Category Archives: Reviews

“The Boyfriend Season Two” First Impressions (Ep.1 to 6)

I was scrolling through my X feed when it suddenly dawned on me that the second season of the Japanese gay dating reality show “The Boyfriend” has premiered. It was even more shocking that Netflix had dropped six episodes on the first day itself!!

Set in the snow clad mountains of Hokkaido, Japan, Season Two returns with a careful portrayal of same-sex relationships. While Season One curated to different perspectives and audiences, the sequel endeavors to set a benchmark for shocking precedents. It is slightly mature, overtly rehearsed and has a time-tested formulaic personality.

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“The Story of Bi Hyeong: Enchanted Master of the Goblin” Series Review (Ep.1 to 12)

“The Story of Bi Hyeong: Enchanted Master of the Goblin” is a Korean BL that stands out as one of the most genre-blending dramas of 2025, mixing Korean folk tales, slow-burn romance, and a bit of tension into a story that feels both ancient and modern. While the series is loosely based on a mythological tale drawing inspiration from the folklore surrounding Bi-hyung, the Goblin King, I am not familiar with the tale and will not attempt to write it, as I am afraid I might mistakenly add something different.

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“Awaiting Dawn” Series Review (Ep.1 to 12)

This is anthology, an omnibus of human experiences that happen to all of us at one time or another in our lives. Realities involve falling in love, losing it, or perhaps realizing we never really had it in the first place. Being ever so cautious of the next time, yet it is feeling so right. Experiences involve making mistakes in life but being able to move forward from those mistakes. It is a treatise of how we live up to family expectations yet be ourselves. Constant searching for the right answers to questions, on whether we give up love to pursue our dreams or stay behind with the one we love. With so many other daily decisions in between.

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“A Man Who Defies The World of BL Final” Series Review (Ep.1 to 6)

To be sure, this story is a lot more of the same. A few more BL tropey ‘flags’ that trigger Bl developments were introduced that Mob (Inukai Atsuhiro) wiggles out from with seemingly little enthusiasm or creativity to them. Just like he did in all the other seasons. This time, honestly, I did not find any of it even funny or humorous. It felt old and came across as the usual modus operandi. Even his parents seemed relegated to a more tertiary role. And his brother was, well, just his brother. It was all more-of-the-same. Everyone looked – tired and ready to move on.

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“A Man Who Defies The World of BL 2024” Series Review (Ep.1 to 6)

While I have a great affinity for Seasons One and Two of this series, this set left me just a tad feeling deprived. It felt ‘empty’ and a bit stale. While certainly entertaining and funny overall, it lost a bit of its magic; at least for me. However, its ending did redeem itself.

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“Lover Merman” Series Review (Ep.1 to 8)

Frankly, I am not sure how I sat through this miscue. It is an inferior story with pedestrian acting. There I said it and am glad I did. I just do not know when these sappy BLs will end. This is yet another in a L-O-N-G line of them. What saved this series from being on my Worst List is the cinematography. The water scenes are exceptional, but there are not nearly enough of them. If you are going to have a story about mermen, how about showing more of them and their communion? Also, I like the idea that mermen could live on land and become a part of regular human society. The notion that during the full moon, mermen HAD to go back into the ocean to cleanse themselves of their ‘toxins’ was quite intriguing, and I found that to be a nice twist to the story. Further, one figure, and a minor one at that, altogether makes this series worth watching, overall, for the depth of his characterization and his intense understanding of the persona he was portraying.

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