My Day (2020): A Messy Yet Popular Pinoy BL Series

“My Day” isn’t for everyone. There are those who hate the series and there are those who like it. It was campy, it was farcical. Actually, it was a mess. And yet, because of the exciting chemistry between the lead actors and the exquisite kissing and making love scenes, “My Day” has become one of the most popular Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series worldwide.

“My Day” had a formulaic plot/storyline revolving around the love story of Sky, a determined culinary arts intern and his demanding food company boss named Ace. The overused enemies to lovers trope, rich and poor/middle class characters falling in love with each other trope, and Freudian excuse trope were employed on this series. “My Day” tried to show how the two boys struggled with and triumphed over personal and relational challenges. Ace had his daddy and mommy issues while Sky had his gender identity and sexual orientation questions. But among the many problems of this series were depictions of crude characterizations and ludicrously improbable situations. There were stereotypical portrayals of a bitchy (ex-)girlfriend and comic relief effeminate gays. Other than the sexist explanation that she’s a bitch, no character background was provided to help explain Moira’s criminal behavior. As for the gays, the issue was that they were limited to being a comic relief without character depth. An example of an unconvincing situation was the entire dognapping fiasco which was ridiculous and silly. There were abrupt character changes and illogical character developments. These were especially true for Ace, Ace’s father, Sky’s bully classmates, Moira, etc. There were no proper build-ups. Relationship developments, including those of Ace and Sky, Ace and his father, Ace and his mother, Sky and his father, etc., were also rushed.

Screenplay had cringy, long, repetitive, and unrealistic lines. There were also some objectionable dialogues (e.g. Jelai flirting with Jam that bordered on sexual harassment, Jelai castigating Marianne for wearing short skirt, etc.). But I do commend “My Day” for showcasing Filipino languages other than the Filipino Tagalog language.

Acting was generally uneven. There were supporting cast members who were good but there were those who were horrendous. While there were scenes wherein Aki and Miko were ok, there were also scenes wherein they made unnatural vocal, physical, and emotional acting choices. They need to work on their vocal intonations and facial expressions. There were too much shouting and ugly crying. They were often betrayed by the lack of authentic emotions from their eyes. But since they’re still newbies in acting, these shortcomings were understandable. And besides, their exciting chemistry compensated for these weaknesses. They didn’t have good dramatic scenes together but they did have great romantic, sexy, and steamy scenes together. The kissing and making love scenes of these handsome lead actors were hot and sexy. I liked that they’re normalizing guys kissing and making love intensely and passionately in Pinoy BL series.

Budget-wise, “My Day” was almost akin to Filipino drama series (teleserye) and Thai BL series. A lot of expensive-looking set designs, numerous product placements, and the long list of people in the post-credits illustrated just how well-funded this series was. Production design was largely ok. Set designs during the premiere and Ace’s birthday were quite good. But there were also some missteps. The set designs for the supposedly prestigious international cake competition looked cheap. And production design during the finale was just average. Although simple techniques were used, cinematography was mostly decent. Editing was uneven. The soundtracks especially “Hindi Ako Bibitaw” (I Will Not Let Go) by Paul Ramirez were ok.

All in all, I would only recommend “My Day” to those who love exciting chemistry between the lead actors as well as exquisite kissing and making love scenes, who don’t mind if overall, the series is a (hot and sexy) mess.

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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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Quaranthings: The Series (2020): An Underrated Top-Tier Pinoy BL Series

“Quaranthings: The Series” deserves a higher rating than its current My Drama List (MDL) rating. It’s definitely underrated. In eight episodes, it has consistently proven that it’s a top-tier Filipino (Pinoy) boys' love (BL) series.

In terms of plot/storyline, “Quaranthings: The Series” never lost track of what it's all about throughout its entire run. It’s about two boys from different class, economic, and educational backgrounds who developed love for each other while on community quarantine because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal and social contexts were clear with real-life issues like gender identities and sexual orientations, family relationships, economic difficulties, and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Class and gender, and to a certain extent, even religious consciousness were explicit on this series. Character background and character development for flawed characters Judah and Rocky were solid. Pace was terrific. Each episode contributed to the unfolding of the plot/storyline. And there weren’t any dull moments from this series. I did have some issues with some of the scenes (e.g. drunk sex scene) but all in all, I enjoyed most of the scenes. Most of the loose ends with regard to Judah's grandmother and mother, Rocky’s father and family, Kyo’s relationship with Glenn, and Kyo and Rocky’s relationship were resolved. Even with all the emotional rollercoasters throughout its season, in the end, we did get our happy ending!

Screenplay was relatable and well-balanced with enough cute, funny, and naughty lines and with sufficient dramatic and socially sensitive dialogues. There were relevant political commentaries as well. Highlighting its social consciousness, it had non-preachy socially sensible lines about being poor (“It's hard to be poor in this country;” “It’s easier to be true to yourself when you don’t have to worry about money;” “When you’re poor like us, there are so many limitations. There’s so much internal conflict”), homophobia (“Do you have some type of internalized homophobia?;” “Homophobia is so outdated”), sexual harassment (“I hate people who sexually harass others”), religious gay conversion therapy (“She was planning to send me to some Christian conversion retreat like I’m some sin that can be prayed away”), being gay (“Dad, remember when I said there’s someone very important to me? This is him, Dad. This is Judah. Dad, I’m gay”), etc.

Acting was generally natural especially the performance of Royce, who’s a magnificent specimen of a man -- really handsome and sexy! Royce never overacts. Everything’s just right with his acting. Kyo, a cute newbie, was alright especially in portraying an unapologetically queer character. He was on point in a lot of scenes but he was also flat in a few scenes. But he did improve a lot and towards the end of this series, he had very strong dramatic performances. Both Kyo and Royce made me shed lots of tears. They had good chemistry together. I relished the banter between them and I loved their intimate moments. The sex scene was tastefully done but I would have preferred less camera tricks on the kissing during that sex scene. The kiss during the finale was a bit tamed but it was sincere and heartwarming. The supporting cast members especially Karl and Jan were fine.

Production design, camera work, and editing were done using simple techniques but were executed cleanly. I love that there's an Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez photo, Martin Luther King Jr. quote, and Thai BL series posters. I'm actually impressed with how they're able to make do with their limited budget. I’m still intrigued by the meanings of those phallus-depicting paintings in the living room though. Audio was uneven. I love Karl’s rendition of the soundtrack “Sansinukuban” (My Universe) and it was perfectly incorporated on the episodes throughout this season. The soundtrack “Ipu-Ipo” (Whirlwind) performed by Kyo also sounded good.

Overall, I would certainly recommend rewatching “Quaranthings: The Series.” With its solid plot/storyline, largely natural acting performance, and mostly clean production, it’s quite underrated. It’s a top-tier Pinoy BL series and I hope it gets appreciated for how excellent it really is.

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Hello Stranger (2020): A Top-Tier Pinoy BL Series

At least 35 Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series have been announced for 2020. Three Pinoy BL series are “completed” (“Sakristan,” “Truly Very Your,” and “Hello Stranger”) while ten other series are currently “airing” (“Gameboys,” “In Between,” “Kumusta Bro?,” “Even After,” “Hook Up,” “Amore,” “My Day,” "Unexpected," “Safe Haven,” and “Oh My Sexual”). I watch and review all these series. Not all of these series are good but fortunately we have the likes of “Hello Stranger” which can be considered a top-tier Pinoy BL series. It’s not the best (“Gameboys” is still better) and it’s not perfect but it’s an excellent Pinoy BL series especially if you want to be entertained and feel romantic excitement.

“Hello Stranger” had a simple plot/storyline about self-discovery, friendship, and finding love in a time of quarantine and lockdown. Friendship among the Young Padawans was highlighted which is probably what I liked most about this series. Interestingly, this series didn’t delve deeper into the characters’ relationship with their families which is usually a staple for a Pinoy series. While the overused enemies to lovers trope was employed, the context of the new normal brought something new to this series. But don't expect this series to confront larger societal issues related to identity politics and the pandemic though because this isn’t that type of Pinoy BL series (you can watch “Gameboys” instead for that). Even then, reference to the Stonewall riots (1969) is highly appreciated.

While there were a few corny and long lines here and there, the screenplay for the entire series was generally relatable. Featuring, interpreting, and dramatizing Benilda S. Santos' poem "Sa Kasintahang Nilimot Na" (For the Already Forgotten Lover) was also a nice touch.

Everyone in the cast, from the lead to the support cast can act, not particularly outstanding, but they're all good actors. Some of them, most noticeably Tony (undoubtedly the most popular Filipino actor to venture into Pinoy BL series), were underwhelming at times but Tony did have moments to shine especially in the finale. JC had the most improvement in acting throughout this series owing to the fact that Mico had the best character development. XavMi chemistry was ok in the end. All the male actors -- Tony, JC, Patrick, and Migs, are distractingly handsome and sexy. I super love Junjun! I would have wanted more for the female characters on this series especially Crystal but we take what we can get. At least their characterizations weren’t toxic. And Miss Tina Moran was definitely the mood!

Compared with other Pinoy BL series, “Hello Stranger” had the biggest budget and this showed in terms of the quality of production. Production design and camera work were generally very good. I had some issues with the pace and editing of the first few episodes but they eventually improved. The soundtrack "Kahit na Anong Sabihin ng Iba" (Regardless What Other People Say) performed by Seth Fedelin was also good. I also liked all the scenes wherein Tony sang. XavMi confessing each other's feelings by finishing each other's lines in a song and singing together during the finale was cheesy but was really romantic and sweet.

In summary, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Hello Stranger.” If you’re looking for a Pinoy BL series with a simple plot/storyline executed very well with good performance and production, “Hello Stranger” is the perfect series for you. And watch out for “Hello Stranger The Movie”! Maybe in the movie, we’ll get more than the very tamed pinky swear and hugs we got from the finale -- fingers crossed!

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In Between (2020): Betwixt the Great and Not-So-Great Pinoy BL Series

True to its title, in terms of overall quality, “In Between” is just below the great Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series (like “Gameboys” and “Hello Stranger”) and just above the not-so-great Pinoy BL series. In other words, it’s a middle-tier Pinoy BL series. There were lots of things to like about "In Between" but there were also few things not like about this series.

“In Between” had a promising plot/storyline that looked at what’s in between hellos and goodbyes in relationships (“Hello and goodbye are not important. What’s important is the in between...”). It’s not in the extremes of relationships where we find the meanings of friendship and love, it’s more on the everyday events of these relationships. Using a nonlinear narrative that traversed different times, the series was able to show the character backgrounds and relationship development of Tau and Otep. It also presented the solid friendship among the Boom Harots. And it also introduced the Pangs ship of Nin and Makisig. I would have wanted to know more about the female characters Bianx and Nicole but at least this series' portrayal of women weren’t toxic. My issues with this series were the fillers (particularly the long and repetitive recaps) and the slow pace. While I liked the snippets from the past, there were just too many flashbacks that didn’t quite allow the audience to piece everything together on their own. But along the way, I’ve learned to tolerate all these issues.

While “In Between” had cheesy and preachy lines, the screenplay for the entire series was generally relatable. There were problematic dialogues that exemplified internalized homophobia and queerness denial as exemplified by Tau’s response to Nin when the latter said “I cannot believe that you actually like boys,” to which Tau said, “Not exactly. It’s just Otep. Otep is different.” I was also uncomfortable with what appeared to be heteronormative roles in Tau and Otep’s relationship. But there were also powerful lines from Otep’s mother Sandra (“Love is a complex thing. And we are allowed to love who we want to love”), Tau (“If they will judge us, then let them. What’s important is we are not hurting anyone”), and Nicole (“Remember, there is no problem in loving... What’s wrong is people’s dirty minds. We are very proud of you... We will support you all the way”). And of course, the Pangs dialogues were always cute and funny.

In terms of acting, everyone in the cast performed well. Most of them (Migs, Shiara, Renshi, Lara, and Ron) have acting experience. The newbies (Genesis, Lance, and Kimson) were alright. The main couple, Tau and Otep and the side couple, Nin and Makisig had chemistry together. The Tau and Otep kissing scenes were sweet and tender. Both Migs and Genesis looked sexy in their own way while Renshi and Lance looked adorable. While Tau and Otep were the sexy pair, Pangs were the cute pair.

While I didn’t like the editing because of the fillers and slow pace, production design and cinematography were largely satisfactory. The resort scenic view was amazing. Experiencing the effects of the pandemic, there’s something about the beautiful outdoors that calms me. Somehow, it tells me that things will get better. The resort scenic view was indeed a wonderful setting for the season finale. The consistent use of the Pinoy indigenous script Baybayin all throughout the season was really nice. Migs singing the soundtrack “Mahal Kita, Paalam” (I Love You, Goodbye) was good. While this account, Pinoy BL Series, never asked to be acknowledged and this account will continue to do what it does even without acknowledgement, Pinoy BL Series is nevertheless grateful to “In Between” for always acknowledging this account on their post-credits.

On the whole, I would definitely recommend rewatching “In Between.” It’s a middle-tier Pinoy BL series with lots of things viewers can like. With that, I'm looking forward to the Pangs spin-off series and the “In Between” second season!

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Boys’ Lockdown (2020): A Super Cute Pinoy BL Series

“Boys’ Lockdown” was a super cute Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. It’s charming and endearing. It isn’t pretentious. It’s made to provide its audience joy and romantic excitement by depicting two innocent and good-looking leads falling in love against all odds.

Like most Pinoy BL series, “Boys’ Lockdown” was also contextualized during the Philippines’ enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plot/storyline was simple -- a chance meeting between two boys who eventually fell in love with each other even with all the environmental, psychological, societal, and even technological challenges thrown at them. While its plot/storyline was straightforward, “Boys’ Lockdown” didn’t lack political substance. It had subtle digs about the government’s handling of the Philippines’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wifi network names such as NeverAgain, NasaanAngPlano (Where’sThePlan), and DefendPressFreedom somehow revealed its politics. And with the long, natural-looking, and wonderful kiss at the end, even with due considerations for personal safety measures, “Boys’ Lockdown” was also defiant.

There were a few cheesy dialogues here and there but the screenplay was generally natural and realistic -- at least for middle to upper class Pinoys. I would have preferred less coño talk (that of middle to upper class Pinoy who speaks Taglish -- a combination of the English and Filipino Tagalog languages -- in a fussy way) but I can live with it. Pinoy coños need representations too, lol. There were cute lines (“Bump me once, shame on you, but bump me twice, it’s a sign!”), defiant lines (“I felt like I was giving the coronavirus a big middle finger in its giant ugly face because I won.”), and dramatic lines (“This stupid pandemic! This fucking lockdown! Everything feels a thousand times harder…”).

The entire cast delivered with their acting -- not particularly outstanding, but largely alright. Both Ali and Alec were adorable and fit their roles perfectly. Both were really charming and endearing. Ali and Alec had good chemistry together. Teetin was at her best during the dramatic scenes. All the supporting cast members are gorgeous. Crystal and Teetin are beautiful. Carlo, Ivoy, and Luis are hot. I still don’t know why Dicky and Whilce kept taking off their shirts but I have no complaints, lol! And Laksa, who needs more screen time, was lovable!

“Boys’ Lockdown” was also pretty solid in terms of the quality of production. Audio-visuals were cool and clean. Cinematography was neat and nice. Editing was precise. The soundtrack “Home” by Reese Lansangan was also ok.

On the whole, I would certainly recommend rewatching “Boys’ Lockdown.” It’s a super cute Pinoy BL series made to provide its viewers joy and romantic excitement. I’m glad it will have a second season which I’m so looking forward to next year.

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Gaya Sa Pelikula (2020): A Romantic Pinoy BL Series Par Excellence

I consider “Gaya Sa Pelikula” a romantic Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series par excellence that paid homage not only to Pinoy dramatic and romantic comedy (romcom) movies and our most popular love teams but also to Thai BL series. Posters and scenes were adapted from Pinoy dramatic and romcom movies such as “All of You,” “A Very Special Love,” “Don’t Give Up on Us,” “Filipinas,” “Got 2 Believe,” “Hintayan ng Langit,” “LSS,” “One More Chance,” “Sana Maulit Muli,” “She’s Dating the Gangster,” etc. There were also appropriations of Thai BL series “Theory of Love” movie poster series as well as acknowledgements of OffGun and TayNew on the “Gaya Sa Pelikula” post-credits. Some say that there were too many dramatic and romcom clichés and BL tropes (like the fake/pretend relationship trope), but hey, who cares, they really worked on this series!

Even with all the clichés and tropes, “Gaya Sa Pelikula” still managed to look fresh because of the well-developed multi-dimensional characters it created. Even with their conflicting views on genders, sexualities, and relationships, both Karl and Vlad were relatable. While Karl's not ready to come out yet, Vlad’s out and proud. I’ve known a lot of Karls and Vlads in my life so I really found them realistic. Ate (Older Sister) Judit, Anna, and Tito (Uncle) Santi were not simply intervening side characters (who definitely meddled out of love, whether we agree with them or not) but relevant players with depth. Being generally a slow burn, “Gaya Sa Pelikula” felt dragging at times but because of strong characterizations, episodes always ended strong.

There were corny dialogues and monologues here and there but they were negligible given the mostly excellent screenwriting. I can understand why others think some lines were preachy but they were powerful messages nevertheless. Screenplay, with its English and Taglish sentences, was generally natural -- at least for middle to upper class Pinoys. Overall, I think the script was largely impeccable.

The strong screenplay actually aided the acting of the lead actors, Ian and Paolo. While there’s always room for improvement (Ian needs to enunciate better and Paolo needs to avoid exaggerated movements), for newbie actors, they did pretty well. For sure, both Ian and Paolo were far better than the newbie actors of other Pinoy BL series! They have outstanding chemistry together and both are very good-looking! As for the supporting cast members of “Gaya Sa Pelikula,” Adrienne and Yesh were great while Franco was ok.

Minus some dark lighting and grainy camera shots, audio-visuals were quite satisfactory with very clear intentions. Every graphic, every item, every shot, etc. seemed to have clear purpose. The soundtracks, while mostly not originally made for the series, were nonetheless perfect for the scenes. The original soundtrack, “Kilometro Zero” by Juan Miguel and performed by Ian, was of course, my favorite among the soundtracks.

In summary, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Gaya Sa Pelikula,” a romantic Pinoy BL series par excellence. Even if you’re not satisfied with its finale, you should rewatch it because it’s a terrific set-up for the second season. Given Juan Miguel’s wonderful Wattpad story about Karl and Vlad, which was said to be the basis for the sequel, Season 2 promises to be even better than Season 1.

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Sakristan (2020): All Bark But Not Much Bite

I can understand why a number of my My Drama List (MDL) and Twitter contacts wanted me to stop watching “Sakristan.” Their opinions about the controversial director Darryl Yap [accused of sexual exploitation of children, perpetuating misconceptions about rape, and shading other Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series, among others] are valid and I respect their principled position to boycott this series. But I really felt bad for the efforts given by the actors, so I wanted to judge this series based on its artistic merits. It wouldn’t be fair if I dismiss the series outright without even watching it.

Unfortunately, in terms of artistry, “Sakristan” was found wanting. While I admired Sakristan's efforts to confront the Philippine Catholic Church’s bigotry and hypocrisy on the issue of gays within its community, such plot/storyline did not really move forward on this series. Indeed, it was all bark but not much bite. The entire series was also replete with gender and sexual stereotypes that don’t advance lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-queer+ (LGBTQ+) representation. Not even the introduction of Christian's gay father and the tokenistic opening reminder (LGBT) can hide the series’ superficial understanding of the day-to-day issues confronted by the LGBTQ+ community in the Philippines.

A lot of times, screenplay was corny and cringy. It was also soapy (akin to soap operas) for most of the series. There were awkward dialogues intended as jokes that weren't really funny. There were also lines that were a bit long and preachy. I would argue that the best scenes from this series were those without dialogues and with only the soundtracks and the sceneries. By and large, cinematography blended pretty well with the soundtracks.

While the acting performance of both lead actors and the chemistry between them improved throughout the series, Clifford and Henry, fell victims to the lack of proper acting direction. The VinCentiments style of acting failed to grasp the difference between stage and screen acting. Because of the perspective and proximity of the audience, acting on stage on the whole is bigger and exaggerated to be able to reach the people at the very back of the theatre. This means making vocal, physical, and emotional choices in acting that are oftentimes unnatural and unrealistic. The problem with the VinCentiments style of acting, it's as if the actors were still on stage! The lead actors and especially the support actors were overacting most of the time. It’s not as though the actors don’t have potential, they do, but since they weren’t given suitable acting direction, their style of acting always looked bad on screen. It's a pity because I really liked Clifford and Henry on this series. They may not be as good-looking compared to the lead actors of other Pinoy BL series but they have Pinoy features and vibes that I genuinely appreciate. Clifford was sexy and a sight for sore eyes and his intimate scenes with Henry, mostly without dialogues, were generally done tastefully.

Production design and editing were up and down throughout the series while the music (especially the soundtracks) was consistently good.

All in all, I would only recommend “Sakristan” for posterity, for those who are interested in watching one of the pioneers of Pinoy BL series, mindful of course of the fact that there are much better representations of the genre, namely, “Gameboys” and “Hello Stranger.”

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Why Love Why (2020): A Satirical Pinoy BL Series

“Why Love Why” was a satirical Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. There were lots of craziness as well as social criticisms on this series. “Why Love Why,” with its hit-or-miss exaggerations, was not without flaws but it clearly had something socially relevant to say.

“Why Love Why” had a good plot/storyline that tackled the interrelationships among historical, societal, and personal issues like the dictatorship of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, human rights violations, graft and corruption, poverty, COVID-19 pandemic, coming out, sex reassignment surgery, cheating, etc. Yes, the historical timelines were a bit confused at times, but they were still good backdrops for this series. While the rich and poor characters falling in love with each other trope is nothing new, I found this series’ efforts at satirizing both the elite and the masses interesting. Wena’s death was an apt reminder of the context, given the COVID-19 pandemic, that we are at right now. Character backgrounds and character developments for Benjo, Emil, and Kelly were generally satisfactory. Without a doubt, this series’ depiction of Kelly was one of the better portrayals of a Pinoy transgender woman in a Pinoy BL series. Benjo and Emil were both strong characters (with steamy kissing and making love scenes, lol). I understand why some people got offended with what appeared as queer misrepresentation and oversexualization of characters during the pilot episode (for the record, I didn’t get offended but for those who did, your feelings are valid) but I do believe that the succeeding episodes were able to rationalize and redeem such characterizations. But not all issues were resolved on this series. Sadly, while there’s a possibility in the future, Benjo and Emil didn’t end up together during the finale.

Screenplay was largely ok although there were some problematic lines that exemplified internalized homophobia and queerness denial, particularly when Benjo and Emil asserted that they’re not gay. Script was extra melodramatic at times. It wasn’t overly funny but it was humorous enough. Some jocular dialogues landed but others were off. There was a rape joke that wasn’t justified at all.

Theatrical acting was still evident on some scenes. Philstagers Films, the production company behind “Why Love Why," started off as a theater company and most of the actors are theater actors. Transitioning from stage acting to screen acting needed a bit of work but all in all, acting was mostly ok. Carl and Johnrey had solid performances. Even the silences between them didn’t diminish their performances, but instead, amplified their acting. Both are really sexy as well. Those shirtless scenes were nice, lol. Carl’s quite charming.

Production technicals for “Why Love Why” were mostly fine. The rich and poor settings were adequately presented. Camera work was technically good. Editing was decent. The soundtracks “Tama Ba Ito?” (Is It Right?) and “Gawin Mo Akong Boyfriend” (Make Me Your Boyfriend) by Vince Tañada and Pipo Cifra were alright.

Overall, I would only recommend rewatching “Why Love Why” to those who aren’t easily offended. It’s a satirical Pinoy BL series with exaggerations that may not be appreciated by everyone. Still, it’s a good Pinoy BL series with a second season to look forward to.

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Ben X Jim (2020): A Well-Made Pinoy BL Series

“Ben X Jim” was a well-made Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. There were a few missteps in terms of characterizations of the support characters but with regard to acting performance and production technicals, this series was very good.

Those who have had a crush on their childhood friend but weren’t able to confess their feelings will find this series relatable. “Ben X Jim” employed the childhood friends to lovers trope that banks heavily on beliefs about destiny and stars aligning when the time is right. Ben and Jim have history together and this series was about confronting their past in order to navigate through their present and their future. Ben and Jim were flawed characters. Ben was abused in a relationship and was prone to dependency. He was also self-righteous at times. Jim wasn’t politically correct and he was macho and possessive at times especially when he constantly referred to Ben as “wifey.” But what’s good with these characters, they’re self-aware of their flaws and towards the end, there were clear character developments. Unfortunately, this can’t be said of most of the support characters. While Leo had more than enough character background and development, Flo, Olan, and Yana didn’t. In fact, even with all the apologies, I’d still say Olan and Yan were treated badly.

On the plus side, screenplay was consistently realistic and relatable. There were good heartfelt lines as well as hilarious dialogues. Ben and Jim’s dramatic scenes had good serious lines while Ben and Olan’s comedic scenes had good funny dialogues. Script was also able to seamlessly incorporate the characteristics of fictional Pinoy superheroes Captain Barbel and Darna and the struggles of real Pinoy modern-day heroes like our frontliners (small business owners, essential workers, couriers, etc.) in one episode.

Across the board, acting was quite solid. Both Teejay and Jerome were very good. They didn’t overact. Their emotional delivery per scene was just fine. They had chemistry together. It also helped that both are quite good-looking. All the male cast members were gorgeous (with a couple of shirtless scenes, lol). Johannes is the beautiful bad boy while Ron is the charming naughty guy. Both of them capitalized on the scenes given to them with appropriate performances. All the female cast members gave good performances as well. It’s really a pity their characters weren’t fully developed.

It wasn’t surprising that “Ben X Jim” had strong production technicals. Regal Entertainment Inc., a major film production company in the Philippines, produced this series. Production design, cinematography, sound engineering, musical scoring, and editing were unfailing. The soundtrack “Stars Align” by Sam Marquez featuring Swavesound was ok but it was a bit overplayed throughout the series.

All in all, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Ben X Jim.” If you’re looking for a well-made Pinoy BL series with outstanding acting performance and production technicals, “Ben X Jim” is a suitable series for you. While “Ben X Jim” was from the point of view (POV) of Ben, it seems that its second season, “B X J Forever,” will be from the POV of Jim. The second season is definitely something to watch out for!

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Truly Very Yours (2020): A Cute Pinoy BL Miniseries

Gab Torres (screenwriter), Niven Añunuevo (director), and J.ACE (production company) should be commended for their efforts to create a Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) miniseries during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. While not as great as the forerunner in Pinoy BL series “Gameboys,” “Truly Very Yours” was still a good miniseries that introduced two promising actors, Marky Erasga and Wex Andre.

“Truly Very Yours” had a simple plot/storyline about dealing with a past relationship and a potential relationship in a time of quarantine and lockdown. With only five episodes (ranged from 4.27 to 16.46 minutes long), it’s understandable that the miniseries wasn’t able to present a comprehensive and tight narrative. But it would have been nicer if the miniseries was able to at least tie up some loose ends. Not everything was explained and resolved in the end. We still don’t know what really happened between Mark and David. It would have been better if Mark’s background as scriptwriter was clearly revisited on the last episode. I would have also wanted to get to know Kevin better. But at least there was some sort of closure and the miniseries ended in a hopeful note.

While there were a few cringy dialogues, the screenplay for the entire miniseries was generally realistic. I found the use of lines from classic and popular Filipino movies nice which gave the miniseries some Pinoy character and vibes but I would have loved it if it was sustained throughout the five episodes.

Even though they’re newbies in acting, Marky and Wex, were nevertheless ok. They had chemistry together and both were cute and endearing. I just hope we get to see them together again in a future Pinoy BL series.

“Truly Very Yours” obviously didn’t have much budget and it was evident in the weaknesses in production design, computer graphics, sound engineering, musical scoring, and editing. The last episode was particularly problematic with issues with the audio which had feedbacks and was a skip behind the video. The soundtrack “Summer Promises” by Jean Kent and Zach Jawhar was particularly catchy though.

Overall, I would still recommend rewatching “Truly Very Yours.” If you’re looking for a Pinoy BL miniseries with a simple plot/storyline with two cute and promising actors who can actually act, “Truly Very Yours” would be just fine for you.

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Oh, Mando! (2020): A First-Class Pinoy BL Series

Exceptional plot/storyline, superb performance, and wonderful production -- “Oh, Mando!” had all these plus more (like super hot and sexy lead stars, lol!). “Oh, Mando!” is a first-class Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. It’s a Pinoy romantic comedy (romcom) series with metaphorical fantasy elements in dream sequences.

The symbolic fantasy elements of “Oh, Mando!,” that revolved around gay Rapunzel and Paps Charming, represented real-life issues like family relations; gender identities, sexual orientations, and sexual expressions; and even suicidal tendencies. These issues were clearly shown in the lives of the main characters of this series. Mando, Barry, and Krisha had good character background, depth, and development. Mando was in denial of being gay primarily because he blamed himself for his mother leaving him and his father for a lesbian lover. Bisexual/fluid Barry got cheated on by a boyfriend but he also cheated on his beloved sister Krisha, who was in love with Mando. Hurting his sister drove him to attempt to commit suicide. In more ways than one, Barry and Mando were both problematic characters. Ever since, I’m drawn to flawed characters because they’re realistic and relatable and most of the time, redeemable. There’s no question about it, cheating wasn’t right and what Barry and Mando did behind Krisha’s back was awful. There were no excuses for cheating on this series. And trying to kill yourself will not solve anything. Mando and Barry realized they’re wrong. It took a while, but in the end, time healed all the wounds of the past. Krisha became the star she’s meant to be and she found happiness with her new boyfriend. Barry and Mando were also content with a second chance at being together. But aside from the solid characterizations of Mando, Barry, and Krisha, the support characters were also strong. The stories of the reassuring parents, true friends, and unapologetic professor were seamlessly incorporated into the plot/storyline of this series. Sure, I would have wanted to know more about Mando’s friends Vince and Leslie, but at least their characters were integral to Mando’s development and redemption. Vince and Leslie are my kind of friends -- friends who love me and because they love me, will always call me out when I’m wrong and full of crap. The importance of Professor Siwa’s story cannot be overstated enough. In conservative Philippine society, people still get fired for being gay, and in Professor Siwa’s case, for being a transwoman. She’s a realistic representation of gender-based discrimination in the workplace. But more importantly, with her reinstatement, her story proved that collective action works. And being referred to as Ma’am, Ms. Siwa, after being addressed to as Mr. Siwa for a long time, was a fabulous conclusion to her story. This, and Mando finally being free and admitting to himself that he’s gay, were strong proclamations of triumph.

Script was excellent. Screenplay had funny, heartbreaking, and relevant lines. I loved the hilarious dialogues between Rapunzel and Paps Charming as well as Mando’s humorous internal monologues. Vince and Leslie were always witty. The lines during the confrontation/revelation scene with Mando, Barry, and Krisha was painful. Equally sad were the dialogues between Mando and his parents and Barry and Krisha. There were relevant lines about gender identities, sexual orientations, and sexual expressions uttered by Ms. Siwa that weren’t preachy at all. Yes, the protest chants were a bit cheesy, but they were significant nevertheless.

Magnificent acting performance was evident. The actors made me laugh and cry! Kokoy can do no wrong. It doesn't matter if it’s comedic or dramatic, Kokoy's perfect. He’s an actor's actor. At first, I was worried about Alex but he pretty much held his own throughout this series. He delivered what was expected of him. He was quite good actually. Both Alex and Kokoy looked extra gorgeous on this series. With all those shirtless scenes (and butt exposure scene, lol), they’re certainly among the hottest and sexiest couples in Pinoy BL series. Barbie has always been exemplary and her portrayal on this series was no exception. Veteran actors, especially Joel, were terrific. Renzie and Marynor were awesome as well. Their combo brought some of the funniest moments on this series. I was also glad to see Pinoy BL series actors Migs, Ron, Z, and Sam as guests on this series!

“Oh, Mando!” was really well-made. Production value was pretty high. The dormitory, school, and street settings looked authentic and were very Filipino. I miss fish balls and squid balls, lol! Camera shots were simple yet technically solid. Animation, graphics, and visual effects were mostly fine. Editing was alright. The soundtracks, while not specifically made for the series, were nonetheless appropriate for the scenes. I especially liked “Aray” (Ouch) by Mae Rivera, “Ikaw Na Nga” (It’s Really You) by Andrew Florentino, and “Mabagal” (Slow) by Dan Tañedo and Moira dela Torre.

All in all, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Oh, Mando!,” a first-class Pinoy BL series. It’s a pity that compared to other Pinoy BL series, it’s not being talked about much. Being on iWantTFC (only the first episode’s on Youtube), viewer accessibility has been limited. But if you have the means, please do watch “Oh, Mando!.” It will surely be a great watch.

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Meet Me Outside (2020): A Short and Sweet Pinoy BL Microseries

Even though “Meet Me Outside” was an obvious product placement for Blued app, currently the largest gay social network app, it was still a pretty good series. Being a Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) microseries, “Meet Me Outside” was short, with the entire series less than an hour long. I would have wanted longer episodes, but this series, with all its cute and romantic scenes, was nevertheless a worthwhile watch. It was short and sweet.

“Meet Me Outside” was about two young men, who were alone for the holidays for different reasons, who gravitated towards each other after a conversation through the Blued app. Albeit simple, its plot/storyline was actually realistic. Dale and James’ characterizations were generally relatable. I empathized with both Dale and James. Their reactions to situations were mostly understandable. I did found the character development of Dale from timid Dale to confident Dale a bit abrupt, but overall, it was still alright. Sure, I would have wanted an intimate kiss here and there but their cuddles and hugs were also fine.

The realism and relatability of the plot/storyline of “Meet Me Outside” were reinforced by its impeccable screenplay. Dale and James’ conversation about love and relationships was genuine and sensible. Their banter were cute and romantic.

Acting on this series was largely believable. I love Genesis and Kaloy! They’re both charming and endearing! Their character portrayals on “Meet Me Outside” were quite different when compared to their characters in “In Between” and “Boys’ Lockdown” which only proves that they can act. Also, there’s something about their chemistry that’s undeniable.

Audio-visuals of this series were clean and clear. While not particularly made for this series, I still liked all the soundtracks especially “Pahintulot” (Permission) by Shirebound & Busking.

On the whole, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Meet Me Outside.” It was short and sweet.

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Hook Up (2020): A Daring Pinoy BL Series

In a lot of ways, “Hook Up” was an upgrade of its prequel “Truly Very Yours.” “Hook Up” had a more daring plot/storyline, improved acting performance, and better overall production value. But while there were improvements, “Hook Up” suffered from inconsistent quality all throughout its run.

“Hook Up” had a brave plot/storyline about finding romantic and sexual relationships through a fictional dating app called Findr. It covered bold topics such as gender identities and sexual orientations, one night stand, and even prostitution. It also discussed about relatable issues concerning family ties -- how we love them and how we also hate them at times. It also tackled how the youth especially students navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to these, “Hook Up” didn’t shy away from progressive themes. After the pardon of murderer Joseph Scott Pemberton, “Hook Up” even featured the message #TransLivesMatter #JusticeForJenniferLaude #NoToGenderRelatedViolence. Notwithstanding these commendable subject matters, the plot/storyline overall wasn’t fully developed. Maybe because there’s another related upcoming series from J.ACE (production company), some questions remained unanswered on “Hook Up.”

There were funny, sexy, and witty dialogues. I particularly liked when Mark self-identified as bisexual with no queerness denial and when Henry and Mark paid homage to the different Filipino (Pinoy) boys' love (BL) series through title shout outs. But I didn’t like the screenplay whenever Mark and Henry argue. On such instances, script was long and preachy.

Acting was largely uneven but there was a marked improvement in Marky’s performance. He has gone a long way since his “Truly Very Yours” days. JC's acting needed improvement but for a newbie, he was alright. Niko was relatively good. Wex was ok but I was quite upset with how his character was treated on this series. The rest of the supporting cast members were either overacting or underwhelming (unfortunately, while I love Tita Cassie, Tita Baby belonged to this group).

Production design, camera work, and editing were up and down all throughout the series. But when these aspects were good, some of the better episodes were produced. A good example of this was the camera work on Henry and Mark’s shirtless scenes alluding to some sort of virtual sex. Another good example was the editing of scenes when the title of the series, “Hook Up,” was finally actualized. Mark and Henry’s kissing and love/sex scenes were sexy and steamy yet tastefully done. The song “I Think” by Jean Kent was better than his soundtrack “Summer Promises” for “Truly Very Yours.”

All in all, even with the inconsistencies in quality, I would still recommend rewatching “Hook Up.” If you’re looking for a daring Pinoy BL series with a fearless plot/storyline, “Hook Up” would be a nice series for you. You might also need to watch “Hook Up” and its prequel “Truly Very Yours” if you plan to watch J.ACE’s upcoming Pinoy BL series, “One Night Stand บางกอก (Bangkok).”

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Better Days (2020): A Palatable Pinoy BL Series

“Better Days” was a tasteful Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. There was a bit of bitterness, but also a little sweetness. It wasn’t too sweet, too spicy, too sour, or too salty -- it was just about right. There was nothing too fancy or over the top about it. There were enough ingredients that made it a palatable Pinoy BL series. For the most part, it was a very wholesome Pinoy BL series.

“Better Days” had a simple plot/storyline about rekindling childhood friendship, confronting daddy issues, and discovering oneself as a vlogger, chef, and maybe even as a lover. It’s also about Pinoy cuisines! Character backgrounds were clear. At first, I was really uncomfortable with the unequal power relations between Kian, the boss, and his house helper Aron especially when the childish Kian was throwing tantrums and the timid Aron was showing signs of lack of confidence. But because of good character development, the issue of unequal power relations was somehow resolved. While it felt a bit short in terms of relationship development, in the end, it was shown in some ways that they support and love each other. Even though it obviously hurt, Kian was supportive of Aron who received a culinary arts scholarship which will most likely mean that they’ll have to be away from each other for quite some time. This was difficult for Kian because Aron made him feel loved. Aron for his part, eventually realized that he also needs to love himself. While “Better Days” had a straightforward plot/storyline, it didn’t shy away from larger societal issues like the COVID-19 pandemic. When Kian’s father died and he couldn’t even bury him because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was reminded again of the major challenge that our entire world is facing right now. Like Aron and Kian, we are all hoping for better days ahead.

Script was natural and realistic. Screenplay had good comedic (“it’s a frank!”) and dramatic (“you ask every day why were you left behind”) lines.

With regard to acting, newbies Benedix and Chesther were fine. They appeal differently but both of them are adorable. Chesther’s Kian was annoying at times but he’s still cute, lol! Benedix’s Aron was nice... plus, he cooks, lol! Even with the dearth of intimate moments, Aron and Kian’s chemistry was evident. I liked their funny and tender moments together. They were mostly bromance moments but they were alright. Benedix and Chesther fit their roles perfectly. It was also good to see Jomari and Rex as guests on this series.

Audio-visuals were mostly ok. Notwithstanding its small budget, “Better Days” was actually well-made. I especially liked the presentation of Pinoy cuisines and how they’re cooked and prepared (I miss Pinoy food!). The soundtracks “Lahat ay Posible” (Everything’s Possible) by Carlos Dala and “Nandito” (It’s Here) by Benedix were nice.

In summary, I would certainly recommend rewatching “Better Days.” It’s a palatable Pinoy BL series with wholesome plot/storyline, fine acting performance, and satisfactory production. By the way, “Better Days” has Book 2 (hopefully with less of the bromance and more of the BL romance ) to look forward to.

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