This is a classic. When it first arrived on the stage in 2020, it was quite notable. In a sense, it was refreshingly different because it dealt with more adult content. However, it is a roller coaster of a series, honestly. This is one of those series that everyone will profess to dislike but secretly love. It is a guilty pleasure for sure.

On balance, this series is messy, cringe worthy, and sometimes makes no sense. But is so much fun to watch! The cinematography is quite good, with its nice settings and realistic environments. The wardrobes they wore were first-rate and are just stunning on these guys and greatly enhanced their natural charisma and charm. The music (which honestly, I rarely notice in series) was very good especially the theme song. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Although it begins as a ‘comedy’ and many scenes are hilarious, I just was not sure where it was going to go. The story starts out mundanely and has a familiarity to it. Yet what drove me to continue to watch it was its over-the-top-characters and the down-right doleful love story peppered with fervently adult-charged scenes that should not have worked but ended up being quite passionate. Finally, with an ending that is crafted by fairytales and moonbeams. It is so Disney-like!

Honestly, the story’s content is immaterial and at times nonsensical. It centers around the two lives of young men who are polar opposites. One is from a very rich family but is lonely and bitter, feeling isolated from them. He has an arrogant streak and is quick to make snap judgements. While the other is a struggling but very smart college student, growing up certainly not rich but surrounded by love from his family. Sky (Miko Gallardo) manages to get an internship at Ace of Cakes which is operated by Ace (Aki Torres). Their first meeting is less than stellar but there is something in those early exchanges between the two that transcends the superficial dislike of each other.

At first, Sky is an irritant but someone Ace cannot stop thinking about. And the same holds true for Sky with Ace. While both considered themselves to be straight, this story enkindles an honest transition of being receptive to allow feelings for another person to stir in them which they did not think they were capable of having. And those deeper and profound feelings were for another male. Simply defined as love.

With both so astoundingly and astonishingly handsome, they were drawn to each other like a magnet. They made their roles so totally believable and relatable. Their kissing scenes and the more intimate scenes are candidly erotic and frankly are a joy to watch because of the passion they showed for one another in the process. They were not afraid to be amorous and make it feel sensuous, honest, and organic. There are also some intensely interpersonal emotional scenes between the two that are very deep and made me teary-eyed. Their chemistry together is stunning and at times left me both crying and smiling simultaneously. It is magical! They have marvelous screen chemistry together.

This series gets SO much better in the second half. It loses the silliness and gets into real heart wrenching situations that will leave you emotionally drained and sensing how the characters were feeling. I was especially moved by the last 4 episodes. They are worth the wait and go beyond being compelling. The screenplay of the last third of the series became most auspicious. For example, the scene with Sky’s father and him are some of the best scenes between a father and son I have ever seen and left me drained. How Sky and Ace’s handled Sky’s former girlfriend, Moira (Shanice Eve Bailon), is tender, incredibly endearing, and full of hope. (Her role was played brilliantly and could not have been easy because her character is deliciously unlikeable). Also, Sky’s speech as Cum Laude is so good that some of his lines are so quotable and memorable. He says to Ace, “I can’t promise to love you forever because I can’t live that long. But I promise to love you as long as I live.” Trite perhaps and maybe a bit corny, but to someone receiving such a sonnet, they are indelible. He ends by saying, “[Ace]…the person who made me realize that love has no gender”. No plainer words need be said.

Aki is an especially dynamic actor as he has many highly emotional and intensely personal scenes. He can put on the ‘waterworks’ better than anyone I have ever seen and can display such a profoundly sad and ‘puppy dog’ look that is endearing and realistic. A shout-out to Miko as well. He is also superb, especially in the outside scene when it is pouring down rain, and he (literally) pours his heart out to Ace. That is indeed a memorable scene.

However, it has a cadre of unnecessary overly dramatic gay characters that are in-your-face obvious. All of it is messy, so cheesy, and tacky but you find yourself completely mesmerized by the insanity of it all. Sky’s brother, Ken (Red Mendoza), is wasted unfortunately. He is an exceedingly good-looking individual who is presented as a caricature which is unfortunate as he does have some pivotal scenes later. Sad really because he can act but is treated a bit one dimensionally. Then there is, Miss Becky (Ameer Sanchez), as a maid/mother/confidant figure. This is depicted so whimsically both for comic relief and nurturing comfort. Yet, there is a certain farcical nature to the role that one could not tell if the part was being played seriously or not. Miss Becky does grow on you and before you know it, you will also begin to ask yourself what would Miss Becky do? (You will get this reference). She has some pivotal scenes later in which this role becomes very edifying. Then there is Gio Emprese who plays the role of Jelai, a jack of all trades but a master at none. A very, very annoying role that is ingratiating, irritating, and intrusive, as well as engaging in blatant sexual harassment in a workplace. His work behavior if this was real life would be highly suspect and considered extremely inappropriate. Perhaps entertaining at times and obviously for comedic effect, harassment, especially of interns who are so vulnerable, is just not a subject matter I find humorous even for a romantic comedy. But again, he also had pivotal scenes later that make his role more integrative into the story. I just wish he was not so one dimensional either or creepy.

These are NOT bad actors; they really tried to bring their characters to life but their parts in the screenplay were written for them to be caricatures and to a degree shocking. However, the remaining supporting roles are excellent. They were all by the end engaging, sincere, and played their roles with great emotion, strength, and deliverability. This series would not work if it were not for them.

The dialogue especially in the second half of the series brings into focus the difficulty of being gay and loving who you want to love but overcoming those obstacles. The message is sprinkled with several flat-out funny scenes especially with the kidnapping of Ace’s dog, ChukChuk. (If I ever get a dog, I shall name it ChukChuk. I just loved that name)! The dance sequence at the end of the series is reminiscent of the one from the movie ”Titanic” which gives it an extra flair of romance and fantasy.

Writing this now seems a bit jumbled and disjointed, which is exactly how this series is. But it is pure entertainment and fun. If you have not watched this BL from the past, please treat yourself to pure joy. You will be rewarded at the end with a moving story, fine acting, steamy love scenes artfully done, and haunting emotions exchanges minus a few cringe worthy threads. Remember it is a rom-com. All these characters come together in the end for what I think is a good synergistic series.

Rating- 4.75 out of 5

Streaming on- GMMTV YouTube Channel