Dear Doctor, I'm coming for soul.

 

    I really love supernatural elements in love stories so off the bat I was pretty pumped about this one.

I watched this entire show in one night and it was worth every second. Romance is a slow burn, and for a long time it felt like it was going to end up as a bromance, but if you ride that out you're in for some STEAM. These two kiss like their mouths are on fire and the other person's mouth is the only way to put it out. Jesus Christ on a cracker. 

Their story is heartwarming. There's really nothing to complain about besides the fact that this show made me fall so in love with Tae's character that in contrast, the role he plays on Between Us is super lackluster. :( 

7.5/10

Check Out

 

    I don't know if I'm just biased because I really love Best as an actor and he's one of my favorite people to watch live right now or if this is a genuine opinion of the show, but I think this got way more hate than it deserved.

I saw people claiming that the only saving grace in this show was Boat, but honestly, he was probably my least favorite character. The actor is hella handsome and his smile is ... phew. Though there was nothing about him as a character that was worth holding in high regard. It legitimately felt like they pulled a crew member off-set and shoved him into the show because the real actor didn't show up. Maybe it was all the hype around him that made the character feel so out of place but I really didn't understand. 

As far as the show itself, I had put off watching it because I really LOVED the prequel and everyone was trashing this, so I thought I would also hate it, but in reality, it was better than a lot of other shows that came out in 2022. The story jumped around a little and there were a LOT of flashbacks which made it feel like it had way too small of a budget, but that's super common in BL and these episodes were on the longer side so it wasn't like when you get a Korean drama with only 8 minutes of new content because there are 5 minutes of "previously" and 8 minutes of flashbacks, and then 4 minutes of "on the next episode". 

Though I will say I agree with pretty much everyone that not a single man in this show deserves Daonuea(again possibly biased) but I really don't understand why he ke[t holding on to both these really shitty men when he was clearly way out of their league, but whatever. 

I don't really have too much to say about this one, it was a quick watch and I didn't love or hate it. It didn't do the prequel justice, but it wasn't terrible either. I will be watching the movie that was just released this week as well.

6/10

Director Who Buys Me Dinner

        The story that this show follows was actually kind of refreshing. It's not a new theme for dramas in general but it hasn't often tipped over into the realm of BL and I really enjoyed it. 

However, the show didn't seem finished, and that isn't because of the open ending. It had more to do with the fact that the story stopped as soon as it finally got momentum. I think we should have had about 10 more episodes, but alas... K-BL is always short

Both actors were amazing, and the chemistry was solid. I also love how they didn't just leave it up to one character to be the affectionate flirty one. They both had their moments of initiating tender scenes. 

Not much I could find to complain about. 

8/10

Big Dragon

 

    I know this is a controversial opinion to have but I am so sick of authors thinking that to have a messy and dramatic love story they have to fill it with abuse and manipulation. 

I did not like this show. I did not like Kinn Porsche. I did not like Love in the Air (second half). I did not like Fahlanruk. Extortion, manipulation, bullying, and physical violence do not make good enemies to lovers stories. Toxic lovers aren't interesting or swoon-worthy. Maybe it's because I've been in my fair share of abusive and toxic relationships to know that there is nothing to romanticize. 

I get that good art imitates life, and shitty people exist in real life so they should also exist in movies/tv/books, but is it so hard to keep the shitty people as the side characters or out of love stories? They don't deserve a happy ending without an actual redemption arch. If you're going to have these people be terrible, they need to change in ways that affect the world and the lives of the people they interact with as equally as their assholish behaviors did. These easily forgiven horrible people make my head hurt. 

You don't need abuse to have a power dynamic. You don't need abuse to have the two fight and be enemies. There are so many more interesting ways to tell these messy stories and it would be much fucking sexier than whatever this current stream of trash is. 

If you stripped away all of that, this story would have been amazing. It would have been one of my favorite shows. Top three for 2022 for sure. Instead, it's bottom rung and I'm really disappointed by that because it continuously feels like a disservice to the actors, the characters, the fans, and pretty much everyone involved. 

I can't even sit down and properly review a show like this because I'm just sad. 

5.5/10

Love Class

 

    I don't know how this show slipped under my radar for so long. I saw no advertising for it, and only happened to watch it because I'm currently binge-watching every show that came out last year. (Stay tuned for all that.)

This one is only 8 episodes long and it could have easily been 20 more without me losing interest. The main characters are all equally interesting. 

I don't typically like stories that follow a straight man who finds himself falling in love with another man but that's because it's most often presented with severe internalized homophobia. Here, however, you have a character who, even though he is caught up in a dating rumor and the other students are chastizing him, doesn't turn to that blatant homophobia to build a wall around himself. Not to mention that the realization of it happens in a way that seems natural, while sudden. 

The only parts of this show that I didn't enjoy were to do with Ro A. They leaned too heavily into this mystery relationship between him and his roommate, there wasn't enough explanation of what their history was for me. The bare minimum to make it make sense. The other issue I had was they had him switch up at the end, which got cleared up in the finale, but I was straight-up mad at how out of character it was until I finished the show. 

All of which was so minor that it could be easily forgiven. I am really glad that this show ended up on my to-watch list. 

9/10

My Tooth Your Love

 

    I loved this show! I love love love this show. 

The story is about Bai Lang, who is afraid to go get his sore tooth looked at because of PTSD, and fear of the dentist which is also tied to severe childhood trauma. 

I don't think I, personally, have seen a Chinese drama correctly depict any form of mental illness, and panic attacks are a low bar to start with but they're so common that seeing them shown in this show correctly thrilled me. 

His sister forces him to go see a dentist she knows from school; Jin Xun An. The two have this hilarious discourse. They nag at each other like old married couples from their first encounter. It's a pleasure to watch. Bai Lang is playful and childlike and Xun An is very reserved, cold, and mature. They contrast so much and yet have perfect chemistry.

The only reason this show isn't getting a 10/10 is that there are a few scenes in the final 2 episodes that have to do with Xun An's father that were incredibly hard to watch, and they brush past it in the end as if it was normal, and to be expected. 

9/10

Ai Long Nhai

 

    I feel like the biggest flaw in this show is that they didn't pay enough money to get it properly subbed and edited because it has a really decent story otherwise. The subbing issue is a minor one, you can get a general idea of what is being said, even when the subs are off. However, the editing issue ends up as a continuity issue. Multiple scenes contradicted previous ones and the show felt like it was stitched together out of order. 

If you can get past that and just want a light binge, this is an okay choice. The boys are really sweet with each other and the drama is kept to a minimum. 

7/10

180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us

 

    This show left me a little confused about exactly how I feel about it. On one hand, the show has this absolutely gorgeous aesthetic that makes the entire viewing experience pleasant. 

The sexual tension burning beneath the surface of every conversation between these two had me clawing at my own skin because I couldn't take it anymore. How these actors survived filming, I'll never understand. 

On top of that fact, just the way they talk to each other is sexy. Deep and thought-provoking communication. I was stunned by all the philosophical discussions these two had and how healing it seemed to be for both of them. It honestly rivaled the type of communication you see in Taiwanese bl's where there's a lot of hidden meaning or nuance. It was really cool to be a sort of fly on the wall for it. 

However, the mother's relationship with the son is so incredibly toxic. She's clingy, she's manipulative, rude, and down-right homophobic Mixed with the fact that none of these things get resolved and the son ends up leaving with her because she's his mom and she's always there for him (spoiler: She's not at all; unless it benefits her). 

I had a really hard time sitting through any of the scenes where those two were together. Even when they were not fighting, the relationship was weird and I didn't like it. 

I would even be fine with the ending this show had if it weren't for her part in it and it feeling like they both just bowed to her wishes. 

I would really love to give this show a 10/10 for just how well it's acted and the chemistry but the mother/son story arc killed it for me. 

7/10 

Oh! My Assistant.

 

    If you are going to take the time to sit down and watch any BL this year. This is the one. 

Not only is it an incredibly easy binge. It is FUNNY. I rarely catch myself laughing out loud at a show. Even the ones I find pretty hilarious only get a little snicker here and there. However; this was cracking me up. 

If I had to find something to complain about it would be that it wasn't long enough. 

All of these actors have been in shows I have previously loved as side characters, so to see them as mains in a BL was pretty awesome. 

We do not often get an s2 from Korean BLs, but I hope this one does. 

10/10

Kabe-Koji-Nekoyashiki-Kun

    This show ended up meaning a lot to me and I'm still unsure how to truly feel about that. 

The main character is an artist struggling both with his desire for recognition and the fact that he's a gay man who draws Yaoi. All while navigating his complicated feelings for his old classmate turned idol. 

This show does what only Japanese dramas have seemed to ever be able to manage and teeters wonderfully on this line of absolutely fucking absurd and pull-at-your-heartstrings, downright beautiful. 

I love every single character, even the outrageous dramatizations of manga artists who draw gay art. Even the cringy over-the-top cold idol. There isn't a character who doesn't bring anything interesting to this story. 

I ended up forming a very strong bond with the main character, the things he feels, and the way he expresses those feelings to us the viewer (not so much how he expresses them to his love interest, because ... he does a pretty poor job of that.) made me emotional a few times over. 

However, as I mentioned above, he lacks the ability to communicate these things with anyone, and he spends most of the show pushing people away and secluding himself from the world. While that's incredibly relatable, it's also a little frustrating to watch at times. His words can be incredibly harsh out of nowhere and I had found myself even yelling at him once. 😂

This is a show I definitely feel like all artists (or creative types) can appreciate on some level. Especially if you fall somewhere in the alphabet mafia. 

9/10

Spoilers Ahead. Do not click anything inside this box if you don't want spoilers. Below are my musings and ramblings about everything that happens in each episode.

Episode One (click to expand)

Less than a minute into the show and I already heavily relate to the main character. An artist who spends his nights creating instead of sleeping. He's zombied his way through the morning routine (same dude) and we're off to what looks like a vacation?

Nope. Convention. Homeboy is a doujin artist and apparently a pretty famous one. Though, he's turning out to be an egocentric asshat. He spends the next scene being incredibly condescending to a fan. Thankfully he's cut off by his business partner? I dunno. Some lady who was running the booth with him. I guess we'll find out her story later?

After the con is over, he is invited to a gathering with other BL creatives, and he declines rudely before the lady he works with drags him away. I am falling endlessly in love with her at this point. Her attitude counterbalances his perfectly.

I really have to give it to Japanese entertainment for grasping the sweet spot of outrageousness. They know how to push the boundary of absurdity without it getting annoying.

Case in point. The title of his most recent novel being titled "Please suck on my enormous, manly tits. ❤" *chefs' kiss* Anyways. She asks him to sign her copy of this masterpiece and then promptly fucks off. 

It's not even seconds later that this man nearly fainted from heat stroke. He's been outside for less than 5 minutes but apparently, it's as hot as Satan's asshole in Japan.

Queue some random dude (he was on the TV earlier and we also saw him briefly in line at the con.) catching our main character before he hits the ground. I've just now realized that I've yet to figure out the lead's name yet, but anyway...

Rando is holding his very own copy of suck my manly nip nops or wtf ever. Which startles our ML. The rando pulls off his glasses and flashes a smile in pure anime style.

Apparently, they know each other and rando grabs his hand and takes off running. By the look on the face of the lead, this is not a good thing? Oh. Cool intro time. 

Never mind, this is weird. 🤣 Whatever. Dance break, I guess.

Turns out the random dude is a famous idol and I guess we are going to be calling the ML "Mamocchi" now because that's what the idol calls him, he seems to hate it and that makes me happy.

The idol dude spends a solid minute lobbing insults at Mamocchi. Total mood. He ends his rant with a singular compliment about admiring his art skills before hailing a cab.

He offers mama's boy (yeah that's what I'm calling him now) a ride home and he gets pissy and runs away? I'm honestly not even sure what happened there.

Idol is just as confused as I am. It's okay, my guy.

Flashback to high school. We see mama's boy drawing. Idol laughing with other students. Some jealousy? Guess we will have to see where that plot point goes cause we didn't get much from that scene. 

Back in real-time and I can't tell if he's throwing a fit or humping his blankets. The scene was over before I could figure it out.

Now they're pregnant and I'm back to being confused...



Food baby it is.

Nothing about this next scene brings much to the story. They're food pregnant and talking about sales. He's happy because people like his work.

In this next scene, we have Mamocchi heading somewhere when he hears a bunch of girls talking about the idol. Who happens to be walking in their direction.

And ... fangirling.

Mama's boy is pissy because he hates that his idol has the fame he desires? I think? 

Idol tells the crowd he owes his fame and success to Mamocchi. Who then gets rushed by fans and he freaks out and runs away. I'm sensing a theme here.

Now we're at the idols company (I think? It looks like a house). Anyway, his bandmate is also a douche biscuit. Yelling about how it's unprofessional to speak to your friends when surrounded by fans.

Idol squashes that shit fast by basically agreeing with him completely and smiling like a dumb ass. 🤣 The best way to get out of anything, smile and nod.

Oh no... Tabasco sauce is mad his tantrum didn't work, and he storms off.

This red-headed bandmate is giving me life though. He's funny.

Back with Mama's boy. He's being stalked by a garbage can. You know what they say. You are the company you keep. 

Lmao. The can falls over and it's the idol. Who has taken his secret identity more seriously after his scolding apparently?

He tells Mamacita again how he admires his art and the dude gets very mad. Apparently, if you're famous you're not allowed to praise people who aren't famous?

He goes on a rant about how they're in different worlds and being around an idol makes him feel insignificant.

You start this show thinking he's going to be an arrogant dick but instead he's an insecure asshole. 🤷‍♀️ Two sides of the same coin.

Andddd suddenly he's running away again.

We're back in his house .... where he has a weird shrine of the idol in his closet. I didn't see that coming.

Welp. We're back to humping/thrashing the bed... And that was the end of the episode.

I'm honestly not sure about this one

Episode Two (click to expand)

I already forgot about the shrine. LMAO. It wouldn't be so weird to idolize a singer but since you know him personally the shrine is a bit much.

The weird thing he's doing in his bed again is not the strangest part of what is happening right now. Why are there 4 different clocks IN his bed? And only one of them seems to be an alarm clock.

Oh. Dance practice. I know the song is not saying this but all I hear is "I don't care that Shinee's back." and it's almost the same tune as the ghostbusters theme song.

Seriously, what died in that guy's butt?

So the paparazzi are going to see the idol and artist together and think it's a love scandal? I should have read the show synopsis before starting.

I'm really not even sure what to say about what's happening in the show at this point.

He's spanking himself because he can't think of anything to draw. Will that work? Is that how I'm supposed to get motivated to work?

He told the posters he was going out. Okayyyyy. I shouldn't judge. I talk to the lock screen on my phone. >___>

Someone better punch whoever this ugly fuck is that's mocking him for being gay because he draws men for a living... I bet that asshole draws exclusively men as well but it's fine cause they're "superheroes" or something.

I am officially irked.

YES! Pigtail girl to the rescue! I dunno her name. It's the girl who works with him and he had food babies with him in the last episode.

He isn't unable to come up with an idea, he's just not happy about the fact that his idea too closely resembles his last issue? I mean, I guess I get that.

She comforts him and lets him know that his fans will enjoy it regardless so he should just enjoy the creative process.

That was the funniest fucking thing I have ever read.

Her-"Unconsciously, that thing in my heart couldn't help but throb out of control."
Him-"That thing in your heart?" Her-"What, you don't know? All female fans of BL, have a penis growing in our hearts."

Buahahhaa. BDE over here.

I'm glad that he has her, it seems like she's the only person in his life.

The idol group has a talk show, and they asked what his buddy respects in another person and he says "someone who chases after their passions without running away." now our artist is drawing his gay boys in public with pride and a smile. I love it so much.

These two idolize each other and it's kind of amusing. Issei only wants to do good at being an idol cause the artist guy told him to be one.

MONTAGE WITH GUITAR RIFFS.

He's back on the "wall" for the next convention. I dunno if I explained that before but it's a prime location or w.e. but he's upset because he's next to the guy he was rude to at the last one and is afraid it will be hell. Probably, but he deserves that he was a jerk.

His next edition is complete. I wonder what manga they're using as his because it looks familiar.

He just got a notification that the band will be on a live broadcast the same day as his convention and he looks disappointed that the idol won't show up, even though he told him they won't see each other again.

But he showed up anyway with a huge thing of flowers and everyone was staring.

Super excited to see how these two end up confessing because they're already both in love with each other but they haven't really seen each other since high school until the first encounter in the last episode.