Skip to main content

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

By Golu
This final season keeps leaning on the same old formula, and once again never actually gives its main character any real sense of closure. Quick refresher, our lead is a university student who spends all his time frantically trying to dodge romance. No matter what he does though, the universe just keeps shoving him into one intimate situation after another. A lot of these setups are lifted straight from classic love story cliches. The whole point is watching him come up with creative ways to escape his fate and avoid falling for another guy. This season's still got six episodes, each around 23 minutes, and every episode features two of these tropey flags that could tip him into a BL storyline. Season three left off with Mob possibly caught in a love triangle between his ex Kikuchi and Hatano, the younger guy who's still a minor. Turns out that was all a dream sequence, but what hasn't changed is that Hatano is still into him. The first four episodes basically run through ev...
Post a Comment

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

By Golu

This final season keeps leaning on the same old formula, and once again never actually gives its main character any real sense of closure. Quick refresher, our lead is a university student who spends all his time frantically trying to dodge romance. No matter what he does though, the universe just keeps shoving him into one intimate situation after another. A lot of these setups are lifted straight from classic love story cliches. The whole point is watching him come up with creative ways to escape his fate and avoid falling for another guy. This season's still got six episodes, each around 23 minutes, and every episode features two of these tropey flags that could tip him into a BL storyline.

Season three left off with Mob possibly caught in a love triangle between his ex Kikuchi and Hatano, the younger guy who's still a minor. Turns out that was all a dream sequence, but what hasn't changed is that Hatano is still into him. The first four episodes basically run through every flag imaginable that sends Mob into a panic, and we watch him dodge each one while everyone around him keeps falling into relationships because of those exact same flags. Stuff like spring pollen causing watery eyes and flushed cheeks, or getting stuck alone in a room with a good looking classmate during a quiet study session, or huddling together under one umbrella, or the classic street scuffle that turns into a heroic rescue. Naturally, holiday season ends up being prime territory for this kind of stuff too, which Mob keeps trying to avoid, along with constantly dodging Hatano, who once again promises he'll make a real move once he's no longer a minor in three years. On the flip side, I genuinely enjoyed the storyline involving Mob's brother and his boyfriend, and honestly wish the show had given them more screen time.

Here's the thing though, this concept was genuinely clever when it started, but at this point it's just turned into a repetitive loop, and I don't think anyone's really enjoying the show the way they used to. I tried to squeeze some enjoyment out of it anyway since this is supposedly the final season. Sure, the episodes still get laughs out of all the ridiculous tropes the writers dream up, plus Mob's exaggerated reactions to all of it, but that's really all there is to it. What's stayed consistent since season one is that with every new flag, random guys and couples pop up, pair off, and then disappear without leaving any real impression behind. It's been four seasons now, and Mob has somehow managed to dodge the entire BL universe successfully. The creators have just kept recycling the same formula, and it's pretty clear at this point that it's stopped working. Given how much total runtime this show has racked up, I expected an actual relationship to develop, real character growth, and a supporting cast that actually sticks with you. Instead, the plot has barely moved an inch. Mob doesn't really change across all four seasons, which is honestly disappointing. If this is really the end, why not finally show some real growth in him? This was the story's last shot to actually deliver something meaningful, and it still came up empty. Honestly, it feels like the right time to close the curtain on this one. (5.5/10)

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tuxedo (Thai Series)

By Golu
When I saw this series with 8 episodes of about 20-25 minutes each, I thought, good: Finally someone has come to senses and made a show which is not stretched out and they have tried to squeeze in a decent storyline in a good small episode format. But unfortunately, despite a decent premise on hand, the clunky writing, bad screenplay and an extreme tasteless portrayal of mental illness makes this show, not a fun watch. By the time it finishes, you just want to laugh off at the entire absurdity of it all. Aioun is talented tuxedo designer and very much in demand but he has handful of clients and he builds suits only for people who he feels a connection to. One night when his younger brother is about to get mugged, he is helped by a total stranger named Sichol. Since he tears his suit in the fight and has an interview the next day, Aioun gifts him a suit form his design as an expression of thanks. Sichol's interview is for. Personal assistant of a man named Nawee, a wealthy heir to h...
25 comments
Read more

Heartstopper: Season 2 (Web Series) (UK)

By Golu
Heartstopper Season 1 was a universal hit. You could not have read one bad review or heard from anyone who has seen the show not liking it. It was the kind of series that is easy to love, with sweetness exploding out of every scene without overwhelming you. So naturally, when Netflix greenly Season 2, expectations were naturally high and the same happened with me. I didn't know what to expect, but I had high expectations of this very very sweet teenage love story. And with eagerness and being a little late to the game by a few days, here I am, pouring my t thoughts down having just finished one of the most anticipated shows of the year. The second season also has 10 episodes and has all of our loved ones from the original season. The show continues from where it had left off in Season 1. Charlie and Nick are a couple and only their very close circle of friends know about it. This includes Charlie's best friend Tao and his trans best friend Elle. The center of the show is still ...
19 comments
Read more

Gaya Sa Pelikula (Filipino Series) [Like In The Movies]

By Golu
Pinoy BL series seem to be catching up to the popularity of the Thai shows. And I must say that they are doing a pretty good job at it. Where Thai series started to get repetitive with so many shows based in a college setting with seemingly similar storylines, Pinoy series are offering the viewers with new and interesting stories and some really good sets and surroundings. This series was 8 episodes of about 25-20 minutes each. Karl, a 19-year old introvert architecture student is in the middle of an identity crisis. Prior to the start of the second semester in college and forced by his parents, he moves into his uncle's condominium unit so that he can learn to be financially independent. Karl takes on odd jobs online to do so. But when one of his major clients suddenly goes MIA, he is left short on funds and without a means to pay for his utilities. An opportunity presents itself when his cocky neighbor Vlad has to hide from his family and proposes to share Karl's space for th...
23 comments
Read more