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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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Checkered Shirt (Korean Mini-Series)

By Golu
Checkered Shirt is a charming Korean mini series that beautifully captures the innocence and complexities of young love. The 8 episodes are short of about 8-10 minutes each, making it easy to binge-watch. Sadly, the ending of the show is very abrupt leaving many open threads. Either the show runners ran out of budget or there must have been some other story, because even if there is supposed to be a follow up season, this is not how you would end a season one of a show if you want to attract audience.

The story is pretty simple and basic. Jeong U and his friend often hang out at a bar. They are both supposed to go to military soon, but Jeong U is still a virgin and wants a girlfriend. One day he buys a checkered short online from another. Guy, who happens to be also the waiter at the bar they hang out. His name is Han. An expected friendship son develops between the two. One drunken night, Jeoung U ends up drinking and staying over at Han's place where they end up kissing since Jeoung U is vorgin, but this freaks him out and he leaves early morning, Han, though younger in age is confused by his behaviour and turns his wallet the next day in front of Jeong's friends. Jeong realizes his mistake and also the fact that he can't stop thinking of the kiss. Soon the two boys start seeing each other, but there is also some lingering secret about Han's ex-boyfriend whose photo is what Jeong found when he bought the short from Han. The show has a very abrupt ending, when this ex-boyfriend shows up at Han's place to talk to him and Jeong's friend asks him if he is dating Han. And yes, this mini-series just ends there.

We have already talked about the fat that the show abruptly ends leaving hanging threads, so there is no point going deeper. Let's quickly talk about what we saw. The story is very basic and simple, which is fine. Despite being very small duration episodes the story burn is slow and simple (which I would attribute to small budget likely), but the acting and direction is top notch. It's the screenplay , in my opinion, that is to be blamed here. What is it that the makers were really trying to say here? I am still not sure. Also why the title? Sure, Jeong buys a check short online from Han, but thats it? There should have been some connection of that to either Han's ex-boyfriend or some other significance in the plot. We are never told how does Han know so much about Jeong? Also, what was the girl who met Jeong's friend in the last episode trying to tell about Han and some rumor in school. Overall, it felt a waste of time because even if you plan multiple seasons, there is a proper way of doing things and leaving audience in suspense. Despite having good actors, the makers lost a golden opportunity here leaving so many cliffhangers. (4/10)
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