Gameboys (2020)

A story of love and acceptance even in the worst of times.

Story: I’m writing this as a lesbian who experienced the same events as Cairo within this drama as I can understand and appreciate the plot in a different way because of this. I also struggled with my sexuality the same as Cairo, and was outed when I was still not ready. I (like Cairo) was outed by my now ex best friend who I thought would accept me, but turned completely against me. Being outed by the person you thought was your best friend completely breaks your trust which explains why Cairo is so closed off. Dealing with the burden of such a huge secret weighs you down and having friends by your side is the most important thing you can have when you’re struggling with your own identity. The way Cai also handled it, when she apologised he accepted her apology but did not forgive her yet, made me happy. When someone hurts you that much, especially a close friend, it’s almost impossible for your friendship to go back to the way things were before, so I love that they didn’t make what his best friend did as a minor issue and showed the consequences of her actions both for him and her. The slow but quick progression of their relationship was fast but also felt quite natural in some ways. When they finally met you could see so much love in their eyes I actually teared up when I saw them crying. This was not just a story about a simple internet romance during the Covid-19 pandemic, this is a story of love and acceptance even in the worst of times.

Cast: Elijah Canlas as Cairo- At first I did think Elijah’s acting was a little awkward but as the series progressed we saw an actor who took on a role giving it his own interpretation and completely taking on the role of Cairo. It wasn’t even the big things, but the most subtle actions made his role so believable. When I first realised I was interested in woman the term ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ felt so foreign, so when I finally confronted my sexual preference I remember getting choked up and it took me a few seconds to even say the word ‘gay’. When Cairo did the same when talking to his mum I had to pause the episode and breathe because of how emotional I felt. I can officially say that Elijah as Cairo is the best actor to have played such a role in order to represent the fear those of the LGBT community still face even to this day. When he portrayed his father dying, it wasn’t the case of quickly moving on, but it also wasn’t portrayed as him being constantly depressed, it was more he was sad but wanted to continue living his life and carrying on his father’s memory which I loved.
—Kokoy de Santos as Gavreel- Kokoy created a character for Gavreel that was more than just the simple playboy he may seem on the outside. He created a confident but secretly insecure character who always wanted the people around him to be happy. He was a character that was pushy in some ways, but also understood when Cairo needed space and would back off but still show and send his love and support throughout all the tough times he faced. Gavreel was also just as prone to jealousy as anyone would be, and although he clearly struggles to communicate he does try and we watch him grow through the series.I really loved the character of Gavreel and I think describing him as “boyfriend goals” would be especially fitting.
—Adrianna So as Pearl- Wow, Pearl was literally my favourite female character not just in this series, but possibly ever. She was the shipper female friend that was there for the couple, defended them, but also knew when not to interfere with their love lives. She had a strong sense of right and wrong and would even argue with her best friend on Cairo’s behalf if she thought he did something wrong. My favourite quote of hers is “if you did something stupid don’t use mental health as an excuse, own up to your mistakes make up for it and don’t do it again”. She even drove all the way out to help Gav and Cai meet for the first time, and left as soon as they were together so they had chance to be alone as if she knew how important this meeting was. She’s someone that seems like she would be easy to make friends with and talk to when you go through tough times. I can’t wait to watch her own series when it comes out.

Music: It was pretty enjoyable with some good backtracks and sound effects, but nothing I thought was incredibly memorable.

Rewatch value: I can definitely say as soon as this series ends I’ll straight away be rewatching it, and I can imagine that I’ll go back to this series many times.

Overall: I’m so grateful for this series and I believe this series alone will help so many people in Cairo’s position. This is more than just a simple BL series and I can’t thank The IdeaFirst company enough for creating this. This will definitely be a game changer, not only for Filipino BL’s, but the representation of gay characters as a whole. I’m so glad I was able to watch this series when it first began.

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ON REPEAT PLAY! WHAT A SATISFYING ENDING To a Fantastic Series

I have to stop myself screaming while watching the finale, my sister was telling me Id wake up the whole neighborhood. Yes, Im an old guy and I screamed like a 15 year old high school girl.

Even after watching the finale for the 5th time, i still feel the same way when i watched it the first time. I have never been so happy for characters in a show, and i have never been this attached to a show - im addicted!

Also, I have never been prouder for a Filipino content like i am proud of this one - ample plot, smart and timely dialogue, and above all - amazing acting from amazing actors.

After watching tens (if not a hundred) BL series, it is such a good change to see one which is not setup in a school or a universiry. The idea of social media style cinemathography is not original but was geniusly utilized here. Who knew that this idea of a love story in this time could work so well and has added to the viewers eagerness and excitement whenever the 2 characters meet. Also, what an amazing writing!

Elijah and Kokoy are both a revelation. I specially liked their little nuisances and quirkiness - its really like watching two real life gay guys and not straight guys playing gay characters. And i really really love the idea that the 2 lead characters are flat out gay and not straight guys suddenly realizing they like a guy. You see, gay characters can be good too, if it is written properly. Adriana is also such a breath of fresh air as Pearl, she is such a beautiful and lovable character, i kept seeing myself in her shoes. I just love her.

I am amazed that a small production outfit can come up with this amazing series. It is so.much better than all the shit that you on primetime TV. I am genuinely interested to see the other works of the director and/or writers.

I hope this series finds a wider audience cause they deserve it, and im really glad and cant wait for the spinoff and the season 2.

Again this is an amazing BL series , maybe one of the best BL series not just from the Philippines but from all over. Thank you so much for this.

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Best BL of 2020 so far? I think so

This review is a personal opinion. It is not meant to sway or discourage anyone from watching this series.

What an amazing little Gem of BL that came out of the Philippines. Truly a great series to watch.

On to my review

Aptly named Gameboys the series, this new “BL” drama changed the game (no pun intended) in the way stories can be told with characters having little to no physical interactions. I put BL in quotation marks because I wouldn’t consider this a Boys Love Drama, but rather a true representation of LGBTQ+. The drama breaks a lot of ridiculous cliches while at the same time using other cliches properly.

The backdrop of the drama is centered around the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect world wide, particularly in the Philippines. The main characters find themselves on mandatory lockdown by the government and must spent majority of their times indoors. Cairo, a self-proclaimed gamer and a nerd, spends his day doing live broadcast, amassing a following that include the cheeky and always smiling Gavreel —who we later learned has been following Cairo’s live streams after the death of his grandmother and went into depression-and develops a crush on the gamer.

Through a series of “video meets” the two being to grow closer, despite Cairo’s reluctance to Gavreel’s advances. We later learned that Cairo has been struggling with his sexual orientation-and the consequences of that which centered around his father’s health.

This drama touched on a lot of things, but for me the most amazing part was the way that Mental health, guilt/blame, and forgiveness took center stage.

Acting: Elijah (Cairo) really stole a lot of the scenes for me. There were so many instances where I felt his pain. Though he masked that pain through “grouchiness/shade” the boy was aching for someone to listen to him. Which is why Gavreel’s existence in Cairo’s life came at the right time (maybe some would call it Fate)

It was refreshing to see a confident gay man in Gavreel—his confidence, cheekiness, fun loving nature truly made the drama memorable, but at the same time, the layers that kept being pulled away bit by bit revealed a young man who had gone through great loss and grief. He was depressed and found solace in Cairo’s live streams.

I loved Pearl! What a great friend who was in a way the “voice of reason” for these boys exploring their relationship. Supportive female characters like Pearl always make the series much better.

Ah the villain ex-boyfriend ended up being such a good character in the end. He acknowledged the mistakes his made and realized that he needed to FIX himself before he could love anyone else.

Overall, this was a very good drama series and I highly recommend it.

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Gameboys (2020): The First Pinoy BL Series and the Best BL Series

“Gameboys” is the first Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series and the best BL series. While there have been a number of Pinoy gay-themed and lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-queer+ (LGBTQ+)-theme series (kindly check out my list of Pinoy gay-themed, LGBTQ+-themed, and BL series), “Gameboys” is the first Pinoy BL series since it’s closest to the traditional definition of BL series which is described as depicting homoerotic, romantic, and/or sexual relationships between two “male” characters, usually high school boys, university students or young professionals. It’s the best BL series not only because it showed excellence in plot/storyline, performance, and production, but also because it showcased innovation and promotion of social change in the BL genre. Indeed, “Gameboys” is a revolutionary BL series. It redefined traditional BL series typically written by female authors for female audience. Most Pinoy BL series are created by male and/or LGBTQ+ creators for a more general audience, including male and LGBTQ+ viewers. While Pinoy BL series were inspired by Thai wai/y series (and to a limited extent, Japanese yaoi series), Pinoy BL series trace their roots not only from the many Pinoy gay-themed and LGBTQ+-themed series since “My Husband’s Lover,” but also from the long history of Pinoy queer cinema (please see my list of Pinoy queer cinema) since “Jack and Jill.” Most of the creators of Pinoy BL series worked on independent (indie) Pinoy queer cinema prior to doing Pinoy BL series which account for Pinoy BL series’ often “woke” characteristics. The audience of Pinoy queer cinema are also audience of Pinoy BL series. “Gameboys” best exemplifies these “woke” characteristics of Pinoy BL series. It has no qualms in associating itself with the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community. It discussed being outed and coming out, family acceptance, lack of marriage equality, etc. In addition to these, “Gameboys” also discarded hegemonic, heteronormative, and toxic tropes in the BL genre by rejecting LGBTQ+ stereotypes, representing gays and bisexuals, ditching the problematic representations of female characters, challenging hegemonic and toxic masculinity, normalizing male characters crying, promoting consent in relationships, dumping the heteronormative “husband and wife” in favour of “husband and husband,” doing away with dichotomic dominant (“seme” or top) and submissive (“uke” or bottom) roles, among others. On top of these, it tackled the COVID-19 pandemic and the various issues associated with it like inadequate government response, quarantine and lockdown, social distancing and safety protocols, long distance and online/virtual relationships, poor internet connectivity, mental health, and even death. All these were touched upon without losing track of its main plot/storyline -- at its core, “Gameboys” is still a story of two boys who are in love -- the perfect BL series.

Unlike most BL series that treated the main characters’ homoerotic, romantic, and/or sexual relationships as the be-all and end-all of the series, as if they occur in social isolation, in a vacuum, the plot/storyline of “Gameboys” was very much contextualized in Pinoy culture and society (particularly in showcasing Pinoy gaming culture, highlighting the importance of family for the Pinoy, and even promoting Pinoy tourist attractions) and the country’s daily struggles during the new normal brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Being away from the Philippines, I really miss my country and my people. I’m also deeply frustrated with the Philippine government in its handling of my country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s great about “Gameboys” was its ability to seamlessly tie all these contextualizations with the things we absolutely love about a BL series. The finale, with its happy ending, with Cai and Gav loving and kissing each other and even living together was proof that "Gameboys" is still a BL series after all.

Screenplay throughout the series was consistently realistic and relatable. Art should not only make us think, it should also make us feel, and the script of “Gameboys” that banked on giving its audience emotional rollercoasters and cliffhangers each episode did just that. “Gameboys” made me excited and happy but at the same time it also made me mad and sad. With this series, I got excited, I laughed, I got annoyed, I cried. I’ve always been a sucker for series that make me feel something that’s why I love “Gameboys.” Aside from making me reflect on personal and societal issues, “Gameboys” made me emphatize with the characters. Plus, there were a lot of sexy and sweet lines that I thoroughly enjoyed. Of special note, the cute dialogues complemented the Kokoy and Elijah shirtless scenes that were hot and the kissing scenes of Episodes 10 and 13 that were both iconic.

“Gameboys” had the two best actors in a BL series. By a mile, Elijah and Kokoy’s acting was the best performance by a duo in a BL series. I felt their excitement, their happiness, their anger, their pain. You don’t really see such range in acting from both lead actors in a BL series. In the 100 or so BL series (Thai, Taiwanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean BL series) that I've seen, oftentimes, one of the actors was really good but the other was just so-so. And there were even times when both actors were just easy on the eyes. But with Elijah as Cai and Kokoy as Gav, we got two exceptional actors who are also very good-looking. They are both very skilled actors (with or without masks, those eyes speak!). And both are quite handsome. Elijah has this cute charm about him while Kokoy is very sexy. They have great chemistry together. It’s also remarkable that both actors are socially conscious. Without a doubt, Elijah and Kokoy are the perfect actors for “Gameboys.” Some of the funniest scenes of this series were those with Adrianna’s (“Queen”) Pearl. Adrianna is such a fine actress. It’s commendable that her character wasn’t made into the antagonist which is a welcome departure from the usual female as villainess trope in a BL series. I’m excited for “Pearl Next Door”! Sue, who portrayed Cai’s mother Leila proved that you don’t need to be overdramatic to show great acting. The way Leila showed quiet grief in dealing with her husband’s death and clear conviction in accepting and comforting her son was simply astonishing. One of the biggest advantage of “Gameboys” over other BL series is its high-caliber cast. Elijah, Kokoy, Adrianna, and Sue are all fantastic actors while the rest of the cast members including Kyle, Miggy, Jerom, Angeli Nicole, and Rommel are all good actors. There were a few cheesy scenes here and there but because the cast members are amazing thespians, in the end, the corny scenes were negligible.

While production during quarantine has been done before (for example, check out one of my favorites, “Quarantine Stories”), the quality has been quite uneven until “Gameboys” came along. The innovations in production design, cinematography, computer graphics, sound engineering, musical scoring, and editing on “Gameboys” are now considered standards in Pinoy filmmaking. It’s not surprising studying “Gameboys” is now part of university courses on literature and mass media in the Philippines. Frankly, I have yet to see a better production (of BL and non-BL series) that employed split-screen techniques. Also, unlike other series which have lots of money that enabled them to acquire permission to use actual names of e-mail, social media, and social networking services, “Gameboys” had to invent their own versions of Facebook, Instagram, Gmail, Zoom, etc. to avoid infringing on the trademarks of these companies which I found really creative. Product placements (TM Tambayan, Silverworks, Bench, etc.) weren't subtle but because I understand the need to have sponsors for a production company like The IdeaFirst Company, I really can’t complain. And hey, SB19 was featured on the product placements, so that’s great! All the soundtracks including “Isang Laro” (A Game) by Nasser, “Panalo Ka” (You Win) by Dex Yu, “Angel of Peace” by Elijah, “Pag-asa” (Hope) by Elijah, “Hiling” (Request) by Joshua Ronett, “Ngayon” (Now) by Dex, and “Ako at Ikaw” (Me and You) by Joshua were perfectly incorporated on the different episodes of “Gameboys.”

Beyond all these, “Gameboys” ushered in the creation of an engaged Pinoy BL community composed of not only the cast and crew members of the different Pinoy BL series but also of fans, reactors, and reviewers from all over the world.

To sum up this long series review (my longest review yet, lol), I highly recommend rewatching “Gameboys” (especially in preparation for “Gameboys The Movie” and “Gameboys Season 2”). It’s the first Pinoy BL series. It’s the best BL series. And it’s now THE STANDARD for the BL genre.

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My stages of watching Gameboys 2020

*grin like an idiot*
*ugly cry*
*shake my head because I still can't believe how realistic this BL is*
*smile till it hurts my cheeks*
*squeal like a 16 years old girl*
*cry and somehow laugh at the same time*
*nod vigorously because I relate so much*
*hold my chest because heart is shattering*
*cry all the tears of my body*
*blush from all the cuteness*
*pinch myself to make sure this drama really does exist*
*grin like an idiot*
... and repeat for thirteen episodes straight.

Here is my review for Gameboys 2020. Thank you for reading.

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NOT JUST THE BEST PINOY BL SERIES BUT ONE OF THE BEST PINOY SERIES THERE IS

I love the fact that they don't just focus on the kilig storylines- they managed to tackle different problems that youth may overcome. Nagawa din nilang ungusan ang mga storyang pangkaraniwang binibigay ng isang BL series sa thailand- which is the home base of the bl series. What I like about this series is they are not insensitive and not normalizing the rape culture not unlike the other bl series from different countries. Im also looking forward for Pearl Next Door which is a spinoff of Gameboys which tells the story of Pearl (also known as The Pambansang Bestfriend) and it is a GirlLove story!!

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Best BL of 2020

I can't tell you how many times this came through my youtube suggestions for me to watch and I refused to click on it. The truth is, I accidentally clicked on it, got comfortable during the ad and was too lazy to get up and change it. I'm so happy I was lazy that day. I then spent the rest of the day, binge watching to catch up, then freaking out every time I had to wait for a new episode.

Let's get this out of the way. If you're looking for a show with heavy skinship, this is not it. The characters didn't meet face to face until almost the end of the series. They didn't hug or touch until the VERY end. So you might be asking why I love this series so much. Well, I'll explain.

What GAMEBOYS have is a well written story, cast who are genuinely friends and wanted to make an amazing drama and beautiful music. It is obvious by the way they act, they way they seem to carry each other, the way each actor portrays the character their given with such elegance and talent.

You guys know me and I'm big on the chemistry. Not necessarily the skinship (which can be nice if done well), to me, the characters don't have to kiss, ever or even touch. I'm big on the way characters look at each other, they way they talk to each other, they way they act around each other. Kokoy (Gav) and Elijah (Cai) were the definition of chemistry. Even though the characters didn't mean due to the pandemic, there was a way they talked to each other and the expressions on their faces that showed Cai and Gav slowly falling in love--well showed Gav falling deeper in love with his crush Cai. The sweetness he handled Cai with, the soft way he says "baby" and the way Gav was strong, even when he knew there was nothing he could do for Cai but be there on that screen.

The scene where Cai was in pain about his father showed the talent in Kokoy because his character seemed so helpless and afraid and angry because he couldn't just run to Cai and hold him and make everything better.

GAMEBOYS is leaps and bounds ahead of all the BLs released this year (Even with Manner of Death coming). There's an emotional aspect to this one that no other BL has ever managed to put forth.

Great job Philippines on writing this and putting it out in the world.

I have to mention the secondary characters - the friendship between these guys was beautiful. Specifically Pearl. We have to talk about the courage and the strength in her. Everyone needs a Pearl in their lives. Usually when the female friends in these BL are weak, whinny little fools and that has caused me to drop a number of dramas (not just BL). Let's say, Pearl and I didn't start out on the right foot because I wanted to strangle her when she appeared. Sorry, knee jerk reaction from all the other secondary female characters turning into snakes. But Pearl is the girl everyone deserves. She's strong, outspoken, supportive, gorgeous, funny - I adore her as a secondary character.

All in all, this BL has everything (maybe not to you if all your into is skinship). But I enjoy a great story wrapped around emotion and characters who seem as if they genuinely want to be around each other.

The best BL of 2020 so far for me and I doubt anything else this year will top it.

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baby don't stop by nct

let me start off by saying that i absolutely admire whoever made this drama possible!!!
as a filipino bisexual, seeing more and more well made filipino bl dramas like this one makes me so happy??? we're stepping forward and saying: heY these two guys are in love and that is normal bc people are allowed to love wHo the heck they love fuck whoever thinks it's weird

i have many praises for this as this was made during truly tough times... the fact that 90% of the time were video calls but the cast were still able to carry the right emotions is absolutely commendable

oH i'm glad you asked!! how was the chemistry?
well, let me tell ya buddy, it was like i lived as a spy for 2 days, squealing on my bed and wrestling my pillows, almost broke my neck in the process (dw it's not serious)

...yes, the nickname "baby" may sound cringey but oHmygOD it works in here
i only accept this monstrosity from caireel
honestly, even though the acting did feel flat a few times, i can nOt deny that it was natural with lots of cheese.... and i loved it

pearl oh pearl i love you
um hand in marriage? this girl legit carried every mess on her back like she's juggling ping pong balls she's legit the best friend everyone wished they had
she has a loveable personality i really dig her energy

i think what i loved the most was the conflicts in the end like yeS it was frustrating and quite dramatic but it made sense due to what both the main leads went through in the past... they're both still healing and i love that it's shown that their relationship is not perfect they're still figuring shit out and that's okay

the brownie points in this is it doesn't simply focus on the main leads being all lovey dovey (well it does buT) this drama tackles a bit of mental health and consent as well
-mental health: terrence feeling like he has no one to talk to and the drama takes an interesting turn of gavreel actually listening to terrence's thoughts instead of painting terrence as a permanent villain and dismissing the guy

-consent: i love that gav would add the word "consent" when teasing cai and honestly, that kiss at the end of the episode was so sweet??? gav waited for cai to move closer as a way of agreement to the kiss, when both of them were on the bed and gav asks "what do you want to do, baby?" anD cai replies "it's up to you"
the fact that gav doesn't do anything before getting cai's consent is so so so gOOD

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TRAILBLAZER, INNOVATIVE and every fancy word that links to PHENOMENAL

Will drop my review after episode 13 so let me just say that if you have not seen it yet, you better watch it now since you're missing out on something great. For now let me drop these important points:

● BABY
● OST is always on point
● Even the title also makes its way to the narrative of every episode
● You would want to watch it while it's still on the works, the community is fun to be with on different social media platforms
● Every episode is breathtaking
● The way the series was filmed gives way for the viewers to be part of the narrative rather than just being the audience
● The main cast's filmography from Elijah Canlas, Kokoy De Santos, Adrianna So, Kyle Velino and all the supporting roles are amazing to say the least. Some of them have been part of an MMK episode and the two main leads are not strangers when it comes to indie films. Acting wise I'd say that they gave justice to their characters
● Directed by Ivan Andrew Payawal
● I'd give the story a 100% and this is all thanks to the very talented writer of GAMEBOYS, sir Ash Malanum.
● The fact that the series was made to run with only 4 episodes turned to 10 and now extended to 13 says a lot to how well received the series is by fans and just people who come across it.
● Very lovable characters, you will hate some but just in the moment where hate is needed.
● Character development arc.... YES!!!
● Redefining the BL GENRE is an understatement when in reality it's also redefining what "new normal" means during this pandemic. You would see countless reimagined ways of doing ordinary things and it's very realistic... INNOVATIVE is the word!
● We stan ideafirst company as much as the actors and that's a fact. The main purpose of GAMEBOYS was to actually just give jobs to the people working for them and now it has become more than that.
● All this during this pandemic, instructions are given by the crew through video calls and the rest is up to the cast on how they will execute it. Mostly no face to face acting instead they rely on the other person's voice to give their reaction aided by the directions given by sir Ivan and yes they managed to pull it off. Hearing this info came in as a shock for me as well since it's really that good.
● Watch their interviews, let me say fan service when it's needed or not? Honestly I don't know if they are joking or serious during interviews so you get to decide what
● The process involved in the whole production is outstanding, right from the directing up to the set design by sir Nestor.

There's actually more than I can compose but I'll leave it to that for now. You'd think I'm overhyping this series but in reality it's not even getting the hype that it deserves. Many more people should see it, it's more than just a series, it has become the story of so many people out there struggling and facing different circumstance during this tough times. The very first to tell the story of this pandemic with justice and confidence. Many are calling it as a woke series or a woke BL and I think it's deserving of that title 💯

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A Beautiful Love Story

I can't even example in enough words how heartwarming and precious Gameboys is. This series has shot up to be my number 1 favorite BL of all time. To have the ability to tell a love story that is accurate with current times (those current time being us stuck in the middle of a panoramic), and still be able to pull off an enticing romance is astounding. Gav and Cai bring to us a gorgeous love story full of truth, laughter, misery, and passion.

Let's Dive In.

Usually, the first episode is the worst for me. It mostly likely boring cause we have to learn about the characters, most likely their backstories, world-building, and the start of the plot. But, with this show, I was pulled in from the first 10 minutes. The majority of this show takes place on a laptop, with the main characters only really bonding with one another over the screen. That's what pulled me in first; I could tell this wasn't going to be anything like I had ever seen before. The concept is the best I've seen out of any concept in BL. How can one make a connection with another over the screen? Well, Gave and Cai figures it out. Both actors did an amazing job. By far, Gav was my favorite character. I loved the way he teased Cai, and I loved how expressive he was with his feelings from the very beginning. I also like how he was already openly gay. We don't see that much in BLs usually. Most of the time we have to see them figuring themselves out, and I liked that Gav already went through that offscreen. There was nothing that I can say I hated about this couple, everything was pretty much perfect. I believe my favorite part was the mini montage of them going through different activities together online, or maybe it was that breathtaking kiss. Either way, Gav and Cai hold a very special place in my heart.

Pearl is the best friend anyone could ask for. I loved how she was basically there to support Gav and cheer on both of them. Thank god she wasn't the awful ex-girlfriend that every series has. Instead, she was there for both of them, and her spirit was absolutely amazing. We see a glimpse into her story with finding her own love, which is continued in Pearl Next Door. Westley and Terrence served as a nice somewhat side couple. We don't get much with them, mostly just a special episode, but I didn't pay much attention to them. I believe they are supposed to be getting their own series, but I'm not too sure. In the series though, they both served as the turmoil between Gav and Cai, but I liked that it didn't drag on for too long and was resolved quickly.

Let's talk about the production team. I can't belive that this entire series was filmed using phones. They didn't use any heavy equipment, or professional cameras, it was all used on a freakin iPhone. That is some for real talent, That knowledge alone makes this series 10 times better knowing all of the dedication that went into this series.

All in all, this series deserves every acknowledgment it deserves. It's not necessarily an underrated series, but I don't think it has had the views it deserves. This series deserves to be just as big as 2gether, or even bigger. The Philipino Bls did not come here to play, they came here to win. Out of this one and Like In The Movies, my expectations for Bls now have exceedingly increased. Way to go The Philippines for telling stunning stories, and real-life depictions of same-sex relationships.

*Imaginary clap on the back*

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GAMEBOYS is the BEST PINOY BL SERIES until further notice. Don't try to change my mind.

Story:
Not just the story but also how they tell the story is unique. It's evident that people behind Gameboys gave their 200% and they did not hold back. They continue to innovate despite of all the challenges due to the pandemic.

Acting/Cast:
Cairo/Elijah and Gavreel/Kokoy played their roles really well. They both gave their best on every intense, happy and dramatic scenes.
Queen Pearl/Adrianna is just ICONIC. No words.
Supporting casts are all great as well. Terrence.. Wesley.. Mommy Leila.. and London. KUDOS!

Music:
Gameboys OSTs are one of the reasons why I fell in love so hard with this series. Every song captures every moment. AND ITS ALL ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC which I freaking love.

Rewatch Value:
Let's just say that this is the only series that I can rewatch every week and I'll never get tired.

Overall:
GAMEBOYS really made an impact to me personally.. I've never been this so attached to a series before. 😭 I freaking love GAMEBOYS and I will never stop loving this series. I said it before and I will say it again.. I WILL SUPPORT OTHER PINOY BL SERIES BUT GAMEBOYS HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.

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