FrankIncese
USA
This review may contain spoilers
TEARS FOR DAYS
I've just finished this series and I am drained, emotionally. I cried the entire last 2 episodes. Everyone knows the ending and it is not my favorite, either. Of all the BL couples, I wanted these two to have their happy ever after more than anyone. That's what made the ending so heartbreaking. The writing suffered the most here (and there are so many high moments that it was doubly disappointing.) But I can't necessarily fault the writer for creating a tragedy. In this world of super goofy BL series, having something more serious is still welcome, despite breaking my heart.
Overall, this is one of the best series I've ever seen. It has many flaws but the honest depiction of gay, teenage love with such tenderness and vulnerability was amazing. There was an ease to the relationship conveyed with just a simple shrug or touch of the hand that conveyed so much more. These two actors really embodied their characters and found a way to express their love that few have done in this genre. The powerful direction really raised this to another level.
The series starts slowly. I wasn't a fan for the first episode or 3. So many tropes and cliches. I found both actors wooden at the start. Yes, their characters are both closed off, but neither of them could play that aspect very well. I did not believe Xiang Hao Ting's transformation at all. It came from out of nowhere and it was such a complete reversal that it felt entirely false. But once the boys start opening up to each other, it became an entirely different feeling and both actors came alive.
The middle portion is what sets this series apart from so many other BL series. This felt like a REAL romance. There was affection, tenderness, vulnerability, intimacy, an ease and comfort between them. I'm tired of BL couples who don't hold hands or kiss. That's just stupid. Who wants a relationship devoid of intimacy? No one. It defeats the purpose of creating these series. If you want to see boys falling in love... SHOW THEM falling in love. This series does that.
The issues brought up about society's tolerance or lack of tolerance were all handled fairly well. A bit trite and resolved more easily than in real life, but at least they were not ignored or used only when convenient, like in so many other series.
Loved the group of friends. Felt like they were all friends in real life. The brother-sister relationship was fantastic. The moment when Xiang Hao Ting worries that he is unlikeable and she reassures him was one of my favorites of the series.
Sun Bo and Zhi Gang's relationship was also good. I'm not normally a fan of the May-December romances in Bl series, but here it did not bother me. And from my own experience I can say, there are a LOT of boys out there who like "daddies". So it's not like this isn't happening every day all over the world. And here, with Sun Bo as the aggressor and Zhi Gang so vulnerable and resistant at the start (and indeed throughout the entire series until the very last episode), it took away the normal creepiness of this type of relationship. I think showing them together 6 years later also showed that these relationships can work out if both partners are open and honest.
For the most part the acting was very very strong. I don't think Huang Juan Zhi had a false moment. Wayne Song went from forced over-acting to some incredibly powerful moments. His breakdown in the last episode was devastating. His personal charm and charisma made up for what he lacks. Wilson Liu also vacillated between forced moments and then great, honest and vulnerable scenes. There was something so sweet and naive about him that you fell for him instantly. His friendship with Xiang Hao Ting felt very real. I also loved the sister, mother and father. Very strong performances throughout.
Aside from the ending, which felt rushed and pieced together, almost like they didn't know how to end the series and just threw it together, the writing was very strong. Wonderful lines of dialogue that I would hope someone might one day repeat to me. Very well done. The music was understated and supported the romantic nature of the storyline very well. Direction was very strong.
QUESTION FOR BL LOVERS: Why does this trope exist? "I don't like guys. I only like him." Is this because the women who write these stories and the women who mainly watch them want some hope that "He'll leave the guy when he grows up and then I can have him."??? It doesn't really make sense. If you're willing to write/watch a story where two boys fall in love, then let them be gay, or slowly come to realize they are gay. They can still be uncomfortable. They can still be unsure. They can still have eyes for only one man. I remember my first love. I don't think I even looked at another man while we were together. No one else existed, but him. Write THOSE characters.
As noted in another review, I will watch this one again - but I will probably skip the last episode and just imagine the future I had hoped for these two boys.
Overall, this is one of the best series I've ever seen. It has many flaws but the honest depiction of gay, teenage love with such tenderness and vulnerability was amazing. There was an ease to the relationship conveyed with just a simple shrug or touch of the hand that conveyed so much more. These two actors really embodied their characters and found a way to express their love that few have done in this genre. The powerful direction really raised this to another level.
The series starts slowly. I wasn't a fan for the first episode or 3. So many tropes and cliches. I found both actors wooden at the start. Yes, their characters are both closed off, but neither of them could play that aspect very well. I did not believe Xiang Hao Ting's transformation at all. It came from out of nowhere and it was such a complete reversal that it felt entirely false. But once the boys start opening up to each other, it became an entirely different feeling and both actors came alive.
The middle portion is what sets this series apart from so many other BL series. This felt like a REAL romance. There was affection, tenderness, vulnerability, intimacy, an ease and comfort between them. I'm tired of BL couples who don't hold hands or kiss. That's just stupid. Who wants a relationship devoid of intimacy? No one. It defeats the purpose of creating these series. If you want to see boys falling in love... SHOW THEM falling in love. This series does that.
The issues brought up about society's tolerance or lack of tolerance were all handled fairly well. A bit trite and resolved more easily than in real life, but at least they were not ignored or used only when convenient, like in so many other series.
Loved the group of friends. Felt like they were all friends in real life. The brother-sister relationship was fantastic. The moment when Xiang Hao Ting worries that he is unlikeable and she reassures him was one of my favorites of the series.
Sun Bo and Zhi Gang's relationship was also good. I'm not normally a fan of the May-December romances in Bl series, but here it did not bother me. And from my own experience I can say, there are a LOT of boys out there who like "daddies". So it's not like this isn't happening every day all over the world. And here, with Sun Bo as the aggressor and Zhi Gang so vulnerable and resistant at the start (and indeed throughout the entire series until the very last episode), it took away the normal creepiness of this type of relationship. I think showing them together 6 years later also showed that these relationships can work out if both partners are open and honest.
For the most part the acting was very very strong. I don't think Huang Juan Zhi had a false moment. Wayne Song went from forced over-acting to some incredibly powerful moments. His breakdown in the last episode was devastating. His personal charm and charisma made up for what he lacks. Wilson Liu also vacillated between forced moments and then great, honest and vulnerable scenes. There was something so sweet and naive about him that you fell for him instantly. His friendship with Xiang Hao Ting felt very real. I also loved the sister, mother and father. Very strong performances throughout.
Aside from the ending, which felt rushed and pieced together, almost like they didn't know how to end the series and just threw it together, the writing was very strong. Wonderful lines of dialogue that I would hope someone might one day repeat to me. Very well done. The music was understated and supported the romantic nature of the storyline very well. Direction was very strong.
QUESTION FOR BL LOVERS: Why does this trope exist? "I don't like guys. I only like him." Is this because the women who write these stories and the women who mainly watch them want some hope that "He'll leave the guy when he grows up and then I can have him."??? It doesn't really make sense. If you're willing to write/watch a story where two boys fall in love, then let them be gay, or slowly come to realize they are gay. They can still be uncomfortable. They can still be unsure. They can still have eyes for only one man. I remember my first love. I don't think I even looked at another man while we were together. No one else existed, but him. Write THOSE characters.
As noted in another review, I will watch this one again - but I will probably skip the last episode and just imagine the future I had hoped for these two boys.
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