Enjoyed and saw the great things about it, even between the moral debate
The series was interesting overall, using the office setting, they gave us new plotlines and working issues. I think that the production changes affected, but i wouldn't go that far as to say that this is a bad series, for me is an step down from HIStory 3 (that could have happened either way because those 2 are top notch 9 & 9.5 series, very hard to improve) and neck to neck with HIStory 2.The acting was good, not only from our main 4, but also the rest, specially the father of the non blood related brothers. The OST was quite good as well. Enjoyed the wardrobe, i think that the stylist did a great job portraying all their personalities through their fashion sense.
The story started low for me, specially the second couple, and later on they knew how to pick it up and elevate it.
The main couple is what triggers people the most, because the lived together as brothers for some years and some controversial stuff. Is not that i don't understand why it can feel off, specially some scenes are a bit (much) of a controversy, but i see it as art, art is there to explore things, it doesn't need to be an honest representation of what is right in society. We see in media all kinds of violence, gore, craziness... all the things that are wrong as well, so even if you would not agree with something like that in real life, you can watch it and understand the storyline withouth needing to be a perfect sunny portray of morals. I saw a movie where a dude was in love with a MALE GOAT, killed him while being jealous, and after 20 years was so not over that keept getting male prostitutes to dress like that damn goat and have sex with them so... yes, i don't see that as a right, morally correct and fluffly thing, but i totally cried while laughing and found it amusing LMAO
As for the second couple, their characters are vey charming, both of them, way more than the main couple, and that made me fall for them even stronger. I just didn't enjoy the childish start of their story, the shippers thing and all that... it felt like i was in an school GMMTV bl (upsie) but with adults. Later on, when all that passed, they made it a really sweet and nice love story, with some very interesting topics of conflict between gay couples such as their bed preferences. They also have boom as chemistry, and are long time friends in real life, so that was a plus indeed.
The cameos from HIStory MODC made it even more worth it ^^ My heart felt warmer at the end.
Overall, i enjoyed the series, and saw the great things about it, even between the moral debate, is not perfect, but is good.
Worth to watch? totally
Included in my top 10? No
I'll watch it again? Some scenes and plotlines, not in full lenght.
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--TABOO--
This show is entertaining and is filled with BL-candy.
BUT, it PROMOTES> Stalking, Sexual Harassment/Exploitation and INTIMATE-Relationship between siblings (with approval of at least 1 parent!) It's not simply fiction, it's a reference of the real world we live in today. Made me feel out of sorts and terribly afflicted.
I would strongly advise that ONLY well-informed adults watch this series.
Liked: The acting & sequence of events.
Disliked: Misinterpretation of taboo issues and blatant disregard/lack of awareness concerning mental health issues relative to topics portrayed in this series.
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I can't believe my eyes...
Whoa... Where should I start...Never expected to find BL stories that more chaotic than tharntype. Haha... Everything that so messed up that you can think about materialized in here... Haha... Of course, I'm talking about Fu Yong Jie & Ye Xing Si story...
Trigger warning, this gonna be big SPOILER ALERT. Cause I gonna tell you what mean with 'everything that so messed up that you can think about materialized in here.'
Ok as usual save review first.
This drama basically tell story about 2 couple. 1st Xiao Li Cheng (LC) & Teng Mu Ren / "Teng Teng" (TT) and 2nd is Fu Yong Jie (YJ) & Ye Xing Si (XS).
The 1st couple LC & TT tell story about 2 best friend that with time & the right trigger in the end having more feeling with each other. Why right trigger...? Just don't judge me homophobic after reading my review.... But their feeling starts after one of their new colleagues, Liu Mei Fang, observation toward their behaviors with each other, start playing 'matchmaking'. And after so many influences LC & TT start to feel different toward each other, especially after one special night... That's why I said the right trigger. Because without the matchmaking game I don't think their feeling for each other will go anywhere & just stay friend & platonic.
But anyhow I kinda like LC & TT chemistry with each other. And I also really like the friendship & dynamic between LC, TT & XS. The mature & father figure of XS that help LC & TT with giving his ear for their problem. The cat & mouse relationship between TT & LC. And in the end they're really one true friend that gonna stay by each other side though thick & thin...
Overall this quite good drama with many many problem....
==================================================
Ok now the BIG SPOILER!!!!
Fu Yong Jie (YJ) & Ye Xing Si (XS) story is so messed up, it make me quite speechless...
The biggest problem!
How can until the end no one educate YJ for his fault & problem. Even until the end XS still said he can't be angry for everything that YJ did. OH... MY... GOD... (said it like Janice from FRIENDS. Haha...)
What YJ did wrong...?
1st he stalks his brother, his hidden love, even when he's sleeping.
2nd he rapes him, yup RAPE, made his brother drunk & f***ing rape him.
3rd he goes against his brother, now lover, wish & tell their dad about their relationship. Even with the knowledge that his dad can have heart attack when hearing this info...
And what his family do after all of that??? F***ing nothing. They just forgive & accepted him back to the family with no consequences at all. Not even a little bit punishment or wrath from the family...
Once more OH... MY... GOD... (said it like Janice from FRIENDS. Haha...
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Would’ve been higher without the step brother couple
The “primary” couple was wonderful from the most part. Besides the hiccups with chasing after the childhood crush, the rating would probably be a 8; however, the second couple.... There are very few times where I view step sibling relationships as ok (actually really no times) but this one was genuinely disgusting. From the r4pe to the age gap to the knowing the younger brother since he was an actual child, the whole thing made me feel icky watching it. So I didn’t. If not for the skip button, I would have dropped it. Could have just made them a regular couple but what is a bl without some scene or couple that makes everyone uncomfortable?Was this review helpful to you?
Come at it with an open mind
This drama comes from the writer of the last 2 HIStory (trapped and make our days count), and here she has really evolved and push the envelope in what is the second couple, giving us Step siblings that grow up together and are entangled in a serial of questionable‘s situations. So put your open minded suit on and enjoy the ride. This show didn’t impress me the first time but has really surprised me the need that i feel to rewatch it several times a year. Right now i have just accepted that i was quick to judge the first time around and that didn’t allowed me understand the emotions and feelings of the character. This is a well thought drama that will need a calm, mature an open mind to understand. The real gold of this drama is the main couple, what a loving, understanding and trusting pair.Was this review helpful to you?
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Such a FALL from HIStory 3 masterpieces.....
With this title, I can say it's pretty likable to watch. For this series, the storyline is set aside from what I should be following. If it's not for An Ju Peng (Xingsi) and maybe Charles Tu (Xiao Li Cheng). As what I said, I got lost with the plot, it's all over the place. The thing like Li Cheng is pursuing her childhood or past love girl by putting himself in a BL world with Teng Teng which is kinda, uhmm, not much of a strategy to get the girl back. I really never seen at least one plot twist it's just that.When it comes to Yong Jie, uhm man I hate him. He's like a stalker to his brother which threw me off. I don't really like that when he saw Teng Teng got close walking with Xingsi, he was attacked. Yong Jie is the least appealing in the show especially because of his situation and portrayal. I don't like the notion of him mistaken the TLC of his non-biological brother to him for love. He stalks him in the series and caused panic to LiCheng Ang Teng Teng for invading their home, attacking Teng Teng and raping Xing Si. That's just horrible to me. I like the pairing between XingSi and Yong Jie though but, damn, if the story between them is different from being non-biological brothers and him stalking XingSi it would have been better. Maybe Yong Jie can be an assistant to the company and they both fell in love, I would accept that. Li Cheng and Teng Teng, honestly did not care for them but I don't have problem with them. I was just not into them, even with sweet moments I didn't really care. My overall attention to the show was for Xing Si only. He is the most likable character in the series. He is genuine, caring, sweet, just anything nice you could think about him. He's also sincere to his feelings and how good looks also caters my admiration towards him. It's just like there's no fault around him in all aspects. My eyes were all glued to him when his screen time is there. Back to Yong Jie, one thing that saved him from disappointing me further is the fact that he matured a lot and towards the end he became caring to XingSi opposed to the scene where he made him drunk and raped him. I really like the way he look when his character changed.
The strategy of getting the girl by playing with her in her BL world is redundant for me. I wish it was like LiCheng just fall in love with Teng Teng ever since growing up. I'm just glad that Xing Si and Yong Jie's parents were not homophobic, at least for the father but the Yong Jie's mother got me like uhmm. There's one scene where she just talk about her son being like a thug instead of giving sympathy towards him which disgust me a little bit.
I also hate the Vice President of the company trying to rape Teng Teng and falsely accusing Li Cheng of embezzling the money of the company. He's such an opportunistic moron. Everything else fine okay not for me even the Yaowi girl Li Cheng was really into it feels like the plot needed her but when I look at it, I was like nah she's redundant too. This made the plot looked weak for me.
I love how Bo Xiang and Zhi gang and their friends made cameos. Kinda hoping characters from TRAPPED would make an appearance too but, I'm cool with it. It's just like a sequel for them although they're not the main characters no more but nothing's wrong with it.
Another downside of this series is like the sudden click between XingSi wanting a relationship with Yong Jie like I don't get it. If that weren't their situation I would understand it, but nah it's just, boom, "I love you" out of the blue "let's be boyfriends". It feels like he just wanted him to be his boyfriend because he feels pity towards Yong Jie than what I thought it should be.
The ending I'm cool with it, OSTs are good. That's that!
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Don't let other's opinion hinder you.
This is the type of series that you need to watch first before judging if it is your cup of tea or not.How can you know if the series is good?
Look at the comments and reviews, you can see that people's thinking are being challenged because of varying opinions. Some are too affected to the point of being enraged to fictional characters, and some are appreciating the entertainment the show is offering.
if you want fluff and awkward acting, stick to thai bl.
if you like great acting, hot and passionate scenes from the couples, complex personalities from the four main leads and one of the most mature relationship on a bl (Li cheng and Mu Ren), then you must watch this.
This show has its flaws, just like every other series have, but you need to weigh all the reviews you are seeing and not just a part of it.
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Half good, half awful
I have mixed feelings about this show. One of the couples is super cute; the other one is super disturbing.Even if I could somehow get over the (step) sibling stuff, there's still stalking, violence, and sexual assault... I couldn't really root for them. I mainly just skipped their parts. It was really angsty and downright disturbing at times.
The other couple has a somewhat ridiculous but still very enjoyable story arc, with all the cutesy rom-com tropes you can imagine: fake-dating, accidental aphrodisiac, pining, all the good stuff. Not to mention that the boys are super handsome.
So I'd say they worth a watch.
The other couple is a skip for me.
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I will be honest, I skipped every scene involving the step-brothers. It makes me uncomfortable how the younger one got XingSi drunk and forcibly slept with him. On top of that filmed the whole encounter. Yeah, that ended well when it was shown to the dad, right? What is even more fucked up is the mother being aware of everything and encouraging the younger brother? His reasoning is just bullshit to me. Who is he to decide that he's the best person for XingSi to be with? Someone who is so obsessed that they would r*** their step-brother in an attempt to be with him is messed up in the head and needs help. For me, he basically emotionally blackmailed XingSi to be with him. That is the one thing I hate about this series, is how they romanticized what happened to XingSi, made him forgive his younger brother, and jump into a relationship with him. As for the main couple, it was both cute and heartbreaking to see their journey. I understand some people not understanding Licheng "I'm not interested in guys, just TingTing" but it's not hard to understand. It just means that LiCheng loves TingTing on an emotional level. For him, he fell for the person, not the gender and he at least, did not do any fucked up shit to be with TingTing. Instead, when TingTing rejected him, he backed off. I loved their pairing and they really sold their character and brought some redemption to the series.
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ONE OF THE BEST, BUT NOT FOR EVERYONE
If you are strongly against sexual assaults/rapes in dramas and romantic relationship between step siblings, if you are one of those who takes dramas too seriously and forget that these are only fictions, then don't even bother watching it. But, if you're okay with it, go ahead and watch it. It's definitely one of the best, sweetest and hottest BLs out there.My favourite couple in this drama was Teng Muran and Li Cheng. Gosh so damn cute! Their love story isn't something very extraordinary and can be considered cliche, but trust me it's much more refreshing than watching college students romance. Teng Muran looks like a guy straight out of Manga. Tall, slender body with a beautiful face and elegant but cold aura. Li Cheng is like a breath of fresh air. Silly and funny but equally mature and passionate. I didn't get bored watching them. Every moment was fun. And they addressed a factor "who'll be the top, who'll be the bottom". They both wanted to be the top. Actually, I often wondered myself, don't gay couples ever feel conflicted about this? How do they decide? ..So, I was happy this series addressed that topic.
Now coming to the controversial couple -
Xing Se and Yong Jie. Honestly at first I thought Yong Jie was a crazy stalker when he broke into his room and when he hit Muran. But later, I got to know he was the step brother who was crazily obsessed with Xing Se. I've watched "HIStory: Obsessed" before this, but trust me, here the obsession depicted was much more and real than shown in the series "obsessed". I don't like such seriously obsessed and possesive lovers. But, slowly, the drama explains why he has such behaviour. What I liked is- he was bold and straightforward. He never lied. Even before sleeping with Xing Se, he told his mother everything about his plan. And even later, he was always ready to help his brother go back home and confess his dad while he would take all the blame. What I liked is, even though he clung onto Xing Se and did everything possible to make him love him, when Xing Se actually accepted and confessed his love, he didn't just jump to conclusions and asked him again and again if it wasn't just gratitude and sympathy. I mean, during all this time he did crazy things to get him, but then, he wasn't irrational. At a certain point he accepted that if his brother just wants him as a brother he'll accept it. So yeah that's good. Honestly, I understand such people and their behaviour. The series cleary explains how and where they comes from. And regarding relationship of step siblings, m okay with it. Their parents played their roles well too.
So overall, I loved it. I loved the SWEETNESS and HOTNESS the series offered. My fav was Muran-Li Cheng couple but I also liked the bitter-sweet relationship of Xing Se and Yong Jie.
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Watch it for the main couple, skip the side couple.
TLDR: History4 was a rollercoaster. Despite having a rocky start, this show is truly a game of patience - you need to complete the series to see the bigger picture. I understand not many can tolerate sitting through what seems like a BL series gone wrong, but this show has more layers than what it seems to be. History4 had many hit or miss moments but I can't stress this enough: If you want the best experience, just skip the side couple.The good: The main couple (Li Cheng and Mu Ren) carried History4. I really loved how pure and adorable their relationship was once it hit the turning point in episode 7. In the first few episodes, it was very hard to see the romantic chemistry between them (since them goofing around completely overshadows it at times, wasted potential). However if you were able to look at their small interactions and the intent of their actions in scenes where they weren't being chaotic, you could've seen it from the beginning.
Their chemistry is really outstanding because of how real and natural it felt, dare I say they have the best chemistry I've ever seen from any BL series. They truly captured the essence and magic of having a first love. Anson and Charles are very close and affectionate in real life (watch their interviews and livestreams), which likely made their on-screen chemistry really good. They blurred the lines of real and fake with so much unscripted work and staying in character even off-screen.
Another minor thing I want to mention: I can see why people were irritated when Li Cheng said "I don't like guys, I only like you/Mu Ren", but you have to look at the context in which he says this. Li Cheng is deeply in love with Mu Ren and actually means it when he says the phrase above. In his ideal world, he would only be with Mu Ren for the rest of his life. I wished people would've interpreted this line better in History4 because to me, it always carried a different feeling.
I also really liked the friendship between Li Cheng, Mu Ren and Xing Si. I love how they know when to be goofy and playful; when to be serious and supportive during conflictive situations. I was pleasantly surprised by the scene where Li Cheng and Mu Ren comforted and supported Xing Si when he got raped because of how they fully acknowledged the situation to be sexual assault. We don't often see strong friendships in friend groups as one of the main themes in a BL series.
In my opinion, History4's strongest points were the writing of the characters. They managed to give depth to what seemed like stereotypical character tropes. I ended up liking Li Cheng and Mu Ren a lot. Throughout the series, their characters slowly grew out of being one-dimensional characters, it was great to see them become better each episode. For once, it was also nice to see female characters not get villainized, despite them not being very relevant to the storyline. The acting of the entire cast was also notable, it played a major part in making History4 a decent show. The emotions portrayed by all the actors felt really raw and realistic, particularly Jun Peng (actor behind Xing Si).
This series not your average cliché romcom with trashy tropes, they touch on heavier topics that not many BL series bother to fully delve into. Such things like family issues regarding LGBTQ+ acceptance, Mu Ren constantly speaking up about consent, Li Cheng saving Mu Ren from being sexually assaulted by another man and more. These are the things that History4 outright portrays. It's refreshing to see the characters be so aware and outspoken about situations/topics like this because most BL series don't ever say it upfront. This particular part is a good form of representation, but unfortunately History4 is incredibly flawed and at times overshadows the good.
The bad: The side couple is by far the BIGGEST problem in History4. Their relationship development completely ruined what could've been a perfectly fine couple. Their relationship concept was 'forbidden love', which they could've achieved without the elements of: rape, sexual assault, manipulation, stalking and more. The fact that they are stepbrothers, dealing with family conflicts related to being gay already makes it forbidden love! Yong Jie's actions are not justifiable in any way and don't have a deeper meaning, he has just taken infatuation to a different level. I liked the path History4 attempted to take with forbidden love (primarily because of the family aspect) but I can't get myself to like the side couple at all.
If this couple had been written for a psychological horror series, it would have different reception because the audience actively seek for such content. History4 is a romcom series, the audience doesn't expect or want to watch a distorted relationship development, especially without warning as it could be triggering. This romanticizes Yong Jie's disgusting actions and it all falls back to the idea of 'thinking nonconsensual acts are cute/romantic' that the BL community is notorious for.
Even though I mentioned the family aspect as one of the better parts of History4, I absolutely can't accept the mother's complicity with Yong Jie's actions. She knew exactly what he was going to do to Xing Si, yet still allowing him to proceed with his plan of getting Xing Si drunk and sexual assaulting him because 'the kid has always liked him'. That's ridiculous and once again, has no justification to it. The fact that she prepared divorce papers after the father found out is such a lazy move to run away from the issue instead of facing it.
Another thing that ticked me off a bit is the fujoshi's (Mei Fang and Sister Wang) behavior, especially in the beginning of the series. Her questions and obsession with BL was very off-putting and felt like the typical fujoshi mindset of how they view gay relationships. However, I have to admit that her character gets better throughout the show, her peak being the times she helped Li Cheng to pursue Mu Ren. Among all the problems, this is by far the smallest one and even had minor development for the better.
Conclusion: To me, History4 is worth a watch once but doesn't have high rewatch value because of its flaws. Do remember that in the History anthology, they've always had at least one issue in their shows, like having 3 stepbrother couples, 3 huge age gap couples with different power dynamics and more. We can't expect perfect, flawless storytelling from them because they always take the risk of touching on controversial/heavy topics. In retrospect, History4 is really not that bad. I'd argue that there are other BL series out there that are worse than History4. This show was meant to sit at the grey area and give you thought-provoking situations to analyze.
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Weird Af
Well... This BL was one of the weirdest drama I've seen, I mean the first couple (MuRen and LiCheng) were okay, but the second couple was wtf, i don't have nothing against stepbrother's couples but this one was weird and toxic. Yong Ji raiped Ye Xing and Xing did not do anything , i mean HE JUST GOT YOU DRUNK AND RAPED YOU. Furthermore, since the beginnig Yong Ji was obsessive,possessive and extremely toxic with his stepbrother.And in the chapter 8 when Xing said to Yong that he want to love him like a brother and like a lover i was like okay.... what he just said hahah.
Very weird but the first couple was okay, actualy i fell in love with Li Cheng.
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