Unknown (2024)

A love story where life is more celebrated than love

Have you ever seen an infected wound? If we leave the wounds untreated, sometimes out of ignorance, sometimes out of fear, the wounds if severe enough can get infected. Now it smells. You will have the urge to leave it as it is as now it's hideous. When the pain gets too unbearable, we try to cure it and even if we cure it, it leaves a nasty scar. Some wounds are just too deep to cure on our own. It's where our hands can reach. Qian is carrying the heavy load alone throughout his life and he gets used to the weight. When Yuan wants to share his load, he loses balance. The only thing Yuan ever wanted was to support Qian, so it enrages him that Qian never shares his burden with him. It's not a review just my thoughts on the series.

It's harder to relate if you are not from a broken family like Wei Yuan and Wei Qian. The fight and flight response doesn't go away once you become an adult. Wei Qian learns to survive but no one ever teaches him how to live his life. Wei Qian is scared of becoming like his mother. He feels physically ill thinking about his mother. He feels somehow inside him somewhere his mother had imprinted her shadow and one day he will be consumed by it. He closed the curtains to let the darkness conceal the shadow.

"Don't be afraid of the cracks that's where the light comes in." Yuan came as a crack in his closed walls. He shook Qian's moral ground. For Yuan, Qian is his whole world which is not normal in any sense but nothing has ever been normal in their life anyway. Convention is something many people can't afford. I know  where Qian's Dilemma was coming from. I would have been disappointed if he never resisted. The 5 year gap seemed like a too long gap. But the distance was necessary for this dynamic. Yuan never has friends. He always worshipped the land Qian stood on. He would protect Qian at any cost. It's hard to tell if it's just simple gratification turned into infatuation or actual 'love'. And here comes Qian's Dilemma he knows if he commits he can't go back. For Yuan, love is as simple as wanting to stay by Qian's side forever, taking care of him. For Qian, it's complicated. He has been a brother to him, for times he has been a provider for him. After the gap, even though they have history, their relationship gets a fresh start.

"Don't you love Wei Yuan or don't you dare?" There's a term in philosophy called "Porcupine's dilemma". Porcupine is a rodent with sharp spines. In cold days, porcupines want to get closer as it's craving the warmth but whenever they get closed the sharp spines pricks them. Deep down Qian is afraid that he will hurt Yuan if they get closer but after all these years he understood that it's equally hard for him to stay away from Yuan. Qian all these years couldn't comprehend his feelings for Yuan. He still doesn't understand. So he gave up. He allowed himself to be happy without the veil of conventionality.

The story about unconventional love is very tricky. If it's not handled well, it can be downright disturbing. But here we get the psyche of each character and we root for them. Once upon a time I would stumble upon a book that will make me angry at myself that I don't know the language. The translation is bad yet it has kept me captivated so it's the proof of its supreme plot. It's a love story where life is more celebrated than love. I love this kind of story. It makes the love that much epic.

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"Don't be afraid of the cracks. That's where the light comes in."

I really enjoyed the main love story featured in this BL series. It is a forbidden romance concept well done in terms of sorrow and angst...It firmly tugged at all my heartstrings. Unfortunately, the scenario is not without flaws regarding the build up of the secondary romance as well as some stupid decisions made by characters (...yeah my pet peeve aka noble idiocy is back once again). There were also some pacing issues in addition to some shift in tones not always very successfull.

What really made me forget about these little defaults is the excellent chemistry between the two main actors who are pretty good together. They sell super well the main concept of "Didi's puppy love for his Gege who is blind to his feelings". Kurt Huang impressed me so much as his character grows the most during the show. He is very compelling to look at and his evolution was very well acted. Given his charisma, I will be for sure looking forward for more series with him in the future. Chris Chiu is a solid counterpart as well. The secondary cast made less of a lasting impression on me, except for Sam Lin whose I wish the character had more screentime.

I liked the production: it has a very raw style on some scenes that I enjoyed (especially in its first episodes). The filmmaking of most of the romantic scenes had my heartbeat increasing. There so many pretty and exciting moments between the leads. The office setting was more mundane and standard but very suitable overall. I truly enjoyed the OST, especially the ending song which is so charming and fitting perfectly with the thematic of the series.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a forbidden romance concept with a lot of angst and chemistry. I watched it week by week but I think it would make an excellent binge watch. The script is not without flaws in terms of pacing as well as narrative choices but overall the payoff in terms of love story is so good that it is really worth it and you forgot all the defaults thanks to the good acting and chemistry of the two main male leads.

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Best Step-Brothers BL I''ve seen

As a fan of the forbidden step-brothers trope, I feel like Unknown is both the best and most realistic BL that tackles this situation. When compared to other BLs like Brothers and Cherry Blossoms After Winter, the character development, specifically the two main character's pasts are well developed compared to the aforementioned BLs. Which makes the viewer much more invested into the lives of Qian and Zhi. The stakes are higher after witnessing and knowing just how close as siblings they are through their shared experiences. Which is why the response of Qian sending Zhi away abroad after having been confessed to is justified and understandable. We see just how hard he has brought up his siblings all on his own and doesn't want to ruin that relationship for a romantic one. Sure, its not the first and only step=brothers BL to do this, its the only one that has shown me why instead of simply saying its because they're step brothers and its wrong.

Despite the messy beginnings of their love with Zhi's confession, when their relationship actually begins its very cute. A sweet and rewarding 12th episode showing the two happily together while still keeping their family a loving and caring one was the sweetest of cherries on top. Especially after how dramatic and messy (in a good way) the first 11 were. Overall, if you are not a fan of the step brother's trope, I don't think this BL will convince you. But if you don't mind it and are in the mood for a dramatic BL with strong messaging of family, heartfelt and interesting story, and well thought out characters. Then I would suggest Unknown for you.

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Gradually from ugh to aww.

Might contain a spoiler, and english is not my first language. Aside from how the storyline itself is quite "home sweet alabama" moment, except they're not related by blood, overall it was fine. Yeah.

The story itself started from when they're still young, where you'll see a lot of abuse, violance some sad moment and it was until episode 2 or 3. Personally, I keep on tapping right-arrow button on my keyboard to make it fast forward as I was not able to keep up with its slowness. It was slow for me and was an ugh (personally).

However, those slowness was explaining a lot on how Yuan developed his feelings for Qian. Which then also explains a lot with whatever things happened next as when they became an adult.

Until they finally became adult, this is where I start to develop my proper interest in this story. I don't want to spoil a lot of thing, but I'm really happy with the character development of everyone here. As day goes by in the story, my aww -insert cute face- also grows a lot.

Lots of lesson can be gained through the story itself, which honestly touches me up a LOT. It shows a lot of love from a sibling, along with shows love from partner as well. It might be questionable because of how Qian and Yuan who are technically a sibling (but they're not related by blood) went from stranger to siblings to lovers. But oh well, I'm fine with it.

All I can say is that, yeah it's worth watching. But, if you're that type of person who can't keep up with the slowness of this story, then it's totally up to you if you want to rewatch it or not. Personally, I would just skip first few episodes and start watchkng the episode where they're all finally became an adult.

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Could've been better

The best thing about this drama :
- The acting : the main were amazing and they portrayed the emotions of their characters really well.
- The chemistry was amazing
- The music

But, I feel like it dragged and the end was really rushed. So I was disappointed.
I was expecting their first kiss so much, but how it was filming and edited, it wasn't good in the end. And I didn't really feel it.
Feel like also it was so sudden, they spend the night together and they are already boyfriends. Also, very rush in the last ep with the illness. They showed us nothing and at the very end we assumed that he got his surgery and he is fine. They live happily together. And I'm disappointed there wasn't an actual scene with the sister and her child.
Also, it felt like a mashup of scenes together of them dating to give us something. The flow and editing was weird.

Also, the love scene was disappointing for me, the loud music and the flashback in between.

So, not the best bl I've scene, but it has some good

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Loved it so far eventhough they were some small flaws

*In this review, I’ll talk about both what I liked and what I liked a little less so be aware ! *

Really complex and intricate series and from the beginning as it tackles orphans’ conditions, abuse, etc… but at first (first two episodes) I was really wondering why the show was focusing so much on the two brothers and didn’t introduce the love interest yet until in the end of the first episode, writers made a sudden time lapse and you can see the linging in the young bro eyes so I got it. Even if they are not real brothers, it felt odd to me because of the real apparent age gap (one seemed minor while the other wasn’t so…). Apart of that, they were really depicted having that strong filial bond so that leap felt really weird to me. Although after that sudden time lapse the age gap is not as visible. I’ve forgot about it a little but it’s still on a side of my mind with all that brother thing.
Yet it’s interesting and tackles really good subjects so let’s give it a chance I guess ??
EDIT : after two episodes I completely (fortunately) forgot about it !
Now, I want to know how qian suddenly caught feelings for yuan to the point he even got sick when he sent yuan away...
Also it annoys me how he first ignored his health after being hit (at the beggining). Like you can see a doctor secretly if you don't want your relatives to learn about it. At least you'll get the help you need! The worst is he kept doing it the whole show 😭. Without yuan existing, he would have probably not have gotten that surgery to save his life imo 💀.
Then it's annoying as well that they are keeping the fact that he is sick from lili after it worsen. Like she needs to know as well ! She is your sister ! Like now everyone knows about it but her so please 😭.
Is it because she is a woman that they were keeping it from her ?? Because when it comes to yuan, they are saying they get why yuan was upset they hid it from him but then litteraly agreeing on not telling lili. like wtf. Till the end, they didn’t tell her if I’m not wrong.

I hated the fact his closest friend didn't try that much to get him go to the major hospital, now or earlier ! He could have managed to do it.

Otherwise San pang and the other uncle are such great characters ! Very wise ad all!

I also loved when qian started realizing and admitting how he didn’t know if what he is feeling for yuan was a fraternal love or something romantic and how they would struggle to turn their relationship into something romantic (ep 10).

The OST is so memorable because I keep singing to myself that ´unknown’ high note lol.
The cast is so freaking fine as well as the acting !
The episodes titles are so deep. I love how they could be quotes.
If someone could write them down and share them with me I would glad tbh !

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"Why him?"

I started this series after watching a lot of videos on TikTok. So, I'm suffering with you guys waiting after episode 8 while I'm watching ep. 5.

Thoughts after episode 5:
1. the conversation between LiLi and San Pang was hilarious, which brings me to
2. These siblings - Lili and Yuan - are very clever. The two "adults" have no idea what awaits them. The hunting season has begun.
3. Qian, darling, if you don't want our baby Yuan, then give him to me. I need a man to take care of me like that. I love it.

Now, I'm struggling to watch episode 6, because I know that's where everything explodes. But, at least I can take solace in the fact that tomorrow is the "Unknown Day".

"Why him? Because he has the same birthday as you." - ep. 4
"If my running away had ended up with that letter, would I regret it?" - ep. 9

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If you like this show, you are weird

Yeah it might not be biological incest but this is still incest. And it’s even worse cause the story starts out with him in middle school. He grew up with this guy basically as a father and brother figure and romanticizing this is just gross. Like I can’t see how you can watch him and the younger actor (who has to be less than 13) and start shipping them, even if he later becomes a different actor.
I think Taiwan really has to do better with some of the bls they put out. I feel like them more than any country are okay with putting out toxic/weird couples and stories in bls. Incest is not okay and this story is gross.
I came into it skeptical and then they showed they weren’t actually brothers and I allowed myself to relax cause it seems like there was some distance in the relationship, there isn’t. They call themselves family, AND HES A MIDDLE SCHOOLER! That was it for me, cause he’s growing up with this guy, like this guy practically adopted him since he was an elementary school kid. Like that’s weird. That’s like a grown man knowing a girl since she was 9 and dating her once she turns 18, that is absolutely disgusting.

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Angsty

Personally I am not a fan of these tropes with the step brother or adopted brother storyline but for some reason these same very ones keep putting me in a chokehold like Stay With Me *insert crying emoji*. The chemistry between the family dynamic feels so natural.
Trigger warning potentially for people who have experienced familial abuse.
Some people think the storyline moved a little too fast at the end but I think it’s rather the opposite. Our main leads finally let themselves feel their emotions without any restraints and the rest is history.
Definitely a good laugh cry type drama.
Absolutely stunning and timeless!
Probably one of the best if not the best Taiwan dramas I’ve watched with such natural acting and chemistry!!!!

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Disgusting!!

Unless you're some sort of disgusting fetishist I do not recommend. I seriously tried to watch this and even got to episode 10 but It's absolutely ridiculous how this is so highly rated. The brother stuff is insane and whenever they sort of explain it away they immediately throw it in the bin by showing a flashback of a grown man and a child. That is the man who raised him how could they get together romantically it's disgusting. Maybe if the age difference was less and they were in their older teens when they met it would be fine but this was just gross. And also the sister having the same situation it's insane! It's like the writer/director had some sort of age kink and/or wants to get together with their brother but can't so they had to make a show about it instead.

To end off on a positive note though the acting was good and I enjoyed the cinematography, just wish they could've done something different here.

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Heartmelting

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE true love stories.
I hate stories where couples break up because of lack of communication, mere misunderstandings and so on...
And then there are stories like this...
Where love is poured in to their souls, where there would die for each other, unconditionally, and for ever...
Whitout overacting nor drama they show in every word they say, every action they take, how they choose to interact, that this is true love, be it between brothers, between family, bromance or between lovers.
I'm telling you.. taiwanese BL are on another level completely.

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