#axelle judges bl shows

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axelle judges bl shows > Laws of Attraction

summary: Charn is a big shot lawyer who is hired by Senator Thattep in a case where a little girl was ran over by his son. The girl's niece is Tinn, who comes to hate Charn for his disrespectful tactics.

where to watch: youtube

grade: 8/10

pros:

even though the story is quite simple, it was well written and convincing & a fun journey to go through!

the acting was so so so good, once again film ate even though I wasn't a fan of his creepy smile lol, and jam truly is becoming a fave of mine bc he's too fucking charismatic!

I especially liked that the show didn't spend much time on the obvious. for example, instead of pretending to be shocked that charn wants to become a better man for tinn, it's accepted pretty quickly bc it's a very well-known twist that we all saw coming. this reduced the feeling of 'I've already seen this story 50 times before' for the viewers & made the show progress more smoothly.

the chemistry was even better than in to sir with love :)

cons:

the side ships were so underdeveloped, bro. we literally miss tee & tanthai getting together & being captured by thattep, and maya & rose were barely confirmed... I genuinely think they had the time to develop them well though, or they should've added two extra episodes imo.

some of the plot twists & solutions to problems are way too obvious or escape logic but oh well, this isn't meant to be a super deep or serious show so it's okay.

would I rewatch it: yes!

Overall this was an enjoyable show but of course not on the level of To Sir, With Love because of the difference of topics and length of both shows. It was still a super fun show and I'm hoping to see more of this ship because I really like them together :)

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axelle judges bl shows > Bokura No Shokutaku

summary: Yutaka lives a lonely, boring salaryman life, which lightens up once he meets little boy Tane and his older brother Minoru, who bring him into their lively family life.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 8,5/10

pros:

this is SUCH a heartfelt show. it's quiet and subtle, but talks about trauma quite extensively & truly allows its characters to FEEL. which makes it immediately in the best jbls I've seen bc it is a love story but it's also more than that & is highly relatable just for that. the writing truly is beautiful & near perfect in my opinion!

the acting is excellent, and I truly felt everything the characters were feeling on screen & much more. minoru's actor has some serious heart eyes on him!!! the kid who plays tane also did an amazing job & was adorable!

similarly, the chemistry was really, really good, and didn't feel awkward at all (unless it was needed, that post-confession conversation in the café still haunts me with how good it is!)

the pace is really good! I feel like some of the episodes kinda felt similar in the beginning, being just yutaka going over to minoru's place for a hang out with tane, but apart from that I think the show utilized its screentime almost perfectly & it was a really engaging show from beginning to end, even with its slower, more contemplative quality!

the characters are so fucking endearing AHHHHH!!! I also was really glad to see there's not that many characters & none of them is truly horrible or "the villain" (even yutaka's brother who gets redeemed eventually), bc they got to be developed quite a lot & really made me attached to them.

cons:

the first episodes aren't super deep or focused on the love story which makes the second part of the show more powerful to me, but at the same time I didn't feel too bored or like I'd stop watching, and in fact only made me want to keep watching even more.

would I rewatch it: yes!

I'm gonna be honest, I started this show expecting it to be very mediocre, but instead I absolutely enjoyed every second of it & it way surpassed my every expectations! I honestly couldn't recommend it more, it's not too long, sweet, extremely well written, heals its characters' trauma & has an absolutely beautiful love story!

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axelle judges bl shows > Be My Favorite

summary: Kawi is 30 and lives a shitty life. His father died, he has a low paying but exhausting job, no friends, and Pear, the girl he's liked since his university days, is getting married to their classmate, Pisaeng. When Kawi discovers that he has the ability to travel through time, becoming 20 again, he decides to try and seduce Pear. One problem: Pisaeng is there to get in his way.

where to watch: youtube

grade: 8,5/10

pros:

the story is not only pretty original, but very well written. I think everyone can find themselves relating to elements of the show, and I loved the topic of wanting to go back in time to fix things which is something everyone has wished at least once in their life. I also love that we see the characters slowly detach themselves from trying to change & predict the future, but actually enjoy the present, which is a pretty beautiful message to pass. the theme of the show truly makes it so lovable and important in my eyes.

the acting was really good from everyone! my favorites were of course my baes gawin & aye who especially slayed :) krist also really impressed me considering I was obviously skeptical about him acting in bl again.

LOVED LOVED LOVED the pisaeng coming out storyline. it wasn't anything incredibly original, but actually was never done that way in a bl show & made incredibly respectfully and well, especially thanks to fluke gawin's performance!

gawinkrist ate?? the chemistry was mostly really good on & off screen and they really sold pisaengkawi to me.

cons:

all of my problems with the show come from the writing, so here you go:

I wish we'd seen kawi's feelings more before he changed his mind from liking pear to wanting to be with pisaeng. I know it was explained as him suddenly realizing it once pisaeng was gone from his life, but I still wish they'd given it slightly more time so we could really feel the weight of kawi's feelings.

I found the pisaengkawi's first time storyline kinda badly executed, even though the sex scene in itself was beautifully acted & filmed. kawi's discomfort with sex is never explored, and he changed his mind without us ever seeing his thought process. I wish we could've gotten a scene where pisaengkawi discussed their relationship with sex & it was made clear that kawi does want to have sex but is just scared, bc without that scene, it feels like kawi doesn't really want it, and the cut from pisaengkawi not getting along great to them having sex was really jarring in the show.

I wanted the side characters to be more developed, and believe there was enough screentime for that. I would've loved to see pear finding herself outside of romantic relationships, kwan finally meeting a man that treats her like she deserves, I wanted max to be more than just activist pride guy (which, SLAY!) and get more screentime & depth bc he's fucking iconic, and even crusty not should've been shown having grown & become a better person after 10 years.

would I rewatch it: absolutely!

If you'd told me Be My Favorite would be one of my favorite shows of the year, I would have laughed at you in the face. In fact, I was the first one doubting this pairing and even the precedent one, but I gotta say... this show really pulled through for me. It is more flawed than I'd like, but still a very touching show about a topic frankly rarely or even never seen in bl. I'm so glad I gave it a chance :)

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axelle judges bl shows > The Eighth Sense

summary: Jae Won, in his last year of university and just came back from his stay in the military, is the popular kid from the surf club. When Ji Hyun, a freshman from the countryside, joins the club for him, sparks fly, and a long tumultuous relationship starts.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 8/10

pros:

- this show stands out a lot from its directing, which is very indie looking compared to other kbls. it feels like a film d’auteur, which makes it so there is a lot of experimentation in this show which is very appreciated, and also makes the show stand out & way more memorable.

- the chemistry is amazing. and I don’t mean just between the main ship, but the friendship chemistry is equally as great, be it jae won with yoon won (my fave friendship, I loved them sm together & she was by far my fave character!), ji hyun with ae ri, or jy hyun with his boss, the relationships of the show are portrayed very realistically & with great banter!

- the pace is SO much better than usual kbls that are way too short for my liking! with 10 episodes of 40 minutes, we get to fall in love with the story & characters way more, and moreover the writing was quite good & balanced so the story didn’t feel like it dragged often, if ever.

- the characters are amazing, and again, bc of the length of the show, we get way more attached to them. they’re all very flawed & sassy, and they truly feel like real people which is not always easy to achieve!

- the acting is very good & natural. it doesn’t stand out as the most incredible acting, but for a series that seem to want to be a bit more realistic than most kbls, it landed perfectly for that job.

- the soundtrack lowkey slaps, it’s very different from usual kbl soundtracks & contributed to make the show stand out. in a way, it reminded me of the not me soundtrack (my fave soundtrack ever) in the way it can sometimes feel a bit random but still works amazingly with the show.

cons:

- bc of its indie feel, there are moments that do feel a bit amateur, and the execution isn’t very uniformous, which makes it so certain scenes are truly amazing, while others feel like they should’ve either been cut down or shot/written differently. imo eps 7 & 8 especially were less good than the rest.

- this is a story that feels very reminiscent from the gay stories released before or in the early 2010′s. so if you’re like me & you’ve watched so many stories like this before, it will definitely limit the reach that this series has on you emotionally bc it feels like you’ve seen this story happen before. they did offer enough changes to make it stand out & different, but it is still a reason why this series isn’t an 8,5/10 for me.

would I rewatch it: yes!

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this show & would absolutely recommend it to everyone! I absolutely love these more indie-feeling shows, and here it definitely made a story I’ve otherwise seen over twenty times work way more! I also gotta praise the actors & writers for making me this attached to the characters, they were lovely!

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axelle judges bl shows > Jun & Jun

summary: Lee Jun is an ex-idol who joins his first regular job. To his surprise, he is reunited with his childhood best friend, Choi Jun.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 6,5/10

pros:

the chemistry was some of the best I've seen in a kbl!

choi jun's character is so fun & attractive, he definitely carried the show imo!

I liked the second lead a lot & his ship that was eluded to with the other idol was cute!

cons:

most of the screentime is spent with the two leads... apart??? it was really hard to see them grow into a relationship bc their story is so underdeveloped.

bc of that, this is kinda of a boring show? like nothing much happens at all tbh.

the love... square felt so fucking forced?? like no shade but why is it that every time two or three guys like the same person it's always a very boring vanilla character with very little personality? 😭

also no shade but the ex-idol storyline serves absolutely zero purpose & doesn't fit lee jun's character at all imo.

would I rewatch it: no

The first two episodes were promising but sadly this show was kinda disappointing to be honest.

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axelle judges bl shows > Minato Shouji Coin Laundry 2

/!\ SPOILERS AHEAD

summary: Now that Minato-san and Shin are dating, all of their problems are not done since Minato-san still struggles to accept the relationship. On their own level, Asuka and Shu also meet their first problems as a couple.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 6/10

pros:

- asakusa. I only watched this useless sequel bc of my baby asakusa, who's one of my favorite side characters ever <3 and his ship is so cute & wholesome, I loved them!

- the acting & chemistry are good, when they are not being held back by the writing lol

cons:

- BRUH. this is the most useless sequel ever, there's no progress in the ship's personality even though they're together, one is still pushy while the other runs away, and the plot is paper thin...

- THE "MEMORY LOSS" TROPE???? FELT LIKE A JOKE, BFFR. first of all it comes out of nowhere 2 eps before the end, but also its been seen so many times before it honestly feels like a parody now instead of an actual trope... I literally rolled my eyes when it happened lmao.

would I rewatch it: no

This had no purpose and I regret watching it, but oh well. Add this to the list of HUNDREDS of shows I've watched that wasted my precious time on this earth lol.

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axelle judges bl shows > Step by Step

summary: Phat is a young worker at Jian Group, who develops a crush on a handsome guy he spills bubble tea on. To his surprise, though, it turns out that this handsome guy... is his new boss.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 7/10

pros:

my favorite aspect of this show is that it embraces the flaws & feelings of its characters. it lets the relationship between jeng & pat develop very slowly (as it should for this kind of story), it lets pat kiss his ex before he ever kisses jeng & realize he doesn't love him that way anymore, and many more moments that felt very realistic compared to how other shows did it. the writing really cared for the characters' motivations & feelings which I loved.

to add to the realistic aspect of the show, this truly felt much more like a lgbtq+ show than other bl shows, which was obviously really nice & I hope it becomes a trend for more thai bl shows to come.

as someone who usually prefers shorter shows, I actually really enjoyed the longer episodes here? I don't know what it is, but it really added to the show's experience for me & didn't make the show drag on or boring. my issues are more so with the writing, but the length of the episodes actually made me more attached to the story & characters that are otherwise pretty basic.

the acting & chemistry were very good. there were some moments where I thought pat's actor wasn't that great, but jeng's actor did amazing & I really wanna see more of him, as well as jaab's actor & up poompat who honestly slayed in this role. overall the chemistry between the whole cast really was amazing too & contributed to the show feeling more natural.

the show is well filmed & you can tell a lot of care was put into it, which makes the watching experience more pleasant.

cons:

jaab & jane are truly the most underdeveloped side ship relationship I've ever seen??? nothing happened in their story, and they got reunited OFF SCREEN??? this is truly the biggest failure of a side ship I've ever seen, especially since these two had great chemistry. idk what happened here but this was NOT it.

the show really lost me in its second half when it became about pat crying every goddamn five minutes. it honestly made me lose empathy for him after a while even though he was a character I really liked at first. moreover, if a character cries all the time, it lessens the emotional impact it has on its viewers. as an example, we barely see jeng cry at all during the show, yet, when he does, it was WAY more impactful. I think there's a way to write a crybaby character, but this was not the way here.

overall basically all the side characters except chot are useless & served no purpose, also what was the point of beam being in love with ae while she's with kanun?? literally so useless, it ends up being discussed as a non issue & added absolutely nothing to the show.

I fucking hate when there's a one or two year gap in a story for no reason other than to reunite the characters last minute & pretend that ending is satisfying enough, so it's no surprise I hated the two year break in the last episode. it's become so overused in bl shows & it's fucking annoying, we saw no growth from the characters & them getting back together after two years felt very unrealistic, when pat's love for jeng had never even been shown to be that deep.

sorry but the age gap between the actors bothered me. even on screen, the fact that this is a boss/employee story will always bother me, especially since there's quite an age gap, but irl? every time I remembered pat's actor is only 21 years old & there's 11 years between him & jeng's actor, I cringed. I know it's legal or whatever, but it just bothered me during my watching experience.

I have no idea if this is nitpicky or if it bothered other people, but there are very big continuity jumps between scenes in the same episode regarding pat's actor face & haircut. he looks way younger in certain scenes than others, some that even happened one after the other. it's probably bc they filmed the pilot teaser way before the rest of the show but it was VERY distracting to me.

this is very much a me thing, but the english segments were way too numerous & long. we get it, pat's actor can speak english & jeng's actor is half white, but idk... it bothered me.

would I rewatch it: probably not...

Overall there's a lot that this show put out that I truly appreciated. But sadly it really lost traction as episodes passed, and ended up quite disappointing to me. I did still like many things & will remember this show for them, though.

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axelle judges bl shows > The Promise

summary: Phupha and Nanfah used to be best friends but Phupha left Nanfah suddenly for over a decade. When he finally decides to come back to Bangkok, he immediately runs into Nanfah who wants to start the friendship all over again.

where to watch: youtube

grade: 7,5/10

pros:

the plot is nice, I'm a sucker for best friends to lovers so this was right up my alley!

the chemistry is really good & there are some serious heart eyes at play!

my man boss who played techit in not me is here & I couldn't have been happier, he carried the show I was GAGGED to see him here!!!

the acting is solid from everyone!

cons:

the show kinda loses itself at the halfway mark. in my opinion it should've been shorter to avoid some episodes to feel like they're just running in circles to waste screentime.

the writing is a bit thin tbh, like there's not much substance to it since they just went with the classic trope of the love triangle (in this case a love square bc 3 men are in love with nanfah lol) so it just feels a bit boring & forgettable on that part tbh.

they also should've cut the eps beter bc from what I saw a lot of scenes that built up phuphananfah's relationship were cut from the show when imo they shouldn't have.

would I rewatch it: I likely won't

Overall this was a nice little show that seemed genuinely great in its first episodes but sadly didn't stick the landing. It was still a nice time though!

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axelle judges bl shows > Love Tractor

summary: Seon Yul, on his way to become a bigshot lawyer, drops everything and goes to escape in his grandpa's countryside house. There, he meets bumbling but lovable Suh Ye Chan, who quickly gets a liking to him.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 7,5/10

pros:

charming location :)

suh ye chan is a really cute character & really carried the show well, he was silly just the right amount while still doing good in the more serious scenes!

the chemistry was really good & the couple is just wholesome and sweet!

cons:

this is a simple show so there's nothing revolutionary or life-changing about it, and it's even a bit forgettable tbh.

would I rewatch it: why not!

Overall this is a cute show, but that's about it. I did really enjoy it tho :)

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axelle judges bl shows > La Pluie

summary: Saengtai has a disease that causes him to lose his hearing when it rains. For the past two years, he's been hearing his soulmate's voice when it rains, but, traumatized by his parents' divorce even though they're soulmates, he doesn't believe in love with that mysterious voice. One day, though, he meets the man that makes him want to believe in soulmates.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 7,5/10

pros:

I really enjoyed the characters, especially saengtai & saentien, they really made the show for me and I got quite attached to them! I especially liked that tai, even though filling the role of the shy bottom, kinda switched it up by being being a shy bottom who's not afraid to flirt & voice his opinions. more characters like this please!

beautiful cinematography & filming!

the acting was very solid, I especially have been a fan of title tanatorn since he absolutely CARRIED remember me, and I was so happy to see him definitely deliver as the main lead in this!

even though the writing is nothing out of the ordinary, I found it quite solid still, and I wasn't really let down by the series at any moment, which is something that happens more often for me than not.

the chemistry between everyone was very good, which was to be expected from thai dramas that rarely ever miss. title & pee especially are a very interesting ship & I wouldn't mind seeing more of them!

cons:

not gonna lie, this is a quite predictable series. like, nothing really shocked me apart the one scene where the main four characters all have a fight that was very well done imo, but apart from that not much stands out from this show & it uses a lot of already overused tropes.

I did like tai & patts, but they are quite a boring, vanilla couple, which is fine, but also didn't really bring out much extra interest to the show on my part. especially patts as a character was fine, but definitely fell in the category I've created of "perfect but boring bl love interests", though thankfully at least he's not toxic like many characters present in that list lol.

would I rewatch it: I wanna say why not, but realistically since I do not have the time to rewatch ANY show anymore, I know I won't rewatch this one :(

Overall I did really enjoy this show, which made me want to rate it higher, but when I thought about it, I realized that it is gonna be a show that is pretty forgettable to me. I wouldn't NOT recommend it, but I also wouldn't really go out of my way to recommend it, so do with that what you will.

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axelle judges bl shows > Zenra Meshi

summary: Souta leads a boring salary man life. When he inherits his grandma's house in the countryside, he meets Mahiro, who helps him cook recipes from his grandma's cookbook.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 6/10

pros:

I always like the countryside setting in any show, so this was very pleasant.

I loved the representation of dishes from around the world, and was happy to see a taiwanese character in the countryside which made the show feel slightly more diverse. also love the two out gays supporting each other & being bffs!

the mahiro actor, whom I love from cherry magic & I will do it in the next life, literally has my whole heart & he just carried the show for me :) but also to be fair, the souta actor has some of the most captivating eyes ever & his overall look was fascinating. I just wish they'd been given better material.

cons:

for what should've been a simple & wholesome show, they tried to make it far too complicated to fill the 12 episodes, when the show should have never been that long.

similarly, the writing wasn't so good tbh, and most characters weren't that likable by the end of the show bc of the nonsensical choices they made.

this contained one of the most annoying female characters in a while for a bl, which was kinda disappointing. she's such a pushover & really selfish, and her ending up with her creepy boss that was using the power imbalance between them to try & seduce her was honestly disheartening. I thought at this point bl writers had understood that if you're not gonna give somewhat good roles to your female bl characters, you shouldn't even write them into the plot in the first place, but oh well.

honestly the chemistry was really stilted & lowkey some of the worst I've seen from a jbl in a while, and I think it's mostly from the writing.

would I rewatch it: no

This had some potential to be wholesome & cute, but truly became more & more dumb and annoying as time passed by.

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axelle judges bl shows > The Luminous Solution

/!\ SPOILERS AHEAD

summary: The story of Thana and Patis, a long-term couple who is struggling, and Ryou and Mai, highschool boys who slowly fall in love with each other. Both couples will be led to go to a magical coffee shop where their craziest wishes can come true.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 5/10

pros:

the acting was good. I especially liked thana's actor, and hope to see more of him! nice to see bhu bhudis' acting leveled up since manner of death :) gun napat was also really quite good in this!

you know, I gotta respect the commitment to this show. the writers had a weird ass idea for a plot & truly committed to it, and even though I didn't like the show, I 100000% prefer a show like this one than an uninspired show that feels like it has been seen 50 times before.

cons:

where to start? this show is confusing as hell. I know it's on purpose & shit, but imo you can make a confusing show that still makes enough sense to pull the viewer in, but here it wasn't the case in my opinion.

I didn't like the ending at all. the plot twist that the teen ship is actually the adult ship when they first met is SO weird considering they don't look like each other at all & had different names (which I know was explained on the show but still felt forced lol.) and then thana & patis still end up together in the end??? be for real.

speaking of thana & patis, I didn't like them at all. the actors had great chemistry, but the characters were entirely incompatible. the whole show was watching a couple that should've broken up months ago keep trying to be together & it was really annoying, ESPECIALLY when thana & that younger neighbor had SO MUCH more potential & chemistry imo! I was so frustrated they weren't developed more bc I honestly really liked them together.

even though I respect the vision, what was the point of this show??? it added nothing to my life, brought me no good moments or important lessons, and ultimately was definitely a waste of my time.

would I rewatch it: absolutely not lol

I went into this show expecting it to be a mess, and it absolutely was LMAO. Don't bother with this.

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axelle judges bl shows > House of Stars

/!\ SPOILERS AHEAD

summary: Famous actors and newbies alike live in the same house under P'Susie's management. With strict rules that they don't always respect, stalkers and hidden feelings, keeping their careers on track becomes difficult.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 6/10

pros:

the acting was good, especially from p'susie & host who carried the show imo. there wasn't really a bad performance though.

I liked the wayu & wayha ship, they were the only characters I rooted for lol.

the last few episodes were really quite solid, and it's too bad they didn't come sooner to make the show better.

cons:

extremely annoying characters. except for wayu & wayha, everyone is unlikable which, yes, is the point, but imo you can make very flawed characters still have some qualities (example: ps I hate you), which was not the case here.

nothing much happens in most of the show... it's not necessarily that it's boring, but then bc the last episodes actually have a lot happen, it kinda gave me whiplash tbh. I just wish the writing would've been tighter, and the pace completely different. spend like 3 episodes with p'susie & the strict rules of the house, and then the rest of the show investigating her death. also her son arrived way too late imo & we didn't learn enough about him even though he was made to be a central character.

the love triangles are horrible. I usually already dislike love triangles, but these were truly TERRIBLE. mintra & pawin fighting over korn's unfaithful ass was sooooo annoying, and everyone involved are literally horrible people lol. as for the gunpitchzo love triangle, it was way too random & slow tbh, especially since it was clear from early on zo was the excluded one.

barely any character development. everything felt quite surface level, and it's not even bc there's a lot of characters since there's many ensemble cast shows that still manage to develop their characters well. but here I didn't really get attached to anyone, didn't relate to any character, didn't get any meaningful lesson from this... which makes it a show that I'm CERTAIN I'll have forgotten about in a couple of months.

would I rewatch it: probably not

This show truly had some potential, but like it often happens, it just didn't pan out well enough. With a tighter writing and execution, and definitely better characters, it could've been a great show, but oh well. I still applaud it for trying something new though!

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axelle judges bl shows > Tokyo in April Is...

summary: Kazuma joins a new company after studying in America. There, he meets his childhood best friend, Ren, who he hasn't met in over a decade. After just a few days, the old flame between them gets rekindled. But old wounds threaten to reopen.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 7,5/10

pros:

this feels like such a different jbl. not only is the style of filming is way more indie-looking, but this felt way more lgbtq+ than other shows, which I really loved.

the story is also pretty different & interesting!

the acting & chemistry are good!

cons:

I'm not gonna lie, even though I do praise the story for being different, it didn't really convince me & I was kinda bored most of the show...

the fact that the child actors are 14 & had more explicit scenes (not just with actions but words too) kinda icked me out tbh...

would I rewatch it: probably not

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axelle judges non bl shows > Show Me Love

summary: Meena is an aspiring singer who moves to Bangkok to make her dream come true. There, she meets Cherine, who convinces to join a beauty pageant as attraction between them.

where to watch: youtube

grade: 7,5/10

pros:

this show has such feminine energy, I absolutely loved watching it & it really calmed my mind :)

the chemistry is FIRE!!!

cons:

the show fast-forwards most of its important moments & stays very surface level.

the show feels very 2016 thai drama tbh, it's not super well filmed or executed.

would I rewatch it: I'm not sure...

This show was honestly so fucking cute! It's far from perfect & the writing is very basic, but it's a show guaranteed to put a smile on your face so who cares! I honestly prefer a gl like this to gap that had a lot of toxic elements...

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axelle judges non bl shows > To The Moon and Back

/!\ SPOILERS AHEAD

summary: Matalada is a naive and kind girl who was raised by a community of queer drag queens. When she meets Pennueng, a doctor who was raised to be nothing but perfect his whole life, sparks flies and opposites do, as always, attract.

where to watch: dramacool

grade: 8,5/10

pros:

this story was so fucking down my alley, bro. minimal drama and pure character development & analysis for 21 episodes? sign me the fuck up!!! the themes were so beautiful, about forgiveness & growth, chosen family & kindness always winning... I ATE THAT SHIT UPPP!!! such a heartwarming & honestly important lakorn for choosing depth above drama.

this is the least toxic lakorn couple I've ever seen, apart from maybe the one in to me, it's simply you which I also loved! they just truly love & respect each other and were written incredibly well. even though they're vanilla af, I didn't get bored at all?? LOVE THEM!

bruh, the characters!!! truly the first time in a lakorn where I truly love not only the main characters, but the entire cast. pennueng is so fucking soft, mata is legit the queen of my heart, trichat owns me entirely and is one of the most complex & interesting ever in my eyes, pang was also super complex & badass, and matalada's entire family????? are my family now. I absolutely adored them, and it was by far one of the best queer representation in lakorns!

the chemistry was beyond incredible! the main ship is perfect & truly feel like soulmates, and the side ship was SO HOT & iconic together, I was stanning! two different vibes but they both ATE!

the acting was PERFECT! everyone did an amazing role, james jirayu perfect in the role of the sad & stilted doctor, toey jarinporn impressed me so much for the first role I've seen her in, she was perfect for mata & absolutely made this role hers, the pang actress was great, I loved seeing the dad actor in a queer role, he honestly ate, the aunt vee actress ATE, especially considering it's her first role ever, the grandma??? fucked me up, I cried so much in her scenes lol. but the one who impressed me the most is ryu wachirawich. I only knew him from 9x9, but BITCHHHHH. he absolutely BODIED trichat & made him his in a way that has made me an immediate stan even though it usually takes me 2 to 3 roles to stan someone! he was so good & I'm looking forward to his next roles!

cons:

I was so confused by trichat ending up with riri. while I liked them together & they had been built up to have some tension since their first meeting... obviously trichat & pang should've ended up together??? in fact, I was certain they did??? didn't they mend things together & go on a double date with the main couple??? that whole thing was so confusing bc tri & pang had been far more developed and also built up to be soulmates like the main ship, so I was so disappointed by this choice of ending. ESPECIALLY since riri is canonically queer & used to like mata, so I wish we'd have seen her end up with a girlfriend, which would've added to the representation of the show.

similarly, I think the whole tri x pang storyline was made overly complicated for no reason. what was actually my favorite ship of the two quickly became a bit slow & repetitive after a while, and I believe they could've conveyed the same type of story better.

I wish we'd have seen at least one queer character get a love interest. this lakorn focuses more on the 'identity' aspect of queerness rather than the 'sexuality' aspect, which I found very interesting & worth exploring, but considering half of the characters are queer & they're basically the only ones ending up single feels kinda weird. just something they could've improved.

would I rewatch it: yes!

It was honestly such a joy to watch a lakorn where the couple is not toxic, people's decisions make sense most of the time & that actually created realistic and beautiful characters, not caricatures. I loved every moment of it! I cried, I laughed, I screamed... definitely one of the best lakorns out there & truly such a gem to watch!