Unhealthy with slight realism and a silver of BDSM?? We're here for it.
No bias. Giving a show 10/10 when its barely aired isn't helpful
MAJOR EDIT 4/7/26 - THIS DRAMA NEEDS SERIOUS TRIGGER WARNINGS AS OF EP4 and EP5! IT IS NOT IN THE TAGS. Some will say it's a spoiler but any content regardless of its form (books especially adhere to this!) needs to put people's wellbeing first.
Yes this CBL challenges and pushes boundaries, which must be commended and nobody can ever deny it.
**But for those who need it, there is strong SA depiction in Ep4. The context does. not. matter. It still is, and that is that.
-----
3/7/26 Raw honest thoughts. Before embarking on this drama I didn't expect much. I hadn't seen a BL in over a year and wanted to find a new title.
First 10mins is an appetiser. I suggest you grab more holy water to drink prior to episode 2. They literally, kid you not, swan dived from 0-1000. I actually exited to make sure I was on the right episode lol.
Even as I'm writing this, it's unbelievable to see how bold and far Chinese BLs have come in such a short period of time.
They really did not hold back with "Deep In"
It can't be denied that there is great chemistry between them, at no point did anything feel forced at all. Great casting of new faces, and I imagine they'll be more popular and appreciated after this. However I find that it's extremely fast paced at the start - I do think it could go slower and it wouldn't be problem. With 12 episodes, it does make sense that a time skip was needed.
Hence pacing is a slight issue here I think, no build up - it impacts the immense satisfaction that comes with some kind of build up or tension prior - like background of the characters (but this remains to be seen as more ep are to come, I may have to retract this statement depending on what follows from here). There's no establishment other than both have girlfriends and are actors.
For Ollie in particular - I cannot believe he is only 20 years old. I was completely pulled in when he played the psychartrist, it's a completely different persona to Zhen Xin (also I loved this name because it's also a pun for "true honesty" and it's self explanatory!).
Very mature presence, holds a wealth of intimidation just by a single look to Zhang Zhun.
At only 23, Shu Yuan portrays the sweet and gentle Zhang Zhun, and I thought he would be the younger one here, but it goes to show the chemistry is literally there - in the awkwardness, and growing tension the more scenes they share together as their own characters.
This work reminds me instantly on the kmovie "Method" With a similar theme, where both are actors and needed to build chemistry and the lines blur between reality and acting, which is something fans often wonder about the drama world. But Method has more of a mindf//k and darkness thrown in, with little bit of an arthouse feel to it which I loved.
But there is no comparison, truthfully.
It's worth noting that for DEEP IN, the setting doesn't contain much film/tv industry logic. No rehearsal. No script read prior to shoot. That opening as an audition. No intimacy coordinator for safety in that scene in Ep2.
Most wouldn't mind, depending on knowledge, but this is a slight nitpick personally, and forms the critique. I have to clarify no production would EVER EVER do things the way it's portrayed here!
There are major red flags - a real crew would have had a stroke with how vulnerable scenes are being handled, and it's not even an exaggeration. No safety or care is given to either of them, period. And there are plenty of other red flags for other scenes.
Rather than utilising the artistic choice of shots, this work excels in the emotional tension pulsing under a gaze, the pause before a line is spoken. And that alone, is enough.
This aspect so far is the highlight of DEEP IN - it carries the entirety of this drama and it's doing it brilliantly. You'll find you hold onto every expression in the eyes, and their body language, and it beyond compensates for the average shot style.
Would recommend viewing similarly as a vertical drama only because the logic and safety is out of the window - most ESPECIALLY how these sensitive scenes were handled.
But at the end of the day this is fiction (and I'm already stuck at 4 episodes in....) and it may not be for everyone. It's unhinged, it's toxic. But is it good? Oh, yep. This is the closest I've seen BDSM portrayed in a Chinese drama, let alone a Chinese BL. Albeit not the healthiest, consent is blurred, but still, this is a first, if any.
Can't wait for more episodes. It's by no means perfect, but the mystery why Zhen Xin feels the way he feels remains to be seen, it certainly pulls you in deep with each ep :)
Will update once drama finishes airing.
MAJOR EDIT 4/7/26 - THIS DRAMA NEEDS SERIOUS TRIGGER WARNINGS AS OF EP4 and EP5! IT IS NOT IN THE TAGS. Some will say it's a spoiler but any content regardless of its form (books especially adhere to this!) needs to put people's wellbeing first.
Yes this CBL challenges and pushes boundaries, which must be commended and nobody can ever deny it.
**But for those who need it, there is strong SA depiction in Ep4. The context does. not. matter. It still is, and that is that.
-----
3/7/26 Raw honest thoughts. Before embarking on this drama I didn't expect much. I hadn't seen a BL in over a year and wanted to find a new title.
First 10mins is an appetiser. I suggest you grab more holy water to drink prior to episode 2. They literally, kid you not, swan dived from 0-1000. I actually exited to make sure I was on the right episode lol.
Even as I'm writing this, it's unbelievable to see how bold and far Chinese BLs have come in such a short period of time.
They really did not hold back with "Deep In"
It can't be denied that there is great chemistry between them, at no point did anything feel forced at all. Great casting of new faces, and I imagine they'll be more popular and appreciated after this. However I find that it's extremely fast paced at the start - I do think it could go slower and it wouldn't be problem. With 12 episodes, it does make sense that a time skip was needed.
Hence pacing is a slight issue here I think, no build up - it impacts the immense satisfaction that comes with some kind of build up or tension prior - like background of the characters (but this remains to be seen as more ep are to come, I may have to retract this statement depending on what follows from here). There's no establishment other than both have girlfriends and are actors.
For Ollie in particular - I cannot believe he is only 20 years old. I was completely pulled in when he played the psychartrist, it's a completely different persona to Zhen Xin (also I loved this name because it's also a pun for "true honesty" and it's self explanatory!).
Very mature presence, holds a wealth of intimidation just by a single look to Zhang Zhun.
At only 23, Shu Yuan portrays the sweet and gentle Zhang Zhun, and I thought he would be the younger one here, but it goes to show the chemistry is literally there - in the awkwardness, and growing tension the more scenes they share together as their own characters.
This work reminds me instantly on the kmovie "Method" With a similar theme, where both are actors and needed to build chemistry and the lines blur between reality and acting, which is something fans often wonder about the drama world. But Method has more of a mindf//k and darkness thrown in, with little bit of an arthouse feel to it which I loved.
But there is no comparison, truthfully.
It's worth noting that for DEEP IN, the setting doesn't contain much film/tv industry logic. No rehearsal. No script read prior to shoot. That opening as an audition. No intimacy coordinator for safety in that scene in Ep2.
Most wouldn't mind, depending on knowledge, but this is a slight nitpick personally, and forms the critique. I have to clarify no production would EVER EVER do things the way it's portrayed here!
There are major red flags - a real crew would have had a stroke with how vulnerable scenes are being handled, and it's not even an exaggeration. No safety or care is given to either of them, period. And there are plenty of other red flags for other scenes.
Rather than utilising the artistic choice of shots, this work excels in the emotional tension pulsing under a gaze, the pause before a line is spoken. And that alone, is enough.
This aspect so far is the highlight of DEEP IN - it carries the entirety of this drama and it's doing it brilliantly. You'll find you hold onto every expression in the eyes, and their body language, and it beyond compensates for the average shot style.
Would recommend viewing similarly as a vertical drama only because the logic and safety is out of the window - most ESPECIALLY how these sensitive scenes were handled.
But at the end of the day this is fiction (and I'm already stuck at 4 episodes in....) and it may not be for everyone. It's unhinged, it's toxic. But is it good? Oh, yep. This is the closest I've seen BDSM portrayed in a Chinese drama, let alone a Chinese BL. Albeit not the healthiest, consent is blurred, but still, this is a first, if any.
Can't wait for more episodes. It's by no means perfect, but the mystery why Zhen Xin feels the way he feels remains to be seen, it certainly pulls you in deep with each ep :)
Will update once drama finishes airing.
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