Hanging Out (2016)

This series strays from you typical BL fan service drama and instead focus on the point of view on what it’s like to be a gay millennial in The Philippines.

For reference, the Philippines is a predominantly Christian/ Catholic country with the older generations being more traditional sided. This show, however, cleverly tackles issues within the gay community with the point of view of millennials so topics such as hookup apps, HIV scares, and much more are cleverly woven into each 12 minute episodes like vignettes to portray an overarching image of love, lust, and life.

Another strong point of the series are the two main characters. The chemistry brought by the actors and the contrast between the characters produce a personal romance that viewers can relate and identify with. Sometimes the show just shows them talking for the whole episode, but it’s scenes like these that develop the differing characters and gives the audience an idea on where each opposing side is coming from.

The music is great! It has a modern indie pop vibe that goes well with the setting and the mood of the show. My personal favorite is the closing track “twenty years from now” that plays like a dance number but has lyrics that reflect upon the situation between the two main characters! (Seriously, it’s catchy af and quite unfortunate that the shows version isn’t on Spotify :/ )

I didn’t really have a problem with the acting but most of the side characters are a bit underused so it’s kind of hard to see their full potential! For example, there’s a straight character that has no significance in the show. I would have really liked for the show to have expanded on the idea of a straight man with a group of gays a bit more.

Overall, this show isn’t your typical Lovey-Dovey BL cheese feast but instead puts LGBT issues to the forefront with the point of view of millennials within a country with an unconventional social environment.

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