One For the Books

I can't explain how much I was moved by the series to the point where I stayed up at the ass crack of dawn to binge-watch. Then to be told that episode 8 would be another few hours hurt to hear, but I waited and waited, and finally, it came out, and my heart is overjoyed with something that I haven't felt for many Japanese BLs. Mr.Unlucky is an extraordinary series full of happiness, speculating luck, and a heartwarming romance.

Let's Dive In.

Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss is the story of Kota, a boy born unlucky who has unfortunate circumstances happen to him every day, from falling ceilings to stepping in dog shit, he has to endure it 24/7. Until he meets Naoya, a boy born lucky, who has the best things happen to him anytime he wants them. When Kota finds himself around Naoya, he sees how his bad luck fades away, and he can have a good time. Through a misunderstanding, they both become boyfriends and their lives are forever changed. What initially drew me in was this wacky synopsis that I was curious to see play out on screen. I was a little skeptical at first, going into this with only the synopsis and that's it, but this was a gem. A bright bright gem that I'm so thankful I ventured to. While most of this series was everything I needed and more, there was a key aspect that dimmed my overall joy, but for the most part, this series was as close to perfect as perfect can get.

One thing that Japanese series can do is either be extremely vulgar or super clean and from my understanding, there is no in-between. Even looking at Cherry Magic, a story based around a virgin, was as innocent as ever, and so was Kieta Hatsukoi, with neither shows even showing a kiss between leads, and yet, I still loved them to my fullest potential. Mr. Unlucky happens to fall in the super clean category. Part of me doesn't mind that intimacy doesn't play a big role here, because they were still able to evoke strong feelings out of me without that aspect, but gosh, does it suck not to see the climax of something the writers did so well at building up. Kota and Naoya have built such incredible sensual tension that it's almost infuriating with every passing second Kota avoids kissing Naoya or doing anything else. This series is so prude in itself that it draws back its own ability to be even greater than before, and it sucks. I wish there would've been a moment where Kota finally felt ready to kiss Naoya, and instead, we never get that. Besides a very chaste kiss in the beginning, we the audience are left to fend for our own and make up the rest of their story as it ends.

And while I do complain that intimacy should've played a bigger role here, I can't help but applaud how respectful and patient Naoya was. He kissed Kota in the beginning because that's what his past girlfriends had liked, but he realized Kota was different and was willing to wait to kiss him again until he was ready. Although that moment never happens, it's heartwarming to watch Naoya be so sensual and yet hold himself back for the one that matters to him the most. Consent was superb here, and I will deathly miss it.

Now, getting into their romance, of course, because of it being a misunderstanding, the connection isn't as strong in the beginning as it is in the end. But we get to watch with every passing moment it build and build until we're desperate for more. Getting to watch Kota be happy and do things that he normally keeps himself away from because of his bad luck is another level of rewarding. His smile, the way his eyes light up, his skips and jumps and cheers, it's all very gratifying to see. To see that Naoya is able to bring him something he hasn't had in years. Anytime they were together, my heart was aghast to watch them grow in chemistry and understanding. I was sure that Naoya would have a similar situation as Kota: using him so that his good luck isn't always there and people can stop relying on him. But nope, that's not the case. Naoya just loved Kota from the very second he saw him, and it only grew from there. That is fucking precious. I will miss seeing these two on my screen, only if it were for a day.

Onto the side characters, who were a lot less memorable, but they played helpful roles in getting the leads to where they needed to be. The two best friends were valuable attributes to Naoya who saw them as his real friends and not people needing him for his luck. I was more so intrigued with Miki's story who seemed as positive as ever about love, and Anna, who seemed very negative about love. I have my speculations that the bracelet Miki was wearing somehow stopped her from forming relationships instead of being in one, and once it broke, she seemingly started to realize her feelings for Anna, and it's quite an adventure to take part in. I wish they had more screen time after Miki subtly (but not so subtly) admits her feelings to Anna.

Ratings:

Story: 9 - It's the strongest aspect of the series. It was able to keep me entertained throughout without any skips or FF. The romance is well done, and so is the explanation and the play out of luck and sharing it. I'll only take a star off since I think the romance could've taken that one step further, and instead, the writers hold us back.

Acting: 9.5 - Great! Literally! Sota (Kota) does a fascinating job, playing up the extraness and expressional person that his character was. Sato I learned is a Japanese idol, and in some parts of his acting, it's not as strong as it could be, but still, he does a good job at getting the message of his character across. All the side characters did excellent as well.

Music: 7 - the theme song was good to me! Other than that, I didn't really pay too much attention to it.

Rewatch value: 6 - I could see myself rewatching this whenever I need my heart to flutter for whatever reason.

I don't usually ask for second seasons, cause it's unnecessary and not needed, but I severely hope this gets a second season to wrap up that endearing part of Kota and Noaya that we don't see. I still think there is a story there to tell, and I need it immediately. This had shot up to being my new all-time favorite Japanese BL, and not too far from making an appearance as my top 10 favorite BLs. I will cherish this for as long as I can. I heavily recommend this for anyone interested. If you can take yourself out of the real world and watch this fantastical series that will make you feel every emotion in the book, then give this one a shot.

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"Don't You Cry in Front of Them. Because We Didn't Lose.."

It's clear I'm not the only one who was deeply touched by this series and everything it had to offer. On top of getting to see the most iconic duo of BL, we see a genuine story full of power, materialism, vengeance, self-deprivation, love, and discovery. This series has done something I've never seen ever in a Thai series, and that's talk about the problems associated with their government, on top of openly supporting the LGBTQ+ community with no hesitation. Not Me has yet again set the bar for others series to come. Not just BL alone, but for any show coming out of GMMTV. Period.

Let's Dive In.

Not Me is an astonishing drama of students fighting for what they believe in, and in the midst, they fall in love. This is why I enjoyed Not Me as much as I do, cause it wasn't just a BL -- it would be stupid to only categorize it as such. On top of boys being in love, we have them fight for justice, we see the tearing and repairing of the system and its lousy implications within the community, we see a deeper corruption within the workplace, and we get to watch all of it play out, with the protests, the fight for equality, and the yearning for peace and righteousness. This series will be one I hold dear to me. I'm sad to even see it go, and can't help but have an abruptly large wave of dejection cross through me as I write this.

Let's start with the things that could use working on since there is little to nothing that needed improving: I do wish that we got to see more of Gumpha's personal life. Other than him being the gang leader, what else did he have to offer? Who was he outside of that? Did he have a family? That's the easiest explanation why we all had our thoughts about him possibly being the traitor of the group, cause we know little to nothing about him. For him to only turn around and not be the traitor, just a guy we don't know all that well. I would've loved to see more of him and his life.

I wish GMMTV would just get rid of their ridiculously ads altogether, since, in my eyes, they really aren't in the need of money from outside companies. Keep them, sure, but just have the ads at the beginning and end of the series, and that's should be it. It caused me to be drawn out when they would start drinking these random drinks, or when they all drove the same car. However, this series was probably one of the first that made it look as subtle as possible. so I do appreciate that.

This is only me being nit-picky, but there were so many different times when they all should've died. Jumping rooftops, running away from the cops, getting shot, being held hostage. I mean, can I really believe that Black (small, tiny little Gun) could out-do multiple SWAT-looking dudes? Or even have the capacity to un-arm them? No, absolutely not, and in a real situation, he would've died, instantly. Again, me just being nit-picky, and of course, the series couldn't go very far if they actually died in a situation that would've realistically gotten them killed.

Sorry cause I'm being nit-picky again, but it was hard for me to grasp the fact that Gun and Off were supposed to be playing scary gang members when they are -- just the complete opposite of that. So in those terms, it was hard for me to completely get into their story when all these actual scary-looking guys were frightened by Black. it took me until maybe the middle of the series to take them seriously. Before then I kind of giggled at their scary attempts or even their fighting sequences since they both have the build of teenagers going through a growth spurt and puberty.

Onto everything else that was relatively perfect: All the romances were incredibly detailed and written by Gods. Sean and White played an incredible love story, although a bit faint in the beginning, it came on strong by the end. Seeing how hard Sean fell for White really hurt when he's being brutally beaten up on the ground by who he supposed was White. Him just sitting there and begging while he's bleeding was so hurtful to see. I didn't have any doubts about this pairing, since it was being played by Off and Gun, who just got it without even having to try. Their intimate moments were so vibrant and so patient while also being so romantically sensual. God, only they could do it. I'm happy that they got their happy ending, there's nothing more that they needed cause they already had it.

Moving onto Yok and Dan, they were just so sexy in a dismal way. Anytime they were together, you just felt this drift of sadness. They were both battling with their own demons but still did it together which made it even more substantial. Dan feeling comfortable to expose himself to Yok like that in such a vulnerable way -- *chef's kiss*. The subtle looks they shared, hugs, feelings, even the very rare times they did share a kiss, it was so impactful on screen. When we find out that Dan is somewhat the traitor, you physically feel the pain in Yok's eyes and the tears that can't stop falling, His artisticness mixed with Dan's as well, was perfection. I'm going to miss them dearly, but I'm stoked to see First in The Ecplise alongside Khaotung.

Gram and Eugene are a nice surprise. Like others, I thought Gram was secretly in love with Black, but in other events, we couldn't have been more wrong (lol). I didn't think I was going to be able to read into their romance, but closer to the end, I just become so obsessed with their relationship. Gram cared for Eugene more than he could even realize himself. Their ending was as I wished it to be, and I loved that we get to see a healthy hetero relationship that's not full of toxic behaviors or weird patriarchy. I won't speak too much on Todd and Black since we don't get to see their relationship as much, but the way the writers were able to add subtle hints and implications, while also giving us a very dramatic, but however the most beautiful somewhat confession scene is bewildering. Their love was a for-sure messed up one, but in some way, you can't help but long for them.

Onto the plot that was seamlessly perfect. The revelations, the secrets revealed, the turnabouts of situations we all analyze at the beginning -- it was just so much fun to see how everything turns out. Gram actually being in love with Eugene and not Black, Dan being the one who killed Sean's dad, Black and Todd being in love, Dan being the traitor. This part of the series was fun, getting to theorize and then see it play out. Which is why I give a huge applause to the screenwriters who did an above-and-beyond job. And also for them to add in their troubles of the government and be confident enough to show it on screen. Speaking politics in a series is hard, cause for some, that can be their dropping point. But this series speak out on what corruption and unfairness looks like in their country, and while doing so, they teach others outside of Thailand that not everything is peaches and roses. Even for them to speak about situations going on outside of Thailand was a surreal surprise, for example, the BLM movement in the US. If I could, I would give the screenwriters anything they wanted.

The acting is superb. There is nothing really more to say. It's just absolutely perfect, and they couldn't have picked a better cast. Them all being able to cry without trying too hard, the underlying pain we could see as they tried to act strong. Urgh, it was all just so good. Gun was by-far my favorite. The way he is able to play two completely different characters which such vastly different personalities, and do it FLAWLESSLY is beyond me. Episodes 12-14 really just spotlighted how versatile of an actor he is. His performance as Black in these last few episodes took my breath away. The way he's able to carry the emotions of Black in his eyes, his voice, his posture. Black is a tough guy who doesn't cry, but Gun plays him so perfectly that you see the hurt and anger through so many other ways. A moment that I can't ever forget was in episode 12 when Black simply lets a few tears drop while hugging White to implicate his sadness, but to also still hold the facade he has, ist's BRILLANT. On top of this, there are the others' performance moments that just blow my mind to pieces.

Last thing, the wardrobe fit so nicely. The grunge, the dirtiness, the dark colors urgh, it's so good. Also just going to applaud the makeup department with the bruises and cuts and whatnot. I remember physically not being able to look at Sean's face cause it was so disgusting. And I loved it. Some of the most realistic makeup I've ever seen.

Ratings:

Story: 9 - I'll take a star off cause I wish we would've seen more of Gumpha and his story. Other than that, everything is pretty close to perfection. I didn't speak much on White pretending to be Black, but that was excellent too. Getting to see him figure out Black's life, trying to find justice, while also trying not to get caught (which he does so bad at lol).

Acting: 9.5 - I can't see anything wrong with any of the acting, even when I tried my best to think of something. But everyone did perfectly. The only thing I could think of was that at the beginning, I was drawn out a few times from Sean and White/Black, just cause I couldn't stop seeing Gun and Off, but that would be it.

Music: 8 - God, the OST was amazing. The way the songs alone caused so much emotion out of me. The time when Yok and Gram were having a heart-to-heart moment? Yeah, I was weeping cause of the ballad. Them in the van crying cause they're scared to die? the sad instrumentals that played in the back? Yeah, I was weeping, Music was one of Not Me's strongest aspects. God, I'm going to miss it.

Rewatch Value: 1 - This series was a tough one for me, cause I was mad at how the justice system was treating them and the way they were hurting, and it physically caused me to hurt too. I think this will be my little gem to remember, but I think it would be too tough to continuously rewatch. I might go back to some of those beautifully vulnerable moments being the main pairings, but that's it.

Overall, this is a high recommendation. I remember being worried about Off and Gun in this because I loved Theory of Love so much, and I was scared that I would have a different feeling if they were to play completely different characters, but I loved the more here than I ever had before. If this is the last time we are to see them in a BL together then I'm not disappointed. They left with a bang, and we are to for sure remember them for as long as we can. Thank you Not Me, for being such a standalone series not afraid to speak up on topics so endearing. I shall miss you with all my heart.

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Best GMMTV Series To Date

A Tale of (a) Thousand Stars was the best BL that GMMTV has ever produced. Period. From the quality of production, acting, setting, and story, TOTS will forever remain a stellar series that has pushed the agenda for BLs to come.

Let's Dive In.

I'll keep my review pretty precise since there are plenty others to read from, but this series really brought me to tears, which isn't easy. Tian's character development was some of the best I have ever seen, and it was done with such subtleness and delicateness that was shown through his trials and tribulations with wanting to belong amongst the villagers and his students. For this to be Mix's (Tian) first-ever acting gig, he did a phenomenal job, and I hope to see him in many more series to come. Earth was finally given a decent role! the last I had seen of Earth was when he played a rude swimmer, but in this series, he served as the stern officer, who became gentle when around Tian. Phupa was a delight and I really enjoyed all that he brought. The chemistry between the two was off the charts. When you can present a connection that is so strong to the audience without the need for physical affection or intimacy, then you know it's good. A huge pat on the back for Mix and Earth.

The plot was phenomenal, nothing more is needed to be said. Everything connected in one way or another, and I NEED to see more well-thought-out and detailed plots like this with GMMTV. No toxic ex-girlfriend, no homophobic characters, and no plot holes. Perfection is the only word needed to exclaim this plot.

When looking at the behind-the-scenes, it was obvious how much effort and hard work was put into producing this series, and that right there deserves a ten for itself. I've seen Backoaf's (director) other work, but this one was the best one he has done yet. Seeing at how difficult it was to make this series, I doubt that we'll get a season two, but where we left off was perfect and a really good ending.

Yod was by far my favorite character. He was the comedic relief to this series (as well as Rang), and it was some of the best I had seen. I hope to see Champ in future projects because he was pure bliss to see on screen. Khaotung did a fantabulous job here, and I liked him way more than his other character in Tonhon Chonalatee. I liked how he served as kind of this discreet hint of jealously that Phu had because it just spiced up the plot even more. We don't see too much of Torfun in this, but her actress was fantastic and had such a bubbly and happy personality with the kids. Speaking of the kids, I am so impressed with all of their acting. While it was not the best ever, it was still a lot better than some other child actors I've seen on these series. My favorite would have to be between Ayi and Khao. Tul was the friend that everyone deserved. He was accepting and kind right off the bat, cheering on Tian the whole way. Now that's a best friend.

Overall, this series did a phenomenal job at basically everything. Some of the low rating reviews I've read complained about nit-picky stuff, or the fact that Tian and Phu didn't have enough physical affection. While I agree that Phu did come off as a bit too stern at times (especially towards the end), he did what he thought was the right thing to do, and even though pushing away Tian wasn't the right decision at all, he believed so out of the depth of his heart. With the whole intimacy thing, yes it was nothing big or flamboyant, but it matched perfectly with this couple, and quite frankly if them kissing and shangidy-shang-bang-banging is all that you're worried about and not the actual falling in love part, then the few of you need to do some soul-searching.

This series is definitely going on my top 10, and I highly recommend it, especially to people starting out in BL (this was supposed to be a short review, but I love this series so much, so oh well).

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What Did I Just Watch...?

I feel like the last two days that I've been watching this show didn't happen. I feel like I lived in a simulation in which I thought I was watching this, but I would just end up waking up to it being all a dream. But nope, I really watched this. I heard nothing but amazing news about this series -- "It's perfect", "It's the best BL in a long time". I genuinely think we were all watching something different. No, I'm convinced there is another My Beautiful Man out there that is what everyone was talking about because this can seriously not be it. Utsukushii Kare is a perfect setting with the absolute worst story possible.

Let's Dive In.

The basics of this story is that Hira is a nobody and everyone treats him like trash, even including the guy he deems the beautiful-est human ever, Kiyoi, who is the high school's most handsome, and treated like a god among the others. A great premise, and sure, we've heard similar ones, but Japan has a way of telling a story that you can just never get bored with it, and I think this really could've been a good series -- heck, a great series. However, it crumbles under its own hold by having terrible characters, a god-awful plot twist, and a lackluster ending.

Let's start with what I liked: I liked Koyama more than anything else. He falls under the Second Lead Syndrome for sure. He was the definition of the perfect boyfriend: cute, funny, charismatic, thoughtful, caring, there to help Hira with his stutter, there to be his friend, someone he could talk to -- and Hira can't seem to see any of that..? It's okay, Hira doesn't deserve a Koyama, I do. I will take Koyama, because, who wouldn't?

Again, I think production was nice. The bike scenes were really nicely shot. I liked the sceneries and the lighting the most. There is a way Japanese series are shot that I just fall in love instantly, so this was a big bonus of watching.

The acting was really good, especially Hagiwara. Even if they really did his character wrong, he still played it to the best of his ability, and it comes off really nice. The rest of the cast did an excellent job too, even the bullies were good.

Alright, now into the terrible: Both Hira and Kiyoi were just horribly-written. Hira can't seem to stand on his own two legs, which is fine, some people are super shy, and stuttering's not even the problem -- it's the fact that he let everyone walk all over him, including the guy he liked. He would automatically do anything they asked, without hesitation, and it made me sick to my stomach. It was so hard watching him on the screen, I just couldn't stand him in any way. And Kiyoi was just the worst. I was thinking at some point, Kiyoi was going to be like, "Ha! I was only being mean to you so that you could finally grow some balls and stand your ground," nope, instead, he bosses Hira around like the rest, calls him disgusting, gross, a stalker, kicks him, pushes him down, and Hira still manages to fall for him for god-knows-what reason. Looks can only get a person so far. Instead, Kiyoi's big plot twist is that he also liked Hira, he just didn't know how to tell him. This plot twist is just pitiful. Why harm Hira then? Why call him names, have him do things for you? Nope, it still doesn't make up the fact that in the entire series, Hira is bullied to death by his own love interest. There's no turn in Kioyi's behavior until the very last episode. It's disgusting. And what makes it worst is that the ending is so lackluster. How could I care about them after all this time? I sat and watched Hira be used like a ragdoll, and you want me to sing Kumbaya..? No, just no. I think this behavior is dangerous in a BL, especially with me seeing so many people praising their relationship, and for what?

Ratings:

Story: 5 - How could I give two craps about the story when for the entire series is was Hira being picked on? I'll give it 5 stars for Koyama, and Koyama only.

Acting: 9 - I think the acting was the only good thing about this series.

Music: 5.5 - I don't remember it, meaning it wasn't a distraction. Great.

Retwtch Value: 1 - No.

Overall, this is one of the worst, if not the worst, series I've seen in a while. I can't comprehend what people like about this, and quite honestly, I don't care to know. It's sick. A BL like this is dangerous, it shows that a toxic relationship like their's is revivable, that it's okay when it's absolutely not! If this were real life, Kiyoi would've been cut off immediately, or he would've put a restraining order on Hira, cause I know I would. Not recommended in the slightest.

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IDK why GMMTV are pushing out these mediocre BLs..

I don't have much to say about this series because I felt like I watched 8 episodes of nothing. Everyone was just running around and laughing and crying and kissing and then eventually it ended. This was just a cash-grab for GMMTV, not that their other BLs aren't, but this had no plot, no real conflict, or anything essential to the story that made it an ounce interesting. Star in My Mind is basically GMMTV's version of 2 moons 2, but only with one couple. That's the best way to put it.

Let's Dive In.

Star In My Mind is about our main lead, Nuea, who's had the biggest crush on Kluen ever since high school. They then find themselves in college together going for the Moon title. They ignite a friendship that turns romantic and, plot twist! Kuen's always had feelings for him too! and then the end. No literally, that's the story. Other than some irrelevant conflicts to get in between our main couple, nothing else happens. It's a cat and mouse chase, with aggravating miscommunication and misunderstandings. If anyone was coming for an interesting plot, then don't bother wasting your time here. They could've wrapped up Kluen and Nuea's story if you take out the majority of their problems. There are only a few incidents in which the show has caught my interest until it throws me out of its doors and into traffic.

For one, I did at one point, fall for the love triangle. I was mostly on Phoon's side since he was way more open with his feelings than Kluen was, but then he goes and disrespects Nuea's space by kissing him to prove a point to Kluen, and I was over it. I also liked the way they handled Gia and Kluen's relationship. Instead of her being a jealous ex, she helps Nuea (even if it is very unnecessary) and it's nice to see two people care deeply for one another without it having to be romantic. Fah was also a delight to watch. I loved his and Nuea's dynamic, and he was pretty much the caring older brother who gave great advice. He played his part right in making me more interested in watching his love story in Sky In My Heart.

I have no bad blood with any of the characters. I actually think it's this show's stronger suit since they all were charismatic and brought along some needed elements. I truly love Maitee with all of me, and I want to see him have his one series. Everyone played their part by being there for both Kluen and Nuea. Again, JJ was used as a side role, and it's part of my hatred for this series. get him his own Series!!!! Now!!!!!!

My theory is that Joong and Dunk didn't really know each other that well when they first started filming this, cause I absolutely hated the first and second episodes. They were awkward, stiff, and had zero connection. It gets a bit better by episode three, and then from there, their relationship is a least a little bit more convincing. As I explained earlier, they had no real conflict keeping them from being together. It was literally the writers making these two the most non-communicative human beings in the world. Half of everything could've been solved with conversations. And then they throw in an extremely unnecessary forced kiss between the two of them, and I've never wanted to punch my screen so bad as I did at that moment. Their story would've been much more entertaining if the writers would've done at least two more minutes of brainstorming. The last episode was the only one I didn't watch in 2x speed, and that was only cause they give a little more focus to Fah, whose two extra minutes of screentime was more interesting than this entire series.

Ratings:

Story: 5 - Enchante at least had a plot worthy of interest. Nothing ever caught my attention enough for me to just really enjoy this. Some chunks here and there, but this is probably the blandest story of 2022. I'll only give it five stars for the way they set up Fah's story for Sky In My Heart.

Acting: 8 - It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either. Joong's acting felt a bit weird, and Dunk was a bit stiff at times. For Pawin to have such a small role, he really stood out the most. Mek also did a good job. Everyone else was decent.

Music: 6 - Fine. Didn't really pay attention to it.

Rewatch Value: 1 - not likely.

I originally watched this only for Joong cause I missed him dearly, but this wasn't the series I would've put him in for his comeback into the BL community. If anything, I wish they would've spent more time on finding him the perfect role instead of pushing him into the first one available. Dunk was fine, but I probably wouldn't have hired him to play in this series, let alone a BL. He just kind of fits awkwardly, and it makes for an odd watch. I don't recommend this unless you want to see Joong or to get some context for the Sky In My Heart, otherwise, don't bother.

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Unreal How Much I liked This

Seeing the overall rating and some of the comments I've read about this had me really worried about this series, but after watching, I'm Ever 9 and Yi-Ping's biggest supporter. Anti-reset was exactly the series I needed to get out of my BL-slump, and now I'm back in (I think, ask me in another 2 days), and I severely love this series.

Let's Dive In.

I desperately needed something new, something that wasn't a bunch of uniforms or office jargon, and this series was just perfect. It's the first in the BL genre (to my knowledge) that takes on the robot/human trope and I ate every single second of this series up. The first episode had me hooked, mostly because Li Feng (Ever 9) was gorgeous in all of his shots, especially the ones with Yi-Ping touching him and seeing how he looked so real but was just a robot. But more importantly, I think the overall feel of the series had me seated and so excited. Before their second kiss, the tension between them is so strong that you yearn for them to do literally anything.

Now the story isn't perfect. I think they could've gone into more depth about how Ever 9 worked in general outside of being a caretaker for Yi-Ping. I think it's interesting that he can eat, but does that mean he can use the restroom? And there were times when his emotions were so human-like that I wondered if he was just some half-human-half-robot person. I think as well they could've made the plot a lot more interesting by having maybe added a couple of twists, like Yi-Ping maybe finding out Ever 9 was a cyborg which is why he loved him, or at the end, they did reset him, and we have to see him rebuild all of these memories again with Ever 9 -- I don't know, something to spice up the plot a bit. Also, they never go into any depth about the weird connection that the series kept making to Ever 9 and Yi-Ping's dog who died. Was his dog's spirit in the robot (weird)? Did Ever 9 remind him of his dog which was like him finally having a companion again? I'm not sure, it wasn't thoroughly looked into, and I think it could've just been scrapped completely cause it was a little suspicious on the moral spectrum (but then again, he is falling in love with a robot so...)

But again, I loved this, the tension, their outings, the small moments of Yi-Ping falling in love with something he knew he shouldn't. When you look a little deeper into it, of course it's weird and a bit creepy to fall for something nonhuman, especially something that's programmed to do just that, And if you think even deeper than that, it's sad that Yi-Ping's uncle had to program a robot for Yi-Ping, and he that he won't ever be able to just make that same connection to a human person. He technically has nobody except something that could shut off on him at any time.

Their intimate scenes were handled really well. Lots of great kissing, and I liked that they focused more on the love part of the NC than the actual NC part. The series didn't have to make the women so insufferable like his assistant who couldn't take a hint or his student. I also hated that they made Ever 9's lips the color of his skin any time he was shutting off or in the lab, it just looked a little funny. Just some nit-picky stuff, but overall, I loved the story.

Ratings

Story: 8.5/10 - Some hiccups, but overall I enjoyed it. I love the lab stuff the most and watching Ever 9's facial expressions as they programmed him. Their domestic life was so cute, it's literally one of my favorite tropes.

Acting: 9/10 - They did excellent! Especially Li Feng. I think they both had some difficulties in being able to cry (in some scenes, not all), but overall everyone did a great job.

Music: 7/10 - I didn't pay much attention to it, but it wasn't distracting.

Recommendation Value: 8/10 - I really think this one is a good one to watch! It's different from the plethora of BLs that we have at our disposals, and it helped me get out of my BL-block, so that's a big reason too (lol).

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Too Short but Super Cute

The Love of Winter was a too-quick watch that took me less than an hour to finish. There was so much good about this little mini-series, and I hate that it ended right when it just began. Beautiful scenery, gorgeous looking leads, and a plot basic enough to fit into 2 20-minute episodes; The Love of Winter is a simply sweet and lighthearted BL that gives you enough feels to not mind that you blink and it's over.

Let's Dive In.

The plot is again, rather simple. A city guy comes to the countryside to take a break from the big city when he meets a local and they hit it off instantly. We also meet these two girls that add some comedy to the show. Although their roles were not as important, they were likable enough to watch since they helped Thitnuea get with Kinn and supported him throughout. I believe the company behind this series is brand-new and just trying to create a platform for themselves, which they do decently with, and why I wasn't all that mad at this being a very short series. if this is the content that we can continue to see from them in the near future, then I'm not upset. This BL was super cute, and just something nice to watch that doesn't have any complicated parts, or anything off-topic. It goes straight to the point, and I loved it.

What I liked: The acting was pretty good. I think Kinn's actor could've done a bit better. He has this stare thing that makes it look like he doesn't want to be there (and imagine the irony in that), but overall, it wasn't so bad that it was unwatchable. Everyone else's acting was satisfactory.

The moments between Thitnuea and Kinn were super cute. Again, they didn't have much time to cross out of the story into something else, but it just leads to some fantastic moments that were super endearing. My favorite was probably them at the tint and the almost-kiss.

Production is way better than expected from a brand-new company, It was giving "1000 Stars" feels and I will take that anytime I can. The scenery was gorgeous, the wardrobe on the actors was excellent, and the cinematography of it all was just so beautifully done. The only argument I have is that the subtitles get pretty wacky in the midst of the first episode. It's not so bad that's unwatchable, but just a little annoying.

What I didn't like: In the last few minutes of the second episode, we see Kinn struggling with his seem to be ex-boyfriend. It was pathetic to put something so out-of-the-blue into the last 6-5 minutes of the series. There was no need for any type of conflict in a series like this where it's so short, and it served to be irrelevant as Thitnuea basically forgives him at the drop of a hat. I hate when plots like these are introduced, especially when a series is almost over. It feels like lazy writing, which I'm sure it was. Again, I hated how short it was. I can imagine this being a 12 episode 40-minute series that could add so many little details and bigger characters to make this even better.

Ratings:

Story: 7.5 - The story was as simple as it could be, but with the time that this series had, it was okay.

Acting: 8.5 - Again, the acting is satisfactory, Kinn's actor could use more work.

Music: 5 - decent, nothing spectacular, but it wasn't distracting.

Rewatch Value: 1 - this series is really short, so there's no point in rewatching it.

I recommend this show. simple? Yes. Short? Yes. But it's a cute and lighthearted watch that can take you out of whatever bad time you're having to dive into the lives of these characters.

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The Potential This Series Had...

Another BL that used the chef/cooking plot, and was honestly executed very well. I was so ecstatic to see that Mark was going to be in this -- a series that was finally going to show off his acting abilities (in which it did! Phenemonally!) This series had so much potential to be up there with the Greats, but unfortunately, it turns for the worst by episode 8. Bite Me is a cinematically beautiful series that was following along with a perfect storyline until it decided to ruin itself.

Let's Dive In.

Firstly production. Had the plot been half as decent as the food shots, then this series would be the best BL to date. I mean, it's food p*rn on steroids. Mesmerizing shots, gorgeous colors, and left my mouth watering each and every time. Along with that, the cinematography was absolutely remarkable. The colors, the scenery, the framing, the lighting; it was wonderful. I would place this series in the same bubble as ATOTS and ITSAY in terms of production, it was just that good. The only thing I care to complain about is the excessive ad placements. In episode 2 or 3 alone, there's at least 3-4 ad placement in the span of 5 minutes. It's ludicrous. Even the delivery service is an ad placement, it's just way too much.

Onto the plot. I know a lot of people had a problem with the ridiculously slow pace of this series, but I think that was the best part for me. Sure, some scenes ran on too long, and there were a bunch of filler shots, but the slow burn of Aek and Aue built up so much chemistry between the two. I'm a sucker for slow-burn relationships. To see the small things like longing stares, and developing feelings, and the tiny moments when you see a character falling in love is the part that makes a series for me, and boy did they have a bunch. I think what they did best at was building up that tension. at some point in the series, the tensity becomes so much that you start to see that sexual tension between them. Too bad the execution was terrible. Kind of like Sun and Sky from Golden Blood, the screenwriters do such a good job at constructing these relationships, only for them to ruin them in the execution.

We all sit at the edge of our seats for something to finally happen between Aek and Aue, only for it to turn sour. It was so out of character for Aue to kiss Aek without consent. It was out of character for Aek to act so defensively the way he did. It was a cheap route for the screenwriters to take. Of course we needed Aek running in the rain and tripping and hurting his arm, for him to then go to the ER with a stranger he met days ago. So unbelievably out of character that it took me out of the story. I was upset from that point on. Instead of what did happen, I would've made Aek more nervous than defensive. I would've built upon that feeling of him being unsure of where things were headed but in a more calming manner so that when Aue does admit how he feels, they could've kissed consensually, and maybe Aek would've just left cause he's more confused and not sure how to handle his newfound feelings. I don't know, anything else than what did happen. From that point on, their relationship feels like a joke. They don't talk about what happened, kind of just pretend like it didn't, and then get a cutesy ending with a sorry kiss. Actually, the little use of physical intimacy usually doesn't bother me, but for this series, in particular, it was needed. So the final kiss is so underwhelming that I wanted to throw my phone. At least in ATOTS, we get an incredible finale kiss and see their relationship grow. In my personal opinion. this series shouldn't have been named "Bite Me", it insinuates that it was going to be high heat, but there's none to be found. Instead, it should've had a name like ITSAY to be somewhat aesthetic.

Onto the supporting characters. Aek's friend group had no chemistry. It was kind of awkward and like they were trying too hard at convincing us they were friends and not a bunch of actors (although Gameplay did good, even with his one-dimensional character). The employees at the restaurant were decent. I didn't care for Chompoo or her relationship with Lek. I was okay with Nuna, and her story was okay. Prem and Vich had zero chemistry. their relationship was so left-field that it was laughable. The only cute scene was the couple of moments in the last episode and that's it. The only supporting character that I loved was Nuan. Their scenes were enjoyable. Her conversation with Aek left me feeling somber, especially when he admits his feelings for Aue and she supports it.

The acting was pretty well done. The only actor I really had a problem with was Vich's actor. He was bland and awkward. Prem's wasn't that good either. Mark's acting felt so much more authentic here than in LBC. I think he did a really good job, some moments could've been better but overall, I loved watching him (other than the fact that he sometimes talked really freaking slow, but that could've been a character choice). Zung was good as well, I liked the longing look he gave and his mature presence. Allegedly, he didn't want to be in a BL but gave in. Why give a role to someone that doesn't want it? There are plenty of other people out there that would've happily accepted the role. Don't give it to someone who obviously has a problem with BL and playing a gay character. Most noticeably why we probably didn't get that physical intimacy that was needed.

Overall, this series was so good until it wasn't. I'm so sad that this wasn't the series that I so wanted it to be. I want to see Mark in more projects, I love him so much. Zung can stay very far away from any other BLs series as he pleases, we have no room for actors only wanting to grab attention and money from this industry.

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It Gave What It Was Suppose To

I did a little research on this series before I started it, and most of it was a lot of negative feedback, so I went in with very little expectations, but I honestly loved it? The dynamics of each couple, getting to see a new plot every two episodes, experiencing the way the stories interlaced and connected; quite truthfully, I'm shocked that the majority didn't like it. Y-destiny stands as an anthology series that showcased 7 unique couples that told very different and compelling stories. Although I enjoyed my time, it obviously had its problems, the first ones starting with the subtitles.

Let's dive in.

Looking at the show overall, it was very nicely done. The production was super nice, one of my faves I've seen this year. The setting was one of my all-time favorites (besides IPYTM), I loved all the boys' makeup and the way the light illuminated on them perfectly, I loved the wardrobes (especially Nuea's) and the music was fantastic. Sound effects were a little overused, but other than that, production was top-notch. The subtitles were a dumpster fire. I watched on dramacool, but I don't seem to be the only one that had troubles with it. Other than it skipping entire conversations, it rarely ever read the words on screen or text messages or anything. It also was just horrible grammar. I try not to be too harsh on subtitles though since the intended audience isn't for me, but damn, those were just horrible.

Now onto the couple. I'm going to rank from my favorite couple to my least favorite couple (which won't be hard to guess) But honestly, other than my least favorite couple, this is taking me forever to rank, the stories were all pretty good. Also, I'm basing this off of what truly had me more entertained than anything. Not necessarily which one had the best plot out of them all.

1. Team and Mon - 9/10
I loved their dynamic way too much. The small and cute and innocent boy with the manly, popular badass man is like the stories I love. I think it's more cause this couple reminded m so much of Dean and Pharm and they are one of the best-developed couples, as well as one of the best on-screen chemistry I've ever seen in a BL. Mon was just so adorable, and even just how much he swooned for Team was so cute. All they're BL cliches I loved, the elevator scene was probably one of my favorite. I also liked how the heat scene was handled (even under their circumstances). It was hot and slow and beautiful. Even Mon's friend trying to cheer him up after everything was just perfect. again, going back to the way they have these couples interacting is the best thing ever. The only thing I can think of that was a bit annoying might be the last-minute conflict they added with Team's ex-boyfriend. So unnecessary, and Mon's reaction is so not accurate at all if he'd been paying attention. other than that, the whole betting thing was pretty disgusting, but you can see how it's going to go before the ending, so I didn't mind it. Both actors did really well, Korn is the cutest ever, and his acting was really good. He played up to the bubbly and sweet guy perfectly, For this to be Gung's first acting gig, he did a phenomenal job. Hope we can continue to see more of him.

2. Sun and Nuea - 9/10
Their chemistry was so good in this series than I've seen it in others. Finally, I think that Nat was given a suitable character that was perfect for him. His acting has gotten so much better, still not where it could be, but much better than Why R U or Close Friend. His wardrobe was FABULOUS. I also loved how feminine they made his character out to be. A big pat on the back for him. As for Max, he did a really good job as per usual. Their episodes were petty silly and sweet, but their moments were everything. The way Sun held him when he was "drunk", Sun fangirling over writing (what I'm assuming cause the subtitles were bad) Nuea's name on his window, them having their facetime calls, to even how sensual and consenting the scene with Nuea being "drunk" was. Nuea at the beginning was being pretty gross and inappropriate, the type of behavior that can get you punished for sexual harassment, but this is BL, so we don't take it too seriously. The conflict was pretty avoidable if communication was there in the beginning. Nuea being on live and telling all of his and Sun's personal business was seriously annoying and aggravating, like turn off your phone, this is a private moment, other than that, everything else was good. Another thing to note, their height difference gets two points for itself (same goes for Mon and Team).

3. Puth and Kaeng - 9/10
There's no lying that this story had the best plot out of all of them, which is why it gets the same score as the other two. This was First's ever acting gig, which is so surprising cause he stole the show. From his acting to his wardrobe (my second favorite, it was so sophisticated and sexy. That red outfit???? Flawless), everything about him was perfect, His and Toru's chemistry was off the charts. Their heated moments (and they had plenty) were so well done and so natural that at times I had to look away cause it felt like I was intruding on an intimate moment that I wasn't supposed to be a part of. There is no surprise as to why they were the popular couple out of all of them, as well as their episodes being the most-watched. But, I actually really liked Payu, but that's because my mind automatically likes the second-options always. I felt bad for him, but we all knew how it was going to end. The only thing I found a bit off was Puths' sudden shift in really wanted to be with Kaeng when he wanted nothing to do with him 2 seconds before. Realization can hit you, but not that hard. Obviously, they only had two episodes to work with, so I wasn't all that mad about it, but it was a bit bothersome. Also, the way Puth treated Kaeng was just really hurtful. It was obvious to anyone that Kaeng liked him, and I honestly don't see the whole point in him only wanting to be friends with benefits. There was just no reason why. It could've been because he wasn't wanting to date, but that option flew out the window when he started pursuing Payu. A weird conflict, but again, they needed something. I'm judging just a bit more than the others cause they did have the most well-developed plot and I can be nit-picky if I want to. Anyways, nice acting, nice chemistry, and a very nice story.

4. Masuk, Jia, and Tir - 8/10
I originally watched this for Tay and Perth cause I love them so much, but we see very little of them in their episodes (mostly because Tir is dead for the majority of it). Even with the scoring, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love their story. even Jia was just such a heartthrob and so slow and gentle with Masuk. I think my favorite scene was them at Jia's house. The only thing I wanted more of was some time for us to see that chemistry between them. It was more of Jia just having big flirty eyes for Masuk, and Masuk sulking and staring into his eyes for a way too uncomfortable amount of time. I loved the mystical side of the series, showing that even if Masuk had accompanied Tir, he still would've tried to save the boy and he was going to die no matter what. The only thing was, Lay's acting felt lacking in these episodes. His hair was great and his wardrobe was awesome, but he was just so stoic for the episodes. I realize that his boyfriend had died, but I wanted him to be a lot sadder than what we'd see him try to be. I loved that Jia and he got together, but Tir still being present was just kind of weird and disturbing. I was thinking he was going to leave after his and Masuk's little conference, but nope, he was there the entire time, even for their little trip. It was definitely giving low-key threesome vibes. It would've been better had he'd just dissapeared. Again, the acting was decent, Perth was a cutey, and Jia being a gentle and concenting giant was perfect.

5. Sat and Choke - 7/10
I LOVE myself a good friend to lover trope. This one was plotted out differently than I have ever seen, but I really liked it. I liked how Sat was discovering him being 18, and just his journey of being a little boy stuck in a man's body. He's going back to choke was super cute, I loved their dynamic, their chemistry was super sweet, and their shyness added to my overall love for them. Their backstory added so much to the story, even the premise with the toy robot. At first, I was sure why they did the anime portion of this series since they had the actual younger actors present, but the kiss at the last episode was a bit much and a little uncomfortable, even in anime style, they were just a little too young, so it wasn't like some like magical moment. With that, I know that Sat was 18, but he was technically still young and a minor, so their little handsy moment was a bit -- eh. I would also love this couple a lot more if they didn't go back and forth between English and Thai. it was a bit annoying, just because Jaab seemed like a really good English speaker, and Ton wasn't bad either, except he was the greatest and was better off just speaking Thai. I don't know what the point of doing that was for, and it just distracted me from what they were saying cause I was only focused on them speaking English. Both actors did a really good job, and I hope to see this duo in another series, one with more screen time.

6. Thurs and Pao/Pae - 5/10
Although I think Pee (god, what an interesting name) is the cutest thing ever, his episodes seemed to be the one that didn't catch my attention until the very end. The first episode was really boring, it was a lot of story building, but it was just too long. Pao was really cute, I liked how precious he acted as a ghost, and his bit of difference as a human. Their scene at the carnival was really cute, and a phenomenal job was done when they were parting ways. The actors did a good job. Nothing was super bad about their episode, it was pretty mediocre and cute, but not really my cup of tea.

7. Ake and Tue - 4/10
I don't understand how some people actually enjoyed this episode the most? Why? and be honest, cause nothing was really good. I'm not a fan of enemies to lovers, but the whole premise of Tue being mad cause he cut in line??? Are we 6? and their aggression towards each other was cringe like hell. what was the reason for standing so close? I had to look away at times cause it was just too much. also, they just kind of go from hating each other to then being all shy and adorable together? Felt like we missed a whole part, it was not giving what it was supposed to. Nothing about this couple I really enjoyed, I guess their chemistry was nice, but that's really it. I think they were trying to create this internal lust for each other through aggression and the face-to-face contract, but it came off cringe and weird. But, I really liked them in the last episode which is the only reason this now has a 4 instead of the original 3.

Overall, this series was enjoyable. getting to see the next dynamic of a new couple was pretty fun, and for most of the couples, I really loved watching them. I'd recommend this anthology series, it was the better ones of the others I've seen. Nice plot, really good acting, and a phenomenal OST.

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ITSAY Sweeps The Competition!

I'll keep this short cause there are PLENTY of reviews, but ITSAY was a masterpiece. Beautifully executed through the scenery, the acting, and the story. This was my first time seeing PP and Billkin, and they did NOT leave me disappointed. A beautiful teenage love story that will coerce the BL industry for sure.

Let's Dive In.

The acting was the best I've ever seen in BL. A huge job-well-done to all of the cast, but, I specifically want to point out the young Teh and Oh-aew. THE BEST ACTING DONE BY CHILDREN EVER. LIKE LITERALLY EVER. I have never felt so much emotion come from a kid ever before. Let's hope to see them in future projects,

A part of me wanted this show to switch up and actually have Bas and Oh-aew end up together. While I think Teh is a good person and would a 100 percent make as a great boyfrned, something in me pined for Bas and Oh-aew more. In season two, I want to see that Bas gets his happy ending.

Overall, this series was breathtaking and beautiful. I have to give an extra applause for the underwater kiss that took my breath away. Another extra applause for the production team, an absolute masterpiece. This BL has for sure paved the way for how we should hopefully be seeing future BLs to come.

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Good Watch

My dream was an enjoyable watch. Too bad we won't be able to see more from these people, even though they teased a second season. An Incredible story, a bizarre concept, and a little bit of fantasy really went a long way with these couples.

Let's Dive In,

The story was the best part of this series. I love that it keeps us on our toes, and continued to send plot twist after plot twist. I think my favorite plot twist was when we find out Elle killed Fairy, It was a fun ride going along this story. Can't be a hundred percent sure exactly everything that happens though. somethings were left ambiguous and others had o ending at all. For one, Yim and Joe. Why did Yim kiss Joe after he has sexually assaulted him? Why did Joe rape him, what was the motive there? It was an unnecessary plot, and I could've done without them.

For some reason, I loved Tanai and Runway way more than Dream and Runway. That might be partly due to Dream having always been there for Runway, even when he was a baby and Dream was a grown-ass man. Kind of awkward, very creepy, and it gave me stalker pervert pedo vibes. Although, Dream had the cutest dimples ever. I wanted to see more of Dr. Good and Elle! There was something there, I was rooting for them the entire time, but sadly, we got nothing. By far, guy Elle had the best acting in this series, I loved the way we could see a hidden pain in his eyes even when we hadn't known what he had done. I always could tell that there was something else with these two and turns out I was right.

Overall, the concept is really cute, and different than anything I have ever seen before. The only problems I really had were with Yim and Joe, other than that, this was an enjoyable watch, and I'll miss them dearly. I wish we could get that season two so badly, so many things were left open-ended, and now we'll never know.

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Understandable, but Not Excusable

I didn't intend on writing a review for this show seeing as there are plenty of reviews to read (this one will most likely be caught in the web of not being seen), but after leaving comments on a few reviews, I decided to go ahead and write one for my own benefit.

before diving in, I do want to but a disclaimer that I put this show on my WNF list (Will Not Finish) and stopped watching after episode 6 because I was a little bored and also fed up with the bullsh*t that were the plot holes.

Now let's dive in.

Production: 5/10 - Nothing bad, but nothing spectacular either. Tharntype was the very first BL that I have ever seen, as well as the first tv series from Asia that I'd ever watched, so there are very noticeable differences in the use of sound, lighting, effects, and ads.

Story: 4/10 - The plot was generic and basic, nothing special once again. Your average university students plot, except this one hates the gays more than the average uni student.

Acting: 8/10 - As much as I didn't like most any of the plots, the acting was superb in this series. The chemistry between the leads were good, and all other characters played their roles exactly right that adding to the world-building.

Others - If Tharntype is the best BL that you have ever seen in the history of BLs then there is one thing that you haven't done:

1. Seen literally any other BL

If this was your first BL ever like it was mine, then fine, I get it. And I even get it if you had seen Hotel Stars or WaterBoyy next, but you HAVEN'T seen anything good if you still consider this the best BL ever. There are so many other series that literally take the cake and eat all of it and then go back and get more cake, like seriously. The ones on my top five are - 1000 Stars, Gameboys, HIStory 3: MODC, I Told Sunset About You and Mr. Heart. I promise Tharntype will become the least of your worries once you have seen these series, I swear to GOD. Okay, moving on,

I'm going to skip the part in which I talk about each individual couple since I only really saw Tharn and Type. Their chemistry didn't really reach a good point until after they had sex, anything before that felt angsty, gross, perverted, and boring. Gulf and Mew are amazing actors and I hope to see them in future projects that aren't as problematic as Tharntype was. I could give a lengthy review on why Tharntype is so toxic and not good, but there are plenty of reviews that do so, so I'll keep it brief. I think it's perfectly okay to like this series, as there are good parts, but some reviews try to excuse their behavior to fit their narrative and that is not okay. We all have our guilty pleasures, there are shows we probably shouldn't like, but we do. And that's completely fine, but don't ignore the bad just to only highlight the good.

Type:

Although Type was very ignorant and rude, his behavior is somewhat acceptable seeing as he has gone through past trauma, and the worst he did was just throw around Tharns things, and be annoying on purpose to have Tharn move out. I don't think it's an excuse for his anger issues, but rather an understanding.

Tharn:

Tharn sexually assaulted Type by groping and kissing him while Type was under the influence. Type literally wakes up the next morning covered in hickeys. That was one out of the many problems with Tharn. I personally liked Tharn more than Type, just because Type was pretty arrogant, and arrogant characters are not my forte. If we look past the disgust that was his behavior, he was sweet and did genuinely build up feelings for Type (that could've been executed more consensually, but oh well).

RECOMMEND? No, it would be the LAST series I recommend to someone new to BL. Maybe someone that has seen a umteenth number of BLs, but by then they probably have already seen TT.

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Lovely Time Travel Love Story

I'm not going to say anything differently than what has already been said, but of course, I will say something anyway. I Feel You Linger in The Air was a beautiful time-traveling love story with the addition of the harsh lives of women and gay people, told through a spectacular lens and with such deep-rooted characters and their dynamics. I would say that this is the best historical Thai BL I've ever seen, but it also acts as my first historical Thai BL, so it's automatically the best.

Let's Dive In.

I Feel You Linger in The Air tells the budding romance of Jom and Yai, a man from the future who inevitably falls for a man from the past. Furthermore, we also get to see the lives of Yai's family, friends, and servants who all play a passionate role in the changing of the past and the implications it will have on the future.

I'll start by saying this: I liked the plot/story a lot more than I liked the romance. Now hear me out, nothing was inherently wrong with the romance (they were super cute, super domestic, and everything that came out of Yai's mouth was just heart-wrenchingly beautiful), but the complexity of the story overall was much more entertaining for me. I think it's because I love slow-burns and while this wasn't necessarily fast, it felt like they got together pretty quickly. Yes, they don't get together until about halfway through the series, but by then, it feels like they rushed them to get together. It was building perfectly until, bam, Yai asked him to be his lover. Super romantic, but not 100 percent believable just yet, especially when Yai says things like "I'll love you forever" and they just got together. If anything, I would've liked them to wait longer, maybe after Yai's engagement ceremony when he realized he was to be wed to Busabong (I think that's how you spell it, she's not listed on MDL). When he felt that urgency and that yearning to be with Jom. Still, regardless, I liked the chemistry and they did well when their intimate scenes so I'm not all that pressed.

But now onto this spectacular story. One thing I hate about time travel is when the character is thrown into the future or past and immediately someone from that time is telling them what year it is, who they are, and what they are to the main character. But in IFYLITA, Jom was truly thrown into the 1900s and didn't figure out what time and year it was until he did some exploring on his own and found out -- because nobody in the 1900s thinks that someone of his age wouldn't be sure of what's going on. It was perfect. Also just the little details: The currency being different, the way they dressed, their everyday activities, the food they ate, the way they spoke, the accuracy of how women and LGBT+ people were treated, surprise that Jom was able to speak English, when Jom said more modern terms like cool or yo, the creation of Bangkok having not happened yet. It's obvious that they took their time with the structure and details of this story and it's very much appreciated.

Now usually I could care less about the lives of the side characters, but I was almost a little more interested in their story than the main couple. Like UeangPhueng and Meay for example -- loved them for real. Same with Fong Kaew and her trying to find out what happened and getting Mr. Robert to finally get arrested for his actions. Same with James and Ming whose stories weren't as developed, but I just loved seeing them on my screen. It's very rare when I'm interested in everything going on in a BL series excluding the actual BL couple.

The only part I'm having trouble figuring out is when Jom makes his way back to the present. So Yai shows up; does that mean Yai was reincarnated? Put into a bottle to be released once Jom comes back? Is Jom just seeing things? Seeing a ghost? Is Yai going to go through the same thing that Jom did, just this time in the present? And after the credits, we see the other Yai who was a lot more stern and obviously from a different period -- If there's to be a second season, will Jom be falling for another Yai? Will there be two Jom's? So many questions, I hope eventually these get answered.

Ratings:

Story: 9/10 - Magnificent. I'll only not give it another star because it is a little bit open-ended and the first episode was a tad bit slow. But overall, the story was perfect. These were hour-long episodes and to my surprise, I didn't once check to see how far along we were, the story is just that good that it keeps you captivated throughout.

Acting: 9/10 - Bravo! Everyone did such a good job. Jom and Yai could cry when need be, and the actors just did so perfectly at portraying their characters. I loved Nonkul's (Jom) acting the best and definitely Guide's (Ming) next.

Music: 6.5/10 - I paid attention to it a little bit, but what I heard was good, however, there were definitely times when the music was too loud and made it hard to hear the characters talking.

Recommendation Value: 8/10 - Overall, such a good series. But it is long, even when you're not thinking about its longevity, but it still took me about two weeks to finish, so probably not the BL to watch if you just aren't patient and don't want to sit through the hour-long episodes. I will say that I almost didn't watch this because of the very slow pace of the first episode, but trust me, it gets so much better after that. I highly recommend it for the story alone -- so much time has gone into this and it's worthwhile for sure.

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Easily One of the Best Asian LGBTQ+ Series of 2022

This one knocked my socks off for sure cause I expected nothing and came out so overwhelmed that I sat in silence for a good half hour mesmerized by what I just watched. I decided to go into this one straight out the gate, no reviews, no comments, I read a snippet of the synopsis but went in with a clear mind so that I can enjoy this series for what it would bring. And damn, did it come through. DNA Says Love You is not just a gem, it's a treasure chest full of them. It was everything I needed and more.

Let's Dive In.

I call DNA Say Love You an Asian LGBTQ+ series instead of a BL (Which it still is but on a way more important scale) because instead of being entirely about two guys following in love, it covers topics that most series have zero guts to do. Being the only country with legalized same-sex marriage, maybe they're the only one with the courage to pursue such a story. Le and Yu He work at a local cafe where they've grown up their entire lives. Every day they are waiting on their childhood best friend, Wen-Wen to come back from studying abroad. However, a mysterious guy named Amber shows up and dives into their lives while also exploring the long-term gay relationship of Li and Gwan.

One thing that makes this series so mesmerizing and perfect, yet such a shocker when you come to the realization of it, is that Amber use to be Wen-Wen. I was not expecting it at all, but then when episode 4 came around, it hit me like a truck and I stayed up another 2-3 hours to finish the rest, I couldn't stop watching. It was so thrilling and interesting, and they handled it with the utmost delicate and tactical care. They were able to tell the story of a gay intersex/trans-male like nothing else I've ever seen. His story was so heartbreaking that it was hard not to want to reach through the screen and give him a hug. But he's strong enough to be his true self and go back to the place that made him feel that way. But what I appreciate the most is that Le's crush on Wen-Wen was different from his crush on Amber. We see him fall for Amber in every interaction between the two of them, and he even explains in the end he didn't fall in love with Wen-Wen, he fell in love with Amber. And I was a wreck after that. Their chemistry was off the fucking charts. I was getting butterflies by episode two. They were able to keep such endearing contact with one another, physically and emotionally, that it tears you apart inside. By the end, you're screaming with joy because they're happy and in love, and it's the sweetest thing you'll ever see.

I really enjoyed Li and Gwan's story. The only thing that's not believable is how fast Li gives up on their 4-year long relationship after a simple misunderstanding. He didn't give Gwan time to respond and instead runs away and gets everybody involved in finding him. Of course, a beautiful moment on the rocks at night, but with anything being a misunderstanding or miscommunication, it becomes annoying. However, they do touch on the topic of being open and communicative and most series tend to skip over it, so I will give them that. But overall, I enjoyed watching them. They were sweet and fun and domestic. Lin Wei Jie also is just a fascinating actor and I hope to see him again.

Yu He is a darling character. I loved her to death. I also love the fact that she didn't let her ignored feelings from Le overtake what she knew him and Amber had. Instead, she becomes a supportive best friend of both of them and I adore her for that. The only thing I would've liked to be a bit more clear was that Le and Yu He weren't siblings. It might've just been me, or maybe I wasn't paying great attention to that part, but I believed up until the last few episodes that they were brother and sister. She gave looks every now and then, but I thought she might've been curious about Amber. Also, it might be an honorific thing I didn't quite understand because she called his mom mom too. Either way, it wasn't too much of a bothersome, just a better clarification.

Everyone deserves a mom like Le's mom. He was so worried about disappointing her, but she came out supportive and bright and I was a mess for that one too.

Rating:

Story: 9.5 - I loved it so much. It was perfect to the T and kept me engaged the entire time. It never once fell off track or became filler, everything that we see was important to the plot and to the characters. it all moved steadily and I like that we see a lot of Amber and Le together and that they handled such an important topic with grace.

Acting; 9 - Everyone did a fantastic job. Erek (Amber) stood out the most, with Li's actor right behind. But everyone did amazing, even the kids.

Music - 8 - Went well with the scenes. I mostly noticed it during Li and Gwan's story, and it was good.

Rewatch value: 5 - as much as I loved this, with everything in me, I could probably never gain the nerves to watch it again. I was a mess, and a mess for a while while the sun started coming up.

I highly recommend this series. It has now become my favorite BL from Taiwan and I'm still debating if this is my number one of all BLs or if ATOTS still holds that position. if anything, this one will be on my top list for sure.

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My Precious Series

Ocean Likes me was a pleasant surprise that I needed. Initially, seeing the trailer, I wasn't all that enthused about this, but eventually, this came next on my list of things to watch, so I tuned in. Good thing I tuned in without looking at reviews as the majority thinks this was mediocre at best (which I won't argue much on, since I can agree to some extent), and negative comments lead me to a negative mindset, and I'm glad I didn't have one when going into this series. Ocean Likes Me is a precious gem that I appreciate having the opportunity to watch.

Let's Dive In.

Ocean Likes Me is another BL based around being a chef/owning a restaurant in which Ba Da does, renting out a little shop on the beach to sell his udon, but his problem is that he's so shy that it's hard for him to get customers until he meets Tommy, an inspiring musician who helps him gain leverage for his restaurant. And the rest is history. The first episode was a little rocky, and I didn't love how they introduce us to Tommy.

If there are a few things I can nit-pick at in this show, then it's definitely how they introduce Tommy to Ba Da and the other girl. It made no sense, and in the end, served no purpose. He gets hit by the car Ba Da is driving and they panic and act like he's dead. It's too much for me to take seriously, and it's super silly for a series that mostly serious.

Although their relationship was heavily rushed, I literally could care less because they are the cutest humans I've ever watched. The number of times I went, "awe" to my screen was too many times. And I loved how realistic their relationship looked and felt. the little kisses they shared were so natural, and the cuddles and Tommy's little pouts and cutesy voice. God, I loved them. Again, their relationship feels rushed with the build-up of these two going by too fast to where we don't really feel their romance until their relationship begins. They hadn't had enough time with one another for Ba Da to go on a hunt for him, and confess his love to Tommy, although both actors do an amazing job, it is a bit anti-climatic. The ending is a bit rushed too, but I do like that Ba Da is supportive of Tommy leaving him to go pursue his dreams instead of holding him back, and it comes to suck that in the last 5 minutes, we get a time jump with no explanation of what went on for the both of them since then. They do get back together, which is nice, but again, we need to physically see their time on screen so we can find the space and heart to care. Other than those few obstacles, Holland and Gichan have incredible chemistry. I wouldn't mind seeing them again at all.

I really appreciate that we see Ba Da is openly gay/pan and has already been in an mlm relationship before. We don't spend too much time on the "revelation" that most K-BLs have, and instead, we really just fall for the story. Holland is also an openly gay Korean idol/actor which is incredible, and I love that he was able to portray such a healthy gay character in a healthy gay relationship.

I was surprised that I didn't want to chop my own head off at the realization that this was another food BL because of my literal hatred of Gichan's opposite partner in WYEL's food BL, My Sweet Dear (Euisoo). It was a trainwreck, so bad that I couldn't even manage to get through it, but this didn't throw me off one bit. I was happy that the cooking competition didn't take up too much time that we already didn't have. It happened quickly. and I don't feel the need to skip or FF.

On top of that, the cinematography is gorgeous. They get some beautiful shots of the sea and do a wonderful job at silhouetting the two main leads with the sun behind them and it's breathtaking.

Ratings;

Story: 8 - I think it could've been stronger, They didn't have much time to tell a full story with only 15 minutes for the 8 episodes, but they did what they could, and I appreciate that. The rushed relationship was handled a little sloppy at the end, the build-up could've been stronger. However, these two work on screen and create beautiful chemistry and told a simplistic story as best as they could.

Acting: 9.5 - I really think everyone pulled through in this. It was my first time seeing Holland act, and he did a wonderful job. I like how completely opposite Gichan felt in this compared to his character in WYEL who was a lot more bubbly and childish. Here, his mature and it shows. The others did well too. Nothing to complain about in this department.

Music: 7.5 - Holland has an incredible voice. He's a part of the very few people that I don't skip over when they're singing. So I'll give them that.

Rewatch value: 5 - A good chance I could rewatch, Just because I loved the way that the actors portray these character's relationship.

I recommend this with all of me, I finished in pretty much one sitting because I couldn't manage to not watch. Some hiccups, but this is still very much so worth the watch.

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