Skip to main content

A Man Who Defies the World of BL 2024 (Japanese Series)

After a couple of years off, the creators finally dropped a third season of this show, oddly titled with 2024 in it for some reason I genuinely can't figure out. The story basically picks up right where things left off, following our lead Mobu as he keeps trying to survive inside this whole BL universe, just another character desperately trying not to fall for another guy. Season two left us with his relationship with Kikuchi, and this season kicks off right as Kikuchi heads off to university, which means Mobu's single again and honestly couldn't be happier about it. With six episodes, each running about 23 minutes, this is a quick, easy watch. Now that Mobu's back to being single, he's got to stay alert for every signal or trope that could end up pulling him into another relationship with a guy if he's not careful. So across these episodes, we watch him run into two of these signals per episode through the people around him and how they end up falling for each ...

Wild Tigers I Have Known

This film highlights a lonely teenager's struggle with his sexuality and identity. The subject matter is nothing new, but it’s a considerately and unflinchingly covered coming-out, and that’s definitely to be praised. Having said that, the execution style is sort of lyrical and poetic , which is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. I myself can only take this narrative style only to a certain extent.

13 year old Logan lives with his single mother, who worries about him since he is very much in his own world of dreams and fantasies. There is a news that mountain lions are roaming around free and that students must be careful. Hs best friend is joey, another not so cool kid in school. But Logan respects the mountain lion and is appalled at the fears that have spread like wildfire about the animal in the school. He is happy when an older student Rodeo, a ninth grader who spends most of his time alone, turns out to share his feelings. He claims to have seen a lion in woods and before you know the two start hanging out. Logan is clearly smitten by Rodeo, and he pushes this to the limit when he begins some suggestive phone conversations with him pretending to be a girl. It is the closest he comes to drawing out the woman inside him. Rodeo doesn't take kindly when he finds out the truth. When the school counselor learns of a vicious campaign against Logan mounted by a large group of students, the principal inaugurates a campaign of kindness with the intention of promoting tolerance in the school instead of homophobia.

The film is a portrait of a 13-year-old homosexual struggling with his identity, alienation from his peers, loneliness, and sexual fantasies. Its a coming of age story, something we have seen plenty of time before. In this film, the focus is more on Logan's development than the story itself. The one string thing about this film is a beautiful performance by Logan. As he chats up the unsuspecting Rodeo in sporadic telephone calls, you fear for Logan’s sanity as much as his security. But, as I said before the way these scenes are executed, they are not really my cup of tea. Filmed in garish tints, these scenes of seduction are bizarre because most of the dialogues are in voice over from Logan and Leah. The entire film plays out like a haunting music video. Low rumbling, chimes, bells fill in the silence so there really isn't any. Personally for me this film would have worked better with a straight forward narrative style, rather than a psychedelic visual narration. But to each its own and I guess there are plenty of people who would connect with this form too. I just can't see myself recommending the film to anyone, even though it will connect with teenagers and is an important statement. (4.5/10)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Tuxedo (Thai Series)

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...

Heartstopper: Season 2 (Web Series) (UK)

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 ...

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

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...