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HIStory3: Make Our Days Count
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I just started watching the HIStory series the last year or so and, phew, how far it's come. From a sucky first season to a second season with a very flawed beginning and an amazing second half, the third season is the series at its best. Of course, coming off the positive reception and hype from Trapped, Make Our Days Count had a lot to live up to unfortunately. I will say that Make Our Days Count is still one of the best of the HIStory series but it isn't able to hold a torch to Crossing The Line or Trapped. However, there is potential here but it's muddled by jarring flaws, overused tropes and a polarizing ending. The main relationship is absolutely wonderful and the way it progresses is very well done and one of the best aspects of the show. However, I do agree and understand with some that found Hsiao Hao-Ting's sudden attraction to Yu Xi Gu to be out of left field. Also, his toxic traits are glossed over, especially in respect to how he treats his girlfriend (I'm so sorry, I cant remember her name!) in the beginning. One can see how Hao-Ting's entrance into Xi Gu's life causes Xi Gu to reroute his whole plan to fix Hao-Ting's. Despite this, I found the chemistry between the actors to be electrifying. The actors did a very GREAT job at conveying several emotions. And Xi Gu is absolutely adorable!
As for the second couple, I was immediately put off by how it started and even at the end, I felt indifferent. I'm happy for the characters being happy in the ending but their relationship was built on toxicity. Sun Bo is whiny and doesn't know how to take no for an answer and does not know the meaning of consent. While it is brought up soon after, the issues are quickly glossed over for gratuitous sex scenes. I dont know, I just felt that Chih-gang felt obligated to start a relationship with Sun Bo if not it was not going to end well.
Everything seems to be going well with both couples until the last episode... where you learn about what happens to Xi Gu. At first, I was just in total shock. The feeling then transitioned into just pure upset and confusion over the decision to kill Xi Gu off. I do agree with many that say that they dont mind a sad ending if it's done well but this one is so random and appalling that it's actually an insult to not only the viewers but the characters as well, especially Xi Gu. Xi Gu did not deserve the ending he got. He suffered so much and ended finally achieving some type of happiness for THAT to happen. Also so much time was set up in the last episode to holding off on the shock of Xi Gu's death that we never really got to see how the other characters that were important to Xi Gu reacted in the aftermath. I was so mad that there was so showing of any type of emotion with Chih-gang. Chih-gang cared for Xi Gu so much and was practically like a surrogate brother to him. He was always looking out for him and was even against Hao-Ting being with Xi Gu in the beginning because he didn't want Xi Gu to get hurt and believed Hao-Ting's intentions to be hostile and for good reason. For there to be no representation of emotion from him is insulting to Xi Gu's character and what he signified to the show and these characters. And also what about the twin that liked Xi Gu? Another loose thread. There are showings of his crush on Xi Gu throughout the course of the show that never really go anywhere (not even a confession). He also cared deeply for Xi Gu and protected him from Hao-Ting and the rest of them in the beginning (I was shipping him at this moment with Xi Gu, they would've been so cute). You mean to tell me that he had no type of reaction to Xi Gu's death in any way? What was the writer thinking?
The ending is certainly going to leave many disgruntled but some will also come to understand it. While I do understand why they did it for the sake of the title, there was SO MANY OTHER WAYS that this could have been handled without death. The story could've ended with them bot being together at the end because they realized their forever really didn't mean forever. They just grew apart and learned they weren't meant to be but that they are grateful for their relationship for making every day they had together count. No matter if the love doesn't last forever, at least it mattered at the moment where they were in love. THIS could've been done. I don't know.
Overall, the show is saved by great acting and great music and a few surprises that turn the BL genre on its head (such as the girlfriend not being a villain THANK GOD). This show is still miles and miles better than what HIStory was in the beginning but it truly was potential wasted. Maybe after time I'll learn to love it a little more, not like I dont like it now but for now, I'm just that the show ended the way it did that left its audience with more question than answers and a lack of closure.
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A charming, heartwarming drama with all the right elements
Within the last year, Korea has been heading into the foray of BL, especially with the hugely popular Where Your Eyes Linger being at the forefront. For the most part, the stories that Korea has brought out have been pretty good, with maybe one or two subpar releases. Where Your Eyes Linger remained for me the best that had been of this category-- until now.To My Star is a pretty simple story. An actor moves into a share house after he gets caught up in a scandal and meets the main tenant there, a chef. There's tension at first but it soon turns into feelings for one another. I don't mind simple storylines. In fact, I love them. It's about execution and To My Star does it all the right ways.
Son Woo Hyun and Kim Kang Min have a soft yet incredible chemistry. The progression of their relationship is done so well and the actors sink into their roles perfectly. Kang Seo Joon is the bubbly and charming actor while Han Ji Woo is a complete tsundere. It's a trope that the writer knows how to work with and checks off the best parts of that trope without delving into the possible problematic parts of it. I absolutely loved the slow-burn of their relationship and how they came to admitting their feelings for each other.
The characters of Kim Pil Hyun and Baek Ho Min add some great humor to the show, especially Kim Pil Hyun (who I hope is the same character from Where Your Eyes Linger because we love interconnectivity!). Another positive note for Korean BLs is the continued positive representation of the women in the stories. BLs, ESPECIALLY Thai BLs, love to make women seem vile and vindictive in order to progress the story of the main male characters in the show. Thankfully, this hasn't been the case for the Korean ones yet. Yoon Seul is a pretty cool character for the most part. She's dedicated to her job and she's incredibly smart and observant. She's also a good friend to Ji Woo and actually wants to help Seo Joon's image. On the other character, Kyung Hi, I've been wanting a second kind of lead for a love triangle in a Korean BL since they've started. It didn't exactly happen the way I was hoping but hey, it's okay.
The one gripe I have is that I wanted to be longer. I'm sure I'm not alone in that thought. Maybe not necessarily longer episodes but just more of them. The writer and director did amazing within a limited nine-episode frame, though. As Korea is just starting with BL, we'll hopefully get to the point of longer shows.
All in all, if you want a light, tenderhearted show about two people falling for each other, with great chemistry, this is the one. Honestly, it's become the favorite of the ones that Korea has put out so far and it might make me a little biased going forward with future shows. I really hope that Son Woo Hyun and Kim Kang Min get cast in other projects too because they're really good actors (as well as the rest). Korea, take a hint.
Just know that they if they were to announce a sequel to this, I'll sure as hell be watching it.
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The HIStory tended to focus more on the teenage aspect of gay love, which is okay since I live for high school romances, but Trapped strays from this tradition and gives a story between a police officer and a crime boss. The result is WOW. Never have I felt a rush like I did with this show, I was heavily anticipating every new episode, even up to the last one. No episode is boring and there's so much plot development that happens with each episode that it's dizzying. The development of the love between Shao Fei and Tang Yi is electrifying (I know I used this word already for my Make Your Days Count review but it's the perfect word to use here). It's a gradual process and it's one that makes you incredibly eager to see the end result because you want to see both of them win at the end. Jake Hsu and Chris Wu have incredible chemistry and you can really feel the emotion, care they have for each other. To see Tang Yi begin to open up to Shao Fei was one of the most well done moments of this trope I've seen anywhere. Usually the trope is used to excuse the main guy's horrible personality and attitude for reasons ranging from whatever but here Tang Yi is not that. He's actually hardened for a reason and doesn't use that to be as a reason to be horrible to other people, even despite the fact that he's a crime boss. Both he and Shao Fei were done written and done so well that I really want to applaud the writers for doing this.
The second couple is cute, leave it for a few too many moments of actual cringe. I did find Jack's sudden attraction to Zhao Zi to be random but I did like that he was open and unafraid of his feelings for him early on. While I still kind of find Jack to be kind of one dimensional, Zhao Zi is absolutely adorable and he's such a great and loyal friend to Shao Fei. His interactions with majority of the characters is absolutely adorable too.
While I do love this series in its entirety, there are a few problems I have with it. For one, its representation of other gay characters aside from the main four. There were so many stereotypes that were put forth with these characters that it's kind of sad to see in a show that is usually progressive in terms to how they represent the queer community. Andy is one of Tang Yi's friends who is gay and obviously has a thing for Tang Yi. That's not a problem if it weren't for the fact that Andy has a BOYFRIEND and yet he's still pining for Tang Yi's affection and it is very sensual with him. This puts unfortunate strength to the negative stereotype that gay men are incredibly promiscuous and prone to cheating. Then theres Zhi-de, who is also in love with Tang Yi because who isn't. Anyways, when his advances are constantly rejected and in favor for Shao Fei, Zhi-de resorts to kidnapping and sexual aggression to gain Tang Yi's attention. This furthers the stereotype of promiscuity and also the horrible stereotype of gay men as predatory. Now onto two, Hong Ye. Sigh. I was so disappointed that the show was going with the route of the evil female character in the BL. It's a horrible trope that is not also rooted in sexism but also downright misogyny that will do anything to make the male characters look good. It was quite confusing what the reasons for her being antagonistic with Shao Fei were. I thought at first she was also in love with Tang Yi but then Gao De comes in and that's the one she's in love with. ???. However that doesn't stop her from being horrible. She is actually responsible for Shao Fei getting shot the first time and wipes her hands clean from the whole ordeal by telling Zhi-de she doesn't want to be connected to it... and she gets away with it. The hell? It pissed me off because after a while everything she did is glossed over and eventually she accepts the relationship ... Now for the last one, three, the plot is a bit farfetched and cliche. However, this isn't a jarring problem so I might let it slide.
All in all, the show isn't one without flaws but it's definitely one of the best BLs out there (with HIStory 2: Crossing The Line, SOTUS, Mr. X and I: Be There For You). It's got a great cast with great performances, excellent music (the opening theme is AMAZING) and impressive cinematography. It's a great ride and it definitely has rewatch value. I definitely recommend. I just might watch it again myself.
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In the world of BL, there are rarities that actually manage to capture the heart of the story it is trying to tell. Mr. X and I: Be Here For You is one of those rarities. This story is able to encapsulate a great coming of age story about a teen who falls for his straight best friend in the matter of two hours. We feel for our male lead, Xu Zhengxi, as he struggles to deal with his burgeoning feelings for Tao Ye, his best friend. It's a story that tackles the topic of homosexuality, friendship and love in a subtle and careful ways that are adaptable to the country they live in but also manages to tell the story properly.
What I love the most about this movie is its importance to love. Love is such a prominent emotion throughout the course of the story. The love presented isn't just romantic but also platonic in the forms of its friendships. Like someone in a previous review stated, the friendships in this story are beyond precious, especially that of Xu Zhengxi and Ai Tong (she's so precious and adorable and wonderful and she's the best friend anyone can have). However, the romantic love presented in here is also special as Xiao Bu, who ends up falling for Xu Zhengxi, protects him from the heartbreak at all costs. It's these little sweet moments that make the story all the better.
Is the story a happy one? That depends on how you see it. I will say it's realistic, considering that this is something that can happen and we have to consider where they're living. Things dont go well for Xu Zhengxi and Tao Ye and their friendship is never the same but they are able to find solace eventually. Xu Zhengxi gains a loyal and caring boyfriend in Xiao Bu and, despite his hurt with Tao Ye, he is able to confront it at Tao Ye's by singing a song about that heartbreak and crush he used to have. It's more of a bittersweet story but it's done well and realistically that it ends the story well.
I will say though that there are a few things that conflict me. One of them is Tao Ye. I don't know whether I'm supposed to dislike him or not. He is inherently straight for the most part but there are moments where he seems to feel something for Zhengxi and leads him on a lot of the times. It's something that angered me about him. I get not knowing your own feelings or being too scared to admit them but leading on someone just to break their heart is just cruel. It's not just one moment, it's multiple. Tao Ye was also indifferent to Xiao Bu and did not like him around Zhengxi and wanted to take Zhengxi away from Xiao Bu, for himself. Tao Ye could not make up his damn mind and it was frustrating. I also did not like the typical mean girlfriend trope. It's a trope that's been done to hell and I'm ready to see it go. Theres also the scene transitioning and shoddy camerawork but that's more a technical thing and that doesn't and shouldn't take away from the quality of the story. There are some moments that also more unclear than others and you have to decipher a bit.
Overall, this is a BL story I highly recommend, just for the essence of being a great coming-of-age story. Most BLs rely on gratuitous sex scenes and unnecessary plot devices to appease a certain portion of people watching these stories. Be Here For You does not do that. It's a story about love and how it can hurt but also how it can heal.
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HIStory2: Boundary Crossing
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Ah! Where do I begin reviewing my favorite BL ever? I love Zi Xuan and Yu Hao! I love everything about them!!! Okay, here we go, for real. After a problematic start, HIStory 2 finally finds its footing with this great second part. A typical high school set love story that manages to do everything right and some more.
The way the love between the two main characters is done is so satisfying and well done, without any negative tropes or stereotypes. It's just two boys falling for each other, mixed in with the theme of volleyball. Zach Lu and Fandy Fan are magnetic in their respective roles and they give such a life to their characters that you fall in love with them. Everything about them is sweet and wholehearted. You feel for Yu Hao as he learns of his feelings early on for Zi Xuan and tries his best to deal with them. There's also Zi Xuan, who is reluctant to accept his own feelings for Yi Hao, for his own sake and for his sister's since she also has a crush on Yu Hao. It all comes to a fitting end that sees Zi Xuan accept of his feelings and the two of them promising to continue their relationship despite the long distance.
The side characters are great (I won't be talking about the stepbrothers yet, that's coming up). Zi Xuan's best friend and captain of the volleyball team is a great balance of comedic relief and emotional support as he is always there for Zi Yuan no matter what and accepts his feelings for Yu Hao. The homeroom teacher/volleyball coach is super cool too with whatever little screen time she's given. There's also her sister who helps assist the volleyball team and she's absolutely adorable. It's nice to see a BL with positive female representation which is so rare. Even Zi Yuan's sister, despite her clingy and immature nature, isn't necessarily a bad character either. She just has a crush and even tells her brother to go after Yu Hao since she realizes her crush to be solely circumstantial. There's the other member of the volleyball team and it's implied that he had feelings for Zi Xuan despite it never explicitly being said.
Alright, now onto the stepbrothers. Now to start off, I like them as characters. They're good friends to Yu Hao and very loyal to him. However, as for their relationship... I'm going to say this... I find stepbrother romances in BL to be disgusting and I hate them. Now I know some will say that they're not blood related which is technically correct but they're still family and I just find the whole thing gross for me, in my opinion. I'm honestly tired of the trope in BL and it's one that was explored already in the first HIStory. I wish the trope to go away and be erased forever. If I were to look past the whole stepbrother incest thing, which is problematic in itself, their relationship is kinda dry anyway. I just wish they were best friends in love with each other instead.
Despite this flaw, Boundary Crossing is one of the best - if not the BEST BL out there at the current moment. I know some might disagree and that's okay because everyone is different in how they like things. This drama made me feel so many things, so many emotions. There's very little dramas that actually make me feel that way and this is one of those cases. Zi Xuan and Yu Hao are the prime reason you should watch this show. Their character development and relationship development is incredible and so soft.
I cant wait for the film sequel! Which should be coming out any day now... (and they better not end it like they did Make Our Days Count or so help me...)
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