One of the best Japanese BLs out there

There are a few supernatural BLs out there, mostly involving ghosts, but nothing as original and quirky as Eternal Yesterday. For those who aren't into supernatural stuff, don't let this deter you too much. The show is not at all creepy.

Unlike most BLs with predictable conflicts (parents' disapproval, miscommunication, a love triangle), Eternal Yesterday is about unsettling uncertainty, loss and grief.

There are some fluffy romantic moments, but the series in no way a feel-good high school story. In fact, with some hints being dropped along the way, audiences are left with a sinking feeling that the ending is not going to be a happy one.

By the time you reach the end, there’s nothing left to do but stew in the discomfort of unanswered questions and unsatisfying endings, unspoken sorrows, and of things given and then taken away.

It's enigmatic, tender and heartbreaking - truly one of the best Japanese BLs out there.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/eien-no-kinou-eternal-yesterday-review/

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Love can bloom even amidst the most turbulent of times

Blueming is definitely one of the better South Korean BLs I’ve seen.

The beauty of Blueming is in how it offers astute observations on the relationship between identity and insecurity. It is an honest glimpse into how someone hopes to be seen, liked and validated by revealing the inner workings of an overthinker’s mind – every interaction and conversation stripped down, replayed and analysed.

Si-Won, as someone who cares way too much about what other people think, is a highly relatable character.

Then there’s Da-Woon, the “perfect” kid who is far more self-assured in comparison. With Da-Woon, Si-Won learns that he does not need to be somebody else. He is loved for who he is. Warts and all.

A tender and heartwarming look into how intimacy is built, Blueming shows how love can bloom even amidst the most turbulent of times. It explores the delicate interplay of friendship, romance, family and personal achievement, without trying to cram too much into 10 episodes.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/17/blueming-2022-review-tender-honest-affecting/

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Highly original, mind-bending watch

4 Minutes is perplexing. Every time you think you’ve worked out where the narrative is headed, it swerves in a different direction. The synopsis makes the series seem like a “get a glimpse into the future and change your destiny” plot, but it’s far more complex than that.

The journey itself is enjoyable rather than nauseating. Instead of predictable build-ups into scenes which are clearly designated as ‘payoffs’, the story is delightfully fragmented and slippery. It’s not entirely clear which sequences took place when, so it requires some mental gymnastics to untangle everything and come to your own conclusions.

Beoncloud has its way with creating such dark and complex characters, sometimes with sinister motivations. In any case, I liked the deeper message driving the show. At the end of our lives, we will always look back on our regrets and wish that we did things differently. All so that the remaining moments of our life aren’t spent being weighed down by our conscience.

While humans are capable of making some pretty awful decisions, 4 Minutes also reminds us that we can choose otherwise. There is always a choice.

More reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/

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Thai remakes have been so good lately!

If you liked the premise of Kieta Hatsukoi, the Thai adaptation mostly follows the same narrative structure as well. So, what was different from the Japanese version and did it work?

Atom is an awkward high schooler who wears his heart on his sleeve, but he doesn’t come off as cringey or overly childish. His behaviour was also less exaggerated compared to the Japanese version, which I preferred (because the Japanese version is a little over the top for my liking).

NOBODY are better suited for the Thai remake than Gemini and Fourth. Fourth’s ditziness translates well into the role of Atom. And Kongthap’s cool demeanour and steadiness is also similar to his performance as Tinn in My School President.

I’m glad that the Thai remake also took the chance to spotlight how difficult it is for teenagers (or anyone really) to come out to their family. This is something usually not explored in Japanese BLs, especially since a big appeal of Japanese BLs is the utopian bubble that its characters live in.

Fourth and Gemini have so much potential given that they’re still so young. My wish is that they will get an opportunity to try something different with more mature roles and complex characters.

Read more: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/

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One of the best BLs I've seen this year!

There’s never a dull moment in the 17-episode series filled with death, drama, and a forbidden romance that drives the narrative forward.

But let me talk about the BL plot. Unlike modern BLs where gay relationships tend to be normalised, 1940s Thailand is a very different world.

Tian and Jiu are from different worlds. Tian is a rich, educated heir to a powerful Chinese family, while Jiu is an illiterate worker who sells candy to support his siblings. But their compatibility and chemistry are unmistakable – the way they look at each other says everything.

Moments of tenderness with Jiu bring Tian fleeting bliss, but he quickly learns that following his heart will only bring ruin to everyone around him. This gnawing tension makes TSWL a heartachingly wonderful watch with some moments that will leave you smiling to yourself like a fool.

Just to allay any concerns that this is going to turn out to be one of those tragic gay stories, it ends pretty well. Almost too unrealistically happy but you know what? I'LL TAKE IT.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/12/18/to-sir-with-love-khun-chai-thai-2022/

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Started off troubling but finished strong

As far as episodes 1 to 4 was concerned, Kiyoi appeared arrogant, narcissistic and unkind, while Hira was needlessly reverent. How could a healthy relationship possibly result from such a dynamic? I thought. But I was completely won over by the end as the final episodes offered revelations from Kiyoi’s perspective.

The beauty of Utsukushii Kare is in how it demonstrates the communication quirks in conservative Asian societies. Reading between the lines is required to grasp subtler expressions of love.

When Kiyoi uses the term “stalker”, he really means “thank you for coming to me”. When he says “disgusting”, albeit in harsher tones, it’s because he just doesn’t know how else to express what he’s feeling.

“How did I fall in love with someone as disgusting as you?” Taken out of context, his sentence might sound terribly unkind. But in the particular context where it was said, Kiyoi doesn’t actually think that Hira is to be abhorred, but instead, he wants to say, “how did I find someone as special as you?”

Read my full review: here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/26/utsukushii-kare-my-beautiful-man-2021/

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