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Kiseki: Dear to Me (Taiwanese Sereis)

This series started off really well, especially given the sizzling chemistry that the leads have and the situations that lead to their first meeting and eventual spending time together. Things go on fine till episode 8, but oh man!! what a nosedive after that. The show completes different route from there on and it feels like I was watching another show altogether. The focus suddenly shifted on many other things and it felt that the main couple was sidelined only to be brought back in the last episode. I am not sure what happened there.  Anyway, with 13 episodes of about 24 minutes each, at least it goes by fast. Bai Zong Yi, a 17 year old exemplary student has dreams of becoming a doctor and he works hard for it. One day he finds an injured stranger Rui, who literally forces himself on Bai to help him out and nurse him by getting bai's fingerprints in the knife. Bai's medical knowledge helps Rui's recovery and somehow he starts falling for Bai (or maybe just flirting, we d
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Ossan's Love Returns (Japanese Series)

And we are back in the world of Haruta and Maki. I was so excited when I saw the first episode came out. This was definitely a show that I have enjoyed watching multiple spin offs , not just within Japan but also the Thai version. Although I guess since they came in quick successions, somewhere the novelty had worn off. I am glad that this well deserved sequel came after a gap, where people like me had started to miss the characters. And man this show doesn't disappoint.. In fact, I will say that the show has grown with the characters and in many surpasses the original. This 9 episode show of 45 minutes each was so much fun to watch. Haurta and Maki have now been married for sometime and Maki is returning from his stint in Singapore. The couple will finally get to love together and experience each other's company. But with increased work pressure, how do they maintain. Enter the chief (remember him, the guy who was and still is madly in love with Haruta). Chief now runs a clean

Swallowed

Swallowed, a very low-budget sci-fi/body horror with an out-and-proud gay angle, although I would still not call it a film that belongs in the LGBTQ+ genre. The film starts well with potential but somehow just goes downward hill. On a bright note, the lead actor is gorgeous, but sadly that can only take one's interest so far. It is Ben's last night in town. He is moving to LA to become a gay porn star. On his last night, he parties with his closest friend, Dom, a straight guy who loves Ben in a profoundly platonic way. But Dom is also bit of a mess. He wants to send off Ben with some cash, so due to poor judgement from Dom, they both find themselves involved in smuggling of some dodgy looking parcels (that they are made to swallow) across the border. Turns out that the little slug-like thingies the boys swallow are not conventional drugs but living bugs that have aphrodisiac properties if harvested correctly, but which cause grave harm if they hatch while inside the couriers’ b

Abu: Father (Documentary)

Abu (father) is an autobiographical film about a gay son’s relationship with his devout Muslim father. Arshad Khan, the filmmaker and subject, examines how his father ABU went from an open-minded man to a devout Muslim and breaks down the reasons for such a radical change in personality. Issues of psychological, sexual and physical abuse, and the pangs of rebirth through migration and through coming out, are laid bare using over 30 years of archival family footage that give a glimpse into an extraordinarily well documented family. The story of the Khans begins around the time of Partition.  Arshad Khan’s father, orphaned, comes to the newly formed Pakistan with his siblings. Under the care of relatives, he gets educated, enrolls in the Pakistan Army, gets married and has a brood of children. He is among the few in his social circle to own a video camera, and he records picnics, home parties and festival celebrations. And many of the footage from these home videos is used. We are told h

The Revival

We have seen a few films that looks at a person's inner turmoil when it comes to balancing religion with homosexuality. Some all these films have christianity as the religion. I cant remember many other films where a similar theme has been tackled. So in that sense this film is not breaking any ground. But in its own subtle way, it tries to tell a story at the excruciating inner tug-of-war between a preacher's homosexuality and his religious devotion. Eli, a young educated preacher has recently returned to his hometown with his pregnant wife to take over services at his late father’s struggling church, where he delivers cerebral sermons intended to “bring progressive thinking” to tradition-bound parishioners. Since he needs to compete with more modern churches, at the insistence of a pushy alcoholic man, Eli agrees to host a revival to help boost attendance and fill the coffers. One day in church, he meets a homeless drifter Daniel. He is dirty and looks homeless but you a stil

I Can't Reach You (Japanese Series)

Childhood friendship urning to love can be a fascinating story if done right. The names escape me, but I am sure I have seen many in the past that fall in this category. This show started off really well. Our protagonists and their friendship had some amazing chemistry. Clearly both care and love each other but neither can make up their mind or muster the courage to confess to the other which leads to indecisiveness and erratic mood swings. All the time spent in weird drama could have been instead channeled into romance which is barely there towards the last episode. The show is standard 8 episodes of 20 minutes each, so thankfully it is an easy watch. The story is extremely simple and straight forward. Yamato and Kakeru have been childhood friends and are in same class. Yamato is a brilliant student, is a good athlete, is gentle and soft and good looking, so naturally all the girls are after him. But besides Kakeru, he can barely manage to chat with anyone else in the class. Despite t

Mary & George (UK Series)

When the synopsis of a show reads "The Countess of Buckingham who molded her son to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover, through intrigue, becoming richer, more titled and influential than England has ever seen", anyone who enjoys historical drama and bring in the gay angle; this is gold! So I was totally sold on watching the show as soon as I could. This mini series is 7 episodes approximately 50 minutes each. Sky’s new miniseries Mary & George takes on the flamboyant and outrageous reign of King James I and his ‘favorite’ the Duke of Buckingham. The result is a funny, debaucherously and riveting tale, bolstered by a fantastically catty Julianne Moore. The story is about Mary and her family. After the death of her husband, the family is in financial stress and Mary decides to take matters in her hand.  She sends her meagre, feeble son George off to France to learn how to become a gentleman. Meanwhile, she attempts to cling to financial security by marry

Boy Culture: Generation X

The 2006 film ‘Boy Culture’ returns for a TV series sequel, and original stars who played X and Andrew are back to reprising their roles all these years later. I had to go back and remind myself what the film was about (blame it on my age), memories came back and then I was excitedly looking for this sequel. This on-again, off-again couple, now both 40, broken up and tensely sharing a home out of financial necessity go through the changing dynamics of the gay world and especially escorting. X and Andrew are now no longer a couple. So X decided to get back into the escorting business after more than 10 years, but he’s in for a rude awakening. He’s no longer the flavor of the month, and the entire industry has been transformed by changing attitudes, online platforms, gen Z thinks. We meet a young Twink Chayce, who surprisingly became friends with X at one of the tricks house and who takes on upon himself to guide X back into the business. As X keeps his aging body fit, and his unusual ro

8 Años (Spanish) [8 Years]

Almost always, there is a reason that people in relationships split. Some try to get back together but very few are successful at that, but overnight, as humans, its hard to overcome the differences that must have led to the split in the fist. But maybe both parties don't feel the same and this is different. And this is what probably this film is trying to show. How to overcome your love and move on. Different people react to these situations differently, even though sadly the outcome is gonna be the same eventually. José and David used to be a couple but then split. 8 years after they first met, they decide to spend together in La Palma island where they met, to see if they can give their relationship another shot. Immediately falling into bed together, José and David naïvely believe that they can rekindle what they once had but a wild few days tests their relationship and stirs up past issues. They meet their lesbian couple friends and it's not too late that the cracks start

Sort Of: Season 3 (Canadian Series)

I just finished watching the third and final season of this dark comedy drama. As I had mentioned in my previous post, thatches kind of situational and sharp comedy may not be everyone's cuppa tea and I know this, because I recommended this to a close friend of mine who cannot sit beyond the first two episodes of the show. But after the first two seasons, which personally I enjoyed quite a bit, I was looking forward to the final chapter. This. Time also the show is 8 episodes of 20-24 minutes each. The season starts with Sabi still reeling with two incidents: their father's death and the kiss with former boss/complicated friend Bessy. As always Sabi mean is good at keeping all of their complicated emotions bottled up and ignoring Bessy and her entire family.  Life is people around them also is show in detail. We see how the father's death has changed some family dynamics. Sabi's sister decides to move out and later in the season becomes pregnant, adding more to the dram

Perfect Propose (Japanese Series)

There’s very little that sets “Perfect Propose” apart from the dime-a-dozen romantic series out there, and the pace of the show is quite flat. Still with only 6 episodes of about 24 minute each, it did manage to hold my attention. Yes, things get repetitive with very little focus on romance and more on one of our protagonists workplace madness; but still I would look forward to the genuine interaction between two friends who are lonely in their own ways and are looking for company but wont admit. My brain says the show is strictly average but I was still able to cherish it. Having said that, I will not remember much of it in a few weeks time. Hiro works in an IT company is grossly overworked. His manager continues to give him more and more work Hiro endures all the workplace abuse, lacking the courage and motivation to defend himself. One night suddenly a guy named Kai enters his life. Turns out Hiro and Kai were briefly friends as kids and Kai used to joke that he will marry Hiro. The

Twins (Thai Series)

I really tried and hoped that I would like the series. I had heard some favorable reviews of the show and hence was hoping to see something nice. But the show just did not click with me. The premise of twins taking each other's place is something we have seen before (albeit not in BL world), but in this series one person has to take up dual identity which makes the story more interesting. But sadly, the BL content and romance is minimum and occasional scenes of muscular physiques and steamy encounters of other characters can hold your attention only so much. Plus the series is 12 episodes of almost 50-60 minutes each.  Sprite and Zee are identical twins, separated at childhood after their parents divorce. Zee is now a star volleyball player while Sprite trains in his university's jujitsu club.  Zee doesn't get along with the others. Everyone else hates his arrogance and alienates him from the group. The only friend he has is the girl Salmon, the team's manager. Another

Want To See You (Vietnamese Series)

Another one of those Vietnamese series which has all kind of toxic traits, stereotypical characters, predictable storyline and you , as an audience keep wondering why was the series made. The plot is outrageous, most side characters are despicable and totally hate-worthy, not that our lead character is any better; and worst of all the editing of the show is so bad that at many places you just keep wondering what and how did that random scene pop in between. Also at 14 episodes of about 20 or more minutes each, this is stretched beyond it needed to. Thach is a wealthy restaurant owner who lost his eyesight in accident. His ex-girlfriend Linh checks up on him and pretends to show concern. However, she only cares about going after his fortune, especially his restaurant chain which Thach vehemently refuses. She then hopes a caretaker Phuc, a university student to take care of him (so far sounds like a recent Thai series that I saw, but trust me, the similarities end here). Phuc has a lousy

After School (Taiwanese)

Let's start by saying that this is NOT a gay themed film. If anything, this falls more in the category of coming-of-age movie about students and friendship with a very significant focus on the LGBTQ+ aspect of people, life and things and hence it deserves to be reviewed here. It tries to deal with various spectrums, what is love etc and evokes a sense of nostalgia, capturing the whimsical adventures of youth. It may not be trying to say anything new per se, but I think the way the screenplay is set and the interactions between the friends is shown, I found myself quite enjoying the film. The setting is a cram school in 1994 where not so brilliant students are coached to pass the university entrance exams. We meet friends Cheng Heng and Cheng Hsiang, who are just treble makers and do not focus on studies. Cheng Heng wants to study film making but his family is opposed. The friends live together since Change Hsiang comes from a very poor background and Heng's family essentially t

Gemmel & Tim (Documentary)

Gemmel & Tim is a documentary about Gemmel “Juelz” Moore and Timothy “Tim” Dean, two black men who died of methamphetamine overdoses, administered by political and LBGTQ activist Ed Buck in his West Hollywood apartment.  First of all, I am almost embarrassed to say that I had no clue of tis case so far till I watched this film. And secondly, it's a shame hen you realize how some marginalized sections of the society have to go through all kinds of hurdles to get justice. This meticulously researched and moving documentary is almost a must watch for folks out there. It is a true crime documentary done really really well. We start the documentary by knowing that Gemmel and Tim does in 2017 and 2019 respectively. They were both young, gay, Black men who lived in the West Hollywood area of Los Angeles, and whose paths crossed with a man named Ed Buck. Buck is a well-known donor to the Democratic Party who would invite young Black men to his apartment and give them drugs. Gemmel and