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emilyruthburns
Reviews
Kiseki: Dear to Me (2023)
The Triumph of the Second Couple Compared to the First Couple
The initial episodes of the series are enjoyable and engaging. After a while, following the first couple becomes entertaining as well. It seems that generating a storyline for the scriptwriter became challenging after the first couple became a couple, as we start to witness a forced plot, making the series less interesting. Especially towards the end, I found myself fast-forwarding through scenes involving the initial couple.
I absolutely loved the second couple in the series. In fact, the reason I started watching this series was because I had seen a scene of the second couple on TikTok. For the first time in a BL series, I saw that the story of the second couple was much better than that of the first couple. The introduction, development, and conclusion - everything about their story was well-executed. They even managed to skillfully tie up the absurd and nonsensical events related to the first couple, and for a moment, I became a fan of the scriptwriter. Even now, thinking about scenes with the second couple makes butterflies flutter in my stomach.
Sanjûsai made dôtei da to mahôtsukai ni nareru rashii (2020)
Emotional Depth and Beyond Expectations
It was very hot, enjoyable, and (especially in the first half) rich in passion. The BL series exceeded my expectations. The quality of Japanese BL series in recent times surprises me. Acting, scenes, flow, and storytelling (except for the sound) are far superior to Taiwanese BL series. I highly recommend it. It was emotional, but the pace was not slow. It had a very appropriate flow.
The lack of focus on the fantasy part was odd. I loved how Adachi's emotions and thoughts were portrayed so beautifully, realistically, and logically. At one point, I could just watch Adachi; he could carry the story on his own.
In fact, at the end of the series, it seemed like Adachi was with Kurosawa to spare himself from the sorrow of not being loved. After all, his exploration of his gay identity happened entirely because of Kurosawa's intense love for him. I wonder if Kurosawa were a woman, would Adachi have agreed? Probably yes :D. Again, Kurosawa won, and that didn't come as a surprise :)
I didn't like the storytelling of our second couple. It started with great potential but turned out to be empty and developed too quickly. There was no chemistry between them and our author's behaviour was too exaggerated for his age. While the writer's tough and mature side was excellent, falling in love in two days and the absurdities in their actions were very nonsensical. I couldn't feel the love.
Lastly, Adachi's decrease in confidence in the second half saddened me. Adachi should have been cool, silent, and aloof because Kurosawa was outgoing, talkative, and social. They were a beautiful contrast to each other. However, when Adachi became insecure towards the end, it made me wonder why the boy was so fixated on him. And, in my opinion, the reason they gave was insufficient for falling in love with someone lacking confidence. If Adachi were confident but cold, aloof, and introverted, the given reason would have been enough.
We Best Love: No.1 for You (2021)
Season 1 is so great, it'll drive you crazy. Don't ruin it by watching season 2. Keep the best version in your mind
The first season was very good until the last episode. The chemistry and acting between the actors was good. The story was satisfying. But the last episode and a ridiculous ending. It was as if the story was started from the beginning because there was no new idea for season 2.
Season 1 was really good, you feel Shi De's obsessive love and Zhou Shu Yi's cool and charmingness to your bones. So much so that anyone would fall in love with Zhou Shu Yi. He's confident, selfish, friendly, cool and perfectly toxic. Him obsession with Shi De and his psychopathic desire to be near him the struggle made me watch the whole season in one fell swoop. Then the damn infamous last episode drives you crazy. Afterwards, no matter how perfect your explanation is (unless you are in a prison in Russia where communication is never allowed) it will never be acceptable.
And of course, the 2nd season was very bad, the characters still look like children after 5 years, and Zhou Shu Yi looks like a teenager in a suit 2 sizes bigger than himself. The story does not flow and meaningless scenes come one after another. An unnecessary character put in to be funny, 2 characters being in the same company at the same time, Shi De'ni's repulsive looks, Zhou Shu Yi is not attractive and cool at all... I'm going crazy but I'm angry.
I stopped watching season 2 after the abnormally illogical and stupid scene where Shi De suddenly appeared at Zhou Shu Yi's door just as he was entering his house.
Beautiful lovemaking or kissing scenes alone can never carry a bl drama. Always, always, always the main story (even if cliché) must make sense, the main plot must be able to carry the whole drama.
I didn't watch the sequel but i could swear that the beautiful scenes of season 1 were meaningless repetitions and none of them were passionate (oh isn't it always like that. See: Bad Buddy episode 7 and onwards)
You Are Mine (2023)
A cute and self-contained cookie bl series
Mini bl series from Taiwan, it started very fast but it took a long time to get to the main event. It would have been a very comfortable 1 season normal series. In general, I liked all the acting (which I am very obsessed with acting). Our manager is cool, but he should have looked bigger and older. Our employee is extremely perfect, very beautiful and cute with everything, she suits the series extremely well.
There were some unnecessary scenes to diversify the story
Spoilers
Like the kidnapping and the eating out scenes. Even if all the events took place in the company, it wouldn't have made a grin because the scenes outside made me feel the lack of budget, not when I was in the company.
Spoilers over.
And thank goodness it's a Taiwanese bl series that finally did the sound thing. The sound in the most known productions of the market (KinnPorsche, Bad Buddy, etc.) is very bad, as if taken from a lapel microphone. In this series, the sound is very clean (also in the outdoor scenes) and this is very relaxing. The series handled most things correctly and well, but there is still a lot to learn. I liked it anyway (I don't like most of them)