Due to the ongoing actors and writers strikes in the west, a lot of shows in Hollywood have been postponed indefinitely or even worse, cancelled. This is the chance for Asian content to shine, to show the world what they can really do. Boys Love is just one of the genres that the masses can flock to. So cross your fingers and pray that the upcoming projects really represent. This week was a bit quiet but no doubt things will pick up soon:
Tag Archives: Pinoy BL
“Sparks Camp” Series Review (Ep.1 to 8)
Sparks Camp: Igniting Love and Authenticity in the Queer Dating Reality Show
Weekly BL Updates
The lineup of original series on streaming services is only getting hotter as the summer goes on. This week there are announcements from America to Asia, new and old, sad and happy. Keep reading to get the latest updates-
“Stay The Series” First Impressions (Ep.1 to 3)
Two men meeting by happenstance would be an ordinary thing to happen, if not for the whipsmart writing and amazing chemistry between characters Joshua (Ellis Gage) and Andre (Sebastian Castro) in “Stay The Series”. The show is 7 episodes long and details Andre’s time in America. The bilingual Sebastian Castro articulates Andre’s naïveté quite well as the series focuses on him. Beside him is the cynical Joshua, who can be described as prickly. Andre navigates the city of Los Angeles, debuting his powerful short film and winning an award for it. The set for the award ceremony was shot using clever angles, so it gives the impression that there is more to it, as well as more people in attendance. Attention to details like that make or break the image before the viewer’s eye and fortunately that is taken into account in every scene of this show.
Continue reading “Stay The Series” First Impressions (Ep.1 to 3)
Upcoming Asian BL Dramas+ Weekly BL Updates
We may be halfway through the year already, but there’s no shortage of great new TV shows still to come in 2023. This year may have already seen masterpieces from DeeHupHouse, GMMTV, Domundi and TVing, nevertheless the new releases aren’t showing any signs of slowing down.
Continue reading Upcoming Asian BL Dramas+ Weekly BL Updates
A Soulful Exchange with “Sparks Camper” Justin Macapallag
Dating shows are mostly messy or chaotic, with a flair for theatrics that borders on high end drama or notoriety. Whilst queer dating shows like “I Kissed a Boy”, “Dating Around” and the upcoming “The Ultimatum: Queer Love”, “I Kissed a Girl” have always been the usual norm; Asian BL industry had zealously kept away from this trend in the past. Gone are those days and now the Boy’s Love universe has joined the reality show bandwagon. Following into the footsteps of Korean dating shows like “His Man” & “Merry Queer”, Philippines has added flavor to this genre with their very own spicy sojourn. Titled “Sparks Camp”, the dating show is an impactful journey where the contestants go through a series of challenges, so they can find the “Mutual Spark”.
Continue reading A Soulful Exchange with “Sparks Camper” Justin Macapallag
Favourite BL Dramas in the First Quarter (Jan to Apr 2023)- Part III
The first quarter of 2023 was filled with scripts that were romantic, fun-filled and also inspiring. Walking down the memory lane, we are actually delighted that the BL industry is slowly evolving in terms of storytelling and we have narratives that are truly making a difference. In today’s feature, join our authors as they share their favorites- the ones that will leave you yearning for more!
Continue reading Favourite BL Dramas in the First Quarter (Jan to Apr 2023)- Part III
“The Day I Loved You” Series Review (Ep.3 to 8)
It came as a surprise to me how much I ended up enjoying The Day I Loved You, given that I didn’t know much about it before I started.
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“Sparks Camp” First Impressions (Ep.1 & 2)
While looks can be discerning, reality shows aren’t exactly the best judge of character; especially dating shows that could be farce or scripted. Reality shows have always existed in the broader sense and these days they are being inculcated into the Boys’ Love diaspora. Makes us question the belief of “How a fictional genre could incorporate a dating show which is undeniably being marketed as realistic?”. We could keep arguing about the technicalities, but it doesn’t change the fact that BL sells and nestling these shows under the hugely popular genre helps in promotions and marketing. So, when the Korean launched their very own version of dating shows like “His Man” and “Merry Queer”, they were applauded for their efforts. The format was new, and the contestants were intriguing. They had a story to share, each of them. While “His Man” was intentionally gay oriented, “Merry Queer” was blissfully more aligned with the queer community because of its diversified selection of contestants. Both shows ended on a positive response; although “His Man” did court controversy later. Hong Kong’s “Boyscation” wasn’t much appreciated, but it did open the floodgates for future remakes.
Weekly BL Updates
Ask anybody and they will tell you the world of BL is a lot to keep up with these days. There’s a seemingly never ending pile of new shows, returning shows and shows we keep meaning to catch up on. This week was no different as it came with a few surprises. Frank and Lee filmed a whole series in secret, Vietnamese Production house ‘MCV’ released their TIKTOK series ‘Ey Mi Amor’ and Strongberry decided to let fans vote on which series they should produce next. All in all, it was a great week. So sit back and catch up on what happened.
The BL Xpress 