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...
King, a young adult, gets expelled from his school in Manilla when he defends students against the homophobe dean of the school. He moves to the religious and conservative town of Marahuyo where this grandmother and mother live. King soon realizes how backward and homophobe the small community is, especially when he sees how one of the trans student Venice gets treated by everyone. King supports her and together they decide to start the first LGBTQIA+ organization in their school, despite it being clear that the Dean and the priest are against this. To get started, King needs approval from student council president Ino, a hot sexy guy. But he is your typical 'masculine' guy and King must convince him that their cause is worth his support. As the two get to know each other despite their differences, it becomes clear that they are not as different as they thought they were. Enter Lorie, the mayor's daughter who has been struggling with her lesbian identity joins the club as well. Her best friend also joins the group as an ally but it is much later revealed to audience that she is intersex. As expected the whole town is against this group, but Slowly while Ino and King get to know each other, the club gets approved by student council but still needs permission if school board. By conducting interviews, trying to figure out the oral history of Marahuyo, King, Venis, Lorie and Ino discover that the town’s history has been greatly distorted and Ino’s family are not the heros of Marahuyo as is believed, but rather a queer poet named Baylan Nalundasan. This revelation crushes Ino, but also breaks the shackles that his history and name has chained him to. He becomes more open to looking inward and admitting that he is gay. King is careful not to force Ino into coming out and assures him that he does not need to if he is not ready.
The series shows us how easier it is to live your truth when you have a support system and like-minded people around you, however, sometimes that alone is not enough and it is important that the world and people around us make the world more comfortable by letting go of their ignorant beliefs. Although the gang isn’t ultimately successful in their goals and persuading the board to approve their organization, it is apparent that change is coming to Marahuyo. King manages to reassure his mother that her acceptance and the acceptance of those he loves is what matters most in a world full of hatred. It takes a while for Ino's parent to come around and. Now we are told that he might also be bisexual. You watch a show like this, and you can tell that there were some really passionate people behind this. It is influenced by compassion, understanding, reassurance and is educational but at the same time down in an entertaining way. While the romance was sweet and expected, the greatest moving force of Marahuyo project is the friendship and solidarity that shines more than anything. The actors all do a very good job and I have seen the lead actor King in other shows/films before and he is really good as always. Though femme, he never lets it go in a zone where it feels mockery of anyone. All the other young adult actors do their roles very convincingly. The show doesn't end at a happy note but a realistic one with full of hope. Before fighting the whole world you need to fight with your family first. And if you win, you can win any situation in your life with their love and support. (7/10)
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