Not as great as Taiwan's best BLs, but still OK

Falling in love with a friend can be terrifying but exhilarating.

Ligong can’t be sure that Zeshou would even want to commit to anyone romantically, let alone him. And yet, their relationship always teeters on the edge of something more, a delicious sexual tension in the air as they begin to tip dangerously into the territory of more-than-friends. For me, this is really the best part of the show (the pair is just so whipped for each other).

As expected, their relationship goes through a rollercoaster of ups and downs but the show remains rather predictable at most turns with family and relationship drama. I would say that the first half of the series was more watchable than the second half, where the conflict proved to be silly and frustrating.

The side couple’s relationship, while noticeably fluffier, was a little shallow, but that is perhaps to be expected since they don’t have as much screentime as the main guys. As a laundromat owner and a bartender, I must say they make for an interesting couple, though.

Plus & Minus is not in the same league as Taiwan's best BLs but is still an all right watch.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/06/25/plus-and-minus-2022-bl/

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Would have been better as an ad on YouTube or smth

Don’t expect good writing and character development here.

The first issue I have with All The Liquors is that Kihoon has too many problems and they’re solved all too easily. This is a story of a stubborn chef who meets a foolhardy marketing employee. Somehow, the chef manages to break all his personal rules. WHY??? And more importantly, HOW???? To those who say "it's because of love!! love is the answer", come on. The story was seriously underbaked.

Second issue - I’m not sure if it's just me but the couple didn’t look terribly compatible.

I know Kihoon is supposed to be a stiff and antisocial chef, but that doesn’t mean he couldn't have any personality whatsoever. He came off as really awkward in most scenes (I can’t tell if this is intentional), and seriously ruined the vibes for me.

All in all I must say that this isn't the worst South Korean BL, but it's not memorable either.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/03/24/all-the-liquors-2023-bl-review/

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Sorry but this sequel just doesn’t cut it for me

What’s with all these s2 breakup plots!?

One moment they’re in a disgustingly sweet romance, and then suddenly, Jiwoo moves to the countryside after leaving Seojoon a note declaring the end of their relationship.

In TMS’ first season, Seojoon’s unpredictably exuberant personality contrasted nicely with Jiwoo’s quiet, awkward behaviour, making for an endearing watch. Things turn ugly in the sequel as their strengths morphed into their flaws. Seriously, the whole breakup tirade was unnecessarily painful to watch.

Jiwoo, whose quiet behaviour was previously seen as awkwardly adorable– comes off as selfish and unlikeable in the sequel because he’s so infuriatingly awful at communicating. Seojoon is ceaselessly giving in his attempts to make Jiwoo happy, like a puppy begging for its owner’s attention. But nothing is ever enough.

It’s a real shame that the story had to take such an ugly turn with a breakup. Let alone a breakup that made little sense to me. It would have been better off focusing on Seojoon and Jiwoo working through their relationship, given how Seojoon’s celebrity status is bound to take a toll on their private lives.

Sequels should be about the deepening of relationships, as a couple matures together. I would have liked to see more of that instead of whatever this was.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/03/to-my-star-season-2-2022-bl-review/

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You won't even know what hit you

NLMG is not only backed by a compelling storyline (romance or otherwise), great characters, and exceptional BL chemistry – it’s also beautifully produced. With plenty of aesthetically-pleasing shots soaked in warm tones, it’s reminiscent of a doomed summer romance.

The obvious main conflict in the show stems from external danger – the threat posed to the Kittrakulmethee family in the midst of a power struggle. But the second, more understated conflict is the power imbalance between Neung and Palm’s family that takes on a class dimension. This is where NLMG proved to be different from other bodyguard storylines.

In NLMG, character development is most pronounced for the young heir forced to grow up in treacherous times. Neung initially comes off as a typical, sheltered (maybe even bratty at times) rich kid but the later episodes will draw out the best of his character. Even on his worst days, Neung is constructed to be likeable and painfully human through it all.

The relationship between Palm and Neung develops at an even pace, with both parties falling (and falling hard) over the course of several delightful episodes. They also have a wonderful chemistry and compatibility – the both of them are fighters at heart; Palm with his fists, and Neung with his wits and spirit.

I enjoyed this show because it was a beautiful, beautiful emotional trip. Some particularly heartwrenching sequences from Pond and Phuwin hit me with some profound emotions that my words cannot adequately capture.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/02/28/never-let-me-go-2022-bl-review/

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I didn’t think I’d like this, but I really did

I’ve watched so many college BLs. And just when I thought I couldn’t possibly be satisfied by yet another 2 young and dumb boys … I SOMEHOW LOVE THIS!

The story of Kluen and Daonuea is a classic tale of meeting your high school crush after entering college and falling in love with them (all over again). Variations of this plot have been done to death – recall 2moons, 2gether and Bad Buddy? OK, so the plot isn’t terribly original, but so what?

I think Joong and Dunk have created a pretty solid product together with their chemistry. It’s always the chemistry that makes or breaks a typical plot or trope.

The entire show is a string of misunderstandings that could have been averted if they were brave enough to speak plainly from the start. But as the web gradually untangles and their feelings for each other are uncovered, this frustrating rollercoaster ride turns out to be quite lovely and rewarding after all.

Yes, this is yet another college BL. And one day, maybe this high school sweetheart plot will well and truly go extinct. But not this time. And until then, please take it from me: Go watch Star In My Mind.

My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/05/27/star-in-my-mind-bl-review/

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Great concept!!!

My Stand-In has multiple layers, making it a highly textured and emotionally complex BL series.

The show has a highly refreshing concept, which brings up some interesting questions on the relationship between love and personhood. If the person you loved died and revived as someone else in a different body, how does that alter the nature of the relationship?

The series should be lauded for not shying away from complex, and deeply flawed characters. It explores fairly mature themes, given the show’s sexual relationships and the characters’ manipulative nature. Perhaps it can be criticised for romanticising toxicity, but I don’t think it is any series’ job to be an ad for civics and moral education. Characters like Ming are everywhere in real life.

Ming’s mercurial tendencies and obsessiveness makes him challenging to like and root for as a character. But for Joe, who has been collateral damage from getting caught in the crosshairs of power struggles – he finally gets his turn to understand what it means to have somebody to fight for you.

And it was superbly satisfying to watch.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/07/20/my-stand-in-2024-bl-review/

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Plot had real potential

25:00 in Akasaka is a meta-BL that explores the ambiguity of offscreen BL relationships and questions whether it’s possible for actors to completely extract themselves from the character they play. There are clever visual parallels as the filming sequences often mirror what actually unfolds in real life, only to be interrupted with an abrupt “CUT!” yelled by the director.

Unfortunately, the “I’ve loved you since the first time we met” trope is a wasted opportunity in this instance. 

In my opinion, it would have been far more interesting to watch their relationship develop organically from strangers to partners, driven mostly because of their on-set interactions. 

An underdeveloped theme of the series is how their (blossoming) personal relationship influences and affects their acting. Does the onscreen romance become more realistic if the intimacy grows? Or does the gaze just get more awkward? As they get more comfortable, how does that affect the way they move around each other?

Read more: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/06/23/2500-in-akasaka-bl-review-2

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This one's definitely not overrated.

I’ve been having a rather terrible streak with South Korean BLs lately. Given that the ratings Semantic Error were pretty high, I naturally went in with high expectations for this one.

The main characters are fairly compelling as individuals. (Mercurial extrovert meets an uncompromising stickler for orderliness.) This clever trick of ‘opposites attract’ never gets old because 1) it makes for mildly amusing exchanges and 2) it creates some wonderful tension that builds up to spicier scenes.

As with many other characters in Asian BLs, Sangwoo struggles with his feelings and finds it challenging to express words of affection. To understand the shifts taking place in his heart, it is necessary to read between the lines. He doesn’t say “I’ve missed you”, he goes to see the person he adores the most and waits for them. He doesn’t say “I think I feel the same,” but initiates a kiss instead.

The pair is likeable precisely because they have so many tender moments of endearment like these. Each character subtly changes their behaviour to accommodate the other in their life. And that is how the wonderful, slow creep into romance begins.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/03/15/semantic-error-2022-review-when-eccentric-geek-meets-quirky-designer/

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i'm sorry but what the hell was that?

The wildly popular Korean BL is a cross between fluffy high school BL and psychological drama, and ends up middling on both fronts. There, I said it.

When Myungha goes along with (and even returns) Yeowoon’s affections towards him, his behaviour can come across as stiff, insincere and slightly paternalistic. As he falls deeper into a confusing relationship that borders on friendly concern and something more, the relationship gets messy and uncomfortable.

Now recall that Myungha is, in fact, 29 in real life. In the game, he falls in love with a high schooler who is more than 10 years younger than him. This age gap, unfortunately, amplifies the disconnect between the two.

Right until the very end, Love For Love’s Sake is a disjointed sequence of scenes, which are almost-dreamlike, and it never fully explains itself. There are some hypotheses on what this is all about, but there are still some plot points which remain unexplained by the end.

Good try for a fantasy/thriller type of BL but the execution was not there.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/03/19/love-for-loves-sake-2024-bl-review/

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Some parts don't make sense, but you should still watch it

Unlike certain BLs which have a straightforward story arc, 609 wasn’t as predictable. The later episodes continue to be just as compelling with a constant flow of cliffhangers– I just couldn’t stop watching this series.

I had some trouble with the ending, which struggled to account for everything that happened. Bits of the story were sloppily linked together with tenuous threads, but overall, the story was well-written and rather meticulously thought out.

Ohm and Fluke are one of those power BL couples who haven’t been paired with anybody else, and 609 Bedtime Story shows that they have a special chemistry. But this isn’t an ordinary love story. Their characters live in different timelines and universes but with similar characters and events, so it takes a bit of effort to figure out whose world the story is in.

The result is a somewhat discombobulating but nevertheless passionate affair between two people who just want to make the most of their time together. At the heart of 609 Bedtime Story lies the dizzying mysteries of time and space, but with the assurance that yes, love must somehow be able to transcend cross-dimensional obstacles. Even if nothing makes sense.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/02/07/609-bedtime-story-2022-review/

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Disappointing historical BL

What you can expect from Spring of Crush is basically Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding, but with an expanded backstory + sideplots. I appreciate the effort into a wider backstory and plot involving other characters beyond the main couple, but it proved to be deeply uninteresting and hard to follow at some points.

There is a certain charm in arranged marriages and how 2 people can gradually come to love each other – a point that Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding made – but Spring of Crush’s characters just didn’t feel likeable or compelling enough. Frankly, I only got through most of the episodes by fast forwarding scenes whenever I got bored.

Geumsong was largely a bland character who didn’t have much personality, let alone memorable qualities. Hyeseong, while playful and feisty, came off as rather flaky (understandably so, since she’s fully aware of the nature of this sham marriage) and arrogant.

Similar to Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding, there’s a love triangle going on, but that plot is miserably weak as well, and takes a weird turn towards the end.

I don’t know about you, but I would love to see a BL involving 2 men, preferably martial artists, falling in love with each other. Please. No more of that wife-disguise bullsh*t, or portrayals of domestic life between a husband and ‘wife’ (who is really just a man pretending to be a woman).

Would I recommend you watch this? No, not at all.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/08/spring-of-crush-2022-review-bl/

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Weak story held together with occasional spiciness

Love Sea is a yaoi fangirl’s fever dream.

There’s the arrogant and petulant Tongrak, a ridiculously wealthy writer with a penchant for using money to get his way. He leads a comfortable and sheltered life (but of course it’s also fraught with trauma), and then he meets Mahasamut – who is the complete opposite.

Mahasamut exists worlds apart from Tongrak’s universe of privilege. The level of explicitness (watch with headphones, guys) is similar to Love In The Air, so if you enjoyed the spiciness then, you’ll probably appreciate the spiciness now.

I found some spicy scenes to be unnecessary – shower scene I’m looking at you. There are nuances to be unpacked in terms of their dynamic. Is it a sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship? Or are they lovers, except that one person in the relationship has disproportionate access to wealth and resources and often uses this to control the other party? The show glosses over this right until the very end.

A key antagonist in the series is Tongrak’s father. The series spent quite a bit of time building up Tongrak’s traumas, hinting at a climax (and eventual resolution) involving his daddy issues.

It’s difficult to undo years of destruction. In the end, the resolution seemed a little too easy and unsatisfying.

Read more reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/

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A bar-raiser for GMMTV BLs

Moonlight Chicken is one of those shows where you think that the trailer is giving away the story. But no, you will be proven wrong.

Moonlight Chicken is so unique because it tackles several topics spanning from social issues like poverty and disability, to relationships; one-night stands, status transitions and the idea of ‘home’.

A lot of Moonlight Chicken’s relatability comes from the fact that the characters are so damned lonely. Everyone is looking for a safe harbour where they can be at ease with themselves instead of worrying about the troubles that lay ahead.

I love that GMMTV was unafraid to dive into messy tangles that don’t have a clear villain. Here, Wen and Alan are neither good guys nor bad guys. Jim doesn’t want to be the bad guy, but ends up being dragged into this miserable predicament anyway (so much for an uncomplicated one-night-stand). And that’s just life sometimes.

Earth and Mix have managed to outdo themselves in Moonlight Chicken – after 2 full-fledged series (ATOTS and Cupid’s Last Wish), their acting chops have improved tremendously. Fourth and Gemini, while only a side couple, stole the show for me.
In MLC, they play two people whose homes don’t feel like ‘home’ (more on this later), and how home, to them, is not so much a place but other people. I was extremely invested in this couple and thought they deserved an entire series as Liming and Heart.

Imo, the director successfully balanced story substance (great storyline and plots that were far from empty fluff), aesthetics (beautiful scenes), and emotional connection (relatability/how invested you get in the characters).

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/03/06/moonlight-chicken-review-bl/

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PLEASE GIVE THIS A GO

This sounds like it could be a rivals-turned-lovers trope, involving 2 reporters who used to compete with each other for scoops. A healthy dose of competitive tension makes for great chemistry. And mmMmmMM yes, it does work perfectly – but Candy Color Paradox goes beyond just that.

The series has many wonderful layers to peel away – the first layer being the romance between Kaburagi and Onoe, the second being the cases they pursue and the interview profiles they meet, and finally, what these cases reveal about their character.

For starters, the story is littered with compelling characters who aren’t what they seem at first glance. 

Even though it only had 8 episodes, I was very satisfied with the pacing of Candy Color Paradox and how the story ended. In chasing these stories and perhaps each other, the show gently explores what it means to be a partner both on the field and in their personal lives.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/02/15/candy-color-paradox-ameiro-paradox/

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Such a sweet show about childhood friends

The story spans a respectable timeline of several years – from when the boys were still in high school until they are in college. Very few shows do this, precisely because of how challenging it can be to track the development of a single character across time, but I think My Only 12% was a decent attempt.

In an era saturated with mature BLs, the innocence of My Only 12% makes it stand out from the rest. There are no kisses up until episode 12 (out of 14 episodes), but that doesn’t make the show any less romantic.

Cake and Eiw’s feelings are painfully obvious to everyone else but each other – typical for most coming-of-age love stories (see ITSAY, Star In My Mind and Sotus). The show is pretty much this exploration of this friendship as it evolves to become something more. Were all the meanders and misunderstandings worth it? I think yes.

The final 2 episodes also turned out to be a huge anti-smoking campaign – that’s fine but it was a little over the top for me and came from nowhere. Other than that, I really liked this show, the MDL reviews (>8.0) are accurate!

My full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/11/13/my-only-12-review/

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