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Chained To My Bully Stepbrother (AI Vertical BL Drama)

By Golu
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 ...
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Changing Ends: Season 3 (UK) (TV Show)

By Golu

I was actually wondering what happened to Alan Carr’s show and if they were ever going to do another season. It turns out I’m just late to the party! After watching him on the celebrity version of The Traitors UK, I remembered how much I liked this series and managed to track down season three pretty easily. This time around, we’re back in Northampton in 1989, following a 13-year-old Alan as he deals with all the awkwardness of being a teenager. The show is still based on Alan’s actual childhood memories, but it feels like something anyone can relate to. The big focus this season is on Alan really starting to notice his own sexuality, specifically through a massive crush on a handsome classmate named Jake.

We get to see Alan totally swooning over Jake, whether he’s spotting him working at a local shop or hanging out at the swimming pool. Jake is actually nice to him, which is a change from how the other boys act, so Alan naturally takes that friendliness as a sign that maybe there’s something more there. While Alan is busy growing up, the show still spends plenty of time on the rest of the Carr family. One episode has Alan and his brother staying with their favorite aunt in the London suburbs, where she helps boost his confidence while they're out at a bar. Meanwhile, Alan’s dad is riding a rollercoaster at his football job; his team is doing well and he’s becoming a bit of a local celebrity, but then the management changes and he’s suddenly facing a whole new set of headaches. There’s a really sweet episode where Alan and his dad try to bond over a football trip, too. We also see a gay couple move in next door, which catches the neighborhood by surprise, though they try to keep a low profile. In a really touching moment, Alan’s mom shows she’s totally fine with them, even though she’s still completely clueless that her own son is gay. By the finale, Alan finds out that Jake was just being a nice guy and actually likes a girl in their class. It leads to a great scene where Alan finally opens up to his best friend about his disappointment, only for her to admit she’s known he was gay all along.

I feel like the first two seasons didn’t get as much attention as they deserved, but now that Alan is everywhere because of The Traitors, I think people are finally going to realize how good this comedy is. It’s so charming, especially with the real-life Alan popping in every now and then to comment on his past. The kid playing young Alan is honestly incredible—I saw him in an interview recently and couldn't believe it was the same person because he’s so good-looking in real life! He nails Alan’s voice and mannerisms perfectly without making it feel like a caricature. Even when Alan is being humiliated at school—like being forced to take swimming lessons with six-year-olds or being the last pick in PE—his spirit stays high. The whole supporting cast is great, and their banter is hilarious. I especially love Gary, Alan’s brother; his deadpan face kills me, and I really wish they gave him more screen time.

The show doesn't shy away from the fact that homophobia existed back then, but it keeps things relatively mild, and the way Jake handles the unwanted attention is pretty restrained. It uses humor to deal with the painful stuff so it never feels too heavy or overwhelming. I actually think I liked this season more than the first two, mostly because we're finally getting into the period where Alan is figuring out who he is rather than just being the "odd" kid in class. It’s just a really comforting, funny slice of British life that gets the nostalgia just right.

This is a hilarious and heartwarming trip down memory lane that perfectly captures the cringe-worthy reality of growing up queer in the 80s. (7/10)

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