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Journey With You (Chinese Series)

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...

With Love (Thai Series)

Another Thai BL show in the ocean of many many many series that Thailand is constantly churning out non-stop. Although its from a couple of years back, but given my backlog of things, I am very slowly trying to catch up. IT doesn't help that only a few of these handful shows are actually good. Rest others are average or below at best. This show falls under the latter category. At 15 episodes of about 22-25 minutes each, there are too many characters in this and as audience, you never get to invest in any of them.

This series is about four couples who live in the same house, With Love house.
Prin & Nathee: Prin is rich boy who is at loggerheads with his father, while Nathee I a country boy who has recently moved for university. Because of some situation, they end up sharing a room and before you know they become a couple. For some reason, Prin instantly likes him and flirts non stop.
Thann & Kavin:Thann is Nathee's cousin and lived abroad in Korea. He reunites with his ex-boyfriend Kavin, but Kavin now has a girlfriend Irin. Kavin wants to date Thann again, but he's still dating Irin. Meanwhile Thann's friend from Korea, Jihoon, comes to visit Thann making Kavin jealous. Kavin is struggling to tell his girlfriend the truth and Thann doesn't want to be the second fiddle anymore.
Kun & Parfun - The only straight couple, who have known each other since they were kids. Kun breaks up with his girlfriend just around the same time Parfun breaks up with her cheating boyfriend. Kun has always been in love with Parfun but they choose to stay friends. Later Parfun's friends try to set her up with different men. Kun can only watch as Parfun dates other guys.
Kaowkla & Plod:Plod is Prin's little brother. He is introduced to Kaowkla at a party at their sharehouse. Plod is still in highschool while Kaowkla is in college and is juggling several jobs including being an art teacher. Plod asks Kaowkla to teach him art. From the start Plod was instantly interested in Kaowkla, but Kaowkla doesn't see him that way, because
he is just a 'kid'.

The series was strictly ok, with typical comic feminine characters who run the house who are constantly boggling over the good looking meat, but thankfully its always harmless, even though it feels very very objectified. Even though Prin/Nathee feel like main couple, they hardly get any time. Nathee was obviously falling for Prin, but it's kind of ridiculous how Prin could get over his daddy issues and how Nathee could go from don't hug me to I love you in just a few hours. It felt rushed. Compared to that his brother Plod's story, even though short, was very cute and innocent and relatable at some level. But the show doesn't make dup their mind whether they ant the couple to eventually get together or not. I also enjoyed Thann/Kavin story. It was juicy, drama and also a bit funny at times with Thann trying to make Kavin feel jealous. But also clearly Kavin wanted to hav best of both worlds and we know that sooner or later it doesn't end well. The straight couple who have been friends and who eventually find love with one another is a a classic romantic film plot. In this story I definitely empathized more with the boy since he was so much smitten by her , but she couldn't care less. As actors I think. They were all new and did a decent job. All of them will probably take a few years to learn how to act well. Having said that, I have sen much worse in other shows.

Overall this was strictly ok as a show. It had all stereotypes of a typical BL trope, but without kisses or physical intimacy which is core. I would recommend this only if you have absolutely run out of any other Thai BL to watch. (3.5/10)

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