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Journey With You (Chinese Series)

By Golu
I've always had kind of a love hate relationship with Chinese historical BLs. Some are genuinely excellent, but then there are others that cram in so much plot that keeping track of all the layers of betrayal and scheming gets exhausting, and I end up checking out mentally. Part of the issue is also just how much content is out there in this space, so something really has to stand out to keep me hooked. In this case, the production value is genuinely impressive, top tier stuff, but story wise, I just couldn't bring myself to actually care about these characters. There's a ton of political scheming and backstage manipulation running throughout. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, a hostage ends up falling for his own Prince Charming. The show runs eight episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long. After spending three years guarding the border, Fifth Prince Yin Qi gets called back to the capital because of a secret letter, only to end up walking straight into a deadly...
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Taiikukan Baby (Japanese) [Gymnasium Baby]

By Golu
This film had a cute story but somehow the way it is executed, it never manages to life above its below average status. Swim team romance, love triangle, teenage love; on paper it seems to have right ingredients but the execution is strictly average with some really bad editing happening here.

Shibahara is high school who enjoys swimming. His father is the coach of the team and Shibahara was born after his father's affair with one of his students and hence his nickname is 'Gymnasium baby'. When he is diagnosed with some heart condition, he os forced to quit swimming team and his father/coach starts favoring another student Murai. Murai feels an affinity and attraction to Shibahara and asks him to become his coach. The two spend time together and soon enough one day Murai confesses his feelings and kisses him. This leaves Shibahara confused and runs away and tries to avoid Murai. Shibahara tells what happened to his best friend, Kato, who takes an overprotective attitude towards him and another defensive towards Murai, since he is also in love with him. A love triangle and competition of sort starts with a very confused ending, of three of them finally coming together.

The story is nice, as I said before, but you know what, I couldn't get myself past their oversized coats that the students would wear. I know its silly but very funny at the same time. Now coming back to the story, the editing of the film was either off or something else. A lot of scenes would randomly show up which didn't make any sense. Suddenly Shibahara becoming Murai's coach, like what was actual coach doing then? Where was Kato all this while? The kiss between two guys was so sudden. Why was Shibahara so upset with his dad? What was he doing all this time when he left home after exam and his realist came for college? And a lot more random things. Also the way Murai approaches Shibahara is very bullish, almost creepy. He talks like a dominant screamer and almost creepy. He literally forces Shibahara to like him. There is absolutely no organic growth in their relationship. Its like one guy professing his love for the other out of nowhere and the other guy better accept because he doesn't have a choice. Kato's love and admiration, at least, seemed more natural. And ending is so open and unresolved, you can make it whatever you please to make it. There are much better Japanese BL stuff out there that this one is completely avoidable. (3/10)
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