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Contrast (Japanese Series)

This is basically a high school BL where two guys who have nothing going on in common somehow end up getting really close to each other, and that's kind of the whole point of the title too. There's barely any drama or fluff packed in here, it stays pretty straightforward the whole way through. A little bit of friction pops up here and there, but it's nothing compared to what you'd normally get in this kind of show. Runtime wise you're looking at 8 episodes, each one sitting around 25-30 minutes. The two guys carrying the story are Akira and Kanata, and funny enough they knew each other's faces way before they ever knew each other's names. Kanata's the type everyone likes, always got people around him, popular guy, but there's this distance to him that people can't quite place. Turns out he had an injury that ended his football days, and that's what pushed him into being more withdrawn, and it only got worse once his younger brother got picked...

Blue Boys (Korean Mini-Series)

This 8 episode mini-series from South Korea doesn't have too much of a lot to speak of in the first place. With just 8 epodes each of about 12-14 minute each, it still manages to stretch it , bring in love rivals as a source of conflict to bring some drama into the story. Nothing wrong with that, but if the narrative was kept simple and crispier, it would have made for an engaging show to watch. The show was released in two parts of 4 episodes each.

Jaemin, a freelance writer, reconnects with an old friend from college Nami, who is also a writer. One night drinking at their apartment, they talk about how Nami used to be popular with girls. Jaemin reveals his admiration and one things leads to another and they share a kiss. When Jaemin meets a friend in a few days, he is told that Nami actually writes for a sex column, which Jaemin doesnt think of much. The duo meet again and even though neither of them has been with another man before, they decide to give it a go at their relationship and have sex. One night Jaemin sees an article which reads: "The unforgettable taste of first-time sex with a man", he is offended and accuses Nami of exploiting their relationship for an article. His insults hurt Nami deeply. Nami wrote a reflective piece, highlighting his confusion and curiosity during the moment. His words move Jaemin deeply, and he apologizes to Nami for the misunderstanding. They give their relationship another go. In terms of drama, a girl comes into picture who has serious crush on Nami and tries to break their relationship. And then in the last three episodes a boy enters the scene who takes a liking for Jaemin and ends up kissing him despite Jaemin making it clear that he has a boyfriend. When Nami finds out, he is heartbroken. The duo eventually talk it out that their love also needs trust with one another so they can freely love one another.

As I mentioned above, the story is basic and not really very engaging to keep the viewers interested for 8 episodes. Sure, we get see some good kissing scenes, but is that enough? The series struggles to create engaging scenarios and relies too much on formulaic tropes. From love triangles to contrived misunderstandings, all the relationship drama feels generic. Blue Boys lacks the imagination to differentiate itself with a unique story. The two annoying rivals do nothing much to add to drama. Besides offending me with their lack of morals, the antagonists are overdone cliches. We see the usual cliched fight between the couple and then they make up. There is absolutely nothing original or novel in this show. The leads share a good chemistry and act well, but when the story lets you down, there is not much you can do. By the ends of the show, I was just not invested in any of the characters to really care if they should stay together or break up after all the melodrama. This was a BL story with a very cliched twist and drama and offers absolutely nothing new. (4/10)

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