Filipino BL: Quaranthings
Synopsis:
Quaranthings: The Series follows the friendship of two boys, and the love that will blossom between them while in quarantine.
During the lockdown, those who could, went home. All four housemates of Judah (Quijano) and Rocky (Cabrera) did.
To each other’s surprise, they who’ve never even had a real conversation were left behind.
Now they’re left with nothing. The overachieving and competitive Judah can’t go to school, while the hardworking and street-smart breadwinner Rocky is left without his various odd jobs.
Unable to do the things that give them meaning, can they survive being alone together?
Story/Plot:
The story starts with Judah in a conference call where they show he was sure that the position of department representative was going to be given to him. Instead Glenn Martinez wins (Jan Silverio).
Glenn and Judah had kissed once before, Glenn on a call with Judah asks him why he doesn't like him back and if he has any internalized homophobia. Judah tells him that just because they're same doesn't mean he has to like him.
During the conference he gets a message saying coronavirus has been declared a pandemic.
Soon all his housemates leave but not him since his family lives in Canada and he doesn't want to live with his grandmother who lives in the same city as him.
Rocky the 2nd lead too, doesn't go home because he has work and didn't want to waste money on fare.
These two come from different family backgrounds. Judah comes from a well to do family whereas rocky needs to work hard to provide for his family that is dependent on him.
The story goes forward with both of them slowly becoming friends and opening up to each other.
Rocky tells Judah about his family and Judah tells him about his. Judah isn't close to his grandmother who had a problem with him being gay.
She never let him move with his family to Canada.
Judah develops a crush on Rocky but rocky is still confused about his sexuality.
In the 3rd episode its Rocky's birthday and Judah asks him if he can court him. Rocky takes it in a joking way and the two become closer.
Judah helps Rocky find a job. He starts to take professional photos for him so he can get a job.
They soon end up drinking and rocky hears Judah's conversation on a call where he confesses to liking Rocky. They end up sleeping together.
The next day Rocky starts acting cold towards Judah. This might be because he's not yet in terms with his sexuality and this is all new to him not to mention fast.
Rocky has texted his ex so he can stay with her for a while. Judah finds out about him when he goes through his phone. Rocky is about to leave and Judah confronts him. He leaves anyway.
Next episode shows Rocky taking care of Judah. Turns out Judah got really sick and had high fever so rocky stayed back to help him get better. The two boys reconcile.
They decide to be just roommates.
Judah messages an apology to Glenn. Glenn calls him and asks him what happened. Judah explains that he was rude to him before and that hurt people hurt. He says he's sorry that he became a source of pain to Glenn at some point.
Rocky is talking to Judah's grandmother who had sent rocky money for taking care of Judah. Rocky told her to take the money back but she refused. So he brought some snacks for Judah from that money instead.
Rocky is now ready to be with Judah. He decides to tell him but of course we need more drama.
Judah and Glenn are together now. Rocky hears Glenn (who came to meet Judah), that its validating to see him reach out and Judah replies back saying that he is special, much more special than any of his quarantine flings.
Next episode starts with Rocky making sure that Judah and Glenn don't have enough time together. He keeps on interrupting them. Judah's grandmother calls him and when she sees Glenn she mistakes him for Rocky who she spoke on the phone (she saw him on video call before so I don't get how she didn't remember him).
Rocky tells Judah that he's willing to try but Judah says that he doesn't want to be with someone who isn't sure about himself. He says he wants to be with someone who will accept him with all his heart. Rocky seems as par with himself.
He's confused as to how to convince Judah that he does love him and that his love is real.
She tells Judah why she never accepted him. Judah's grandfather left his grandmother (Lolly) to find the right kind of love for him. He was gay but because of several reasons he never came out. He finally did come out in his last five years.
He was in Paris when he died. Judah's grandmother Lolly says that his grandfather's neighbor told Lolly that he used to stand in the balcony all day that was facing a gay bar. He used to keep on staring at it but never found the courage to go in. He was there the whole time seeing how his life could have played out.
She connects Judah's mom in the video conference. She tells her that initially she had planned to send Judah to conversion therapy. She regrets that and the reason she didn't want him to be gay is that she thought he will never find love just like his grandfather never found. Lolly finally accepts Judah for who he is.
Rocky tells Judah that he's ready to be with him. Judah asks him if the reason he wants to be with him now is because there's someone else too, who wants to be with him, as if he's some kind of game.
Rocky tells him that its not true and that he always liked him. So Judah asks him if he's gay now. Rocky says he's bisexual. Judah thinks that rocky is still tiptoeing around and that he isn't sure of himself.
Next we see Rocky get his payment from the photo-shoot and he sends it to his father. When his father calls him to thank him he notices Rocky isn't fine. He asks him if everything is okay.
Rocky tells him yes it's okay and he was able to send him money because of a special person who helped him. His father tells him to take care of that special person.
Rocky goes to Judah's room where Glenn was asking Judah for sex and Judah was saying no. Rocky announces that there was something between them and that they have been together.
Glenn tells Judah that he was telling on twitter how he's lonely in this quarantine period while he had a live in partner all this time. He also asks him if the reason Judah said no for sex is because he already has plenty. Lastly he tells him that this time Judah should chase him and he leaves.
Rocky tells Judah to stay with him and to choose him. But Judah says no because he wants someone who would love him with his whole heart and not just someone who isn't sure about themselves yet. Judah is about to leave and Rocky tears the quarantine pass.
THE NEXT EPISODE IS DELAYED TO NEXT FRIDAY AS THE PRODUCTION HOUSE WANTED TO POLISH FEW SCENES AND WANTED TO DELIVER A BETTER ENDING.
REVIEW:
Quaranthings is about two people who, if it wasn't for them being holed up together would have never had any interaction at all.
The series moves forward well, even when its just 8 episodes it does not feel rushed at all.
We see Judah reconcile with his grandmother, know himself better, make amends with Glenn who he had always been rude to.
Rocky's character was someone who had to grow up faster because of his financial condition.
We see he had sent a text to his mom before saying this is who he is. Due to some previous experience Rocky may not be confident enough to come out of the closet.
Judah has lived with his grandmother not accepting him for years now and then comes Rocky who was with him one day and cold to him the next.
Judah felt that Rocky might want him back just because Glenn is now in the picture. He's afraid to get hurt again.
Whereas Rocky who has been through hard times and now trying to come in terms with his sexuality whether bisexual or gay feels intimidated by Judah asking for commitment.
About Judah being biphobic, in the scene Judah is clearly angry at Rocky who is seen saying can't I be bisexual? to Judah's question asking him if he's gay.
According to how I saw it and as explained by the production house in the YouTube comments of the 7th episode.
Judah is angry about Rocky using bisexuality, like some people who use bisexuality as a gray area, admitting to like the same sex but not stepping out of heterosexuality altogether.
He wants to stop Rocky from using bisexuality as a shield if he's actually gay.
One might think that Judah shouldn't assume Rocky is gay but I think it was the way rocky said. He didn't confirm he was bisexual but just said in a manner like can't I be bisexual. It seemed as an offhand comment.
To play a character that people liked and disliked would obviously be difficult but Kyo Quijano pulled it off well.
Royce Cabrera's character wasn't easy either, but he sure did a good job at portraying it.
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