Hello Stranger (2020)

This is a beautiful story.

This is more LGBTQ+ focused than the majority of BLs, which have a focus on boys being cute together - and that's perfectly fine. I love those too. But this series may not resonate as much with audiences who are looking for that type of romance. There are many cute and heart-warming moments here, but this is a coming-of-age story, so the arc is about Mico being unable to attain love until he's able to attain self-acceptance.

Anyway, a lot of the criticism is over the lack of communication between the leads, which is odd, as most BLs heavily lean on implausible failures of communication to generate the final dramatic hump of the series. Here, I thought the communication problem was entirely authentic, and its resolution equally true to life, requiring outside help, whereas often in a story I'm thinking "you know, these two have mutual friends who know both sides of the story and can easily fix this..."

The acting is very good. JC is great, suffusing his character with confidence in his intellect, bold nerdiness, and insecurity about everything else. Tony is underrated - playing someone emotionally and verbally reserved, he has to pack a lot of emotion into subtle moments. His nervous giggling as he's gearing up to sing is masterful and authentic - and at the end of Ep 5, during a pause before an important moment, he worldessly radiates with an understated stare so much vulnerability and longing that I audibly gasped and started crying, and I'm tearing up just thinking about it now. And his desolation in Ep 7 may crush you. The support characters are all well-cast for their roles - I loved that everyone in the friend group (the Padawans) is clueless except Junjun, who sees everything. It was nice to see a minor character play a crucial role - that he was called was the best possible decision that could have been made and he was the only path to a happy ending.

The script is tightly written, with many layers of meaning, the central poem of their school project woven through the story, so that you can pick up new things with each viewing. (Note if you're watching with subtitles that lines that sound clunky are often from the poem.) Even the t-shirts reflect feelings and internal conflicts, and the heart on Mico's wall represents where he is, etc. The project performance in Ep 7 was a little too on-the-nose, but it was well-setup throughout the series so it worked. Or notice the color of Xavier's backwards baseball cap in Ep 6 and think about what that symbolizes. Both characters have an arc, and the resolution depends on a powerful statement of the importance of self-acceptance.

The cinematography and set design were artful, with delightful color coordination (e.g. Ep 8 with Mico's pink accessory in the closed tea shop), the music was beautifully integrated, e.g. he final music cue in Ep 5 was perfect to maximize the impact of the final line. The editing is stunning - there are scenes where you'll gasp at the way they managed to overcome safe distancing to give you real intimacy.

All of this was accomplished within the tight constraints of the COVID/social media setting - and I wonder if maybe that inspired a higher level of creativity.

There are a couple of issues. The side couple is adorable, but they didn't really serve much purpose in the story. Kookai's importance ended with her declaration towards the beginning, and Seph never had one - only Junjun was needed throughout, and the time would have been better spent developing Xavier's context, or more time establishing Mico's character at the beginning - or just making the series an episode shorter.

There are also a couple of important scenes that are non-linear but it's very unclear and confusing about where they fall in the story. I like that the production respects the intelligence of the audience, but we needed a "two weeks ago" or something in a couple of cases, or some other means of context. If you're reading this before watching, the most important is a conversation in Ep 8 involving the teacher, which occurs between Ep 1 & Ep 2.

The second one is a 1:1 conversation in Ep 8 with JunJun that occurs prior to a group chat the Padawans have at the end of Ep 7 and explains the strange things they say to Mico and advise him to do.

I've rewatched much of this several times, and this is is one of my favorite BLs of all time. I highly recommend it - just be forewarned it may take 1.5 episodes to get into it.

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A Sweet Little Bromance Drama

This was a nice surprise. The script is intelligent and crisp, written by a mostly female writing team.. The plot device of two college men being forced (so we're led to believe) to work together is refreshingly different. They coy banter between the leads is painfully realistic for any guy who's had a crush on another and was afraid to confess it. The character arcs are well drawn, particularly for Xavier (Tony Labrusca) who is presented as a stereotypical jock but who turns out to be quite vulnerable. Mico's character (JC Alcantara) is pretty well defined in the beginning for the audience, but his journey is one of self-discovery. The story lines of the supporting cast are also well-drawn and fully resolved by the conclusion. It pains me to say "Hello, Stranger" didn't quite rise to the level of "Like in the Movies" or "Boys' Lockdown" because I really enjoyed this drama. But this series was 2 episodes too long and never got us to a kiss, so this isn't really a BL drama in my book. More of a Bromance story. Arguably it's even more interesting as a straight bromance because it raises a lot of issues about how difficult it is for guys to express any kind of non-sexual affection of each other in our world. To be a true bromance Mico would have needed a girlfriend, though.

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I will admit I have no chill about this series. None. I love it with every inch of my heart. It is one of a streak of romcoms the Philippines produced during lockdowns last year that made use of story telling via online interactions: dms, group chats, facebook, video calls. Some experiments into this realm of storytelling were better than others. This one, I feel, nails it.

The story is told in 1 8-episode season and a movie. As the episodes are short and easily bingable, functionally it could work as 2 movies (and I’ve watched them back to back multiple times, apologies to all my friends I dragged into this).

Storywise, Hello Stranger is not breaking any new ground. We have a young nerd, Mico, teamed up with the jock superstar, Xavier, for a team project and from the moment they see each other, the chemistry is palpable (tho the relationship is a tad antagonistic). Already, we know exactly how this story is going to go but as always, it is about how we get there, it is about the pleasure of watching the story unfold.

What this show does perfectly is nail its characters and then cast two amazing actors to breathe them to life. Both Mico and Xavier are written so believably, I instantly understood who they are and how wonderfully they fall for one another. I could write reams on the nuances of Xavier’s character (it is no mistake that his name is pronounce Savior) and the character arcs both he and Mico navigate in both the series and the movie.

I love that we have essentially a bisexual character in Xavier for whom, understanding himself and being that self is important. There is a coming out scene but it is given second billing to him actually accepting and having the courage to make choices for himself, instead of fulfilling the roles expected of him. He eschews the label bi - though he tries it on - not because ‘he doesn’t need labels’ but because picking a word is less important than being able to express what it is he is experiencing and feeling.

It is things like this that make the series feel like sinking into a nice, warm, queer blanket. The labels are only important in the context of being able to give language to a queer experience as opposed to a way for everyone else to put queers into their proper category. What matters is the experience - Xavier’s experience of love - the word to define it is secondary.

And he is contrasted with Mico, who is much more assured in his sexuality, but that doesn’t make him less prone to prejudices and mistakes. To wearing his own ‘masks’. To the inevitable insecurity of youth.

The thing I love most, however, about this series, is that all the characters (except for the token homophobe) are rendered with compassion. No one is intentionally cruel, there are no evil second leads or vicious exes, just a group of young people trying to figure themselves out and live through the trials life hands them.

People make mistakes, but they are understandable ones. People make bad choices but ones that make sense because of who they are. In the end things are resolved because the characters have grown, because they’ve chosen to change and to forgive. The series has a fundamentally hopeful view of humanity that feels refreshing.

….aand now for some gratuitous Tony Labrusca:

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pandemic era enemies to lovers BL

Overall: I enjoyed it when it first aired on YouTube in 2020 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL87uyU6xM7Lfd2QD0K93fthRzAkA51x2B&si=ititymR4vVArHhXN and I enjoyed it 4 years later when I re-watched it on GagaOOLala
https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4270/hello-stranger-2020-e01

What I Liked
- dynamic
- music
- sweet moments
- non cliche female characters
- the friend group (they were maybe a bit harsh at 1 point but I understood their frustration)
- that there were some in person scenes, it wasn't 100% video/phone call/text interactions

Room For Improvement
- comedy sound effects in episode 1 (either went away or I didn't notice them in later episodes)
- that there were 2 female antagonists/the rushed side couple that developed
- (neutral) although Xavier bothered me at times, I thought his reactions were realistic

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A BL to start off with on Filipino BLs..

I've had had my share of watching many cdramas, kdramas and Thai / Chinese / Japanese / Filipino BL as well, so in terms of story wise it was really predictable for my part to guess what will happen in this series. It just feels like this series was made because of the BL Craze in the Philippines in my personal opinion as it feels as though it lacks something you can't explain.

Nothing really major happened just your typical he saw the person he likes with his girlfriend. But if you are looking for some Filipino BL to start off with, then this isn't a bad series to watch..

There were also quite a lot of times when I feel as though the story was being dragged to be longer (it has a lot of fillers in my part, idk how to explain). What I'm more curious about is actually Crystal and Xavier's relationship. I feel like she wasn't given enough screen time in the series as it does focuses more on Xavier and Mico's relationship.

The cast chosen were all okay as well and the two main leads were able to capture their characters as well if they were going to the jock and kind of introverted honour student trope. One thing I particularly liked about this series is the OST, as it is very catchy. I wouldn't actually re-watch it for the most part so I'd give it a 6.5 just to be fair since it is among the first BL the Philippines produced at the time.


This series for me is just an ok series to start off with. We can say that from the looks of it, it has a budget in terms of production and editing, which was actually amazing if you'd recall the piano scene. I would recommend this if you were looking for BL series to start off with.

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Give it a try

I watched this show during COVID and I actually think the idea of a BL over the internet worked comfortably well, it actually did REMARKABLY good garnering multiple million views which is always great to see for BL,

The show has it's misses, especially in dialogue, it can be a little bit cringe sometimes but you really do see them as a group of friends, there's stereotypical writing for the "nerd meets jock" cliche but I think both the actors do a wonderful job of conveying love for each other, I really don't want to be too harsh on a show that's just meant to be light-hearted and a fun watch for people in quarantine and it's simplicity IS it's charm.

I don't have a large thinkpiece about it, hello stranger was my actual first real life BL experience and it isn't too shabby, even if it ages a little poorly over time. Music is fantastic though my god

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Cute and innocent

This is another covid-safe online drama. outgoing smiley jock meets introverted perfectionist nerd. The story is sweet, pretty innocent and surrounded by insecurity and fear, but not to much fear... The show shows both great friendship, loneliness and how to cope with lock down , commonly seen in these types of dramas. The drama also makes great use of the main characters friends for both the story and to set the fussy, sweet, playful mood of the drama. There is also a good bring out the best of each other/ you complete me feel to it and the teacher in this drama is one of the good ones finally showing that not all teachers are evil. Bonus is the nice twist in the end. All in all a sweet and innocent watch, not to dramatic and definitely the type to make you smile.

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The Facial Expressions Speak A Thousand Words

Though the theme is not something new, the way the unsuspecting love between a jock and nerd was done in a very natural progressive way amidst a quarantine set-up. It may come a bit slow for some, but I like it when it's relaxed and a story which seems very plausible.
Acting wise, the major and support characters were all excellently portrayed by natural gifted actors. No one really is left out. I'd like to commend particularly JC Alcantara. His facial expressions, particularly at the hugging part, communicates everything words cannot say.
My congratulations to the team! You have made one very good Pinoy BL series (though short) that we could be proud of and that uplifts our spirit during these pandemic times.

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Short but sweet

I like this series because it is fresh, raw and hopeful. Acting of lead actors and friends were incredibly great. You will know a good acting by their eyes. If the eyes can talk even without saying anything then it deserves an award!!!!
I felt the pain, love and fear in this series. The director is good at framing a scene I’ve never seen anyone that good yet. The limitation of this pandemic situation brought this series above par of a big production studio. I also love the OST used in this series . The lead actor here- JC deserves an award for giving justice to every feelings the scene requires!!!! The writer and director is brilliant for using every set , dialogues and poetry in a scene. I’m excited to see the movie.
This movie is hopeful in leaving you a fresh start and a nostalgia of first love and pain. Thank you for this BL series you made my quarantine life meaningful.

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Tender and Beautiful

This series is superb! I loved it. One of the finest acting BL series I have seen. It is just joyous, funny, poignant, and intensely real. It is a simple story of a student who is paired with a ‘jock’ for a school project to benefit both. The screenplay is simply brilliant. There are no gimmicks or artificial dramas here. You see the characters flawed but each of them grows not episodically but by slow moving connections. It is the little things that they do for each other that lead to profound changes. They did a much better job of showing the raw emotions of the characters and the beautiful split screen shots that made them look like they were actually together than other series which used the same techniques. If you want to read my full review of this wonderful series, go to ppbongi.medium.com.

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Thin in plot but Thick in sweet innocence

The second Filipino drama I watched that's shot during the Covid-19 pandemic about meeting someone special online. In comparison to "Gameboys", "Hello, Stranger" is a lot sweeter and more innocent. I feel all sorts of emotions with our main lead, Mico. This drama really touched my heart and rejuvenated my tiring and cynical heart. I love all the awkward and shy moments.

However, there isn't much going plot wise, and if you are not interested in this sweet romance, this is not the drama for you. It's not as impactful as "Gameboys" and the use of social media as a way to tell the story is also not as creative. Not to say this is a bad drama, but just different and maybe my comparison to "Gameboys" is unfair as well (I can't help it though).

Acting is not bad and there's no irritating character, or annoying 'Baby' (sorry, my last comparison ?) The teacher is hilarious and the friends are caring and supportive. This is a short and easy watch.

Random Observations:
1. Tony Labrusca (Xavier) reminds me of the Chinese actor Wang An Yu in "Forever Love". Both are so handsome and I love their shy smiles.
2. On the other hand, Vivoree Esclito (Kookai) reminds me of the American actress Vanessa Hudgens (who is part Filipina).


Completed: 11/7/2022

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