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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The uncomfortable question of why we can't love our brother

“What else can we be, if not brothers?” Unknown is a deeply affecting story about the intersections between family and romance.

Based on the novel “大哥“, which simply translates to “older brother” in Chinese, the series unearths some unsettling questions about why it’s wrong to have romantic feelings for someone we call “family”. But what if the family member is not blood-related?

The show is self-aware.

This taboo is the major obstacle standing in the way of the protagonists’ romance, and is also the biggest reason why Qian experiences so much confusion regarding his affections for Yuan. Does he care for him so much because he single-handedly raised this boy, or does he love him like a life partner?

By the 12th episode, was I fully persuaded by Qian and Yuan’s relationship? I'm not sure, but they were so sweet I couldn’t help but find myself rooting for them.

Perhaps the actual question Unknown explores is what it means to belong to a family. In all its varied forms.

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

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Someone to remind us that a dull life can be worth living

Perfect Propose is a short Japanese BL with just six episodes – it neither feels too short nor does it try to cram too much into its storyline, making it a perfect light-hearted watch.

For Kai, taking care of the person he loves is enough — he doesn’t expect anything in return. When Hiro promises to take him to a festival but ends up being late due to work, Kai doesn’t get angry. He doesn’t even get disappointed.

It is for this reason — the fact that Kai’s presence is a quiet comfort without imposing any undue pressure — that Hiro finds himself increasingly attached to Kai.

Until Hiro met Kai, his life was nothing short of dull and meaningless. Bogged down by a heavy workload and a nasty boss who makes his life as a salaryman downright unebarable, Hiro only understands what it means to have a life worth living when he would much rather go home to Kai than spend another minute tapping away at his work computer.

What used to be the sole purpose for his life has slowly shifted its centre as the importance of work begins to slink away.

Perfect Propose is a short, sweet story about the little things that make life lovely – having a meal with someone at the end of a long day, looking forward to hearing their voice, and sharing the little things in life with another person.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/perfect-propose-2024-bl-review/

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A fun watch but the story is sooo scattered

Ahh, how do I describe this show? It is a hodgepodge of genres. (A word of warning: If you’re afraid of horrifying images and somewhat eerie sequences, this one might frighten you a bit.)

The good:
GMMTV fans would love Midnight Museum for its stunning array of familiar faces. (My favourite side story was Bright and then followed by Nanon!!) Without spoiling the entire storyline, Midnight Museum was really ambitious and unique in terms of its plot. This was a commendable attempt by GMMTV to do something different, and I look forward to non-conventional storylines like this in the future.

The bad:
While some parts were so much fun to watch, the show has been criticised for its messiness, occasional plot loopholes, and a horribly rushed and bungled ending. The criticisms are not unfair. The initial episodes seemed like standalone stories, which was good fun to watch. But ultimately, this diluted the focus of the entire story and wider plot, which was really about the mysterious identity of Dome.

With an entire universe of cursed artefacts, otherworldly beings and the incomprehensible nature of spacetime, it got hard to keep up. By the time their journey reached its end, the conclusion didn’t feel as meaningful or satisfying as I would have liked.

Nevertheless! I enjoyed watching this. For the most part.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/05/07/midnight-museum-2023/

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Honestly not that great but I still finished it

Bed Friend felt over the top and frankly, unnecessarily so at times. While there was an abundance of spicy love scenes, some intimate sequences felt out of place and had awkward transitions. All this made the show slightly cringey and hard to fully appreciate as a realistic romance. 

Uea's character was disappointing. It sometimes seemed like he was constantly trying to prove how cold he is. I appreciate his backstory, but I think the writing/Uea's character was poorly executed.

But did I finish it? Yes, I did. Now, I even have a huge crush on Net’s smouldering gaze. No idea how he does it but am I living for it? Also yes.

All in all, if you’re coming here for superb writing and storytelling - don’t. If you’re here for the steamy sex scenes and lots of toe-curling flirting, yes, this might just be what you need.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/05/02/bed-friend-2023-bl-review/

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Wow I couldn't decide which couple I liked better??

In general, I wasn’t expecting the series to be this entertaining, but gosh, I really enjoyed myself.

This series of misunderstandings and overthinking was presented in a quirky, light-hearted manner. The show also doesn’t devolve into the standard “i-don’t-like-men-it’s-only-muyeong” trope, nor does it create lots of drama in the entire process of discovering one’s sexuality.

But wait. There's also a love triangle! This could have been the premise of a different show or spinoff, so it would have been great if Oh! My Assistant had more episodes to flesh this out.

I’m glad Junseok as a character wasn’t made to be a total asshole for the sake of having an antagonist. I quite liked Junseok tbh, and I could see Muyeong being with either the goofy Seonho or the intense Junseok. Actually, by the last episode, I couldn’t decide if I was rooting for him or the male lead more.

Verdict: Needs 16 episodes instead

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/oh-my-assistant-2022-review-i-cant-decide-which-couple-i-prefer/

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Has the era of solid Taiwanese BLs passed?

At 12 episodes long, I can’t help but feel that the show could have been condensed in fewer episodes with less unnecessary drama as fillers for the story arc (i.e. repeated reappearance of the ex, family resistance) such that the storyline became completely diluted.

My Tooth Your Love has all the classic romance (BL?) tropes. Main character with a past trauma thinks he doesn’t deserve to be loved. Tsundere main character 2 who is the archetypal ‘Perfect Man’. An ex that returns mid-series.

The series started off promising with above-average chemistry between a frightened patient and an insistent (and very handsome) dentist). Bailang comes with baggage and Xunan is always around to help him through it.

The main couple was pretty cute together, but I can’t quite figure out if the show was going for a fluffy patient-meets-tsundere-dentist romance story… or a story about two people working through their past baggage together? It seems like the latter but so much time was spent on other details, which is a pity.

One of the side couples had an interesting story that deserved a series on its own BUT I just couldn’t ship them. Perhaps it’s because he’s still in high school, or was it because his character was just so childish? Whatever it is, I just wasn’t feeling this couple. Sorry.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/12/21/my-tooth-your-love-2022-bl-review/

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A reminder of how you will never be 18 again

I expected the show to focus a lot more on the campaigning process, but instead, the show was just packed with fluffy moments involving the two going on meal/study dates and staying over (not complaining tbh). 

Told through the stories of different youths, About Youth is about living, breathing all the hopes and anxieties of being a high schooler.

It’s about friendship and first loves. Worrying about how your dreams align with your family’s expectations of who you should become. And keeping your grades up through the turbulence. About Youth is a reminder of how you will never be 18 again, rushing headfirst into the same myriad of dizzying experiences.

What was most memorable was the relationship between Yeguang and his overly domineering father, who struggles to display care for his son in a way that is understood. Yeguang desperately tries to reconcile the two sides of himself: an obedient son who will do anything to accomplish his father’s dreams, and his true self – a boy who yearns for some time to himself.

I would have liked to see more of Yeguang's evolving relationship with his parents, as well as how he would navigate his relationship with Qizhang. So yes, if anything, the show would have benefitted from having at least 10-12 episodes.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/09/24/about-youth-2022-review/

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Everybody has somebody they can't forget

What starts out as an unlikely friendship at the neighbourhood laundromat transforms into an unsteady tension when Minato discovers Katsuki’s feelings for him. Is his affection that of an older brother who wants to watch over Katsuki as he grows older, or something romantic? In his confusion, he resists his initial attraction toward Katsuki, a task that only gets tougher in the face of Katuski’s relentlessly earnest pursuits. 

The relationship dances in circles for most of the series but their chemistry is unmistakable. Apart from looking wonderfully compatible despite the age gap, both characters were also well-balanced, each alternating between childlike playfulness and maturity.

Minato Shouji is about feelings that don’t go away, despite the passage of time – for both Katuski and also Asuka, another highschooler who has fallen for an eccentric man far older than he is.

As their story unfolds in a lazy seaside town where everybody knows everybody, it turns out that everyone has somebody they can’t forget.

My full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/09/15/minato-shouji-coin-laundry-review/

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I can’t believe I liked it but I really did

I’m usually not a fan of cheating storylines because they make the characters super unlikeable. Drunken sex storylines are also iffy since the consent is questionable. But gosh, I have to say, Love Mechanics might be an exception so far. I just can’t hate this show.

The characters are not meant to be squeaky clean, but even in their worst moments, they’re vulnerable, honest portrayals of what it means to be a painfully flawed and confused human being.

If you’re the kind who gets annoyed by messy breakups and BL couples having to go through 18935 obstacles before finally getting into a relationship, Love Mechanics is probably not for you.

Mark and Vee’s interactions are littered with tense, flirtatious interactions and non-answers, making it clear that their relationship is not nothing. But the best thing is that Love Mechanics doesn’t try too hard to fill in the gaps or explicitly articulate what characters are feeling in each scene. Audiences are left to infer and pick up on subtle emotional nuances through the characters’ behaviour. These gestures are clues pointing to the truth, even if the characters themselves aren’t completely self-aware of their emotions.

As Mark and Vee hold their breath to make a wish while riding across the White Bridge, Love Mechanics perfectly illustrates the irrational nature of a man in love, searching for whatever it takes to be with the one their heart desires.

My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/08/14/love-mechanics-2022-review/

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What a pity

It’s certainly an innovative concept BUT DOES IT WORK??? Sadly, no 😦

Sun and Athit’s strange debtor-collector relationship (and how it inverses subsequently) doesn’t really do much for the story, imo. The show positions itself as a light-hearted romance comedy, but the humour fails to entertain. Even the supposedly fluffier BL scenes weren’t enough to keep me interested.

BounPrem fans should also be prepared for Even Sun to waste a bit of time with a bunch of other couples (and for no good reason too).

While I’m glad to see BounPrem again, their story had nothing that kept me coming back for more. The only reason why I didn’t drop this is because I have a special spot for BounPrem .

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/08/05/even-sun-2022-review-bl/

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A thousand ways to show you love someone without saying it

Word of Honor checks all the boxes for a typical martial arts series – sectarian rivalry, revenge plots and a delightful relationship between a disciple and his teachers – proving to be a perfectly compelling and well-paced story.

But what makes it so enjoyable is that it’s far more profound than an empty clash of swords. The rivalry between the Ghost Valley and other seemingly ‘upright’ sects appears to be an allegory on the clash between Good and Evil, but Word Of Honor upends this by revealing the corruption amongst ‘heroes’. As sects go on a crusade to eradicate sin, they neglect to see that the rot has already wormed its way into their hearts.

The seeming incompatibility between the ghostly and mortal realm makes for an unlikely union between ZZS and WKX. And yet, it somehow works because they understand what it’s like to live troubled lives with cruel fates. For ZZS, who was ready to waste away and disappear into the twilight, the mere fact that he eventually allowed himself to be saved proved that the only person who could change his mind about life was WKX. And for WKX, who has walked a path doomed to unholiness, all he needed was something to pull him back to the world of humans and humanity.

So, is it a BL? Technically no. But I would say that the depth of ZZS and WKX’s relationship far transcends effortless banter and flirty conversations. The audience gets a sense that their unspoken bond runs far deeper than these superficial interactions. At the heart of their story is a quest to protect the only thing that matters to them – each other.

My full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/06/15/word-of-honor-2022-review/
My compilation of the romantic scenes: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/06/15/word-of-honor-bl-romance/

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Solid 8/10 if I pretend that there’s nothing weird about their relationship at all

It’s easy to see why CBAW is so popular. No time is wasted on dumb bullsh*t like messy sideplots. This is all about Haebom and Taesung, and man, I have to say, they have a really cute relationship (and height difference).

The characters have really good chemistry (which makes the show worth watching), but while their insanely cute romance develops, a tiny voice in my head can’t help but yell: But wait! They’re still adopted brothers!!

The vibe of Haebom and Taesung is closer to childhood-friends-turned-lovers rather than siblings, even though they grew up in the same household. Haebom even addresses Taesung’s mother as “ma’am” rather than “mum”.

But something about their relationship still unsettles me. Haebom and Taesung’s love story, in all its warm, sappy, goodness, would make for an even more delightful watch if not for this uncomfortable detail.

If anything, this show makes me interrogate my beliefs on relationships that I can or cannot accept. Blood relations are out of the question. Adopted siblings or stepsiblings? Hmm, probably weird if they grew up together (exactly what happened in CBAW). How about discovering a long-lost half-sibling during adulthood? It gets iffier man, I don’t know.

My full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/27/cherry-blossoms-after-winter-2022-review-adopted-brother-bl-plot-makes-it-weird/

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The last 10 minutes hit me like a ton of bricks

While the “scary”-looking ghosts are kept to a minimum, the series still has so many elements of classic Thai horror. I’m an occasional horror fan, but if you are someone who absolutely cannot deal with horror setups, you might want to give this show a miss.

Now, whether to watch the uncut version or not: The shorter versions on YouTube should still give you the details you absolutely need to know, but you may miss out on the background info surrounding the side characters. Personally, I think it’s fine if you just want to watch the cut version, but I couldn’t because I’m just that fomo.

With 70-minute episodes, I expected a well-developed, nuanced story that explored various character arcs. Unfortunately, the narrative surrounding Phob and his family lost steam towards the end. I somewhat appreciated Nuan and Da (Phob’s mother) as complex characters, but found some characters and their motivations to be poorly developed and executed.

Maybe it was a case of trying to do too much and diluting what mattered most.

To me, the real meat of the show was this: What’s going to happen after Phob leaves this world? How can there be a future for both of them?

Unlike He's Coming To Me, which turned out somewhat sappy and light-hearted, SIMR’s final 5 to 10 minutes left me with nothing but sorrow. The lingering dread from living yet not being alive without the person you love. And getting through each day despite it all.

Maybe only in death will there finally be relief. And perhaps that's where the horror truly lies.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/03/27/something-in-my-room-2022-review-bl-with-thai-horror-vibes/

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You can give this one a miss if you've seen the series

Hey, I love Sarawat and Tine. But the fact is that there’s really not much new or groundbreaking material in the movie edition.

Much of the “movie” footage is a recap of what happened in 2gether and Still 2gether, coupled with narration. This is supposed to give the viewer a glimpse into Tine and Sarawat’s mind and what they were thinking at certain junctures. While it’s nice in theory, it falls flat in practice because there was nothing new or surprising that was revealed. Perhaps there simply isn’t very much left to expand on given the 2nd series.

While it promises a “complete edition” with extra scenes, these don’t really amount to much – maybe 20 minutes of new footage out of a 110 minute movie. This means that the extra scenes could really be a special episode at best, but frankly it could also have been a music video.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/02/23/review-2gether-the-movie-2021-is-better-off-as-a-special-episode/

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