Sydney
Nara, Japan
As If You Whisper tells the story of Bom Soo, an aspiring singer that is stuck doing vocal guides despite his talents as a musician. Then he meets Hyun Woo, a man that's been watching him for awhile. Though the story doesn't focus solely on the romance, I think the happy ending combined with Bom Soo's self realizations is such a wholesome completion. It'd be easy to make this a sad ending, but they didn't.
The music is also great, and the actor worked hard to record it himself. All together it's just a really solid, inspiring production.
I bought this on Vimeo for $6.99USD and I really recommend you do the same if you can. Please try to avoid watching this on YouTube. It's a small production company specializing in queer Korean films (which is a country already lacking in high-quality LGBTQ content). I really think they deserve the support so that they can make more amazing films and dramas like this one. I'm so glad I watched it, and I'll definitely rewatch it.
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First half of this series? Fantastic. Fun. Hilarious. Solid.Second half of this series? Lazy. Cookie-cutter. Overloaded with tropes.
I've had a few days to think about my feelings in regards to 2gether and I have a lot, but I'm going to quickly summarize some of my main thoughts here.
#1: Tine's sexuality
This was the biggest let down for me in this series. Throughout the series there's definitely a few hints that Tine could be bisexual. He clearly finds women attractive, but he doesn't seem all that turned off at the thought of dating a man or being in love with one. I felt that this series could've really delved into bisexuality instead of keeping with the Straight Or Gay tropes that often exist in BL.
Furthermore - I think exploring Tine's sexuality more would've really given a basis to the severe lack of couple-like affection between him and Sarawat. And I'm not talking NSFW scenes or make outs or even just soft kisses - I'm talking the fact that they high-fived at the end of the series when a hug would've been nice. Or just SOMETHING to show us that they're more than just Bros. Because even after episode 13, I'm not convinced that they "love" one another or even like each other that way; it just feels like good friends that live together.
But had the show explored Tine grappling with his sexuality (as a bisexual or if they wanted, a gay man) - it would've made a lot of sense why he wasn't too affectionate with Sarawat or was unsure of showing that affection. It's hard to grapple with your own sexuality much less be openly affectionate with that person. But Tine didn't seem at all bothered by people knowing they were together and that he loves Sarawat (and vise versa). So why so little affection? Why take that element away?
Which brings me to letdown #2: Affection.
Like I said earlier -- I don't need NSFW scenes or even kisses in a romance to feel that there's a connection. I also think Bright and Win are great actors that conveyed a lot of their emotions through expressions and their eyes. However, the only "slice of life" element we got was the montage of scenes after they moved in together. After that, it was mostly shoulder hugging and staring at one another. I really don't remember a time when they held hands, and I don't remember them kissing after they started dating (and the kisses before that were all Sarawat - Tine didn't react).
I just think that there didn't seem to be a point to them moving in together because it didn't really bring any growth to their relationship. They didn't have slice of life moments or sweet talks in bed or breakfast chats - it was more or less the same, but now the writers could bring Type into the picture. It all just felt a little unnecessary and rushed.
#3: Use of women and Mil
Literally -- the use of them. Throughout the series they're used to place wedges between Sarawat and Tine. This just felt lazy to me, and Pam was the most lazy plot line they could've come up with. It didn't even last more than a full episode and it had no real result other than Sarawat and Tine getting back together. If they're going to go with this trope, I would've liked to see more growth and a longer time apart for them both. Also - Mil just get over Tine. Stop. The whole addition of Mil to it felt unnecessary. There was no chemistry there and I still have no idea why Mil liked Tine. Someone please explain what I missed there lol.
Overall - I'm just underwhelmed. I really enjoyed this in the beginning. I thought Bright and Win had good chemistry, and I was binge-watching all of the episodes up until 9. But after watching the last few episodes as they've released, I've found myself less and less excited and more disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high. Idk. If there's a season 2 I'll watch it, but I can't say that I'm particularly looking forward to more of the same.
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I have so few words for how I feel about Where Your Eyes Linger. It's perfect. It made my gay heart sing.One of the best parts about this drama was that it proved that "skin ship" isn't the only way to show love. The way Tae Joo and Gook looked at each other was so heavy; the amount of affection and yearning mixed into their eyes was heartbreaking. As the audience we know that they love one another. We know that Tae Joo loves Gook but isn't ready to admit it, and that Gook loves Tae Joo but doesn't trust him with his heart. I wanted to shove their faces together the entire time but the way they came together was perfect. I don't think any other way would've fit their characters.
I know a lot of people think that this was too short because in total this runs for about the same time as a film, but I think it was exceptional. A part of me feels that if these episodes had been too long then they would've lost their punch. The actors, directors, editors, and every member of the team clearly worked to deliver maximum impact in as short a time as possible. When there's only 10-15 minutes per episode to work with, cutting out all of the BS and only leaving what is most important to the story is essential. I think that's why this drama hits so hard in every episode.
A lot of shows with 30-40 minute episodes have too much extra going on that distracts from the main story or derail your emotions. For awhile you might forget about the main couple or what's going on. Where Your Eyes Linger was so simple -- only Tae Joo & Gook's story is important/necessary. Only their scenes and shared moments. If it's not related to them in some way -- does it matter? I think that made each episode feel, no matter how short, like it was both long and too short at the same time.
I'd also like to say that I feel strangely uncomfortable calling this a "BL" drama. To me, this was a true LGBTQ short. It had the emotional impact of a Strongberry project with as much care and attention to the accuracy of its portrayal. There was no uncomfortable top/bottom distinction forced on the two boys, no "fujoshi" madness, and no "I don't like boys I just like you" BS. This was a queer story of two friends that fell in love and even after 3 years were each other's most safest space. I think that's why this drama hits so hard for me.
As a member of the LGBTQ community, I find myself constantly frustrated with the "omg I'm a straight woman watching two guys kiss uwu" comments. Queer stories are so hard to find and are often tragic and plagued with struggle. While BL (and I suppose the slightly rising GL? Not sure) is enjoyable, at its core these should be echoes for queer people. Our struggles of internalized homophobia, the pain of falling for a friend and them rejecting you...
What I guess I'm trying to say is that when I watched Where You Eyes Linger, I didn't feel like I was watching a "Boy's Love" drama. I felt like I was watching a story made for queer people, not straight women that want to get their rocks off watching two cute boys make out. I can only hope that w/w stories can become popular with time and be given the same care and attention that Where Your Eyes Linger was given. The entire team did such a beautiful job.
While I hope for a season 2, I also think that it finished beautifully. I'll definitely be supporting the two main actors in their future projects (LGBTQ or not), and I hope this director makes more dramas/films.
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I originally dropped this but after seeing a RamKing fan video on YouTube I decided to pick it back up again. Naturally they became my favorite couple of the series; I could watch an entire season of RamKing and not complain.[ BohnDuen ] - The main couple but maybe my least favorite. I just didn't really care for them. They're cute, but Bohn's jealousy and cat/mouse games got old quick. It felt manipulative - Duen would do something that Bohn misunderstood, then Bohn would get mad, then after Duen apologized Bohn would forgive Duen but not tell him and continue to play mad so that Duen felt worse and continued to beg for Bohn's forgiveness. This happened in nearly every single episode. I would understand if Bohn's insecurities stemmed from a fear that Duen might want to date a woman (which is a common cause for jealousy in a lot of BL dramas), but all of Bohn's jealousy was directed at men that really didn't even express interest in Duen (except for the one but even that had faded by the time him and Bohn were together). Long story short - if this drama was ONLY about BohnDuen then I would've dropped it and not continued.
[ MekBoss ] - I really liked the relationship that developed between Mek and Boss. It makes me sad that Mek's actor is most likely not coming back for season 2, but I'd also really love an actor that can speak Thai so they don't have to dub someone. That was the only uncomfortable thing about their relationship for me... But I really loved the way that Boss so proudly announced his relationship with Mek at the end. I'm excited to see what season 2 holds for this couple because I think it'll be fun watching them navigate going from friends to lovers. I love friends to lovers relationships so I'm excited!
[ TharaFrong ] - I didn't actually see this one coming but it's a cute couple. The ending though... "brother." Ugh. Poor Frong. I'm really interested to see where this one goes because it sounds like it could take some time to develop just based on Thara's words in the final episode. I'm just glad that Frong moved on from Duen and doesn't have to be used as some kind of weird plot device for BohnDuen drama (at least more than he already has).
And finally on to my kings...
[ RamKing ] - Honestly the only reason I returned to watch the show. I was bored in the first few episodes but I loved Ram IMMEDIATELY, and I absolutely adore King with all of my being. I love my little plant and dog boys. I want them to fall in love and just be together forever and live somewhere with a bunch of dogs and plants and quiet. Their scenes were so good and the development of their relationship is probably the most wholesome of all the couples. King really had to work to earn Ram's trust and is clearly one of very few people that understands him. I'm a sucker for relationships that aren't easy or immediate, so while it was a bummer to leave RamKing's ending "open," I'm also really glad that they chose to do that. It gives me something to really look forward to with Season 2 because I can't wait to see how their relationship further develops now that King has confessed.
CAST/ACTING - I really love the cast! There's a lot of chemistry between all of them and the acting was great. I'm looking forward to seeing how they all improve by Season 2.
STORY - The story is fairly straightforward. It's mostly character driven so there isn't much of a "plot" going on outside of the relationship developments. But I never mind series like that because I think character development - if done well - can be plot enough.
All in all, I'm really glad I decided to finish watching this and didn't just drop it without continuing. The first few episodes were hard to get through, but I'm glad I stuck around (even if it was just for RamKing). I've followed all of the actors on Instagram and I really recommend following Perth's YouTube channel! He speaks English, Thai, and Japanese fluently; it's really impressive and I appreciate his hard work to touch 3 groups of international fans.
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The acting wasn't really my style either; I'm not a fan of hyper-exaggeration that borders on bad acting. I know it was done for comedic effect (hence the canned laughter peppered throughout) and also to amp up the ridiculousness, but it just wasn't for me. I think a lot of people will find it enjoyable and fun, though. The story - and entire drama - isn't that serious, though it seems like they're toying with somewhat serious subject matter.
As for the ending...uh. No idea how I feel about that. It's an open ending - not happy, not sad - and it's a good thing there'll be a season 2 because I'm hoping for more answers and definitely more character development. I love Talay to pieces so I'll watch anything he's in, even if I didn't fully enjoy this as much as I wanted to.
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There are funny moments, there are heartbreaking moments, and there are adorable moments between all of the characters no matter their relationship with one another. Arifureta Kiseki explores the complexities of friendship, of family, and of being with the person you love, even if you're not sure you can be with them.
The acting was fantastic, and I really appreciated every moment. The episodes are around 40 minutes long, but I was never bored and I never wanted them to end. I think the music could've been a little better, but it did work for the show and was well-placed. I also found the scene jumps to be a little jarring, but honestly I don't care much about cinematography so I didn't mind. The best scene is the Irish dancing scene, and it was really well-done.
I would definitely watch this again and I'm glad it was my first Japanese drama. It was such a joy to watch; I'd recommend it to anyone that enjoys stories about *characters*. There isn't any action in this and the storyline is entirely about Kana and Shouta as they grow separately and together. It's just really, really well done.
9.5/10
**2020/04/11 - 6.0/10
I changed my rating because I realized that this isn't at all memorable for me. I don't remember the characters, what happened, or really anything about it that I discussed in my review. Shows that are true 9s for me are super memorable and the stories stay with me for years. Unfortunately, I felt that this was more of a 6 star show.
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A must watch
I watched this drama almost a year ago and it's stuck with me ever since. No matter how many other shows I watch or stories I consume, this one continues to be one that I always think of and recommend first. Boku no ita jikan was full of joy and soul-crushing sadness at the same time. The message was heartwarming, and that has stuck with me continuously as well. When faced with our own mortality, how do we react? What decisions do we make to protect those around us? What decisions do we also make to protect ourselves? If you don't like stories that make you cry for 3 hours straight, this one might not be for you. But if you love a story full of rich characters, all with their own backstories and personalities, goals and ambitions, then this one might just be one to watch. It does have quite a few stereotypical drama themes (illness, romance, etc), but they're easily ignored for the heartwarming characters and the growth of each individual throughout the story. The acting is great as well, so it was easy for me to overlook themes that I may have otherwise disliked.I hope you'll consider giving this one a try! I'm really glad I did.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
The story is handled well, though I think it definitely could be fleshed out more in some places. That being said, they had a limited amount of time to work through the story and make sure all of the essential elements were there so I don't think it's a dealbreaker in the slightest. I'm more than happy with how the story unfolded.
As for the cast, they were phenomenal. Tak Woo Suk and Yeon Seung Ho did an amazing job in their roles. I'm a fan of Tak Woo Suk's now and I definitely want to see him in more projects; he's so handsome and his acting was incredible. Yeon Seung Ho's performance was also great and their chemistry was top notch.
The relationship between Chisoo and Gitae is so well done. I loved how they started and I was really glad they got a happy ending despite all of the mess in the middle. Chisoo especially deserves nothing but happiness, and I'm so glad that he got a family with Gitae and Gitae's sister. I just imagine that he's somewhere living a quiet life with Gitae and that makes me happy for them both. Even though it was a short film, I grew attached to their characters immediately.
I'll definitely be rewatching this time and time again. And as I said in my other Strongberry film reviews -- please support them legally. Don't watch their projects on YouTube. $10 for a film isn't that bad considering most DVDs are $20+ these days. You're supporting an independent company that's working hard to create quality queer films in South Korea. They deserve the support!
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I don't think I've loved a BL drama this much since Together With Me. I couldn't stop watching and stayed up until 3am two nights in a row because I couldn't stop. I've completely fallen in love with TharnType (and MewGulf too ugh help). I know a lot of people don't like Type because he's hot-headed, aggressive, and overly jealous, but I think all of those things make his character more human. Gulf's acting skills are really incredible. Gulf isn't anything like Type in real life, yet he was able to bring to life this character that is easily unlikeable because he's so human. That being said - Type's growth is incredible. From the first episode to the drama special, you can really see just how much he's grown (and how much Tharn has helped him achieve this growth). While I'm still not sure he's accepted his sexuality, I find it incredible that he's able to love not just Tharn, but himself. When the last episode jumps forward to three years later...*chef's kiss*. That's just what I needed -- TharnType openly in love, holding hands, acknowledging their boyfriend-ness. It just made me realize how much Type has grown. Again -- human!!!!
Of course I love Tharn, too. Soooooo much. Mostly because Mew is basically a god but. I mean. Look at him. That smile is enough. I felt like Tharn's character experiences less growth than Type, but Tharn still grew with him. I think dating someone that's so hot-headed, easily jealous, and struggling with his own sexuality was a new experience for Tharn, and that really forced him to think differently. Plus, the final episodes of the series worked to show Tharn that he's not "cursed" -- he just had a really toxic person in his life treating him like a puppet. That realization definitely takes weight of your shoulders.
As for the other characters -- of course I loved them. Their friends were so funny, and I loved the support they received no matter what. It was really heartwarming. Everyone just wanted them to be together and happy. I really felt this in the drama special too; the way Tharn & Type's relationship is just immediately accepted (also as if everyone shipped them all along lol).
The music was great too. I'm still listening to the OST because I just can't move on sobbb.
I'm definitely going to rewatch this. Probably multiple times, ha. I'm also looking forward to TharnType 2. I hope tons of people watch this drama and appreciate it for what it is. I didn't want to comment too much on some of the heavier subjects introduced because I think those are touchy for a lot of people (they seem to make or break the drama for them), but for me, I just spent the entire time in love with Tharn and Type and I was really happy with TharnType The Series.
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HIStory3: Make Our Days Count
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I feel like this is yet another drama where forgetting the ending ever happened greatly improves the entire story.Here's the thing - I love tragedy. I love something that makes me cry and feel things. Tragedy often shapes people and I think it's important for fiction to reflect that reality - not everything happens the way we want it to.
That being said, I think the LGBTQ community has dealt with enough. Considering gay marriage is legal in Taiwan (and in a lot of places all over the world), I would've rather seen a happy ending come out of this series. Especially because Xiang Hao Ting and Yu Xi Gu fought so hard to be together. I admire Xiang Hao Ting's unwavering love for Yu Xi Gu; his parents didn't accept it and he didn't care. He still fought to be with the man he loved. To have that taken away because of an accident...something about it just doesn't sit right with me. I usually love a tragic ending, but this one I didn't.
The acting in this show is incredible. Xiang before Yu's death is an entirely different person, and I think Wayne Song's acting is unmatched by any other actor in the show. His tears are believable; his anguish is, too. He really brought everything he has to bring Xiang to life for us and for that, I don't think I can give this show less than 7/10. But I think I would've rather seen a happy Xiang to the end. He played Xiang so well - bubbly, carefree, kind. He was like a giant puppy. The duality is respectable, but the entire last episode felt like the ending to another series.
I still have a lot of mixed emotions about it. Enjoying tragic endings doesn't mean all of them get a free pass. This one should've ended so much happier. I knew the ending was coming because I'd been spoiled long before watching it, but it still hit me because the two of them were so pure throughout the whole series. And it was so well written - things didn't move too quickly, and each character had adequate time to let us get to know them.
As for the side couple, I really loved them. I'm glad they got a happier ending at least. Lu Zhi Gang getting to go home meant a lot. I also really like that they're still together and happy. But I felt awful for Xiang when he had to listen to Sun talk about it... I think no matter how much time has passed, it's hard to be happy when someone else is living the life you'd imagined for yourself. No matter if that person is a brother/sister. It can be heartbreaking.
All the same - I'll continue to watch HIStory productions. Their past stories were fantastic and this was no exception. I just think the ending ruined it a little for me. But the casting was perfection and the story itself was great, too. I look forward to whatever they do next.
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The only other ship I really cared for in this was Wish and Two, but that was mostly because of TinCan from Love by Chance. I didn't love their relationship in this mini-series, but it was cute. Mean is so different as Two versus Tin, and I think I prefer him as Tin (but that's a personal bias since I love the more dominating/cold types).
I know there was another relationship happening in this mini series, but I ignored them (similar to how I ignored the two couples in Love by Chance that weren't as prominent as AePete and TinCan). Their story seemed cute but I just wasn't emotionally invested in it.
I watched all 3 episodes in one sitting and it was a lot of fun to see old and new faces, but I still think this series is only a 7/10 for me. It's a cute mini-series but my least favorite trope is miscommunication that causes a bunch of problems. It's so easy to just talk to one another and sort out your issues, so sometimes I was frustrated with all of the characters in this mini-series.
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I am so, so obsessed with this story. I haven't watched any of the other HIStory series (this was my introduction to BL), but I can't wait to try them. I loved the actors in this series and the storyline was really interesting. I liked that it wasn't just the two couple's stories, but there was a lot of drama going on in the background. Honestly, I didn't expect the surprises that came in the last 2-3 episodes. I thought it was a really well-crafted story.I LOVE TANG YI. He's so handsome, and I love his tortured but lovable personality. Meng Shao Fei's ability to blow through that cold exterior and get to Tang Yi's warmer and caring core was my favorite part of the whole show. I could watch an entire season just on them being domestic and learning more about one another. There will never be enough hot Tang Yi/Meng kisses for me to be satisfied. Jake and Chris are great actors with so much chemistry and I think they really made this series shine.
However, I can't leave out Jack and Zhao Li because I lovelovelove them. Their start to finish storyline was just so cute, and I love how Zhao Li learns a little bit about himself in each episode and comes to realize how much he likes and wants to be with Jack. Also - who could resist Jack? He's equal parts terrifying psychopath and adorable boyfriend. They picked the perfect actor for Jack because I don't think I can imagine anyone else playing him so perfectly and complimenting Zhao Li's naive, gentle character. I would also watch an entire season of them being domestic, especially because Jack is living with Zhao Li now.
This was just such a fun drama and I'll probably rewatch it a few more times. I'm a huge enemies to lovers fan, and I think that Tang Yi/Meng have such a great relationship that develops over a lot of time and experiences. I wish there was more fan fiction out there in the world because I think I need more Tang Yi/Meng and Jack/Zhao Li.
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I really loved Love by Chance. It was my first Thai BL drama (and first Thai drama in general), and I think it was such an adorable introduction into the genre. My favorite couples were AePete and TinCan. Truthfully, I skipped through scenes with the other two couples and I don't even know their names, so I'm going to be exclusively discussing AePete and TinCan in this review.(NOTE: One of the couples that I didn't watch apparently has a scene that's sexual assault, so if that is something that triggers you then I'd recommend steering clear of episodes 12-14 unless you can just skip those parts easily. I know I skipped them, but I did see pieces of scenes and it was uncomfortable for me since I understood the characters' backstories up until this point. I wasn't a fan of LBC's choice to include these storylines, but I'm rating this show based on AePete and TinCan ONLY.)
Love by Chance begins with Ae and Pete meeting by chance (ha ha), which launches their initial relationship. Pete is a rich boy at the international college while Ae is a poor engineering student. They start a friendship that quickly becomes more as they realize their feelings for one another. I really loved how Ae was more of the confident gay (though he doesn't explicitly state his sexuality, which I love), and I loved the scene where he tells Pete that there's nothing wrong and "abnormal" about Pete's attraction to men. Similarly, I loved the scene between Pete and his mom where he comes out to her and she just hugs him and tells him it's okay. So many LGBTQ+ stories both in fiction and real life are about awful parents hating their children for their sexuality, so it was great to see a supportive mom. I don't think Ae ever explicitly shares his relationship with his family, but he doesn't seem to hide it either. Like I said: Ae is kind of a confident gay.
AePete is just a really adorable, loving story. I couldn't get enough of them. Truthfully, I would've loved a season 1 where it's just AePete and a season 2 with just TinCan. I felt that both relationships needed enough space to develop and while AePete had a lot, TinCan didn't get as much space for development. Also I wanted double dates asdlfkj.
Speaking of TinCan: their ending was tragic and upsetting, and I'm still not happy about it. I love their relationship in general so I don't want to dock the entire show for its ending, but I can't deny that I was severely disappointed. LGBTQ+ couples already deal with unhappy endings, and if there was no guarantee for season 2 then I think they should've given TinCan a good ending at the very least. Something uplifting and promising, not this. Tin didn't deserve it, and it felt so out of the blue since Can was clearly beginning to develop feelings for Tin. I just think there was so much potential there and it was lost... but for what?
Also, the other two couples in the series are boring and not really worth watching, so I don't recommend them. I think most reviews say more or less the same thing. AePete and TinCan are the most popular pairings and it's understandable why that is. One is just a wholesome, beautiful story about young love and discovering your sexuality while the other is an enemies to friends story that's also about discovering your sexuality. I think both stories were handled really well, and it's sad that so much screen time was given to the other two couples that really didn't make a difference anyway. LBC would've been so much better without them, and I think there would've been more space for AePete and TinCan to develop.
Anyway AePete is a beautiful ship and TinCan deserved more. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
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Train to Busan makes all of that feel like child's play. I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning, and there were times I was practically screaming at the tv screen. I watched this with 2 friends and all of us were freaking out the entire time. What makes it scarier is that people don't really become zombies -- they become infected with a virus that just wants to spread. They're not flesh-eating, but they will do whatever it takes to spread the virus. It reminded me a lot of World War Z, especially because infected people move with almost superhuman speed and without a care for pain or destruction to their bodies.
The acting in this film was phenomenal. Every single cast member did a great job. Sometimes I cried, sometimes I wanted to scream, but most of the time I found myself just completely engrossed in the action and relationships that were developing (and dissolving) as everyone on the train to Busan fought desperately for survival. The ending made me ugly cry, and I truly didn't expect that from a "zombie" film. This was so well done and I can't help but recommend it to everyone that I speak to.
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