as a Huge ForceBook Girl i couldnt believe it when i realized i almost wanted to skip their scenes to get to sandray. that pairing is laced with something how have they done this like woah. obsessed.
other thoughts on the show:
-all the topmew scenes are so scary to me i havent read any posts about it yet but they were all SO OMINOUS i seriously couldnt tell if i was supposed to feel so unsettled or if something went wrong with the editing. i dont trust top at all. no matter how hot force is i wont fall for it
-boston is theeee messiest bitch i also dont trust a single word that comes out of his mouth. im going to need a serious change of attitude to start shipping him with nick, nobody deserves to be stuck with him for now
-sand my boy who can do no wrong. i loooooooove him as a character, sometimes gmmt nails the character + actor + backstory + couple combo and youre like woah ive been thinking about him for 10 hours now.
overall i am enjoying this show SO MUCH but sandray have absolutely got me wrapped around their fingers i need more
ok the why r u remake is kind of perfect from my point of view. i really thought it was going to be an absolute disaster but i have been so impressed by their attention to detail and the way theyre following all the important points of the original storyline while adapting it to kdrama tropes.
i think they are preserving the essence of each character quite well (i think "fighter" is the one that got rivisited the most but i also think that zee as an actor added so many subtle unscripted details to the character that would have been hard to replicate).
if you take it for what it is, a remake, and you are familiar enough with the source material i think it's a lot easier to appreciate the work the korean production has done. i have been especially impressed by the filming locations and how closely they resemble the originals while also adding a lot of typical kdrama setting elements (ex. "tutor"'s room has the same layout and even similar bedsheets as the original but the decorations are so clearly korean in style). can't wait to see the countdown kiss! i think it's so cool that they moved it from a rooftop to a bus stop which is SUCH a kdrama spot, while maintaining the original color palette.
the actors are doing a great job as well, maybe it's because i went into it with zero expectations but it's been so surprisingly good so far (keeping in mind it's a korean remake of a flawed messy bl) (i dont think anyone who hasnt spent 3 years thinking about the original why r u would enjoy it as much)
Anna please come back! What have you been up to? I’m your forever anon friend missing you on my dashboard as usual, I’m going to start using an emoji now because I can’t remember which questions are mine anymore lol -☁️
Hiiiii 💖 I've been doing quite well, very busy with work so I barely have any free time left but my summer break is starting soon thankfully. I only really have time to keep up with one bl at a time, so lately I've been watching be my favorite. I wasn't expecting much from it but it's been a pleasant surprise!
Also, in june I went on a trip to Japan and South Korea!!!! It was amazing and I already want to go back! I was able to buy the The Eighth Sense photobook in a physical store 😁😁
Other than that I spent all spring following boys planet and voting for Jiwoong, and now I am extremely invested in the group so a lot of my time goes to catching up on zb1 content.
I don't know if I'll be active as before here anytime soon, but I am always extremely online on twitter (well... x?) so you can find me at @dreamcatcherot7 where I mostly talk about kpop/f1 and occasionally bls and critical role
Thank you for not forgetting about me!!!! Never going to delete my blog or uninstall the app so even if it seems like I'm not here I'm not gone gone
Do you have any favorite bl dramas? What's your top 10 or top 20?
Hi!! Of course I do, I'll have to do top 20 because my list of favorites is currently over 40 items and narrowing down to half will be hard enough. These are in chronological order from oldest to newest and it's a very personal and biased list, so not the bls I think are technically the best but the ones I enjoyed the most/I bonded the most with emotionally for various reasons:
1.Until we meet again
2. Why R U
3. Gaya sa pelikula
4. Cherry magic
5. I told sunset about you
6. Gen Y
7. Wish you
8. Meet me outside
9. ATOTS
10. Light on me
11. Kieta Hatsukoi
12. Bad buddy
13. Kissable lips
14. Enchantè
15. Blueming
16. Roommates of Poongduck
17. My school president
18. The end of the world with you
19. Moonlight chicken
20. The eighth sense (still airing and latest episode ended on a big cliffhanger but I don't need to know how it ends to include it in this list already)
If you want me to go into detail as to why I like them so much feel free to drop me another ask, I love talking about it lol
happy to see you back (sorta) and that you are ok! I'd love to hear your thoughts on shows and what you're looking forward to, but no pressure :) whatever works best for you
HIIIII hello happy to be back (sorta)!! I have about 9 months worth of show to review so I'll give them a grade out of 5 and I'll try to be brief with any comments lol I haven't scrolled through my dashboard on here in ages so I have no clue what everyone thought about them!
Under a read more because it's literally an essay
WATCHED (in some sort of chronological order)
-To my star s2: 3.5/5
I think I need to rewatch it already and binge it because following it weekly was extremely frustrating to me and I feel like I might have been too harsh on my judgement. Everything about Jiwoo's choices and actions seemed extremely irrational to me and it was a struggle to watch. It might make more sense if I watch all of it at once again though. It was still well made, well acted and well produced so at least there's that.
-Roommates of Poongduck 304: 5/5
I am EXTREMELY biased about this show because I've been obsessed with this pairing since Kissable Lips (camp masterpiece, I feel like nobody gets it the way I do) and I was sooooo happy to see them again with different characters. I honestly loved the show, I feel like it was using a lot of common kdrama tropes as opposed to the usual bl tropes and it was so fun to me. The pace felt great, the characters and their motives made sense, the chemistry was so great... That said I need everyone to go vote for Jiwoong on Boys Planet because being an idol has been his dream and his goal for ages and he finally deserves a GOOD chance
-Triage: 4/5
I had started this back when it was airing but I was missing a few episodes and I have to say I am pleased with it. It had some weird pacing issues and that's why I wouldn't give it a full 5/5 but the plot was very interesting and engaging. I would definitely recommend it.
-Love mechanics: 4.5/5
I was very unfortunately a love mechanics (2020) enjoyer and veemark have a hold on me so I had to watch it and it was definitely better than the original one. They fixed some of the plot issues and the longer run time allowed them to give the characters more depth. It did feel slightly repetitive or slow at times but the actors are so good that I didn't even mind.
-Vice versa: 3/5
Very cool concept, I was a bit worried about it at first but I enjoyed the plot. My main issues were with the pacing (it felt way too slow at times) and I wasn't completely sold on the romance/chemistry either. The way the parallel universe rules were explained felt a bit lame, having someone just straight up tell them how it works while I was hoping they'd have to figure things out together. I have to say i LOVED the small details they used to define the other universe like the transparent paper or the different food, it was a fun extra element that highlighted they were strangers there. I honestly don't remember too much else of this show which means it wasn't a standout to me.
-The Eclipse: 4/5
THE ACTINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG I was so obsessed. The plot got a bit lost but wow I loooooooved the brainwashed school prefect slowly realizing he's being manipulated by the people in power. That was GOOD. I liked the characters more than the plot they ended up with. The trailer was overpromising in that regard, I was expecting a full on mystery/possible scifi elements but it got sidetracked and lost itself. The final episodes when they're shooting the movie make no sense to me. It still gets a 4 because of the main couple, both characters and actors.
-Kieta Hatsukoi: 5/5
I had not seen this before and I finally caught up and wow it is as good as they say. Genuinely heartwarming and wholesome, i LOOOOOOVE the friendships, the OST is so good omg it was so sweet and funny. I already want to rewatch it, it's in the same category as Light On Me for cute slowburn with wholesome friendships
-The director who buys me dinner: 1.5/5
Honestly it's a 1.5 because the plot is somewhat interesting but it did NOT deliver at all. The short episodes might have been the first hindrance to fully developing the storyline but the weird idol with a bad attitude side character subplot took up way too much time. The flashbacks felt rushed and hard to follow, I think Tinted With You had tried something similar but in my opinion they had managed the pacing and plot way better. This is one of those webcomic adaptations that gets destroyed by the short running time and low budget unfortunately. If it ever got remade properly I'd be interested though.
-Cutie Pie 2 You: 2.5/5
It started out better than s1 and then I sort of lost interest and remembered why I didn't like s1. SO much wasted potential. I only tuned in to see Nuer and Syn and they did not disappoint (I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED their spicy scene, god it was so awkward and honest and true and still managed to be hot) but I wish they'd gotten more screen time. Please give them a spinoff! The whole wedding fiasco was so boring, the comedy did not land well this time, how do you manage to have so much filler content in a 4 episode special is beyond me
-Between Us: 4/5
Oh the UWMA nostalgia hit so hard with this one. It was exactly what it should have been and slightly better than I was expecting (I think New's directing has improved over the years). Seeing Pharm, Team and Manaow together again made me so happy, my best friends. When the original ost started playing at the end I might have sobbed. I spent the whole time screaming for Team to get theraphy and stop trying to actively trigger his PTSD but he wouldn't listen. I had read the novel and I was a bit worried about the adaptation but I think they managed to capture the sense of comfort and safetly that Win provides to Team very well. Even the misunderstandings and the repressed feelings weren't too frustrating except for one or two instances. I even managed to enjoy the new side couple, Prince is SO CUTE!!!!!!!!! Man I just love characters who are sure about their identity and have been for a long time.
-The New Employee: 3.5/5
Cute. Nicely acted. Adored the flashbacks to university and the friendships. Plot wasn't anything too exceptional and it seems like they ran out of it 4 episodes in. Just okay
-Individual Circumstances: 2/5
The past few months have not been a happy time for kbls. They seem to be going for quantity over quality and they've been falling flat. I think the parallel between the story and the novel being written are the only interesting thing about this show, but they're also so obvious they don't really help saving it. I zoned out so bad I can't even remember why they had broken up in the first place. Were they even together? The low budget was also a heavy weight here, it just wasn't good.
-Gap: 2.5/5
I struggled rating this because it has some high highs and some low lows. I just wasn't vibing with the plot, i know the title is literally GAP and the show is about the gap in age, power, etc between them but god it got so repetitive and frustrating I couldn't really take it seriously anymore. Things I liked: Freen's acting, i think she did a great job portraying Sam. I liked Sam's character a lot, her awkwardness and apparent coldness and how she tried to break free from the manipulative power her grandma had over her. I think she was very interesting and layered and well acted. Another thing I liked were the intimacy scenes. I wasn't expecting much but I found them to be very well done, the chemistry was good and they felt very realistic. I don't think they were overdone and honestly we needed some lesbian sex to restore the balance after 5000000 bls. Cons are literally everything else, the people at the office and Sam's friends all felt like comic relief caricatures with no depth, Kirk was absolutely unsufferable. I'm only saving Tee and Yuki who I am hoping will get a spin off because I SAW THEM... I heard that baby in the last episode... How did they sacrifice such an interesting side couple for what? 10 minutes of extremely pointless Saint screen time? As a lesbian, (this is my excuse as to why this got so long)
-My school president: 5/5 10/10 1000/1000 <3/<3
WOW!!!! I was expecting less than nothing because the trailer had not prepared me. I thought it would be yet another boring high school slow burn with unexperienced actors but instead we got this amazing gem. I am SO happy I gave it a chance, it had my attention right from episode 1 and it was my motivation to get to the end of each weekend. Gemini and Fourth are incredible!!!! It was such a wholesome show about frienships and growing up together and being supportive. I loved every minute of it. THE MUSIC!! oh my god the music!!!!!!!!! Both the original songs and the bgm were so on point, I am so obsessed with all the tracks. I am usually not a fan of slow burn but if it's like this then I am all for it. The characters are clear about their feelings a few episodes in already and then it's more of a self imposed boundary that they keep pushing and pushing and that tension is just so much fun to witness. Honestly GMM was on fire these past few months, all my favorite shows were from them and it seems like they've been listening to some feedback unless it was a coincidence that all the good shows ended up airing at the same time lol
-The warp effect: 4/5
I am so confliced about this show. Everything about it is a full 5/5 for me except for Alex's character (and Army not shutting up ever). I'm trying not to spoil the ending because it's only been a week since it aired but it's hard to explain what I liked and what I didn't like about it lol. I guess I liked how the time skip worked but, while for most of the show it felt like it was an ensemble cast narration, the ending really does remind us that after all Alex is the main character. The side characters and their subplots were all interesting and varied and felt very refereshing for GMM standards (except for Army constantly outing Joe, I get that they were trying to portray him as someone very sure and proud of his identity and a bit slow at understanding others but man... they were really forcing his character to get some drama between them). Spent a solid bunch of time rooting for a Jean/Kat couple only for it to get adressed in canon and get laughed at so I quickly and bitterly gave up and accepted they were never going to be anything but straight. The more we found out about Alex and Jean's first time the more horrified I was, I did NOT want that Alex to ever be dating her so I was scared they'd put them together anyway since they're main leads. The actual ending was a compromise I can accept but still... Not ideal. If only there was a magical camera to send all idiots forward in time to witness the damage they've done...
-Moonlight Chicken: 10000000/5
A masterpiece!!! Legendary!!!! Everything I've ever wanted and more!!! There was nothing I didn't like? Not a single thing I can think of? Maybe just Alan being overly bitter and mean but oh well assholes exist everywhere. I went in with zero expectations because the trailer had made it seem like it would be all about cheating, as soon as I found out there would be no cheating involved I dropped all my reserves and was on board 100%. EarthMix were perfect and delightful, they're just so good together and their characters worked very well as a pairing. Surprisingly slow burn seeing how ep 1 part 1 starts. I like that Wen's job is shown a lot and he actually has real tasks to do that someone in his position would do (him answering emails at the temple really got to me lol). The atmosphere the setting the lighting the colors... Just gorgeous. AND THE SIDE COUPLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE don't even get me started on Li Ming and Heart. Wow. Getting double GeminiFourth for a few weeks was such a treat, 3 days in a row of them delivering incredible performances (their first kisses lining up on the two shows was just adorable).
-Never let me go: ?/5
I sort of dropped this one? I was following it weekly up until ep 4 or 5 and then it lost me. The pacing was way too off and they had weird audio issues. The editing as well was bothering me, with really long closeups with nothing happening and similar issues. The plot wasn't interesting or new enough to keep me interested. I might finish it now that most of the shows I was following have ended.
CURRENTLY WATCHING
-Bed Friend:
I started this for two reasons: I will be tuning in for its spinoff since it's TutorYim AND I've been hearing about this show possibily getting made for the past 3 years. I remember when people wanted it to go to SaintZee (rip) so I wanted to check it out and I see what they meant. James has Saint energy, I won't elaborate. It's definitely as explicit as a show about friends with benefits should be lol I hope they can develop the romance aspect nicely and I hope it won't stem soley from King trying to "fix" Uea. The flashbacks to Uea's past are rather alarming (another instance of me screaming GET THERAPHY at him every time he's on screen) and I'm hoping there won't be too many more insances of them. As if the abusive mother wasn't enough? It feels too tropey to send all these bad "punishments" his way because he's an explicitly gay character.
-A Boss and a Babe:
Here comes another fully biased review, I couldn't not watch this as an avid ForceBooker. Only one episode in so there is not too much to say but honestly I am on board with ANYTHING from them. It's directed by New so I am prepared to be let down at some point but they could seriously just show me 60 minutes of Force's face and I wouldn't mind. I'm excited because it did not look slow burn-y at all and that fills my heart with joy. I like office romance comedies so much what can I say. I KNOW Cher looks like an absolute dumbass but I know there's a brain in there. He's so cute he'll never get on my nerves. I will fight every single person on MDL to defend Book and his acting, I don't care.
LOOKING FORWARD TO
-Our Skyy 2: STACKED LINEUP. More PhuTian and more PatPran are a dream come true, a blessing, a gift etc. Please air soon I need to water my crops. I am honestly excited for all couples (I just need to catch up on never let me go I guess), give me that little extra content to boost my serotonin and PLEASE BE GOOD
-23.5: MILKLOVEEEEEEEEE I also really really want this to be good because it has so much potential please please please. Happy about more GeminiFourth as well, and Ford too! He did so well on My School President, I need to see more of him.
-Only Friends: I am hoping this will be a BL version of friend zone with a more grown up writing. Stellar cast again so I am very intrigued. (I've been affectionately referring to it as the gmm horny show)
-Last Twilight: could be a big hit or a big miss depending on how they handle it. I am very curious and a bit hopeful after seeing Moonlight Chicken
-The Next Prince: I think I'll end up hating this one but the trailer was so dreamy, straight out of a royalty AU. The truth is I believe Nunew should be the next global idol and singing a few OSTs for his bls + the occasional youtube cover isn't the way to go. (I am sort of joking, of course if he's happy doing this then it's not an issue at all) (IDK why Wabi Sabi sent their actors (Yacht especially, wtf) on a Korean survival and Nunew is still shackled to Zee)
-Absolute Zero: I feel like this will be a disaster. It sounds interesting on paper but I have zero faith they'll do it justice. Please prove me wrong
-The Korean Why R U remake: I feel like I am contractually obliged to tune in since the original show is what made me who I am today as a person. I have serious doubts this will work the same magic on me.
-About a hundred new Kbls (I truly can't keep up and I end up skipping most of them unless someone I trust really recommends me one at this point)
-Rumored season 2 of blueming? Rumored season 2 of Kissable Lips???????
I think that's all for now (lol) I swear to never take another 9 month break because this recap took me 2 full hours to write
Anna WHERE ARE YOU???!?! I literally miss you so much I hope you’re doing great but please come back 😭😭😭
hiiiii it's been so long 😭😭 I'm doing really well, I'm just super super busy with my jobs and trying to be a functioning adult so my free time is very close to zero. I suffered a bit of a BL/tumblr burnout back in june so I took a break from watching shows and dropped all the ones I was following until a few months ago. I think being on here for me was so closely linked to making content that it was starting to feel like a chore, and it also always seemed like a race to try to post gifs before anyone else got to it so watching things was never just a moment to relax and enjoy the episode.
I've caught up with almost everything I missed during the break and I've been following a lot of airing show, mostly just commentating them with friends over on twitter and rating them on MDL because I still feel guilty about being active here without making anything. I do miss it a lot though, and I still love making gifs, I just wish I had more free time for it and I wish it didnt come with the rush of trying to upload as soon as the episode is over or else nobody will see them.
I'm still working out how to deal with my jobs/taking care of a cat/taking care of myself/talking care of my house all at the same time, hopefully once i figure out a better time balance I'll come back to gifmaking! In the meantime if anyone is interested I could talk a bit about the shows I watched during the break and the ones I am watching now (gmmtv has been on fire with the warp effect and my school president omg) and which shows I'm looking forward to!
Happy birthday Anna! Thank you for existing and making our lives helluva brighter! 💜
And, hope you recover soon 💙💙 *positive vibes*
Thank you!!!! As soon as I stop feeling like I've been run over by a truck/hit on the head by a baseball bat I'll get back to giffing and posting as usual, I really miss it 😔😔😔
ooohhh is it your birthday? happy birthday 🎉🎈✨ I always love your contents and I love to see you on my dash. I hope you're gonna feel good today, if not physically then, by people sharing their love for you. Have a good day 😄😘
Yes it's my birthday!!! Thank you so much for your message, it really made me feel better 🥺🥺🥺 it sucks that I have to be alone on my birthday but I’ve received a lot of love already via texts and messages and it has helped a lot!
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