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Contrast (Japanese Series)

By Golu
This is basically a high school BL where two guys who have nothing going on in common somehow end up getting really close to each other, and that's kind of the whole point of the title too. There's barely any drama or fluff packed in here, it stays pretty straightforward the whole way through. A little bit of friction pops up here and there, but it's nothing compared to what you'd normally get in this kind of show. Runtime wise you're looking at 8 episodes, each one sitting around 25-30 minutes. The two guys carrying the story are Akira and Kanata, and funny enough they knew each other's faces way before they ever knew each other's names. Kanata's the type everyone likes, always got people around him, popular guy, but there's this distance to him that people can't quite place. Turns out he had an injury that ended his football days, and that's what pushed him into being more withdrawn, and it only got worse once his younger brother got picked...
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Stay Still (Cantonese Mini-Series)

By Golu
With only 5 episodes of about 15-20 minutes each, the very first episode is so dman confusing. Characters are introduced, some relevant and some not and most things just don't make any sense. Eventually this series is like 2 parallel stories that have absolutely no bearing to one another. The way it is directed feel over garam tic lie a soap opera and even though the show has received good reviews, I think a school project would have been better. This is essentially two separate subjects just made into one series for no rhyme or reason.

Hayden, who has just moved to a new place, coincidentally helps Damien's grandmother and meets Damien in the process. The two individuals, who had no connection before, start a complicated relationship after an unexpected kiss. They both have burdens form the past. After the grandma's unexpected death, Hayden helps Damien a lot and eventually love grows between them. The other story is of Kelvin and Archie, high school lovers who got separated when a girl who likes Kelvin exposes truth about them in school. Years later, Archie has now returned from England and accidentally meets Kelvin who now is married with a son and runs a bar. They restart their love affair but when the wife finds out she gives ultimatum to both of the guys. After a brief break, finally Kevin decides that he would rather live a life of truth and love. And in between all this we have randomly a girl (I think she ws kelvin's wife, but I am not sure) sleeping with another man in some timeframe.

Having two separate storylines reduces the available time to focus on either plot. Both couples don't receive enough development, so they suffer from shallow backstories and empty characterizations. Not that either of the stories would have potential to stay with you as an audience, since neither gives any new perspective on any aspect of relationships that we haven't seen before. Released as two separate short stories with less melodrama would have been lot more effective. Also I think there was something seriously wrong with the editing. The way the story jumps around (between couples and in time) is confusing and transitions are very abrupt. Though the series carries a sad vibe, it eventually concludes with a happy ending for both couples. The actors were all strictly ok. Neither good nor bad. As I mentioned before here that the content this show is so basic and forgettable that you will forget all about it within 5 minutes of having seen it. In 2023, we expect better. (3/10)
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