Affinity

Guideverse series probably written by an AI (but with great actors)

PLOT: In 2051, a virus from another universe created Yin and Ren beings on Earth. The ML, Xie Xin Xu, is a powerful Ren whom Si Yuan (the FL's brother and a member of the Surveillance Bureau) tried to tame (through torture). Xie Xin Xu takes on a new identity and marries Nong Yu, a Yin, the FL, a researcher who wants to find a cure for the virus. But the Surveillance Bureau does everything to prevent the creation of a cure.

+++ The two leads are spectacular, with intense chemistry. I've become a die-hard fan of Cui Yu Xin. And I'd love to see him in CL with Fang Jin again.
+++ Effective direction, with good pacing, good effects, and a great OST.

### A very weird storyline that only got through censorship because it's supposed to be sci-fi. The twists (and there are tons of them) come one after another at an unreasonable rate. It's full of nonsense, inconsistencies, and incongruous things. I wonder if the script wasn't written by an AI that threw a bit of Twilight, a bit of ABO Desire, a bit of sci-fi, a bit of Game of Thrones, etc., into a shaker.
### The FL character is unbearable: idiotic, fickle, indecisive, and incredibly selfish. In short, ლಠ益ಠ)ლ ლಠ益ಠ)ლ

=> I only watch it to the end out of curiosity and because the CL is very hot... The weirdest story (but really addictive) I've ever seen
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Série Guideverse écrite par une IA probablement (mais avec super acteurs)

PLOT: En 2051, un virus venu d'1 autre univers, a créé sur terre des êtres Yin et des êtres Ren. Le ML, Xie Xin Xu, est un Ren puissant que Si Yuan (frère de la FL et membre du Bureau de Surveillance) a tenté d'apprivoiser (par tortures). Xie Xin Xu prend 1 nvelle identité et se marie avec Nong Yu, Yin, la FL, chercheuse qui veut trouver 1 médicament pour guérir le virus. Mais le Bureau de Surveillance fait tt pour empêcher la création d'1 médicament.

+++ Les 2 leads sont spectaculaires, avec une alchimie intense. Je suis devenue une hard-die fan de Cui Yu Xin. Et j'aimerai bcp le revoir en CL avec Fang Jin.
+++ Réalis° efficace, avec rythme, bons effets, bons OSTs.

### Storyline très chelou, qui n'a passé la censure que parce que c'est censé être de la Sci-Fi. Les twists (et il y en a des tonnes) se succèdent déraisonnablement. C'est plein de non-sens, d'incohérences, de trucs incongrus. A se demander si le script n'a pas été écrit par une IA, qui a mis dans un shacker un peu de Twilight, un peu d'ABO Desire, un peu de Sci-Fi, un peu de GOT, etc.
### Le personnage de la FL est insupportable : idiote, versatile, indécise, super égoïste. Bref ლಠ益ಠ)ლ ლಠ益ಠ)ლ

=> On ne va jusqu'au bout que par curiosité et parce que le CL est très hot ... The weirdest story (but really addictive) I've ever seen

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Affinity… or Infinite Pain?

The main reason to watch this is the chemistry between the two leads. Early on, everything clicked: even when the plot stretched believability, it still had structure and coherence I actually rated it a 10 at that point.

After episode 19, though, the pacing completely falls apart. The story drags, wanders in every direction, and loses its consistency. The FL and her brother are insufferable from start to finish, and the dynamic between her and the male lead feels unbalanced and unhealthy, with him constantly carrying the emotional weight of her actions.

What bothered me the most is that, by the end, you almost stop rooting for the relationship and just start feeling sorry for the ML. Because of the virus and his past experiences, there’s a clear power imbalance between him and the FL, and it often feels like she takes advantage of it, which makes their dynamic increasingly uncomfortable to watch.

That said, it remains surprisingly entertaining and oddly addictive for quite a while you always want to see what happens next. But by the final stretch, that curiosity had worn off, and I mostly just wanted it to end.

Unfortunately, I ended up quite disappointed, especially considering how strong the cast was and how remarkable the OSTs are...

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Spoiled Stinky Cheese

Let's start with the poster. Bad design. Makes the show look stupid. Which, it actually is stupid. It's just a bad production with a dumb plot. It doesn't even know who it's audience is. We don't mind bad so much if the visuals are worth the time. They are not. This show isn't cheese. It's awful. Like it doesn't quite know what it wants to be. The sound effects for the kissing is sloppy, like literally sounds like wet sloppy licking and slurping. Bleh! And really who wants to watch forced intimacy? No one. The FL is supposed to be training at a science facility, but comes off as having fluff for brains. Like she can't even remember simple world building info that she is supposed to know. Not to mention the dumb stuff they have her do like "climb" down a rope in a mini skirt that magically doesn't bunch up and show anything. As if it isn't obvious she's being lowered by invisible cables. This is time wasted.

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Wait hold on, they were kinda on to smth...

Ok so, not someone who usually leaves reviews also I'm very late to this but I felt like I should. No, heck I need to. You've probably read the reviews above and yes they are absolutely correct, this show is absolutely insane. Batsh*t crazy to be exact. Whoever wrote the script was defo either high, half asleep or both. Because in what drama do you find nearly every genre under the sun.

Lemme start from the beginning, -----

So the story is set on another Earth-like planet called **Planet Y**, where there's a virus called the **Affinity Virus**. Sounds like a normal sci-fi dark romance, right?

Wrong.

The virus mutates into a new strain called **Affinity B**, and people infected with it become known as **Rens**. They suffer from violent episodes and basically have the anger management skills of a lit stick of dynamite. Then there are people infected with the original strain, **Affinity A**, called **Yins**, who can form pacts with Rens to calm them down.

Already weird right?

Not even close.

The blood and tears of Yins make Rens go absolutely FERAL for them. It's literally a heterosexual Omegaverse. I sat there thinking, "There's no way they're actually doing this."

And then...

THEY PULL A WHOLE DRAGON OUT OF NOWHERE.

So now we're dealing with a Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Dark Romance, Heterosexual Omegaverse featuring Dragons , and somehow... some fvcking how, it works???

This drama is genuinely one of the most batsh*t insane things I've ever watched, but that's exactly why it's so entertaining. The trick is to stop trying to make sense of it and just enjoy the ride. Once you accept that absolutely anything can happen, it's ridiculously fun. Trust me, by Episode 5 you'll defo be completely.

I also have to give the cast their flowers because EVERYONE understood the assignment. The chemistry between the main couple is fantastic, but somehow the second couple completely stole the show for me. That's honestly a first for me with short C-dramas because I'm almost always more invested in the leads. The actors absolutely nailed their roles and made even the craziest moments feel weirdly natural.

And don't even get me started on the OST. I'm an absolute sucker for a drama with a good soundtrack, and **Affinity** delivered. One minute it's giving funky, upbeat tracks, the next it's hitting you with dark gothic vibes, and then suddenly you're listening to an emotional ballad. Having songs in both English and Mandarin made it even better.

So if you have even the tiniest urge to watch something that feels like five writers locked themselves in a room and refused to say "no" to a single idea, PLEASE give **Affinity** a chance. You genuinely won't regret it. It's the kind of unhinged masterpiece that neither of us knew we needed until it existed. 😭

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skipmode

I watched the whole drama mostly in skip mode, and honestly, it often felt like a loop of intense breathing scenes and forced kissing contests. The romantic tension was pushed so heavily that it started to feel repetitive rather than emotionally meaningful. Instead of building natural chemistry, many scenes seemed exaggerated and unnecessarily prolonged.

That said, the core concept of the Affinity Virus—especially the Yin & Ren dynamic—is genuinely interesting. The idea behind the biological and emotional bond has a lot of potential, and it adds a unique twist to the usual romance setup. The conflict created by this situation could have been explored in a much deeper and more psychological way.

Unfortunately, the production didn’t fully deliver on that potential. The storytelling sometimes lacked depth, and the pacing felt uneven. With stronger writing, tighter editing, and more focus on character development rather than physical tension, this drama could have been much more impactful.

Overall, Affinity had an intriguing premise, but the execution didn’t quite match the ambition of its concept.

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Flat

Affinity

Fang Jin - Wu Nongyu
Cui Yuxin - Xie Xinxu/Gu Yanqing

Um…so I’m about 8 episodes in and so far, I can definitely tell why some people may be hooked onto this. It is a short drama, so episodes are like 20 minutes long, very easy to get through. It was just so much creepier than I expected. Xie Xinxu’s character itself is just literally psycho and I am constantly scared for Wu Nongyu. I’m not really seeing the chemistry so far just because of how dominating Xie Xinxu is being. But, the plotline and storyline is so unique with the Affinity A and Affinity B people. It’s like mixing sci-fi with dark romance.

Now, I’m about 16 episodes in and the plot is definitely interesting, it’s jsut a little bit like dramatic obviously and not that believable. But, it is a short drama which is like kind of the whole point of short dramas, so I get that it’s just a genre difference. I just finished episode 16 and let me tell you, that was the most intense scene I’ve ever seen in c-dramas. Usually, c-dramas are heavily censored, so they only have a kiss or two and then the scene ends. Um, Xie Xinxu was full on grabbing onto her butt while she was on his lap…like hello. At first, he picked her up by her back to avoid picking her up by the back of her thighs, so I thought “ok, he’s a respectable man”. But, then the next second, full hand under her butt, so then I was like “ok, I take it back”.

See, now I just finished episode 18 and the whole sci-fi thing/fantasy is getting to be too much. How the heck did Xie Xinxu come to save Wu Nongyu at the exact right time when he was literally like dead before, stopped her from rolling down the hill, AND BROUGHT A DRAGON BACK!? like hello…

I’m on episode 32 and I literally see no point in watching anymore. This disappointed me. It’s very fast-paced, but the back and forth between Nongyu and Xinxu is just annoying. At one moment, they’re so close and wanting to be next to eachother 24/7. The next moment, Nongyu wants to go away and Xinxu is tieing her to him by locking her inside the house. Also, all of my favorite side characters literally died bro. Wu Siyuan and Li Xiang were my hope, I really wanted them to last. In a way, they found eachother again, but like not in the living world. My last hope is Lin Juan bro. I love his side character, he is so underused in this drama and I wish we saw more of him. Also, over the past couple episodes, the time and location jumps have just been really weird. Idk what is a dream and what is real life.

The ending was also so underwhelming. All of that buildup for 40 episdoes and that’s the ending. Just very very underwhelming.

Overall, this drama was just very flat for me. Very annoying with the back and forth and I feel like nothing really happened. Maybe it’s just the style of short dramas that I don’t like as much, but definitely wasn’t my favorite.

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> I actually liked the storyline because the virus concept was really interesting and kept the drama engaging at first. But like many Chinese dramas, it felt way too long — even 40 episodes felt unnecessary. After a certain point, the plot started dragging, and the same situations kept repeating again and again.

As for talking about the drama, I also feel like Wu Nongyu never sincerely loved Xin Xu. Throughout the drama, it always felt like Xin Xu loved Wu Nongyu more deeply than she loved him. Their relationship didn’t feel emotionally balanced to me. Compared to them, Li Xian’s love for Si Yuan felt much more genuine and sincere. You could really feel her emotions and devotion, which made their relationship more believable and touching.

Also, after Si Yuan died, the story felt stretched out even more, and it lost some of its original impact for me. The pacing became slower, and it seemed like the drama didn’t know when to end.

As for the acting, it was decent but not especially powerful or memorable. Personally, I felt Si Yuan and his girlfriend gave a better performance than the main couple. Their emotions felt more natural and convincing, which made their scenes more impactful for me.

Overall, the drama had a strong idea and a good start, but the excessive length and repetitive storytelling weakened the experience for me.

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SCI/FI OMEGAVERSE -ish

*Affinity (2026): The Omegaverse Drama That Refuses to Call Itself Omegaverse*

When *Affinity (2026)* premiered, many viewers focused on its romance, science-fiction premise, and psychological tension. Yet as the series unfolds, it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore one question:

**Why isn't this categorized as Omegaverse?**

For fans familiar with the genre, *Affinity* checks an astonishing number of boxes. While it never explicitly markets itself as an ABO (Alpha/Beta/Omega) story, it borrows many of the genre's defining concepts and repackages them within a science-fiction framework built around genetics rather than fantasy.

## The Alpha and Omega Dynamic Is Front and Center

The most obvious clue is that the series openly discusses **Alphas and Omegas**. Rather than treating these as metaphors for personality types, the story presents them as genetically influenced biological classifications that determine instinctive attraction and compatibility.

That alone immediately evokes the core premise of Omegaverse fiction.

Instead of relying on supernatural lore or werewolf mythology—as many early Omegaverse stories did—*Affinity* grounds these dynamics in genetic engineering, making them feel like a plausible product of future science.

This approach doesn't reject Omegaverse.

It modernizes it.

## Instinct Over Choice

One of the defining characteristics of Omegaverse is the tension between **biological instinct and personal agency**.

Throughout *Affinity*, Wu Nong Yu and Xie Xin Xu repeatedly question why they are drawn together despite logic telling them otherwise.

The synopsis itself highlights:

> "Their inexplicable attraction."

That wording is remarkably familiar to longtime Omegaverse readers.

Rather than falling in love through traditional romance tropes, the characters appear driven by something encoded deep within their biology something neither fully understands nor can easily resist.

This conflict between instinct and emotion is one of the genre's most recognizable themes.

## Genetics Replaces Fantasy

Perhaps the show's biggest innovation is replacing pheromones, heats, and mating instincts with **genetic science**.

Instead of saying:

*"They're destined mates because they're Alpha and Omega."*

The series essentially asks:

*"What if genetic engineering created humans whose biology naturally compelled them toward certain partners?"*

This shift transforms what would normally be fantasy into speculative science fiction.

It's an elegant adaptation that allows mainstream television to explore many of the same concepts without invoking the Omegaverse label, which still carries niche and fanfiction-associated connotations.

## Why It Probably Isn't Marketed as Omegaverse

There are several reasons why the creators may have avoided the label.

First, "Omegaverse" is still strongly associated with online fanfiction communities, particularly Boys' Love (BL) and explicit romantic fiction. Marketing a mainstream television drama under that banner could create preconceived expectations that the production may not intend to fulfill.

Second, Chinese media regulations often encourage creators to frame speculative concepts through science and technology rather than overtly sexual or socially controversial genre conventions. By presenting Alpha and Omega traits as genetic phenomena, the series fits comfortably within a science-fiction narrative.

Third, *Affinity* appears more interested in exploring questions of identity, free will, and human evolution than reproducing every traditional Omegaverse trope. It borrows the framework without necessarily embracing all of the genre's conventions.

## Is It Actually Omegaverse?

That depends on how one defines the genre.

If Omegaverse is viewed narrowly as stories involving heats, mating bonds, pheromones, knotting, and hierarchical reproduction then *Affinity* only partially qualifies.

However, if Omegaverse is understood more broadly as fiction centered on biologically determined Alpha/Omega dynamics, instinctive attraction, and the struggle between genetics and personal autonomy, then *Affinity* arguably belongs within that family.

In many ways, it resembles what might be called **"hard science-fiction Omegaverse."**

Instead of magical biology, it offers engineered biology.

Instead of destiny, it offers genetics.

Instead of fantasy, it offers speculative evolution.
Final Thoughts

*Affinity* occupies an intriguing space between mainstream science fiction and Omegaverse storytelling. It retains many of the genre's philosophical foundations—biological compatibility, instinctive attraction, Alpha and Omega classifications, and the conflict between nature and free will—while translating them into a more scientifically grounded narrative.

Whether the omission of the "Omegaverse" label is a marketing decision, a response to cultural expectations, or a deliberate attempt to broaden the show's appeal, the similarities are difficult to dismiss. For many viewers familiar with ABO fiction, *Affinity* feels less like a departure from Omegaverse and more like its evolution: a version refined for a wider audience, where genetics replaces fantasy but the emotional and biological questions remain strikingly familiar.

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Beauty and the Beast

The reason I watched it was the unique plot. This genetic attraction virus. Destiny, obsession, passion, violence... what should you expect? A bit of everything, a thread that isn't always logical, "romantic" moments, bloody ones, fantasy... and there's even a dragon!?!
From what I understand, these two types of people, the Ren (B), are looking for their own Yin (A) to "pack" with and become permanently and inextricably united.
The experiment was launched to transform people into weapons: antisocial, aggressive, and unloving, kept under control with tranquilizers injected with large syringes as an antidote.
This Ren, accused of killing his parents, becomes obsessed with this girl, the sister of this special agent. They will marry, but until they consummate the marriage, their bond will not be irreparable, and that won't happen right away.
After seeing that her brother is against their union and does everything to separate them, she decides to stay by her husband's side, but with the mission of making them get along.
When cornered, her brother confesses to him that he had his parents killed, then kills himself. She blames her husband for not stopping her brother and wants to distance herself from him, but he doesn't want to and holds her hostage.
Then it becomes even more intricate and chaotic. The search for these "fragments," dreams, memories, reality... is chaos.
I started with an 8* rating, but here I've dropped in free fall to a 6*.

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