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I HAD TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT JUST TO VOICE MY DISGUST WITH THIS SHOW...
(SPOILERS! You have been warned!)I simply don't understand the rave reviews here, did we watch the same show??? Maybe there was a version that edited out the KIDNAPPING and RAPE and REPEATED UNWANTED SEXUAL ASSAULTS?? Because the show I watched was not a cute romance, but a very problematic and cringe-inducing cautionary tale about obsession and possessiveness.
The whole time B.L.Y. looked disgusted by G.H.'s advances. Even if the intent was to show the downside and desperation of a person in such a situation, it was completely undone by "romantic" music riffs stolen from the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack and the band Explosions in the Sky, the rights to which I doubt the producers obtained legitimately. The music was only "good" bc they were ripped from Hollywood films/TV shows, but they were used in excess and at the wrong time to force a mood that didn't fit the scene.
Yes, the boys were cute, and they were decent actors, and the story had some promise in the first few episodes that made you want to ship them (and maybe that's why the positive reviewers wanted to like it so badly?), but after the kidnapping, everything turned way too dark for it to be a romance. I mean, their FIRST KISS was forced onto one of the guys WHILE HE WAS HANDCUFFED and TIED UP AGAINST HIS WILL!
Even in the last episode (15, was it the last episode?) when B.L.Y. FINALLY showed a little bit of interest in G.H. (after rejecting him for 14 and a half episodes), it felt like Stockholm Syndrome had set in and he reluctantly gave in. It was not the heartwarming moment the showrunners intended it to be.
Given the title referring to drugs and addiction, maybe it could have worked as a thriller like Fatal Attraction or something like that, but the director was clearly intending this to be a love story, and that simply does not work both ways. I haven't read the source material, but since the show was also apparently written by the same author, I'm going to assume the show and book are similar.
It's sad what happened to the show regarding the bans, and I hope for things to improve in China regarding the homophobia, but even then, that doesn't mean this show should be held up as any kind of a triumph for boys' love, because the relationship shown here? THIS IS NOT LOVE.
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Timmy (Zhou Zhou) is a very handsome young man that does really good at acting, despite being the first time acting. While Huang Jingyu also a new actor, but he completes the series. As for the other characters, there are some minor problems here and there but overall they did a great job.
The story is so touching. I am not the type that will cry over a drama or series, but if I do cry then that series is so good. Well, you have to watch it to find out how amazing the story is. But I must say that sometimes the stories are quite jumbled and cannot be comprehended so it is taking a longer time for me to understand the flow of the story.
For music, it is perfect. When they cue the background music just like Brokeback Mountain's music, I was getting chills up my spine immediately. There's so much aesthetic here and there, so the music just completes it all.
I already rewatched it three times, so I really recommend this series for you. But you will regret watching this drama because the story just end on episode 15 with a confusing plot. It's all because the series was discontinued and banned by the Chinese government so it was quite sad. I really hope they would continued the series with the same improved style, same music, same actors and actresses.
All love to the people who were making this series. We fans love you all and we hope you can make other great content for us to watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
I enjoy watching this show up to the point where the GH start molesting BLY. I mean it is fine for 2 men to sleep together in the same bed but when someone start forcefully touching you it is so weird that you will let him sleep same bed with you. Worst of all is the kidnapping BLY scene. How come this rape attitude is acceptable by so many viewers? After that scene BLY still accept GH and let him stay in his room. I mean what is this mean? Does anyone will still sleep together with their sexual molester and be friend with them? I really feel bad for BLY, his life already very miserable and he still end up in a abusive and "rape oriented" relationship. He does not deserve to be with GH. I wish they make the love story move more romantic and realistic like typical straight drama example"Boku wa Asu, Kinō no Kimi to Dēto Suru or proposal daisakusen etc". Was this review helpful to you?
Pros and cons
Slight trigger warnings: kind of sexual assault (forced kissing, not taking no for an answer)So the trigger warning is a complex one because the forced kisses fit the story and the desperation of the character but they still made me feel uncomfy. Maybe it's just because I am sensitive to those things and I don't romanticize them at all.
With that out of the way, I like this show and I was disappointed that China's censorship laws put a stop to the show. It feel pretty complete though it was supposed to have another 3 episodes or something around that number. I enjoyed the character and relationship development from this show. I also appreciate how controversial it is (China's government is homophobic and even some of their apps have removed multiple LGBT+ tags and pages. I don't mean that all Chinese people are homophobic!) Now that that disclaimer is over, the Plot of the story isn't messy, it is easy to follow. I like both of the main leads a lot, but unfortunately they can't work together in the future due to the previously mentioned issues. BL dramas can be a bit too perfect (like relationship wise, life style wise) and this one is the total opposite and is very relatable.
The music in the show is top notch and does a a great job, a bit like it was made as a movie sound track. The emotions are very well connected.
It is 100% worth the watch and I hope you get it a chance.
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DON'T WATCH!! ABSOLUTELY TRIGGERING, GROSS, EW NO!!
trigger warning: SA, the whole drama has SAI have watched many bad dramas, but this gets the crown for the absolute worst drama I have ever watched. So many people have praised this drama and it really goes to show how many people on MDL love SA. I get that people have their preferences with what they like to watch... but homie literally went up and REPEATEDLY SAed the other lead when he told him visually, physically, and verbally that he did not like it. I HAD to drop it after episode 11 (I believe), because that's really when the SA got so bad that I felt physically sick.
I just need to let whoever is reading this know that the SA really, truly, is super bad. I read a comment before watching that there was SA and I was confused thinking it was like a bad guy or something, but NO it's literally with the two leads as in the couple and it's romanticized in a creepy, sickening way that repeatedly happens! This drama will make you feel absolutely sick.
All of this being said...I don't get how someone could enjoy this drama. Regardless of the SA, the two leads don't have good chemistry. They pretty much hate each other and I don't get what's supposed to entertaining here besides the... SA. That's not entertainment. Moreover, the acting is mediocre and visually the scenery of this drama is lame. The plot is like eating sand... it's so dry. I genuinely don't get why people have enjoyed his drama.
It's a shame that people like/praise this drama. I hope if you have read this I have persuaded you not to watch it, because this drama has been one of the biggest let downs I have ever watched and the worst in general.
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stop condoning sexual harassment !
the behavior of the main lead is not normal. NO is a NO, when will bl dramas stop romanticizing sexual abuse.. I loved the acting. they were super good at portraying the characters but the plot is a huge NO for me. the kidnapping, the non consensual touching.. there are so many things wrong about this drama,, i can't believe why this drama is not criticized as much as it should be.. the ratings are too high. could have done better with the plot if they stopped with that weird forcing in this.. all the other part of the plot including the relationship with their parents, the bond between family and the love hate relationship with mom and son.. they all r soo good. why did they have to ruin such a nice plot by that... the world would be a better place if we all speak up against sexual abuse..Was this review helpful to you?
If the story is abit slower (focusing more on it's other characters like You Qi and Yang Meng), the show will be in it's 10.0
A must watch movie, watching this series the 3rd time over the last 3 days
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Story : The story is interesting for people like me who like BL stories. But, this one is really my favorite (BL) because it got me through so much feelings.
Acting/Cast : All actors are beginners but they play really well, so well that I thought it was natural like real life - but in a good way. I got attached to them really easily. What I like is that they are normal guys, they didn't made them big brutes or girly.
Music : There's not a lot of musics, around 5 main but what is great about it, is that music doesn't steal the show - how can I say this - music doesn't get more important that what we are watching like in all those dramas we can see... ( They used the ost of an american BL ! brokeback mountain)
Rewatch Value : Rewatching is not a problem, I remember the following day I finished watching this drama, I was like "It's no possible !" "This drama can't be so great !" - well I was excited x) (I couldn't recover !!!)
Overall : For those who are still hesitating, this drama IS A MUST-SEE, get it ?! No seriously, I don't know what got me soooo attracted to this drama maybe the general atmosphere. Maybe the fact that it seems so realistic - but it doesn't lack a bit comedy either. Why realistic ? Because main characters have their own personality which is unique. They match and don't match at the same time, it's not just some characters, with personality traits, they have moods, and they just live.
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STORY
THE STORY IS FUCKING GREAT but what I want to address is the amount of cliche this series has from the romance up to the background stories. The build-up was great, enjoyable and although conventional it still feels new. One of the things about their relationship that I do like is that they're both Masculine persons, no sign of being feminine or any sort. I like the way how it is paced, it was really unexpected that the two would really be a couple until it was revealed with a strong romantic build-up. YOU'LL GET ADDICTED WITH IT (still hoping for a season 2).
ACTORS
The actors did a pretty good job especially the two lovers, although the other potential couples had been plotted for a season 2-- it was cancelled. Their CHEMISTRY is a real bond and they really can make a good couple! The supporting cast seemed to be just paper cuts that can be strike down in a minute but still wouldn't be as they will be important.
PROGRESSION
The progress is really good with building-up, it makes an intense love-story between two locked out couples. The pacing is good EXCEPT FOR THE PLACEMENT OF EACH IMPORTANT SCENE. The last episodes where I feel like they are the important scenes to be followed on by next episodes.(which yet is now regretted by the director as it had been banned and MAY never be produced)
The romance starts at the middle episodes which can be said as exciting, the budding romance on the other half was too slow and can be summarized up to 1-4 episodes.
PRODUCTION
Some scenes were good, although the camera angles would be regarded as a little awkward but the places and lighting were really good. The way it is portrayed shall be applauded by the use of low-budget, especially the amount of time they were putting up on the spots of cold environment. KUDOS!
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However, in this drama we can see such an amazing chemistry between the main characters that one can't give less then ten points, although it's not finished. Theoretically, the plot is very simple, an ordinary school story but the charisma of the main leads captivates you and doesn't let you go. I simply loved Huang Johnny's character as he, being so playful and manly too, created an incredible tension in his relationship with Bai Luo Yin. Somehow, you want to rewatch the show a lot of times because of an infinity of charming moments created by Johnny's character.
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