A Phenomenal GL Romance With Stellar Casting

Adapted from the manga of the same name, “Tsukuitai Onna to Tabetai Onna/She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat” is a queer drama which focuses on the relationship of two women. More than relationship, it focuses on how a neat and genuine bond can be developed by friendship that progresses to a romantic inclination.

I have always admired the Japanese way of showing any relationship with so much simplicity yet leaving a message so deep that it affects you genuinely and this is not the first Japanese queer show that revolves around food as we all know. We all have already loved and watched “What did you eat yesterday?” and this show is on the same level as it. Because it is not too flashy or filled with unnecessary or complicated situations.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/22/she-loves-to-cook-and-she-loves-to-eat-season-one-series-review-ep-1-to-10/

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Could Have Been Better

Within the dynamic and ever-changing realm of Thai Boys’ Love (BL) series, “Night Dream” presents a moving story of love, friendship, and personal growth. The protagonist of the show is Night, a senior literature student who finds it difficult to write his final novel because he has never experienced love. The story takes shape as Night makes contact with Dream, a buddy he hasn’t seen in a long time, who helps him understand the nuances of love.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/21/night-dream-series-review-ep-1-to-6/

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Not Exactly An Entertaining Watch

Adapted from the web novel “Pit Babe” (พิษเบ๊บ) by _alittlebitch (also known as alittlebixth), Peter Nopachai’s rustic adaptation ended on a high note. Based on the fictional ABO/Omegaverse universe, the show’s ratings skyrocketed because of the natural chemistry between the various pairings littered across this universe. While the storytelling was indeed faulty in some places, the stellar casting made up for the odd pacing. This was one of those shows that leaves you with mixed feelings; I won’t say that I was exactly enamored with the series. Nevertheless, it was flavorful in its own ways. There are reasons to watch this show; let me list them first before we journey into the disaster zone!

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/14/pit-babe-series-review-ep-3-to-13/

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A Solemn Tale of Love, Redemption and Reconciliation

Love. Death. Redemption. Realization.

Life is full of never truly looking at ourselves while also learning to understand exactly who we are.

And this is precisely the kind of story the Thai BL 7 Days Before Valentine offers. It’s a theatrical, intense story about a man named Sunshine whose love life hangs by a thread. Just as he grapples with the daunting task of charting his life’s course after an unexpected breakup, fate intervenes in surprising ways. A mysterious Cupid reaper, wielding powers beyond comprehension, emerges with a proposition: to restore Sunshine’s lost love within the span of seven days by having him wish away a person each night. Yet, as the intricate web of fate unfurls, it becomes clear that every boon comes with a price. As Sunshine embarks on a journey of choice and reflection, he learns that some lessons are worth their weight in gold.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/13/7-days-before-valentine-series-review-ep-1-to-12/

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An Endearing Bromance Between A Genius Chef & A Young Mathematician

“Fermat no Ryori: Where Math Meets Culinary Excellence in a Flavorful Drama”

In the realm of Japanese dramas, where stories often sway towards romance or mystery, “Fermat no Ryori” emerges as a refreshing anomaly, seamlessly blending the worlds of mathematics and culinary arts. The series, a captivating journey of self-discovery, brings together the unlikely duo of Kitada Gaku, a gifted mathematics enthusiast, and Asakura Kai, a renowned chef, setting the stage for a unique exploration of life’s intricate recipes.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/10/fermat-no-ryori-series-review-ep-1-to-10/

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Could Have Been A Better Watch Indeed

When Lovemedia Thailand first started with the promotions, “Twins The Series” was marketed as a sport themed BL. Whilst the Thai BL industry is filled with high school dramas or engineering misnomers, we were never offered a full fledged sports drama. As such, the expectations were high from a cast that included handsome hunks who seemed to fit the bill of volleyball players. Either ways, I was never enthusiastic about sports labeled shows. But then my X timeline was filled with spoilers once the show premiered; the end result- I gave in to the urge. The pilot episodes were pretty lame and dragged on; nothing substantial to hold onto. So, why did I continue on this journey? Despite the mediocre writing with abundant potholes, the lead pairing manage to savage the show. Without pulling any punches, let’s dive into this review!

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/09/twins-series-review-ep-1-to-12/

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A Heartwarming Show Depicting Friendships and Love

I have been watching reality tv dating shows for as long as I can remember and no matter how much other people found it refreshing and true, I always felt every moment of it was scripted. Whether it is about their interaction, connections, fight or arguments, for me everything felt fake and too much formulaic.

Surprisingly, “Boys like Boys” was like a new refreshing introduction to me to Taiwan’s first LGBTQ reality dating series. While observing the episodes, I saw how realistic it felt to watch a relationship as it progresses from friendship to dating in real life. For me, It was as pragmatic as a reality tv show can get. The most positive thing about it was that the show focused on the contestants getting to know each other, developing a good friendship before getting into a relationship, which is what ideal relationships come close to. The way every contestant was not afraid of speaking out about their feelings and what they want without being too dramatic felt good to watch. Personally for me, I felt a lot closer to Eri, as I found him to be a genuine and real person; well he has a very kind and good heart. The show had a total of six contestants named Bobo, Shih-Feng, Nio, Gino, Guan- Yu and Eri. The introductory scenes were nice and everyone seemed unique, kind; they respected each other so much that they made sure to ask each other pronouns so as not to offend anyone and make them uncomfortable. Gino and Guan-Yu were one of the couples who I thought had a wonderful chemistry. Eri’s friendship with everyone was my favorite part about the show, especially with Bobo, who was also one of the contestants. As the show kept moving two more contestants, Jiang- Han and Susu were introduced. Personally, I felt more connected to Eri, Bobo and Gino.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/01/11/boys-like-boys-series-review-ep-1-to-10/

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Could Have Been So Much Better

The series begins interestingly enough. Even with a worn-out theme of a withdrawn boy who has an unrequired love for his best friend, it was charming for a while. Their friendship seemed sincere and intense. Guy (Ping Krittanun) is a lonely, reserved, socially isolated young man. He is the classic ‘wallflower’ that no one pays much attention to. However, who suddenly pops into his life is Wahl (Winner Nichakoon), a rather outgoing, socially adept, yet surprisingly caring young man his same age. But strangely is possessive of Guy. Over the years Wahl becomes his only friend outside of some gaming acquaintances he meets online. While Wahl has had a steady girlfriend, Guy still pines over Wahl wishing for something to happen between them but knowing that nothing will. Yet always feeling as if there is a deep connection between them.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/01/03/my-dear-gangster-oppa-series-review-ep-1-to-8/#more-14455

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An Intriguing Adaptation with a Stellar Casting

I pondered endlessly on how to best handle this review. Should I make a detailed comparison between the Thai and the Japanese versions? Should I compare the acting calibers of the main pairings in both versions? And ultimately, which version was better?


Seemingly confused and baffled by these questions, I realized that the best option was to review this show as a separate entity. Adapted from the manga series “Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!” (30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい) by Toyota Yuu (豊田悠), the Thai version is a rustic adaptation of the original work (be warned, it isn’t a remade version of the Japanese adaptation). As such, it has a flavor of it’s own and needs to be savored as the main course and not a side dish. When I first saw the official trailer starring Tay Tawan & New Thitipoom, I was slightly apprehensive. Having watched them play the main lead in “Dark Blue Kiss”, I knew they have a phenomenal chemistry. As veteran actors, you can’t condemn their acting skills. My worries were related to the fact that I absolutely loved the Japanese version. Akaso Eiji and Machida Keita left a memorable impression in my mind, and I was unsure if TayNew could recreate the same magic. Let’s address the elephant in the room as we talk about the other pairings as well!

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/03/05/cherry-magic-thai-series-review-ep-3-to-12/

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A Disappointing Watch Despite a Good Casting

This show is a horror series through and through. Dealing with evil entities and spiritual witchcraft that made no sense and would have been enjoyable had they made it fun. But the whole story was dark, brooding, almost pointless, and incomprehensible to figure out. It mixed religious beliefs like you were mixing ingredients for a cake batter and expecting us to believe the cake was going to come out looking like something edible. Instead, it was half-baked, and it fell flat. Frankly, I do know what this series was supposed to be. However, I can tell you what it is not. It is not a BL. And it is not scary. It is not mysterious or even a thriller. But it is confusing as hell (no pun intended) wasted the talents of fine actors, and offensive on two fronts. I am rarely offended by anything, but this series was offensive to gay people and to how it portrayed Catholics, and I am no great admirer of the Catholic Church.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/08/shadow-series-review-ep-1-to-14/

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An Endearing Romance Between a Delinquent & His Teacher

It takes courage to love. While it doesn’t seem like love requires an ‘I can do this’ mentality, it’s a fragile, easily broken emotion.

Adapted from the manga series Sahara-sensei to Toki-kun by Toriya Ko, starring Kizu Takumi (Sahara Ichiro) and Hachimura Rintaro (Toki Kanade), Mr. Sahara and Toki-kun spins a heartwarming and humorous tale that beautifully intertwines the worlds of a tough-as-nails delinquent, Toki Kanade, and the unexpectedly charming Sahara Ichiro, his dashing PE teacher.

Despite the over-the-top humor and stereotypes, the story unfolds with a keen attention to detail, revealing Toki’s pure-hearted nature beneath his rough exterior. Kizu Takumi’s portrayal of Sahara Ichiro adds charisma to the character, making the growing connection between teacher and student all the more captivating.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/02/07/sahara-sensei-to-toki-kun-series-review-ep-3-to-8/

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A Hilarious, Over Dramatic Romcom

Adapted from the manga series BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita by Suzuri Machi and starring Abe Aran (Akafuji Yuichiro) and Akutsu Nichika (Aoyanagi Hajime), I Became the Main Role of a BL is precisely what its title implies. It follows two actors in two different stages of their careers–one famous, the other a child actor waning in popularity–cast in the leading roles of a BL series.

It’s fun. It’s over-dramatic. It’s full of heart-fluttering tropes. It resonates deeply.

Japan’s romcoms rarely fail me. They pull off over-the-top comedy in a way no other country has quite yet mastered. While the trope-filled comedy scenes in this series could come off as cringe, it somehow doesn’t. The secret but not-so-subtle crush that popular actor Yuichiro has on child actor Hajime is sweet and endearing, full of giggles and warmth, which makes each scene a delight to tune into.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/01/02/i-became-the-lead-in-a-bl-drama-crank-up-edition-series-review-ep-1-to-3/

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Bromance with Added Sismance, Truly Perfect!

Guo Jing Ming’s projects are always fraught with homoerotic tones; starting from Painted Skin: The Guo Jingming Edition, Wuliang, L.O.R.D 1, L.O.R.D 2, The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity and the recently concluded Fangs of Fortune, all stand testament to his amazing prowess to pass Chinese censorship.

Some stories leave you exasperated whilst others leave you with a ray of hope and earnest longing; that someday, you might be able to meet these characters again. “Fangs of Fortune” was one such drama for me. It taught me valuable life lessons- you can redeem yourself once you accept you were in wrong; love should set you free, not imprison you. Also, you can love someone despite hating them in the past. Adapted from the classic text and the mythology and geography collection “Classic of Mountains and Seas” (山海经), the show has the most endearing characters that slowly become a family. The best part is that they aren’t all human- we have a makeshift family made of a Great Demon, two powerful Demon Hunters, a Half God and a Mountain God. The only thing that connects them is their yearning for familial ties and bonds. They become each other’s solace and peace of mind; they evolve and mature together, drawing inspiration and courage from one another. Another important aspect of Guo Jing Ming’s shows is the magnanimity of the settings and the mesmerizing locales. The costumes are posh, keeping in line with the stature/position of the characters. We bring you the evergreen queer romance that is characteristic of most Guo Jing Ming’s stories.

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/20/fangs-of-fortune-series-review-ep-1-to-32/

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The Most Realistic Depiction of Queer Community

Adapted from the manga series “Smells Like Green Spirit” (スメルズライクグリーンスピリット) by Nagai Saburo (永井三郎), the show is set in the 1990s era where homophobia wasn’t any less prevalent than it is now. In the midst of a school setting, we have “Coming Of Age” storyline which retraces how transgenders were hugely perceived. The ridicule coupled with rampant bullying made their existence rather difficult. There were many who succumbed to this pressure while few daring ones choose to live their life fearlessly. This story belongs to one such brave persona, Mishima Futoshi. The subtleties of this character are portrayed so boldly by Araki Towa, that you want to celebrate their independence and freedom. MBS is engaging in stories that are intrinsically interwoven with the dynamics of the queer community. They are thought-provoking, mindful and also captivating. One man’s struggle against societal prejudices becomes the crux of this storyline. From the way you dress to the way you behave, society judges you on everything; but who are they to judge others & are their opinions that important?

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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/16/smells-like-green-spirit-series-review-ep-1-to-8/

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A Vivid Portrayal of Queer Struggles against Heteronormative Society

“With or without it, you’re still you.”

I should warn you now: this review may not make much sense. I’ve just finished Love in the Big City, and my thoughts and feelings are a bit scattered. But isn’t that what Love in the Big City is all about? It’s about thoughts, regrets, and emotions that seem all over the place, yet somehow come together in a relatable and bittersweet culmination of life’s chaotic realizations.

Adapted from Park Sang Young’s novel, Love in the Big City is less a love story and more a journey of finding peace and acceptance with yourself and your circumstances. It follows Ko Yeong (Nam Yoon Su), a gay man navigating multiple relationships, from his best friend Choi Mi Ae (Lee Soo Kyung) to his mother Eun Suk (Oh Hyun Kyung) to his lovers—Kim Nam Gyu (Kwon Hyuk), No Young-Soo (Na Hyun-Woo), and Gyu Ho (Jin Ho Eun)—all while coming to terms with his HIV diagnosis, which he refers to as “Kylie.”

It’s a story about failure, success, and facing the parts of yourself that’s been through both.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/10/23/love-in-the-big-city-series-review-ep-1-to-8/

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