This review may contain spoilers
Historically Important, Personally Just Okay
Taken on its own, without factoring in the cultural impact or the censorship controversy that followed, Addicted is a good-but-not-extraordinary drama for me.
The strongest part is the relationship between Gu Hai and Bai Luoyin. Their progression feels natural: they begin as antagonists constantly pranking and irritating each other, gradually become friends, then develop feelings, and eventually become lovers. The chemistry is less about flashy romantic moments and more about how believable they feel together. They often come across like two real people who have developed a genuine connection rather than two actors performing romance.
The story itself is very low-stakes for much of its runtime. Large portions are built around classroom antics, family issues, jealousy, and the slow evolution of their relationship. It is pleasant and easy to watch, and the relationship develops convincingly, but the plot rarely feels especially gripping.
Episode 15 is the major exception. Once Bai Luoyin fully accepts his feelings and actively chooses Gu Hai, the energy changes completely. His decision to initiate intimacy rather than continue resisting Gu Hai gives the relationship a level of confidence and heat that had been missing earlier. That episode finally made me understand why the drama caused such a reaction in 2016.
Watching it now, after seeing much more explicit and emotionally intense BL dramas, Addicted feels remarkably tame for most of its runtime. But understanding the historical context changes how I view it. This was a mainland Chinese drama openly presenting two masculine young men as romantically and sexually interested in each other without disguising the relationship as friendship or brotherhood. In that context, I understand why it became so important to BL audiences and why it still carries such a strong legacy.
As a drama alone, I would probably rate it around 8–8.5. It is well acted, the leads feel natural together, and the relationship develops convincingly, even if the story itself never completely pulled me in.
As a piece of BL history, however, I absolutely understand why Addicted became iconic.
The strongest part is the relationship between Gu Hai and Bai Luoyin. Their progression feels natural: they begin as antagonists constantly pranking and irritating each other, gradually become friends, then develop feelings, and eventually become lovers. The chemistry is less about flashy romantic moments and more about how believable they feel together. They often come across like two real people who have developed a genuine connection rather than two actors performing romance.
The story itself is very low-stakes for much of its runtime. Large portions are built around classroom antics, family issues, jealousy, and the slow evolution of their relationship. It is pleasant and easy to watch, and the relationship develops convincingly, but the plot rarely feels especially gripping.
Episode 15 is the major exception. Once Bai Luoyin fully accepts his feelings and actively chooses Gu Hai, the energy changes completely. His decision to initiate intimacy rather than continue resisting Gu Hai gives the relationship a level of confidence and heat that had been missing earlier. That episode finally made me understand why the drama caused such a reaction in 2016.
Watching it now, after seeing much more explicit and emotionally intense BL dramas, Addicted feels remarkably tame for most of its runtime. But understanding the historical context changes how I view it. This was a mainland Chinese drama openly presenting two masculine young men as romantically and sexually interested in each other without disguising the relationship as friendship or brotherhood. In that context, I understand why it became so important to BL audiences and why it still carries such a strong legacy.
As a drama alone, I would probably rate it around 8–8.5. It is well acted, the leads feel natural together, and the relationship develops convincingly, even if the story itself never completely pulled me in.
As a piece of BL history, however, I absolutely understand why Addicted became iconic.
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