The Good:

Kefei and Dawei are redeeming characters that offer perfect relief for the some of the more dense story lines.

The ending was funny, to see them all gossiping at such an inappropriate time made me laugh.

I loved that it wasn't a happy ever after story per se.

The Bad:

There were a lot of forced interactions and grabbiness in the first few episodes.

Ziyuan is a limpet. She's an unbearable character throughout the entire show.

Weiwei constantly flip flops between having a backbone and not having a backbone and it's exhausting to watch.

The Downright Ugly:

The writers use shock tactics and then never explain the point. For example Kehuan and Ziyuan broke up because she aborted his child. It's never explained why and it's said in such a matter of fact way. A second example is agreeing to sleep with Kehuan for a discount on the house, admittedly she didn't do it in the end but what was the point.

Also what was with the weird kinky handcuffed to a bed dating party in the first couple of episodes?

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I understand why this was made, but I don't think I like it.

This story about a man reminiscing on a past love is an important story that we need to hear. We need a wider variety of LGBT people in our media and that include older people. However, I don't think showing this story through the metaphor of a grown man seeing a naked teenager is the way to do it?

It's definitely a conversation starter and I would love to talk about it to anyone who has watched it. I think this is an acquired taste in short films. I completely understand this film, I stand by it's message but I am not completely sold on the metaphor that they used to show this message. We should not be putting burdens or memories of parents on a child's shoulder.

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[Before reading this review please note that when I originally posted it I wasn't aware of the novel. While I stand by this review of the series, I don't think it is reflective of the novel if talking to other people is anything to go by. So maybe read the novel yourself before watching?]

Before we start this review, let's meet the cast. To your left you have Tharn 'I'm only a top when I'm being creepy but I'll bottom if I'm in love with you' and to your right you have Type 'I really hate gays, except this one. This is the gay man I'm dating but that doesn't make me gay.'

The relationship in this drama is beyond unhealthy. It glorifies manipulation and confrontation instead of trust, understanding and communication. If either one of the leads were female, everyone would be dropping this drama like there is no tomorrow. I will admit the two leads have an amazing amount of chemistry and much like a car crash about to happen, you can't stop watching them. However, the sheer amount of chemistry doesn't make up for the terrible story telling.

[Redacted as it contained some pretty sizable spoilers.]

I watched it after reading rave reviews about how this is the most groundbreaking BL drama ever with amazing chemistry. I gravitate towards dramas with cohabitation and great chemistry regardless of gender so it seemed like a no brainer to pick this up but I have to go against the grain and say this was a terrible story who got lucky with the cast.

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Why were the best episodes behind another pay wall?

The two final episodes were the best in terms of acting, story and consistent editing and yet you needed VIP Premium to watch them whereas the rest of the series you only needed VIP Standard on IQIYI.

The final episodes had more story than the first 8 put together. The acting was closer to what I’d expect from a series and there was less of the comedy sounds added over - apart from the scene with Ai. The use of music there really confused me and gave me a slight headache.

Pepper’s acting shined in the final story where he got to express a full range of emotions. I hope he gets to act in more shows that will be able to platform his talent.

I understand that the production needs to make money but why would you hide your best content behind an additional paywall and let the mediocre content be what the masses are consuming?

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Everyone should see this.

This is an excellent short film about the realities of living everyday with HIV. Not many people understand that if you are consistent in taking your medication you become what they refer to as 'undetectable' which means you can't pass it on. However, people just asume you're going to spread it and that they will die, this is true even in 2021. This film shows the harsh reality of this lack of knowledge.

It also showcases a father's quite love. He might not say he supports his son with words but he does so with actions instead. This is directly contrasted with the loud, playful love he shares with his grandson. Seeing these two experiences at the same time makes it easier to understand how this man's life became so isolated and lonely.

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I thought I'd watch this series as it was something quick and simple to get me out of a slump and I ended up watching the entire thing in one sitting. Admittedly it's only a short series with the entire thing only taken about 3 hours or so to watch but it was really fun. The premise is really interesting but if you're looking for a really accurate criminal or medical drama, you might want to look elsewhere.

I really liked the fact there wasn't really a love line in this drama. If you wanted there to be one it's easy to find little aspects of it but it was never this huge in your face thing throughout the drama. I loved that there was a kickass lead who didn't mind being cute and sticking her tongue out. It was really refreshing.

Some things I didn't like included the how the soundtrack nearly always had this annoying noises like huge beatles crawling or bones cracking, you know that weird popping noise? That. It kind of ruined some of the suspensful scenes for me. Also, scenes that were completely normal and average were given huge suspensful soundtracks and it was a bit off putting.

In conclusion, if you're looking for something quick to fill some times and don't mind taking your dramas with a pinch of salt; watch this!

[As a side note, if you hate unfinished endings, or cliff hangers, watch this with caution!]

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im tired of hating myself so that you can love me

I'm tired of hating myself so that you can love me - that line broke me. The way this story was told is creative and shows growth doesn't mean pretending wrongs didn't happen. It shows that it is important to acknowledge one's own issues in order to overcome them. It had a big impact considering how short it was. I would have loved to see this be a bit longer, maybe with more focus on the discussion they needed to have. I appreciated the dance party that added a bit of fun to the tense situation that occurred but I would have loved a more in depth discussion about their relationship.

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A sweet, little short film

This short film isn't breaking any ground in the world of queer representation, but it is just a lovely depiction of a queer relationship. It shows the anxiety and nerves relating to the first time you are intimate with a new partner. True and Tone talk about condoms! Safe Sex!!!!!

The film ends by showing the morning after where True shows care for Tone who is in obvious discomfort following their night before. This is a great thing to see in any film because it is important to show the realities of sex, but it is rare in queer media.

I would love to see these two actors in another role as 10 minutes isn't really enough to judge their acting. Throughout the short film, they show good chemistry which just makes the entire short film somewhat sweeter.

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As another review said, the first episode had me giggling. To see someone mourning the loss of their pet and then kicking their CEO is funny. The first episode was refreshing until he forced her to accept him as her slave. If you're forcing someone to become a master, they're not a master at all. That is the point that causes the downfall of this entire show.

It's not funny that he waited outside her house for hours. It's not funny that he kept 100 pictures of her in his wallet. It's not funny to pretend to be dead and it definitely isn't funny to follow someone around the world without telling them because you want to 'find somewhere to be alone where no one knows you.' None of that is funny, but it is excellent grounds for a restraining order.

The only redeeming features to this show were that the female lead could act well, as could the second male lead. I stand by my thoughts that she should have gone to America with the thoughtful heart surgeon instead of letting that creep anywhere near her.

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I'm still stuck on their hair!

This is the first Taiwanese drama I have watched in a while. It was sweet, it made me laugh, it made my heart sink and it made me think. I loved the pacing. I loved the unrequited love. I loved the side characters. The last episode finished the story off perfectly; lots of laughter and a great almost-epilogue.

This drama had a great cast of side characters. The parents definitely win the most points for best side characters as they were the oddest parents I've seen in a drama, yet obviously cared about their daughter so much. The way her dad rented the house of his old friends touches my heart, especially as its something you wouldn't expect from a 'gangster.' Notable mentions include Angelina, and the Fighters from the other school who were obsessed with South Korea.

It's not winning any awards for a trail blazing, never seen before plot but it does the simple plot justice. While I don't like the use of car accidents as a plot device to further the story, it did its job and furthered the story enough to see development without having to wait an age. I have an intense dislike of mid-episode title reels that are too cinematic to reflect that drama but those appear in every Taiwanese drama.

The only other issue I had with this drama was the styling. The hairstyles for both leads looked odd, more so for the male lead who's hair looked like a bad toupee at some points. However I have a feeling this is due to the need for multiple hairstyles to show the passing of time and changing of styles. You can tell they looked most appropriate to their roles in the epilogue.

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Strongberry needs more support from us.

Strongberry have consistently been providing us with excellent stories from a wide variety of people within the LGBT community and yet they are still not given proper funding. Imagine what Strongberry could do with more funding?

This was short but oh, so sweet. There was the inherent awkwardness of trying to ascertain if someone is interested in you, the careful conversation of whether or not this is a relationship and seeing this play out was beautiful. Watching the two conversations happening simultaneously shows both sides of the protagonist's personality; the shy barista who has a crush on a customer, and the braver version of him who is talking about his crush to someone online. I love the dichotomy.

I think everyone should watch this. It's short and easy to consume. The only downside is that it will leave you wanting more.

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I'm still thinking about this.

It's been a hot minute since I've watched this show, but I am so in love with in. Could I watch an extended version of this? Yes. I'd watch this if it was 13 parts, and I'd love every second of it but the amazing thing is; it doesn't need to be longer. It is perfectly complete in 2 parts. Their story they are trying to show is complete. It's beautiful.

The acting is fabulous. Strongberry has a way with picking their actors, they always pick actors who can show the real lived experiences of queer people. Strongberry are just hitting it out of the park with all their shorts. My only wish is that Strongberry are funded enough to make a full series because the stories they have to tell are important.

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Who'd have thought it?

I am the last person you will find watching a drama about the army, notable exception being DotS. However, I also love the 1920s aesthetic so I thought I'd give this a go. I'd also recently The World Owes Me a First Love so knew that I liked Bai Lu's acting.

Everyone has mad chemistry in this drama and I'm living for it. Seeing people on screen with chemistry is the difference between a drama I can believe and one that's just okay. Although I did ultimately route for Xiang and Yanzhen, I could easily see why people route for Xiang and Junshan.

I loved the comedic aspects of this drama. Part of the issue I usually have with military dramas or political dramas is the lack of humour; so this drama was refreshing. The scenes with Yanzhen trying to distract Liangchen were cute and humorous without detracting from the more serious side of the drama.

You can't help but love all the secondary characters! They're all so well developed that you understand their motives, their stories and their goals. I loved not being tied to just one story, and found myself really caring about the side characters. I was so happy when Qu Manting return. I even found myself crying when Li Wenzhong died, even more than I cried when Huang Song did. Why did they have to kill almost everyone?! I cried more than once.

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The Good:

Meiko and the supporting cast were the only real reason to carry on watching.

The piano scene was pretty cute and well shot.

The Bad:

There were flashbacks shown that didn't appear to have any context. It was just a random scene that appeared and then on the film went.

The Downright Ugly:

Biting ears isn't sexy kids. Neither is ignoring consent. Neither is being downright horrible to a woman and expecting her to fall in love with you. If you can suspend you belief in being a moral, upstanding person than this is an okay film. If you're a fan of morals, and consent then maybe chose something else!

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My Short and Sweet Series

This series is short but it left such an impact on me. It took me a while to write this because I wasn't 100% sure what I thought about it. I should preface this review by saying I am a huge fan of Jang Euisoo so I will watch everything and anything he is in and that is the only reason I started this. However, I was soon sucked in.

The relationship is new and fragile, We get to watch it start, face turbulence, and overcome issues. It is a realistic relationship in that it shows everything is not perfect, however due to the length of the series, the feelings can come across as a bit rushed. There's nothing that really identifies the time between major milestones in their relationship so we don't know the pacing but this is easy to put to the back of your mind while watching it.

The restaurant owner is a little bit of a cold soul, seeing her warm up a bit towards the end while she remembers the journey it took to get to where she is. It was nice to see some character development for her. We very rarely see women represented well in shows that fall under the category of BL dramas. While having this woman have a storyline that isn't directly related to her romance with a man, this drama still doesn't pass the Bechdel test. If that's something you care about, now you know the answer.

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