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A Man Who Defies the World of BL 2024 (Japanese Series)

After a couple of years off, the creators finally dropped a third season of this show, oddly titled with 2024 in it for some reason I genuinely can't figure out. The story basically picks up right where things left off, following our lead Mobu as he keeps trying to survive inside this whole BL universe, just another character desperately trying not to fall for another guy. Season two left us with his relationship with Kikuchi, and this season kicks off right as Kikuchi heads off to university, which means Mobu's single again and honestly couldn't be happier about it. With six episodes, each running about 23 minutes, this is a quick, easy watch. Now that Mobu's back to being single, he's got to stay alert for every signal or trope that could end up pulling him into another relationship with a guy if he's not careful. So across these episodes, we watch him run into two of these signals per episode through the people around him and how they end up falling for each ...

What About Me? (Web Series)

“What About Me?” is a bold, short-form dark comedy series about queer grief, identity and Hollywood absurdity. Its 6 episodes each roughly about 10 minutes premiered on YouTube and is a rollercoaster of emotions navigating between grief, depression, comedy, family absurdity; while the story itself felt both relatable but absurd and silly. It's a short form but production was top notch and so was acting and direction.

The story starts with a funeral of Jake, whose sister Jill is giving the speech. We are introduced to Josh at the same time, sitting in a toilet cubicle, browsing a gay hook up app. Turns out Josh and Jake were twins, with vastly different lives. Jake was straight, a famous Hollywood actor; while Josh is gay and a bakery supervisor. With Jake passing away now, every family member including mother, grandma, sister and most importantly his shadow, his twin brother Josh would need to confront their unresolved feelings - all while grieving. The sister finds out she is pregnant, the mother is eclectic who keeps looking for signs that Jake is still around and is very bitter about the father not showing up. And Josh is grieving in his own way by also trying to find out who is this guy n the hook up who is so close to him but is not replying. Set over the course of one day, Josh navigates his brother’s shiva (the traditional Jewish mourning period) while juggling a slew of unexpected challenges. From a botched eulogy, to an unexpected pregnancy, a literal man-hunt, and a job opportunity that could change his life forever, Josh’s day is anything but ordinary.

For some reason the series reminded me about HBO show 'The Other Two' , I guess just cos of Hollywood connection and the female lead being Hollywood agent. But the similarity just ends there. This show is easy to watch and has a queer heart, very relevant given this is pride month. The series is both a celebration of LGBTQ identity and an honest look at the ways we process loss, family dysfunction, addiction, and personal reinvention. By showing us different stages of grief in 6 different episodes, we follow Josh’s journey of self-discovery and the impact of his brother’s death on his life. It is a dark comedy that explores themes of identity, family dynamics, and addiction but all with humor and heart. The acting is solid, the content is taut, the writing is both funny and emotional at the same time (although I do have to say that it doesn't match the brilliance of the British show, Big Boys). Josh Nadler playing the title character is amazing and is also the creator of the show, and it show this grasp over the material. I enjoyed this brief little series and I hope more seasons would follow. (7/10)

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