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Advance Bravely because it's a Train Wreck with Hot Abs!
The warning is correct: Advance Bravely! After watching a couple episodes, I thought to myself, What the heck am I watching? Why am I watching this? I wonder if it’s because I was watching this drama in 2023 instead of 2017, that I just couldn’t enjoy it. Watching “Advance Bravely” is like watching a train wreck that I couldn’t look away. It’s so bad that it’s hilarious and addictive?The only good thing about this drama is Jason Xu and his abs (but not his acting). He’s hot and I enjoy staring at him, just like most characters in the show. That’s the only positive thing I can think of. Oh, also, the action scenes are decent. If you like Gong Jun, you might like him and his skinny abs as well. If you are a fan of abs, there are many for your enjoyment.
However, the plot is weird. Why would you ask your brother to help you chase a guy that your brother doesn’t even know? Why would you kidnap and force someone to go through a medical procedure to ‘correct’ an embarrassing medical condition? Why is this sister so annoying and can’t take NO for an answer?
Additionally, we have a hot but stalkerish male lead, plus a childish and somewhat annoying male lead. I don’t really like any of the leads, so maybe that’s why I don’t feel the chemistry even with the extended long looks and slow motion scenes. The second and third couples also have a weird romance/relationship.
The ending is ridiculous and it definitely has to do with censorship and the lack of funding. But even if I ignore how censorship could ruin this drama, there are just too many other things that are wrong and inappropriate. This is a very weird drama that I don’t know how to appreciate.
Completed: 2/23/2023
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China ONLY shut down the sex on the drama and kissing, but they didn't shut down ANYTHING else and that's what we were given by the writers en masse. This drama was brilliant. I truly loved it. All the boys in this drama are extraordinarily gorgeous. I have no clue in what pits of hell they found them, but dear lord all mighty. I have always said...on the level of hotness when it comes to East Asian guys---Koreans are on the bottom. The ranking is Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, and then Korean. The Chinese guys all looked like hot vampires with abs and shit and moved in slow motion.
Anyway, all the pairings made sense. Xia Yao and Yuan Zong came together because YZ's sister, Yuan Ru, has a thing for Xiao Yao. As a note, Xiao Yao, rolls with a bunch of his co-wealthy rich kids Xuan Da Yu and Peng Ze. All three of them are of a long line of royalty. XDY has a thing for XY---of course. PZ has a thing for a girl but rolls with a guy to get a girl---irony. Anyway YR asks YZ to get involve to help her with XY---you usually get your friend not your bro (who then seems to be rather psychotically obsessive over XY)...makes no sense---irony again.
However, the greatest irony of it all is that rather than being irritating, nonsensical in some respects; it's truly romantic and you connect with the romantic end of the story). You then understand the story. You want all of the male characters to advance bravely towards their respective partners in their respective relationships; and you want their respective relationships to advance bravely in society.
The drama's title gives way to the ultimate meaning the character's relationships progress go through in the story. I do feel that Peng Ze's relationship was the one that was forsaken in the story. It could have been because his partner was not only the youngest but also the one that looked the most feminine of the group. That would have been a dangerous one to portray on screen too much. I think TPTB could have sold it...but I can see why they kept it at the minimum, but at least they put it in there. PZ's kid is like 21 to everyone else's 27 or so and YZ is 31.
Of course, I'm going to love the second pairing---just like I did with 2 Moons, Xuan Da Yu and Wang Zhi Shui. Slow build up...not enough air time when they did get together. They fulfilled the need both of them were seeking. I liked that Wang Zhi Shui was the most persistent. I don't know why I see them as such a long term couple that I would watch for eternity. I would love to see them with their own short series. I'd like to see Wang Zhi Shui interact with Xuan Da Yu's family if they do show up---his continuous bouts of fear of rejection. Ditto for Da Yu dealing with Zhi Shui's possible nightmares and fears and his backstory which we REALLY don't know all that much about.
AB is great and I recommend it to all.
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Rewatch value = None.
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If you want to watch it for a string of pretty much unrelated but fun and domestic couple-y scenes and you don’t mind nonsensical a plot that goes pretty much nowhere and a really, but really stupid ending - seriously, it’s animated! *eye-roll* - then I would recommend this drama to you. But if you want to watch something actually plot-heavy and simple chemistry between actors isn’t enough for you, then I think you would be bored to death. I know I was whenever them two were not on-screen. In that case, I rec you to just look at the pretty gifs on Tumblr and avoid the series itself.
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i wondered why i gave this an 8....lmao
i'm going to be fair and give the honest rating that i think but i am upping it with like a 3 point curve (so a 5, but an 8 for what im about to explain) because i believe that if you have stumbled upon bl like i had and just watch this stuff to get lost mindlessly it is worth it.it's insulting to call this "bromance" imo. they are a legitimate couple. they're in love. it's weird to me how this genre is so ridiculously rape-y and misogynist and weird and fetishizing but even with the growing censorship in china they put life into this relationship. the novel isn't amazing and i think addicted is one of the grossest things she has written and what was produced but almost all their scenes where they are heavily physical were non-consensual.
so here you have a novel about two dudes in love, it gets a visual adaptation, and there are limits to what they can show. they were more touching and intimate than any other chinese ones i've seen (addicted, like love) and the other couples ARE LITERALLY KISSING (or "kissing" in addicted's case)
there's nothing platonic about the end of this relationship. they may not officially ever say they're together but there is every cue to believe what they have together. and it's really cute and the actors have great chemistry.
the censorship itself is a huge problem so i find that it is reasonable to attack that. but we know the paramaters and this still managed to show us love better than other ones. perhaps people hate the fact that they believe they need to literally have sex on screen for it to be legitimate. if so, that's sad and kinda weird.
anyway u want sth fun and cute and dumb i recommend it and they ! are in love!!!! yuan xong's dedication to xia yao is a beauty to watch and how xia yao returns those feelings. like yx is so in love with him and protective and xy accepts it and tries to give it back in kind. cute
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Even if there are some flaws on the way the leads carry the drama in a fantastic way. The chemistry between them its just perfect.
And to be honest seeing the excitement on there face when Yao jump on YZ in his hometown recompenses all the missing kisses ,
I personally kind of like it that we have to let our imagination work here and I think the crew did amazing job to show us what they actually couldn’t
Great job 👏
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It was really cute, sweet and brought a lot of smiles throughout. loved the journey although ended a bit too hastily (I guess the Chinese Control is to be blamed for that) and our heroes didn't get a chance to confess face to face.
You will know when the time comes...he said...but that didn't ever come but the feeling of mutual understanding and consent was throughout there.
Wasn't steamy but really sweet.
But beware, at times it might really seem stupid execution of scenes which will seem like plot convenience (what was the shouting about in that episode...just...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...............LOL)
But really a must watch for fujoshis ;)
And whoever loves BL.
Really nice but unfortunately it was created in China where the future for such stuff seems really grim.
Enjoy the moment :)
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Casting was perfect, leading actors are just wow! I m surprised that they are not superstars already, cuz they are better looking than 90 % of other chinese actors i ve seen. And the girls were also good looking and with great acting skills.
Production was much better than expected, for me even better than some mainstream dramas from China, with that creepy polished voices and stuff.
The story was fun to watch, without the ban would be perfect. For me the biggest problem was the ending. Unneccessary problem and situation, totally not for an ending. I was expecting their coming out to sister or mother, not this. From this story Beijing would be burnt down if firefoghters were this slow, but somehow even guys from company from another part of town were able to come. And the guy XY saved looked old, so that cartoon part was a bit..wtf. And the toes thing. Like...whaaat? I expected some romance :(
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This would have been a 10
This started out absolutely fantastic. I loved the whole cast. I binged almost 20 episodes in one night. As more and more episodes went by, I’m thinking why are these guys sleeping in the same bed together? Are these guys together? what’s going on? Is this a BL or not? Unfortunately, I found out that the Viki version is chopped and cut so much the whole thing makes no sense. This definitely would have been a 10 for me but I’m still confused about a lot of things and no closure at the end. And what an ending it was. It was like the ending of an episode expecting more in the next. Sorry to the cast that the censures did you so wrong.I can’t say enough about the cast though. The leads were super hot and very fit. What a great idea to have a bodyguard training facility. They are all very talented actors.
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