The story seemed rushed for the most part and there were a lot of plot holes that could have been easily answered if this series had been a bit longer, but overall it was a good story. I liked the way the director/writer played with the color blue to show that these characters were not your typical "innocent/naive/nice/arrogant/villain" typecast. HQ's depression, his indecisiveness, his vulnerability, his happy moments all came through thanks to the actor playing him (Aric). I felt sorry for all characters and I liked that this drama didn't shy away from showing realities of love and relationships. The color blue also played a big role in the way the main characters interacted; whenever HQ and YF were in the same scene, it always seemed to have "lightness and blues" to show that they were truly in love with each other. While, YF and Jimmy's scenes were often "dark" as well as HQ and PJ.
Music wise, I LOVED IT. I downloaded the main song by MaxLin. It is such a great song and it fit the story well. Overall, if you aren't into the messy love hurts and you don't want to see the "nice guy" be hurt, then don't watch this. But, I suggest you give it a shot and see things from a different perspective. Love hurts, love isn't always kind and sometimes people don't get their happy endings, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be exposed to that. Also, if you want to see some hot men kissing and touching, it doesn't hurt to watch this (come on most people are watching this for that anyways, don't lie)I for one loved this story, but then again I love messy complicated stories more than sweet ones. So, I hope my review helped some of you in some way.
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The storyline is fairly everyman. The story pretty much literally revolves around 4 men with unique personalities and lives mixing with each other. There isn't any mind-blowing plot or intricated scheming. There's nothing you "can't see coming." In some places, the story appears rushed and underdeveloped. However, the reason I gave the story aspect such a high rating was because this is definitely a character driven story and the characters are amazing. The characters come from different walks of life, with vastly different personalities, with vastly different goals, hidden agendas, open agendas and complicated psyches. It captures the nitty-gritties of relationships and love. The undercurrents in relationships that noone wants to talk about, the kind of stuff everybody wants to pretend doesn't exist and it captures every feeling beautifully.
Acting is spot-on. The cast is all eye-candy and handsome. There's plenty of gorgeous bodies and man on man action. ;) But, less superficially, I think the actors did well in capturing each character's individual charm, flaws and emotions. Jimmy's actor nailed the seemingly happy-go-lucky facade (with a sensitive and deeply emotional side). Yan Fei's actor nailed the stoic, in command and forward thinking marketing director who is very filial to his mother (yet he is insensitive and he is not loyal to his partner). Hai Qing is artistic and apparently highly talented, but he has a dark (easily angered, depressed, easily upset, possessive and jealous) side. Ping Jun is the simplest character - he's pretty much just a nice guy the whole time, to the end. (And he finished last, haha)
Music is lovely. Yeah. I'm going to be downloading the track. The music matches the theme/story so well.
Definitely a whole truckload of heartbreak, unfairness, conflicting character values. It's awfully realistic in that sense. Every character has needs that just aren't met. In that sense, I do think that Yan Fei and Hai Qing complete each other, but it's not going to be a healthy relationship because they're both emotionally and mentally unhealthy characters.
My biggest complain about this drama is the casting and the chemistry mismatch, actually. Tom (Wang Ting Yun) is drop dead gorgeous, but he's reserved/hesitant person/introspective in real life and he can't 100% pull off the dominant/aggressive character Yan Fei is supposed to be. Charles (Lin something) is an outgoing, aggressive-ish and intense personality in real life - great acting, but he isn't 100% pulling off the clingy/desperate-for-love energy Jimmy should have. Jimmy/Charles&Tom/YanFei has insane chemistry, but Tom/Yan Fei could not even remember Aric's (Hai Qing's actor) name and other than some courtesy fan service, would never touch Aric....this absolute lack of chemistry shows, okay? The YanFei/Jimmy scenes felt natural, romantic and sexy. The YanFei/HaiQing interactions... I can tell you guys don't dig each other.
But, for what it's worth, this is still one of the best BL shows out there due to all the stupid censoring that happens to mainland China ones.
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All the romantic sense in this show were well done but the crying sense seemed to be lacking something as they were over dramatic and not to well done. The music was nice but there wasn´t anything too special about it. I probably wouldn´t rewatch this mainly because I would most likely yell at all the characters for their idiotic decisions.
If you are looking for a show with lots of spicy sense and dramatic choice, I would recommend this. But for me, I found it a little too over dramatic. I am also mad at how Pin Jun got the short end of the stick that he did?´t deserve.
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A BL Series Actually Fueled My Rage, Watch And See What I Mean
I'm just going to dive into this because this series wasn't good and very forgettable. So right off the bat I could tell the acting wasn't great all around, its downright pretty bad at times but its an assembly of unknown/new actors so what are you gonna do? Most of it stemmed from the whiplash of emotions that were thrown at the viewers out of nowhere by these characters. Which was probably the screenwriters fault to be fair, but it unfortunately falls on the actors since they are presenting the material. There also was really bad cry acting in this, it was really uncomfortable to watch so there's that.I've read a lot of people saying they enjoyed this series because it was "realistic" lol. No it's not! Meeting a random stranger at a pool, semi-saving his lie and then said stranger choosing to make out with you which starts this weird escapade of affairs is not realistic at all. What world is this!? Before getting into the major MAJOR issues I had with this show, I want to throw out there that the grandpa subplot had very little significance at all, like it went absolutely nowhere. What was that?
So what were my main issues with this series? Well for one the main cast is filled with a bunch of cheaters. I really disliked both main characters (Haiqing and Yan Fei), they both sucked that I can't even decide which I liked less. We have selfish af Haiqing who only cares about his pretentious art and infidelity , as well as ugly suit wearing Yan Fei with his monotone voice and zero willingness to commit to anything. It was like two halves of a really bland, stale and unsatisfying cookie. You'll eat it, but be really sad about it during and afterwards. So because these two characters are busy thinking they're "in love" which is dumb, I was stuck feeling really sorry for the boyfriends in the picture (Pin Jun and Jimmy). Jimmy had his own problems (many including his stylist and hair team in this show, they need to be fired!) but he still didn't deserve how Yan Fei treated him (like total disposable trash). Pinjun though...this dude deserved way WAY better than what he got and deserved zero blame put on him. The character was an angel and the only saving grace for this show. Like what the hell, these two bfs deserved more happiness than the leads!
I was kind of hoping at the end that we'd get some ironic ending of Haiqing and Yan Fei cheating on each other by the end and its karma. That would've been satisfying, but oh no we get Pinjun almost getting killed off as Haiqing continues to be comforted by Yan Fei AT THE HOSPITAL, super gross and I legitimately got pissed off watching it happen. Like I can deal with character uncertainty and exploration but this was just annoying. The story perpetuated stereotypes of lgbtq men being cheaters and I hated it. Pinjun didn't even really get a good ending, he just steps up again and is the bigger person by leaving. I wanted him to go out with a bang, but I guess not.
I also have to say, the stories pacing for what it was was pretty slow, like not much is happening throughout the show and I kind of dozed off during points. Also the best friend character was unnecessary as well? Like I thought maybe he was being set up for Pinjun but he's not? So many loose threads and please no more stock footage of clouds and god awful cuts thrown in there. It's too much to handle!
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Story: A lot of people hate the story and its really hard to talk about without spoilers, but it has a message. There are people who are in the same situation and most of the dramas are too unrealistic with the perfect love. This series shifts the genre and causes emotional distress in the viewer themself. Acting/Cast: The acting of the grandfather very good i love his character and what he brings to the series. Some of the character's lines are said like they're reading it off the script and lack emotion. Sometimes facial expressions are awkward and bring out the wrong emotion in the scene. I can see the actors thinking more about what they're going to do next rather than what the characters will do next. Also on the editing part of things the video cuts could do more work because actors can be seen out of character or with different expressions when an angle switches. Also the use of blue in the series is something that is super amazing and should be noticed more often.
Music: Very good music that fits the mood of the series very well. The music used for transitions is also very good. Some parts of the series had awkward silences due to the music coming in too late.
Re-watch Value: I would re-watch it with a friend and also to understand certain parts better, but the series isn't good enough to re-watch.
Overall The music and parts of the story are what really hold the whole series at an 8. if you want something new and emotionally heart tugging this series is for you.
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A Different Kind of BL... One that is Beautiful, Messy & Real!
Slow-paced. Contemplative. Addicting. Frustrating. Beautiful. Real. Many viewers disliked the two leads, but I loved them. They were flawed and real, which made them beautiful. Pin Jun learned to let go of Hai Qing because he knew that Hai loved another man. Pin Jun loved by allowing his lover to find happiness, being grateful for being able to experience loving Hai for a period of time. Hai Qing was able to reunite with the love that he lost a year ago. Yan Fei learned to let go of a toxic relationship and was able to embrace a new one. One that was meant to be. Soulmates that were meant to be together in the dark blue and moonlight.It was very smart for the writer to have the two leads reunite so late. It made us viewers wait. We felt compelled to continue watching to see when they will reunite. And the wait was literally unbearable! It may turn some people off, but I absolutely loved it! It was real, though its circumstances felt a bit forced. Hai wasn't able to call Yan because the lifeguards threw his phone into the pool. They bullied Hai because he got angry at one of them for not doing their job but rather flirting. Their action didn't make much sense as Hai could have easily reported it and they would have gotten penalized. Also, I felt like Hai Qing and Yan Fei could have easily met. They went to the same gym! It's not hard to go to the gym (specifically the pool) at around the same time that they did when they first saw each other on a weekly basis. Surely, they would have met one another. Other questionable plot points include when did Ping Jun become Hai's math tutor and when were they in the same class? Also, the alternative party where Jimmy gets his fortune read is a bit too on-the-nose and blunt.
I was so happy that Hai Qing and Yan Fei got together at the end! Hai Qing only loved Pin Jun because Pin was really good to him. It took a lot for Pin to realize this and learn to let him go. However, that is the reality for a lot of people. Many people settle. They choose to stay with someone because that person is really good to them, not because of love.
I also loved how they touched on the fears of a parent when their child decides to pursue an artistic endeavor rather than a stable job, which is a theme that other BL's have surprisingly yet to explore. Also, I enjoyed how the series dealt with the struggle of coming out to traditionalist parents.
Dark Blue and Moonlight has become one of my favourite BL series ever! It is different which sets it apart from the crowd! I hope that more people will watch this series and I will make sure to promote it whenever I can. I absolutely adore stories with chance encounters like this. Hopefully, I myself will be able to experience a chance encounter love sometime in my life...
On a side note, I loved the grandpa! He was so supportive, kind, innocent and funny!
On another side note, the poster for this series is so BEAUTIFUL! The best poster for a BL that I've seen thus far!
P.S. If you finish this series, make sure to watch the special that takes place after this series, which I will be doing now.
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What I honestly liked about this drama was that the plot was somewhat logical. The acting was believable and there were no cringy or overly absurd parts which would have made me want to end the series (which is quite unusual for a BL series). The settings were also beautiful and there was a lot of thought on the color scheme which was a very nice thing. The emphasis on the color blue gave the whole series a sort of calming and relaxed aura and at the same time mirrored the characters' emotions.This drama is quite different to the usual BL dramas as the main characters are actually unlikable. There is a lot of cheating and the "good" people forgiving them over and over again. The main couple are sort the antagonists of the story and you can't help but feel weird about them getting together at the end.
In conclusion, this drama is definitely something you should watch. The setting and how the story flows forward is definitely worth watching but just be prepared to be disappointed by the characters' actions.
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What I love and hate that sets these excellent stories apart is the feels it leaves on the bittersweet ending. Su Hai Qing, Yan Fei, and Chen Ping Jun share a unique characteristic. Each has a specific type of plot or a certain set of characters that surely made me think and feel their acting. Superb plot and very well done acting!... And TG nobody died!
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This drama has a happy ending, but not for who I wanted it for.The story is baseless and just has plot devices everywhere. I wanted to give it a chance, but come to realize that they forced the couple from the beginning.
I want to say that I was very biased towards Pinjun, because he is the perfect guy. He's caring and deserves to be happy. The two main characters are very unlikable from the start, and honestly deserved each other. I thought it was weird that they had SP episodes. I wish they were about Pinjun.
I don't want to be the one to argue with a lot of the other reviews, but I don't see how this depicts reality. I would say that lack of communication is the reality, but cheating, literally in your partner's face, is just plain awful. I do agree that there are many walks of life and that each are valid, but I deplore straight up infidelity, especially when its done in such a dirty way. By episode 3, I honestly was done with watching because I knew that the good guy was going to come in last. However, I continued to chug along and see what happens. My reality is that if someone was rude to me after giving them so much of myself in the 2-3 weeks of knowing them, I would've been long gone. Its so weird, I never knew a BL series would make me this angry, but I guess this was the writer's vision.
As a gay man I empathized with Pinjun so much that I didn't care about the true endgame couple at all. If you came for the drama and heartache, definitely watch this. Don't say I didn't warn you.
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Beautiful in everything but the story
Everything was visually lovely - exquisite production value, but characters relied too heavily on the idea that depressed, self centered people who let their angst overwhelm their consciences are somehow beautiful. It's not endearing, and it's unhealthy to encourage ppl who have depressive tendencies to wallow in them and become self destructive.I'd say watch it but only if you can keep yourself from getting invested because otherwise you'll be stuck with a bunch of very sympathetic peripheral characters and a pair of main characters it's really hard to root for.
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Dark Blue and Moonlight is not a bad BL. In fact, it's entertaining to watch. However I do have many issues:1. Aric Chen came up to me as a little bit stiff when it comes to his acting. I understand that his role requires him to be more naive and sometimes focused on self preservation but there are so much scenes where I'm not really convinced that he totally understood the character that he's playing. In fairness to Aric, he's an extremely good looking actor, and no doubt, he will grow as an actor as he move forward in his acting career.
2. I have issues with the clothes and outfits of Yan Fei, he's suppose to be a rich guy in the movie, but he's not giving me that vibes. I saw their promo spots the actor who played Yan Fei is a really cute guy and he dresses really well in real life, so that's interesting that in the movie, they did not give him the proper outfits that suits his role. Also Charles Lin glossy and perfectly combed hair bothers me a lot, but I can't complain, he's an amazing actor. I think he showed real emotions in all of his scenes in this movie.
3. I'm gonna end this review on a positive light. I super super love the music. I mean, its a very touching song, and also I have many favorite scenes as well. So I encourage everyone to check this series out. It's an entertaining BL and a good watch.
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