Not Singto's best

PWL is at best a trashy guilty pleasure, and at worst, a trope-filled series with somewhat cringey acting.

Singto is great when portraying nuanced emotions, as usual – sadness, disappointment, frustration and hurt, but I can’t help but feel that he was just not the best person for the role. As for Phab, played by Tae, he unfortunately does not have the same acting talents as Singto – his face is often frozen in strange, awkward expressions with his mouth slightly ajar. This really messes with the vibe during emotional or intimate scenes.

Story-wise, much of the writing didn't make sense to me, especially the central conflict of the show being Maze’s relationship with his step-brother and how it affected other relationships.

If anything, perhaps PWL is a cautionary tale on how workplace romances can get messy and infuriating. Every little petty squabble, unfortunately, gets amplified in work settings. Especially when you have two childish (and rather petty) people who tend to leap to conclusions at the slightest suggestion and let misunderstandings drag on without proper resolution.

But hey, if you go in with no expectations looking for something to kill time, why not? I certainly was entertained enough to finish the series.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/02/15/paint-with-love-2021-review/

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The idea is better than the execution

A talented fashion designer in search for the perfect model, one whom his clothes were made for, finds who he has been looking for. And ends up finding love too.

This sounds wonderfully romantic, but the idea is better than the execution when it comes to Behind Cut.

Behind Cut starts to lose its way somewhere in the middle, with poorly-done scene transitions that really started to affect the flow of the story. Also, too many ideas were crammed into an 8-episode miniseries as it ends up not really spending enough time on most.

What saved Behind Cut was the above average chemistry between Kijin and Yeongwoo, with their heart-to-heart talks over udon or beer about their hopes and dreams for the future. I really liked the final kiss scene but it was, unfortunately, still not enough to salvage the entire series.

Read my full review here (mild spoilers): https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/02/02/behind-cut-review-2021/

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Everything you could ask for in a mature, crime-themed BL

Max and Tul are back and they have more than delivered. I want to describe this series as a BL romance dressed in noir, but that would be overly reductive. In fact, an important point to note is that the series still holds its own even if Tan and Bun weren’t romantically involved – I’m glad they were, though, because their palpable sexual chemistry just made it all the better.

The series starts off with a murdered girl. A whodunnit premise drives the narrative, but this soon evolves to something far more complex.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the characters inhabit a sinister reality where nobody can be trusted fully. Sometimes, they are also forced to straddle legally and ethically grey boundaries. All these factors, plus cliff-hangers and twists, provide for surprisingly propulsive episodes that keep you wanting more.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/11/29/manner-of-death-2020%ef%bf%bc/

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Call Me By Your Name x Thai BL

With its stunning visuals, ITSAY is easily the most beautifully-produced BL I’ve encountered. The BL delivers both aesthetics and substance. However, the intensity of emotions revolving around a turbulent sexual awakening makes it difficult to binge watch or rewatch frequently.

Burgeoning young love aside, what really makes this series stand out is not so much the plot, but a strong undercurrent of sexual tension that consistently propels the narrative.

The pacing is also unlike most BLs as it moves a lot slower. Some scenes are long drawn out, dramatizing the effect of waiting restlessly in loneliness. In several instances, the deliberate lack of dialogue becomes purposeful, with actors relying on their eyes to convey wordless desire through the gaze. It’s sequences like these that arguably make ITSAY so unique and so memorable.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/18/i-told-sunset-about-you-2020/

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Interesting universe swap concept with unfulfilled potential

Vice Versa is one of the more aesthetically pleasing shows produced by GMMTV. And although it may be a body switch BL, thankfully, you don’t actually need to do any mental gymnastics to figure out who’s who. (GMMTV is kind enough to use the actual characters in most scenes even though they’re really in someone else’s body.)

Science fiction lovers, however, may be a little disappointed to know that the show flounders a little when it comes to the science and logic of its story – in short, there are obvious plot holes. Personally, I thought this was a shame. Vice Versa presented a fantastic opportunity for GMMTV to explore new genres and push the boundaries of storytelling.

Most of the episodes are filled with fluffy scenes of Jimmy and Sea spending time with each other, or their gang going about their lives trying to produce a movie. It's a great JimmySea debut given that their chemistry is excellent. However, the show would have been far more holistic if it also showed the other side of the swap – what happened to Tess and Tun in the other universe, and how are they holding up in their portkey search? Much of the science fiction is backloaded in the final episodes, when I would have liked to see it throughout the series.

Still a great BL with pretty solid acting, though.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/10/01/vice-versa-2022-review/

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Like A Tale of Thousand Stars but …better? :O

I thought this would be a tired remake of A Tale Of Thousand Stars but I was wrong. I actually liked it better than ATOTS! (Fight me ahahahha.)

You will notice many similar elements, which may be initially off-putting. There’s the rural mountainous setting, a cute volunteer teacher, rich urbanites who can’t get used to the village lifestyle and a sad backstory involving a traffic accident. It’s almost as though someone in GMMTV gave up brainstorming and said, “ayyy, let’s just recycle those ideas”.

As the second part to Star And Sky, SIYH doesn’t try to do too much in 8 episodes. While this means that the story compromises on the depth that you would expect from a full-fledged series, it makes up for it with compelling characters and tight writing. Most importantly, the chemistry between Kuafah and Prince is great.

Unlike ATOTS, which I found slightly complex plot-wise, Sky In Your Heart is a warm and fuzzy pick-me-up at the end of a dreadful day.

The only thing I didn't like was how their misunderstanding and concerns were glossed over pretty quickly in the final episode (prob due to to time constraints) so the couple is not shown working through their problems together. If you can overlook this detail, you'll be blown away by how Kuafah and Prince make for an unbelievably cute pair. I had doubts seeing them individually, but together, they’re really something else. Seriously, my cheeks hurt from all the smiling.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/23/sky-in-your-heart-2022-bl-review/

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All characters are flawed, there is no real hero or villain

KinnPorsche is largely amoral towards any crimes and mafia activity. It also hardly passes judgment on what kinds of behaviour are ‘wrong’ or questionable, merely serving as a mirror to reflect how the flaws of damaged humans.

The series vacillates between three poles: the dark (violence), the light (humour), and the fluffy (romance).

Kinn’s family and their bodyguards speak only one common language – violence. Entangled in a complex web of rivalries where their survival is threatened, Porsche quickly learns that trust is a commodity that few can afford in Kinn’s world.

Kinn is drawn to Porsche’s playful innocence and carefree nature. But the realisation sinks in quickly; there’s no way they can live like other ordinary couples. If only he could shed his skin and be rid of his responsibilities to become neither a leader of a mafia ring nor his father’s son – just Kinn, a man who wants to be with Porsche.

And here comes the fluffy part. At times, the relationship between Kinn and Porsche seems just like any other typical BL. They rain kisses on each other’s cheeks and whisper sweet nothings like teenagers in love.

The trailer for KinnPorsche created the impression that the series is sinister, violent, and moody. But the show turned out to be less dark than I expected. Personally, I found some of these supposedly humorous moments a little cringey to sit through – the worst of the lot being Porsche’s incompetent fails in the earlier episodes, which made him look unnecessarily immature and silly.

But overall, KinnPorsche is an amazing BL. With moral ambiguity, wild intimacy scenes (a word of caution: I strongly recommend you watch it with headphones), stunning fight sequences and a very different brand of ‘romance’ from what BL fans are used to, KinnPorsche is groundbreaking in its own right.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/10/kinnporsche-2022-review-bl/
My analysis of the last episode + all unanswered questions here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/11/kinn-porsche-ending-explained/

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More food videography masterclass than BL

Unlike most Thai BLs, Bite Me moves at much slower pace. I’m fine with slow-moving shows but some scenes were needlessly sluggish.

The biggest problem is that it has an underdeveloped storyline, which is a real shame because the storyline between Aue and Aek got off to a promising start.

The BL gradually lost its way. The show was set up to hint at both Aek and Aue’s development chefs, but this was hardly addressed. The strangest thing was that the introduction of potential antagonists (Mu and Wiphob) also turned out to be quite unnecessary. None of these characters or tensions were properly fleshed out.

Bite Me definitely succeeded as a food videography masterclass because of all the artistic food preparation scenes. But as a BL with proper drama? Nah, not even close.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/11/27/bite-me-2021/

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Weak resolution & ending but the rest of the show works

The initial worry was that this would turn out to be another F4 Thailand-esque bully-redemption-arc type of story, but in the BL universe. If you’re reluctant to watch this because you think Kanghan’s character is going to be horribly problematic, well, I’d have to tell you that you’re kinda right. But it gets better real quick.

The first episodes are a hard(er) watch precisely because Kanghan’s character is downright insufferable and cringey. It’s nothing to do with Perth’s acting, mind you, but rather, demonstrating how Kanghan is in an awkward phase of his teenage life where he’s still processing his identity and self-worth.

Some commenters are quick to point out that Chimon doesn’t look like he’s too whipped for Perth, but I wouldn’t worry about this. The romance develops organically and has its sweet moments – more importantly, the actors are decent enough to carry the narrative.

It also has some pretty awesome side couples featuring Marc and Pawin. I’ve been following them since My Gear And Your Gown and I think they make a pretty good second couple.

In my opinion, though, the show also wasted a perfectly good opportunity to showcase more of Saifah and Name’s relationship, which had a completely different dynamic from Sailom and Kanghan.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/11/16/dangerous-romance-2023-bl-review/

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Unfair to hold it to typical BL standards

You can’t go in expecting typical BL material. But if you appreciate two troubled guys finding comfort in each other, this is it.

With a little reading between the lines, there is still plenty of evidence to suggest that their relationship goes beyond just friendship.

As a detective, Ichiro is a stickler for law and order. A lonely young man with a tragic past, he rarely lets anyone in, mostly keeping to himself. On the other side of the law, Shiro is a young and ruthless yakuza leader who turned to a life of vice and violence after his sister’s disappearance. While he has an outgoing exterior and nonchalant attitude, this only masks his deeper fears of abandonment.

Brought together by a chance encounter, the yakuza leader and the public security bureau officer discover a more profound connection than they expected. They are the unlikeliest of pairings but what can I say? Opposites attract.

A fairly wide range of characters propel the show forward. The backbone of the narrative is a sinister plot involving a network of politicians, agents and gang members. And this is really what drives the show. The relationship between Ichiro and Shiro is, unfortunately (and disappointingly for some), secondary.

But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the story for what it is. Even the is-this-BL-or-not ambiguity.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/kei-x-yaku-review-2022-unfair-to-hold-it-to-typical-bl-standards/
Analysis of why I think they're more than friends: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/kei-x-yaku-episode-breakdown-why-theyre-more-than-just-friends/

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Plot is a little weird but hear me out….

If you had to do a double take at this synopsis, don’t worry. You read it completely right: This plot is wack.

Silly plot aside, there are some profoundly existential scenes and dialogues questioning the meaning of ‘being human’ and what constitutes an existence worth living. I started watching this series for the hell of it but one episode turned into two, and then four and five, and before I knew it, the entire series had come and gone.

The relationship between Junior and Sun develops organically and at its own pace over several episodes without rushing into anything. As they navigate the world in their human forms, their attraction towards each other is obvious but largely unspoken, paving the way for an innocent and sweet teenage relationship.

The editing of the series could have been a little tighter. Some parts of the story felt disjointed and there are many random plot holes in this quirky storyline. But its quirkiness is also what makes the storyline so memorable.

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

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SkyNani has more chemistry than some BL couples

While there’s nothing to outrightly suggest that there’s anything romantic between the two, this shouldn’t stop the audience from appreciating their questionable bromance.

Their relationship is nothing short of spectacular. Ngl – Sky and Nani have more chemistry than some BL couples out there.

High School Frenemy is fundamentally driven by conflict and infighting. As you can imagine (and in case you can’t, I’m letting you know) – there’s a lot of petty and pointless violence. The story would get rather tiresome after several episodes, if not for the other characters in the series. 

Thankfully, the other troubled students within Siamwit also have interesting backstories and character arcs that gradually unfold over the 16 episodes. Tying all of this together are two teachers with opposite personalities but who do their best to help the troubled kids solve their problems one at a time.

Verdict: Came here for SkyNani, stayed for a great storyline about teachers helping troubled students

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

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Cult classic, new and improved!!

In an era where BL series were still fairly underdeveloped and in short supply (this was pre-Sotus and pre-Dark Blue Kiss), Lovesick was a cult classic in 2014.

In this current climate where it’s trendy to have spicy BLs, Lovesick is proof that you can still have a great yet innocent story. The actors in Lovesick are really young (the oldest being 17 and the youngest just 14 or 15, so it’s a good thing that this series is kept largely chaste.)

Fundamentally, the story still works. Noh pretends to be Phun’s boyfriend, and the boys end up spending a lot of time together. The butterflies and delicious ambiguity that comes with such young love is something that never gets old.

Phun is a little bit of a red flag at times. But what can one realistically expect from another confused person?

Despite all their problems, it’s easy to root for this couple and their young love, hitting you with the feels of what it's like being a teenager all over again.

Verdict: I am hopelessly hooked onto the OST rn :(

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

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Killing me softlyyyyyy

As a series that tackles the highly controversial topic of euthanasia in Thailand, this show is expectedly quite intense.

The show has received some criticisms for romanticising Dr. Kan’s actions and his controversial stance on patient care. The series highlights ethical questions on what constitutes murder and whether life is worth protecting at all costs.

Plotwise, the many twists in Spare Me Your Mercy make for an engaging and compulsive watch. But I want to talk about the unexpectedly spectacular chemistry between Thanapob and Jayler. Despite the captain’s suspicions of the doctor, the doctor’s thoughtful and charming ways gradually chip away at Tiw’s walls, giving way to a sweet and ambiguous relationship that’s neither friends nor lovers.

Spare Me Your Mercy wants you to root for Dr. Kan and Tiw, but also makes it incredibly uncomfortable for you to support a relationship based on lies. Overall, this was a great storyline that hits you with both butterflies and feels. Great show.

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

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You’re cute in every universe out there

Played by the same male leads, the characters are hopelessly drawn to each other in all of the universes they inhabit. This series is perfect for people who get bored easily. 

What’s commendable is that the characters in various storylines not only look different, but also behave extremely differently in terms of how they display their emotions and respond to difficult situations. The dynamic between each couple is also not the same.

The clever part of the series is that it ties together a collection of several storylines involving vastly different characters, played by the same actors.

Top and Mick have done well on this front, as versatile actors who are able to capture every character’s unique essence. They also have superb chemistry across all their characters (some obviously more electric than others), which is quite a feat if you ask me.

While you’ll be able to grasp the storyline completely even with the cut version, the unfortunate reality is that the story comes out a little choppy and truncated. Watch the uncut version for maximum enjoyment!

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

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