Addicted (2016)

What a devastating turn of events

I needed a few days to sit with my emotions before I could talk about the absolutely tragic series of events that led to the present situation: me, mourning the cancelation of an 8-year-old show!
So, in case you are reading this from the future, this is from the summer of 2024 when the book "Are You Addicted?" received its third adaptation into a BL drama; this time the attempt is by Thailand. I had heard about the first adaptation aka the present title) but I was told that the show was: 1) Bad. 2) Heavily censored and canceled before it even ended.
So I naturally never even considered watching it but with the new adaptation coming out, I became intrigued and decided to check out the new adaptation. But for *reasons* I ended up sort of hesitant in approaching the series, and as it continued to air, I saw fans of the previous adaptations complain about the quality almost non-stop. So between my new-found interest and the complaints and other reasons...I finally took the bait and watched this one, instead.
Reader, I was not ready. *ugly crying*
First of all, a big flipping-bird to the misleading masses who said this was bad! I went into this expecting it to look and behave like some cheap, homemade p*rn video, with terrible acting, bad lighting, overall abysmal production, and little to no comprehensible plot. That's not it at all!!!!! This is a proper show. And let me just burn all the bridges right here and say that a low-budget, first-project, basically-put-together-with-glue-and-determination-of-the-crew Cdrama is STILL miles better than a high-budget, well-supported Thai drama. What goes on over there?!
Anyway...
Yes, the show looks very cheap. The lighting in some scenes is pretty bad too and that does unfortunate things to the also very humble make-up work BUT the show makes up for all its shortcomings with amazing acting, a great script that follows the book to a T (well...the little bit of the book that I read), and sincerity.
This is perhaps the best that one could expect from a Cdrama, when it comes to a faithful adaptation of a heavily explicit gay romance (and also just an overall great adaptation in other regards too, actually). They clearly cut the parts that needed higher budgeting but the dialogue is almost verbatim from the book. Each event is followed so closely that it's almost uncanny! I really appreciate the fact that they didn't turn the adaptation into a farce just because they had no money. Like, I love me some (no, I don't) Go Princess Go type of absurdist, camp adaptation that makes a mockery of both itself and the source material (I have no idea how that show worked out but it only just barely got away with its bs) but it's just something else when the show has a low budget but they maintain their dignity enough to treat it seriously and do the best to make the finished project a respectable, acceptable product.
I was won over by the sincerity of this project more than its weird-ass plot (it's really weird), or its salacious romantic scenes (idk if some people's boat floats that way but honestly? I was not wooed. Like, never would I think "oh yes baby, throw me against the wall like that..." but we will get to that part later...). What stands out in this show is how every single person present on the screen and also every single person working behind the scenes was totally committed to making it work. And it worked. (Kinda like Untamed but if Untamed was, like, REALLY broke.)
Both shows had a lot of heart and they did all the technical things as correctly as they could to make the show work. I respect that. I LOVED that.
Now, the other thing that worked? The acting. Holy Meow! I genuinely thought I was going to deal with abysmal acting. Like constipated faces, vague statue-like expressions, and maybe a bit of self-effacing embarrassed acting. I thought they would just be trying hard but looking awkward...Reader, there was none of that! I am an instant fan of these boys. In fact, I am emotionally attached to these young actors who put their careers and futures on the line and then committed 100% to the characters they were given and acted the pants off of them! These characters feel more real than 90% of what you see in Cdramas and maybe 50% of Kdramas too, actually (100% more realistic than those you see in Thai dramas, and the numbers are out for Jdramas 'cause they swing back and forth between silly anime acting and proper acting, idk). These felt like real boys. And it really helped that the voices were recorded on set and thank goodness that the guys were so good at talking and following the script. They felt raw. Real. Human. And it's ironic because a lot of their behavior makes 0 sense. Like, any and all characters could be in jail or mental hospital, if they pulled one of the many shenanigans they pull in real life but somehow because the actors are such great actors, they made it work. So you see the most bizarre thing on screen and you can actually can comprehend why this very real human boy would do that action in that moment. Even if out of context, two seconds away from the screen, it would cease to make sense. I am so impressed by Johnny Huang and Timmy Xu. Too impressed. I don't know. I'm a little speechless (Shocking, I know. I've been blabbering nonstop but I really want to say more but feel like words are failing me) They were so raw, guys...They just did so well and I think the supporting cast did very well too. I would only say maybe one or two actors are weird or gimmicky but thankfully by the time they show up, the romance brainrot has taken over both the viewers and the two main leads so we literally do not care. Like, all we want is for the pesky supporting cast to leave so they can...wrestle a bit more. I wish the best for the actors. They did too much. They literally were too good in their chemistry, it got the show canceled! *ugly crying* But that's the price we all paid for excellence, I guess. (Ok, I'm talking it up but this was their first project and it was risqué and controversial and demanding and they both did so well. I feel like they deserve the confidence boost)
Music-wise...they use such beautiful classical pieces..with literally no context. There would be a jig while the characters are crying! It made no sense. Whoever did the background music work must've just put their Spotify on shuffle. The only music choice that works is this one scene in episode 15...which was unfortunately too explicit and the whole scene was cut and it's a very unfortunate situation...yikes!
Plot summary: Gu Hai's dad is marrying his mistress and Gu Hai is super bitter about it. The stepmother in question has a son and when it's suggested that the 4 of them should all live together, Gu Hai finds this to be too much and bolts from the house. He's a rich boy so he goes across town and lives alone in his loft apartment and attends a new school where he meets Bai Luo Yin. Love knows no reason and also has one brain cell, apparently. Because Gu Hai is immediately 150% obsessed and he also has the social skills of an octopus in a dog's body so he expresses his feelings as eloquently as that and I don't know what to tell you! It's just that! Oh! And Bai Luo Yin is THE stepmother's son! lol
Negatives: I'm just gonna say it straight up. This show has r@pe. A lot of it. In fact, the concept of consent is extremely murky and undefined in this narrative. And I could sugarcoat it and come up with excuses....it's r@pe. Okay? And I know why it's in there...it's plausible deniability. As long as it's not two-sided, you can get away with showing some sexy action, and yes...the ONE time the show had consensual, two-sided, enthusiastic (well, actually...one was drunk still, yikes, so not 100% consensual but we are beggars, and the show literally gives us no choice, so...) the show got canceled for it. -_-
Yes, reader...you read that right *ugly crying* This show was Icarus! It flew too close to the sun!!!!! And it was burned to a crisp, I tell you! *ugly crying* We were left hanging in the middle of the air! Never to fly, never to fall, just levitating, wondering how it could've ended! *ugly crying* Woe is me! What is this tragic nonsense?! We're in the 21st-century, ffs!!!!
Anyway, the show has weird romantic dynamics. You know it's supposed to be slightly more consensual than what we see because at a high point, the character's argument is "Stop! My dad could see you from right there" So like...if he was bothered, he could literally scream for his dad to come save him from the octopus-man but no, he's just worried they would get discovered. Which is not great but I guess it's a bit of consolation. STILL, if you can't handle SA, don't watch it! It will upset you. I was fine because I don't necessarily assume the situation I am watching is supposed to be morally appropriate and because I don't have that expectation from my lead characters, I can still enjoy a show even if the mains are terrible people who do terrible things. But if you feel uncomfortable by that or it might trigger you, be kind to yourself and don't put yourself through it...or I guess you can skip? But at some point, you would just be skipping the whole show.
Overall: Reader, it was love at definitely-not first sight. It took a few episodes for me to warm up to this but just like how Gu Hai becomes this obsessive mess, I too, eventually became an obsessive mess when watching this show. It was just a good, though not high quality, show that captures your heart with its sincere heart and then just as you are freefalling into its rabbit hole, it ends on an inconclusive note. An unfinished sentence. We will never know how this was meant to end and that's heartbreaking. But the fact that the cast and crew paid the ultimate price and were either banned, imprisoned, or forbidden from working takes the tragedy from a 10 to a hundred. It's in respect to the sacrifice they made that I think it's good to see so many love this work and keep its legacy alive. If you prefer a more family-friendly version of this plot, Stay With me, the second adaptation of the book is also available. The Thai one has its own issues...I'm not gonna tell you, go find out about it yourself. But if you can handle the controversial bits, this show is so worth the heartbreak. Yes, the heartbreak. You will be heartbroken but you will also be thankful for it. It's all gain and all loss.
P.S. (because I didn't talk enough): One thing I love about this show is how both characters are such macho men. They're like...big, manly man types! Which is very rare in BL? I have never seen it like this, to be honest. And it was just so refreshing! I don't know, I liked how they were both big, strong men who could punch each other and cause actual damage! hehe he he he...I don't know, I guess we all have issues?!

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Some things didn’t sit right with me

I saw how popular this drama was and decided to try it.

The acting is good however I have issues with the dubious consent and how stalkerish GH is. I get that this is fiction but how is this representing the LGBTQ community by showing one guy force the other into physical contact to admit he has feelings for said guy especially in such a homophobic society?

Once again, I reiterate that the acting is convincing enough that I feel uncomfortable with this. GH really is a bully to me. This bugs me to no end.

I’m glad BLY found his own feelings in his journey.

The music wasn’t anything unforgettable.

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There's something addictive about this problematic show

It's hard to put into words why this show works and personally even moreso than any BL that have come after it, ignoring it's very weird rapey writing (throw kidnapping into the mix) with the most questionable sexual moments (it doesn't matter you have herpes I still want to have sex..............WOW writing award), also the rapey-ness is both ways Bai tries to fuck a sleeping Gu Hai near the end it's just such a problematic show

But looking past this, in this absolutely fucked up way outside of the actual rape, the show manages to capture a gay teenager's horniness remarkably well, it feels completely unintentional the way Gu Hai's behavior actually does translate to actual real life teenagers (despite being an adult with muscles) but its very clear the writer just wrote him like this little explosive ticking bomb of sexual harassment

This is also one of the few shows where the canon couple coming together is done in the best way possible, the backdrop for Bai's life in poverty and how Gu Hai trying to match his life to Bai's and spending meaningful time with him and his family, him trying to improve his writing by tearing a page from Bai's notebook and buying him little presents to show him affection but them reaching the wrong desk, the writer for the actual novel this is based on manages to develop these very simple and small story beats that bring these two characters closer without it feeling very contrived, Gu Hai already does love him in an obsessive way which already breaks out of the tradition of BL story-telling where both of the characters have to climb the ladder to see each other romantically.

It's this one sided lingering that makes Gu Hai problematic but compelling to watch, you know it's stalkerish, creepy and obsessive but you can't look away, there's something about the way he's written that feels weirdly honest, he feels unfiltered and unsanitized, a person who is willing to get his hands dirty and really go there for the person he desires....... but the show doesn't view him as such, the show only sees him as romantic, this confusing delivery really stuck in my mind after all this time despite it being years since I've watched the show.

I can't divorce the show from it's very intriguing and problematic developments, but it being this way also circles back to adding an extra dimension to the show itself that it doesn't even realize it's adding, this isn't HIStory season 1 which JUST feels like you're watching rape on top of rape

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Better than most!

OK, so when I started watching this I was not expecting it to be so good. The acting was actually really great, considering some of the actors were beginners.

I know that Chinese censorship ends up turning BL romances into Bromances, so as I watched this and realized that it had MORE... well I was doubly impressed. The resentment in the beginning were your basic emotions when new marriage and siblings are thrown into the mix. The acting was great in this sense.

Honestly I was so into it I noticed that as the feelings started to change, the characters just seemed more real to me. That slow slide into love was amazing. I liked how Gu Hai never questioned his feelings and he was so open about what he wanted. Yes he was pushy and a little overbearing but I think that made the character more personable. Bai Luo Yin's character was really great too, in the sense that, even though he fought it at first, he gave in. Now that scene was very well done and the music they used made it even better.

10/10 would watch again. I really hope they get a chance to make a second season

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Conflicted Addiction.

Here’s the thing.. I watched the drama and I read both novels to cure my curiosity on how it all ends. As much as I anticipated the drama, it is honestly not appropriate. Period.

Yes. There is sexual assault. Not once but multiple times. The ML basically forced the other ML on numerous occasions and not just in that one scene. The “kidnapping” in the drama and the second “kidnapping” in the novel are both disgusting and uncalled for. It did not add to their story or development. It showed how psychotic the ML is and his obsession became overwhelming. Who does that to someone you love? Forcing them to have sex with you and forcing them to love you? To make it worst, the story ROMANTICIZED the abuse. The whole, “I did it for us” BS played over and over again. What a disappointment. This could have been such a beautiful story.

Throughout the entire drama and novels, they both continue to act out in all their jealous charades thus proving they should not be together. I’m so disappointed.

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i'm going to be completely honest.
this show is watchable but i'm not sure about enjoyable. i was watching it just to watch something.
the problems don't lay in the acting on the contrary i think for beginners they did a really good job with the acting and the expressions and the feelings they wanted to deliver.. now thats the real issue. i still dont get the feelings they wanted to deliver , i do not feel the love or the character development.. the aggressivenes of gu hai and the way it was simply accepted by BLY even tho he still showed his dislike towards GH .this series doesnt clearly give us the closure we need.

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The opening title and synopsys sold this as a sweet, romantinc BL drama. It is NOT!
I gave this a 7.5 because it is a well done series, the actors, direction and cinematography is great. It would work as a cautionary tale, if the ending would be different.
This series is basically Gu Hai sexually assaulting Louyin every chance he gets. He is a sick guy, even if he comes across as sweet and caring sometimes. He is obsessive, aggressive with everyone, overreacts, and hates Louyin's friends and he's rude to them on purpose (which is a red flag in itself).
He gets what he wants in the end, but I am not sure it's a happy ending and not sure this needs a second season (unless it's a very dark one, but I am sure the fans don't need that).
To me, this looked like the type of relationship that gets you killed if you want out. By the 10th episode, it got hard to watch. We really need to stop romanticizing abuse.

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LEGENDARY ADDICTING

Let me just say that this is the first BL's I ever watched in my life, and watching this again is like so Nostalgic for me in my BL journey, and As far as I can remember when I watched this drama, I watched it liked 2 or 3 times in a row ! as far as what the title is, watching this drama is so addicting. after 3-4 years I even understood the story now that I came back to see it again, it was really really too bad that this has became the first and the last BL drama of China.
I just liked the story, the leads are just confused bi sexual, specially the way Gu Hai was dominant and so eager and addicted to Bai Louyin, every scene was just so simple but we can clearly understand whats happening and there was no confusion, the script is as exactly as what we can expect them to be and the events are so realistic, the sound effects are just right with the scenes and so loved the facial expressions.
I fell inlove so hard to Huang Jingyu during the first time I saw this drama so so hard that I even downloaded hundreds of his photos on my phone, it was not really easy to move on back then and now that I re watched this, I feel like I like him again .. I really hope I could have someone like Gu Hai so so dominant so sadist yet so true and so manly, no wonder that Bai Louyin who is also a hard as stone became soft march mallow because of Gu Hai
All in all this drama is like so rewatchable like many times in forever HAHAH, for me .. I just felt too bad that I would never see them again in a drama together, to be honest I tried having an sneak on their other dramas even the latest ones but I can hardly accept that they have a new partners AHHAH anyways they are just a legend that I can never see again for me Legendary Addicting ! bye Gu Hai and Bai Louyin ! see you again soon ♥

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PERFECTO!!!

Heck yeah my fave BL Serie all the time!

Their chemistry was so good! Jingyu and ZhouZhou really made it. What the most i love about this series is : The storyline was so great, the developing of their relationship from time after time, highschool era. Well this really my ideal type of BL series. Perfect package including :music which was the main actors whom singing it, good looking actors thoo!

The bad is : THEY BAN THE SEASON 2 OF THIS SERIES. DANGGGG!!!
I suggest you all after watch this whole series, go and find the novel. It has bitter-sweet story.
Ps: This is binge-watching thoo! i almost watched it for nearly 5 times (?) and read it twice.

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Great Series!

This was a really good series. I have but one question and it’s regard the cliffhanger it leaves you with.
WILL THERE OR IS THERE A SEASON 2? I see I. YouTube there’s some kind of season 2, but each episode is kind 5 minutes long and has no talking just music. THIS SERIES NEEDS A SEASON 2!
I read somewhere that there was controversy over this type of show in China yet there are series still being made there with this type of content. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SEASON 2!!!! Please!
Acting was great story was great all in all this was a good series to watch I would highly recommend it!

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You gotta watch this BL series even if its only 15 epispdes!

So my degeneracy self watched this last night from 11pm to 5am in the morning because I heard from someone online that this series is controversial due to the Chinese government being restrictive on showing gay love on TV. I won't get into it so I'm gonna talk about how I felt about the series

I have to say, this Yaoi series was so moving like this is my 2nd live Chinese BL series to watch like the bois in this were spot on. I like how Gu Hai is the rich flirty mischievous lad who wants to get to know Luo Yun better. Luo Yun on the other hand is pretty much a tsundere from a working class background with his dad. They then find out later on that they are step brothers and it pretty much gives the relationship a boost so yeah I'm sure I don't need to know that there'll be definitely a happy ending to the series lol.

Even though the fight scenes were comically weak af, watching the whole 15 episodes was just worth it tho. I do wish I was able to see the uncut of the "hot" scenes but I couldn't find them, oh well.. You get the idea tho what's going on xD

Yup so that's all I have to say, I give this series 8/10 ^^

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