This film is worth (re)watching for at least five reasons; and though I have only watched the film once, I suspect I'll rate it 10/10 after a second and third viewing. First, the actors act shyly towards each, which is very refreshing. Second, each character reveals to the other that he is confused about their developing relationship, while Time cares for Night. Third, there is a believable and moving shyness about their relationship, an awkwardness between them because their relationship seems to emerge from nowhere, and neither has expected to develop such intense feelings for the other. Fourth, the story develops the themes of personal responsibility, sensitivity, openness, and atonement, all important themes to reflect on in our lives and relationships. Fifth, a very tender scene happens at the edge of the bed, when Time insists on washing Night, who can not bathe himself properly because of his injured arm. Nor should you be put off by the ending, which inspires hope as Night and Time experience their first struggle being apart as a couple.

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The unique set of ingredients in this special series recipe make this the sweetest series I have seen to date. Each main couple has its own signature flavor, and the exceptional casting and performances of each cast member yield a meaningful and memorable whole that is richly textured and satisfying. I cheered both couples on from start to finish and would not accept an unsatisfying ending. Pete and Kao celebrate their three year anniversary in this series and are confronted by very challenging circumstances that could easily end their relationship . The series delivers everything you expect in an exemplary series: suspense, ambience, tenderness, sadness, joy, playfulness, beauty, humor. There are many memorable scenes in this movie, but the two most memorable scenes for me are the tender scene in the living room between Kao and his mom when things couldn't get any worse for Kao and the anniversary scene in the locker room with the string of lights and special arrangement of pictures and candlelight. The series is appropriately called Dark Blue Kiss--for the dark times encountered by the characters, the Sky Blue Cafe, and the signature Dark Forest drink that rises from darkening events. But the series might also be called--and perhaps more memorably--Deep Blue Kiss for that memorable underwater kiss which makes you effervescent and bubbling over with gratitude and joy.

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This is a very hopeful film about making the difficult but appropriate decision to come out, being intimate and pledging yourself to a man, and carrying on courageously when things turn out very different than you expect them to. Watch the young man Boss soar at the end, having decided to love a man and experienced heart break in his personal and romantic lives--and still he soars, twisting and turning with the current, but still afloat in the air, determined to make a life for himself as a gay man. Approach the film with an open mind; ride with the currents of the excellent acting and emotional ups and downs; believe in Boss and his resilience; and your viewing experience will be genuinely uplifting.

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I had a challenging time watching this film. The first episode was only partially captioned in English and none of the last episode was caption in the HD version. In the end, to get the full effect of the ending, I tiled windows and viewed the HD version with the captioning--in a second window--below. Still, although challenging, I did get the full effect of the ending--the full effect of the entire film--and am grateful that I was able to view it at all.

I'm surprised by my persistence, in fact. I didn't think the story would work at first. That wasn't enough for me to abandon it, though. I like to give a film a chance to pull me in, to take me wherever it wants me to go--each character's personality and past experiences, directorial decisions, dialog, and ultimately characters' feelings for each other--and this film pulled me in. So I persisted to watch it, all in one sitting, with some technology challenges, but fully absorbed by the characters and their experiences.

Four scenes stand out to me: first the party scene, where the boys get very playful and take risks, drunken, they wouldn't ordinarily take sober; second the preening scene with August in his wig and dress, calling himself Som, and preening Bright tenderly, getting him ready for his upcoming date with Som; Pond's risky confession to New in the cafe; and the tender scene between a heartbroken August and a love-torn Bright.

Allow the characters and their unexpected relationships pull you in, and let the relationship between Pond and New frame your overall viewing experience.

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You could easily undervalue this film and rate it poorly because of its beginning and end but for your own sake refrain from a quick negative judgment of this film and you'll be glad you did. I almost abandoned this film early on, waiting for the King to jump-start the story. But the King in this second series plays a different role than the King in the first series, and my expectations of the one could have ruined my viewing of the other. You have to wait longer for this second series story to take shape. That's one thing. As for the ending, you have to reflect on its meaning, and once you do, its meaning becomes apparent. By reflecting, you will see that the ending does in fact fit the trajectory of the story, provides closure for the past, but leaves an opening for future possibilities--perhaps a third series or the resumption of the story in your imagination.

I am so grateful for a story line where two brothers compete romantically for the same guy. I never experienced this kind of cinematic tension viewing a film about two straight brothers pursuing a straight girl. But did I ever experience the intensity of the brothers' romantic interests in Pun: one quiet and introspective, the other raw and explosive! This story line alone makes the film worth watching, but the film is worth watching--and is highly valuable, in my mind--for the tearful scenes involving Pun, M, and Sib, the lovemaking scene, and the outstanding performances given by M and Pan.

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Young men who are not yet fully out and those that are, who love them, will identify with the challenges faced by the main characters Meng and Todd in this series, whose passionate love for each other surfaces and resurfaces through high school, college, and beyond. Toni (Meng) and Tao (Todd) give outstanding performances in this series and really make you emotionally invested in their relationship, its challenges, each character’s personal struggles and needs, and the many uncertainties that these two young men face, together and apart. You will be moved by the psychological tension between these two characters, the underlying sexual tension, and changes both characters undergo as they refine their understandings of each other, themselves, and the significance of their relationship and love for each other. Bebe (Nuch) also gives an outstanding performance in her role as Meng’s first girlfriend turned wife, especially in the final episode when she speeds home by cab to confront her husband.

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Obsessing over people and things, past and present, imprisons us; and loving someone special--confiding in that person, pledging yourself to that person, and standing by that person, whatever hardships come your way--is truly liberating. These insights have taken shape for me while viewing the film, and will continue to evolve for me long after I've viewed the film and continue to reflect on it.

While there are many tender moments between the secondary couples, the tender moments between the main couple power the film. Several tender scenes stand out to me now: the scene in the hospital room when Tang Yi traces Meng Shao Fei's serene face with his finger; the scene when Tang Yi encircles Meng Shao Fei with his cuffed hands; the scene in the bedroom when Tang Yi kisses Meng Shao Fei's stitches; the scene in the kitchen when Meng Shao Fei urges Tang Yi lovingly to move beyond his anger and safeguard himself against regret; and the many scenes when Meng Shao Fei calls Tang Yi by name softly, lovingly, and compassionately.

The flashback scenes really help you to understand the story line, and the beautiful clothing provide an aesthetic layer in this film that many same-sex films fail to capture. Each cast member gives a strong performance, and the chemistry between the characters--gay or straight, paternal or avuncular--are beautiful, moving, and rare. There are many reasons why a love story between good guys and bad guys--cops and drug dealers--should fail, but this film works from beginning to end--over multiple viewings, I suspect.

Treat yourself to this love story extraordinaire!

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This is an excellent movie! Everything works: the script, the acting, the pacing, the cinematography. I am very impressed by Steven Jiang in his role as the teacher, his courage, candor, sensitivity, and commitment. But equal credit should go to Hang Zhang for his convincing and moving role as the student. I didn't watch the trailer for this movie and didn't know what to expect , but it delivers a walloping punch, right through the end. Congratulations to the producer and director who included a child character in the story. You don't see a lot of children in gay love stories, but this particular child validates and solidified the relationship between two men in the movie who love each other intensely and rightly belong together. The birthday scene is so appropriately placed in the movie and bring a sense of fulfillment not only to the characters but for viewers.

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