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Journey With You (Chinese Series)

By Golu
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...
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Star In My Mind (Thai Series)

By Golu
So this is what it feels when you pick a slightly older BL show that is full of cliches, melodrama, and a whole lot of nothingness. This BL series had no real plot, no real conflict, or anything essential to the story that made it an ounce interesting. Thankfully with only 8 episodes of about 45 minutes each, they didn't unnecessarily stretch for 12 or more episodes. But despite all that, this show is a coherent mess. Trust the makers to know how to turn a simple beautiful love story into something so overdramatic that it becomes exhausting to watch.

Nuea is moving form high school to university. He has always had a crush on his batch mate Kluen, to whom he confesses on the last day, but all he gets a sa repose is "have a safe flight", leaving Nuea heartbroken and devastated. A year later when they both meet in diversity, Nuea is so embarrassed by what happened, Nuea pretends not to know Kluen around the other students. Nuea insists he has gotten over Kluen and doesn't have a crush on him anymore. However, the two students discover they must live in the same dormitory. They get reacquainted again due to their close living quarters. Kluen is in a relationship with a girl but still lingers around Nuea all the time. Reluctantly, Nuea admits he still has lingering feelings for his classmate. Thanks to some aggravated misunderstandings and miscommunications like Kluen's girlfriend or another boy flirting with Nuea, it becomes a cat and mouse game where one is following the other or the other way round. It becomes too exhausting to watch. As expected, all is well that ends well and eventually the lovers unite with the help of a very supportive brother of Nuea and a good set of friends.

This whole series could have been a simple short story where 2 boys fall in love after a failed high school love confession. But this show is so full of cliched events, interactions, predictable storyline, that you a see form miles what is going to happen. The storyteller tries to convince us Kluen & Nuea had an epic bond in high school, which doesn't seem authentic. These guys shared one measly exchange years ago, but the series acts like they're star-crossed lovers denied the romance of a lifetime. Shallow love triangles are created for absolutely no reason whatsoever. The two actors look ok and act ok but somehow feel stiff.  They could use more of a chemistry with each other. Overall this series is completely avoidable and has nothing memorable for audience to keep with them. In, what could have been a good old romantic love story, the good aspects were toned down, while the makers exaggerated the awful miscommunication trope to some ridiculous levels. Avoid. (3/10)
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