Double Helix

Abuser X Victim: Traumatic God Awful Show!

I don't know where to start with this. I'm so tired right now. I'll try to be succinct, doubt that's gonna happen though. Double Helix is supposed to be symbolic of their relationship. Of our (ugh not mine) two main characters: Yi Chen and Lu Feng who crossed paths in high-school, found each other in college again and reconnected promising a forever love and a future together, but on contrary the Double Helix is one a zig-zag line another a squiggly line, the latter getting attacked by the former because love made it blind and also gave it a mental illness.

Lu Feng, A rich spoiled kid- brat, entitled, and inhuman selfish piece of shit. Yi Chen, our poor victim, warm-hearted dumb dumb, timid and dumb. God! I don't have adjectives for this guy other than those.

See now how I didn't have much to talk about Yi Chen, since other than being a victim and his whole life revolving around the other protagonist. We don't get much on him. Like his dreams, ambitions and a set of things he wanted for himself in his life. He lacks much of his personality(not talking about behavior). We see him hustling around, being told he is a great at this that, and we never see him being assertive, his cafe business also barely running. I hate that we are never given anything convincing to show he had a life of his own, he also turn into his assistant WTF BRO? YOU WORKED IN DESIGN OR SMTG. On the other hand, we have his brother but, we can easily see how he is different from him. He has dreams, he loves his family, and he is childish but guarded, his love life: healthy and supporting comparatively.

Lu Feng, from a strict rich family. But, he too is pathetically written like Yi Chen so there ain't much going on here and I don't care about him anyways. He has a company to inherit that's on stake because no gay, estranged relations, abusive father. He isn't passionate about anything else, other than Yi Chen. He doesn't care about anyone, not even Yi Chen.

Now let's talk about *drumroll* The Problematic Plot: It begins in high school, ML likes the other ML,Yi Chen because he has a nice smile? I don't remember much (thanks brain) Lu Feng, pretending to get hurt using this thin guy everytime, doing stupid things to get his attention. (Also they fucking ran in their school uniform not gym clothes bruh) College days and it continues more, Lu Feng is soooo pushy, all over Yi Chen, so much sexual harrasment gets excused here it was so hard to witness. From here on Yi Chen is done for, for life!

He doesn't care about the feelings of his partner, and whether he is ready or not for physical intimacy. He forces him to have sex[RAPE], also always when he needs to get Yi Chen to abide him he manipulated this guy in the name of love and their stupid vows. It was honestly so hard to watch those scenes where I expected clumsiness, gentle patience and understanding.

From here it spirals from one conflict to another, seperation after seperation from ep 2 onwards. So, the rest of 10 eps spanned over several years just doing this stupid continuous fall outs and second chances. Where we see more concerning debilitating, call the cops situations presented by: Lu Feng. Yi Chen gets conditioned to give in to everything because Lu Feng's abusive behavior and his rampant insecurity in their relationship controls as Yi Chen tries to refuse and so, he submits. I don't know if this guy is into it but at some point of time it is hard to distinguish whether he doing this because he is a masochist or because he is completely stuck in the bottomless pit of a hellhole that he believes as love and life.

Series of events unravel just to drag on plot and reach new heights in enabling the more of shit Lu Feng does as he never understands or is made to feel the weight of his actions. He selfishly paints Yi Chen as a villain for caring for his family who have been there for him his whole life. He doesn't acknowledge that he brought doom to both of his family members. Bipolar disorder doesn't justify his skewed morality. We never see him having episodes in the first place, if they were building towards this, they should show apparent and believable symptoms of the illness. Even if we were to say he was having an episode during that time when he did that. We never see the aftermath of his remorse or regret for causing harm. He just sucks as a human being, maybe with another mental illness or bunch.

Then Lu Feng drugs him, locks him up and constantly verbally, sexually abused him to the point that Yi Chen attempts suicide. After this utter depravity, rooting for them to end up together, wanting someone like him, and considering what Lu Feng did as righteous and out of love and out of yearning is fucking messed up. And arguing it is not real and it is acceptable because it's fiction is seriously vile. I don't care how everyone perceives it, if you enjoy it fine but calling it acceptable because it's fiction still negates the feelings a fictional character, for whom fiction it be, is real, the abuse happens there and he suffers A LOT.

I don't want to see homosexuals represented like this, nor would I accept a straight drama such. But, how it's disgustingly incessant and appreciated is concerning as it's being romanticized. Media such desensitizes the intensity of abuse and demoralizes the autonomy and feelings of the victim in whole. We see the exact same thing happen to Yi Chen and the drama brushed past the rape and trauma inflicted from it as if it was a phase in their relationship. He is an abuser, criminal, a rapist. He should be condemned and jailed lifetime. Yet, he is fawned over and excused because man he has mental illness.

Yi Chen goes back again for fucks sakes, I hated this drama so much for this. I don't care if Lu Feng cries that little shit uses his tears to shackle this guy and man does Yi Chen loves chains. He needs to be freed, he needs therapy, he should've been involuntarily taken to get medical help, we could've saved him but no, we need to give them a fucked up ending.

Yet Lu Feng, a criminal is free, And with a mental illness for the last episode. Stupid foreboding from ep 11, but wasn't expecting a sorry excuse of a mental disorder, wrongly diagnosed that too. And the whole episode is written even badly lol. None of it makes sense, from showing all patient records to not a guardian, disguised as a lover to check on your patient's obsession and not knowing that your patient is fucking vermin with an abuse history!! who needs to be kept away from the victim because he is a walking hazard with fragility of glass. Just because he has a mental illness doesn't means he can just get away with all of the fucking crimes he committed. Utterly bullshit. Well, dumb drama. I hate that Lu Feng gets that much understanding at his vulnerability of his mental illness(??) when the same is not offered when Yi Chen actually goes through worse and life threatening.

Seeing Yi Chen happy family made me hope that his parents would be supportive towards his sexual orientation, but writer made them die bitterly and making their children extremely sad and resentful(if not them, i am) too. The second couple was decent, only sane thing in the show. I just appreciated that it was a healthy relationship.

Complaining about the brother is dumb, he is fictional ffs bleh and right where he is coming from expect when he says that they(lu and xi) should get together that, a no! The siblings actually has a good relationship which was nice. The only thing that I liked about the mcs was the recorded video of their relationship montage in their college days played in ep 2 I think, that was cute and should've been the whole plot. 1 star considering all that. I can't rate it nothing or negative either so yeah.

A lot of the characters never appear again, the second couple barely gets any screentime. The acting is just okay, I didn't feel any chemistry between the characters, they kiss because their faces are close not because there is some tension. I didn't pay much attention to the OST since the show spends most of it's screentime ragebaiting me.

This was my first Toxic BL or whatever we call this stupid genre I don't know why such themes exist in the first place when they are gonna end up together and it is a happily ever after, given the horrifying things that are inflicted on one by their so called love interest and endgame. It doesn't offer any meaningful perspective cause I definitely don't want to understand or empathize with an abuser who, in question is never made to suffer the consequences of their actions. Not like a redemption arc would save his wretchedness, definitely ending that stupid relationship would've saved it some face and I would've tried to accept that the conflicts and abuse he endured finally over and he would get therapy and healing, finding purpose in his life.

So what's the point of Double Helix? Nothing. It is a twisted horror story where abuser and victim end up together. Not recommended. Very triggering and agitating. Don't watch this garbage.

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two lives intertwined

“Like the strands of a double helix, love and hatred twist around each other, separate, yet forever connected.”

The relationship between Lu Feng and Yi Chen is much like a double helix, two lives intertwined, pulled apart by circumstance, yet drawn back together by forces neither can fully escape. Like opposite ions attracted to one another, love becomes the invisible force binding them together. Yet as the series shows, that force can be both beautiful and destructive, carrying them deeper into an emotional abyss.

Domination reveals itself in many forms. It can be exercised through physical power, but often its strongest expression comes through emotion. The series explores how control can disguise itself as love, blurring the boundaries between devotion and possession. Much like Stockholm syndrome, one can become attached to the very force that confines them.

This is not a series for those easily offended, nor for viewers who may find its themes personally triggering. Both protagonists carry deep anger and resentment, but each manifests those wounds differently. The story walks a delicate line between obsession and affection, reminding us how fragile love can be. In the end, it suggests that love and hatred are not opposites at all, but emotions separated by only the thinnest of boundaries.

The series gets heavy and dark, emotionally intense, with superb acting that I forget it’s a BL. Just like “Gone Girl” where it explores manipulation, obsession, and the power dynamics within a relationship.

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Interesting to pathetic plot

Alright the first episodes were realistic and interesting. Loads and loads of drama, and even though some parts were cringe, they were pretty realistic so i watched it.
But after 7th episode, the story just went overboard.
I was like "what's with the pathetic excuse of a plot" it's like they were trying extra hard to make things worse in the story.
People with weak heart don't watch it. The plot is very dark and i felt it was full of unnecessary grief and all other negative emotions u could name of.
Anyways, i thought it was a waste of time and i could've just avoided feeling all heavy.
But things to be appreciated, the chemistry between the couples are super good. The actors are veryyyyy handsome and attractive and I loved their acting and almost everything..... except the PLOT 😭.

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I don't usually write reviews, but this series genuinely made me want to.

The first thing I have to talk about is the acting. Both lead actors were absolutely amazing. Nothing felt forced or overly dramatic. Every emotion felt real, whether it was happiness, jealousy, frustration, heartbreak, or love. There were so many moments where they didn't even need dialogue because their expressions alone said everything. That's what made this drama so special to me.

What impressed me the most was how natural their chemistry felt. It never looked like two actors trying to play a couple. It felt like two people genuinely connected to each other. Because of that, I became emotionally invested in their journey very quickly. I found myself smiling during the cute moments and feeling emotional during the difficult ones.

I also watched a lot of the behind-the-scenes content, and that honestly made me appreciate the series even more. Seeing how comfortable they were with each other and how much effort they put into their roles made the final result feel even more meaningful. You can tell that both actors cared deeply about the characters they were portraying.

Another thing I loved was that I was never bored. Not once. Usually, even dramas I enjoy have a few episodes that feel slow or make me want to skip ahead. With this series, every episode kept my attention. I was always excited to see what would happen next, and before I knew it, I had finished the whole thing.

The music was beautiful, the emotional scenes hit hard, and the overall production quality was great. Everything came together perfectly.

This was honestly one of the most enjoyable BLs I've watched. The emotions felt genuine, the performances were incredible, and the story kept me invested from beginning to end. It's rare for a drama to make me feel this attached to the characters, but this one definitely did.

A very easy 10/10 from me, and I would happily watch it again.

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10 episodes in and I still can’t decide how this will turn out

Up to and including episode 10:

I’ve never read the story (haven’t been able to find it in English yet) but every part of the story line has me feeling sick with frustration that these two characters seem destined to rip each other’s hearts out again and again yet naively I’m praying they get their happy ending.

The acting is utterly brilliant and painfully real so that you quickly become invested in a plot which follows the two main characters as they fall deeply in love while at school but are ripped apart by family expectations and loyalty. Toxic parents, sacrifice, guilt and jealousy, you name it, this drama has it all. Will their love survive the trials it is being put under and will their siblings actually accept them for who they are? 10 episodes in and I’m so desperate for them to get their happy ending even though right now, new road blocks block their paths back to each other. This is chef’s kiss angst.

The supporting cast are equally well acted and compelling and although I hate Yichen’s mother, I can see why she piled on the massive guilt trip that led to him sacrificing his own happiness for his younger brother. I can also see why Lu Feng’s sister is equally determined to make him conform to their father’s expectations. Additionally the second male leads are also on point - well cast and with depth to their characters. They portray flawed and complex humans and although initially Yichen’s brother is his biggest supporter and determined that he also deserves to be happy as time goes on I can see him doing a complete 180 as circumstances change in this roller coaster ride.

I’ve only ever binge watched BL stories before and it’s killing me that I’m having to wait a week for the next two episodes.

Will I watch this again? Absolutely bl**dy right I will

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Toxic BL done RIGHT

I wanna start this off by saying this was done so well.
Lu Feng was a red flag, and not one was that glossed over or made out to be something romantic. He was toxic, abusive and violently obsessed, everyone knew it and no one tried to deny that.
I was genuinely worried how they were going to end this on a happy note--but the diagnosis and psychiatrist route was not what I was expecting at all.
You find out over time that Yichen, while being a victim in it most of the time, still loved him regardless. A lot can be said about how this is a dynamic that you see a lot in abusive relationships, but things really changed when he told his brother that he was going to do what he wanted even after all the bullshit Lu Feng put him through.
Bipolar Disorder is no joke, and absolutely does not excuse anything he put Yichen through, but the diagnosis and commitment to treatment ultimately saved their whole relationship. At that point the dynamic kind of switched a bit, Yichen was in control of their relationship, Lu Feng had two options: either get treatment in order for their relationship to succeed, or lose Yichen forever--the one thing that terrified him the most and the biggest trigger of his mood disorder.
I love a good toxic bl, but I *hate* when its glorified as romance and, in my opinion, I think this was done properly.
Ayden and Sitong are brilliant actors.
If anyone keeps up with the bts and various public appearances you know they definitely take care of each other and look after one another, I am just hoping and praying for their safety and sanity.
All in all I was very impressed and I am so looking forward to more from them both.

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A beautiful mess with an unfinished feeling

I stayed invested mainly because of the leads and their chemistry, which carried a lot of the emotional weight of the drama. I enjoyed the themes of first love, separation, and finding each other again after years apart, and there were several moments that genuinely worked for me. My biggest issue was the final stretch of the story. One of the leads suddenly spirals, and for a while it feels like his behavior comes completely out of nowhere, only for the drama to reveal in the last episode that he has bipolar disorder. That is such a significant piece of information, yet it arrives so late that it doesn’t have the emotional impact or development it deserved. The last two episodes felt incredibly rushed, as if the drama expected viewers to simply accept everything without taking the time to properly explore the consequences or emotions behind it. I also really appreciated the younger brother and his partner, who brought a lot of warmth and support whenever the story became too heavy. That said, for a Chinese BL, I was genuinely surprised by how much they managed to show and imply. Considering the limitations and likely censorship involved, there were several moments I honestly never expected to see on screen, and for that alone the series deserves some credit. Despite its flaws, the chemistry between the leads kept me invested until the very end.

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At a Certain Point, This Shouldn't Even Be Considered a "Toxic Relationship"

I'll try to be as objective as possible when writing this review but I gotta admit it was a hard one to watch. And I'll cut it short because tbf there is not much to say about this series:

(This review contains heavy spoilers bear that in mind!!)

I'm gonna start with the script bc that's the only thing we should talk about this series. This story was so bad that after one point I was like "What am I watching ? Why am I watching This ?". Even from the beginning, the extensive homophobia literally made my blood run cold. Yes, it is actually very common thing to happen in real life to most of us Queers; but on the other hand as the events develop, the amount of choices that have been made regarding the homophobia they encountered is so bitter to watch and from my point of wiew, nearly unacceptable. Doen't matter how much you love your parents/friends/family, a person should always choose themselves if it comes to either them or yourself. I know saying this may sound selfish or inconsiderate, but as someone who encountered something very similar to this, I truly believe this is the only healthy choice for both parties.

Then the second main subject of this show comes before us: Obsession to the point of a person loses their mind. Even now as I am writing this review, it still sounds insane. literally insane. After the mother of Yi Chen dies, our character cuts off his communication with his brother, decides to stay married to the woman he does not love and goes into hiding. I was okay with all these decisions. Then there is a time jump of 5 years and we see the couple moved on, healed and ready to divorce to build a better life which was sweet. But then, (this is the moment this show goes to down hill . Or may I say, sorry for my vulgar language, straight up bullshit) our masochistic Lead Yi Chen decides to contact his Ex-boyfriend Lu Feng who caused so much pain to him before. And then after encountering him, he becomes a captive of his lunatic ex. Watching those episodes was very hard I have to tell. I couldn't watch some of the "sex" scenes because of how painful it is. The show doesn't say how long Yi Chen was captured (I think in one scene Yi Chens's brother and his bf talks about how they couldn't find him for a couple of months but I am not sure what events that time period contains) but we could tell it was quite long because by the end of it, the actor literally looked like he lost half of his weight.

Anyways, after everything he's been through, Yi Chen decides to be with Lu Feng once again which while I was watching that scene, I audibly laughed. that moment, I lost my very little remaining sympathy that I had towards Yi Chen. Yes, on the last episode we learn why Lu Feng acted this way and I admit discovering his condition softens some things a little but for me the main issue was not him but how Yi Chen kept coming back to Lu Feng. This is not love. The only sick one was not Lu Feng. Seeing a person wasted away like this was very sad. I wanted to talk about how the story was written badly in and on itself rather than pointing out its illogical and/or inconsistent sides because this story is very bitter and moving and I felt it should be approached emotionally to talk about it. Some of you may find this boring or think this is not a review and I respect that. I am avare that my review looks like it goes over the story mixed with my comments and I am sorry for that but as I just said, I didn't feel right to approach this any other way.

I have no comments on the music. I personally not a fan of how chinese BLs uses music but it was okay for me for this piece. The production quality was top notch. The actors literally carried everything and made this story watchable. That's all I'm gonna say about this show I think. I don't know if it's stupid to put this at the end of the review, but people who struggle with mild mental illness should NOT watch this series.

PS: I know I said I'll cut it short at the beginning but ended up writing a whole ass essay so I'm sorry lol please bear it with me.

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First Impression: Double Helix

Overall: I'm a bit leery of the dynamic, rating could change quite a bit in either direction depending on characters/plot. 12 episodes about 40 minutes each. I have not read the book this series is based on, I have watched the two one hour movies from 2016 (A Round Trip to Love) but will try to review the series based on its own merits.

Content Warnings: there are several, I'm keeping this spoiler free for now

What I Liked
- acting
- sweet moments
- I did appreciate the apology in episode 2

Room For Improvement
- the wealthy/powerful aggressive pursuer and the not wealthy/not powerful reluctant pursuee dynamic didn't work for me because the pursuee felt more like an abuse victim most of the time
- characters were a bit stupid to realize that there could have been family interference
- it's a shame the sweet moments were mainly montage, wish that would have been longer so I could root more for their romance, really hope this isn't going to be 10 episodes of abuse and then HEA in the last 10 minutes of episode 12

Question: I'm not sure when this is supposed to take place. I saw landlines but also iPhones (first created in 2007). If it's set a couple decades ago, then the other students freaking out at school would make a bit more sense because I can't see that happening now.

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