Gameboys

Gameboys[1] is a 2020 Filipino Boys' Love (BL) web series[2] directed by Ivan Andrew Payawal[3] and written by Ash M. Malanum, with Perci Intalan and Jun Lana serving as executive producers under the creative production outfit, The IdeaFirst Company. It stars Kokoy De Santos and Elijah Canlas as two young boys—a live-stream gamer and his fan—who found each other online during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and the Luzon Island community quarantine.

This article is about the TV series. For the gaming device, see Game Boy.
Gameboys
GenreBL
Written byAsh M. Malanum
Directed byIvan Andrew Payawal
Starring
Country of originPhilippines
Original language(s)Tagalog (Filipino), English
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producer(s)Perci Intalan
Jun Robles Lana
Production location(s)Philippines
Running time20 minutes
Production company(s)The IdeaFirst Company
Release
Original networkThe IdeaFirst Company YouTube page
Original release22 May (2020-05-22) –
4 September 2020 (2020-09-04)
External links
The IdeaFirst Company YouTube Channel
The IdeaFirst Company

The first nine episodes of the series were shot completely online because of quarantine restrictions.[4][5] The first episode, "Pass or Play", premiered on YouTube on May 22, 2020 at 8:00 PM (Philippine Standard Time). The series is considered the first Filipino BL drama.[6]

Plot

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic Luzon quarantine, live-stream gamer Cairo Lazaro (Caimazing) loses to Gavreel Alarcon (Angel2000) in an online game. When Cairo invites Gavreel for a rematch, Gavreel confesses his love for Cairo and asks for a date with Cairo in return. Although Gavreel wins the rematch and continues to express his love for Cairo, Cairo is hesitant to express his feelings. While both of them slowly bond with each other, Cairo also befriends Pearl, Gavreel's ex-girlfriend and now best friend. Meanwhile, Cairo is having family problems as his father was hospitalized because of coronavirus infection.

Terrence, the ex-boyfriend of Gavreel, tries to get back with Gavreel after he recently broke up with his girlfriend. In an attempt, Terrence creates a rift between Gavreel and Cairo by making Cairo believe that Gavreel used his grandmother, Lola Cora, who died the year prior, to be with Cairo. Later, Cairo realizes his mistake of believing Terrence, and apologizes to Gavreel. Terrence was later confronted by Gavreel, Cairo and Pearl in a group meeting where Gavreel reiterates to Terrence that he will not go back to a relationship with him, and that he is in love with Cairo.

Just when things are getting better between Cairo and Gavreel, Cairo learns from his older brother, London, that his father is not doing well. Cairo feels guilty for his father's situation. It turned out that Cairo ran away from their home, and his father was infected with the virus when his father went looking for him. The story then reveals the reason why Cairo ran away: Risa, Cairo's former best friend who had a crush on him, outed him as gay to his family and friends on social media. Unable to face his family members about his sexuality, Cairo ran away from home. Later, Cairo's mother, Leila, tearfully informed him that his father has died.

Gavreel and Pearl continue to support Cairo through his mourning on his father's demise. Both Terrence and Risa apologize for their mistakes and the troubles they caused in Cairo's and Gavreel's lives. Meanwhile, Leila decided to move the family to Bukidnon province, which Cairo hesitantly agrees. Cairo finally confesses his interest for Gavreel. Thereafter, Cairo and Gavreel meet in person for the first time with Pearl's help.

Cast

Main
  • Elijah Canlas as Cairo Lazaro, a live-stream gamer with username, Caimazing, being pursued by an unknown gamer and fan, Angel2000.
  • Kokoy De Santos as Gavreel Alarcon, an unknown gamer with username, Angel2000; Cairo's fan and secret admirer.

Recurring
  • Adrianna So as Pearl Gatdula, Gavreel's ex-girlfriend who became his best friend.
  • Kyle Velino as Terrence Carreon, Gavreel's ex-boyfriend and Cairo's online game rival with username, GavreelsOnlyLove.
  • Jerom Canlas as London Lazaro, Cairo's older brother.
  • Sue Prado as Leila Lazaro, Cairo's mother.
  • Rommel Canlas as Arthur Lazaro, Cairo's deceased father.
  • Angeli Nicole Sanoy as Risa Vargas, Cairo's friend.

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Pass Or Play"Ivan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumMay 22, 2020 (2020-05-22)
2"Game Of Love"Ivan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumJune 3, 2020 (2020-06-03)
3"Strangers Online"Ivan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumJune 12, 2020 (2020-06-12)
4"One Who Is Victorius"Ivan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumJune 19, 2020 (2020-06-19)
5"Thrill Of The Chase"Ivan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumJune 26, 2020 (2020-06-26)
6"Secret Party"Ivan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumJuly 3, 2020 (2020-07-03)
7"Elephant in the Room"Ivan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumJuly 10, 2020 (2020-07-10)
8"No Matter What"Ivan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumJuly 17, 2020 (2020-07-17)
9"Say It With Love"Ivan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumJuly 24, 2020 (2020-07-24)
10"Pass or Play 2"Ivan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumJuly 31, 2020 (2020-07-31)
11TBAIvan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumAugust 21, 2020 (2020-08-21)
12TBAIvan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumAugust 28, 2020 (2020-08-28)
13TBAIvan Andrew PayawalAsh M. MalanumSeptember 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)

Production

The first nine episodes were shot completely online due to the quarantine with actors setting up the frames and doing their makeup themselves and Ivan directing the shots online. Family members of Kokoy de santos and Elijah Canlas were credited for helping with the production as the actors themselves act in their home. Elijah's brother Jerom and father Rommel also acted in the series as the brother and father character of Cairo.

On July 15, 2020, The IdeaFirst Company announced that Globe Telecom's cellular service brand, TM, will be presenting the series' episodes.[7]

A few hours before the premiere of Episode 9, "Say It With Love", Gameboys writer, Ash M. Malanum, tweeted that three more episodes will be added to the series bringing the total episodes to 13.[8] However, the release of these episodes was delayed by two weeks after the Philippine government decided on August 2, 2020 to revert Metro Manila and nearby provinces to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).[9]

Reception

On July 8, 2020, the first episode ("Pass or Play") has reached 1 million views, while Episodes 2 to 5 have each gained more than 500 thousand views.[10]

Music
Song Title Performed by Lyrics By Music By Release Date Platforms
Isang Laro Nasser & Kokoy De Santos Emerzon Texon Emerzon Texon May 29, 2020 YouTube and Spotify
Panalo Ka Dex Yu Emerzon Texon Emerzon Texon June 23, 2020 YouTube and Spotify
Pag-Asa Elijah Canlas Emerzon Texon Emerzon Texon July 1, 2020 YouTube
Hiling Joshua Ronett Emerzon Texon & Elmer Gatchalian Emerzon Texon July 7, 2020 YouTube
Ngayon Emerzon Texon feat. Dex Yu Emerzon Texon Emerzon Texon August 7, 2020 YouTube and Spotify

Spin-off

On June 19, 2020, The IdeaFirst Company announced a Gameboys spin-off series titled, "Pearl Next Door".[11] Adrianno So will reprise her role as the eponymous character, with Iana Bernardez, Philip Hernandez, Rachel Coates and Cedrick Juan joining the cast.[12]

gollark: Anyway, heav might be Lyricly, but they're just an alt of esobot.
gollark: Or neither.
gollark: No, that's heav.
gollark: See, osmarks uses gollark as a username and I use osmarks, as a kind of injoke.
gollark: Broadly speaking.

References
  1. "Gameboys on IMDb".
  2. "A running list of Filipino BL series you can watch".
  3. Cruz, Marinel (2020-06-25). "Filipino BL series 'Gameboys' reaches a million views after only 2 episodes". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  4. "Go, Gameboys!".
  5. "'Gameboys' – the pandemic's breakout hit".
  6. "How online BL series 'Gameboys' injects Pinoy flavor, resourceful flair in the genre".
  7. "Presented by TM".
  8. "Episode 11, 12 and 13".
  9. "See you again in two weeks' time".
  10. "Thank you 4 million!".
  11. "The IdeaFirst Company". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  12. "https://twitter.com/theideafirst_co/status/1291041446913425408". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-08-11. External link in |title= (help)

Gameboys on IMDb

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