This was the very first Chinese BL… scratch that, very first Asian BL… that I ever watched. It was suggested to me after I accepted the fact that I was gay, so this drama is loaded with bittersweet nostalgia for me.
This show seamlessly alternates between being slice-of-life and melodrama. Though Gu Hai’s abusive behavior is very off putting and in poor taste, the narrative and acting manage to make Bai Luoyin and Gu Hai charismatic and interesting anti-heroes throughout their individual characters’ developments. Added to that, the setting was so normal compared to other dramas, set in an average neighborhood with the colors all muted like in a high quality home video. It helps create an intimacy with the audience that blurs the line between escapism and realism. The opening and closing theme songs were both melancholic and phenomenal, the former being gentle and the latter being the sort of mournful that heals. The actors seem to be having a lot of fun working together, and they exude carefree humor throughout the performance.