Boys’ Love may have fallen under the business model of Yaoi, with its softcore porn over plot in many recent Thai series. But happily Japan skipped that memo, continuing to put out thought-provoking series that take the established BL genre to new places. Using pre-existing notions of what to expect from a series where two men kiss, and applying the societal views on the character’s specific circumstances.
Continue reading “Love is Like a Poison” Series Review (Ep.4 to 12)
“All is fair in love and lies” seems to be the theme for TBS’s “Love is Like a Poison”. A mature Boys’ Love story between two men from the world of lawyers and legal cases. Young lawyer Shiba Ryoma played by Hama Shogo has been handed a hard case of proving whether a cryptocurrency company used an influencer’s likeness without his permission. Like a domino falling, he meets conman Haruto played by Hyodo Katsumi. Shiba has been unable to find any blatant legal ways to make his case. But like a second domino following the first, Haruto’s volunteered voice recordings bring the validity of the case before the judges. Despite Shiba’s misgivings and knowledge that Haruto is a conman, he still allows the man into his life and home.
Continue reading “Love is Like a Poison” First Impressions (Ep.1 to 3)
In a unique story of ghost exorcisms, a down on his luck young man named Peach (Tay Tawan), and his little sister Pangpang (Jan Ployshompoo) meet an heir to a real estate company named Home (New Thitipoom), who thinks he can just sell all the assets his grandfather left him and move to America. Something the volunteer lawyer Kan (Mook Worranit) is supposed to help occur. But it becomes clear very quickly the “Get Rich Scheme” had a simple detail he wasn’t made aware of- the assets are all haunted. Because of the ghost issue, his millionaire dollar scheme has more than one hitch.
Continue reading “Peaceful Property” First Impressions (Ep.1 to 3)
Thai BL series have fully embraced the Yaoi elements with the 2024’s batch of series. We had shows like “House of Stars”, “Playboyy” and “Only Friends” which compensated for a lack of quality script or good acting by some of the cast with the sensuality, a heavy lean on sexual situations, or brevity by characters who originally presented themselves as cool serious personas; doing outrageous and funny things that somehow worked in the mini universes the series created.
Continue reading “Love Sea The Series” First Impressions (Ep.1 & 2)
WeTv’s new Thai Boylove series “Knock Knock, Boys!” is a surprisingly intriguing series. Four strangers move into a boarding house, each with pasts their secretive about. But three of the four share the same fate of being broke twenty-something’s, a fate the youngest of them doesn’t share. The virgin, Almond (Nokia Chinnawat) is quite rich and offers a deal to his new roommates. Whoever can help him “pop his cherry” with the man he crushes on will have their rent paid for a year. Something Peak (Best Vittawin), Thanwa (Seng Wichai), and Latte (Jaonine Jiraphat) jump at.
Continue reading “Knock Knock Boys!” First Impressions (Ep.1 & 2)
“Love Syndrome : The Beginning” is the self-indulgent reimagining of the recently released “Love Syndrome 3”. Recently deceased director and writer F. Nontapat Sriwichai put his heart and soul into this hour and thirty minute feature film and it truly shows. Glistening well-made sets, close up shots of the men that pepper the film with unique, stand out acting (everyone besides Def Rattanan, whose Day was the worst part of the film in my opinion) do a phenomenal job.
Continue reading “Love Syndrome : The Beginning” Movie Review
The highly anticipated “Strange Way of Life” a short film that ran festival circuits and had a limited release in major theaters is now available on streaming platforms and video on demand. The film directed and written by Pedro Almodovar stars Ethan Hawke as Sheriff Jake and Pedro Pascal as Silva. The story is comparable to Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” due to the “Love that can’t be talked about” situation between Jake and Silva. Something that started 25 years ago and hasn’t been forgotten by neither men despite the distance between them; only to be reignited when Silva appears at Jake’s door. But are his intentions purely for Jake or is there more to it?
Crushes and being the most popular boy in school isn’t the only thing on a boy’s mind, this is proven true by the new GMMTV BL series “My Boo the Series”. Though by the end of the first episode, it’s not too far off for main character Moo played by Keen Suvijak. The boy on the cusp of graduating from high school if he could just focus on school. But much to his mother’s chagrin he wants to be an idol through dancing. A desire that leads the headstrong boy to sent to the country for a punishment that would allow him to graduate. The spoiled boy that Moo is would be overwhelmed if not for the near constant support of an older boy named Kang (Sea Dechchart). Why Kang helps Moo is made logically clear early on as he helps a woman get to the market and home safely.
Continue reading “Only Boo The Series” First Impressions (Ep.1 & 2)
Yaoi is a genre of anime and manga that features boys and men engaged in the most outrageous and erotic situations. You know from the moment you opened one and pressed the play button what you’ll get. Two men kissing at some point and more being the general draw that pulls readers and viewers into spending their time enjoying it. Thailand’s Boys’ Love for the past few years seems to have noticed the success of this rule, and has outspokenly modeled recent shows based on this concept. Attractive strong men and effeminate pretty men are in hi definition focus but now they face witches, demons, ghosts, abusive bosses, and the most venomous women for that happy ending we all secretly or overtly wait episodes for.
Boy meets boy, boy antagonizes the said boy to get his attention in ways the audiences can relate to and that draws the viewer in; creating the desire to know why boy one is teasing boy two in ways that can either be violent or cute. It’s a simple formula, one that Thailand web series or television shows seems to treat like a tradition with the recent crop of series that have been coming out every month since “Love By Chance” elevated the genre to worldwide popularity. It’s a simple enough situation which makes the 2024 release “Deep Night The Series” iteration of the situation very foreboding.
Continue reading “Deep Night The Series” First Impressions (Ep.1 & 2)
The BL Xpress 