I really, really wanted to like this series. With every fiber of my being, I was hoping it would come through at the end with something to make me like it; but it just did not. This manifests more like an ‘afternoon school special’ or a Hallmark movie. Seemingly sweet, cute, and feels adorable and you think has a point, but it really does not. It is all so superficial. It started out much like a light romantic BL with catchy music to draw you in, assuming this will be cheery, light-hearted, and charming. Unfortunately, this series is self-absorbed, unromantic, and honestly, irritating. Save one character, the rest of them are rather shallow individuals.

The story centers around Charlie (Kych Minamoto), an 18-year-old, going on 12. I say that because he slips from being an adult to immaturity, much like a young teenager pretending to and wanting to be an adult. Charlie is a budding vlogger and is hoping to become sufficiently well-known enough to start making money from it. He lives with his father, Janong (Ghaello Salva), who is a widower. To say that Charlie’s dad is a saint would be a vast understatement. He is the most understanding and accepting father in any BL I have ever seen. In fact, in all honesty and reality, this is his story; not Charlie’s. There would be no story without Janong.

Recently, a new neighbor moved into the house next door to them. Mico (Michael Uer) is an astonishingly handsome, extremely well built, and buff man who Charlie is attracted to and becomes fixated on, immediately. Charlie’s best friend and confidant is Bianca (Devi Descarten) who by any stretch of the imagination is one of the most exasperating supporting characters in a series that has ever been introduced. She gives both sage and toxic advice almost in the same breath at almost the same time. I suppose she meant well, but her advice, a lot of the time, led Charlie to make bad choices. She knows Charlie so well, so easily planted seeds of doubt in his brain where none should have existed. I honestly found her to be more noxious than helpful. She was incredibly annoying.

The story meanders for 5 episodes with Charlie pining over Mico, misinterpreting and then pouting over almost every action that Mico takes as proof that he is not interested in him. Naturally, he turns towards Bianca who gives him horrible advice; then with the father left to pick up the broken pieces after Charlie has fallen apart. Of course, anyone who offers you a job, wants to spend time with you, tells you clearly that his business partner is only that and nothing more, and invites you to dinner and tells you that he loves to cook for you is so obviously not interested in you. How could you possibly think he is interested in you, in even the slightest way? Maybe because your best friend Bianca said that she saw Mico and his business partner ‘together’ and therefore concludes that you, Charlie, might be being played, so you better be prepared? This is what a friend is for, right?

The real star of this series is Ghaella Salva as Janong, Charlie’s father. He is the best. I have seen my fair share of good role models for fathers, but by far, he is the leader of the pack. He has known that Charlie is gay since he was a young boy and accepted it. Both he and the mom, as he tells Charlie, were scared but wanted to raise him with all the love, care, acceptance, and respect that is expected for every child. While he knows Charlie has a streak of immaturity in him, he never reverts to negativity but redirects with alternative solutions in facing realities. “Love is stronger than fear. You have to face it head on”, he gently tells Charlie. Always supportive of his son. Always loving as well. Ghaella’s acting skills are the right combination of nurturing, good humor, an even temper, and always, being the supporting pillar for his son, no matter how unnecessarily fragile Charlie becomes. He is – a Dad. One of the most beautiful portrayals of a father in a BL I have ever seen. Kudos. This should require watching for all fathers of gay sons.

There are reasons why this series fell flat.

1. This is not a BL. There is no romance. While at the end, Mico and Charlie confessed their likeness for each other, they did not even kiss. Only a nudge, grudgingly. In addition, there is no compatibility. Their relationship felt icky to me. Mico is brawny and appeared so much more mature, while Charlie acted so child-like. Even though he is 18, he seems younger, and his maturity level is that of a 12-year-old. It just felt ‘off’ to me. This is a classic definition of a mismatched couple. The whole ending felt unusually awkward, with not even an attempt to show they were either boyfriends or in a relationship. You simply cannot look at this as a BL.

2. Kych Minemoto as Charlie and Devi Descartin as Bianca (even though her role is not necessarily a constructive one) are good and sometimes rise to the occasion, given the story they are asked to tell. However, Michael Uer as Mico, I am so sorry to say, is completely miscast. While he looks good, this is not the role for him. He looked and acted thoroughly awkward in the part. There was zero romantic connection and absolutely no screen chemistry between the two actors. You cannot feign romance when two individuals are so uncomfortable doing anything, even remotely romantic. Honestly, there was not even an attempt to make this even appear as if they were a viable couple.

3. The story and plot went nowhere. Too much time was spent on Charlie’s self-centered behaviors and not enough time on the whole concept of why the series was labeled ‘Plantito’. The term, meaning people (males) who became fond of gardening during the pandemic, had a few valid references but it was all superseded by Charlie’s self-wallowing behaviors and Mico’s lack of personal communication skills and overall poor screenplay. If this was supposed to parallel the cultivation of a budding relationship between Mico and Charlie, then it utterly failed. That would have required some nurturing of the relationship, some growth, and an energy source; none of which existed. This relationship was not even planted in the soil to grow. It all seemed and felt so rushed too. The only exception to the inadequate script was the dialogues between the father and son. Those were indeed some of the finest and most poignant moments in the series.

I am saddened by the inanity of this series. You have all the makings of a great series. It was a good concept. An enthusiastic young gay who wanted to create a business with a completely understanding and accepting father and a hot, handsome hunky, plantito neighbor with the support of a friend and confidant by your side. Instead, his ‘friend’ essentially advised him to break his word, therefore losing his honor and integrity, then continuously fabricated stories, and twisted meanings. Charlie, meanwhile, incessantly wallowed in a sea of self-pity and immaturity. Mico ineptly spirals and takes refuge in his inability to be upfront with his feelings for Charlie but can be quite forceful and decisive about everything and everyone else. Meanwhile, the ray of sunshine in this whole mess is the father. He is the mother and father, the provider, the moral compass, the biggest supporter, and a constant source of strength. It is also his story.

I am so disappointed. To umph this series up, I would rename it “Papa, Son, and The Plantito.” He deserves some distinction. After all, he was the one who carried this series.

Rating- 2.5 out of 5

Streaming on- Puregold YouTube Channel