BLISS RATING: ★★★★★
“You can love two people at the same time, but never at the same level.” – Love-facts.com
Embarrassingly, I almost missed this series. Why? I was turned off by its opening credits and its corniness, so I decided not to watch it. But after seeing so many good summaries, I put aside my reservations. Personally, I do wish that the opening credits were done with a bit more sophistication to reflect the actual content of the series rather than the flippant imagery of its opening. Once I started, however, I could not stop myself from feeling a lot of different emotions.
It is an exceptionally well-done BL despite its heavy-handed subject-matter and overuse of bullying. But it all worked and in essence it was all so refreshing and was presented with such sincerity, honesty, and complete commitment. It was hard not to be swept up in the story and its theme. What was its theme? Pure goodness. Seeing life through the eyes of someone whose life is painful, debilitating, and unquestionably compromised. To be optimistic is to be saintly.
It is a story of Nikko (Tommy Alejanandrio) an obsessively driven young man especially around making sure that the Prom is a success. While we are not sure why he is so driven or why he maintains such an attitude of positive energy, we eventually find out at just at the right time. The story does a very good job of ‘fooling’ us into thinking he perhaps he is just a nerd, or a do-gooder. But in reality, he is laser focused for a reason known only to a few. He is and apparently has been a butt of bullying by others especially by some female students, but always takes it in stride. Nothing and no one are doing to derail him from his mission of making sure the Prom is one to be remembered.
Always faithful is his best friend, Justin (Rabin Angeles). Justin knows his secret and having been best friends since childhood, is also in love with him. He tries to ‘hide’ it but is jealous of anyone getting close to Nikko and is very protective of Nikko. It is obvious to others. Despite his non-acknowledgement, Nikko knows that Justin is in love with him, but the feeling is not mutual. As his best friend, he holds a special place in his heart, always ‘rent free’ that he can go back to.
However, someone dances into Niko’s life by accident. Bad boy Eli (Raynold Tan) is paired with Nikko to assist with activities to help both of them. In the process, two things changes. Eli and Nikko get closer and closer and each become attracted to each other and Justin begins to see what is happening and realizes the influence Eli has over Nikko in a way he will never have. He sees the intimacy and sexual tension occurring between the two.
In a very sweet and gentle way, Nikko softly tries to let Justin know that while he has known that he has loved him, his heart belongs to Eli. When this bad boy came into his life, Nikko’s life went from childhood to adolescence but in a flash uplifted into adulthood. He fell in love. Eli, who was a sad, lonely, misunderstood figure blossomed into a bright, smart, very caring, compassionate, and sensitive young man, more willingly to give than take. While others easily wrote him off, Nikko saw goodness in him and therefore Eli began to see goodness in himself. He awakened, perhaps reawakened, something in himself long dormant, that made him feel alive again and wanting to become a contributor to humanity again. And to do so without hesitation or fear of labels or disparagement. He accepted his reality with dignity. And he begins to love as well.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? This is an exceptionally well-acted series that plays to their individual strengths. This could have divulged into silliness but did not. Each main actor played their part with the respect that they deserved. Given the shortness of the series and episodes, it actually made the emotional transitions more difficult to demonstrate but they did a remarkable job in doing so. If I have to give an ever so slight edge, I will have to give it to Rabin Angeles as Justin. To have to play the giver of an unrequited love and to slowly begin to realize that the love of your life was never going to be yours is so hard to do and not be bitter about it. Or angry. And slowly accept the reality of it and begin to embrace your role in his life as his one true friend who will always be there for him. I thought his range of emotions in showing that, while subtle, was just so beautifully displayed and he so elegantly embraced his character of Justin with such dignity and acceptance. He also learned to see Eli as a vital necessity for Nikko in his acceptance of his medical condition. So now Nikko has two champions in his corner – his best friend and his lover. It was a remarkable role full of sensitivity and grace and he transitioned into the stages of life with dignity and acceptance. Kudos!
Admittedly, this is an exceptionally well-written screenplay also. It has heart and soul and compassion. It deals with a medical condition that while not usual in young people of Nikko’s age is still nonetheless possible to obtained. It is a medical condition more associated with individuals past the age of 40 years old. However, shedding light on any debilitating medical condition is worth noting as our awareness of these conditions and their treatments are always enlightening and educational.
This series richly deserves a lot of accolades. Perhaps it is an idealized version of adolescence, but it even so deserves our respect for showing us how nice love can be portrayed under rather adverse conditions. Without pity but with acceptance. This series brought tears to my eyes. On an emotional level It touched me. Not for pity’s sake but for helping me to see life more fully and positively. It showed love changing attitudes, direction, and action that perhaps without it, these events might never have been taken. As trite as it may sound, love can indeed move mountains.
The Prom night was one of the best scenes of this type in a BL I have ever seen. It was deeply moving with a bittersweet feel yet a feeling that everyone who was there will never forget that night for as long as they live. It was that memorable. It was the quintessence of love.
This series will be a contender for a position in the Top 10 for 2023. I think it is that good. It could be the ‘sleeper’ hit for 2023.
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