"When will you finally admit your feelings for me?"
There aren't many (censored) BLs set in ancient China, so I was curious to check this one out. At the same time, I told myself not to set my expectations too high. Does it reach the level of "The Untamed", "Word of Honor", or "Kill to Love"? No. But was it great? Definitely.
(I'm actually a little sad that, in my bubble, it received significantly less hype than Double Helix, which aired around the same time and is another drama I enjoyed.)
Starting with the OST: the opening was really enjoyable to watch and highlighted many special moments between Pei Yan Zhi and Yin Qi. It took me a little while to get into the series, but once I did, I was hooked.
The main couple was awesome. I was a huge fan of Pei Yan Zhi. His hairstyle and his grassland origins reminded me of the Göktürks in "The Long Ballad". Looking back, I can't remember many character traits of his that weren't somehow connected to Yin Qi, yet I still loved his unwavering determination to do everything for his childhood friend and later lover.
As for Yin Qi, he was an interesting love interest who could actually think for himself. Shortly after traveling back in time, he sought revenge; then came understanding, and eventually love. Their relationship felt passionate and convincing.
The second couple, Yin Zhou and Wei Zi Ming, took hot and rough romance to a whole new level. Aside from their intimate scenes, they didn't get much interaction with the rest of the cast, but since the drama only has 8 episodes, I was completely fine with the focus remaining on the main couple.
There was also an implied third couple: Yin Heshu and Lin Xianyue. They were cute, especially Yin Heshu as Yin Qi's sister. Since BL dramas don't always give us important female characters who are genuinely likable, I was pleasantly surprised by them. That said, I would have appreciated a little more development so I could stop calling them "implied."
The plot wasn't revolutionary by any means (though maybe I've just watched too many political C-dramas). Still, it served its purpose well. It provided a solid framework for character development, and ultimately worked because of the characters and actors rather than the story itself.
While the story itself isn't particularly groundbreaking, the strong cast, passionate relationships, enjoyable NC scenes, and soundtrack more than make up for it. The characters are what truly carry this short drama and make it worth watching.
(I'm actually a little sad that, in my bubble, it received significantly less hype than Double Helix, which aired around the same time and is another drama I enjoyed.)
Starting with the OST: the opening was really enjoyable to watch and highlighted many special moments between Pei Yan Zhi and Yin Qi. It took me a little while to get into the series, but once I did, I was hooked.
The main couple was awesome. I was a huge fan of Pei Yan Zhi. His hairstyle and his grassland origins reminded me of the Göktürks in "The Long Ballad". Looking back, I can't remember many character traits of his that weren't somehow connected to Yin Qi, yet I still loved his unwavering determination to do everything for his childhood friend and later lover.
As for Yin Qi, he was an interesting love interest who could actually think for himself. Shortly after traveling back in time, he sought revenge; then came understanding, and eventually love. Their relationship felt passionate and convincing.
The second couple, Yin Zhou and Wei Zi Ming, took hot and rough romance to a whole new level. Aside from their intimate scenes, they didn't get much interaction with the rest of the cast, but since the drama only has 8 episodes, I was completely fine with the focus remaining on the main couple.
There was also an implied third couple: Yin Heshu and Lin Xianyue. They were cute, especially Yin Heshu as Yin Qi's sister. Since BL dramas don't always give us important female characters who are genuinely likable, I was pleasantly surprised by them. That said, I would have appreciated a little more development so I could stop calling them "implied."
The plot wasn't revolutionary by any means (though maybe I've just watched too many political C-dramas). Still, it served its purpose well. It provided a solid framework for character development, and ultimately worked because of the characters and actors rather than the story itself.
While the story itself isn't particularly groundbreaking, the strong cast, passionate relationships, enjoyable NC scenes, and soundtrack more than make up for it. The characters are what truly carry this short drama and make it worth watching.
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