Skip to main content

On The Sea (UK)

By Golu
This one's a beautiful, tender, quiet romantic drama with a moody atmosphere, set in a tight knit Welsh fishing community. It's a touching story about a man waking up sexually in the middle of his life, and how he, his family, and everyone around him deal with it, which makes it emotional and sentimental without ever getting over the top. The slow burn plays out against a landscape that's as bleak as it is gorgeous, where quiet, closed off men are stuck inside rigid ideas of what masculinity should be. Some people might be reminded of "God's Own Country," but I think both films are lovely in their own way. Jack is a middle aged guy who co-owns a mussel farm with his rough around the edges brother Dyfan, and the tension between the two of them is simmering under the surface right from the start. Dyfan's three sons all help out with the work, while Jack's sulky teenage son Tom keeps skipping out. Jack's been with his wife since they were both 16, and...
Post a Comment

HIStory2 - Right or Wrong (Taiwanese Series)

By Golu
When you read that this is a love story between a teacher and student, the cynic in me raised eyebrows and wasn't very sure what am I going to get myself into. But I was so wrong. This is one of the cutest, yet mature at so many levels. This is the first on the two stories, shown as part of season 2 of the Taiwanese streaming drama anthology series. The show is 8 episodes of about 20-22 minutes each.

A single divorced professor Shi Yi Jie hires 19 year old Xiao Fei to take care of his 8 year old daughter Yo Yo. This happens very accidentally when Xiao Fei meets Yo Yo and realizes that Professor Shi Yi Jie is so busy in his anthropology work, that he often neglects his focus on his daughter. We soon find out that it was 3 years ago when Xiao Fei was dumped his his school senior and bullied by his classmates, it was Shi Yi Jie who gave him some words of wisdom outside a gay bar that helped him. And this was eye's way of giving it back. Of course, the professor doesn't remember anything. Soon enough, both Yo yo and Shi Yi Jie get very used to having Xiao Fei around them and in their own unique ways both Shi Yi Jie and Xiao Fei start falling for each other. After a few hiccups and concerns they both decide to go for their love for each other, but Shi Yi Jie's ex-wife shows out of nowhere wanting to get back. She tries many dirty tricks, but thanks to stern determination of Shi Yi Jie and his feelings for Xiao Fei, he is very sure that he only wants his life with him. Thankfully, a very mature YoYo only strengthens their love bond.

There are so many good things about this show. The first episode was a little patchy, but things start to improve soon after. The way the relationship between Shi Yi Jie and Xiao Fei grows is very realistic and cute. Even though Shi Yi Jie is technically straight, one he realizes that he now loves Xiao Fei, there is no confusion in him. He is sure he loves the boy and no amount of worrying about what college would say, their age difference or even just his sexuality would do for him stops him. He is determined to love Xiao Fei and goes full force. In one of a very important scenes he even approaches eye's mother asking for her permission to date Xiao Fei, given that he knew her from past. That scene somehow worked really well on the large scheme of things and was a very loving and determined gesture. IT just proved that Shi Yi Jie is not picking around. And for someone like Xiao Fei, who has seen and suffered a lot in his very short life, it helps for him to have someone loving him with all the determination. I am glad no big deal is being made of Shi Yi Jie suddenly feeling for a man. His feelings never waver and he is never afraid. Even the way their relationship grows his organic and beautiful. Eye's beautiful friend is a great support structure in his life who is always there for him constantly reminding that he deserves love.It was nice that YoYo was also seamlessly involved in their love aspect. It was about making a family and YoYo was very happy to see her father more involved in her life and be with Xiao Fei, whom she had grown very fond of. Even the drama from the ex-wife was handled very well with audiences being provided of all relevant information from their past. All the actors did a great job in the series and suit their part. The chemistry is amazing and the little YoYo is sooooooo cute.

A cute, adorable, feel-good, very realistic drama that is such a welcome change from the fluffy Thai BL shows (which are good in this town way), I would highly highly recommend this. Can't wait to see the next few shows/films as part of the HIStory series. I have waited too long. (7.5/10)
Labels:

Comments

luigi43 said…
Many wives , ex wives and ex fiancee come back from nowhere to recall their ex in eastern novels and B/L series! Who knows why exactly when he is now in love with another man . For sure the Professor is very sexy, the story is well built and decently acted. Not repetitive that much : worth watching , at the end. Thanks for the advice.
March 19, 2021 at 1:12 PM
Golu said…
You are right. These ex-es coming back is a pretty standard thing, but I was happy that in this case, the husband didn't feel obligated to get back with her for the daughter's sake. In fact, even the woman's brother shows her the mirror that it was her fault that she left and she can't expect the guy to be forever waiting for her.
March 19, 2021 at 2:51 PM
Sailor Maan said…
I had the same fear as you for the teacher/student romance, and I definitely loved it in the end. Different and more mature than most BL, the story was also very well built. It's my favourite of the HIStory2, but I biased because seeing two guys raising a kid is my weak spot. Now I hope you'll enjoy the other HIStory, they are all so good :-)
March 20, 2021 at 4:13 PM
Gerald from France said…
And now I just realize I unintentionaly skipped this one. After "crossing the line", which was very good and probably your next watch, I directly moved to Season 3.
With husband away for work, that leaves the whole afternoon to catch up !
March 21, 2021 at 5:52 AM
Gerald from France said…
Xia Fei had a very nice birthday, and I had a very nice Time. We will all prefer one story over the other, but the average quality is just awesome in this series.
If you liked this one, you'll love the others !

March 21, 2021 at 12:00 PM
Golu said…
I am definitely looking forward to the next few stories in this series. I have just been slightly busy but hopefully soon
March 21, 2021 at 6:39 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tuxedo (Thai Series)

By Golu
When I saw this series with 8 episodes of about 20-25 minutes each, I thought, good: Finally someone has come to senses and made a show which is not stretched out and they have tried to squeeze in a decent storyline in a good small episode format. But unfortunately, despite a decent premise on hand, the clunky writing, bad screenplay and an extreme tasteless portrayal of mental illness makes this show, not a fun watch. By the time it finishes, you just want to laugh off at the entire absurdity of it all. Aioun is talented tuxedo designer and very much in demand but he has handful of clients and he builds suits only for people who he feels a connection to. One night when his younger brother is about to get mugged, he is helped by a total stranger named Sichol. Since he tears his suit in the fight and has an interview the next day, Aioun gifts him a suit form his design as an expression of thanks. Sichol's interview is for. Personal assistant of a man named Nawee, a wealthy heir to h...
25 comments
Read more

Heartstopper: Season 2 (Web Series) (UK)

By Golu
Heartstopper Season 1 was a universal hit. You could not have read one bad review or heard from anyone who has seen the show not liking it. It was the kind of series that is easy to love, with sweetness exploding out of every scene without overwhelming you. So naturally, when Netflix greenly Season 2, expectations were naturally high and the same happened with me. I didn't know what to expect, but I had high expectations of this very very sweet teenage love story. And with eagerness and being a little late to the game by a few days, here I am, pouring my t thoughts down having just finished one of the most anticipated shows of the year. The second season also has 10 episodes and has all of our loved ones from the original season. The show continues from where it had left off in Season 1. Charlie and Nick are a couple and only their very close circle of friends know about it. This includes Charlie's best friend Tao and his trans best friend Elle. The center of the show is still ...
19 comments
Read more

Gaya Sa Pelikula (Filipino Series) [Like In The Movies]

By Golu
Pinoy BL series seem to be catching up to the popularity of the Thai shows. And I must say that they are doing a pretty good job at it. Where Thai series started to get repetitive with so many shows based in a college setting with seemingly similar storylines, Pinoy series are offering the viewers with new and interesting stories and some really good sets and surroundings. This series was 8 episodes of about 25-20 minutes each. Karl, a 19-year old introvert architecture student is in the middle of an identity crisis. Prior to the start of the second semester in college and forced by his parents, he moves into his uncle's condominium unit so that he can learn to be financially independent. Karl takes on odd jobs online to do so. But when one of his major clients suddenly goes MIA, he is left short on funds and without a means to pay for his utilities. An opportunity presents itself when his cocky neighbor Vlad has to hide from his family and proposes to share Karl's space for th...
23 comments
Read more