Welcome to my Saturday blog post, where I give thoughts on dramas I’m watching, whether at the beginning, middle, or end. Whatever I want, because I’m petty that way.
This week, I recapped episodes 35-36 of Pursuit of Jade. I finally got the scenes between Changyu and Yan Zheng that I’d been wanting for about 10 episodes.
I also recapped episodes 5-6 of The Prosecutor’s Proposal. Chaeha can’t stop thinking about sex with Taeseon, Taeseon can’t stop messing with Chaeha, and also, some murders need solving.
Next week I’m adding another new show to my recaps, but what will it be? If you’re on my Patreon, you’ll know early next week. If you support my blog, you’ll also get my commentary on omegaverse nonsense Knot and gamer nonsense Be My Player Two!
What did I watch this week? There is SO MUCH BL out right now. I remember when I thought I’d be reviewing more BG stuff for this blog, but nope. No time. Have to keep up with the BL.
So here’s an initial review of my current favorite:
Weirdo 101 – แรงโน้มถ่วงระหว่างเรา – 2026
Currently airing Thai High School BL, I’ve watched 3 of 10 episodes.
A depressed high school senior unexpectedly finds himself in the orbit of an astronomy-obsessed junior who wants to hit on him.
This is absolutely adorable and exactly the kind of healing/comfort show I like. So far, I only have one complaint.
Let’s talk a little about the production
While not nearly as bad as the show I’m reviewing next, this show is… clunky at times.
More than once, the show builds up to something dramatic, only to SKIP the actual drama and have the characters talk about it instead. After that talk, they sometimes still flashback to show the dramatic moment. Sometimes they don’t.
It feels like they’re trying to create an emotional effect, but mostly it confuses me.
And in general, the show struggles to build tension and pacing outside of the story and actors’ performances. It’s not quite the disorienting all-medium-shots-all-the-time problem, but it’s similar. Important moments sometimes miss an extra oomph they would get from better framing and editing.
I can’t help but wish the When Oranges Fall crew worked on this one.
But I’m ignoring it, because the show is so cute
Our High School Senior is depressed. We don’t exactly know why yet, but there are a few hints. He spends a lot of time avoiding the judo that was once his passion and lying on the floor of the music club. Some adults are trying to help, others are making things worse, and his friends are worried.
Enter, Astronomy Nerd. Very straightforward, very prone to long, involved explanations of scientific theories, and very determined to court our High School Senior.
Despite being the kid who would have been beaten up in 80’s movies, he doesn’t lack confidence as he goes after what he wants in his own unique way. Which sometimes means explaining gravity to his confused Senior.
Have I mentioned they’re the most adorable thing ever?
Our High School Senior finds his new friend both bemusing, overwhelming, and fun to tease. Also, we’ve got one of those still-rare situations where the bottom is the tougher of the two physically and is protective of his nerd.
Astronomy Nerd has a constant, sweet, shy smile on his face. It’s the best.
And despite those wonky production issues, the actors and story have pulled off some sweet, touching moments.
It’s worth noting that, so far, I’ve watched all of the BLs starring Sea and Keen, starting with discovering them in Only Boo, to their most recent Head 2 Head. I wouldn’t say they’re my favorite pairing. It’s more a combo of liking them and liking the premises of the shows.
But it is worth noting this one is on track to be my favorite of theirs. Sea is really good at playing a nerd, having done it very well once already in “Hi” by my Luck. For Keen, this feels like a depressed version of his Only Boo character, and it’s giving him a chance to demonstrate his range as an actor.
Anyway, I’m really looking forward to seeing our Astronomy Nerd help his Senior through a tough time in his life, and win his heart.
Speaking of production issues. Here’s a final review of:
Blue Lips – 蓝嘴唇 – 2026
Recently aired opposites-attract Chinese BL with 16 episodes.
An apathetic man running a sex shop takes an interest in his club-singing, Viagra-buying customer, and things get weird fast.
Actually, since I talked a whole lot about the production issues in my initial review, I’ll mostly skip that here. So check that out if you want all the details on the madness.
I really enjoyed this quirky, oddball, little-BL-that-sorta-could
But I’m not going to claim it’s anything brilliant, and the ending doesn’t fizzle out, but it’s not exactly exciting either.
I think the main reason I enjoyed this low-budget, wonkily-made thing is that I love quirk, and I love light-hearted melodrama. Give me angst and tragedy and profoundly unfair situations, but don’t be too intense about it. Is that so unreasonable?
And for that reason, I think this show let me enjoy certain tropes that usually drive me crazy.
For example, there were self-destructive choices based on poor communication that can drive me up the wall. BUT, it was not followed by an episode (OR MORE) of dramatic crying intercutting between the two characters, while more misery is heaped on from outside sources. The characters got on with their lives while either wearing the same clothes for days or having their hair color change between scenes.
Then, they figured their stuff out and got their act together. It wasn’t undramatic or without weight, but it also didn’t wallow in its own misery.
I’m also just really a sucker for a black cat who makes their partner suffer
… don’t ask why.
Anyway, I loved that our lead, whose hair was various shades of blue at various times, played by an actor who was clearly older than the character, made things so needlessly difficult. Our apathetic sex-shop-owning lead REALLY had to work for his reward.
And love softened our black cat, but it didn’t turn him into a marshmallow. He started making better choices with the love of a good man, but was still a brat, and his hair color became even more confusing in the end.
Unfortunately, our apathetic sex-shop owner’s character arc felt truncated. Definitely, he grew and took an interest in life again, but a big issue remained. I’m torn, because I sort of liked what they did with it, but I can’t deny that it felt cut short.
So, regardless of this show being a mess (or sometimes because it was), it could easily be a rewatch for me when I need something both light and dramatic. But it’s definitely an odd one.
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