Latest / Besties Do Verticals / Episode 7 - The Stepbrother I Hate to Love
Transcript
- Aleta: Hello and welcome to Besties Do Verticals with your besties, Lucy and Alita. Lucy And Aleta: Hi, I'm Lucy. Aleta: I'm Alita. It's kind of hectic for your besties right now with so many new boy love and girl love verticals being released, which is amazing, but also I'm feeling the pressure. How about you, Lucy? Lucy And Aleta: Yes, I feel like my head is spinning, but it's also from Joy. Declan Clifford did tell us all it would be the year of the queer, ⁓ it Aleta: ⁓ Lucy And Aleta: is right ⁓ now. ⁓ What a time to be alive, am I right? So week we're excited to be recapping the stepbrother I love to hate. ⁓ It's interesting because it's actually not on an app. It is on realvibe.com. This is a website. Interesting fact, we have seen this with at least one previous BL that I know of, that it started out on a website and then eventually did make its way to an app. The stepbrother I hate to love is directed by Yun Yi Zhang. Here is a summary that we made up all by ourselves because we couldn't find one. Liam and Noah are step brothers who clash at home and at school. Liam is holding in a very big secret. After Liam talks Noah's girlfriend into a threesome, things may never be the same. Aleta: This vertical opens on a scene in a college locker room. Liam, played by Zachary Davis, is questioning Lily, Nicole Maddox, about her experience with Noah. She's all over him, thinking that he is asking because he's jealous. But his internal monologue tells us that he's really interested in Noah. A straight guy he can never get. And he is happy to learn that nothing actually happened between them because Noah couldn't get it up. The ED. ⁓ Despite Lily's best efforts, Liam rejects her. Noah is coming to drop off his application to the hockey team and is devastated to find them together. Lily informs Noah that she is not his girlfriend. They went on a of dates, that's it. We learn that this is not the first time that Liam has stolen Noah's girl, his nemesis and also his stepbrother. Lucy And Aleta: It's interesting you say the ED because I actually did not take it as that. Okay. ⁓ I was just thinking Aleta: Mm-hmm. No, I know I was just ⁓ Lucy And Aleta: Nicole Maddox's character is like so aggressive and he was probably like I yeah, he was probably like, I don't even know how like Aleta: Mm. Put off. Lucy And Aleta: please her. Like that's kind of how I took it. Like he was so nervous. but yes, so I actually never knew who this Nicole Maddox was. I've heard her name mentioned a lot and people love to talk about her. I loved her entire vibe as Lily. I really think she rocked this role. Aleta: The next scene is a family dinner. Liam and Noah are clearly at odds. Noah says that Liam never welcomed him to the family and ignores him at school. When Liam's dad asks him about hockey practice, Noah asks whether the new coach is five foot four with blonde hair. Lucy And Aleta: Liam says You must have been seeing things wrong, but let's just say we scored repeatedly. Aleta: And Noah replies, You always go for the easy shot, don't you? Targets with no defence. Lucy And Aleta: Liam says at least I can finish. Seems like you have trouble launching. No offense. I really like that little banter back and forth. The Zacs did a good job with it. I also really enjoyed the transition from Noah standing in the locker room and then all of a sudden being at the dining room table. Good idea. I really like that. ⁓ my goodness, Alita, I just realized that we didn't say who plays Noah. That is Zachary Shadrin. We or I actually know him from Wrestling with Love, which I am excited to recap someday. So when I said the Zax, it's because the two leads are named Zachary. So have Zachary Davis and Zachary Shadrin. ⁓ And this is a good opportunity to mention that they now have fandom names. So we can we all love this vertical so much that fandom names were immediately created. ⁓ moving forward in the vertical, will hereby ⁓ Announce the actors by Zachary is just Zach. Zach is now Fay Zach because he looks like Faye. Looks like a fairy. This has been confirmed by several ⁓ fans in the fandom. ⁓ and I love it. agree with it. You're FayZac now. ⁓ Ooh, when I say it together, that sounds like drug. ⁓ Zach. Anyway. Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy And Aleta: Faye Zach. Yes, yes. Aleta: Side effects may include Lucy And Aleta: And then when I'm talking about them together, they are now the Zacs. anyway, just wanted to point that out. Aleta: I'm sorry I missed that name. ⁓ I also wanted to say when we were reciting those it occurred to me, targets with no defense. I I think Lily ⁓ doesn't need any defense. She's ⁓ she's on the offense. Lucy And Aleta: I love it. It's so true. So true. Aleta: It turns out that Liam has rejected Noah's hockey tryout application seven times. When Liam says that Noah knows nothing about hockey, we find out that Noah's dad was actually a great hockey player. Noah blames school stress for his outburst at the dining table. Now we get a scene of Liam in the shower, and Noah walks in because his mom has told him to apologize. Liam picks up Noah, tosses him over his shoulder, and carries him out of the bathroom. Lucy And Aleta: ⁓ yeah baby Did you see how Fay Zack just easily picked up Zack? I'm here for it and diabolical having him at this exact angle ⁓ Love Aleta: Noah sees that Liam is hard and asks if he's gay. The next scene Lily finds Liam flirting with another cheerleader, Daisy. He tells Lily that he's bored and maybe they should have a third. Although Daisy looks interested, Lily says she doesn't want to share him with another girl. Then Liam suggests Noah. Lucy And Aleta: Dang, look at Liam being all sly here to try and get Noah into his Aleta: Mm. Lucy And Aleta: bed. Mm mm mm. ⁓ Aleta: Lily approaches Noah and suggests a threesome with another guy. He says no and she storms off. Liam informs him he is the other guy. Would be pretty embarrassing if you couldn't get it up in front of me. The next scene finds Liam and Lily alone at home, and she's coming on to him, but he says they are one person short. As they leave the room, they find Noah outside with a bottle of vodka. Lucy And Aleta: I really thought Lily's reaction was hilarious here when Liam was trying to drag her out. She turns around and just looks back at the bed all upset. ⁓ And honestly, when he opens the door here, a really cute drunk. Aleta: They start making out with Lily in the middle and Lucy And Aleta: ⁓ my goodness, so Lily says, ⁓ my god, this is fucking awesome. I have never been so jealous of a woman in my entire life, and those aren't even my main squeezes. Aleta: Ha ha Liam sits down on the bed and watches Noah and Lily, and fantasizes that he and Noah are together. In his fantasy, Noah tells him that he loves him. Lucy And Aleta: So during the dream sequence when Liam has Noah pinned to the bed, Zach's ⁓ eyes look amazing here. They are so deep green and I love the neck grab. Choking. Sorry. ⁓ And definitely a dream. ⁓ The spinning into the hand before ⁓ It's so crazy I'm recapping this vertical before wrestling with But the luck of the draw I guess. Hahaha Aleta: The fantasy is broken by Lily, who has started her period. She leaves for the bathroom and Noah is ⁓ very drunk. They start making out. Lucy And Aleta: Okay, poor Lily. I mean I'm happy for Noah and Liam, but like as a woman ⁓ Aleta: Yeah, that's embarrassing. Lucy And Aleta: right, I'm just ⁓ like the worst possible time in the entire world. Anyway, I was also gonna say that they start making out in reality we get another grab. ⁓ After Liam convinces drunk Noah to kiss him and ho ho ho ho so hot So hot Yes Aleta: Lily comes back and interrupts him. She still wants to give Liam a blowjob, but he rushes her out. ⁓ Lucy And Aleta: The ⁓ job. ⁓ just cracks me up. ⁓ I almost want to watch some of Nicole Maddox's straight ones. I know she's done a lot just to see if she her characters are her character charm me. I cannot lie. So if she if if she is like this in her straight verticals, I might take a peek because I really liked her. Aleta: The next scene is Noah waking up in the middle of the night and remembering that he kissed Liam. He goes to find him to talk about it and catches Liam jerking off to his picture. Liam is unapologetic, but Noah asks him what the fuck is wrong with him. And Liam says I've wanted you from the moment I met you. I seduced your girlfriend just so you couldn't be with anyone. I kept you off the hockey team because I was afraid that I'd lose control. I refused to call you my brother because I never wanted you as one. Threesome with Lily? I wasn't there for her. I was there for you. I like my stepbrother. Even if he's straight, I still want to fuck him. Lucy And Aleta: Yes, girl! ⁓ I love Aleta: You're killing me. Lucy And Aleta: I know. ⁓ I love how Liam admits how much he wants him after he gets caught. Like, I am really into people writing characters like this who own it, ⁓ who carry the desperate really well. Sky already rocks this. Fay Zach is again it sounds like ⁓ a medic. ⁓ ⁓ my god, I don't know if I can say it. Hold on. Mm-mm. Fey Zach is now added to the list. ⁓ He did an amazing expressing his devotion to Liam in so many different Haha. ⁓ Ha ha ha. ⁓ Has doubled meaning. ⁓ He really Aleta: Ha ha Lucy And Aleta: expressed his devotion ⁓ right now. ⁓ Aleta: Noah thinks it's a prank and pushes him away. The next day, Noah's application to try out for hockey is approved. Lucy And Aleta: Noah is excited at first, but then gets all worried and says and you're not quitting because your stepbrother wants your ass. ⁓ Love that line. So frickin' good. So good. Aleta: At the rink, the hockey team hears him call Liam an asshole, and they put him on the ice with no protective gear other than mitts. Lucy And Aleta: Did you notice the hockey team dudes are a lot older looking? At least one of them is definitely not college stage. Aleta: They hit over and over with the puck until Liam comes to the rescue and stops them at the one hundredth shot. Liam gives one more shot, but if Noah gets the save, he's in. Which he of course. Liam kicks the ringleaders off the team. Lucy And Aleta: The hockey haze scene sucked. I appreciate how determined Noah was, but damn. It wa it was harsh. I did like that there was actual hockey in this, an attempt at it anyway. Aleta: Now we get another shower scene. Noah and Liam comes in. Shades of heated rivalry here, as Liam touches himself. Liam tells Noah that he did great at tryouts and was born to be a goalie. Lucy And Aleta: scated rivalry shower scene, ⁓ yikes. Honestly, this might be the scene in my opinion. As a girl, I would really hate this. So I do feel bad for Noah here. And then Liam's like, you did great at tryouts, all earnestly, like nothing just happened. What? Aleta: Noah says they're cool as long as Liam stops thinking about his ass. Lucy And Aleta: Favorite scene of the entire vertical probably here is Noah screaming at Liam's dick saying ⁓ Stay the fuck away from me ⁓ Like how is that Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy And Aleta: not hilarious? It was great. Aleta: When Liam makes it clear that that's not going to happen, Noah tries a new tactic. He stops showering, sprays himself with skunk, and eats with his hands, hoping to put Liam off. Lucy And Aleta: Skunk spray even on his junk. ⁓ Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy And Aleta: and then the nasty ass eating feet on the table, like damn comedy gold. Honestly, this entire idea was brilliant. I love seeing it, how it plays out. Zach was hilarious in this. And then Liam just tells Noah he is tasty instead of acting disgusted. Ha ha ha ⁓ Aleta: Later, Noah asks Liam to watch a horror movie with him. But it's porn. And it's step siblings. Noah's plan to prove that naked women can still turn Liam on backfires. Noah him whether he feels and he says yes, but not for her. The truth is I'm much more into a real ass. And Noah runs. ⁓ Lucy And Aleta: ⁓ my goodness. And he runs like holding his ass. ⁓ the step sibling porn. Okay. Then Noah grabbing I I liked the part where Noah grabbed onto Liam and was hugging his waist. And then I kind of wanted to make a note on the vaping. Whoa! ⁓ they have they have Liam vaping in like every scene. It feels pretty excessive. I I I'm sure it's definitely the character. So that's the first time I've seen that in a queer vertical. I'm sure it is realistic for young men. It was just ⁓ really in every scene, but that's okay, guess. Definitely a character. But ⁓ yeah, the running away covering his butt, and then ⁓ Noah as he's running starts slipping in hallway. I just really appreciated the physical comedy. Like, this one was serious, but also had comedy. So ⁓ I like that combination. Aleta: Noah gets another text from Lily trying to get together with Liam. Noah sets it up, and Liam comes home to find Lily in his bed. He sends her packing. Noah asks what's wrong with him, and Liam asks. ⁓ Lucy And Aleta: There's one thing I don't understand. If you think that someone's sexuality can be corrected, why couldn't it go the other way? Aleta: What do you mean? Lucy And Aleta: You keep saying you could pull me back on track, but what about you? Sexuality is fluid. Aleta: No it's not. At least mine is not. Lucy And Aleta: Let's make a bet that I can make you hard without even touching your dick. Aleta: No fucking way, Liam. Lucy And Aleta: If I fail, I'll leave your ass alone, and be your step brother. Aleta: Noah tells himself that he's definitely straight, and there's no way he can lose the bat. Liam tells Noah to take off his clothes. And Liam starts complimenting his lips, his eyes. He asks him what is most important for a goalie? Then says that's your intuition. For instance, I can sense your eagerness for my touch. But we made a bet I can't touch you. Lucy And Aleta: You know, that part bothered me. He just said he can't touch his dick ⁓ And there was like a Aleta: Well, he does touch him too. Lucy And Aleta: He does, but then he kind of like steps back and then says he can't Aleta: Yeah. Lucy And Aleta: touch him and I'm like, yes you can. Anyway, that's okay. Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy And Aleta: The trying to get him hard scene was when I first realized that Zach like a young Robin Williams. I don't know if you could see it. Can you see it? Because I see it and I can't unsee it. Aleta: Re I saw people talking about that, but I don't really I don't know. Lucy And Aleta: It's his smile, it's his laugh, it's his eyes, they crinkle just like Robin's. I just ⁓ I don't know. I love Robin Williams, so Aleta: Mm. Lucy And Aleta: honestly, just staring at Zack now, I'm like This is this is both sad and awesome at the same time, Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy And Aleta: and I can't figure out ⁓ how to conduct myself here, but ⁓ Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy And Aleta: I have such a huge appreciation ⁓ for ⁓ Zack's laugh and the way his eyes crinkle and his smile now. ⁓ But yeah. Okay. And of course we need to discuss how much I really love a good boy. And that was in the scene. Love it! Aleta: The boys are interrupted by Noah's mom who catches them studying together. She wants to look at Noah's injuries, but he's hard. they tell her he hasn't showered yet and is itching, and she runs off to the pharmacy. Noah takes off to his room where he tells himself he's straight and admits that he got hard for his stepbrother. Lucy And Aleta: I loved seeing Zach just embody the role of Noah. I really did. And I feel like he got to own this role in a way he didn't get to do with Cal in Wrestling with Love. You know what I think it is? Noah is just so much more fleshed out character wise than Cal. Cal just kind of had to take everything coming to him too. And Noah doesn't. Noah does try to stand up for himself, and maybe that's why I like this character better. I really liked a lot of Noah's monologues that he did. Just some really good acting here. It it showcased that Zach is a really good actor. Aleta: The next scene is on the ice, and Noah is fantasizing remembering the previous day. Lucy And Aleta: I'm so confused why Noah is out there practicing as a goalie without a helmet. Is that normal? Aleta: Absolutely not. No. Lucy And Aleta: Okay. Aleta: I mean, every hockey player on the ice is wearing a helmet. You know, just not yeah. Lucy And Aleta: Right? Like, is that for the shot? It's gotta be for the shot, but they let Fay Zach wear his helmet. ⁓ Aleta: ⁓ you know, we ha you have to you you have to just accept that some things are not going to be realistic in a vertical. ⁓ Lucy And Aleta: No we have to accept a lot of things won't be, but that's okay. ⁓ That's okay. Aleta: Noah can't concentrate and he and Liam keep looking at each other. Liam crashes into the boards and Noah takes off when Liam's needs medical help. And later Liam confronts him because he took off instead of staying when he needed help. Liam says he will be with Lily if Noah wants, as long as he stops avoiding him. Lily wants him to go to a party, and when Liam asks whether Noah is going, she insists that he go. Noah agrees to go and at home Liam brings him clothes to wear to the party. As Noah gets dressed, he reminds himself that Lily is not going to the party for him. So who the fuck is he getting ready for? Lucy And Aleta: Yes indeed. Who is Noah getting ready for? Interesting. I did like the scene before this where Noah is trying to find out what to wear in front of the mirror. He had another little great tiny monologue scene. I think it is really cute that Liam brought him some clothes and and Noah looks good in them. ⁓ Very Robin Williams with his hair. Aleta: Liam tells him he looks perfect, and everyone will wish he was theirs. At the party, Lily is all over Liam again, and Noah is watching from a distance. Jackson approaches him and says that he's totally his type. Lucy And Aleta: It's Ben Cohen. He was in Sneak Me Too. ⁓ I'm so glad he's in this. Aleta: I was wondering where I recognized him from. Lucy And Aleta: Yes, he was with Ramiro and Ben near the end of Sneak Me Two kind of trying to hit on Ramiro and apparently like him and Aleta: In the club? Lucy And Aleta: Seb yeah, him and Seb used to date and ⁓ it was cool. It was really cool. Like he's so this is interesting, let's talk about this. This isn't in the notes. But Ben Cohen not a lead in a BL and I really think he should. He's been, ⁓ I think forced into support supporting actor Purgatory like so many others. I mean he's not the only one. Apparently Fay Zak had the same issue, according to a fan. Like he's just been a supporting Aleta: He's been in a lot of verticals when I looked him up on IMDB. Lucy And Aleta: Yeah, a lot, but apparently none of them were leads. I'm I mean if someone knows different, but I heard this from a fan who loves Zachary Davis. ⁓ So ⁓ it's fascinating as we kind of move through these verticals and watch them recap them and learn more about them and the actors. It's surprising Zachary Davis is a really good actor and He made me feel a little bit like Evan watching him. I'm like, why are you in supporting roles? You ⁓ there's ⁓ there's a few scenes. ⁓ my gosh, I did not talk about this scene. gonna about it. Okay. Let's backtrack to the part of the recap where Liam was caught ⁓ jerking off ⁓ picture of Noah. I did not mention this, but ⁓ When Noah rejects him and gets really mad and thinks it's a prank, the expression on Liam's face, and obviously this was all Zachary Davis, it broke me. Clearly, Zachary Davis can play what's the word I want to use? Tragedy. Tragic. He can play broken. He can play heartbreak. I mean, I died. I only know this because I I I had noticed before, but I really noticed because I got to do an edit of them. And that is my favorite scene in the entire edit, and it's because of he is talented. Come on, apps, what are you Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy And Aleta: doing? Like there are some incredibly talented people. They they've been doing this to Jeff. Flawless. They've been do like Evan's gotten a couple leads, but only two. ⁓ Aleta: Yeah. Lucy And Aleta: I mean, we could kinda count Lucas and you mess with the wrong nerd as a lead a little bit. He was definitely one of the leads. But I'm tripping ⁓ further we go learning about these actors. I'm just like Ben Cohen is clearly very talented. He would be amazing in a romantic comedy. Put that man in a romantic comedy as a lead. And Zachary Davis needs to keep getting leads. I mean, he is ⁓ ⁓ Not just gorgeous but talented. Anyway, feelings. Aleta: ⁓ And Andrew too. Give Andrew some more lead roles, for goodness sake. He's such a good actor. Like such a good actor. Lucy And Aleta: And Andrew, I am so sorry. That's right. Andrew is gorgeous. Like he he is incredible. And he works hard for it. Like we know, like he still actively takes classes. He still actively works on his craft. I mean, he was amazing as Nicholas. ⁓ Come on! Get it together, casting directors! ⁓ Aleta: Ha ha ha. Okay, back to the party. Lucy And Aleta: Ha ha ha ha. Aleta: Noah is still watching Liam and Lily, and Jackson asks him who that is. He says my asshole stepbrother. Jackson tells him that he meant the girl. ⁓ And next question Do you like your Noah asks himself why it hurts to watch Liam kiss Lily and ⁓ asks if he's gay. Jackson says, If you really to kiss me. Noah does but immediately runs, ⁓ and Liam chases after him. Lucy And Aleta: Zach kissed Ben Cohen. Yes. Also, I loved Liam's expression here when he sees the kiss. ⁓ yes! Not happy. Aleta: Mm. Not happy. Lucy And Aleta: Seriously though, Faye Zach is so gorgeous and talented and I could see him rocking BLs and straight verticals really easy. He might be kind of cute with Grant actually in a BL. Aleta: Liam says, if you're straight, why did you kiss that asshole? Noah says that it's all Liam's fault. He fell in love with him. And grabs him for a kiss. Spiciness ensues ⁓ as Liam takes care of Noah, shall we say? Lily almost catches them, but her phone rings just in time. Lucy And Aleta: Stu Yes! Also, another fan said to me last night, that was the noisiest I ever heard. ⁓ I ⁓ like their kissing. There was a content creator who was speaking about Bound when it first out, and started gushing to Declan and Tristan on how they just kissed good. Aleta: Hm. Lucy And Aleta: Totally same for Zacs. They did good. I loved it. No stage kissing. GIT! You made fans happy. Also, the fall in love thing. That part was interesting. But I went with it. Aleta: Noah says ⁓ sorry I'm still straight but genuinely fallen for my stepbrother How are you straight, bud? Liam says so you're not my secret stepbrother anymore, you're my secret boyfriend? At dinner they are in a rush to finish and go upstairs so that they can be together. We were talking about the vaping earlier. There's a scene here in the bed where Liam is vaping and blowing it into Noah's mouth. Lucy And Aleta: ⁓ you know what? That part was actually kinda hot. I mean, I'm not into vaping, Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy And Aleta: but I just I loved how they place their heads. I love the lighting. ⁓ I love so ⁓ one of the reasons I also like this vertical ⁓ is Zac both of Zacs look very age appropriate for these roles. ⁓ it's everything that I see them both doing is ⁓ exactly what I would expect a older high school or college kid to do. And this was just such a this is something I would have done when I was young, for sure. I don't know. It just set the tone of who are and their characters and their ages and what this is. I I liked the scene. I really did. I loved everything. I love the angles. I'm just imagining them on the bat in a cameraman like ⁓ Upper top. Aleta: Over top. Hahaha. Lucy And Aleta: And it was it was kind of the same with some of the kissing scenes and the dream sequences. There's like this part where ⁓ the must be on his back ⁓ on floor and he's holding up the camera to because you get this angle ⁓ of is laying on the bed and f Fay Zack is like I need to use their character names here. ⁓ Noah is on ⁓ His back in the bed and Liam is just Woo kissing him good and you just see this angle and the camera's clearly on Zack's face. I'm just imagining the camera. I'm like was there just a lot of painful and awkward We have to give these cameramen some props because I don't feel like I don't see these angles necessarily in traditional film. ⁓ I don't know. It was good. Aleta: Yeah. Yeah, I think it's definitely a challenge to get those. Lucy And Aleta: Right. ⁓ my goodness. Aleta: And yeah, I'm sure it's gotta be uncomfortable a lot of the time, but Lucy And Aleta: Did we say this in Tutoring My Rival Boy? I don't know if we did. I I know I talked about the POV. I don't know if I said this, but when Sky is has his POV, I'm just imagining Skye straddling the cameraman to get that shot. I mean, obvious that's exact like who's that lucky cameraman? ⁓ anyway, okay. Aleta: I'm sure. Yeah. Lucy And Aleta: ⁓ Aleta: The next morning they wake up together and Liam goes back to his room just in the nick of time. Lucy And Aleta: Let's not forget the butt slap. I petition Aleta: Ha ha. Lucy And Aleta: for more butt slapping and BLs. Aleta: At school, Lily asks Noah to set her up with Liam again, and he refuses. Liam catches Lily trying to convince him and drags Noah off to the locker room. As they are making out, Lily catches them. Lucy And Aleta: That part's sad, but before we know that as an audience, I loved how cute and happy Noah and Liam looked here. It's so cute. Aleta: Not for long. Lucy And Aleta: I know. Aleta: Lily tells the team that Noah took pictures of them changing and shows a GoPro that was supposedly used to film them. She tells the guys to hold him down and starts filming as they assault him. You don't like this. Lucas ⁓ says if he admits he did it, quits the team and publicly apologizes, they'll let him off. But Lily then says that she saw him forcing a kiss on Liam. Just as they are about to assault him with a hockey stick. I hate everything about this. ⁓ Lucy And Aleta: I hate this. They try so we didn't say it on Drive ⁓ Wilds, but this is what they tried with Brady. Aleta: Mm. Lucy And Aleta: And the idea of this is so beyond taking it way too far. Aleta: Liam arrives in the nick of time with the coach who checks the camera and sees that there's no proof. Liam says Noah didn't harass him. He was the one pursuing Noah. Lily then everyone that they are brothers. Noah says yes, stepbrothers, and I love him. Lucas and Lily are expelled for bullying and all the other students who were there for the bullying will face disciplinary action. then get a scene of the two of them in the bath. Noah asks, What if their parents find out and try to separate them? Lucy And Aleta: Hey, we can't forget these notable lines in the bath. Aleta: Hello, Santa Claus. Lucy And Aleta: You're gonna regret that. Aleta: Yeah? I don't want you to make me regret that. Lucy And Aleta: Ooh and a steamy kiss. Hee hee. Aleta: They fall asleep together. And the next morning Noah's mother comes into his room to find them together. Lucy And Aleta: I love this scene where they fall asleep. We do not get to see this hardly ever in BL's. I liked seeing it here. And I we saw it in next door as well a little bit, at least with the chatting and the talking in bed. Wait, wait, wait. It's in Sneak Me as well. Okay, there are a few verticals, a BL verticals, but I want it in more. We didn't get a Hunter and Miles bed scene. We did get a Prince Nicholas, though, and ⁓ Aleta: Yeah. The morning after with Prince Nicholas and also in Drive Him Wild the morning after with a little kiss on the arm that you like. Lucy And Aleta: yeah, okay, I don't know what I'm talking about guys. Don't mind me. Maybe it's just because I didn't get one in any of Evan's. So come on. Aleta: ⁓ Lucy And Aleta: fix that. this one in particular had the big spoon little spoon and it was adorable. Aleta: Hmm. Noah's mum tells Liam's dad, and when the boys come down for breakfast, acting suspiciously perky and friendly with each other, their parents tell them that they are getting a divorce, and that his mum will be taking Noah back to New York. Lucy And Aleta: Hugh Ey Roll Dumbest Ending Ever Aleta: And the vertical ends on a to be continued. I I don't know about you, Lucy, but although it was generally a good vertical, this really irritated me. Those guys are in college. There's no real jeopardy. Surely their parents can't tear them apart. Also, the vertical could have and should have ended on a happily ever after in the bathtub. Although it's s very short vertical, that would have at least made sense. Lucy And Aleta: Fair. I mean, I really love this vertical, but yes, you are right, the ending was ridiculous for a few reasons. Number one, apps and production companies generally do not make sequels. This is very common knowledge. Number two, like you said, they are college aged and it is laughable that they could be separated. So this was incredibly weak. Three I agree that it should have ended earlier, but for me, it should have been on when they fell asleep together after the bath. That was the Aleta: Fair. Lucy And Aleta: perfect ending, and we would have all been satisfied. I am very curious how a to-be-continued script got through, honestly. ⁓ Especially when this BL doesn't even have a home base on an app. But overall, besides the ending, ⁓ I did love this vertical and it's in my top ten. I know this is a of a hot take, but ⁓ I love step sibling trope, and I always have. Everyone has their different yums, and this is one of mine. ⁓ The step sibling trope even sucks me in on the straight side as well. I do watch some of the step like if I'm going to watch a straight one, it's usually that one. I do watch most of them. I think for me it's about the forbiddenness of it all. And of course, the step siblings are not blood related. Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy And Aleta: I honestly was blown away ⁓ by Zach S here. His acting and molding of his role as Noah came out of nowhere for me. He played Noah night and day from how he played Cal. And I just appreciated it so much. It made me excited for the one that's actually about to release with Kamen Cardiff, which is a hockey one. And Faye Zach, holy crap. ⁓ what a dream boat. I never knew about him before. And his acting's incredible. I know he said it earlier, but hearing that this was his first lead, I could tell right away how much of a crime that was. He should be leading straight and queer verticals. Let's keep pumping out queerverts apps. Let's start casting all of these BL boys together and doing lots of mix and matching. ⁓ Does that as a soapbox? We'll just say it does. Aleta: Ha ha ha. ⁓ Every week Lucy's gotta get the soap box out of the cupboard. It does. ⁓ Lucy And Aleta: mean to. I feel like it just happens. Yeah. Aleta: That was the Stepbrother I Hate to Love. ⁓ thank you for joining us. ⁓ We hope see you next time. Bye Besties. Lucy And Aleta: Bye besties.