An emotional drama with an important message

„Call it what you want“ gives you an insight into the toxic side of the BL-Industry, where the product more counts than the individuals. But it also tells a love story between a director and an Artist.
Unfortunately, the story focuses sometimes too much on the romance, which is cute, but not the main reason why the series is worth watching. But when it comes to giving you a sense of how sad it is behind the scenes of a BL production, this series delivers like no other.

Sometimes you notice " their slim budget, but that doesn't bother me, because for that all actors convince with their performances. Especially the two main actors, but also the evil studio boss deliver a good reading.

And there is also Michael...his performance as „broken“ Bas is just heartbreaking.
Those sad, empty eyes gave me goosebumps and impress me. He is the Scenestealer and one of the main reasons, why this show is so good.

All in all „Call it what you want“ is not the typical fluffy BL-series and more an serious drama, but still an important series worth watching, especially in a time when BLs are gaining popularity.

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An Important series with a Major Issue

I’m glad to see how the BL-Genre is evolving, thanks to series like this. Cause this is not a typical BL and more an LGBTIQ-Dramedy with some Sitcom elements about two gay men raising a child.
It feels fresh, modern, and unique in a very good way.
The Storyline is light and fluffy, even realistic dramatic parts, like coming out, discrimination didn’t make this a heavy sad drama.
The Actors, Main and Support, are doing a great job, so it’s always a pleasure to see such a cute and easy series.

But Unfortunately, this series is ending with a big cliffhanger and it’s announced that season 2 not gonna happen.
I’ve read the statement of Gagaoola on Twitter and must say, I’m quite disappointed.
I know that piracy is a big problem for smaller streaming services, but to punish the paying audience isn’t the right way I think. Why does not work Gagaoola on alternative Paying-Methods like PayperView or advertising contracts for other Products?

So this is a worth watching show and the struggle, in the end, has actually nothing to do with the series itself, but unfortunately, it reduces the quality still a lot.

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when the BL-Genre meets a Crime Drama

So here it is, the first serious crossover of aThai- BL with another Genre. And it works surprisingly well on the whole, but has also some major Issues.
I think the Crime-Drama Part is far much better, than the BL Part. Sometimes the BL-Scenes doesn’t fit for me at all and some of them are seeming unnecessary and just made for fan service.
But actually the Crime Plot doesn't need that at all, because it is very pleasuring with some unexepected turns and a high tension, especially in the end.

When it comes to acting, Max and Tul are doing pretty solid. Especially Max as „Homme Fatale“ gives some new notes to the Crime genre.
But I was never a huge fan of MaxTul and think their Chemistryis solid but not that „magical“ or breathtaking.
Therefore my favourite is definitely Meiko as Jane, even as her screentime is limited, she gives an great performance.

So all in all this is a recommended Crime Drama, but when i want to watch a BL, i wanna have Tears in my eyes, Butterflies in my stomach and desire in my heart.

And these Feelings didn’t give Manner of Death to me.

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All in all a enjoyable Show, but not a masterpiece at all.

First of all, i was spoilered about the Fact that this has a tragical ending, i didn’t know what happening in the end but i wasn`t that shocked as when i thougt that this could have a happy ending.

The First Part of my Review will deal with the Episodes 1-18 and in the end i will say something to the last two episodes

There is Light and Shadow here, some parts of the Show are very pleasuring and other parts are boring or annoying.

Here are the positve Parts:
The Story about a High School Rookie who falls in love with a A+Student works well, even it is not that new.
Especially in the beginning, when Xiang Hao tries to court Yu Xi Go and makes his life in this way even worser than better is funny and sad at the same time.
Also the Cast is pleasuring, especially Yu Xi Go who looks like a hungry Puppey suits very well in his Role of a hard working student.
When it come to terms and they get together the chemistry is good and the cute, silly Flirting is a pleasure to watch.
(My Key.Scene is the Dogplay in the Restaurant which was funny and still cute)
Also the second Main couple is nice to watch, but the age gap is implausible. They look not that different for me and the gap between the real actors isn’t that great.
To be mentioned are also the NSFW-Scenes which are very intensive for BL-Series. Only the finale encountering of Xiang Hao and Yu Xi Go was a little bit disappointing.

But it wasn’t all that good, here are the Things that doesn’t work for me:
The Fact that it comes to a „I’m not gay, i love only you.“ Storyline-is one of the mood killer in modern BL-Series for me, C’mon we’ve got 2020!
Except the Boy gang all other support Roles are annoying or unimpressive, especially the Parents and the Ex-Girlfriend of Xiang Hao wasn’t that good.

So all in all it was enjoyable Show, very light and nice but nothing to remember....
but than came it to the last Episodes.

My first Thought was, okay....this was unexpected. I needed some time to see if the ending makes the Show better or worser.
My Opinion: Both!
On the one Hand It’s more memorable in this way and when it comes to another season i’m more courios to see what happened.
On the Other Hand, what was the Screendirector thinking when he made it to this way?!
Did anyone say to him“we need more drama“ and he said „okay fine let’s kill some of our main Characters.“
All in all it doesn’t make sense to end it that way.
If their were more Impact in middle of the Show and less drama in the end, it would be definetely a better show.
But if you like just end it on Episode 18, which also works as a happy end for the series.

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A new Level for Korean BLs

The first full-length BL-Drama from Korea brings a fresh breeze in this genre, even with old tropes like the love triangle and a high school setting. The main reason for this novelty is the multiple characters, which are all taken seriously by the creators. All of them have their flaws, but also their good sides, and are not a bunch full of cliches.

But also the story is a welcoming change to the typical BL, cause you never know what happens next and the tension is always high.
Light on me hasn’t the emotional impact like other BLs, but instead, all the feelings are shown in a calm, unobtrusive way. It also didn’t avoid uncomfortable themes like bullying or homophobia, which I really appreciate.

But the story wouldn’t be that good if the cast weren’t that great. Especially Kang yoo who plays Shin-Woo is an outstanding talent, who can literally speak with his eyes and gave me goosebumps just with expressions.

So Light on me is a highlight of the BL-Year 2021 and paves maybe the way for other outstanding BLs from Korea

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The Comeback of the beloved Ones.

WBL was a positive Surprise and a huge success at the beginning of the year 2021.
So the second season is a little bit weaker, but also completely different compared to the first one. The Tone is rougher and also grown up.
But unfortunately, there is a second couple that is more awkward than touching and I have the feeling, that they're stealing screentime from the Mains.

The biggest weak point of this season is still the storytelling and the logical structure, there are Plotholes, bigger than a Fishnet, and some major scenes were just cut out for the finale episodes.
But let’s be honest, WBL never lives from his outstanding Story, even the first season was just a clash of well-known Tropes from the BL-Genre.

Instead, WBL lives from his Characters and their Chemistry, and in that Point, this One is still Outstanding.

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It’s complicated...

First of all, my review refers only to the main story of Third and Khai, cause i skipped the rest.

For me this is not the typicall BLstory, especially in the beginning when you see that Third falls in love for his toxic friend feels so real that it hurts.

But when the Perspective turns to Khai reminds me of my experiences when a close Person has feelings for you and you have to decide to give him that love the he deserves or let him go, that he get over you and his heart will not broken.
But whatever you decide, the friendship will never be as before.

When it comes to the middle Part (i think it’s episode 7) it loses his realistic way and goes more the way of a typicall BL-Story but still in a cute, lightweighted way which is actually not too bad.
But the series gives the chance away to be an outstandig drama about a toxic friend/relationship and how to overcome it.

The Finale is the typicall BL-Happy end and even, when there are more serious subjects, like trust and communication it’s far away from the intensity in the beginning.

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Worthwatching, but unfortunately much too short.

The Headline says it actually.
I liked the Actors, the Music and the production, especially when you remind this is just a low budget web series.

But because of the length it remains too superficial. I would like too see the actors in a more serious, dramatic season where they can show how good this actually could be.
So please support this Production, so a second season could happen or at least the actors could play in another BL-series.

Especially Allison Asistair is an actor, who has really Talent and i would llike to see him in more BL-Dramas.

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The Main Actor (Cheng Chang Fang), who deserves a better series

Actually this series has all what it should be. A great Main Actor, a good and modern storyline about a same sex marriage and an old love.
Unfortunately there is no chemistry between the Main Couple, Kane and Sung at all. There Love is implausible and lame, also the actor of Sung doesn’t get me at all.
So i crossed my fingers for Soda and Kane instead and was a little bit disapointed as their ways divide.
Only in the end of this series, there is something like passion in the air, when it comes to the final Kiss.

I hope that the Actor Cheng Chang Fang get’s another Mainrole in BL-Series, because his talent deserves it definitely

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a good one with some Issues in storytelling

First of all i want to say, that i definitely support that fact that an open queer actor plays an open queer role in this series.

Also the acting, the story and the atmosphere of this low budget Production is good. That Judah and Rocky are forced to stay in their Appartment makes it more Intense.
The Chemistry of them is well, not outstandig, but okay.

But when it comes to terms i’ve had the feeling, that this more an toxic relationship than an healthy one. So don’t know how to evaluate this one.
The biggest Issue is in the middle part of this series. The Storytellers want to much, to soon. There are so many subjects, like Conversation Therapy, a dead mother, a gay grandfather, an coming out, unemployment, etc.
That’s to much to handle for such small show. But in the finale Episodes it’s getting better and they had some real good talks about their relationship.

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I wonder why this series is so popular

Actually this Series isn’t that good but also not the worst i’ve seen so far.
The chemistry of the Main Actors is good and there are some really sweet moments in there.They are very natural together and their flirty acting seems authentic to me. There are also some funny ideas, like the „disney-inspired over the top"-Scenes.

For a Pinoy-BL series this has very much budget for the Production and i can’t imagine what a good screenwriter with good actors could tell for a story...
Then let’s be honest, besides the positive Aspects ,mentioned abov,e the Show has nothing to offer.
Maybe the Bed and Kiss-Scenes, which were okay, but i’ve seen much that hotter and better. (Anyone seen Cheat or The Pornographer?!)

When it comes to the Story, this one is really terrifying and not in a good Way. Also the Acting of the Sidecharacters were sometimes a real torture.
But also the main Characters weren’t that good except their chemistry and their scenes together.
To be named, Aki Torres has servereal emotional Scenes like the Coming Out to his best Female Friend or the Dispute with his Father . By this Scenes i feel nothing....
So for me it’s a Fact,that he doesn’t have the Experience to handle a whole Show as a Main Actor.
Miko Gallardo was a little better, but not that much.
I’m also annoyed of the Fact that the (probaly) gay Actors shown as funny sidekicks, while two straight Men are the Main Actors. For me it ist a Slap in the Face for the LGBT-Community.

Further i’ve made the Mistake, by watching the Actor’s OffScreen-Drama during two episodes.(you can watch it on YT if you like), which kills also a lot of fun to watch the show.
So for me all in all a Mediocre Show but with a extra bitter taste of Toxicity and Money grubbing.

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Hot dudes in a lame story.

The first scene was for me one of the best in a BL-series.
Unfortunenaly the story could not keep the hot tension and it comes to a medicore Plot with hillarious decisions of the main characters and boring dialogues.
I couldn’t see the chemistry between Korn and Knock and couldn’t understand why Korn didn’t break up with Knock and goes back to his Ex (Best Character for me in the series).

A special Price goes to the most creppiest Storyline in a BL-series. Dr.Bright acts and looks like a Comic-Villian and i’ve had some real bad Nightmares of him.

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This needs a second season

This one has an interesting Setting in a alternative World, where Colourblinds (monos) only can see Colours with one special Person( their Probs)and become obsessed with them...
so the idea is great,just as the side stories like the lost mother, the ghost of the grandfather and so on.
I’m looking forward to a second season to see if this stories are cleared up.

In the first Epsiodes i don’t get the Character of Go Yoo Han, he reminds me of a manipulative Drugdealer (with far too much make up!),who only uses the poor Choi Wee for his own pleasure.
But the Twist in the End makes sense. As well as the commited Suicide of Choi Wee, which suits perfectly to his Character.

So all in all it’s a good series.
But unfortunately the BL-Aspect is the weakest part of the series. It seems forced to me and it would be more plausible if they were only friends, cause there is no romantical chemistry between them.

So as a Low Budget Drama it’s a good series, as a BL not that much.

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a good paired Maincopuple with a random story.

As i saw the first Three Episodes, i really enjoyed this, cause of the good chemistry between Sol and Gui.
But then it‘s getting boring and feels like an old bubblegum.
The Mainstory should be dramatic (there are Problems with an Orphanage, a bad father, a jealous lover, etc),but it doesn’t feel dramatic, there is no impact in the scenes and it feels all still nice and slow
(sometimes a little bit cheesy too.)
The sidestories are skippable too for me and i couldn’t get a good Connection to the Characters.
To be mentiod would be the good Theme Song and the sweet love story between Sol and Gui especially in the begining and the end of this series.

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