Better than any other BL I have watched

4 Minutes is really a cut above the BLs I have seen before. Indeed, as a casual BL fan, I never imagined I would create an account here and post a review. But here we are!

The show sets itself up quickly. Despite the synopsis, this is really the story of two hot, young rich brothers: Twinky 'Great' and hunky 'Korn'. The bros' lives are turned upside down almost immediately as the series starts. Korn, because he finds out his parents' business is not simply the respectable freight and shipping company it seems to be. Great, on the other hand, realises he can see exactly 4 minutes into the future. (Or can he?)

Now we are ready for the super-fun, dark, twisty and sexy romp to commence. What sets 4 Minutes apart is that it actually stands its ground as a very solid, if implausible (and the best ones are) crime thriller, part gritty, part glamorous. The characters' personalities make sense, and their decisions are believable, given the extraordinary situations they find themselves in. The pacing is, uniquely for a BL, suitably fast, even propulsive at times.

The acting, directing, editing and set design make your typical BL look like first-year drama school productions by comparison. The show also avoids some of the more irritating, common BL tropes. The bad guy goons are not universally incompetent, for example. (Though their masters still spend an inordinate amount of time drinking posh spirits.) The bottoms are not all wide-eyed virgins - they are even on PrEP and beg for it raw!

The supernatural element is also devised and deployed with great care, maturity and sophistication. Some have complained that some plot elements remain frustratingly vague and confusing. But, for me that works, because it serves to advance the ambiguity around the nature of Great's seemingly magical ability.

Lastly, the 'NC' - I still have no idea what that acronym stands for - scenes. Wow! These are sexy and hot, but not at all gratuitous. They serve the plot very well. My only gripe. they are edited in such a way that the tops appear to climax within a couple of minutes of penetration. That is not how it is supposed to work, lads!

We will have to wait and see whether the writers are able to bring all the various threads of 4 Minutes' plot together satisfactorily in the conclusion. But, even if they don't, the ride will have been worth it. I cannot wait for the next episode! Just watch this drama!

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