this show second or third chances. The show started out with blatant plagiarism of the kpop group OnlyOneOf in episode one--which the production team later admitted to and apologized for--and it's soured the experience for me. Combined with the way this appears to be one of the shows where Cheewin's got no strong sense of direction or vision? I'll pass. There's plenty of other shows to keep me busy. But maybe if you're just looking for background noise?

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