About Youth (2022)

Cute and sweet without being frivolous

I was at first a little put off by Ye Guang's schoolmates fangirling over him in the first episode, but I was quickly hooked. There is a lot to love about this series. Yes, the story isn't very strong, but it manages to rise above fluff enough to be quite moving. The people behind it manage to do a rather good job when things could have gone quite wrong.

The scenes of the main couple are often beautifully shot. The tenderness between them and the developing romance is effectively conveyed without resorting to the exaggerations that mar many other series. In the scene where Ye Guang unbuttons Qizhang's shirt because the latter has been scalded, the scene could have been overly sexualized and Qizhang's shyness and fluttering heart could have been exaggerated, but the scene is suitably understated. It brings out the growing intimacy between the leads and their concern for each other without exaggerating the sexual undertones or the characters' emotions.

In another scene where Ye Guang falls asleep while getting a motorcycle ride from Qizhang, I can think of countless other series where Qizhang would just secretly plant a kiss on Ye Guang. However, we see him gently supporting Ye Guang's head and then placing Ye Guang's hands around his waist. This is one of those shows where the emotional intensity is powerful without resorting to sex scenes or non-consensual kisses, and the romance is so much cuter this way. The characters' behaviors are also very much in line with their personalities and the different "stages" of their romance.

I also love the part where Ye Guang says something insensitive to Qizhang when he agitated by his parents. While it could have easily degenerated into some childish quarrel, Qizhang looks fleetingly hurt but continues to try to console Ye Guang. Ye Guang also soon apologizes for what he has said.

Despite all the strengths, there are parts of the series where scenes seem to have been skipped and things are left unexplained. I think there is a lack of explanation of why Ray dresses up as a girl at the start but stops doing so: is he into cross-dressing, doing it to please a man or doing it because he identifies as a woman? The portrayal of Ye Guang's parents, particularly his father, is also a weak aspect of the series. I can take it that the father is rather awful in the sense that he is more concerned about the son's grades and achievements more than anything else and is guilty of rather appalling class discrimination. Yet, his awful behavior is glossed over as being motivated by concern that his son might do down the wrong path. Additionally, it is not clear why, after installing an app on Ye Guang's phone to track Ye Guang's location, Ye Guang still roams around without being tracked down.

There are also some logical inconsistencies in the series. For example, when Qizhang is taken by Jian to meet his boyfriend (Ray), Qizhang seems surprised to see Ray and Ye Guang together. However, Qizhang should already by then know about Jian and Ray's relationship, having helped Jian convey a message to Ray earlier on. And Qizhang also knows that Ye Guang and Ray are close friends, so there is no reason for him to be so surprised.

Had the series been twelve episodes instead, some of the problems could perhaps have been avoided. It feels like certain things had to be left out or rewritten to fit the story into eight episodes. There is potential for a second season because there are still things left hanging. Despite the flaws, I love the main couple and side couple enough to want a second season.

Read More

Decent

It's been a while since Taiwan BLs disappointed me. It's just something about these dramas that even when it's not usually to your taste, you're still going to enjoy it. and while this wasn't really much of anything special, I still was entirely wrapped around these characters' lives. About Youth is a simple high school love story full of these conventional tropes and cliches, mixed with some really adorable characters that took my heart by storm.

Let's Dive In,

For the most part, I enjoyed the story. I feel like they left a few plot holes that would've been nice to see filled, but for the most part, it was a fine story. I liked how they didn't rush the main couple's relationship, seeing as they were only in high school.

Speaking of the main couple, I enjoyed watching their dynamics and characterization throughout the episode. Ye Guang had the best development of everybody. Finding someone that defines everything you had been missing in your life is a whole different type of relief. I could even feel it when he sent that video to his parents. Their chemistry was really good. I enjoyed more than ever their build-up and when it finally got to its execution it played out perfectly.

The side couple was nice as well. I either wasn't paying attention or they didn't explain very well why Ray was dressed as a woman to see his ex-boyfriend. At first, I was thinking he was going through a transition, but that wasn't it. I don't know if he was hiding his real identity as a female, or if his ex-boyfriend made him dress like that. I have zero ideas. Anyways though, they were cute. Ray's height gets to me, and the hair, AND the dangling earrings. Geez.

Ratings:

Story: 7.5/10: Enjoyable. Kind of simplistic and nothing too too interesting, but what we got was still good., The romances were nice and I enjoyed watching Ye Guang's character development.

Acting: 8.5/10: decent for actors that I haven't seen before. I think Ye Guang' acting was iffy. good sometimes and not as good the next. everyone else was decent.

Music: 8.5/10: Different than I usually feel, but the main lead had a beautiful voice. I didn't pass when he sang, which is VERY new for me.

Rewatch value: 3/10: Like usual, I rarely rewatch, but this seemed like it would be something I could potentially go back to see certain parts of.

There's not much else I feel that I need to say, The series was really cute and kept me entertained for the most part. It didn't stand out as this overwhelming amazing drama, but it did its job and I'm left satisfied.

Read More

A PERFECT SHOW

I am usually quiet but i came out the woodwork to leave a review for this show. This show is perfect, the acting was superb, the actors handled the very big topic of sexuality and coming into one's own identity skillfully all the while showcasing their bashful and awkward teenage angst. What impressed me most was the writing and the telling of the story, allowing the characters to draw you in and letting the story breathe on its own. And what an ending.. the ending was what i expected shy awkward teens to do and look. The way they looked so clumsy is so adorable

PERFECT ENDING

There was no sex which i enjoyed. In this day and age watching a feel good story about youth being youth and finding pleasure in just being around each other is a rare treat. Lately every BL is trying to showcase who has the most sex scenes and which actors are willing to bare it all with little substance or care for the story and plot line. My only dislike is that it wasnt longer or has a season 2.. I will treasure this BL definitely my top 5

Read More

Best Kiss + Finding your voice.

Some of us have grown up in the shadow of dominating people. When, in our heads, we ask ourselves what we should do, we only hear the voices of our parents, teachers or friends. We can't seem to find our own voice. This drama is for you. Queer and LGBT audiences will generally like this as well.

If you always knew what you wanted to do, have no patience with those who don't know, and just love a good action movie, go somewhere else.

This drama is full of tenderness with good acting by the leads, good scripts, good directing and professional production values. The music is fun and the sound track is fairly good. Musicianship of the characters within this drama is better than the average BL. The best reason to watch this is the completely realistic scene at the end of the last episode (19:43-21:29). So many BLs are ruined by terrible kissing scenes, unwilling lip mashing, or porn kissing. This was the best kiss scene (as in most realistic) that I've ever seen. It catches the excitement, nervousness, delight, enthusiasm, joy and pleasure of the moment. Especially amazing considering this is the first movie for Shen Jyun and Li Zhen Hao.

Story telling is a bit uneven and editing is a bit choppy. There are bits of a plot here and there, but despite this appearing to be a story about Xu Qi Zhang and his pursuit of Ye Guang, it is really about the personal growth of Ye Guang. Anything that happens serves to move Ye Guang through his development. While the drama around Ye Guang's parents is heavy handed, bordering on the unbelievable and could have been done with more finesse, the point of the parents within the narrative is to drive Ye Guang to his final awakening in the last episode (starts at 6:10-8:12 and 17:00-17:43).

Ray's gender fluidity is a nice touch, especially the scene in the cafe/tea house. Ray's fem presentation allows a broader audience to see themselves within the story. As its presented in a single night, it sort of begs the question if Ray's fem presentation was not a choice, but rather a necessity in order to be accepted by the older ("bad") boyfriend. In the real world trans people are sometimes fetishized / dehumanized. While I appreciated seeing more of my world, it made me wonder what the point of that scene was. A subsequent repeat of Ray's fem presentation would have been more affirming.

Overall maybe an 8, but with that fantastically well done ending, I'm calling this a 9.5. It makes up for all the terrible kissing scenes I've had to sit through in piles of other BL dramas.

Read More

Adorable And Comforting Despite Toxic Parenting.

General Spoilers below.
This slice-of-life series is adorable and the relationship between the two lead highschool boys is so healthy and sweet. Mutual support and care, interest, attraction, and communication. Their one-sided crush to friendship & mutual crush to boyfriends was so lovely and realistically portrayed. The two leads were only 19-20 yrs old yet are already great actors. They were natural, nuanced, charismatic, and held emotions in their eyes. I'm really impressed by them and would easily watch them in whatever they do next. The secondary couple was initially interesting but their story wasn't given much depth.

Trigger warning for emotionally abusive parents.
There is one parent that's a great example and another set of parents that are completely emotionally abusive (insane pressure for school performance, overly controlling and oppressive, guilt-tripping and shaming, and threatening). The toxic parents are written and acted one-dimensionally and their abrupt almost 180 degree turn around in the last episode was sooo unrealistic, but did allow the series to end on a lighter, more hopeful note.

There was too much plot introduced for the time constraints of eight 22min episodes and a lot of threads aren't followed up on.

Despite the weaknesses, this series was very enjoyable and left me with a smile and a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Read More

A Fluffy Teen Romance Surrounded by Adult Pressures

I think this is a story that anybody who has grown up with strict parents can relate to. And it was acted so well that I found myself wanting to cry along with Guang - in part because of what he was going through, and in part because of my own memories with those emotions and fears.

Thankfully, the romance served as a counterbalance and reprieve to these tough topics, rather than a further source of angst. And it felt natural and easy for them to get together.

The music also served this purpose and was quite enjoyable. But, there were only a couple of songs so after a while it didn’t really do much.

The second couple (and the individual characters of the couple) felt really underdeveloped. I dont think the main storyline should be cut at all, so perhaps they should’ve left the second couple out altogether, had them established from the beginning, or left us with mere teasing breadcrumbs. Because what we got just didn’t consistently hit the right notes. There were several other elements that felt underdeveloped and/or rushed as well.

Although an absolutely terrific story with a great cast, this really wasnt suited for just 8 20-minute episodes. And it’s to its detriment.

Read More

Promising but ultimately underwhelming

If I had to describe this show in one word it would be 'underwhelming'.

Thats the general feeling I had watching most of it.

I wanted more from the characters & the story. I wanted to love this series & enjoy it like many others but all I feel is underwhelmed.

From ep1 until like ep7, the 3 main characters had this all encompassing aura of sadness around them. Even when the smiled, laughed or genuinely enjoyed themselves it all still felt so sad.
In that sense alone, I found it so overwhelming/stifling.

Xu Qizhang's bandmates and mom were honestly a breathe of fresh air & most of my favourite scenes from this series involves them.
My favourite character is definitely Xu Qizhang's mom. I actually grew to kinda care about her more than any other character in the show.

Character descriptions:
Qizhang - word vomit.
I've never seen anyone who offers up so much information that wasn't asked for. You could ask him a yes or no question and he'll tell you his whole life's story😭

Guang - shallow.
I don't know much about him other than he has strict parents, is best friends with Ray & likes Qizhang. I don't know what he likes, dislikes or even who he is. I sympathise with him because of his situation but I couldn't connect with him as a character.

Ray - frivolous.
He is the most interesting & unique character in the show... on paper. The two best friends suffer from the same character flaw. We didn't actually get to learn much about them. Why was he dressed like woman for his ex? Does he like dressing prettily? Who is he?

Jian - love interest.
That's kind of it. He is Ray's love interest and is in a band. How old is he? What are his interests? Why's he in a band? Why does he like Ray? None of these are answered.

Also Ray & Jian's first kiss was laughably awkward & Idk that was the intention.

Basically I can relate to what they're going through and I can even relate to what they're feeling but I just struggle to relate to these characters. You could swap the characters around & not much changes because they have such little characterisation. Their lack of depth leaves me with nothing other than sympathy for them.

It was promising but ultimately underwhelming.

Read More

Cute…

I think this Taiwanese BL was very cute and I liked it more than I thought I was going to. I randomly started watching it on Youtube and next thing you know, I finished it in one night. It is very easy to watch and the plot is enjoyable. Definitely could’ve been better plot wise with more depth but it was still good. The characters all had their stories which made them more interesting and appealing. The plot was simple but easy to understand so it was never really confusing. The music was amazing for this drama, which is something that stood out to me when I was watch it. Overall, it is a good BL and I rated it highly because it was good and I would watch it again. It is an easy show to watch and it is very cute but does has moments where the plot does try to get more deep. I would recommend it if you need more Taiwanese BLs to watch.

Read More

Such a healing and heartwarming series

This series is criminally underrated,my cheeks hurted so badly after watching this cause I was constantly smiling,damn this was cuteness overloading type series,this type of series either become very cliche or cringe but this one made me feel like I am tucked under a warn blanket in a rainy day, listening to my favorite song with my favorite hot chocolate.This hits all the perfect place with it's acting too.It had some shortcomings but even those are loveable🥰🥰,if aggressive behavior from overloaded cuteness is a thing than I had it while watching it.Ahhhhhhh,too cute

Read More

CUTENESS OVERLOAD

If you are looking for an adoroble bl this is the perfect one, the story and acting were both amazing and don't even get me started on the absolutely insane music. It's like you can't stop listening to them. I truly would watch it again even for the 10th time, i can't point my finger on anything I could complain about even if i really tried. I just felt happy the whole time while watching it and both the main couple and the side couple were absolutely adoroble and irrisitable, I really really reccommend this to everyone and it's definetly a must watch in my opiniont. I loved it so much♡.

Read More

One For The Ages

Now this is how you do a coming-of-age series. This is brilliant. While the story may not be unique, it is carried out as if it is the first one ever done. It should set a standard on how you do a coming-of-age story with flair, grace, and intensity. What made it so? Two things. A brilliant and phenomenal screenplay. Neither schmaltzy nor overly dramatic. But kept it real. And the second reason is the astonishing and brilliant acting of the four main performers. They understood the characters and with youthful intensity made them come alive and scream First Love to us. This is a first rate series and should be on everyone's Must See for 2022.
See my full review of this series on my website, BLBliss.com.

Read More