Change Your Image
niso-82035
Reviews
Marahuyo Project (2024)
Authenticity
Every now and then the Philippines give the world of BL groundbreaking series. "Gameboys" helped people around the world cope with the depressing Covid pandemic, "Gaya Sa Pelikula", one of the best BL series ever, encouraged closeted people to come out, the completely underrated "Ben x Jim Forever" gave a voice to people from all colours of the rainbow, and the story of Eli and Nikko in "The Day I Loved You" touched the hearts of viewers.
All these series have great scripts, creative cinematography, good directing, excellent acting, and beautiful soundtracks, but aside from all this, what makes them so worth watching is authenticity and a clear message. "Marahuyo Project" continues this tradition, and like most of the aforementioned series it isn't a typical BL, but rather a queer series.
I won't spoil too much of the plot here - just so much: King (Adrian Lindayag), an openly gay student, is expelled from his college and sent to a college in a conservative town on "Marahuyo", a remote island. He wants to launch an LGBTQIA+ club at his new college, but the students' president Ino (Neo France Garcia) blocks his demand at first. Ino, the son of the most influential family of the town, carries the burden of his homophobic family heritage on his shoulders, but of course he falls for King - that's the BL element of the series.
The climax of the story is a "Balagtasan", a kind of traditional poetry slam, where King and Ino take the respective sides of "mind" and "heart". This isn't the only poetic moment - poetry actually plays an important role in the story, as the wealth and influence of Ino's family, and thus all of the island of Marahuyo, is based on the plagiarism of a gay poet's work.
Readers may want to know whether this series has a happy ending, and I'm happy to say that it has no ending at all, because after the final episode viewers will want to know how the story of the "Sea Creatures" continues. So, season 2 is a must! But rest assured - it isn't a sad ending either.
The script finds exactly the right balance of comedy, drama, and tragedy. Sometimes sad and dramatic scenes are followed by pure comedy, which never ridicules any of the characters, but gives viewers the opportunity to relax from the deep thoughts that were uttered a moment before.
Characters in BL series are often one-dimensional, but here the sensitive characterization of all the protagonists makes their behaviour and gradual development understandable. They are drafted in a way that time and time again I caught myself thinking, "yes, I know a guy who's exactly like him/her". Coming of age and coming out are hard times in the lives of LGBTQIA+ people, and the wonderful characters in this series arouse understanding for their struggles.
In some series, the supporting characters are mere supplements, but in "Marahuyo Project", they all have something to contribute to the story. Venice (Ian Villa) is a smart, sensitive, courageous and joyous transgender person who becomes King's best friend. Archi (AJ Sison) is torn between the priest's plan for him to become a priest and his homosexuality, Lori (Noor Hooshmand) likes Lili (Yani Villarosa), who is unvoluntarily outed as intersex, which she has been hiding all her life. Marco (Ryle Santiago) is a homophobic bully and as such the only "simple" character.
The interactions of these characters display in a relatable way the fears and struggles of various LGBTQIA+ people living in a hostile environment, and it's good that this happens without too much "preaching".
The setting in a town on the sea - the series was shot in the Mindoro town of Sablayan - provides the cinematographer with lots of opportunities for beautiful shots. The technical quality of the series as a whole is well above the average of Filipino BL. Underwater scenes are difficult to shoot, but they managed it very well here.
Like in many Pinoy BL series (even in many low budget ones), the soundtrack is beautiful - it is never intrusive, but matches the atmosphere in the respective scenes. The title melody is an earwom, which reminds me of the "Ben x Jim Forever" title song.
With all the positive things I've said about script, directing, etc., let me now come to the point that is the most important to me - the cast. Because what use would a good script be without actors and actresses who are up to their job? I can only say that this cast is phenomenal.
Let's start with Adrian Lindayag, a natural as an actor, who already showed his huge talent in the series "Love beneath the Stars" and the movie "The Boy Foretold by the Stars". His acting in "Marahuyo Project" seems a little OTT at the beginning, but after a short time I wondered if he was still playing or if he was really being Adrian. His acting is so real that he personifies King perfectly, and it seems there isn't any state of mind he cannot express.
Neo France Garcia is much younger than Adrian, and a rookie as far as I know, but his talent appears to be no lesser. You believe Ino from the start that under the cold surface of the Students' President a warm heart is beating, and he is able to display his character's reluctant development very well.
What can I say about Ian Villa? Of course his character is meant to come across very positively, but the way he changes from the guy who always knows a joke to tell or some nonsense to make, to the serious advisor to his friends, is simply fantastic. It's a pleasure watching him, and like Adrian and Neo France, I would call Ian a natural as an actor.
The fourth in this row of naturals is AJ Sison who has a surprising presence even in scenes where the attention isn't focused on him, and the scene where Archi talks openly with Venice is an emotional highlight of the entire series.
Noor Hooshmand and Yani Villarosa are both talented actresses who succeed in conveying their characters' struggles, and thus make them significant. Ryle Santiago is the personification of the bad guy with the handsome face - disgusting as his character is, it's very hard to look the other way when he appears on the screen. I must confess that I'm a fan of Tommy Alejandrino, so I would have loved to see more of him.
The adult characters are played by experienced actors, among them Sue Prado (Ino's mother), who also played Cairo's mum in "Gameboys".
It is a truism that only a good director is able to make his actors perform at their very best level, and if you've watched "Gaya Sa Pelikula" and "Meet me Ouside" ( if you haven't watched them, I can only recommend you to do this), you know that JP Habac falls into this category of directors.
I don't usually like inner monologues and "fourth wall addresses", but in this show they are used carefully and appropriately.
Now you may ask if I don't have anything to criticize about this series? Well, I actually don't, because I think this is one of the best Pinoy BL series ever made (although, as I said before, it isn't exactly a BL series), and I want to say kudos to cast and crew for creating this masterpiece.
One word about the credits: it is rare that there are 5 minutes of credits after 25-minute episodes, but I am glad that for once everybody who's contributed to the production is really mentioned. All the people of the crew are important, and so are the extras, which is sometimes forgotten.
All in all, it's been a pleasure watching this authentic, important, funny, and at the same time deep series. It's a piece of art.
Country: Philippines (2024)
Episodes: 8 (à ca. 30 mins.)
Director: JP Habac
Cast: Adrian Lindayag, Neo France Garcia, Ian Villa, AJ Sison, Noor Hooshmand, Yani Villarosa et al.
Ge Ge Ni Bie Pao (2023)
Not just a remake
Like all BL fans, who loved "Addicted", the last Chinese BL series before the government banned the genre, I was skeptical when a new adaptation of the first book of the novel "Are you addicted?" was announced, especially as it was again a Chinese production. "It won't be BL, it'll be bromance at best," was what everybody thought and wrote, and when the series was released, BL fans were discussing for weeks whether this series was BL or not.
Honestly, I don't care what people call it. If you think, a BL series needs NC scenes or at least passionate kisses, then this may not be a BL series. But if yearning and loving glances, mutual unconditional trust, and some hints that the boys may have done more than just hug is sufficient for a movie or a series to be "Boys Love", then this series is BL. Plus - "Stay with me" has a lot of allusions to LGBTQ+ symbols, and so I guess it is as far BL as Chinese censorship lets pass.
Anyway, it took me a couple of weeks until I stopped comparing "Addicted" and "Stay with me". I love both series, and "Stay with me" isn't just a remake, but a work of art of its own right.
"Stay with me" tells the story of Su Yu (Zhang Jiong Min), a very good student, who lives with his poor father after his mother left them when he was little, and Wu Bi (Xu Bin), the son of a rich father, who happens to have married Su Yu's mother, a fact which the boys only find out after some time. Su Yu and Wu Bi go from enemies to friends, back to enemies, and back to very good friends who share a flat. The ending is tragic, but as there is a second book, and as the director announced that there would be a second season, there is hope to see Su Yu and Wu Bi together again.
Zhang Jiong Min and Xu Bin are brilliant actors, and they have an amazing chemistry. For all the support roles, very good and experienced actors have been casted, and little Phoebe, who plays Duo Duo, is a natural for sure and steals many scenes.
The Eighth Sense (2023)
My favourite BL series of 2023
Korea has given us some good BL series this year, like "Unintentional Love Story", "A Shoulder to Cry on", "Love Class Season 2", and "Love Tractor", which almost made it into this list, but none of them was as unique or reached the same quality as "the Eighth Sense".
The story sounds quite conventional. Country boy Ji Hyun (Oh Jun Taek) goes to study in Seoul, where he meets his senior Jae Won (Lim Ji Sub), a former member of the university's surf club, who has just completed his army service. Ji Huyn, who is scared of swimming in the sea, joins the surf club to be near Jae Won, who suffers from a childhood trauma. As the two of them go on a surfing trip, Ji Hyun almost drowns and has to spend some time in hospital, which worsens Jae Won's trauma. Getting back together after this incident is a real struggle for both young men.
This series is near perfection in all respects - the cinematography is unrivalled in Asian BL series, the coloring is sensational, the acting great, the OST beautiful, and the whole production is cinema quality.
As a dedicated fan of BL series, there are some iconic scenes stored in my brain which I can thus rewatch any time I want, e.g. Ohm and Nanon's rooftop scene in "Bad Buddy", Yin and War's kiss in the rain in "Love Mechanics", Nonkul's olive oil scene in IFYLITA, and now also the ending of episode 9 of "The Eighth Sense" which sent shivers down my spine as I watched for the first time Ji Hyun and Jae Won run toward each other and finally kiss with Conan Gray singing "The Story".
"The Eighth Sense" is a unique experience which I can only compare with "I Told Sunset About You", and so this is my BL series of 2023.
Kiseki: Dear to Me (2023)
The Taiwanese BL All-Stars Series
As "Kiseki" was written by Pei Yu-Lin, who also wrote the scripts of series like "History2: Crossing the Line", "History 3: Trapped", both "We Best Love" series, and many more, it was clear from the start that this series would be good, and in my opinion it is by far the best Taiwanese BL series of 2023.
Bai Zong Yi (Taro Lin), a 17-year-old student, finds himself drawn into the world of Fan Ze Rui (Hsu Kai), a gangster who is about 5 years older than him. After Ze Rui has been injured, Zong Yi takes care of him and allows him to stay in his flat. Of course the two young men fall in live, but tragedy looms around every corner which makes Zong Yi end up in prison. There's a lot of drama, fighting, betrayal, and of course love, and the story is so exciting that waiting a whole week for the next episode was torture. The series is very well written and directed, and the cast is simply gorgeous.
Like in many series before, I caught a serious "second couple syndrome", because Nat Chen as Chen Yi and Louis Chiang as Ai Di/Eddy are not only extremely handsome, but in contrast to other second couples in BL series, their characters are meticulously drawn and developed.
This series could also be entitled "The Taiwanese BL All-Stars Series", because many stars of the genre have support or guest roles or cameos, among them Wilson Liu, Wayne Song and Huang Chun Chih (Make Our Days Count), Aaron Lai and Hank Wang (Be Loved In Housae, I Do), and many more.
I Feel You Linger in the Air (2023)
A differenmt view on olive oil
I am always skeptical when it comes to series based on time travel. I don't mind that they are illogical, because time travel isn't something that can be explained logically. But most time travel stories aren't even consistent within their storytelling, and IFYLITA fortunately doesn't make this mistake.
When Jom (Nonkul Chanon) is working on the restoration of an old mansion, he suddenly finds himself in the same house in 1927. He meets Yai (Bright Raphephong), the gay son of the influential Plathip family. They fall in love, but of course in a rich 1927 setting, two gay men being together is even more of a problem than it is in today's Thailand. There are malicious relatives, there is corruption, domestic violence, arson, and murder, but Jom and Khun Yai's love conquers everything. There are extremely sad moments when Jom starts to fade, but there is some hope that the lovers may be reunited in another time and space.
The cinematography of this series is brilliant, the settings are beautiful, directing and editing are great, and Nonkul's acting is out of this world. Two of the support actors also deserve to be mentioned - Guide Kantapon as lovely Ming and Mr. International 2023, Kim Goodburn as James.
I was very surprised that there are NC scenes in this series which are among the most erotic ones I've ever seen in a BL series, and I'm sure that everyone who has watched this series will have a different view on olive oil.
Laws of Attraction (2023)
A first class BL lakorn
Film and Jam's series "To Sir, with Love" was one of my favourite series of 2022. It wasn't a typical BL series, but a lakorn with a gay lead couple.
"Laws of Attraction" was promoted by the production company as "Film and Jam's first BL series", but again it's also a lakorn, and both Film and Jam's characters in this show are not really "boys" any more, but grown up men.
When Tinn's (Jam Rachata) niece is run over by a politician's son's car, the polticians's lawyer Charn (Film Thanapat) decides to help Tinn find out what really happened. The story has a lot of plot twists and exciting side characters, e.g. The improbable couple of the politicians's son Thaenthai (See Paratakorn) and his bodyguard Thee (Peral Satjakorn) and club owner Rose (Organ Rasee) and singer Maya (the wonderful Silvy Pavida).
The story, the cinematography, the directing, and the acting are all first class, but it's Film's smirk alone that makes this series worth watching.
Moonlight Chicken (2023)
Three beautiful love stories in one series
When P'Aof is listed as the director and/or screenwriter of a series, you know that it's going to be a highlight - from A Tale Of Thousand Stars to Bad Buddy, Moonlight Chicken and Last Twilight. Moonlight Chicken is typical of his work - the story is well written, the actors perform at their best level, and the production is top notch.
There are 3 couples in this series. The story of Jim (Earth Pirapat), the owner of a chicken diner, and Wen (Mix Sahaphap), a real estate agent, is a classical strangers-to-lovers story, whereas Li Ming (Fourth) falls for blind man Heart (Gemini) and makes him enjoy life again, and Khaotung (as Kaipa) and First (as Alan) play a couple again as in "The Eclipse".
A lesser writer/director may have made this series mere fan service, as all three couples are extremely popular among BL fans, but not so Aof. Here we have three love stories that are all beautiful and uplifting.
Kimi to nara koi wo sitemitemo (2023)
One of the cutest BL series ever
If you're yearning for 6 days, 23 hours, and 37 minutes to pass, what's waiting for you must be something extraordinary. "If it's with you" is exactly that, because it is one of the cutest shows I've ever seen, although there's always an element of angst lurking underground.
Amane (Okura Takato) moves to Enoshima to finish school after unpleasant, if not traumatic experiences with gay lovers (or maybe clients?). In his new school he meets Riuyi (Hyuga Wataru) and immediately falls in love with him. Riuyi, however, doesn't have much time as he runs his late father's restaurant.
Both actors do an amazing job displaying the doubts and fears of gay boys coming of age, and they are both extremely handsome, so that their cuteness makes the viewer forget about the hard road they both had to travel.
Taikan Yoho (2023)
A very special kind of love
This series faced a controversial reception - while some viewers praised it for the display of a very special kind of love, others cursed it for exactly the same. My rating indicates which side I'm on.
This series is unique and obviously not meant for viewers who want to see a BL couple have a shy kiss in the last scene.
Yoh (Mashiku Atsuki), a manga artist, falls for the beautiful TV weatherman Segasaki (Higuchi Kuhei), who loves Yoh just as much. When Yoh moves into Segasaki's flat, their relationship is unique from the beginning. They enjoy passionate sex, but Segasaki wants Yoh to obey him unconditionally, and Yoh not only accepts this arrangement, but actually likes it. It takes a long time before both protagonists realize that they love each other and each of them depends on the other.
DNA says love you (2022)
A beautiful, sensitive BL story
This is a series about the reunification of childhood friends who lost contact, but little Wen, who disappeared 10 years before as a girl, comes back from abroad unrecognised by her childhood playmates as Amber, a boy. The mystery unfolds very slowly, step by step for the protagonists as well as for the viewers.
It is a beautiful, sensitive series, with an amazing Erek Lin as Amber, and a beautiful OST ("Butterfly" by Polin). I rewatched it several times, and I found it interesting that there are a lot of things that went unnoticed at the first watching, e.g. The meaning of butterflies that symbolise Wen-Wen's metamorphosis to Amber.
Eien no kinô (2022)
No other series made me cry as much as this in 2022
In "Eternal Yesterday" Oumi Mitsuru (Inoue Sora) falls in love with the "living corpse" of his friend Yamada Koichi who was killed in a car accident (Komiya Rio, who also played a support role in "Takara-kun"). Koichi can only be seen by the people who think of him, and he becomes increasingly invisible from episode to episode, so the viewer knows that he will disappear even from Mitsuru in the end. But when it actually happens, it is still a shock.
This is a beautiful love story, but the angst that is always there makes it bitter sweet. In 2022, there was no other series that made me cry as much as this.
About Youth (2022)
The perfect high school BL series
This is what a good high school BL series should be like - it shows in a very sensitive and loving way the coming of age and coming out of 4 young men, with all the smaller and bigger disasters people at that age have to face. Directed by the same director as "Make Our Days Count", it avoids most of the annoying tropes of the genre, and all the four leads (Shen Jyun as Xu Qi Zhang, Li Zhen as Ye Guang, Andy Huang as Jian, and my very extra special Hsu Shuo as Ray Ray, who looks great as a crossdresser) are talented actors and super cute. The OST is the best of any BL series of 2022. I have watched this series 4 times already, and I'll watch it again.
Thien Tai Hang Bet (2023)
A lovely, somewhat different BL high school series
Yes, this is a BL high school series, and no, it doesn't re-invent the wheel, but this short low budget production is a little different, and it has a lot more charm than many highly polished, expensive productions of the same genre.
The series tells the story of class 12 A 13 where all the bad students and troublemakers of the school are being dumped. The main couple are Thu Khoa (The Bang), a bad student who dreams of joining the national badminton team, and The Vinh (Tien Hai), a very good student who was sent to class 12 A 13 as a punishment for arguing with his teacher. Their story is a conventional "opposites attract" story, and they have their little ups and down before their first shy kiss.
The second couple, who go from enemies, who play evil tricks on each other, to friends (though not really lovers), are Gia Ho (Thai Kiang) and Huynh Kha (Quoc Nam), and we have two yaoi fangirls, who fortunately aren't as OTT as in many other series, Thanh Thao (Cindy) and Bich Phuong (Tieu Thanh), the latter also reading tarot cards and providing love advice to whoever asks her for help.
I won't spoil the details of the plot but rather focus on the way the characters are being presented and develpoed, because it is surprising - and evidence of clever writing - that in only 6 episodes, most of which are well under 20 minutes, all the 6 main characters aren't one-dimensional at all, but have various character traits that do not only make them interesting, but each of them are also lovely in their own ways and thus soon intrude the viewers' minds and hearts. There isn't much to complain about, maybe just this - I hope the main couple actors are able to kiss better in real life than they do in this show.
There are also a male and a female teacher who seem to hate each other, but there's a surprise waiting after the credits of episode 6, so don't miss that!
Whereas a few actors have already played in RL Studio's series "The Star Always Follows You", most of the very young actors are rookies, but they are all pretty or handsome, and they are definitely all very talented. RL Studio is obviously very good at casting promising talents.
Of course it is plain to see that the series was produced with a low budget, but it doesn't come across as "cheap" in any way. I have already mentioned the good writing and acting, and the same can be said with respect to directing (ThuHa), filming, and sound. The OST is a captivating song once again, and some of the background music makes me smile as it's good old 1970s Bert Kaempfert sound.
All in all, this is another lovely little series from RL Studio, and if you have one and a half hours to spare and are looking for solid, light entertainment, I can recommend you to watch this series.
Country: Vietnam (2023)
Episodes: 6 à ca 20 mins.
Director: ThuHa
Cast: The Bang, Tien Hai, Thai Kiang, Quoc Nam, Cindy, Tieu Thanh et al.
Lap Lanh Tua Anh Sao Troi (2022)
A beautiful Vietnamese BL series
This is the first time that I'm reviewing a BL series from Vietnam. The sheer number of BL series from countries like Thailand, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan may be the reason why the Vietnamese BL industry has remained a little below the radar of the international BL fan community, although there have been some remarkable productions in recent years.
The series was given the lame (and grammatically wrong) English title "The Star Always Follow You", although the literal translation "Glistening Like the Stars of the Sky" sounds much more poetic, and thus matches the quality of this series - it is a beautiful, sometimes poetic piece of art.
The basic idea of the plot doesn't sound unique or sensational: Dang, a boy from Saigon who has missed the university examination twice, because he prefers playing games with his friends over studying, is dragged by his mother to a village where his grandma lives, to be tutored by teacher Mr. Son, who has a good reputation because he helped Vi, a boy from the village, to pass the university exam. Dang has some difficulties adapting to the simple village life, and Mr. Son at first is reluctant to tutor Dang, but as this is a BL series, Dang falls in love with the teacher, and vice versa. Dang's mother tries to forbid her son's relationship with the tutor, but in the end she agrees after Dang and Mr. Son have made it clear to her that their love is not just a temporary mood.
What does make the plot unique, though not really sensational, is a number of subplots that deal with the relationships of three other couples. There is Vi, a university student, who likes An, a little gangster. Vi succeeds in making An refrain from stealing and in teaching him, there is Quan, a young man who falls in love with the deaf-mute woman Quynh, helps her sell her self-made hair ribbons, and learns sign language in order to be able to communicate with her, and there is an old couple who obviously love each other very much, but aren't able to express their feelings to each other.
Another remarkable difference from the usual high school or college BL series is the setting of the village and the fact that the life in the village isn't romanticized, but the problems of rural areas in Vietnam are displayed, e.g. Young people going to cities like Saigon for studies or work, leaving behind only old people and children. This setting allows some beautiful pictures, so the cinematography of this production, which obviously doesn't have a huge budget, is good. The soundtrack, which makes in parts use of traditional musical elements, makes the viewer feel at home and cozy in this village and among its inhabitants.
The characters feel very real and natural, and despite the short episodes, we learn a lot about the backgrounds and developments not only of the main characters, but also of side characters, which underlines that the script of this series is well written.
Another positive point is the acting of the complete cast, from the leads Truong Van Ngoan (Dang) and Hao Dan (Mr. Son) to Pham The Bang (Vi), Cao Thieu Thanh (Quynh), Nguyen Thai Khang (Quan), and Duong Kien Hao (An), who is my favourite actor - the scene where he gives Vi a bouquet of flowers is among the most moving scenes of the show. The "adult" actors who play Dang's mother and grandmother as well as Quan's mother and the old couple are doing a very good job, too.
There are only two things that I didn't like. The first one is - as mentioned above - the lame English translation of the beautiful Vietnamese title, and the second one is the final episode that felt rushed and incomplete. Whereas Mr. Son and Dang's relationship finds a happy ending as Mr. Son is invited to celebrate Tet with Dang's family, Vi suddenly dies, and we are not told what becomes of poor An, and although we are told that Quynh is welcomed by Quan's mother, who communicates with her by written messages, we don't see her and Quan together in the final episode.
All in all, this is a nice BL series, set in a beautiful rural area, showing the good as well as the difficult sides of the life in a Vietnamese village, with good writing (except the final episode) and actors who are by no means any worse than the most popular Thai BL actors. The series has touched my heart, and I can only hope that Team RL will be able to raise enough funds to produce more series like this.
Country: Vietnam
Episodes: 9 (à 15 - 30 mins.)
Director: Thu Hà
Cast: Truong Van Ngoan, Hao Dan, Pham The Bang, Cao Thieu Thanh, Nguyen Thai Khang ,
Duong Kien Hao et al.
The Day I Loved You (2023)
Out of nowhere, a gem !
It's been quite some time since the Philippines gave the world of BL ground-breaking series like "Gameboys" or "Gaya sa pelikula". There were actually some good series like "Daddy Love", "Love at the End of the World," and "Papa, What is Love?", although I wouldn't call these "BL", but rather "gay" series. And now, all of a sudden, out of nowhere comes a BL gem entitled "The Day I Loved You".
What seems to be quite a conventional enemy-to-lovers and love-triangle high school BL series in the first episodes, suddenly turns into a heartbreaking drama, so viewers should be warned not to start watching this with false expectations.
The main characters are Nikko (Tommy Alejandrino), a nerdy boy, president of the school's book and bible clubs as well as the dance troupe, his best friend Justine (Rabin Angeles), who's had a crush on Nikko for a long time, and troublemaker Eli (Raynold Tan), who is being adored by all the girls and who bullies Nikko at first. When Eli is caught breaking into the school, the director punishes him by forcing him to join the dance troupe, with Nikko teaching him to dance.
Step by step, Eli gets closer to Nikko, with Justine enviously trying to obstruct their evolving relationship. Shortly before the school's prom, both Eli and Justine ask Nikko to be their partner at the prom, and at that very moment, Nikko breaks down whose health deteriorates rapidly. He suffers from ALS and knows that he won't have much time left to enjoy a "normal" life, but he stays positive.
Nikko falls for Eli, the "bad guy", and under his influence Eli drops his bad behaviour, and finally even reconciles with his mum who lives abroad and had sent him back to the Philippines because of his permanent shenanigans. Eli tries his best to make Nikko happy by fulfilling some of the wishes on his bucket list. Justine finally accepts that he won't be Nikko's lover, and he gives up in a heartbreaking scene. He proves that he is Nikko's best friend when he teams up with Eli trying to support Nikko.
Things become even more dramatic when shortly before the prom Nikko can't move his legs any more. He is desperate and about to give up, and it is Eli who persuades him to return to his joyful, positive self. I don't want to spoil too much about the final episode here, but what I can say is that it's an emotional rollercoaster like the entire second half of the series, and although the ending is more bittersweet than happy, there is even a slight chance that there may be a season 2.
The story is well written (by Easy Ferrer), with a good blend of comedic, joyful, sad, tragic, and emotional scenes. Some viewers were obviously not prepared for the serious story in the second half of the series as they expected a lighthearted rom com, but life isn't a bed of roses for everybody, so this series is more true-to-life than most high school BL series which only revolve around the love affairs of guys trying to find out whether they're straight, gay, or whatever. Integrating a character with a disease as serious as ALS into a BL series is courageous and requires sensitive writing, but it works in this show.
Apart from the unique plot, it is the actors who make this series worth watching. Tommy Alejandrino, who was awarded "best actor" for his main role in the 2022 movie "The Baseball Player", is a very good actor who brilliantly manages to bear the main burden of this show. Raynold Tan has been reduced to his good looks by some viewers, and he may have some room for improvement as an actor, but he does a good job as does Rabin Angeles, who is a newbie like Raynold. I would love to see these three in a season 2 or in a completely new series together again. Most of the side characters are good in their respective roles, too. As a dedicated fan of Kaleb Ong, I would have wished to see more of him in this series, but you can't always get what you want...
The directing (Easy Ferrer) is good and the production is technically better than many Filipino series, which doesn't come as a surprise as it was made by Regal Entertainment who have given us (among many other, non-BL productions) the Ben X Jim and B X J Forever series which were harshly criticised by some viewers, but I'm probably one of the few who actually liked those series very much for their colourful stories, very good acting, and the inclusion of all the colours of the rainbow, and clear political statements about the pending SOGIE bill.
All in all, "The Day I Loved You" is a beautiful BL series with a unique plot and good actors who I am sure we'll see more often in the future. Viewers should be warned, however, that the series' second half is dramatic, if not sad, so if you expect nothing but shallow entertainment, this isn't a series for you. But if you're keen to watch good entertainment with a serious message, you'll love it.
Country: Philippines (2023)
Episodes: 10 à 20 mins.
Director: Easy Ferrer
Cast: Tommy Alejandrino, Raynold Tan, Rabin Angeles, Kaleb Ong et al.
May-December-January (2022)
A tragedy, sad, but beautiful
When we look at internationally acclaimed Filipino movies that have been released since 2019, we stumble across a bunch of young actors who I would call a "golden generation", because they all prove an outstanding talent as well as acting skills you simply wouldn't expect from actors below or in their early 20s. It all started in 2019 with "F#*@bois" starring Kokoy de Santos, Royce Cabrera and Migs Villasis, "Kalel,15" that was the foundation of Elijah Canlas' international career, and "Metamorphosis" with a stunning performance by Gold Aceron.
Then think of some of the most beautiful BL series, like "Gameboys", where Elijah and Kokoy helped people around the world endure the pains of Covid lockdowns, "Gaya sa Pelikula" which made Paolo and Ian Pangilinan international stars, "Meet My Angel 1 and 2" with wonderful acting by Kaleb Ong and Enzo Santiago, gay series like "Love at the End of the World", "Daddy Love" and "Papa, What is Love?" starring Rex Lantano, plus lots of short films with the actors mentioned above, and you'll understand why I'm talking about a "golden generation" of Filipino actors.
Today, I'm reviewing another example of a high quality movie, "May December January", which makes Kych Minemoto join this exclusive club of Filipino "golden generation actors", and I'm soon going to review the next highlight, "About Us But Not About Us", again with Elijah Canlas.
I'll keep the summary of "May December January" short because I don't want to spoil all the wonderfully written and acted scenes of this tragedy - and a tragedy it is! It is the story of Pol (Gold Aceron), who is terminally ill with a heart disease, and who lives with his mother Claire (Andrea del Rosario) in a beautiful house in a remote part of the mountains. Pol's best friend Migoy (Kych Minemoto) spends a lot of time in this house, and he falls in love with Claire. Their affair turns into mutual affection and love, which they hide from Pol first. But Pol, who is gay and has a secret crush on Migoy, finds out about his mother's relationship with his best friend Migoy. His reaction reveals deep sadness and at the same time a deep love of his mother.
When Pol's health deteriorates, with the prospect of a sudden death, Claire asks Migoy to have sex with Pol so that Pol can experience this feeling before he dies. Pol and Migoy's sex scene is the climax of the movie, the more so as the viewer senses that Pol will die very soon after. It's heartbreaking when he actually does, and Migoy and Claire's wedding at the end of the movie may be the saddest wedding ever seen in a movie.
The story may sound like the plot of a cheap porn movie, and it could have been something like that if it hadn't been written so sensitively so that the backstories and motivations of all three characters become completely understandable. Even the sex scenes aren't voyeuristic, but they rather illustrate the steps of the evolution of the protagonists' relationships.
The fantastic acting adds to the impression that we aren't watching a movie targeting the viewers' inferior curiosity, but a beautiful character study that makes the obscure situation in the secluded house in the hills an interesting story of love, yearning, and fulfillment, albeit with the most tragic ending thinkable. We believe that Claire is overwhelmed by Migoy's love confession, and we understand that she struggles with herself before she accepts her own feelings towards the young man. We also believe that Migoy isn't aiming at a quick conquest, and we suffer with Pol when he accidentally discovers what's going on in his mother's bedroom.
After Kych's convincing acting as effeminate Achilles in "Gameboys 2", I was sceptical about him playing a seductive, obviously straight young man, but it is an indication of his acting skills that he masters both, somewhat opposing roles convincingly. Gold personifies Pol's character equally credibly - he has a talent of intruding viewers' minds so that they fall in love with the character he plays (sorry, his amazing presence as an actor carries me away sometimes).
Kych and Gold have beautiful scenes together which prove that their respective characters really love and care of each other. There is a scene when Pol tries to steal a kiss from Migoy when they sleep in the same bed, and Migoy's reaction on Pol's confession of his secret crush is just beautiful acting from both Kych and Gold.
When it comes to the cinematography, I think it matches the sensitive approach of the script, as it is very cautious about disturbing the characters' privacy, which may sound contradictive since there are very intimate scenes indeed, but the camera always keeps a distance, or the scenery is a semi-dark room.
The setting is beautiful, although I must admit that this may be my personal prejudice. I simply love a rural setting, and in this movie not only the seclusion of Claire and Pol's house, but also scenes in the forest are very much my taste.
All in all, this movie approaches a sensitive subject very cautiously, and script, directing, and acting make it a piece of art. If you prefer light entertainment, I would advise you to avoid this movie, but if you can cope with a beautifully sad tragedy, this will be one for you.
Country: Philippines (2022)
Duration: 1 hr 35 mins.
Director: Mac Alejandre
Cast: Andrea del Rosario, Gold Aceron, Kych Minemoto et al.
Our Winter (2023)
The definition of cuteness
This won't be an ordinary review, because "Our Winter" is no ordinary series - no need to summarize the plot, because there is none, no need to analyze character development either. I'll rather define some terms that are frequently used when it comes to BL series, and which do have some relevance here.
First of all, you may have heard about the "second couple syndrome", or the SCS, as experts call it, and you may even have had it. The SCS occurs when you and all the other BL series addicts like the second couple of a series more than the first couple. Some examples: "Until we meet again" - everybody more or less liked Ohm and Fluke, but everybody loved Boun and Prem who became a BL dream couple. "Oh! My Sunshine Night" involves Ohm and Fluke as the first couple again, and again people loved Noh and Peterpan more.
Then there is also a TCS, or "third couple syndrome", which is less frequent than SCS, simply because there aren't too many series with three couples. The most prominent example of TCS is the "Cutie Pie" series - again, people liked Zee Pruk and Nunew, the first couple, and Max and Nat, the second couple, but everybody was talking about how cute the third couple were, Yim and Tutor.
I cannot count the comments any more that asked for Yim and Tutor to have their own series as lead actors, and they will actually get it. It's called "Middleman's Love" and will air some time later this 2023. But the gods of BL were merciful enough to give us another series while we're all waiting for "Middleman's Love" - "Our Winter", which brings us to the third defintion of this review - the definition of "cuteness".
Because that is what "Our Winter" is - the definition of cuteness. This series, which was aired on tiktok and youtube, consists of 14 episodes of 1 minute each, and - apart from some product placement for a Korean water brand - it is just 14 minutes of Yim and Tutor being cute in the snow of the Korean winter.
What really surprised me is the fact that I was patiently waiting 5 or 2 days respectively for that single minute every Friday and Sunday at 12 o'clock noon (which was when "Our Winter" was airing on tiktok where I live), and I wasn't disappointed even once, because, as I said, Yim and Tutor gave the BL world 14 minutes of pure cuteness. My only complaint is this: I wished the final episode had been a little longer - you'll know what I mean when you watch it.
So if you still don't know what cuteness is, I would advise you to watch "Our Winter". Binge-watching won't take longer than 14 minutes, and even if you miss intellectual depth or a sophisticated plot (although there are some unexpected twists that will make you smile), you'll only have wasted 14 minutes of your precious lifetime.
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 14 à 1 min.
Cast: Yim Pharinyakorn, Tutor Koraphat.
Our First Time (2023)
Great entertainment that may make you smile
Wayufilm have once again produced a true little gem, a short film that is as beautiful as almost all of their movies. It is a quiet, sensitive story of two young men who meet for the first time, which is what the title refers to, so don't be disappointed when you notice that it isn't the "first time" that you may have expected.
The plot is rather simple. Sud Yod (Klong Chindanai), a successful online gamer with a huge number of followers, has a pain in his back, so he decides to go to a massage parlour that sponsors his channel to get a free oil massage. As all the regular masseurs are busy, the young receptionist Num Un (Night Yodsakon), who is one of Sud Yod's followers, gives him a massage for the first time. Num Un is shy and afraid that he may not be good enough a masseur, but Sud Yod feels very comfortable and praises the young man. When Sud Yod goes online again after the massage at the end of the movie, Num Un sends him a message, promising him to "massage him for ever and ever", so we can conclude that those two may become friends or even lovers, but this is left to the viewers' imagination (or a sequel?).
Like most Wayufilm movies, the story is being told slowly and sensitively. But it is the actors who make the viewer feel the story, because both of them play their parts very naturally. In his amazing performance in his first lead role as "The Male Entertainer", Klong has already proven that he is a talented actor, and Night plays the shy, reluctant "first timer" so convincingly that his acting appears completely realistic. And just as Klong is a very attractive, handsome young man, Night is an adorable, cute boy.
In some Thai movies, it is embarrassing that actors stare at each other without saying anything for ages. In this movie, however, staring at each other isn't embarrassing at all, because it just shows how insecure, and at the same time attracted to each other the two characters feel. When they are silently thinking about what to say next, one can guess what each of them are thinking by reading their facial expressions. The credits say that Mon Hatsawatchon was the acting coach, and sometimes one can notice that it was he who taught the two young men how to act.
Director Nicchi has helped some young talents like Oak, Mon, and Ryu to grow into good actors who have made their way into the viewers' hearts and I am sure Nicchi will do the same to Klong and Night if they follow his guidance.
When I was watching the movie, I did not fall asleep like Sud Yod did when he was given his relaxing massage, but I calmed down, found myself smiling from beginning to end, and forgot all the daily trouble for half an hour. So in my opinion, this is a piece of great entertainment that may make you smile, too.
Country: Thailand (2023)
Duration: 32 mins.
Director: Nicchi Nitchapoom Chaianun
Cast: Klong Chindanai, Night Yodsakon.
Bokura no shokutaku (2023)
I have no words
I'm afraid I have no words to say how much I love this series, but I'll try my best. Saying that this is the most beautiful BL series I've ever watched is true, but still sounds like it isn't enough. So in this review I won't even try to be objective, because you can't be objective about someone or something you're head over heels with.
I wonder if the series can be categorized as "BL" at all, as the main characters are 23 years old, so not really "boys", and in this series you won't find even a single of the numerous "BL-tropes". What does make it "BL" is the fact that the main characters experience - as far as we learn in the series - their first love, and especially their first gay love.
I won't elaborate on the plot here - just so much: "Our Dining Table" tells the story of two 23-year-old men who are utterly unhappy. Yutaka (Inukai Atsuhiro) is an outsider and isn't able to enjoy a meal with other persons as he suffers from a childhood trauma which was caused by his misconception that he wasn't welcomed in the family who adopted him after his parents' death. Minoru (Iijima Hiroki) stopped attending college after his mother's death and took up a part time job at a ramen restaurant to be there for his little brother Tane (Maeyama Kuuga) as their father doesn't have enough time for the little boy.
The series displays the way how Yutaka and Minoru help each other overcome their loneliness and sadness. The script must have been written by authors who experienced similar situations, because it is so sensitive and at the same time so true-to-life that the actions of the main characters are completely understandable, however awkward and clumsy they may appear.
Little Tane is the katalyst of Yutaka and Minoru's relationship. He's the one who asks Yutaka for his riceball, thus initiating Yutaka and Minoru's alleged first contact (although they had met before, but Yutaka forgot about it), and later it is again Tane who encourages Yutaka and Minoru to get closer.
There is a scene that made me cry like a baby, because it is so heartwarming: Tane notices that Yutaka has been crying, and he pats Yutaka's hair to console him. In another beautiful scene, Tane notices that Minoru is very sad. He asks him whether he had a fight with Yutaka, and again he made me cry when he hugs Minoru and says: "I will go with you to apologize to him."
The authors have found many subtle ways of making the viewer notice how Yutaka and Minoru cautiously, in tiny steps, get closer to each other, opening up to each other very slowly as not to destroy the little progress they have achieved. When Yutaka tells Minoru the sad story of his childhood, he hides his face behind a drawing of himself that Tane has made. In another scene, Yutaka instinctively pats Minoru's head which shocks both of them because the gesture reveals Yutaka's feelings for Minoru way too frankly and early.
The finale is another emotional highlight of the series. When Yutaka realizes how much he loves Minoru he is scared that they may separate one day. It is Minoru's father who reassures him, and it is no surprise, but a most beautiful moment, when Tane - asked by his classmate who Yutaka is - declares "He is my family". Yutaka finally overcomes his fear and asks Minoru to stay together forever. In every BL series, there should be a kiss in the final scene, but here the final minutes are so full of emotions and love that a kiss isn't needed.
The unique and beautiful script requires first class actors, and they all deliver perfectly. Inukai has proven that he is a great actor as he has been able to shine in many different roles, e.g. In the gorgeous comedy "The Man Who Defies the World of BL" or as a Yakuza boss in "Kei x Yaku", so it's no surprise that he is able to show Yutaka's pain and panic, but also his cautious - and, given his trauma, brave - way of opening up to Minoru and to his own family.
I hadn't seen Iijima before "Our Dining Table", but he is a very experienced actor, too. It is amazing how he is able to express Minoru's inhibitions, fears, and the love of his little brother. Iijima is easily one of the best actors I've ever seen in a BL series. The supporting actors are on the same level, especially Harada Riuji, who plays Minoru and Tane's father, and Ichikawa Tomohiro (Yutaka's stepbrother).
But the actor who stole everybody's heart is Maeyama Kuuga. I am sure that one or all of the directors must have spent all their skills, patience, and love to make the little boy act the way he does, but he must also be a huge talent. The same can be said about the child actors who play young Minoru (Arata Hinata), Yutaka (Kobayashi Ikuma), and Hozumi (Nagano Sora).
The cinematography matches the beauty of the script and the brilliance of the acting, and the soundtrack is as sensitive as the series as a whole - it never intrudes the characters' intimacy.
This series is so well written, brilliantly acted, and heartwarming that I can only recommend you to watch it in case you haven't already done that. "Our Dining Table" reminded me a little of the Taiwanese series "Papa and Daddy" which had a season 2, and I'd love to see Yutaka, Minoru, and Tane in a season 2 as well.
Country: Japan (2023)
Episodes: 10 à 23 minutes
Directors: Ishibashi Yuho, Iizuka Kashou, Kamimura Naho
Cast: Inukai Atsuhiro, Iijima Hiroki, Maeyama Kuuga et al.
Jakkufurosuto (2023)
Breathtaking in the literal sense of the word
When I compiled the list of my 15 favourite BL series of 2022, I was astonished that only one Japanese show had made it into that list ("Eien no kinou / Eternal Yesterday"). So when I wrote my review of the fantastic season 2 of "Utsukushii Kare / My Beautiful Man" a few weeks ago, I didn't expect there would soon come another Japanese BL series that could compete with it, but I was wrong. Today is the last day of the first quarter of 2023, and there have already been two more great Japanese series, "The End of the World with You", and now "Jack O'Frost" which in my subjective opinion may be the best BL series I have seen so far.
I won't spoil too much of the plot here, because for those who have already watched it, that won't be necessary, and to all those who haven't watched it, I would advise them to find out themselves, and I promise you that you won't be disappointed.
This is basically an "amnesia story", and by mere coincidence there are two series revolving around this topic airing at the same time - "Jack O'Frost" and the Thai series "Love Syndrome III". Whereas the Thai series has bad writing, directing, and acting, and the only thing everybody is waiting for is Lee Long Shi taking off his shirt, the only thing I have to complain about when it comes to "Jack O'Frost" is the fact that we had to wait two long weeks for the final episode to air.
"Jack O'Frost" is the love story of two attracting opposite characters, creative and talented artist Ritsu (Honda Kyoya) and salesman Fumiya (Suzuki Kosuke). When Fumiya feels left behind in his relationship with Ritsu, he breaks up with him, and Ritsu has an accident the very same day which makes him lose his memory of Fumiya. Fumiya tries to help Ritsu regain his memory by taking him to familiar places, but he doesn't tell him about their relationship and break-up. So when they fall for each other again, their new love is based upon a lie which of course must go wrong. I'll only reveal one more thing about the plot here - there's a happy ending, but the way to that point is rocky and full of pain.
When I said that this may be the best BL series I've ever watched, it must be perfection or at least near perfection in any respect, and I think it really is. The writing is brilliant, because it cautiously displays the way these two very different characters become lovers. I usually don't like flashbacks, because all too often they are just there to fill some more minutes of screentime without taking the story ahead, but here it is different. There are many flashbacks which show the viewer bit by bit how Ritsu and Fumiya's relationship developed, and as the series is about Ritsu trying to regain his memory, it's logical not to tell the story chronologically, but showing glimpses of the past that finally make up the complete story.
The next perfect element is the acting which is closely connected to the directing of the show. I have rarely seen two actors who are able to express their characters' deep love of each other so naturally - sometimes there is so much love in Honda's eyes that they could make the arctic ice melt. But their quarrels appear equally realistic, actually so realistic that it hurts watching them. The scene that leads up to Fumiya's breaking up with Ritsu is maybe the most natural lovers' argument ever shown in a BL series.
There were scenes where I found myself holding my breath because I felt it would reveal to Ritsu and Fumiya that someone was watching them, and it would disturb them if I did breathe. Honda and Suzuki (I know this sounds funny, but, sorry, these are their names) succeeded in drawing the viewer into their story, so it felt like I was being part of what was going on on the screen.
Then there is the cinematography that makes this series a masterpiece. Many scenes are set in semi-darkness, or the vision even seems to be blurred, mirroring Ritsu's limited memory of the past. The most beautiful and at the same time most expressive scene comes towards the end of the final episode, when Ritsu is sitting in their favourite café after he has moved out of Fumiya's flat, and the window is iced over. Then the ice slowly melts, and we see Fumiya standing outside the café looking at Ritsu.
Even the title of this show is a brilliant choice. Jack O'Frost (or simply Jack Frost) is a personification of cold weather in ancient Scandinavian mythology, and is often seen as a bad character whose negative influence disappears in Spring when the weather gets warmer. The main plot of this show is set in winter, and the scene with the frost on the café's window mentioned above symbolizes the end of the cold period, and thus the new beginning of Ritsu and Fumiya's love.
The background music completes the perfection of this series, because it sensitively accompanies the action without ever being obtrusive.
All in all, Japan has given us another beautiful series which is proof once again that it doesn't need 13 episodes of 60 minutes to tell a complex story and make the viewer impatiently wait 7 long days for another short episode of 25 minutes to air.
Country: Japan
Episodes: 7 (à 25 mins.)
Directors: Yasukawa Yuka, Takahashi Natsuki
Cast: Honda Kyoya, Suzuki Kosuke et al.
Papa What is Love 2 (2023)
A worthy sequel
Second seasons of popular series sometimes disappoint because high expectations aren't fulfilled, but "Papa, What is Love Season 2" is a worthy sequel of a series that earned international recognition when it premiered.
Like season 1, this isn't a BL, but a gay series, so it comes without all the annoying tropes of the BL genre. Season 2 tells the story of the young couple Tupe (Rex Lantano) and Greg (Anthony Flores) and of Greg's father Rich's (Arnold Reyes) efforts to find a same sex partner.
In season 1, Tupe worked as a helper in Rich's house, became his lover, but ended up as the boyfriend of Rich's son Greg. Now Tupe and Greg have been living together for some time in Greg's house, and the everyday problems of any relationship begin. Greg is a successful businessman who spends a lot of time and energy on his job, so that Tupe, who stays at home all day, feels neglected. Tupe wants to start a business of his own, selling food online, but he doesn't find an opportunity to discuss his plan with Greg.
Another problem is that Greg feels guilty towards his ex-fiancée Alex (Karina Bautista), whom he left for Tupe shortly before their wedding. He meets her to reconcile, which Tupe finds out, who becomes jealous, while Greg feels hurt because Tupe doesn't trust him. This situation would be a drama in a BL series, because the ex-girlfriend would be evil, and misunderstandings among the main couple would take a lot of time to be resolved, but in this series, the ex isn't evil at all, and Tupe and Greg find a way to discuss things, leading to a happy ending with Greg proposing to Tupe.
Rich, who is visiting his son's house, helps the young men with more or less helpful advice. He is still in moarning for his late wife's death, and at the same time trying desperately to find a new - male - partner. After a hookup with a sexy young man (Nick John Tuppil) he decides to rather look for someone older for a long-term relationship. He finds the restaurant owner Dominic (ZK Nakaoka), and the two men fall head over heels in love, travel to Japan together and get married in Taiwan. So we witness happy endings for everyone - even Alex lives her dream of attending an arts school in the USA.
The series is worth watching because it displays typical everyday problems of young gay couples as well as older gay men, but also shows how to solve them. It has dramatic moments, e.g. When Greg finds Tupe allegedly lifeless in the pool, it has elements of comedy, e.g. When Rich elaborates in Tupe's presence on Greg's happy life with his fiancée, and it shows something that BL series often do not show, but which is definitely part of a young gay couple's life - sex.
Unfortunately, the censored Youtube version has some brutal cuts where the original, uncut series (to be watched on Gagaoolala and Ticket2me) gets steamy, but all in all the technical quality of this series is good.
I was sceptical that the brilliant director of the first season, the late Shandii Bacolod, who tragically died when season was airing, would be appropriately replaced, but Aika Rapay, who was the assistant director in season 1, does as great job as the director of season 2.
Again, Rex Lantano displays all the facets of his huge acting talent, and again Anthony Flores proves that he isn't just extremely handsome, but a good actor, too. It's hard to understand why he isn't casted as an actor more often. Arnold Reyes is good in scenes when Rich bemoans his late wife, or when he is insecure before his meeting with Dominic, but sometimes he is overacting a little. The support actors, ZK Nakaoka, Karina Bautista, and Nick John Tuppil are all good in their respective roles.
All in all, I'm glad that Rex Lantano has been able to produce the sequel of "Papa, What is Love", after Youtube had terminated his channel because of alleged nudity in season 1. Season 2, like its prequel, is a gay series which is definitely worth watching.
Papa What is Love 1 (2022)
Uncut versions add spices to an already delicious dish
This series isn't your typical fairy tale BL-series, with all the usual tropes and college students driving around in their expensive cars, living in fancy houses, not being gay, but only being able to love the one and only guy, who was an enemy first and became a lover towards the end of the series. This is a story of real people, with a past that wasn't a bed of roses. There is love, jealousy, cheat, and regret, like in real life relationships.
The first episode led viewers up the garden path, because it looked like the beginning of a shallow OTT comedy. Richard (Arnold Reyes), a widower in his 40s, is urged by his son Greg (Anthony Flores) to hire a helper to look after him and the household. After a series of absurd interviews, the last applicant, Tupe (Rex Lantano), enters the stage with a winning smile, presenting Richard a bunch of flowers picked from the neighbours' garden, and he gets the job which is generously paid so that he can support his mother who is taken seriously ill.
The plot of episodes 2 through 6, however, isn't pure comedy. Richard, who only came out to his son after his wife's death, because he didn't want to hurt his wife's feelings, falls for Tupe, and they end up in bed together. They are caught in the act by Greg, who is embarrassed to witness his father having sex with a guy who is about his own age. At first he suspects Tupe of being after his dad's money, but the two young men slowly get closer. When Richard goes on a business trip, they spend a day together, have a drunk talk about their childhood and traumas, and end up having sex.
The next day, both Greg and Tupe are crying - Tupe obviously because he regrets cheating on Richard, and Greg maybe because of trying to steal his dad's boyfriend, or maybe because he has seriously fallen for Tupe.
The final episode is a real rollercoaster. When Tupe is about to leave because he won't dare face Richard, Greg accuses him of leaving him. They quarrel, but finally Greg confesses his love to Tupe, and vice versa. Of course Richard witnesses their reconciliation kiss, and after a lot of tears, he finally "gives" Tupe to Greg. Although Richard seems to be the loser of this love triangle, in the end everybody seems to be happy. Tupe and Greg leave for a holiday together, and Richard hires another "helper with abs", played by Nick John Tuppil, who is serious eye candy indeed.
Some members of the BL fan community were put off by the unusual constellation of the main characters, especially by their age gap. Others complained about Tupe's ungratefulness and Greg's betrayal of his dad. But as we all know, the life of couples - be they straight, gay or whatever - is rarely without problems, disappointments, break-ups and reconciliations. That can be exhausting, but IMO it makes life colourful, and it makes this series colourful and exciting, too. In opposition to real life,where a story like this would probably end in bitterness, we get a happy ending here, which is something I like in a BL series, I must admit.
The cast is an exciting blend of experienced actors like Arnold Reyes and Rex Lantano and newbies like Anthony Flores and Nick John Tuppil, who are not just very handsome, but also prove that they are talented. They were led sensitively by director Shandii Bacolod, who also directed the amazing series "Love at the end of the world", and who tragically passed away when the series was airing.
It is surprising that although the series is relatively short, writer and director Shandii Bacolod manages not only to tell the story of the love triangle step by step and in detail, but also finds time to characterise the three protagonists and to display their backstories.
Most of the series is set in Richard's house, but in contrast to many Pinoy low budget series, the production is professional. Cinematography, editing, and sound are good. The title song 'Papa, what is love?' and the beautiful ballad 'Bakit naman iyong akin pa?' by Malvin Drake are another proof that most Pinoy series have amazing OSTs.
Rex Lantano took the risk of producing the series himself, and it appears to have paid out, because his channel gained quite a number of paying subscribers who are rewarded with uncut versions of episodes 3 - 6 which add some spices to a dish that is already delicious in the regular version.
It's a little sad that there are only 6 relatively short episodes, but that can be an advantage, because a series of an accumulated 2 hours runtime is easier to rewatch than a full-fledged 12-hours series. I don't often rewatch series, but I am quite sure that I will rewatch this one, probably shortly before season 2 starts airing.
Because this is the good news at the end of this review: Rex Lantano has announced a season 2 to be produced soon, and I can only hope that they will be able to keep up the good quality of script, acting, directing, and production in general.
Masalimuot ya tiyagew ed dayat (2021)
Another quality gay Pinoy short film
In recent years, several gay short films have been produced in the Phlippines, and some of them are really worth watching. Masalimuot Ya Tiyagew Es Dayat (English title: Summer Blues in Tondaligan Beach) is definitely one of them.
The plot is simple; I'll give a synopsis, without spoiling the ending (warning: it is not happy).
Luis returns to his native town from Manila where he is about to graduate and spends a day on the beach with Federico, his childhood friend. Levi, the third friend, is going to join them later as he is still working.
Luis and Federico drink beer, smoke a vape joint, and recall their happy childhood days. Luis says that he may have to move back in with his parents for lack of money, and Federico states "Being an adult sucks".
They dance, wildly first, but when the music gets slow, they dance cheek to cheek. When they start caressing each other, Luis pushes Federico away, who goes swimming. Luis follows him, and they are floating on the water, getting closer, but drifting apart again. They fool around under water, again getting close.
Back on the beach, Luis seems to be scared, because something which he doesn't want Federico to mention must have happened here in the past. Luis asks Federico if there has been an offering to the sirens, which Federico dismisses as "old wives tales".
Then Federico challenges Luis to race to a buoy far out in the water, and only one of the boys returns to the beach.
The whole movie is set in a small area of a beach, and except for the final few minutes, there are only Luis and Federico. So the movie comes across like an open air chamber play. It's a coming-of-age story, and a beautiful one, if you ask me. The atmosphere is joyful at times, but especially Luis can't hide his fear of growing up and facing his true self which would mean facing his feelings for his childhood friend Federico. Federico, on the other hand, seems to have accepted that he is gay.
Both lead actors, Kych Minemoto (Federico) and Zeiah Mejia, are absolutely credible in personifying their respective characters. We can understand that Luis is scared when he finds himself caressing Federico, and we also understand that Federico doesn't exactly know how to deal with his friend's inhibition.
Directing, cinematography, and editing are all high quality, the pacing of the plot is good, and the setting is carefully chosen.
To sum it up: this is another example of a quality Pinoy gay short film which you won't want to miss. It's free to watch at youtube.
Country: Philippines (2021)
Duration: 25 mins
Director/writer: Jan Carlo Ortiz Natividad
Starring: Kych Minemoto and Zeiah Mejia, co-starring Jal Galang.
Lihim (2021)
A hidden gem with Kaleb Ong and David Revilla
I must admit that I missed this short film when it premiered, but I am happy that I found it at last, because it is one of the most beautiful short films I have ever seen. So I call it a hidden gem, because a gem it really is!
The title "Lihim" means "secret", and I won't spoil what this secret is, but I must warn you that it is so sad that it made me cry.
The movie tells the story of Kaleb (Kaleb Ong) and David (David Revilla) who bump into each other in a coffee shop, become friends, then lovers, and finally decide to spend the rest of their lives together. So far, so good, you might say. Sounds like a conventional love story, and in a way it is exactly that, but the script from Lawrence Nicodemus manages to tell the complete story of the various stages of their relationship in little more than 20 minutes.
There are several things that make this short film very worth watching. First and foremost, that's the lead actors, Kaleb Ong and David Revilla. I have been Kaleb's fan since "Meet my Angel" where his performance would have deserved an actor's award. In the series "Love is", where he was also paired with David Revilla, his acting was quite restrained, but in this short film he shines brightly as he did in "Meet my Angel", and David Revilla is a perfect match for him. Both actors' performance, their timing and little gestures, are just on point. They actually draw the viewer into their characters' stories so that we are happy with them, fight for their love with them, and finally suffer with them.
This is a BL short film that touches the viewers' hearts because it focuses on the protagonists and does completely without the overused BL clichés like evil ex-lovers, shrieking yaoi girls, accidental kisses and so on. The only trope that is there is the bumping into each other at the beginning of the movie, but at least there is no accidental fake kiss in this scene.
There is another element that makes many Pinoy BL movies and series so worth watching, and that is the OST. There are scenes where only music plays, but it fits so well that we can imagine what Kaleb and David are saying.
The technical quality of this production is very good, too, cinematography, directing, editing, and sound are better than in most Pinoy BL productions.
To sum it up - if you are looking for a beautiful BL story, and you have 20 minutes to spare, this is what you should watch. You won't be disappointed. But make sure you have a box of tissues in your reach. You'll need it.
Choco Milk Shake (2022)
My favourite BL series of 2022
It is interesting that some of the best BL series this year revolved around the topic of the life after death - "On Cloud Nine", "Eternal Yesterday", "Something in my Room", and of course the most beautiful series of 2022, "Choco Milk Shake". I was excited when Strongberry announced this series, because this South Korean production company has never disappointed the BL community with their short films, and the worst thing about CMS was that we had to wait for those magic 12 minutes on Tuesdays and Thursdays when it aired.
The plot is a fairy tale: Choco and Milk, Jungwoo's dog and cat, want to reunite with him after they died (Choco in a car accident and Milk because of an illness), and they find a way to cross the rainbow bridge and meet him in human shape. The three of them spend a short, but beautiful time together, before Choco and Milk have to return to their place in heaven, from where they will watch Jongwoo for the rest of his life. For a moment, Choco is tempted to stay with Jungwoo, but Milk reminds him that he will be gone for good if he does.
This sounds very much like the plots of other animal-to-human series like "Meow Ears Up", but CMS is unique in that it is the cutest and most fluffy series of 2022, but at the same time has always an undertone of angst, because the viewer realises very soon that Choco and Milk won't stay with Jungwoo for long, and I know that many people around the world were scared like me thinking of the moment we would have say goodbye to Choco and Milk.
When Choco and Milk actually leave in episode 10, this is one of the saddest moments in any BL series I've watched so far, but Strongberry wouldn't be Strongberry, if they didn't make Choco and Milk come back once again in episode 11 - "this time not to make Jung Woo happy, but for their own happiness" - so that the "magical love story" can go on for another 99 days or so.
But it isn't only the story that makes this series the most beautiful of 2022, it is also the acting. Lee Jae Bin as Choco and Kim Seong Hyuk must have spent a lot of time observing cats and dogs, because in every action, with every facial expression it is absolutely clear what kind of animal they used to be in their previous lives. Go Ho Jung as Jung Woo and Park Seung Bin as Jung Woo's uncle, and the owner of the bar where his nephew works, are good actors, too.
Cinematography, directing and editing are first class like in all Strongberry productions, so there is literally nothing to complain about. The live chats during the premieres of the episodes were a gathering of enthusiastic fans of the series from all continents, and all the episodes have been watched by more than a million viewers, the first episode even by more than 3 millions. This proves that Strongberry have hit the nail on the head once again.
Country: South Korea
Episodes: 11 (à ca 12 mins)
Director: Ahn Ji Hee
Cast: Go Ho Jung, Lee Jae Bin, Kim Seong Hyuk, Park Seung Bin et al.