Second seasons of popular series sometimes disappoint because high expectations aren't fulfilled, but "Papa, What is Love Season 2" is a worthy sequel of a series that earned international recognition when it premiered.
Like season 1, this isn't a BL, but a gay series, so it comes without all the annoying tropes of the BL genre. Season 2 tells the story of the young couple Tupe (Rex Lantano) and Greg (Anthony Flores) and of Greg's father Rich's (Arnold Reyes) efforts to find a same sex partner.
In season 1, Tupe worked as a helper in Rich's house, became his lover, but ended up as the boyfriend of Rich's son Greg. Now Tupe and Greg have been living together for some time in Greg's house, and the everyday problems of any relationship begin. Greg is a successful businessman who spends a lot of time and energy on his job, so that Tupe, who stays at home all day, feels neglected. Tupe wants to start a business of his own, selling food online, but he doesn't find an opportunity to discuss his plan with Greg.
Another problem is that Greg feels guilty towards his ex-fiancée Alex (Karina Bautista), whom he left for Tupe shortly before their wedding. He meets her to reconcile, which Tupe finds out, who becomes jealous, while Greg feels hurt because Tupe doesn't trust him. This situation would be a drama in a BL series, because the ex-girlfriend would be evil, and misunderstandings among the main couple would take a lot of time to be resolved, but in this series, the ex isn't evil at all, and Tupe and Greg find a way to discuss things, leading to a happy ending with Greg proposing to Tupe.
Rich, who is visiting his son's house, helps the young men with more or less helpful advice. He is still in moarning for his late wife's death, and at the same time trying desperately to find a new – male – partner. After a hookup with a sexy young man (Nick John Tuppil) he decides to rather look for someone older for a long-term relationship. He finds the restaurant owner Dominic (ZK Nakaoka), and the two men fall head over heels in love, travel to Japan together and get married in Taiwan. So we witness happy endings for everyone – even Alex lives her dream of attending an arts school in the USA.
The series is worth watching because it displays typical everyday problems of young gay couples as well as older gay men, but also shows how to solve them. It has dramatic moments, e.g. when Greg finds Tupe allegedly lifeless in the pool, it has elements of comedy, e.g. when Rich elaborates in Tupe's presence on Greg's happy life with his fiancée, and it shows something that BL series often do not show, but which is definitely part of a young gay couple's life – sex.
Unfortunately, the censored Youtube version has some brutal cuts where the original, uncut series (to be watched on Gagaoolala.com and Ticket2me.net) gets steamy, but all in all the technical quality of this series is good.
I was sceptical that the brilliant director of the first season, the late Shandii Bacolod, who tragically died when season was airing, would be appropriately replaced, but Aika Rapay, who was the assistant director in season 1, does as great job as the director of season 2.
Again, Rex Lantano displays all the facets of his huge acting talent, and again Anthony Flores proves that he isn't just extremely handsome, but a good actor, too. It's hard to understand why he isn't casted as an actor more often. Arnold Reyes is good in scenes when Rich bemoans his late wife, or when he is insecure before his meeting with Dominic, but sometimes he is overacting a little. The support actors, ZK Nakaoka, Karina Bautista, and Nick John Tuppil are all good in their respective roles.
All in all, I'm glad that Rex Lantano has been able to produce the sequel of "Papa, What is Love", after Youtube had terminated his channel because of alleged nudity in season 1, the censored version of which is still available on BL Pictures' Youtube channel, while the uncut series can be watched on Gagaoolala.com.
Season 2, like its prequel, is a gay series which is definitely worth watching.
Country: Philippines (2023)
Episodes: 6 (à ca. 15 - 20 mins.)
Director: Aika Rapay
Cast: Rex Lantano, Anthony Flores, Arnold Reyes, ZK Nakaoka, Karina Bautista, and Nick John Tuppil
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Reviews of Asian BL Series
Non-FictionThis is a collection of reviews of BL-series and movies from Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Myanmar, Singapore, Japan, Cambodia, and Vietnam, some of which I have already published on mydramalist.com. The series I am reviewing here are not...
