Short and relatively sweet. The premise is simple and one we've seen a thousand times before. I don't mind the lack of originality when the drama has something else that makes it special and noteworthy, but unfortunately I didn't find that here. The pacing was too fast and the editing was choppy to the point where some parts were a little confusing. That is, certain parts could have benefited from more exposition and development and other parts could have been removed entirely. I also think the creators were trying to cram too much into this short work, when it perhaps would have been more poignant had only one idea been developed, and developed more fully. The acting was average, the writing was blah, and I don't think anything new was brought to the genre. That said, it's only about 30 minutes, so if you're interested, sure, go ahead and watch it.

Leia Mais

Great Potential, Less Than Great Execution

Initially super excited for this but was ultimately let down. It’s not a terrible drama by any means, but there are critiques I have that prevent me from considering it anything but average.

THE BAD:
- The format is terrible. It’s been said in the comments, but this really feels like a movie that’s been cut up into pieces for whatever reason. Unlike a typical drama that either ends on a cliffhanger and otherwise feels complete though still part of a larger storyline, these episodes just end randomly and in no meaningful spot. It’s not as huge of a problem now that all of the episodes have been released, since you can binge, but watching it as it aired was not the most enjoyable in terms of that.

- Along those lines, this drama was far too short, and the plot and characters suffered for it. Both the mystery and the boys’ relationships were rushed, resulting in simplified plot lines and no suspense. I think if there had only been the main couple it would have been better, because more time could have been devoted to building their relationship and deepening the initial mystery. But what we’re given is a watered-down version of everything that feels less than fulfilling.

- The switching between Korean and Mandarin (where only one character spoke Korean but everyone could understand him and he could understand everyone else) was stupid. Sorry, I said what I said haha. I can *maybe* see how it would work among the brothers, *if* they grew up together and therefore kind of learned it together, but I cannot say the same for the brother and the stranger who, for all we know, has only lived in Taiwan and has no ties whatsoever to Korea or its language. (Also, the Korean brother and his scene partner were my least favorite, so I got tired of seeing them so much but I seem to be in the minority there haha).

- Going off of the above point, I did not feel any connection at all between the main couple. No spark, no heat, nothing. I’d say it’s due to lack of or poor buildup, but with the other couples—who got even less screen time—I did feel something there (and was more invested in them than the main one). So, I’d say it’s that combined with the actors failure to emote for me what I needed to feel something.

THE GOOD:
- Handsome actors who weren’t stiff or awkward.

- It was entertaining, despite the flaws, and I appreciate the concept as it’s different from the other BLs out there.

OVERALL:
Sure I’d recommend, only because it’s short and fairly interesting. I think the writers could have accomplished so much more had they been given more time to develop both story and relationships, and I regret that the opportunity was missed, but we have what we have and what we have is an average drama that could have been a lot more.

Leia Mais

2Cute

I really enjoyed this mini-series and am surprised by the low reviews. I think it's important to remember that although the actors and pairing is the same, this isn't TinCan, and therefore the characters are written differently with different personalities. I think Mean and Plan did a wonderful job portraying Two and Wish, and the mini series left me warm and fuzzy once it ended.

For being only two 30-ish minute episodes, the writers went into this with a solid concept, and the execution resulted in a complete, fully realized story. I’m genuinely perplexed by people saying this had no plot, as more was accomplished in these two installments than what's been done in some BL series with 12 episodes or more. I do think this series could have benefited from perhaps one more episode, so that some parts could have been really fleshed out, but I commend the creators for giving so much when given so little. I was also really impressed with the cinematography; the lighting, the sets...absolutely gorgeous. My only complaint is that at times, the music was a bit loud, and the actor's were hard to hear. It wasn't a huge setback for me, as I was watching with subtitles, but it was a technical issue that I think could have been avoided (perhaps by using better/closer mics).

I noted this in my review of ReminderS, but I'll say again that it was really fun watching Mean and Plan play different characters than the ones they played in Love By Chance. They delivered a solid performance here, and the looks Mean would give Plan....ugh, my heart. Nothing much to say other than love!

Overall, I thought this mini series was cute but had some substance. There's a solid story line (given that it's only two episodes) and a ton of sweet moments. You may want to watch ReminderS first, since that's where Two and Wish are originally introduced, but to be honest, it's been so long since I watched that and I kind of forgot 2wish was in it, and I was able to watch this mini series without feeling confused or like I was missing something. So, viewer's choice! If you're only here for MeanPlan, then I think it's perfectly fine to watch this one without watching ReminderS first. All of that said, I'd of course recommend!

Leia Mais

Really Strong Start, Then Drifted Into Melodramaland, But Overall A Message That Should Be Seen

STORY:
First of all, major props to the writers and director for portraying a form of rape that affects about 15-20% of women yet remains so misconstrued and misunderstood. And they didn’t just address it; they got it right: the sexism, the victim blaming, the perpetrator’s long-lasting refusal to take accountability for his actions, the university’s utter failure to protect its students in favor of saving face and appeasing those in power, and most of all—the judgment. It felt so spot on, and that was infuriating. I was glad, though, that the drama didn’t gloss over this issue, and stayed pretty true to it until the very end. This drama also takes on cyberbullying as a major theme, and I applaud it for spreading much needed awareness about these two very real issues.

However, as the drama wore on, it started to lose the strength that it possessed in the first several episodes as it dove deeper into a melodramatic mess. To begin, there are actually three rapes that occur in this show: the main one, which is a date rape, and two others that embody more traditional understandings of rape (i.e., violent stranger rapes). While I appreciated the juxtaposition of the two very different forms, at a point it just became too much. Certainly things like this happen in real life. But when you shove all of them together in just thirteen episodes (on top of other minor, yet cumulative, heavy topics), the show loses the sense of authenticity it once had and starts to feel a bit like a melodramatic, Degrassi-esque after school special. It felt as though the writers wanted to shove everything they could think of on this topic into the show, and it causes the subsequent events to lose their intended (and needed!) impact. I think with this type of story, less is definitely more, and The Judgement would have been much more powerful had it focused only on the first rape (and possibly the second). The story line with the third rape felt too rushed and didn’t add much to the story beyond shock value. I think it would have been better served in its own drama, to give it the depth and exploration it needed, especially since it concerned unique stigmas that the other two rapes didn’t have.

In addition, the story at times felt predictable, cliché. For example, I knew from the second episode who had leaked the photos and video. And, as mentioned above, there were a lot of little things that on their own weren’t necessarily over the top, but when added all together with everything else going on, it just became a bit superfluous. Again, less is more with this plot, and I wish the writers had toned it down to keep that authentic feel it held in the beginning.

As for the ending, parts of it felt realistic, other parts felt optimistic. But I will say that the very final scene imparted a sense of empowerment that I hope will serve as encouragement and guidance to those who may be in Lookkaew’s position.

ACTORS/CHARACTERS:
The main and supporting cast was fantastic and really played their parts well. I also thought that Lookkaew and Aud were very true to life; their actions seemed authentic to how people actually in those positions might act. Other characters, however, left me torn. On the one hand, many of them felt very stock-like, two dimensional, and stereotypical. As a result, their story lines felt predictable and manufactured. Their actions became expected and I wasn’t surprised by the things they did. That said, I think the strength of this drama lies in the message it sends and the awareness it brings rather than the depth or uniqueness of its characters.

OVERALL:
Parts of this drama were pretty heavy (well, one character's story line in particular) and I don’t think I’ll re-watch it for that reason. However, despite its flaws, I still thought it was a worthwhile watch (though I would not recommend this for a sad or otherwise emotionally heavy day). I’m really glad that light was shed on this issue, even if it was overshadowed at times by melodramatics, and hope to see more series treat serious issues like this in a realistic, non-romanticized way.

Leia Mais

STORY:
Although I wouldn't hype it quite as much as other viewers on here, I still think this is a great drama that should definitely be on your watch list. Though the episodes are long, the journey is worth it, and I feel like the story gets better the further along you go.

I loved the different stories and backgrounds of the inmates and applaud it for showing that not everyone in prison is evil or incorrigible. I loved the variety of personalities among the corrections officers, from bureaucratic authoritarians to the ones who genuinely care about the success and rehabilitation of their wards. We see times where the justice system fails its citizens, and times where it redeems them. We get humor (there isn't a single episode where I didn't laugh out loud multiple time), sadness, and heartwarming moments. I also really liked that we weren't always told the whole story at one time; rather, the clever tricks our characters executed were revealed later in the episodes. Finally, I appreciated that not every character had a happy ending; some endings were sad, some were open, and overall it felt very true to the reality that is life in general and the penal system in particular.

I don't have too many complaints. One thing I could have done without was the story with the ex-girlfriend. I see where it fit into the drama, but for whatever reason I just could not get on board with the character. I didn't find her likable or empathetic, and the romance and chemistry felt very one-sided. Fortunately there weren't too many scenes with that story line, so it wasn't too obnoxious, but I was way more interested in what was going on in the prison and would have preferred staying there. The other "critique" I have is that I wish we got more backstory and exploration with Captain Yoo, his military comrades, and the victim in that crime, as I wanted to know more about the motivation behind what happened there.

ACTING/CAST:
The cast was fantastic. Everyone did so well in their roles. Park Hae Soo was such a good lead. His character was at times hilariously dumb and naive, like a child trapped in a grown man's body, but also so kind and caring to those close to him, possessing a solemn understanding of the more serious aspects of life when the time called for it. Another stand out for me (and I think a lot of people) was Lee Kyu Hung (aka Loony); he made me laugh and cry and was a great addition to the cell block.

MUSIC:
No complaints here. There's a good mix of hip-hop and ballads, and all worked really well in the show.

REWATCH VALUE:
I probably won't rewatch this, but I may be interested in a Season 2 if one comes out.

OVERALL:
Yes, watch this. If you find it a little slow in the beginning, just stick with it. Netflix did a really great job with this one.

Leia Mais

A sexy, authentic drama focusing on adult themes for adult audiences, Gay OK Bangkok is a nice break from the fluffier BL titles out there. All of the actors are great; they have wonderful chemistry with one another and portray emotions really well. It is short, which I'm guessing is due to a relatively small budget, sometimes things felt rushed, and although I wish we could have had more of the story fleshed out, I'm still left feeling as though I got a complete story and a good understanding of the characters. A lot was accomplished in these five episodes, and the characters felt three-dimensional, genuine, despite sometimes being placed in stereotypical settings. The ending, while not necessarily sad, is a bit ambiguous, but I'm looking forward to seeing where things go in Season 2. Definitely recommend watching this!

Leia Mais

STORY:
Wow! Honestly, I wasn't expecting too much going into the series but man am I impressed! Although the story revolves around some pretty well-worn tropes and stereotypes, the writers and actors executed it so well that the story felt exciting, fresh, and timeless. There's a healthy balance between lighthearted sweetness and painful anguish that comes with being a teenager and struggling on that road of self-discovery. The themes explored in this series --- bullying, falling in love, experiencing unrequited love, dealing with and discovering your sexuality --- are portrayed in such a genuine and realistic manner, and I think for that reason this drama can resonate with a lot of people..

ACTING/CAST:
I thought each actor did really well in their roles. Nanon, who plays our main character Oh, was just fantastic. He hit all of the emotions. He made me cringe at his dorkier moments, swoon at his sweet moments, and nearly cry at his sad moments. I don't have enough good words to say about his performance. The other actors were great as well, evoking appropriate feelings of anger, yearning, sympathy, heartache, and happiness.

OVERALL:
Great series. Definitely recommend.

Leia Mais

A little late to the game, but I just finished Season 1 of this series (for those in the U.S., it's available on Netflix). Overall, I'd say this is a good drama, notwithstanding the fact that it deals with themes we see repeatedly in the LGBT genre. Here, we primarily follow high school students Phun and Noh as they work through their sexualities and feelings for one another, a journey that takes up most of Season 1. Both actors portrayed their characters and their struggles well. Although the kiss scene sucked (don't watch this for that), it is through portraying the small, subtle details where these boys shined. Be it the exchange of soft looks, holding one another in private, or reaching for the other's hand during times of confusion and turmoil, these small actions conveyed the passion and yearning that Phun and Noh had for one another. They made the story all the more beautiful and tender.

Regarding other characters, I liked the group of guys that made up Noh's gang, and it was fun to see them interacting with one another. They gave off natural 16-year-old-boy vibes without the immaturity of Make It Right. I also really liked Earn, and hope to see more of him in Season 2. Though not given much screen time, he stood out to me because of his virtue and confidence. When the all-male school hosted cheerleader tryouts, he steadfastly supported the ladyboys and more effeminate students who worked so hard to make the spots. Time and again, he stood up to the more conservative students and culture who pushed back, proving himself to be a good person and ally.

The main female characters leave me feeling mixed. I hated Yuri, Noh's girlfriend, and I groaned every time her whiny voice filled the screen. I didn't mind Aim, Phun's girlfriend; she didn't have many parts and didn't really play the villain, though I'm expecting this to change in Season 2. And sweet Pang, Phun's sister. She is me, right down to the BL addiction and Viewfinder manga.

Aside from Phun and Noh, there are a couple of other non-BL couples that honestly, aren't really worth mentioning. Both couples had potentially interesting story lines, but so little screen time was given to them that their stories felt either rushed or pointless. It's not a deal-breaker, as I didn't really care about either of them, but it left my wondering why there were even included as they didn't really add to the main story at all, nor did they really have any meaningful interaction with the main characters. You could remove their scenes entirely and still have a complete drama.

Going back to the story and plot, again, nothing new to this genre, but it was executed beautifully. It felt very real and raw, different from the lighthearted fluff you see in a lot of other dramas. I thought the pacing was good, and I'm looking forward to what's coming next in Season 2.

Leia Mais

The Potential Was There

Oh how excited I was for this series given the setting and great potential. But oh how quickly that excitement faded when, in the very first episode, I already felt lost and like I had been thrust into the middle of a drama that had been airing for weeks already. (When I tell you I checked the episode number numerous times and even came to the comments here to confirm that episode 1 was indeed that disorienting....).

I guess the biggest critique I have is that it felt like the writers were trying to squeeze too many conflicts and storylines in at once instead of focusing on one that was most important. In a roughly 80-90 minute production, did we really need to see those meddlesome intrusions from Jin Hee and Tae Hyung? No. If anything, they took away from the story rather than adding to it. I much would have preferred the time being spent on developing Ho Sun and Ki Won's relationship and/or diving more into the (albeit slight) political nature of this kind of set up. This felt rushed in a way that other Korean BLs of the same length did not. It also felt slightly underdeveloped, like the beginnings of an idea that took off too soon. The concept was there. The execution and solid plot development was not. This felt more like a collection of slice-of-life one shots in the back of a manga than a fully realized story.

The acting was fine except that I felt no romantic chemistry between the leads whatsoever. I blame this in part on the writing and lack of attention devoted to building that much-needed tension between the leads, but I also think Kang In Soo is to blame, as I felt that the other BL he starred in (Wish You) lacked romantic chemistry as well (meanwhile, I absolutely adored Lee See Jin's romance in Mr. Heart).

Overall, I'd still recommend, mainly because it's so short and not much of a time commitment. I really liked this premise of having a sageuk BL and wish the creators here were given the time and space to really flesh this drama out the way a complex historical drama should be. But props to them for trying and for giving us a setting and storyline that we haven't necessarily seen before in this drama. I give it one thumb up.

Leia Mais

Decent BL, But Lacking in the Mystery Department

Re-posting because I accidentally deleted my original one from when it first aired when attempting to make an edit *crying emoji*

STORY:
Well, I guess I’m in the minority here because I’m not completely fawning over this drama like many others are lol. That said, I do think this is one of the better produced Thai dramas, especially among BL-themed ones, in terms of acting, cinematography, writing, and overall production (though for reference I wouldn’t put it on par with, say, a well-written Korean drama with the same tags). The mystery and supernatural themes were a nice change from what we usually get in this genre, though for a while the mystery plot line seemed to disappear, only to emerge again full force in the final episode, where everything is revealed rather easily without any real sleuthing taking place (only some lighthearted attempts earlier in the series that didn’t lead anywhere). Other than that, the pacing is generally good (though I did find myself bored at times and wanting to skip ahead), the amount of filler is minimal (for which I cannot express enough how appreciative I am!), and most episodes ended with a cliffhanger that made me eager for the next one. Though only eight episodes, I thought that was the perfect length, as it allowed the writers to give us a complete, rather succinct story without too much distraction.

I did notice a couple of apparent plot inconsistencies that I just wanted to note. First, it struck me as odd that Mes (the ghost) was able to interact with some solid objects (such as sitting on furniture or using a laptop) but not others (such as touching a utensil or living person). I think the writers tried to explain this about halfway through, but the explanation felt like a less-than-fully-realized afterthought that still didn’t completely resolve the inconsistency (the same principle that applies in one situation should apply to all, no?). Second, there’s one episode where a character can’t see Mes at all, and then in the next episode she can not only see him, but she has an entire conversation with him. I totally understand what the writers were trying to do with the latter scene, but the lack of explanation for why she could suddenly see him (and wasn’t freaked out) threw me off.

ACTING/CAST:
Regular connoisseurs of Thai BLs will recognize the main cast here and not be disappointed with the skills they bring. I think a lot of viewers enjoy this drama especially because it stars Singto, and I’d say he was the standout, continuing to prove that he can act with the best of them. Ohm was a great co-star, and I loved seeing him bring some of that sweet charm he gave us as Frame in Make It Right, while also showcasing his talent for portraying deeper, more tearjerker emotions as well. I also have to commend Sarocha for her portrayal of Plai. Even though she appears to be a newcomer to the scene, she was fantastic and I can definitely see her getting a lot more roles. No complaints with the remaining supporting cast either—everyone felt natural and authentic.

OVERALL:
Certainly one of the better Thai BLs (-ish?) out there and a good addition to GMM’s reservoir. The mystery aspect is a bit weaker than other dramas I’ve seen, so if you’re interested primarily for that, you may be underwhelmed. Similarly, if you’ve seen a lot of really intricate and intense mysteries/thrillers, especially Korean ones, then I don’t think you’ll be too impressed with this one. However, the story between Than and Mes is really sweet and well done, and fans of these actors won’t be disappointed. An overall heartwarming story that I’d recommend.

Leia Mais

Hilariously Fun

Despite the slightly-above-average rating I gave this one, I still really enjoyed it. Endearingly sentimental and hilariously amusing in a way that only jdoramas can be, this had me laughing in every episode. This is one where the acting is over the top, so if you're not a fan of that, you probably won't enjoy this. I, however, loved it and thought all of the actors did an amazing job.

I took off some points because the plot at times seemed a bit all over the place and lacking direction, especially in the middle. The "romance" felt, dare I say, contrived, and like it existed solely to create this particular plot line. In particular, the origins of Maki's feelings, while convincingly sincere, aren't really explained and seemingly came out of nowhere. I kept waiting for some backstory to explain how they came to be, as it seemed like I was missing something. Or maybe the reason for his attraction was so subtle that I inadvertently overlooked it. Also, Haruto lacked the character development and growth I needed from him to believe the ending (I won't say who he ended up with so as to avoid spoilers). As a result, the romance in episode 7 still felt just as one-sided as it did in episode 1. To me, his relationship with the other felt more like parent-child (because the other was taking care of him and his needs after his mother stopped doing so) rather than truly equal romantic partners. I'm still unsure if this was in fact meant to be (at least in part) romance drama or a parody of sorts, but I view it mainly as a comedy.

So in sum, as a comedy, this is gold. As a romance, it could do better. Still, overall highly entertaining and one I'd recommend, especially if you love those doramas that feel like live-action animes.

Leia Mais

Oh man, this movie hits you right in the feels! Such a sweet, touching story filled with moments that make you swoon and moments that make you cry. Our two Flukes performed really well in their roles. Their chemistry was so good! And their romantic moments made me melt. Although there were a few moments where the dialogue felt a bit stilted and awkward, where these two really shined for me was their adept ability to portray a variety of emotions. I yearned when they yearned, smiled when they smiled, and hurt when they hurt, and easily connected with both of them from the very start because of this. The story itself was engaging and beautiful. Perhaps my only critique was that at times the pacing seemed a bit fast, and I felt like we had to just assume things without getting the benefit of more thorough plot and character development. That said, it's not a huge issue given that this is a movie limited by time constraints. The ending is definitely not HEA, but I wasn't terribly upset by it since I knew about the special episode and forthcoming sequel. Overall, beautiful but emotional film that I'd recommend checking out.

Leia Mais

It took me forever but I finally sat down to watch this movie and I’m so happy I did! I was already thrilled at seeing my lovely Crown Prince Lee Chang as one of the leads (Kingdom fans, where you at?! haha) and I was very quickly pulled into this little gem that is Antique Bakery.

STORY:
I’ve never read the manga nor watched the anime or drama, so I had no idea what the story was about other than what the synopsis here told me. I went in expecting cute fluff, so imagine my surprise when a fully realized, thought-out story with actual substance appeared. There’s a dash of something here for almost everyone: humor, mystery, camaraderie, all wrapped up in an interesting, dynamic plot. I also really enjoyed the direction and execution of this movie. Some parts were very reminiscent of an anime (though not quite as over the top) or Jdrama, which I thought was a nice nod to the source material.

ACTING/CAST:
I absolutely adored the four main leads. They were all so well-crafted; each had their own defined personalities and backstories, all of which were portrayed seamlessly without slowing down the plot. Each actor did an amazing job bringing these characters to life, and the chemistry between them was wonderful as well.

OVERALL:
Really nice movie that exceeded my expectations. If you’re looking for a good way to spend two, hours, I would definitely recommend giving this a try! I’m off to read the manga~

Leia Mais

Bangkok G Story is a funny, sexy romp that's perfect if you're looking to escape the heaviness, angst, or cutesy fluff of other BL dramas. Each episode is short, around 10 minutes or so, and follows the crazy antics of G, B, T and (later) M as they pursue romance, pleasure, and happiness in fast-paced Bangkok.

STORY & PLOT: Not incredibly profound, but each episode was accompanied with a plot twist and made me laugh. I became invested in these characters and eager to know who would end up with whom. The story line is rather simple, with obstacles being resolved rather quickly and easily. Thus, the pacing can be a bit fast in some areas without much plot development. Still, I never lost interest and I looked forward to clicking on the next episode.

ACTING: Not the best I've ever seen (an abundance of awkward pauses comes and transitions come to mind), but certainly watchable. To be fair, I don't think any of the men who played the main characters are actors in real life; from their IGs, they look more like models or go go boys who (maybe?) cater to the gay community. But what they lack in acting skills they make up for in the smut department. The kissing and non-comedic sex scenes were hot and definitely satisfying. No fake kissing here. Plus, the guys are charming and likable (and very pleasing to look at). You root for them in each episode and hope that each gets his own happy ending.

Overall, I enjoyed this series and definitely recommend it if you're looking for something light and funny, with very steamy bed scenes to boot.

Leia Mais

This is a cute, lighthearted series for those who want to take a break from the angst and heaviness of other dramas. The story line is cute, if not a little cliche (guy chases girl, girl and guy fight over misunderstanding, etc.), and the pacing is really nice. Although this only had 6 episodes, I felt like a lot was packed into them and viewers are left with a pretty complete story line. The actors are great, each of them charming and endearing in their own unique ways. Kang made an excellent lead; he was so earnest and adorable and had great chemistry with his co-stars. Although I came for Pick and Rome, I enjoyed watching Porsche and Emma's story as well. In terms of BL, there isn't a lot, but what we do get is very sweet. I loved seeing Pick tease his junior, and Rome's shy admiration of Pick was heartwarming as well. This sweet flirtation helps make up for the disappointing "kiss" scene we get in the last episode. I'm not even sure their lips were touching. Still, overall this was a cute series. I probably won't re-watch it, but I'd recommend it if you're looking for something warm and fuzzy.

Leia Mais