BDSM, Bullets, Hidden Identities & Forbidden Chemistry Collide in a Battle of Love & Survival!
Two mafia themed BLs are airing right now with a similar setup, Kiss or Kill and Ash, and both came out swinging from the very beginning. But after only two episodes, Kiss or Kill has already grabbed my attention.The episodes are listed at around 25 minutes on GagaOOLala, but once you take out the opening and the behind the scenes content at the end, the actual story is closer to 20 minutes. Even with that shorter runtime, the first two episodes were packed with enough action, mystery and chemistry to keep me completely hooked.
Orion as Nie Chuan immediately caught my attention. His undercover introduction was definitely something I have never seen in a Chinese BL before. He tied up his client during a BDSM scene, and honestly, my jaw was on the floor! I was NOT expecting the series to open like that. He is absolutely stunning, but more importantly, he is such a strong actor. Then we have Dadday as Lin Yan, who is equally gorgeous and clearly hiding something beneath that calm exterior. I already need to know what his secret is.
I especially loved the flashback in Episode 2 showing how Nie Chuan and Lin Yan first met three years ago. The whole sequence with the soldiers, gunfire and chaos felt genuinely epic. Then came the rescue scene and Lin Yan being treated for his injuries, and THIS is where their chemistry really hit me. Their eye contact said so much without either of them needing to say a word. You can already feel the history, tension and unresolved feelings between them.
And Episode 3 was so intense! One moment they were about to make out, and the next, a bunch of men with guns suddenly stormed into the house with intense music playing in the background. The transition was insane!
This scene definitely lived up to the title Kiss or Kill. They were literally about to kiss, but if they had actually done it, they probably would have been killed! The timing was perfect and had me on the edge of my seat.
The action is another huge highlight. The fighting and shooting scenes are intense, the story moves quickly, and there is already such a strong sense of danger surrounding these two. With the undercover mission, arms syndicate, hidden identities, betrayal and their complicated history, there is so much potential for this story to become even bigger.
And can we talk about episode 8? WOW! That kissing and intimate scene lasted over five minutes! I was NOT expecting Episode 8 to open like that. The passionate kissing, the chemistry and how long the entire scene went on completely caught me off guard.
If I had to mention one criticism, and this is the same as for Ash (Hong BL) is the use of Anime AI in the flashback. Yes, I agree it would have been better to use real actors, but it was less than two minutes and honestly did not take away from my enjoyment of the series. The plot, chemistry, acting and overall production are far more important to me, and this series delivers on all of those. It may also have been a budget decision, and I would rather have a short anime flashback and still get the show than not have the show at all. Plus, this was not Chencan and Dadday's decision, so I would hate to see people dropping their ratings over a couple of minutes when these actors worked so hard to bring this story to life.
It’s honestly so rare to see a BL deliver action and shooting scenes this epic. I’m completely hooked and can’t wait to see what happens next!
Overall, Kiss or Kill is off to an excellent start. The plot feels fresh, the action is impressive, the chemistry is intense and I was never bored for a second. My only complaint is that I NEED longer episodes because 20 minutes is simply not enough!
9.0/10
Was this review helpful to you?
AI Flashbacks are ruining an otherwise good series.
Reasons why AI flashbacks are distracting1. They ruin the suspension of disbelief.
2. They ruin the vibe.
3. They look so childish.
4. They look cartoonish and comical, yet they are very violent scenes.
4. They break the immersion in the show.
5. They are jarring, causing my brain to do a reality check, which ruins the show,
6. Shows that use AI should have disclaimers, so viewers can decide to watch and be prepared if they choose to watch.
7. Using AI assumes that viewers like or don't mind animation, but that is a mistake; some viewers like me don't like animation and don't watch animated shows,
I like shows with real humans, which is what I am expecting to see, which is why I chose to watch this show, so seeing animated characters is very disappointing and not what I signed up for.
Was this review helpful to you?
It’s not Ash, but the fire is real.
The story is hardly original: an undercover operation, a powerful crime family, two enemies with a shared past, guns pointed at attractive faces and enough sexual tension to ignite the ammunition warehouse. Think KinnPorsche or Spare Me Your Mercy which is the bar I set for this genre.The criminal plot occasionally feels less like a true syndicate, it doesn’t feel like a Mafia-type group and more like a nice excuse to lock two handsome men inside the same house. Fortunately, the handsome leads Orion Chen and DayDay understands their roles and one can feel their intensity. Just like our two leads in Ash.
Kiss or Kill may not have the polish and feel of a major production, but it knows exactly what it is selling, danger, deception and two men who cannot decide whether to shoot each other or remove each other’s clothes. I love strong-willed gay men duking it out to see who ends up on top(our intended). The crime story still feels fake, yet the chemistry feels surprisingly genuine. Four episodes in, I’m not completely convinced by their love but I’m sufficiently seduced to continue watching. Since this was film outside the scope of the Chinese censorate I hope the intensity of the NC scenes are worth waiting for, after all, fireworks are bound to explode.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
opposing forces
Overall: I like their dynamic, and their chemistry is growing. 10 episodes about 25 minutes each. Airing on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/@%E8%B5%B4%E6%B5%B7KissOrKill and GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/8746/kiss-or-kill-2026-e01 (not in Japan or Korea)Content Warnngs: past death, child trafficking mentioned, blood, past murders/violence/blood, held against will, beaten up, murder, blood
Watch Suggestions (to take out most content warnings and focus more on the relationship)
- episode 1 watch 13-end
- episode 2 watch 3-6:30, 7:30-13:30, 14:30-end
- episode 3 watch 8-18, 19-20:30
- episode 4 watch 4:15-7:15, 13-15:30, 15:55-end
What I Liked
- tension
- fight sequences
- unique premise
Room For Improvement
- beginning felt click baity
- not totally sold on the chemistry yet
- 3 minute reshowing of the end of a previous episode
Was this review helpful to you?
Great watch with amazing actors
They're really good actors.... chemistry is just overflowing......love their acting .......... storyline and plot is so interesting ....I can't wait anymore for next episode....so excited......lots of love to team and actors of the series ......................................................................... .....Was this review helpful to you?
