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Chained To My Bully Stepbrother (AI Vertical BL Drama)

This is the second vertical AI BL drama I've sat through, and honestly I went in knowing better. I had it on while I was doing cardio at the gym, and what struck me was just how much the plot echoed the last one I watched. Same step brother romance angle, same mystery girlfriend showing up near the end, same extra guy pining after one of the leads. Genuinely the only thing going for it was the runtime, the whole thing wrapped up in forty five minutes flat.  The setup kicks off with Finn moving schools because his mom just married into money. He finds out his new step brother Aiden goes to the same place, and he's warned to keep his distance from him. Their first run in at school is rocky, just like you'd expect, but there's this odd pull between them neither can shake off. Finn keeps telling himself not to read into it because Aiden's straight and openly homophobic. Things shift when some kids start bullying Finn and the student council president, Ryan, steps in to ...

Ingredients (Thai Series)

This was probably an interesting concept, but somehow something felt missing in this 21 episode mini series, ranging from 5-15 minutes each episode. It is very very episodic in nature, which according to me, fails to keep a connection. Its slow, fluffy and a bit cheesy.

Tops is a young man who has been fascinated by cooking.  He finds happiness in cooking delicious and tasty food with great care.  Win is young, playful, and loves music. He dreams of becoming a world-class musician. Chance encounter and the two of them end up becoming room mates. Win wants someone who doesn't get disturbed by music and Tops want someone who can taste his food to provide feedback. Over the course of their time together, we see how they encourage each other for their passion in life with Win constantly providing feedback to some of themes amazing coking that Tops does and similarly Tops push Win to chase his dreams. Somewhere in the process they both realize that they do like each others company more than friends and they actually like each other. But around that time, Win gets an offer for music for which he has to leave town. With a heavy heart and love in their eyes, they say goodbye to each other. Their dreams may take them physically apart but their love will keep them together.

The two actors do a good job of playing their part and in fact have some real good chemistry, but they are let down by a botched script and poor production. The last episode is cry fest with just a recap of all amazing dishes that Tops made, whereas, it could have been so much more. A private moment between two recent lovers who are going to be separated soon, but the makers missed the chance. There were too many episodes and situation that leaves you hanging and gives you incomplete vibe, which is such a pity towards the actors. The only episode that I really enjoyed was the one where they both have to take care of baby. The way that episode was directed was nice, but besides that I was getting tired of Tops saying in every episode "Let me cook something for you". I mean, does the guy do anything besides grocery shopping and cooking? Given there are a plethora of Asian BL series that are being churned like a factory, this one can be avoided. (4.5/10)

Comments

Sailor Maan said…
I still don't know what this show was about since nothing happens except everyday life, more or less good. Made me wonder if characters weren't already in a relationship from the start since they hacve very good chemistry. But no, you have to until the very last episodes. Funny thing, I watched the very short "he she it" drama just before. Not really good except it has the same actors being a couple, but is a looot creepier. Even the songs were the same but with different musical arrangements, making them beautiful or gloomy depending of the version. It was very strange and intriging to see.
Golu said…
oh I don't think I have heard about that show. I will check that out.
Sailor Maan said…
Don't get your hopes up too much, it's a very low budget production... I'm more excited about watching those actors in the upcoming kinnporsche BL this year, the show looks different and the trailers are really exciting!
Golu said…
How do you even keep up with this never ending flow of Asian BL shows. Its too much :)
Sailor Maan said…
Haha Covid closed all my side activities and had me reorganize my time, leaving me with several slices of 50min free time per day. Not enough for a movie but perfect for a BL episode! Back then I began searching your blog for some short series and you know the rest... Basically Golu you saved my free time! On a counterpart that's also why I am so late at watching the movies you recommend. Everything should be back to (as much) normal (as it can be) next week in France though, even if I doubt I'll quit BL now ;)
Golu said…
Thats true. Once you get into BL, love it or hate it, you still can't ignore it

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