BLISS RATING: ★★★★★
“The first look felt like coming home to someone I hadn’t met yet.” – Unknown
Cute, charming, and sensual. If I wrote 10 pages of accolades for this series, it would frankly not be enough. This is a beautiful and stunning, heartfelt, and warm BL series. It was a joy to watch and was a soft easy series to absorb with tremendously good acting. This is one of the finest acted BL series out there and one of the best dealing with the current pandemic. It is a simple basic story but is told with great tenderness and honesty.
It is the pandemic and Key (Ali King) is stuck in his dormitory due to the national lock-down. He is all alone and communicates with his friends via the internet. The one thing that is noticeable is that he has a large cut out of someone in his room that he talks to and relates to and secretly has a crush on the person who posed for this cardboard cutout. (There is a connection here that is absolutely endearing). He maintains his sanity by keeping in contact with his friends Martin (Kaloy Tingcungco) and Key’s former girlfriend, Dev (Crystal Baranda). Even though they have broken up, they have remained friends.
During this time, Key must go get medications but the only way to do that is to obtain the communal permit, which is controlled by the security guard, Whilce (Ivoy Colo). He is an odd character here and provides some comic relief and ends up giving advice to Key. However, his main role here is to look good. And he does! He has an absolutely beautiful body and loves to show it off. (I for one am not complaining). At first, I was not sure he was interested in Key or simply a bit narcissistic. I am not sure but who cares. In this case, while some of the scenes are a bit silly, it simply adds more fun to this series and honestly what is there not to like. He has a magnificent body, loves to show it off, and is pretty good at dancing. This is just for fun!
But the story is about Key. While he is in the pharmacy to obtain his medications, on his way out, he literally bumps into Chen (Alec Kevin Rigonan). He is there to pick up medications for his sister with whom he lives with. As Chen picks up the medications, they get mixed up and when they look into each other’s eyes as they sort out the medications, it is truly magical.
Their eyes linger onto each other, and both have an intense moment together. It is one of the best magical moment scenes in BL since 2GETHER. There is something so special about the way they stare into each other’s eyes. It is almost breathtaking, and one knew that this just had to be. They are hooked with each other and simply cannot think of anything else. When both Key and Chen realize the mistake that was made, they both go back to the pharmacy in the hopes that they could meet.
Both do meet again, and their meeting is absolutely endearing and charming and, in this time of pandemic craziness, just what we needed. They agree to meet the next day to exchange medications but when the time comes, there are a series of situations arising that inadvertently prevent them from meeting. It is sad and we are crushed because we want these guys to succeed.
The security guard at the entrance to Chen’s complex is named Dicky (Luis Padilla), is also pivotal to this series. Each of the support roles in this adorable short series moves the story along without over analyzing it or making it feel contrived or trying to get it to move into a different direction. They are there, advertently or inadvertently, to nudge these two to being together. There is a very powerful scene between Chen and his sister. Libby (Teetin Villanueva). She is this strong acting character on the outside but inside she is frightened and scared. She is extremely upset with Chen for taking off without letting her know where he is. She has a frank discussion with him about responsibilities which, in this time of pandemic, is so spot-on. That was real, honest, and powerful. Both must learn to have accountability for their own actions.
The story takes on an interesting twist in which Chen and Key find themselves needing to spend the night together. But they must do so in relationship to what is happening with the pandemic. It is absolutely one of the most endearing encounters between two guys in a BL series I have seen since the pandemic. They try desperately to keep away from each other, but their eyes are so expressive and endearing that you just knew it would be impossible for them to do so.
The end of this series was not afraid and was not unabashed to give us what we wanted but in a very responsible way. They amusingly used the ‘5 second’ rule to finally kiss and quite honestly it was beautiful, enduring, and simply a joy to watch. These guys are simply beautiful together and have magic together. Their chemistry as a couple is almost overwhelming. I quite literally felt their kiss. They have a powerful presence on screen that really must be seen to be believed. I think this is by far one of the best romantically intense series to come forth in a long time.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. the series? This is an easy decision. Ali King and Alec Kevin Rigonan playing Key and Chen are. Their chemistry, connection, and ease with each other made this series so much fun to watch and so needed during a pandemic. These two guys MAKE this series in a non-assuming way where they slowly draw you into their relationship. Even if you are not gay, you want this to succeed because their reasoning and logic behind their kissing is emotionally flawless.
This series was not ashamed to show that they are connected to one another not just in a sexual fashion but on an emotional level and the intimacy they share is simply not related to sexual tension but an honest and real connection that they have with one another. It is extremely rare for a series to display such a deep connection between two people in a very short period of time. A simple basic love story where it is focused on success, not failure. All these actors are so good looking if not downright handsome. I loved this series a lot. It made my happy to watch it.
Watch it for its magic!
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