Watch diary

A cute short BL reminiscent of those covid times dramas filmed with a restricted crew and just a couple of actors in a single setting (hotel): Check Out ep. 0 and Meet Me Outside. Here the set looks like a greek hotel: white walls, flat roofs and blue windows. The guys are cute together and the writer's imagination is going into overdrive: hilarious! The only tiny conflic emerges when the resort owner discovers that he is an inspiration for the writer's BL novel. But that is sorted out so quickly you may miss it. The ending was supposed to be an unhappy one: after a short summer fling, they each go their own way keeping the precious memories. But this being a BL fantasy, they of course end up together making out near the pool. Happily ever after? Who cares! 25/12/24

My favourite trope: groundhog day! Moreover, this is based on an american movie so no reason not to like it! Right? A bit slow, a bit boring, lacking originality, likeable characters and chemistry......I liked the idea of perfect tiny moments and in that way they should have kept the original title which would have made the watch more compelling.25/12/24

This sequel to Polyethylene whatever, is just as messily told:the two had broken up and moved on with their lives, each finding a new love but regrets and memories remain. The editing is still jumpy and it is difficult to say whether the scene takes place in past or in the  present. You cannot take your eyes off the screen because you'll loose track of the plot.

I really wanted to like this but I have no idea what is going on. Apparently the salaryman is regretting deeply splitting up with the actor. His affair with a married man is leaving him feeling lonely and abandoned and he misses the actor. You cannot turn back time no matter how soory you are for the decisions you took! Sad and cruel and true....

The subs are incomprehensible, though they seem to be correct...And then the postcredit scene makes you believe that the actor is a girl and that everything that happened was a dream?!?

There is a lovely final credits song. 25/12/24

Interesting combo of a police detective and a plastic surgeon investigating together. Surgeon lost his fiancée who was allegedly killed by the detective's brother. But then no, someone else did it. And that someone else was very much obvious from the second episode: a happy-go-lucky poor best friend. The usual, right? I was hoping to be wrong but....Moreover, they dragged out catching him over 3 episodes! What a way to ruin a good thing! And of course, the last episode wrapped up everything nicely, even bringing back some previous patients, showing the doc's compassionate and kind nature, which was not evident in the beginning and throwing in a budding romance for a good measure. A solid though unsurprising drama. 23/12/24

Another gem from SUKFILMS! I'd subscribe and pay if I had some money left now before christmas! Their every short drama is a perfection: made on a shoe string budget but well written and acted. These actors have excellent chemistry, they are talented and are not afraid to kiss which is an oddity in Korea.

This is not a spin off per se but just continuation of the previous drama. The two are dating and getting ready to move in together. They talk a lot: they reminisce about their high school days when they were afraid to show their feelings and they talk about writing. This is the best part: they imagine and act out different settings for a BL: office or saeguk...brilliant.

I loved it and it is going on to my best bls and slump time lists because I need to rewatch this again and again! 21/12/24

The first thing I noticed in this drama was the lipstick heavily applied on actor's lips. Nice start! lol Maybe they are hiding his(David Matthew) lack of acting skills? The poster is awful as well!

The second is the plot: weird things keep happening indicating they are all stuck in a place from where they cannot leave like Purgatory? So this may be another version of Lost i.e. people stranded after an accident. And these 5 people actually got in a car accident. There are also dreams and ghosts from a 100 years ago. And the plot is developing very slowly... so very slowly  and still I cannot stop watching!

The group of youtubers (I think!) comes to a house to check it out. But funny things keep happening. Khem keeps dreaming of the owner and falls in love with him. One of Khem's friends is in love with him to which Khem seems to be clueless and that boy is laying it heavy with gentle touches and innuendos....

Sometimes  an unimportant detail can ruin the drama, right? Well it just happened to me, ep.6! So the main couple are hugging in the middle of a huge windy storm but their hair and their clothes do not budge an inch. In spite of a very strong wind! Nothing moves! Couldn't they have used a wind machine to make that scene credible? Unless their love is creating a magical bubble protecting them from bad weather?

So I guessed correctly: this is Lost, thai version (instead of a plane we have a car crash!). The ending is rushed: they tried to sort it out but they did not take enough time about it. Thankfully, there is always reincarnation to fall back upon! But there is really no HE because everything circles back to the start of the drama, the trip the 5 take! 21/12/24

I am liking this so far. The FL is a strong competent woman hiding a trauma, excellent at her work but demanding excellence in return. The ML is deceptively naive. The current evil guy is obviously evil!

I find the NM's character to be too inconsistent to be true: sometimes extremely naive and protecting himself from the non existent sexual harassment and sometimes so smart and competent. It keeps the story moving along but it looks like there are two completely different people around and that is not because of soul exchange.

I am also finding the main actress' eyes weird and too small which is somewhat distracting: I keep looking for any semblance of expression on her face but without eyes it is impossible....

How is it possible that someone who attempted a murder gets off scott free?

And finally, they had to go and ruin the ending with a time skip: this is getting old and useless...20/12/24

The film is too short and the story too complex to understand what is going on. Min Chul is apparently lying about everything and does not want his temporary live in boyfriend know about him at all. Is he really going to the military? What does he really do for living? Who is he? We never get to find information important for understanding the characters and the plot. The director spent too much time on a make out session which is without importance! They seem to have split up in the end but nothing is clear....16/12/24

Very fast editing and a lot of overacting from ML. How he can work as host when he is so jumpy is beyond me! I don't like the high resolution: the picture is too sharp, so much so it's cold and unpleasant to watch.

Dropping this 4 episodes in! Boring, so boring with a many pretty but unlikeable characters. 16/12/24

Two internet victims, their teacher, a sunny highschool girl, an overweight trans woman and two young men all come together to learn to dance. Fast friendships are formed while their respective issues get sorted out. Until the tragedy strikes which after the initial shock, brings them even closer together. 

There is a cute BL story with great chemistry (who would have thought Earth can still provoke it!), the teacher losing his sight, an ancient idol victim of abuse and the trans character who was by far the bes in this drama.

The drama is too short and rushed but fortunately the director spent enough time on the characters' bonding and growing friendship. 15/12/24

This is actually quite cute: the actors are cute, the writers' group is cute, the story is cute....Everything is somehow OTT cute and it still works for me. As a form of background noise! I've been mostly playing games and trying not to fall asleep to actually pay attention to the plot! There is plagiarism and childhood connection. The actor playing Shan (Tutor) could fit perfectly into a wuxia/xianxia....The writers' group is writing a typical wuxia danmei using every known trope and it is quite hilarious how they do it! 

The only  problem I have is that all the actors look alike: I have never had so much trouble distinguishing actors like I do  here! Maybe because I was not really paying attention....

TOO MUCH LIPSTICK ON THESE DUDES!!! Stop with that! Who still thinks that it looks good?

The drama was a surprisingly good watch even though the plot was paper thin and overstretched and the last episodes were borderline soft porn i.e. nothing happans just different couples making out. Nevertheless, it was sweet,cute and fun! 5/12/24

In the beginning, the FL seemed such a strong woman, not worried about social conventions but she is determined to think the worst of the ML an actor whose conversation she overheard and misunderstood. She is prejudiced and not even thinking of giving him the benefit of the doubt. He, on the other hand, does not hold women in high esteem: probably a bad experience! Match made in heaven?

Halfway through the drama she realizes her mistake but still thinks he is a misogynistic pig and wants to take him down a notch. The more I watch her, the less I like her!

And the actor (both real and fictional), can he please stop speaking english randomly: we get it, you are fluent but it brings nothing to the character it just sounds pretentious!

So once all the misunderstandings had been cleared and they finally started dating for real, her "bad" reputation ruined everything! This korean society on internet spewing hate and wanting stars to be beyond reproach is the main reason behind many suicides. But do they care?

Finally it was a fun ride though not as interesting as I hoped it would be. We barely see her work as a lawyer: the whole drama is just a romcom where she just happens to be a lawyer. 13/12/24

A very bad start : stalking, hero worship and adoration are toxic and unhealthy and are not my thing especially when they are so pathetically done, when there is desperation to it. If only the stalker was cute but not even that: he just looks like a sad looser! The situation is toxic but they have zero chemistry so I cannot even enjoy that! But this being a BL everything is to be considered fluffy and cute.

In ep 3, the stalking continues and he needs to buy some hiking clothes so he goes to Takara's favourite general store (Takara must have a crush on the owner) and there is a single rack of clothes with about 10 items on it and he does not know what to choose. A bit of realism please, at least when the accessories are concerned. Don't start me on the stalker's uncombed bed hair!

So they are supposed to be falling for each other but there is still absolutely no chemistry or any form of attraction visible. Moreover, the treasure guy is more than a country bumpkin: he must have grown up all by himself in a cave without electricity because so much ignorance at his age is not possible ("can two men get together? Really?")!

I am trying really hard to find something good about this! Maybe scenery during their hiking trips. And Iwase Yoji's looks. And...nothing more! 

This is probably one of the worst dramas I have ever finished. Truth be told I had dropped it after one episode but accepted to finish it for a challenge only to realize that my first impressions were correct! 10:12:24

This could have been a drama: there are enough interesting characters in this film to make it a viable idea. Fortunately, it is only a film since it deals with the frequently met topic of corruption between the politicians and chaebols who all consider themselves to be above the law, who control the police, the military and the NIS and who have no respect for anyone else's life but their own. 

It connects somehow with recent events in SK where a rotten president did  everything to cover up his rotten self.

The topic is therefore repetitive and eventually boring. But the main actors did the heavy lifting and that is what raises this film above the average though just about. A good single watch. 8/12/24

Great story, amazing chemistry, cute actors who can actually kiss....and the awful vertical format! Story: a romance between an idol turning actor and his stunt double/instructor. A classic but a very well though out plotline. If it were not for the format....07/12/24

A cold, practical, ambitious and inexperienced man is swept off his feet by a con artist. Apparently, after two episodes....and I do not like the power imbalance being set up! The lawyer is under the spell and his imagination is running wild: he is so sexually frustrated! Ripe to be manipulated by a pretty, happy-go-lucky, smart conman. I hope I am seeing this wrong because it is really making me uncomfortable (ep.4). They keep pointing out the striking differences between the two men: while the lawyer is straight laced, psychorigid and closed off whose only quirk is talking to his collection of cacti; the conman is the complete opposite, flamboyant, funny and warm....On the surface, yes but are they like this really? The lawyer is thawing faster than a snowman on a beach in Hawaii...

So after they finally get together and everything is hanky dory, what was the point of turning a BL romance into a courtroom drama? Such an unnecessary change of pace. And, of course they break up or almost, because of the lack of communication: Haruto never says anything about himself, he just smiles!

Final verdict: bad! A BL which suddenly turns into a corruption/courtroom drama, with the bad guys down but not out and promising revenge. 07/12/24

Well, the director's style has not changed: slow burn, slow motion, long scenes where banalities happen (walking around filling a handbag!), noona romance, decent chemistry, red umbrella scene and a social commentary (education state and private). No, not my cup of tea. Dropped after ep 1. 01/12/24

Femme fatale, mysterious deaths, narrator tells the story while dying..looks like one of those old US noir films. I like the beginning!

Halfway through and I fail to see what makes this woman so irresistible to men: these two investigators are obsessing over her. She's not particularly pretty but there is that air of sadness and unapproachability that could make her fascinating. Moreover, it is starting to drag seriously!

Finally over: interesting premise and suspense held until the very last moment, so well done! But the draggy middle part and the unnecessary overuse of western songs made this a bit of a letdown. What's with Japan and using too much too well known western music? Maybe it is not as known in Japan? Because it is very distracting for me! 01/12/24

In the era of mobile communication, misunderstandings and the lack of efficient communication are growing. It is as if people had forgotten how to talk to each other sincerely, afraid of the other person's reaction so they jump to conclusions and what could have happened, never does! The things started moving in the right direction when everyone finally started talking and eventually everything was sorted out and everyone got their happy ending!

This short webdrama was such a cute watch, trope filled but this childhood friends to lovers was extremely well presented. 28/11/24

NB Apparently the main actor is currently in prison for sex & drugs related crimes. What I find shocking are the users wishing him, and everyone who supports him, death! Don't you think that living and paying for your crimes all your life (ruined life, ruined career etc.) is a worse punishment than dying?

I was hyped when I saw this film (a random rec by KA) but then my enthusiasm vanished when I saw the new actress: she is definitely not as good as the original drama one. She is excited and rambles a lot like a child while the drama heroin was dignified, calm and competent. DROPPED 27/11/24

So far all I can see is too much make up.....

Still too much make up....So, we are going to watch two actors playing the same roles (typical strong willed seme and typical soft uke!) in different settings, fall in love over and over again?    The upside is that it is not going to take 12 episodes every time! Initially interesting concept has been left undeveloped: what makes every universe different, apart from our leads' jobs? Nothing! They should have sold this as the two actors' showcase drama in which they prove to us they can play "different " roles! It is a bit like My Universe series just with the same main actors.

Well, there are no parallel universes or any other high concept like this! The last two episodes set the story straight: this is a drama about BL actors filming their latest BL film and previous episodes were just their previous films. As much as I liked this turn of events, the whole concept turned to be a toxic and instead of showing actors as individuals separated from their roles, the writer leaned into this unhealthy shipping habits. The two actors met while filming their first movie and they fell in love. Just like the big part of teen fujoshis imagines things to happen in real life.

I don't really know how to rate this: I liked some stories but I prefered the last one which seemed the most "real" while the others were the ordinary BLs. But I did not like the lack of criticism of this shipping habit.  And there was definitely too much make up on Top's face making him look too pretty and too artificial. Moreover, don't start me on his "I'm an artist!" hairstyle in the second half of the drama. Original but undercooked! With far too much make up! 26/11/24

The drama is a perfect slice of life kind of drama but I am still split about it. The guy with the house is someone amazing and that is what is annoying. He is kind a bit of a busybody and I cannot believe such people exist: this is such a typical j drama thing. The other thing that is rage inducing is the cultural aspect of japanese society and how they treat people who are outside the set rules: orphans, widowers, women. The saddest thing is the lack of connection in a blood family: kids are abandoned by their next of  kin who find looking after them too tiring. The kids are supposed to stay quiet and be eternally grateful...

Another issue I have with j dramas in general is the overuse of western music (pop and classical) and even the music here is half-half: there is one j song and the background music but even that sounds like Enya! And that irish sounding flute music is seriously tugging at heartstrings!

Each person's life changes for the better once they start living together and it is such an optimistic and uplifting view ....I only wish it were true! Maybe it is somewhere!

Finally, I am still not certain what to think about this drama. It is an utopian world view, too optimistic to be true. I could not get over the fact that their scandalous cohabitation was dismissed so quickly: three day wonder and then on to the next scandal. I was also expecting social services to get involved because of three minors living with them. The scandal itself was brought forward by society's refusal to understand thinking outside the box.

This was a healing drama, even a bit too healing so much so it can be called fantasy. It made me feel all kinds of feelings and mostly envy, eventually since I will never get to know or have such a loving family. Does anyone? 25/11/24

One of the tamest Wayu films productions about two highschool kids: one is a teen with skin problems  (i.e. not handsome enough for the general population and therefore rejected) and the other is a confident straight guy who fall for him after an accidental kiss/fall.

In order to be accepted by others, you must first love yourself. The main topic is acceptance. The main characters' names give you the title: Mek & Up! Cute!

What's with Asia and and the utmost importance of beauty?

Messy storyline: could have been better had it been clearer. You really have to pay attention to every detail and that is tiring! There are some quick time jumps, a depressed writer, an accusation of plagiarism and the trip to Taiwan where he goes on a road trip with a happy go lucky gangsterish guy. They bond and even accidentally kiss and then the writer goes back to HK only to find out three years later that his happy go lucky guide is dead. Then he finds out they had corresponded with each other while living in different time periods through a magic mailbox. So the writer sends again numerous letters to his young pen pal to stop him from dying which changes timeline completely.

This is a time travel movie and as such does not stand to scrutiny because the logic is somehow missing. But we do have, I guess, the butterfly effect because of additional letters sent.

The scenery is pretty even though the storytelling could have been better. Why are there balloons in the title? The only balloon in the film was a whale shaped balloon the writer got at the fireworks festival....23/11/24

A short gay film by a "brave" chinese student at an american university. Just a story about a man, a writer, coming to terms with his attraction to men inspired by history: a chinese emperor loved his "friend" so much that when he fell asleep on his sleeve,the emperor preferred cutting the sleeve instead of disturbing his lover's sleep. The film takes place during a ghost night and the emperor's ghost posses the writer to make see the beauty of attraction.

Pretty but bad!23/11/24

Straight to the point, no time wasted though they manage to throw in a few flashbacks anyway! I get it why the people today prefer short tiktok format: no time wasted on filler plots and empty talk like the "normal" drama when the writers run out of ideas!

The plot is simple: a salaryman meets a yakuza and they fall for each other. The salaryman's boss makes a move on him, yakuza protects him and happily ever after sealed with a fish kiss. 

The actor who plays yakuza is hot! Aaaahhh, those bad boys with a heart of gold....23/11/24

I love the concept of authors finding themselves as characters of their books. The characters here are a support couple from a drama I dropped who were given a chance to shine. But it is messy and they are going a bit overboard with the concept: having one actor play every male role in the novel world.

Finally, it was cute and they have great chemistry.

Another rewatch! And another childhood friends to lovers story! /I remember being shocked /at the jerk off scene in the first episode (the guy is shameless...LOL) thinking Boundaries! but sometimes the shock therapy works wonders! And here's the perfect example!

The salaryman seems to be so emotionally stunted by the workplace harassment (not even realizing he's been harassed!) that he does not ask about the cook's life at all! Or anybody else's for that matter. He just toils away day after day convinced he has no choice. Kai is here to wake him up. Gently and persistently! Making Hiro fall for him hook line and sinker before even realizing it! This was a sweet watch! Their relationship was gentle and in such contrast with the workplace that it stood out even more! Even the music was gentle...19/11/24

And another JBL rewatch! I don't remember much about this one....

Rekindling first love! This is so cute and lovely but not sugary: they managed to strike the perfect balance between the serious and fluffy. There are three stories mashed up into one: the first love tale, the reunion and an office harassment drama and each was given enough time to develop.

The actors are excellent: the one playing Kazume seems soft and submissive but is actually taller and assertive, while Ren looks taller due to his self-confidence but is actually shorter and slimmer. I like how they went against the BL clichés here. But, unfortunately, they decided to keep the 2nd worst cliché of all: noble idiocy or I break up with you for your own good! Then they just went on adding "gay for you only" and "no communication" in the last couple of episodes. Overall, it reminded me a lot of SITR just less toxic....

Rough and dark: evidently a lgbt film not a BL. It deals with crime, prostitution, abuse: the world is merciless for the poor. Light is so used to abuse that he is finding it hard to believe in someone's kindness and love. There is the push and pull between the two men until Light finally manages to trust the policeman.

Beautifully filmed and acted, it is nevertheless, very hard to watch (reminds me of HOTE: same vibes) but it fortunately ends on a hopeful optimistic note. Light is going to be saved from the depth of despair!

This looks fun! I just hope they are going to stop screaming sooner rather than later: it is getting to be very annoying. One original aspect though, they do not go ghost hunting in the middle of the night, as per the usual trope! For once, there is no awkward romance between the characters played by New and Tey but just an ordinary bromance, a strong friendship and it is so touching to see.

This turned out to be a good watch, nothing too demanding but fun! New has a great comic timing and these kinds of dramas are perfect for him. Both New and Tay look so young: who'd believe that they are over 30?!?!

As for the plot: ghost hunting was well done and each case was investigated in order to offer a solution. The saddest story was the gay dancers' one. Why did they have to make ghosts so green and  rotting? They were not scary just ugly.... And the final ^mystery involving Home's family was not a surprise. Don't you just love when the bad guys on the cusp of victory start blabbering about how great and smart they are and therefore bring themselves down by wasting time?

This webdrama comes from the creators of the last korean BL I actually really liked Fake Buddies. So I am optimistic about this one too!

But the beginning looks more like office harassment than a seduction game: the boss is making remarks laden with innuendo, very uncomfortable for the office worker. When he eventually offers a hand in friendship, the boss latches onto him and does not want to leave him in peace, going overboard!

"I'm always attracting jerks!" says the office worker to his boss who wants to date him. So true and the boss does not even pick up on that. One thing baffles me: how can you pass office harassment by the boss (hierarchy!!) as a romance? Another point: apparently there is no possibility of romance in SK without drinking substantial quantities of alcohol or a regular basis...talking and getting to know each other is boring!

 The actor playing the boss looks sleazy and more like a bad guy from a melodrama. The other actor is very cute, has beautiful eyes and too much lipstick on his lips. 

What a disappointment this turned out to be! I would have dropped it had it not been so short! 16/11/24

Another JBL rewatch! I'm am going through a little slump brought on by the realization of my many many flaws  which make me a very unlikeable person!

This BL, on the other hand, is off at the good start: the characters are unclear and their actions questionable. A serious salaryman and an artist who is not, break up but when the artist forgets about the salaryman after and accident, the salaryman takes the opportunity for a do-over. While trying to rekindle the flames of their romance, the salaryman starts making the same mistakes that brought on the break-up in the first place. But this time, will he have learned from his past mistakes.... The selective amnesia plot is rather original: the artist forgets only his ex and everything in connection with him.

The only flaw is with editing flashbacks: sometimes it is difficult to say whether the events are past, present or the wishful thinking!

In conclusion: this is a drama for grown ups and all the better for it! 15/11/24

The beginning of this mini taiwanese drama is giving me feelings of foreboding and I hope I'm wrong but as it deals with weak hearts, sports and overbearing mother, I am not sure....

Finally, everything turned out nice. And mercifully short! Full of tropes and eventually only nice guys. Sweet short watch....15/11/24

Another JBL rewatch. I must be a masochist to like these unhealthy stories but I find it oddly comforting and soothing. The love story between two idiots who do not know how to talk to each other until they are forced to do it by the turn of events. They do not know either, what they are feeling and how to express those scary emotions so they just plough forward hoping to hit it right.

And even though the drama is full of clichés and nothing is fundamentally resolved by the end, there is a sense of the approaching understanding in the air and that's all that's needed!15/11/24

Still cute! Another rewatch! While the pushy author is not very likeable, his sad puppy eyes when he's sick break even the hardest of hearts. And even though the undecided editor looks weak, he is far from that, not letting the assistant get to him. He was traumatized by his high school love story and now he's dealing with the writer's renewed interest as an adult which is a nice change from the usual feeble ukes in bls!

Unfortunately they had to include some family drama which, in spite of clearing up some points from the past, was too superficial and therefore somewhat unnecessary. But without it, this drama was only 4 episodes long so...

Still, a very nice and adult watch...14/11/24

Rewatch. Seems better the second time around! But not so much! There is something really missing between them: chemistry, connection...One is assertive and pushy but gentle while the other one is so set in his ways that he refuses to see what's right in front of him.  The older actor is miscast.

The age gap romance is interesting and the way the younger guy gently manages to shake the older one from his stupor, is rather cute. That said, somehow they do not fit together, everything feels off.

Deserts seemed yummy but, for once, there is no food porn so full marks for that. Yes they enjoy cooking and eating but that is not their main point. 12/11/24

So the cross dressing ML is supposed to be cute? He's not: he looks bigger and older than other boys and even the new teacher seems younger. The long hair just makes him look scary! Beside that, the other boys show usual macho bully behaviour because they are afraid when faced with someone who is different.

But the kind teacher turns out to be a sleazy creep while the bullies are just confused young men. Eventually the boys connect and it is so sweet and innocent and clumsy...still the dead fish kisses are unchanging unfortunately. The actor playing the cross dressing boy is terribly miscast: a very bad actor!

It is also a story of a little town's busybodies, about acceptance or not, about love! The last episode was sad and realistic, showing the compromises people do to be able to be themselves in order to live within a family or a community .

I loved the misspelled words in boys' bentos. Excellent drama. 11/11/24

Comic book like fantasy drama. The FL is cool but the actress is not my favourite. Spider like Bael from Hell? Extremely ridiculous! There was no need to go to those lengths to make him scary: he is not! The main actor is cute but looks much younger than the actress.

The main subplot about a demon's quest for immortality? Aren't they already immortal especially Satan? Ridiculous premise...but this is fantasy so nitpicking is silly! But of course, we have a chaebol heir with daddy issues gone evil...And finally, a dead fish kiss filmed from a helicopter: the park is gorgeous, the kiss? I don't know! The second one in the lase episode was more passionate!

As for the main plot,the judge meting out punishment on unrepentant criminals: well that was bloody and fun. The romance was bland and unnecessary: they should have stayed friends. The church is omnipresent: cinematography and the crosses made of light are nothing new. Music: fake Gregorian chants. The Hell: Dante's Inferno. 

Fun single watch: though i spent some time reading a book while watching couple of last episodes. 11/11/24