Addicted (2016)

Addicted was so popular in China that the government BANNED not only the show from airing its episodes but BANNED THE TWO MAIN ACTORS FROM BEING SEEN TOGETHER IN PUBLIC. Addicted was breaking records in China as a web series with its millions of views when compared to China's usual TV programming at that time. But the thing is that China has had several other BL shows made for online viewing without censorship but somehow Addicted spread like wildfire and true to its name the Chinese audience became addicted to it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Addicted is the first BL I ever reviewed,

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I’m inspired

Questions are asked why the Chinese authorities banned this Addiction series specifically, and banned the two leads from being seen together: there are other gay series that are not banned, why? First, this is not a 'gay' series, there is no aggrandisement of any gay lifestyle or anything characteristically gay: on the contrary, these two masculine actors portray two (twenty-four year old) adolescents who happen to fall in love, like any two other people, simple as that: they are portrayed as normal, adjusted, healthy, and reasonable in every respect:that is the problem for the authorities. Two guys falling in love is depicted as the most normal way of life, nothing unusual, or weird, or bizarre, or anything to attract attention: two guys struggling, as any couple would do, in courting. That the casting was genius to match these two guys together: the raw, unashamed direction of the physical and emotional affection and human sensitivity between the two is so touchingly sensitive, there is no shame or embarrassment, makes normality of what might be titillating...it is not anything but normal and healthy, therein is the rub: their love is so attractive, if these are your feelings, hey you, go for it.

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Awesome at every level!

As a television professional, a friend referred me to Addiction here in 2022 after it was made in 2016. The initial budget of 1 million USD for 15 episodes made me wonder if it had been made on an iPhone. It hadn't and is a creation of such artistry, dedication and love to the telling of a thrilling - if disturbed at core- story. The curation and crafting of the script, the performances and the music create a painting to be hung high in a wonderful gallery. That the camera burn off the screen, is rare. I don't speak Chinese but have a good understanding of the culture and the people having lived in this great country. The two stars live! The director achieves the sense of being flies on the wall of this most passionate love story which is thrilling by virtue of its lack of explicit sex, though one would be intrigued to know what censors cut. A lot. And the series has become a cult legend for its cancellation having tripped on new morals legislation of China's film and television authorities. A tragedy really. The last three episodes were not screened in China and in seeing them they would seem oddly rough and as if the scenes were stretched to fill the time. What was in the original, perhaps we will never know. Perhaps that the magic of the series. It is a glimpse into the lives of two uniquely beautiful souls, one very troubled and the other in Yin being a character that could go up again Titanic's Jack as a victim as much as a hero. The abduction and rape scene is one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen and it comes out of nowhere - as if you truly are witnessing this travesty and betrayal of the lover to the loved. It is an awfully awfully sad scene. I don't know- again - what was in the original and perhaps in relation to that sequence censors may have saved us the experience of such an awful event. Gu Hai is disturbed. They both have needs which cross the line into the psychopathology. Viewers will note that perhaps 50% of the scenes are set to music which is as subtle as it is beautiful. An unseen device which tells us more of the story This is most impressive. Terming it BL puts it in the genre of cutesy Asian stories for young girls romanticizing Korean singers hugging each other - and nothing wrong with that - but Addicted doesn't touch that genre in its essence, i ts intend and its explicit horror which runs to the side. The fact both actors were and are banned by the Government from every appearing together in any form of media is remarkable and adds to the legend of the great Addiction of Gu Hai and Yin. Johnny Huang went onto great fame and wealth as a machismo superstar of Chinese films, Timmy Xu as a beautiful performer in music and film. But the chemistry created between them is with few peers in cinema or film anywhere. For those outside China, the videos on youtube of the making of Addicted are intriguing to watch. Almost as much as the series. You find them on youtube at this time of writing. I don't do film or television reviews, this is a one time. Jeffrey James

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The move was fantastic. You really start feeling for the characters. The story was great even though you can tell scenes have been deleted. The ABSOLUTE WORST PART is the series is cut off!! You never get the ending of the series and there is no season 2. It was censored in China and that was all she wrote. The same thing happened to a few other shows i was watching. It is very frustrating. I just wish we were told when a series is cut off so we can choose not to watch. I have gap never to be filled in the world my series lay. Why can't the stories be taken out of China and finished up in another country or completely done elsewhere. OK i am done ranting.

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IM ADDICTED!

OMG! I just watch this series recently and im addicted to Guo Hai and Luo Yin! It's so sad to know they are not together in the real life. Hahaha. It's not kind like an act but it seems real. The first time I see Luo Yin I fall in love with him and then come Guo Hai and I ship both of them. Yu Qi also steal my heart too... hahaha... Too bad China gov banned this series. This is value to rewatch and must have sequel. 15 episodes are too short.
I want to know every single thing about Hai Luoyin. Im addicted! Watch the cast in other darama and play with other cast just make me hurt ahahahahah

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I am addicted

The story is well written and the ost ( If hai has yin) gets me every time.
I have lost count how many times i have re watched it...
I love Gu hai personally... If you've already read the novel you can feel me☺
...
... I made this account just for vote this drama...
They are having a Chinese as well as Thai adaptations . I hope they won't disappoint us??
If you are still on cliffhanger... Then go for the novel.. Believe me its totally amazing?
I m assured about the Chinese adaptation cause its under the author of the novel the great Chai jidan itself..

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How can people rake this high

I'm currently watching the remake (stay with me... not finish yet) and i wanted to se the series on what it was based off... but i'm really disappointed... how people can say that they are good actors... this is a low budget series and we can see it... and the ending... wtf... they had a good base but they messed up a lot ... i really hope they gonna fix it in the remake ... and i will wait for the thai adaptation... i hope we can see more of the relationship in the thai adaptation... but for now... the remake is really better than this (currently waiting for episode 9) ...

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