Gameboys (2020)

A Bold yet Beautiful series

Things that I like about the series:
- The concept of this show is very brave and a stroke of genius. The fact that this whole series is about finding love and support during a real life pandemic that was happening all over the world, and while this series was filmed, was brilliant. Because of this, Gameboys has the strongest sense of realism found in a BL since we're all living through the same pandemic.
- Because the pandemic, the show was mostly recorded through web cams and iphone, which further adds to that realness I was talking about. The makes the show completely unique from any other BL that came before it, and gives it a fresh new look we've never seen before.
- Cairo and Gav's relationship was so strong, and so beautiful. The actors, Elijah and Kokoy, have such great chemistry even though they've never actually met face to face before this series. (At least that's what I heard. If I'm wrong, please lmk.) You can tell that Cai and Gav love each other so much despite the distance, and despite all the obstacles that have tried to tear them apart. Their relationship felt natural. The fights they had were relatable. The outcome was perfect. The need to be there for one another. And THANK YOU, they even talked about consent. Gav never did anything without Cai's say-so and I love that so much. Please, let's have more consent in the future! They are one of the best examples of true love conquering all.
- Speaking of the actors, I have to give credit to the rest of their performance. Elijah and Kokoy made this show so strong. They were able to perfectly capture every emotion so flawlessly, and given how real this show felt, you'd swear it was actually happening and not just acting. All the supporting actors, including Elijah's brother and father who both also played Cairo's father and brother, were all spectacular. Elijah's family is one with so much talent.
- Speaking of supporting actors, there's one in particular that definitely deserves her own shout out. I FUCKING LOVE PEARL!! SHE IS MY QUEEN! I STAN HER FOR LIFE!!! OMG Pearl was the perfect wingwoman and best friend to both Cai and Gav. She literally took on every problem the boys had and worked to help make everything right while also spouting some real life facts that everyone should listen to, such as never using mental health as an excuse for doing something wrong. That was my favorite quote of the entire series!
- Onto another supporting actor who not a lot of people enjoy his character, but I have some things to say about it. TERRANCE. I actually like how the show handled Terrance's redemption. We see that Terrance did act foolish and everyone deserves to be pissed, but after some more of Pearl's words of wisdom, Terrance actually moved towards moving on and trying to be a better person. We rarely see a moment like that in BL where the supposed bad guy is actually working towards doing better. Even going so far as to help Gav and Cairo during their own lover's quarrel during the final episodes. We even got to see more of Terrance in a bonus episode where we learn more about him and his feelings. I appreciate his redemption.
- This show was not afraid of tackling some hard topics that a lot of us have been going through since the pandemic began. We've dealt with the loss of loved ones, feeling alone, the need to communicate, and more importantly understanding that we're all in this together. Even still, we had some other topics outside of COVID such as coming out, and accepting yourself, forgiveness, and learning to trust. I applaud this show for all the lessons it gave us.

Things that I didn't like about the series:
- There isn't a lot of bad things I have to say about this show. I've seen other people's thoughts about Gameboys, and one thing that everyone seemed to agree upon is how cheesy the show is. Okay, is the show cheesy? It is. If you don't like cheesy dialogue, then you might not enjoy this show all that much. For me, I didn't mind it as much. Did it get ridiculous at times? Of course! But I also enjoyed it, so it wasn't much of an issue for me, but it may be for others.
- I've talked about how Gav and Cairo's relationship was realistic, and it is. Unfortunately that also means they can be quite frustrating at times. A lot of couples in BL always seem to have this problem. COMMUNICATION!!!! Seriously, there was so many times where I was literally screaming at the screen for them to JUST TALK! SAY WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND! Okay yes, if they did, then we wouldn't have a show. I get that, but it was still frustrating. I also didn't like how Cai was willing to believe a total stranger's words about Gav without actually talking to Gav about it first. Like, why would you do that? Also Gav's jealousy towards the end of the series when Wesley was introduced was so juvenile, it hurt to watch. Granted yes, I've seen guys irl get that petty. It's realistic, but it's still annoying.
- Since we're already talking about the end of the series, episodes 11-13, while they were good in their own right, I felt they didn't really mesh well with the series. From what I heard, and I could be wrong about this, the show was originally going to end at episode 10, but then 3 more were added. If that was the case, it shows that the last 3 were add ons. There was no real cohesion. The whole thing with Wesley being introduced and Gav being jealous felt like a repeat of the whole situation with Terrance, but in reverse. I guess it was so Wesley could be introduced since he and Terrance will be returning for season 2, but I felt like he could've been introduced without the unnecessary jealousy.

Overall Thoughts:
This show is definitely one for the history books. Congrats to the Philippines for creating such a bold and successful series. I adore Gav and Cai, and I'm so excited to see season 2 when it airs. The show definitely makes you forget that it's a show because of how real it feels. It's like you're intruding on someone else's private affairs. Pearl was definitely the MVP of this series, and I actually did watch her spinoff series "Pearl Next Door." I know it's a GL, but if you guys want me to review it, let me know. I love all the lessons this show has tackled, and how it makes us all feel like we're in this pandemic together. It did have some minor flaws, but if you're in the mood for a cheesy AF show to relax into, I'd definitely check this show out. Just make sure to bring tissues when the more sensitive topics come about.

Rank: 9/10

Leia Mais

Love in the Time of... COVID

A completely non-toxic BL. I know, this should be a given, but still isn't, so I guess it's worth emphasising. At first, the characters seem rather flat and predictable, maybe even shallow, but when we get to know them better, we discover their depth. Acting is great. It's a real pleasure to watch the characters' faces, how Cairo opens up and starts to smile, and how Gav shows something more that that charming playboy-smile - still remaining charming, of course. Pear is my personal favourite: I dream to have somebody like this around. A person with positivity, kind heart and a truthful word to share, when needed. The idea of hyper-realistic camera work, where we remain in the world of social-media all the time, together with the characters, who are in the lockdown, is not new, but it represents accurately the experience shared by people around the world during the pandemic. This show is heartwarming and brings sunshine to your day, regardless of the weather. Strongly recommended, if you want to improve your mood and get sentimental. <3

Leia Mais

An Extraordinary but simply Marvelous Story.

Hey I'm from India ?? and after watching this series I want to go and live in Phillipines. Game Boys is really a awesome series if u want to watch please give a shot then you will know it's a gem in BL World. This series is very realistic and have so many marvelous dialogs. By using only web cam this show proved it that u don't need expensive things to make a good content. The Characters in this show were most amazing Characters in this world. Cairos character development is so good to see like how he says "Baby" and Gav we all need in our life ❤ Pearl is such a Queen The President of our Fandom "Third Wheel". I know my review not good enough but I'm genuinely telling that this show is a gem ♥...Thank You.

Leia Mais

Cute and Touching

I started watching this a while back and stopped after episode one because I didn't want to watch something about Covid-19 and social distancing--I read and watch romance as a form of escape. But I decided to give it another try, and I'm glad I did.
The adorable leads made the show. What good actors for such young guys. There are some real tear-jerking moments, so be prepared for that.
The only negatives were that I wished for more time face-to-face without masks and about 50 less repeats of the word "baby." I also would have loved a more permanent happy ending, but I think they're gearing up for a season 2.
There were several side-stories that were really worthwhile, including the one with Cai's ex bestfriend and Gav's ex-boyfriend. Themes are acceptance, jealousy, loss, guilt, loneliness, and coping with the pandemic.

Leia Mais

Teenage Emotions Deftly Portrayed

As someone who grew up when gay meant happy and had no sexual meaning, I have been drawn to the BL genre. It seems to relate in so many ways to my upbringing. The contrast between the characters of Cairo and Gavreel drew me in. The director has created a fast-paced, sympathetic portrayal of their emotions, their doubts, and their hopes. I can see why Kokoy is such a popular actor. He projects a wide range of emotions with his face. Very convincing. Several times I just wanted to hug Elijah and tell him everything would be OK. Gameboys is also an excellent window into the world of gaming, video calls, and how teens interact socially using their smartphones and computers.

Leia Mais

PERFECT! SIMPLY PERFECT!

Like the tittle says, I can't find any flaws with this series, the cast AMAZING, the acting SPECTACULAR, the characters OUSTANDING, the plot BREATHTAKING. Everything from beginning till the end was just perfect. I loved how they used modern technology as a way of communication and seeing how the characters actually are, its like we were there with them. I like how there are no unnecessary additions in this series cause that is what I hate the most, cause it just ruins time. It focus on the characters and their developments. I even liked the side characters and that is rare for me since I don't care or am indifferent to side characters since they steal the lead time but in this series I like all the side characters. Pearl was just an amazing character, she helped the leads come closer together and also had a very good personality on her own. Terrence was also a good villain and I like his redemption at the end and also Wesley as he was a plot device to make the characters come closer together and the other characters too. Like I said, all of these characters were important and weren't just there for the sake of existing. They all contributed something and had nice personality of their own. This series made me laugh, cry, and made me miserable for being single...like omg. The chemistry of the main leads was fire and sweeter than honey. I cringed everytime Gav flirted with Cai, but its the good kind of cringe. This drama is simply perfect.

Leia Mais

serie bella e tenera ma anche realistica

non si tratta di un semplice bl, ma di una serie lgbtq+: i personaggi vivono in un mondo realistico dove l'essere gay ha delle conseguenze e comporta un percorso di accettazione di sè e di affermazione della propria identità. Mancano inoltre i tipici clichè che vengono utilizzati nelle classiche serie bl per avvicinare i protagonisti. Questo è dovuto anche alla peculiare messa in scena: la serie è ambientata ai tempi del lockdown, e lo spettatore vede quasi l'intera serie come se fosse dietro ad uno schermo di computer o cellulare con cui i personaggi comunicano tra di loro.

Rivedere tutto ciò che ha comportato il covid, compresa la morte di persone care, è stato davvero triste e pesante.

Per quanto riguarda i protagonisti, sono sicuramente adorabili, e la loro storia è tenera e bella da vedere.

Mi piacciono anche le semplici serie d'amore bl, ma ritengo che una serie come questa che affronta realisticamente delle tematiche lgbtq+ sia di una categoria superiore.

Leia Mais

Refreshing BL Series

I genuinly have nothing bad to say about this show. I was a bit slow getting into everything the first two episodes, but by episode three i was hooked. This story hit all the emotional beats flawlessly and nothing felt unnecessarily drawn out or rushed. The pacing was perfect.
The development of their relationship was so realistic and I was stunned at how well relationship issues and family issues were portrayed. Every character had their flaws but they weren't overwhelmingly negative just real. This feels like a BL made with LGBTQ+ people in mind and just felt like a wonderfully put together story that was handled with care.
The only small criticism I had was towards Cairo's acting at the beginning but that may just be personal preference and didn't actually change how much i enjoyed the story at all. I thought his acting got better towards the middle and end anyway. That for me was so easy to look past though and that's why I'm giving this a 10 regardless. This is definitely worth the watch.

Leia Mais

BL done right... Wow!

I don't even know where to start. I had no expectations for this just a ran out of shows to watch and OMG I can't believe I'm just watching this. Its sooooo good.

I marvel at the fact that it remains so politically correct and respectful. The entire series just had me in awe. The characters demonstrated respect for each other, adhered to covid protocols and were respectful to the LGBTQ consistently. There were none of the common tropes like 'husband and wife' or 'I don't like men, I just like you'. Instead, the characters were written with real stories that truly reflected and respected the LGBTQ experience. It was an emotional rollercoaster and man did I bawl. Happy tears and sad tears. I love how the main characters developed there relationship in an organic way with both having pure intentions. I'm not gonna like the "baby' got annoying at some points but it was worth it since it carries such great significance to the story and the lead characters relationship. Pearl annoyed me at times too. her character is written with a very much exaggerated demeanour but her friendship and just being a decent human being made up for it. They explored real life arguments and experiences and I love that both characters recognised where they erred and owned up to them. Really happy with the ending. You will be too, *wink*.

10/10 - Absolutely earned it.

Leia Mais

Go, watch it!

As soon as I started this series, I was regretting that why did I not watch this last year. As I was watching, I was cheesing out so hard, throughout all the episodes, literally. Ofc, I cried too, but, man, so glad I watched this today. Better late than never I guess, lol.

Anywho, jokes apart, firstly, I did not feel like I was watching a BL tbh. No offense to other BL's, I love them too, but, this was like a breath of fresh air and definitely going on my rewatch list. This drama really depicted all the feelings, raw emotions, you know. Like, even though they were apart and literally courted each other via video calls, I was fangirling like crazy. Their chemistry, their acting, just, soo good. Top notch if you can say. I was giddy and so hyped up like, all the time.
Also, I personally, hate the "Baby" thing, but OH MY GOD! caireel have made me rethinking my preferences, lol. It did not made me cringe at all, in fact, it got me more giddy. Felt like I was third wheeling the whole time, ksksksks.

This drama depicted a lot of things, but personally, some amazing things I liked were the way they focused on mental health, acknowledgment and acceptance of one's own mistakes and forgiveness. Also, loved the supporting female character. Big shoutout to Pearl. She carried the show and did most of the excited screaming and fan-girling for us, lol.

This series has everything (maybe not for some if y'all are into skinship). But for me, I do enjoy a great storyline with amazing depiction of emotions. I am telling you all, I literally forgot sometimes, many actually, that I am watching a series and not just some real life love story of 2 people.

IT YOU HAVEN'T WATCH THIS YET, WATCH IT. YOU WON'T REGRET IT, I PROMISE!

Leia Mais

Watch. Just watch it.

If there is anyone else left in the world to watch this show after me, my free advice to you is do give this show a chance.
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The production is commendable - almost the entire story is shared via phone or computer screen of the characters but still was done so smoothly, and the watching experience was great.

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PLOT was strong, and beautiful. Not only did it deal difficult and maybe even relatable topics -- with the struggles of the characters when faced with life changing events, how affected they are by the pandemic in their own different ways, and even about coming in terms with ones sexuality -- the writers managed to keep it both natural without dragged out drama (noting saying I am drama hater), and light hearted.

I am thoroughly amazed because the rollercoaster of emotions were balanced out very well, like with light hearted and fluffy scenes which will not leaving you feeling too heavy even after the super intense situations - you can almost watch how time hurts and heals in a time-lapse.

The writers made sure not to add anything too problematic, things said and done mostly are "just the right thing" but in spite of this the characters are not perfect. They are a little flawed, they are at times insecure, they are still finding themselves - they are Human.

The characters are not all over the place as plot proceeds, they either are the same person who starts to show more of themselves, or the same person you knew who slowly but surely develops.

I love how there are no black and white here, even the "bad guys" are not justified but instead their side is simply shown and they were then given a chance to be better, and to me that is just Beautiful writing!!

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I am not going to talk much about the acting, I do not have any way to put it in right and deserving words. But can I just say the actors I considered "amateurs in a web drama" proved me SO SO WRONG and I am ashamed how quick I was to judge and THANKFUL just to have had the chance to witness this level of acting!!? I cried with them, smiled with them, laughed and my heart felt their pains.

Kokoy was my first favorite with his how he portrayed a confident, charismatic young man (Gavreel) who never held back his feelings initially. And he was too good, developing the character by slowly showing his other "human" sides. I took Elijah lightly, his reserved-ish character probably did not give him much chance to act more was my reasoning to self - BUT from that one scene (you might know if you have watched) that guy DESTROYED me. Both because that scene took this series to another level of brilliantness, and from there his character slowly developed.

Even every other actors surpassed my expectations, including ones who played Pearl, Cairo's family, Terrance and Wes.

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Overall - I usually am okay with BLs being compared with other BL series because it needs to catch up with decades of hetero- relationships in media. BUT, Gameboys crossed the threshold, it stands for itself, and definitely does not need the BL tag's support it to show what it's worth. It can easily compete with most mainstream shows /series/dramas any day <3

That is----- Gameboys is not just a "good BL", it is a great series. Period.

Leia Mais