Is this technically a gay show? Even after getting through the whole thing, that's still kind of tricky to answer. There's never any physical intimacy shown between the two leads, not even a single kiss. What it gives you instead is something that goes way deeper than that. It traces an emotional bond that spans a full decade between two guys who are both dealing with their own baggage, and what they share basically amounts to being soulmates. The story moves across Japan, South Korea, and Berlin. Honestly, whether people want to call what they have a romantic relationship or not doesn't really matter to me. A relationship doesn't need a label like boyfriends attached to it to actually mean something. And closeness doesn't need to be physical to feel genuine. What this show captures is something quieter but way more powerful, a bond rooted in understanding, respect, and just showing up for each other. Across eight episodes, each running 35 to 45 minutes, this is one...
The landscape of Brooklyn is quickly changing and we meet Quique, a Nuyorican barber navigating his life. One day he sees an attractive Irish man on the street and feels attracted to him. We get to know him better, where he lives with his family and sometimes hooks up with guys online since he is DL. He has a decent group of friends but all wrapped up in the bullshit of macho-ism. One day, the Irish guy Kevin ends up helping Quique's mom with groceries and Quique is surprised to find him at his home. Anyway, soon a nice friendship develops between the two and they start hanging out fueling rumors. Only one of his cousins understand that and is supportive. But Quique's pursuit of love and self-acceptance becomes a complex odyssey through layers of sexuality, family dynamics, friendship, race, and class. He likes Kevin an they have great chemistry but somehow he cannot accepts own sexuality thereby snubbing him off multiple times. Kevin tries his best but he eventually gets beaten by thugs, he has had enough and he leaves the town. The film ends on a positive note a year later, where we see Quique getting more comfortable with his sexuality.
As I mentioned before, we have seen stories like this is a closet gay man trying to come with his sexuality but not confident, mostly because he doesn't want his friends to find out and that is ok. But at least, give a little newer perspective. Nothing much changes in terms of that here. Brooklyn and its changing landscape is featured but never discussed in forefront. Also, as I mentioned it feels very disjointed at times. Scenes suddenly come out of nowhere, especially the scenes where Quique's friends, when they individually meet Kevin act as if they have known each other forever. Meanwhile as audience we are never shown if they ever even met. Even the way Kevin and Quique's relationship is developed, you don't feel that much of a chemistry between the two. This film about the "barrio boy" falling in love with the Irishman but losing him in the most stupid way possible is just too generic. It could have been so much better, especially when you have an extremely gorgeous actor playing the title role and he has a beautiful smile to die for. Also what was up with random side stories of Quique going for audition, or Kevin sleeping with a girl and random stuff like that. It was just not a cohesively written script. (4.5/10)
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