asianblreviews
Some plot holes and unanswered questions, but what a fascinating narrative
If you liked the sinister, somewhat depressing undercurrent of season 1, the second season won’t disappoint.Unlike season 1 – which focuses on Yeonwoo’s story – this sequel is an ambitious look into an entire network of individuals and organisations, going beyond the struggles of a single individual. It infiltrates a universe of drugs and organised crime where monos (people who can’t see colour) are cruelly exploited for their vulnerabilities. Pretty heavy stuff.
However, the story gets progressively sloppier as it frantically scrambles to wrap everything up in 8 episodes, so be prepared for some plot holes and unanswered questions. Many South Korean miniseries tend to cram way too much into short episodes, and the Color Rush sequel is no exception.
Season 2 introduces a new character in the form of Sehyun, Yeonwoo’s classmate, who also becomes his new love interest.
It’s unusual for sequels to introduce a completely new love interest, but guess what? I actually preferred the new guy.
Unfortunately, nothing really much happens between Sehyun and Yeonwoo, perhaps setting up the Color Rush franchise for yet another season. If season 1 was centred around romance, season 2 seriously placed romance on the backburner.
My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/05/24/color-rush-2-bl-review/
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A very hot mess. Literally.
The premise was so promising but I think it’s safe to say that The Tuxedo is a hot mess. Literally hot guys + a mess.The backbone of the story is really a bratty son of a business tycoon looking to have a tuxedo made by a gifted tailor. But then there’s also an evil father figure, a family feud, a background story about a childhood trauma and phobia, some other side characters that aren’t super important… Plus an obligatory unlikeable girlfriend(?) who gets in the way.
There are 1001 plots going on even though the show only has 8 20-minute episodes and very little makes very much sense.
The show really could have just picked a few things to focus on instead of wasting precious time on other plots. The Tuxedo may have sh*tty storytelling and less-than-ideal acting, but hey, incredible sexual tension between 2 attractive men in suits? Yeah I’ll somehow sit through the storytelling (or lackthereof), thank you.
Be warned, though, the tailor and the sad richboi go from 0 to 100 real quick (maybe way too quickly). One moment they detest each other, the next, they’re flirting aggressively and eating each other’s faces. I guess this is what they mean when they say love and hate are two sides of the same coin?
The romance is fast and furious, so if that’s not your thing, you may want to give this a miss. Or not. On the bright side, if it turns out that you hate this series, at least it was only 160 minutes of your life.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/23/the-tuxedo-2022-bl-review-a-very-hot-mess/
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Fluffy love story served well by a straightforward plot
Spanning 10 episodes, the series wastes no time with convoluted subplots and complex characters. It is served well by a straightforward plot with a healthy sprinkle of fluffy moments. And dimples.Despite their vastly different social backgrounds, Tawan and Mork somehow find a soulmate in each other. But then there are nagging doubts – Mork, a lowly-educated taxi rider, questions if he could ever deserve someone like Tawan because he isn’t as educated or wealthy.
In Southeast Asia, motorcycles are generally perceived to be of a lower status to cars but this notion adds to the charm and romanticism of the plot. There is something wildly intimate about motorcycle rides set against the backdrop of a city’s nightscape as 2 people cruise into an unknown future. Motorcycle = the real wingman.
My Ride is classic rom-com material in this respect, mostly glossing over the potentially thorny issue of class using a magic solution called love. It is a classic tale about how the right person was always right by our side. Best illustrated by this quote in the series: “Sometimes we don’t need the best person, just someone who’s best for us.”
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/20/my-ride-2022-review-fluffy-love-story-with-a-dose-of-dimples/
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Got off to a good start, then crashed
Straight up let me just get this out of the way: The acting isn’t great and the writing leaves much to be desired.So why did I find myself wanting more??? What surprised me the most about Season 2 were the kiss scenes, which were way above average. The kisses were neither one-sided nor flat and the exchanges were actually pretty smooth. Best of all? It had initiative.
I enjoyed the first few episodes a lot more than Season 1, which moved at a slower pace. In season 2, Valen unfortunately, still isn't the most likeable BL character around. He's immature, selfish, clumsy and awkward. Now compare this to Non – portrayed to be a way better character with very few flaws, so perfect that he makes Valen look like a joke. But… Non is rather bland and boring.
Is Love Area is trying to make the point that we tend to fall in love with imperfect, deeply flawed people, preferring to adore them for who they are even when faced with other supposedly better options? Sigh.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/03/07/love-area-part-2-2022-review-got-off-to-a-good-start-then-crashed/
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Most Thai series I watch are BL but I'm so thankful I made an exception
IFWT is a classic whodunnit murder mystery with profoundly tragic undertones. You can expect a highly compelling narrative arc, with twists and turns that will keep you engaged throughout. Every step closer to solving the mystery comes with dark secrets being unravelled, threatening to destroy the harmony of existing relationships.While social media and public scrutiny can be brutal, what is more frightening are the secrets that push people over the edge to do terrible, terrible things. And the most frightening of all is having to spend every waking day living with the consequences.
The idea of consequence is salient in IFWT, with pertinent questions on moral responsibility being raised. There are simply no straightforward right answers in this series. Every character is marvellously flawed in their own way and often, what appears to be seemingly irrational behaviour driven by instincts ends up perfectly relatable, even if questionable.
Apart from excellent writing, stellar acting also carries the story through most of the crucial scenes where emotional depth and complexity is required.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/02/12/in-family-we-trust-2018-review-not-a-bl/
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30Sai made Doteida to Mahotsukai ni Narerurashi
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Classic Japan BL that you need to watch at least once
For me, watching Adachi and his friend Tsuge navigate their newfound power and their growing feelings for another person was an absolute joy. Who cares if some moments were a little awkward and even ‘out there’? I was inhaling the episodes.I appreciated how character development constantly propelled the series: The point of the show is that it is not enough to know what someone is thinking if you want to be in a meaningful and stable relationship with them. Basically, there are limits to how much your relationship can benefit from mind-reading.
With a great premise and likeable characters, Cherry Magic is one of the most entertaining BL shows with moments that are equal parts funny and sweet. It’s the kind of show that you will return to rewatch on a shitty day just because it will make you smile.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/02/06/cherry-magic-2020-review/
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Ryu Sun Bi's Wedding Ceremony
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I was actually pretty entertained
I went in without high expectations because the ratings and reviews didn’t seem too fantastic, but I'll be honest and say that some moments were quite hilarious and fun to watch.The premise is interesting because it asks a fairly deep question: If two people play their ‘roles’ in a marriage, can love be nurtured after spending an extended amount of time together? Can romance blossom from what starts out as a transactional arrangement? The cynic in me is inclined to think, hell no, they might hate each other even more by the end of it. But in a BL universe, we are allowed to dream a little.
The sweet domestic life of Kiwan and Hoseon was enjoyable while it lasted but some questions were left unanswered. It's also unclear why a love triangle was needed for the plot. I think the series would have worked perfectly fine without it.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/31/nobleman-ryus-wedding-2021/
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Technically not a BL, but still romantic
The Untamed is a compelling story about clan rivalry and intrigue, friendships and maybe a little bit more than friendships.Lanzhan and Wuxian have a wonderful chemistry in the show. The Untamed is not a BL because of censorship laws in China. However, there are plenty of scenes that hint at a romantic relationship between the two so I’ve compiled a list of all the times where I thought there was something more here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/21/all-the-romantic-scenes-in-the-untamed-although-its-technically-not-a-bl/
What I like most about The Untamed is that it delves into the psyche of key characters and devotes great attention to their background stories. Especially the villains, who were very well-constructed. The audience not only connects with these characters, but is able to relate to their pain, regardless of the evil they have done.
In fact, Untamed makes the point that there are no truly evil people in this universe. Just people who have made poor choices because they thought these choices would make them happier people, only for it to result in their eventual ruin.
Read my full review here (mild spoilers): https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/21/the-untamed-2019/
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Great premise and promise (8.5/10) but execution (6/10) falls flat.
Color Rush is not a sappy, feel-good BL that you can breeze through despite the short episodes.The darker undertones is what separates this from other typical South Korean BLs with themes like struggling with mental health issues and discrimination. Unfortunately, the show fails to make any meaningful point on it.
Ultimately, Color Rush is a story about two people with their own set of problems being drawn to each other because the other party allows them to live a fuller, maybe even ‘normal’, life.
But was the story problematic? Yes. Would I still watch Season 2? Yes, in hopes that more attention will be devoted to Yoohan and Yeonwoo helping each other to become better versions of themselves.
Read my full review here (with minor spoilers): https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/16/color-rush-2020/
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HIStory2: Right or Wrong
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Why does nobody talk about this History series? Underrated!
The History series is known for some pretty innovative storylines, and this one probably ranks like a 6 or 7 on scale of 0 to super original plotline. While I enjoy the coming-of-age type college BLs, ‘real-world’ responsibilities like caring for your partner’s child is something unique in BLs, and is what made History2 stand out.Originality aside, what came as a surprise was how much of a joy this was to watch.
Despite that fact that they aren’t a conventionally attractive pair (a la MaxTul or MewGulf), something about their relationship, which was just so relatable and wholesome, kept me wanting to see more.
As the series is relatively short and can be completed within 2 hours, it’s also good that the plot was kept simple. This means plenty of screentime dedicated to the couple’s relationship and no mad rush to resolve all the loose ends by the end.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/11/22/history-2-right-or-wrong-2018/
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Not as great as I hoped, PondPhuwin can do so much better
This show has 1) a decent line-up, 2) a premise that sounds promising although slightly cliched, and 3) a slightly quirky vibe. And yet, it somehow doesn’t quite live up to any of these three expectations.Nan, played by Mix, is terribly underwhelming after his A Tale of Thousand Stars performance. This is through no fault of Mix, though, since it was the character that came off as rather bland and lacking in personality, rather than Mix’s acting being the problem. As for PondPhuwin, they are a decently compatible onscreen pair but FUTS was probably not their time to shine yet.
Fish Upon The Sky skims some fairly interesting themes – self-esteem issues from being an outcast in school, cyber anonymity and bullying, the ethical boundaries of shipping a couple, and coping with scrutiny in general. It’s a shame that the show only manages to bob along the surface without really diving into any of these.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/07/fish-upon-the-sky-2021/
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One of the most underrated GMMTV BLs
This is a show with a ghost but it isn’t a ghost story. As Med and Thun’s relationship develops, a question hangs over them: How is it possible for a ghost, whose age is frozen in time, to be in a relationship with a human?The series is so beautiful because it shows how love can transcend limitations, such as existing in different realms or not being able to touch or see one another all the time, making the wider point that love, at its core, is pure and unconditional.
It was an excellent decision to cast both Ohm and Singto as they are both very gifted in conveying conflicting emotions – utterly critical to a series where joyful moments necessarily take on a bittersweet flavour.
This is definitely one of the most underrated GMMTV BLs, hands down. Especially for those who like cute boys and a good mystery.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/09/hes-coming-to-me-2019/
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I yelled "WHY CAN’T YOU BOTH JUST BE HAPPY???!” at my screen many times
There are some warm and fuzzy BLs that make you laugh and giggle at your laptop for hours on end. This is not one of them. Theory of Love is a heart-wrenching excursion into unrequited same-sex love and what happens when you fall for your straight(??) best friend.Gun really shines in Theory Of Love, showing how far he has come as an actor by capturing the nuances in a range of expressions. Gun is able to communicate an emotional intensity that can get quite overwhelming, so it’s totally understandable why a series like this might be tough to rewatch.
Disclaimer right here that I absolutely love Off and Gun. In Theory of Love, they show tremendous improvement from their performance in the Puppy Honey series, which I found to be slightly awkward.
Their onscreen chemistry has only improved with their real-life friendship: OffGun is back and they got better.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/05/theory-of-love-2019/
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A Tale of Thousand Stars
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A nice change of scenery with great chemistry but not a show I would re-watch
While Earth has been in several BLs, he hasn’t had a breakthrough in his acting until ATOTS, which I think really proved to be his best performance to date.Although actual kiss scenes are rare in this series, there are many solid moments with exceptional chemistry. Phupha and Tian are something else when they’re playful or engaged in banter. The relationship is slow to take off but there is always palpable tension in the background.
However, I found it completely unnecessary to have Torfun/Torfun’s organ donation as a plot device. It also didn’t make sense to have Torfun’s death (and by extension, organ donation) as one of the potential ‘tensions’ between the villagers and Tian. Once again, totally unnecessary as 1) this is illogical and 2) there were other better points of conflict in the show anyway.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/08/a-tale-of-thousand-stars-2021/
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A captivatingly beautiful BL with a pensive quality
Given is a highly underrated, visually beautiful Japanese BL centred around a high school student learning to play the guitar from a fellow schoolmate.Music becomes a key focal point in which relationships are set into motion. For Uenoyama and Mafuyu, it is through the language of music that they discover new vocabulary for speaking to others and each other.
After Uenoyama listened to Mafuyu's voice, something in him was stirred and he knew that his life would never be the same again – composing a song was his way of immortalising that moment. For Mafuyu, the same song bridges his past and future. As he verbalises the lyrics, he engages in a process of healing from a traumatic past, but also acknowledges that he has found someone whom he wishes to co-create music with in the future.
As a relatively short series with only 6 episodes of around 25 minutes each, the pacing is surprisingly slow. However, because every scene is so deliberate and purposeful, some concentration is required to fully appreciate the storytelling.
Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/02/given-2021/
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