I was looking forward to On1y One as it gave me an impression that it'd be a BL in a similar vein to Addicted/Stay With Me, with what its teenage step-brother BL. It shared a lot of those basic beats with those series that it had me intrigued to see a Taiwanese interpretation of such a dynamic. I am also aware that this is actually based off of a novel of its own, but I've not personally read it so I know that going into this review I'm not as in-the-know of the finer details of the story aside from what I find pointed out on Twitter.

But as I've been watching this show...my interest waned over the weeks, I must say. I don't mind a nice slow burn story, and sure enough this season may not cover most of the novel, but reviewing this show on its own merit as a singular season with how they've presented the relationship...I'm not that satisfied with the ending. If it's supposed to lead to a second season - one that's not even technically confirmed to be in production at the time of writing - that's cool and all, but this season just feels very lacking. I'd hardly say this show is re-watchable, personally. At least if it's the only season we ever get to see.

That said, I did love Sheng Wang and his journey of self-discovery and his feelings towards Jiang Tian. I'm also a big fan of the secondary cast of friends. But what certainly caught my attention the most was Qi Jia Hao. His little venture throughout the season was in particular very fun to visit and I really wanted to see more of what he would get up to. Hopefully the second season does a bit more with him if it ever comes.

The overall romance is a slow one. And not just a slow burn. It's like we're watching an initial spark being made in real time so we can get to that burn. Yes, there's kissing in the beginning of the show, but the actual meat of the romantic tension is very, very quiet. It's like the most gentle breeze ever. The chemistry is certainly there and I adore both Liu Dong Qin and Benjamin Tsang for what they bring to the characters. I guess it would be nice if the pace would pick up a little bit as both Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian are dancing around the fact that they like each other and when the mutual pining is so obvious it gets to a point where I'm just hoping one of them takes the dive and does something a little more explicitly romantic.

There's also the secondary couple in the two male teachers who get into a bit of a love triangle and honestly? I. Could. Not. Care. Less. I feel like what the show is trying to do is almost present them as a parallel of sorts to the main couple but I do not see what purpose they really have in the show, and especially in this season. Undoubtedly they'd get more of a development in a hypothetical season season, but I can't imagine I'd be any more interested in what goes on with them. It's so obvious they're into each other and dancing around the truth from the get go that I caught that when I first saw them on screen, and considering we're following a primary couple with a similar story I don't really wanna see it twice.

The secondary couple is perhaps my personal least favourite part of the show. It feels like a drag when they're given the focus and I don't really recall if any of their scenes - bar THAT one in episode 11 - really impact JT and SW in any meaningful way. They feel like they could be removed or replaced and nothing would change. Why were they made teachers at the school? Seemed a bit like an excuse to put them in a love triangle and so we'd have an excuse to see them more often in context of the main boys. I dunno...eventually I just got to a point where I'm waiting for Sheng Wang and Jiang Tiang to show up again.

I feel like perhaps there could have been a review as to what scenes may or may not have been worth shifting to a potential second season and what could have been shifted over into this season to give it a more satisfying end. I don't know the novel, so maybe this was the best outcome in adapting it. However, I definitely think the end credits scene in Episode 11 - IYKYK - was...out of left field? I like the scene and what it does to inform us about Jiang Tian's backstory, however it felt so bizarre that we suddenly saw it in Episode 11 of a 12 episode season of all places. Am I the only one? Would it not have been a better fit, say, either at the very end of this season so we literally end on a saucy bit of exposition, or in the second season where it'd be adjacent to scenes that would better explain its context? It was a FASCINATING scene in the grander scope of the narrative of course but it feels like it was kinda plopped at the end of an episode and so close to the end of this season as well.

As for the last episode...yeah, uh, kind of a let down? I've already said I wasn't satisfied with the ending, but in general I just found myself amused at the fact that the main emotional conflict was...Sheng Wang moving classrooms. I'm sorry that really did take me out of it a bit because...huh? They already live together in the dorms so they don't really lack an opportunity to communicate or spend time together. Yeah, they're not in the same class but still. I wouldn't have minded this honestly if such a deal wasn't made out of it in the episode. It stops being a dramatic moment and feels a bit silly.

Overall, would I recommend this show? Yeah. I would. I absolutely would. The chemistry is there and I love the leads. I think if a slow burn and self-discovery is up your alley you'd like this. Plus the secondary cast is actually really fun to watch so all the friendship scenes and bonds between characters add some levity and vibrance to the show.