BLISS RATING: ★★★★+
“I believe marriage isn’t between a man and a woman; but between love and love.” – Frank Ocean
I can think of no better quote to describe this BL series than the one above. Quite beautifully, it summarily describes this series. Additionally, the play on words of the title of this series is so deliciously appropriate and nuanced that it simply further enhances this rather well-done series, despite its negative reviews. I liked it – a lot. Does it have issues? Yep! A lot of them, but it is still a very worthy series. It is a hot, steamy, erotic, and an adult BL that has a point and gets to it quickly and easily and does not rely on a lot of cliché themes to get there (well, just a few, but they are cute).
This ensemble cast has some of the hottest and most sensuous men (and women) in it. They are all handsome, gorgeous, erotic and guess what – they can act! And they were not afraid to get into the lustful sex scenes and express it. That is such a departure from the typical and usual Thai BLs and is so refreshing. And the story itself was quite entertaining. A simple one, really, but made too complex by having too many characters and too many subplots. Not that they were not interesting; on the contrary, they were. However, this series is so short that the major focus simply should have been on the main characters.
Briggs (Orly Mejia), an incredibly handsome young man, along with a cast of characters, including his Tita Dyosa (Dexter Doria), operate a vintage bridal car rental business. One day, a not very happy-looking couple walks in. There is just something about the groom that Briggs finds appealing, and he is drawn to him. His name is Shao (Daryll Rodriguez) a very handsome exotic looking young man with sad eyes and a withdrawn demeanor. He is marrying Louise (Allora Alcaantara) who on the surface appears to be an assertive and rather unpleasant individual.
But both are hiding behind each of those facades because neither wants to be in a relationship with the other and certainly does not want to marry the other. Secretly, Louise is attracted to her female friend, Posh (Victoria Bellazo), while Shao is not sure of who he is except that he has never been in love. However, the minute he meets Briggs, his entire disposition changes. He smiles, appears happy, life seems good, and he transforms into being joyful that even Louise notices.
As Briggs and Shao get closer, they try not to turn it sexual as Shao is getting married soon. But Shao gets drunk, (a trope, I know) and his only contact number is Briggs and so he is called to come pick him up. Despite the promises, the passion, lust, and pent-up desires surface and the two engage in fervent love making. It becomes obvious that the two have now fallen deeply in love but are almost powerless to continue as the families are in the final arrangements for marriage. A marriage that merely suits both families from a business perspective; benefiting neither Shao nor Louise.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? What gives this series its special uniqueness is its flesh and blood. It exchanges the perspective of the aunt (Tita) with the nephew with such grace and poise as she elevates her life experiences into understandable teaching moments for Briggs without sounding preachy or moralistic. Simply sharing life’s impact. There are several exchanges between Dexter as Tita and Orly as Briggs that are soothing and nurturing and are portrayed with such comfort and ease that they came across as real, genuine, and very powerful. I felt myself moved to tears as we see the impact on her was so sad that it becomes reflected in her eyes and on her face as she tries to convey a pearl of wisdom to her nephew in the hopes he can avoid the same fate and take to heart what she is trying to express. Dexter is not in this long but her impact of the characters in this series is evident and she fulfilled her role of ‘Tita’ completely. I felt her presence. It is rare for me to actually feel a supporting role so completely, but she did it with ease and genuineness. Kudos for great casting here.
As mentioned, the story tried to cover too much ground and too much territory. There were way too many characters and too many subplots. Some of the acting by the supporting performers was a bit stilted and not really believable and the wedding scene, whether it was intended to be funny or not, was hysterical. I laughed out loud, and I honestly did not take the physical altercations by the wedding participants as anything but tongue and cheek. If I thought for one minute it was ‘serious’ I would be denigrating this series, as I detest unnecessary physical altercations. But that seemed so, how shall I put this, appropriate, to get the whole situation back on track, I am willing to overlook it.
The production is a bit weak as well. The sound is off, badly sometimes. As well as lighting on occasion. The series is way too short, and editing is a bit confusing at times. It is obvious that they were working within a shoe-string budget, but they did a great job with what they had.
It has some very hot steamy sex scenes that are tastefully done and are adult in nature. This is an adult BL dealing with an adult-theme. It had a beginning, a middle, and a cute ending. If it was only between Briggs and Shao, Louise and Posh, Georgia (Angel Cokiangco), who is the wedding planner and her boyfriend Clark (Ian Garcia), peppered with some sage wisdom from Tita Dyosa, this would have been a top-notch gay series. In other words, you have the beginnings of gay, lesbian, and trans relationships all being shown as healthy, strong, and thriving. That is an astonishing accomplishment, actually.
One beautiful and noted scene towards the end of this series that is thrown in is so emblematic of the beauty and the message of this series. Briggs is transporting an elegant rather regal looking young lady but gazing sadly and pensively. Suddenly asking to pull over to the side, she states, “Have you ever fallen in love with someone that you know you can never be with? You felt your heart is truly beating for that someone.” Briggs says, ‘You always have a choice.” With that, a weight seems to have been lifted off her shoulders and she decides to escape. Perhaps as the young woman’s anthesis, Briggs ponders a deeper perspective and senses the seriousness of his relationship with Shao and his new commitment to him.
What makes this series so unique is that it is deeper than what it is given credit for. It is nuanced and cryptic. Sure, it is hesitatingly a BL, but one from the perspective of them caught up in the notion that they have no control over their lives; yet they do, and they did. Maybe this story will give individuals a glimmer of hope that they have or at least share the possibility of being able to love the person they quintessentially want to no matter who that individual is.
And that is a powerful message.
Leave a Reply