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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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Tasogare Outfocus (Japanese Anime Series) [Twilight Out Of Focus]

By Golu
Twilight Out of Focus is a Japanese anime BL which advertised two leads, Hisashi and Mao, but the series is actually a collection of three different relationships: Hisashi and Mao, Jin and Giichi, and Rei and Shion. They’re all students of an all-boys boarding school, and they’re all either members or tied to the film club. Each couple gets three to four episodes to tell their story, with the series ultimately ending focusing on Hisashi and Mao, the first couple introduced. The series has 12 episodes of about 22 minutes each.

Mao and Hisashi - They meet as roommates first. Hisashi seemed aloof and barely socialized with anyone at school. He rejected Mao's attempts to socialize with him. One day when Hisashi breaks down in the room, he confesses that he is gay. Mao responded positively by showing him a lot of support. Moved by his kindness, Hisashi began to warm up to his roommate. They talked more often, grew closer, and eventually became close friends. Mao is a part of a film club, whose president Giichi is directing a BL film, and wants to cast Hisashi for the other role due to his handsome looks and brooding demeanour. When Mao and Hisashi practice lines, they inadvertently come closer and a beautiful love starts between the two of them. 

Jin and Giichi - They are the respective presidents of the drama and the film club. Jin, as the leader of the third years, is a pure playboy type with perfect hair and a dazzling smile and is the star of his films. Meanwhile, Giichi has an almost manic demeanor to his work and holds himself. Jin is always demeaning Giichi's work in school. An opportunity brings the two boys together when they are forced to become roommates. Over the course of next few days/weeks, the duo unexpectedly fall in love over their shared love of BL and some love-hate moments during school and what they are inside their rooms. The fact that they still fight around the others is amusing and not an act, because they are actually disagreeing, but it doesn’t hurt their love. It ends up being really nice to see a rocky and rough relationship that isn't toxic and still works in some of the best ways.

Rei and Shion - Rai is Jin's best friend and confidant. When a new first year student Shion join the club, he openly declares that the only reason he is joining the club is to find a boyfriend, which Shion doesnt like and pretends to flirt with him so that he leaves the club. These two guys are as opposite as chalk and cheese. Shion understands what Rei is doing and decides to go with the flow but eventually at different stages, both of them realize they in fact are very much in love with each other. Their best scenes are when Shion is forced to slow himself down and realize that Rei is a person and not some personified ideal of romance. It’s when they both acknowledge the other as a real person with feelings that their relationship really starts to work. Both grow together but never stop being the very specific characters we’ve come to love.

Given that only 3-4 episodes are dedicated to individual couples, all three couples to fall in love and get together within a much shorter time span, making their emotions and development feel forced rather than natural. But there are plenty scenes where you feel giggle whenever they confess, kiss, and consummate their love. The three couples are distinct in character designs, personalities, and dynamics. Because of that, the series almost guarantees the audience will find at least one couple to root for and enjoy. Mao & Hisashi depict the friends-to-lovers journey, Giichi & Jin represent the enemies-to-lovers trope, and Rei & Shion illustrate how opposites attract. Each dynamic gives a different flavour of romance. The show is pretty much focussed only on romance. How these folks fall in love and stay in love. There is not much else going. It also showcases physical intimacy, including long kisses and tasteful lovemaking scenes. The anime unfortunately is also very verbose. The dialogues go on and on.  The protagonists always ramble about their feelings in long-winded explanations and nonstop soliloquies. While I like hearing their inner thoughts, the constant introspection dominates the narrative and overwhelms me with wordiness. Each couple has time in the spotlight, but Mao & Hisashi receive the most development. The last episode wraps up their relationship arc on a hopeful note. Personally, it was just strictly ok series for me. Anime or no anime. (5/10)
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