I don't usually like sequels but this one was great

I normally dread sequels and have never managed to find a sequel that outperforms its predecessor. Until today. Beautiful Man S2 has pulled it off, even with odds stacked against it – a commendable feat that is worth analysing.

My only criticism of the sequel is that it was too short – with only 4 episodes, I would have loved to see more of this.

It is a thoughtful continuation from where the first series ended, delving even deeper into the relationship between the characters and tackling the question of what’s next for their relationship given their individual life trajectories.

The dynamics between Kiyoi and Hira remain extremely unconventional and at first glance, can feel unsettlingly imbalanced. Despite being in a close relationship, Hira’s reverence for Kiyoi doesn’t seem to cease in the second series. Kiyoi also prefers to masquerade behind seeming disgust like saying “gross” or hastily adding “I was just kidding” after letting slip his true feelings.

The good news is this: While Kiyoi in season 1 was a lot more opaque, his tenderness and protectiveness over Hira becomes a lot more obvious in the sequel.

My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/04/04/beautiful-man-season-2-2023-review/

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I seriously enjoyed this BL

I don’t know why BNMNS isn’t getting more hype but this series is honestly the most fantastic Japanese BL I’ve watched so far in 2023.

This is not a typical end-of-the-world story featuring cliched conflict resolution or unrealistic redemption arcs. I share the same sentiments as those who felt that Ritsu was a deeply unlikeable person who didn’t deserve Masumi’s forgiveness. But that’s not relevant to the point that BHMNS is trying to make. The end of the world doesn’t magically turn cruel family members into saints, nor does it bring closure for those mourning the dead.

People still cannot fully rid themselves of their selfish habits, even in their final days. But perhaps, miraculously, love works the best only after you get a glimpse of death. 

Only with an end in sight can there be clarity to the mistakes that affect us profoundly, even if we refuse to admit it. If you could start over, what would be the first thing you would undo? That will most likely turn out to be the biggest regret of your life if you don't fix it now.

True to the apocalypse theme, this is a story about all the things that haunt you for the last time before everything goes up in flames. Loneliness and a yearning for connection. Family members you will never reconcile with. All of life’s regrets, with the knowledge that there probably won’t be enough time for redemption.


Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/03/21/bokura-no-micro-na-shuumatsu-review-bl/

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A sense of pervasive restlessness, both gritty and beautiful at the same time

From the synopsis, it may sound like the film is all about how the 2 men navigate and conceal their relationship from Kyouichi’s wife, but that storyline only brushes the tip of the iceberg. It’s clear to me by the 30-minute mark that the synopsis cannot capture the ebbs and flows of the story’s turns.

The film is simultaneously mundane yet eventful at the same time.

The theme of the show revolves around the idea of third parties, with the positions of Kyouichi and Imaguchi constantly shifting in this equation.

Kyouichi flits between women like a moth drawn to a flame, but despite being constantly wanted, the audience gets the sense that these encounters are filled with a profound emptiness. Meanwhile, Imaguchi’s self-professed weakness of constantly running to the person he loves manifests in his desire to constantly be around Kyouichi, even when it tears him apart.

It almost feels like the characters are incapable of being content with their present. There’s a constant anticipation, but we’re not sure what is it they're waiting for.

The 2 hours passes much quicker than I expected, despite the film being filled with a pervasive restlessness. It is both gritty and beautiful at the same time, exposing the weaknesses and insecurities of flawed humans.

Read my review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/01/cornered-mouse-dreams-of-cheese-review/

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I actually liked this body swap BL

The trailer left me confused and sceptical but I’m glad to say that it doesn’t do this show justice at all!      

While Korn (played by Earth) technically travels with Lin’s body, he’s actually 100% aware that it’s actually Win inside. Additionally–and this is arguably the most crucial point—Win actually appears as Win in most scenes, especially when they’re alone. This means that many of the significant or somewhat romantic interactions actually show Korn conversing with Win.

The scenes tend to switch back and forth between Win and Lin (who’s really just Win in Lin’s body), but the good news is that the transitions between the two were done really smoothly. I know all this possibly sounds mindboggling, but trust me. You have to watch it to understand that it really works out just fine.

While most of the show relies on the body swap plot (plus villainous family members) to propel the story forward, little context is provided as to why characters behave the way they do. The story, as whole, ends up being kinda empty. Despite being supposedly good friends for so long, the depth of Win and Korn’s relationship also remains surprisingly shallow.

Here’s a plus point, though: If you thought Earth and Mix were super compatible in ATOTS, their chemistry only intensifies in CLW. At some point, their interactions feel so natural and authentic that you start to wonder if this is Korn and Win, or really just Earth and Mix bickering.

My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/05/30/cupids-last-wish-review-bl/

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When everything is out of place, everything fits

Believe me when I say this series if one of the weirdest Thai BLs I’ve ever seen. The show starts off being a cringefest and… doesn’t get better. Instead, it doubles down, persisting with the shudderingly embarrassing scenes.

Every episode will give you second-hand embarrassment with its off-kilter humour and overly dramatic characters. (I really struggled to not fast-forward scenes that made me cringe.)

The biggest criticisms of the show end up being its biggest selling points: Ridiculous, off-kilter, outlandish. It will take some time to get used to Toh and his quirky outcast pals but here’s the thing. The show will grow on you.

The show may have been loaded with scenes right out of a BL textbook, but the execution was done just right. Toh and Nuea’s chemistry is FIRE. Nuea’s hunger for Toh is endless, and every time they kiss, his hands grip Toh like his life depends on it. This is exactly how kissing should be done.

SCOY’s stalker premise may sound super problematic, but the couples and friendships all featured critical aspects of a healthy relationship – respect, consent, acceptance and support. Sure, there might be plenty of weird and embarrassing scenes. But somehow, I got increasingly invested in the couples (between Nuea and Toh, and Sky and Jao) and was won over by the wholesome relationships.

My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/05/13/secret-crush-on-you-2022-review-bl/

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One of the earlier South Korean BLs that I would still rewatch in 2022

Runners often have a special relationship with their pacers. The relationship between a runner and his pacer is one that is built on trust, respect and consistency because runners know that their pacer can be counted on to run that perfect pace. And usually, many runners end up becoming very close with their pacers, even off the track, because of all the time they’ve spent together.

I would have wanted to see more of Jinwon & Sangha’s training process, but Mr. Heart doesn’t really delve too deeply into this aspect. It chooses to focus more on the backstory between Jinwon and Sangha in high school, their blooming relationship in college, as well as Sangha’s financial woes.

Jinwon can be a bit of an asshole at times so if you require absolutely perfect men as BL leads, he’s definitely not it. I would argue, though, that these little flaws add to the charm of his personality, and make any form of character development all the more rewarding.

On that note, my biggest complaint is that you don’t actually get much emotional depth or character development from this series. The special relationship between an athlete and his pacer could have been the perfect opportunity to build intimacy between athletes and explore the emotional side of sports when it comes to competition and training.

One series that touched on this really well was You’re My Sky, a sports BL from Thailand. The delicate relationships between athletes and how it influenced them as sportsmen was captured beautifully ⁠— something that wasn’t quite highlighted in Mr. Heart.

Nevertheless, for a pretty short series that can be binged in just 87 minutes, it’s a great filler for when you’re craving a quick fix.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/05/09/mr-heart-korean-bl-review/
More BL content: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/

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This made me feel a range of emotions from lives I have not lived

Going purely by the synopsis, you might expect a fluffy – possibly even humorous – show with a stereotypical erotica plot. But I’m here to tell you that it is none of these things.

Moody, intimate and intense, Mood Indigo’s brilliance is in exploring the anguish that comes with desire. Desire to be with someone and inside them (literally). The blurring boundaries between love and lust. The vulnerabilities that come with opening up.

Being with Kijima is maddeningly arousing and sensual – nothing like he has ever experienced with other lovers – and he constantly struggles with the pull of Kijima’s magnetism. While he does harbour genuine affections for his friend, he can’t bring himself to be with a man.

This becomes the source of Kijima’s anguish. Not from emotions that have stirred within him, but from Kido’s selfishness of wanting him without choosing him.

Do they end up together eventually? In Mood Indigo’s universe, this is irrelevant.

The underlying message is that some people will never be forgotten. A flickering flame always remains, never to be extinguished even with the passage of time.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/05/08/mood-indigo-bl-review/

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Love Area has a decent premise but doesn’t execute it as well it could have

The premise of a spoiled and immature man being increasingly drawn to his precocious, hardworking co-worker is a pretty sweet sell. But Love Area squanders this opportunity with a storyline that is mostly uninteresting (let alone surprising) and the less-than-ideal chemistry between its actors.

It is a shame that Valen had very few memorable moments showing why audiences should be invested in him at all. I’m not asking for the male leads to be straitlaced saints, but there was literally nothing relatable about his flaws.

The second couple, King and Peat, have a fiery romance going on, but introducing a potential antagonist, in the form of a 14-year-old (I kid you not, the actor is 14) just makes things extremely messy and bizarre.

Please give this one a miss unless you really have some time to kill. But will I still give Season 2 a chance? Yes, because I’ve already invested my time in Part 1 and now need to know if Valen will finally become likeable.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/10/love-area-the-series-2021/

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I'm a sucker for bodyguard shows so I watched this anyway

Golden Blood features your typical bodyguard romance plot, which isn’t original but one that I’m honestly a sucker for. Unfortunately, the show falls flat with weak acting and uninteresting characters.

Gun, while a more familiar face in the BL scene, fails to deliver in a main role. When showcasing depth of emotion and heartache, however, Gun’s acting lacked refinement despite his relative experience in previous BLs. It’s clear that Boat, who played Sun, is the stronger actor in the Sun-Sky pairing, as he conveyed so much more with less.

The highlight for me was actually the side couple: Bank, Sky’s best friend, and Pitch. Their relationship was so soft and pure, evolving wholesomely with hardly any unnecessary drama. They also provided some moments of comic relief, which were welcome in tense scenes.

The intensifying rivalry between competing mafia groups also keeps the storyline sufficiently exciting, but isn't enough to carry the entire show.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/11/22/golden-blood-2021/

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Big on chemistry, sullied by questionable moments

Love In The Air is roughly split into two parts, each focusing on a different couple. And if you ask me which is the better half, I’d have trouble giving you an answer. The chemistry is pretty good and the flirting will keep you hooked.

However, I wish the storyline made a little more sense – it would have helped if the characters’ personalities were more consistent and even better if their backgrounds were fleshed out a little more. The rating would also be higher if the characters didn’t have all these problematic moments that made me go Ehhhhh…?

Doesn’t make it a bad show, imo, just lacks thoughtful writing and actual depth.

You may have come across some criticism regarding Phayu’s problematic behaviour in the initial episodes. Personally, I thought this was quite out of character for Phayu as he is shown to be quite thoughtful and non-toxic in the later episodes, and the story does get better and a lot more wholesome, so I don’t know what was going on in the earlier parts.

Now on to the second couple - at the start, Phai has all the signs of a walking red flag. Shamelessly full of self confidence, glib tongued, and basically too hot and too rich to take anybody seriously. But I’m here to tell you it gets better. In fact, Phai turns out to be a total green flag, and they’re just so unbelievably cute together I have to stop myself from screaming every time I watch an episode.

Verdict? Watch it and maybe you’ll get hooked too.

Full review here: asianblreviews.wordpress.com

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I’ve seen way worse with way better ratings

For those seeing all the chatter on Unforgotten Night and wondering whether or not to watch it, here’s my take – it was actually not as bad as I expected. A possessive mafia boss falling in love with a stubborn, hot-headed stranger, and essentially becoming a different person when he’s with him? SIGN ME UP.

Apart from Kim and Kamol, the second couple in the series – Baiboon and Khom - was such a pleasant surprise! The storyline featuring a bodyguard and the nephew of a housekeeper totally deserves a spin-off of their own – it was regrettable that their story was pretty much overlooked.

With plenty of other BLs out there, it’s tough to justify why dramas these days still have weird cuts and transitions that stand in the way of smooth storytelling. But I could still follow the story for the most part even though not everything made 100% sense. The actors are also fairly inexperienced, perhaps with the exception of Yoon (I am kinda happy to see him), so be prepared for the quality of acting to be lower.

Lastly, I just wanna say that this rating of 18+ is seriously justified. It’s not just the violence and BDSM but also a shocking (imo) scene involving some of the bodyguards that didn't get very much screen time... but exists nonetheless. ;)

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/09/08/unforgotten-night-bl-review/

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Ending not great, but watch it for Theo & Ak's relationship anyway

Enchante’s storyline may not have been revolutionary, but I think there was a solid effort put into crafting an interesting story beyond the typical college BL plot. They could have just slapped together a bunch of good-looking guys, hoping that the eye candy (aka Gawin and Force) would sell the series, but they didn’t.

But the mystery of "who is Enchante???" was not what I stayed for.

As a friends-turned-lovers kind of story, the series devoted serious screentime to a blooming romance between friends. And for me, the relationship between Theo and Ak was everything.

Scenes with sexual tension were executed effortlessly – with Force and Book’s effortless on-screen dynamic, their relationship came off as both playful and genuine. Banter aside, they also captured the beauty of falling in love with a friend: Tender gazes that lingered, the breath catching in their throat after one person moves too close, the fear of taking a step closer.

Constantly worried about inconveniencing Theo or making him uncomfortable with his affection, Ak put Theo first even when it pained him to step back. He gave unconditionally and selflessly, even when Theo couldn’t do the same.

Some comments have railed against the ending, demanding to know why Theo stayed hopelessly immature without any character development. But I think this shows not the ugliness of Theo, but rather, with a character like Ak, how there is no way any (necessarily flawed) human being could ever deserve someone like him.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/03/enchante-2022-review-above-all-a-story-about-friends-turned-lovers/

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One of the most overrated South Korean BLs

There's the promise of a good premise: handsome yet moody chef with an unhappy past meets a bright-eyed college student who comes to work during the holidays.

Beautiful set design, check. Interesting premise involving a rooftop restaurant, aloof head chef and handsome staff? Check, check and check.

So why did it fail so miserably? In a show filled with flat characters, only Eunkyu had a vaguely interesting character arc. However, his story was so underbaked, leaving me to wonder why they bothered with it at all. The conflicts and tensions in the series (love triangle + the souring of a 15-year friendship) were also poorly chosen, bordering on illogical.

It’s as though they gave up on good writing and went, "hey let’s just put a lot of good-looking guys and make two of them kiss, this series is gonna sell for sure!!"

South Korean BLs are often not meant to have in-depth plot development due to the short runtime. But that’s no excuse for poor writing. If you only have 8 episodes, you better make it count with purposeful storytelling and a narrative that doesn’t have overly complex demands.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/01/28/tasty-florida-2021/

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What a solid series!

Wow, this has all the elements that I enjoy in a show. Heists, crime and gangsterism, and BL – made even better by the fact that it’s YinWar.

The storyline is not overly predictable and cheesy, and as a full-length series with 12 episodes, each around an hour to 80 minutes long, there were also enough twists to keep me hooked. I couldn’t stop watching this!

The characters are sufficiently interesting and well-thought-out. I love that the series makes subtle points about how poverty cycles and debt collection are interconnected. Its characters are repeatedly forced into making lousy gambles and regretting the choices they made.

Yin and War's chemistry is top-tier, as always, and their relationship is so lovely to watch. In Jack and Joker, their story is one of collective redemption. Even if you have gone through difficult circumstances and made numerous mistakes, there is always a way back. And there will always be someone who will have your back.

It’s not about one person saving another, it’s about how two people can bring out the best in each other.

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

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Old-school BL that belongs in 2020

Wow, I thought this type of BL was extinct. It was like I time travelled back to the BL heydays of 2020 when things were largely fluffy. But I don’t mean this in a bad way. 

The male leads in Monster Next Door are just so shy and innocent that it feels almost old-school in terms of its style.

Diao and God live next to each other but Diao, being super shy and introverted, avoids speaking to God face-to-face. Instead, they communicate by chatting on their balconies and leaving cute post-it notes on each other’s door. Aww. Don’t expect anything emotionally deep from this show. It’s not meant to be a profound romance or to evoke complex feelings. 

Nothing much important goes on except for the progression of their romance and their changing relationship, which is so sweet that it’s almost syrupy. Towards the end, I also got a bit bored by the nothingburger conflicts but this show is perfect for when you want to relax after a long, tiresome day.

I was also rooting like mad for the second couple and wouldn't have minded more scenes of them!

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/10/16/monster-next-door-2024-bl-review/

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