Reviews

Why Deep In Just Set the New Gold Standard for Novel Adaptations

​If this show doesn’t make you fall in love with it, I don’t know what will!

​Having read the original novel, I was honestly skeptical about how they’d handle the adaptation. The book is packed with heavy, deeply traumatizing scenes that felt almost impossible to translate to the screen. But the production team completely blew me away with how sensitively and beautifully they adapted the story.

​First of all, Shuyuan and Ollie did absolute justice to their characters. On top of their incredible acting, their visuals are unreal—I am officially obsessed.

​The narrative structure is brilliant. In one universe, you have the frame story: rookie actor Zhang Zhun getting cast alongside film emperor Zhen Xin, bonding while rooming together as Zhen Xin slowly teases his way into Zhang Zhun’s heart.

​But the main universe is where the emotional core lies. Gao Zhun’s story—surviving a deeply traumatic assault and later meeting the therapist Fang Chi through his girlfriend—is dark, complex, and captivating. To me, the dynamic between Fang Chi and Gao Zhun completely stole the show. It brought something fresh, raw, and genuinely unexpected to the table rather than falling into predictable tropes.

​That intense depth and care in the storytelling is exactly why this show captured my heart.

Leia Mais

Blurred Realities make Excellent Drama

This drama was intense from start to finish. The storyline, cast, music, and production was great. It was hard waiting for the episodes to release each week. So much could happen in each episode and yet it could feel so short. It did leave me wanting more but it was because the performances by both the main and supporting cast were so engaging.

The star lead of the film pointed his romantic intensity towards is co-lead and kept pushing the drama on set as his co-lead tries to handle and understand his feelings about his advances. In a stark contrast, the characters they portray in the movie they portray are the exact opposite; with the intensity bubbling over from the seemingly shy co-lead/patient to the lead star/doctor.

The cuts between the story they were filming vs the story of the actors involved were masterfully done. The reality sometimes bends for the audience as sometimes we spent a lot of time engaged with the films story. It serves as an interesting substitute for what traditionally would be a secondary plot on the same storyline.

Additionally, I love that the main characters weren’t sidelined by green tea characters. Other characters were introduced to face push forward issues and insecurities they were facing. I felt it lead to deeper and more engaging character development. Loved it. 10/10.

Leia Mais

A humorous thriller that makes you laugh while keeping you engaged

E(1-2)
Has you hooked from the very first moment. I love how every character is busy showing off a fake side to the world and going to extreme lengths to keep the facade. "Not all that glitters is gold" .....the best way to describe both the families. There are no black or whites but every character is shades of grey. Both the episodes show the same situation but from different perspectives and the ending really makes you wish they dropped all episodes at once.

Each actor is doing their jobs so phenomenally and the story so far is engaging. The humor is on point and doesn't derail the thriller moments. Looking forward to the next eps

Leia Mais

Tragic Love Story that could have a better ending

From the start I knew that this cannot have a "happy ending" because in a love triangle by definition one of the 3 must be rejected (there are some exceptions I know). However I cannot stop myself from feeling sad for Yuzu ! for some reason, I wanted him, not Chen, to end up with the girl.

Even if, after careful consideration, one cannot say who the childhood friend really was - both boys met Hsiao-Hsia as children, even if she (incredibly) totally forgot Chen. This is another unrealistic part. Since he remembered her so vividly AND there is so great attraction between BOTH of them, how could she forget him? even after seeing the dog SHE had named?

Anyway, the worst part in the movie is the conclusion... in the 10 years while Chen is in the US, it is shown Hsiao-Hsia has more than one boyfriend, but OTHER than Yuzu. Logically, since Yuzu is still very much in love with her, and constantly around her, and had no other girlfriend, then I see no reason for her and Yuzu not to end up together! Even if they split up at some point. Give at least a chance to Yuzu !

But, of course, the author decided that Yuzu must suffer, and that's it. Like he decided the dog had to die suddenly, even if the first vet said the medical test results are much better. There should be a warning for movies, similar for the ones for "Sex scenes" or "violence", called maybe "Needlessly Cruel Author".

But probably there is something masochistic in me, because every time I see a movie like this, I root for the other guy, not the one who gets the girl. There are also movies when he childhood friend gets the girl, like the Japanese "366 days", and I was soooo sad for the "new guy" (Chen's equivalent).

So be warned if you watch this. If you are too sensitive maybe it's a good option not to watch. Or at least watch knowing it's LESS sad than "Romeo and Juliet".

From all other points of view the movie was good: the actors, the acting, the cinematography, the music, etc.

Leia Mais

Two BLs in one...

While many 12 episodes BLs are a chore, this series gives you two stories in one. We already had fictional BLs in a BL, but not done in such a way, that both stories influence each other on such a level.

As it's cliché both start out as men with a girlfriend, but watching it you feel there is something off. Ollies character is aggressive towards Shu Yuans character from the get go, he exploits Shu Yuans character when drunk which will have it's consequences. But what was just desire turns into something else.

The lines between the "actor" characters and the fictional movie characters blur. Of course there's a lot of drama, because of the girlfriends and the fact that in China being gay is quite unpopular in the entertainment industry. There are a LOT of nc-scenes too, they drive the story forward. This role was the first for both and both are very young, their chemistry is impacable. The whole team put the nc-scenes in a tasteful way, they never felt akward or cringe. Of course this is an emotional rollercoaster, it's not for the fainted hearted either.

While the production quality was superb, the dubbing was not. What may be felt as "wooden" is the dubs fault, they are not lip-synced perfectly at times, the raw emotions could not be transported as well. That's my biggest critisim of this series. Otherwise a chinese production is showing Thailand how it's done. The stories are interesting, the script is not silly and nc-scenes are not considered just "fanservice". Overall a recommendation from me!

Leia Mais

An amazing slice of life drama that made me think about life

This is an absolute gem of a show. It's the first time i've binged a slice of life drama. China tends to do these dramas really well and this was really one of the best.

Things I liked:
- That this was set in Chengdu, one of my fav cities in China and the characters spoke the local dialect often, nice touch! i also loved how they brought out the relaxing ways of chengdu's local culture - the teatimes, taking the time to relax in a busy period etc. i love it.
- the acting was really good. ren su xi was great in this as usual (and had alot of really funny dialogue for her character which she delivered well) but i also like the dong jiaxi actress alot.
- the parent-child dynamics especially between ren su xi and her mum/dad, all the misunderstandings, annoyance, frustration but ultimately love. it reminded me alot about my own relationship with my parents and was a reminder to be patient with them and treat them better
- while im not a fan of the insurance industry and how it's run in my country, i appreciate how this drama shone a spotlight on the job and how it's really run. it also showed other less popular jobs - a civil servant working in the neighbourhood post, an aspiring theatre actress/director/writer and a beauty influencer. i liked that the drama showed the day to day of each role, even the unglamourous bits and it was this realism that i loved.
- the sismance was amazing, i love it when all the females in a drama are written to get along, they had their differences and were all very different people and had their own lives but still supported one another in their own ways, i love it. it's a very realistic portrayal of close friendships - that you dont have to be together 24/7 to be considered good friends
- the 3 romances (minus Gou Dan Dan's) were all very cute and sweet. the men all were nice and treated their ladies well.
- the biggest one for me is that this drama actually inspired me to take a look at my life and how i was leading it and why i was working. what was all the busy-ness for - for money? and at the risk of what - physical and mental health, not spending time with one's family? it also made me rethink what success meant and how it looked like. and what it meant to chase your dreams and not have it be fulfilled or having to park it aside for family, or having it manifest successfully in other ways (jiaxi's trajectory). i loved how resilient all our 4 ladies were in their own ways and how even if they had challenges along the way, they always found a way out.

Things I liked less:
- I didn't enjoy Gou Dan Dan's personality much or her storyline. I ff-ed alot of her scenes in the last third of the drama as I just wasn't interested in her romance with the new guy either. Her character is headstrong, stubborn, defiant and not very open, a combo i dont quite enjoy in a person. Also her thing with her husband dragged on for sooooo long I just got tired of it after awhile
- The over-focus on the romance which kicked in the last half of the drama, i just am not interested lol

Leia Mais

please, dont expect any high expectations before the drama aired

In my opinion, the reason of the low rating is because the high expectations of this drama.
So...🙂
If this is not starred by nowaday popular stars, I doubted the low ratings even if the story had a very bad editing and directing
Anyway, as for now:
The story
While I still watch this and it's not a bad story, I had to admit the repetitive stories of the leads
They had that push and pull, one step ahead, two steps back by the next
And the story did good to every single person in the story, even the Fml, except for the ML and it's not fair
Many plotholes are not explained, even after almost the last episode (im on 23 currently)
The most important one is the swapping baby thing, who did that actually?
And weird one is, so the male lead lives with the name of Boze, while Boze lives with Qingyi's name?
Kinda weird, bcs they had to switch back to their real name after using it for 12 years.
All of the characters in the story are such red flags.
The mother keeps calling him a bad luck bcs he's too late to inform them about the station's explosion. This one is a consistent character for me, and Myolie did good on this character.
The sister is also consistent although I'm really questioning, who in the hell cast her in the first place? Her acting is so meh for me.
Who's not consistent?
The abusive adoptive father. He fed him raw meat, but also show a little bit of fatherly love to him too, which makes me think, do you love him or not? Anyway, the actor is kind of good portraying the adoptive father
Qingyu. He loved Ms Ye,but he didnt even chase her. He claimed to love Qingyi, but he ended up always hurting him and always didnt trust him whenever Qingyi gives info for the family. He even sent him abroad, so there'll be no conflict. He sent him to jail to avoid conflict with the huo, without even defending him although they are from a wealthy family. He knows Qingyi loves Susu but still using susu to kill someone. Do you even called that love?
Even Qingyi's character is also inconsistent. He cut off Susu after the death of his brother, although it's 6 years later, if you cut off someone, then you cut them off, not chasing over someone who didnt even want you and called you things. Even if you had a child together, then the only one you should focus is the child and not the mother, who didnt even want you to be a father of your own child.
About the acting, the reason I give it a 10 is because they actually could pull off their charcaters perfectly (except the sister ofc)
In my opinion, zlh could led me to Murong Qingyi's feeling perfectly. There's some missed point here and there, yes, but as a walnut i wanted to give him a chance to learn.
Churan too, while some people said she's so stoic, but for me, she's perfect here. So red flag that i never guessed she will ever act as red flag so perfectly. Although she, too missing some points on the emotional scenes
Rewatch value is a 5 for me. I dont think I will always comeback and rewatch this.
Why there's no rating about the editing?
If they had, i will only gives it a 3
Im sorry but even zlh's team takes the expression of zlh during the death of his brother so much better than the one they put on the drama. They cut it down and it sucks.
Remember the pororo plane?
I dont want to talk about the CGI editing. It sucks.

Leia Mais

The elements are there but in the end is unsatisfying

This is a drama about love and men's obsession with women. We are given many examples of this, the primary one being our ML and FL's relationship; but also the FL1 and her first husband; the FL and her first husband's brother; and the second couple. Although there are many other little subplots about marriage and courting that I won't go into here, but suffice to say it is about showcasing these dynamics more than the plot that is the central theme of the show.

Can you count the plot holes? The story at times jerks along dropping plot lines willy nilly while introducing another new character that isn't around long enough for you to care.

Holy Batman, the amount of rescues in one episode is off the chart! Attacked, kidnapped, drugged, etc... that this FL goes through in a very short period of time feels like you are on a bullet train. Most of this is so vertical drama cringe tropey that when the ML climbed the mountain for the Special Flower in an early episode I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. Totally ridiculous. Which again means you can't really care about these characters.

The ML and FL's best moments were in the beginning when they were working along the same lines and thinking out loud the same things. That gave me hope, but this was quickly thrown away so she can be clever and icy to everyone.

Why I dropped it (and speed watched about 10 episodes before quitting):

1.) Why did the soul of the FL1 return? There is no compelling reason for her to come back such as revenge. I was expecting the show to go into why the Gu family was exceuted. I found this lack very strange and it prevented me from caring for the icy lead.

2.) The relationship between the FL1 and her first husband was never fully explored or even justified. We are led to think that he didn't save her family and that was why but in a flashback we are shown that he did try and the emperor refused. Why doesn't she hate the emperor instead?

3.) If Fl1 couldn't care for first husband because the relationship was arranged by her parents for power (heavily implied since he found her in a woodshed (!!) during a rainstorm when he was returning from a trip) that's fine but you need to show us more of that past relationship. I can't help but think of The Double when we were shown clearly the dysfunction of the FL's first marriage and how that relationship split apart.

In the end they try to redeem the first husband and this further destroys the FL's character. "Why couldn't she like such a nice, misunderstood guy?"

I actually like the actress playing the FL and loved her in Blossom (which is a rewatch for me) but the script writers did her dirty in this one. They made her cold far too long, and never gave us an explanation on why she was that way. Some flashbacks to Fl1's parents, showing they were manipulative or always seeking power would help to explain this or give us a reason to sympathize.

They also did the ML dirty. The same old trope of 'sick poisoned prince' is tiresome. We are supposed to believe he is giving free will to the heroine and that is how he differs from first husband. BUT in the end the ML is just as manipulative, but more open about it. On New Years he pressures her to give him the knot that she had made for her father; he again pressures her to set a date for the wedding (I'm going to dieeeee, marrrry meeee!).

I was really hoping this might become my next great Cdrama watch but it was not to be. It's a decent enough watch (I guess) but the plot holes, the lack of depth in the characters, and the silly ending will make you sigh (and not from love).

Leia Mais

Deep In the story. Deeper in their feelings.

I had been looking forward to Deep In ever since it was announced, and somehow it still managed to exceed my expectations.
On paper, the premise sounds relatively simple. Zhang Zhun and Zhen Xin are two young actors cast as the leads in a BL drama. One plays the brilliant Dr. Fang Chi, the other his patient, Gao Zhun. As filming progresses, they become increasingly immersed in their roles, and the emotions they portray on screen begin to seep into their real lives. Suddenly, rehearsals no longer feel like rehearsals, every glance carries a different meaning, and the line between performance and reality slowly disappears. What starts as acting evolves into something far more complicated—filled with longing, confusion, obsession, and feelings neither of them knows how to define.

The "drama within the drama" concept is easily my favorite aspect of the series.
We constantly switch between the fictional drama—where they become Dr. Fang Chi and Gao Zhun—and the behind-the-scenes reality of filming. Normally, this kind of structure can become confusing, but here it's executed beautifully. Every transition serves a purpose. As the episodes progress, you almost stop noticing whether you're watching the characters or the actors because, little by little, neither can they.

That psychological blur is what kept me completely hooked.
Then there are the performances.
I honestly couldn't believe how young the two leads are. Ollie and Shu Yuan deliver performances that feel incredibly confident and emotionally nuanced. They don't rely on exaggerated expressions or dramatic monologues to sell their emotions.
Their chemistry is, without question, one of the strongest I've seen in a Chinese BL.
It never feels manufactured for fan service. Instead, it develops naturally through stolen glances, awkward silences, quiet conversations, and the growing uncertainty of two people who can no longer separate their characters' feelings from their own.

And yes... I have to mention that snow scene.
There's no grand declaration of love, no dramatic speech. Instead, everything is conveyed through silence, trembling voices, teary eyes, and one simple sentence that says more than "I love you" ever could. It felt intimate, painfully honest, and incredibly cinematic. I genuinely rewatched it several times before moving on.

The pacing is another reason why I enjoyed the drama so much. Every episode left me wanting more, and Fridays genuinely became something to look forward to. I also loved that the post-credit scenes weren't just bonus fan service—they often added meaningful little moments that made the characters feel even more real.
If you enjoy slow-burn romance, psychological tension, blurred realities, and stories that trust their audience, this is a series I couldn't recommend more.

Leia Mais

A Trope I Always Wanted To See

If you've ever wondered whether actors fall for each other for real, if they ever develop real feelings, then drama is definitely something you'd enjoy! It might be my favourite drama of 2026! And I don't hand out 10s willy nilly. PS. Every episode has an end credit scene!

Trigger Warning: rape depiction; mild spoilers ahead

From the very first opening shot, Deep In (the Act) had me hooked. One must note that it doesn't perfectly follow how actors on sets are managed. The focus is on how 2 actors dive into their roles in order to get intimate and lines start to blur between fiction and reality. Both actors are straight and these feelings make them feel confused.

The drama really upped the game for all Chinese BLs with their NC scenes. Going from watching BL stories turned into bromance to no holds bar drama was quite shocking. At the same time, there is no nudity and yet you can feel the sexual tension and chemistry between the characters! The intimate scenes were really done well.

The shift between the actors' lives and drama scenes at times are really seemless and watching the drama scenes were quite enjoyable. It was like watching 2 dramas for the price of one.

Regarding the rape scenes, I do want to mention that this was dealt as a serious topic rather than an act of love by a partner. It was treated as negative and not romanticised in anyway. It was important to the story of the drama they were starring in. However, it can be uncomfortable/traumatic to watch, especially ep 6.

Deep In really sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions, including anger and disgust. I found myself waiting excitedly for each episode's release. This is a drama that is best binge watched because waiting became hard.

The actors, Ollie and Shu Yuan did a great job creating a distinction between themselves as actors and the roles they were playing, especially Ollie. He's only 20 but I was really taken aback by his talent. I can't believe he was the same kid from Boys Planet. The improvement has been spectacular! I genuinely hope both of them get flooded with more projects after Deep In. All the supporting actors did a good job even when they made you hate them and made the show a fun watch!

The drama's cinematography and OST are brilliant. Back To You and Tiger In My Love (sung by Ollie) are my current favourites but Titanic is another lovely song. Also the ending song in ep12 was amazing.

I hope everyone gives this drama a fair chance and hopefully you'll also experience the charm of Deep In!

Leia Mais

THIS SERIES IS SOO GOODD

I enjoyed every episode it's sooo good like the actors and actresses are soo goood looking the plot, the story, etc. all soo good they had a budget very well spent.

The story flow was also good I need to see more asap very good series ☺️👍

Leia Mais

Had so much potential, but fell short of my high expectations

This is a drama I’ve been waiting for a long time. There were rumors it wouldn’t air for another year, so I’m glad it finally came out. Song Weilong and Ju Jingyi are also two of my favorite actors. To be honest, after finishing it, I felt quite disappointed. If it weren’t for the last two episodes, my rating would have been even lower.

The first part was pretty fun, but the middle to the later episodes were really boring. The female lead’s character is quite annoying — she’s gullible and overthinks everything. That said, I can understand her because the male lead keeps hiding things and doing stuff without telling her. However, the second male lead was the most annoying character in the entire drama for me. Song Weilong looks handsome and cool, and his acting is decent. Ju Jingyi is very beautiful and adorable, but her performance in this drama feels repetitive — like she plays the same character in every series. Still, I’m okay with it. Their chemistry is passable, but I secretly wished there were more romantic scenes between them. The editing is not very good; it feels messy and confusing at times. The visuals, CGI, and some costumes look quite dated, but I understand since it was filmed a long time ago. The supporting cast is fine. Personally, I really liked Liu Mengrui as Ge lin — her acting was cute and charming. I hope she gets to play a lead role soon. The last two episodes feel like a summary wrap-up. If the story had been handled like this from the beginning, there wouldn’t have been a need for 33 episodes lol.

Overall, If you’re a fan of Ju Jingyi or Song Weilong, I’d say go for it. Their presence definitely carries the drama and makes it more enjoyable. However, if you’re not particularly a fan of either, this one is pretty average and skippable. The story starts off strong with good potential, but it drags heavily in the middle, has pacing issues, and some annoying characters that might frustrate you. The last two episodes help tie things together nicely, but it still feels like it could have been much tighter. Watch it if you have time and don’t mind a slower-paced xianxia romance, but you definitely won’t miss anything groundbreaking if you skip it.

Leia Mais

Good Chemistry, A Fun Watch!

Now, did I fast forward through most of the show? Yes. But still, here I am, writing a review about this one.

I FF'd it because I was not in the mood for any business politics/rivalry etc. Not that the drama does a good job depicting that. But it had chemistry. Logic, not so much, but very good chemistry, and it had entertainment value. All the reviews mention a lot about making fun of romance drama tropes, and it is fun when you recognise them, but at the same time the drama stands on some of those famous tropes as well.

All in all, it was really entertaining. SML was good, but everything works out for the best in the end, so we don't feel too sad for him.

AND I ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE CAMEO AT THE END, an actress I really like! The FL in this drama is really good, but I wish it was the cameo actor who did that role instead.

Did I mention I really liked the Chemistry between the leads?

Just turn off the critical logical part of your brain and enjoy the butterflies.

Leia Mais

I read the manhwa before so I knew what to expect going in. I might have given a lower rating if I watched this as it's own thing because there are definitely some things that could have been done differently but it's very accurate to the manhwa, as an adaptation it's honestly perfect.

Things I enjoyed:
-The actors are doing an amazing job! I love all of their performances.
-Made me both laugh and cry.
-Love the chemistry between Sun and Jay.
-Jay's uncle. Such a comforting character haha
-Pretty satisfying ending. At least there weren't loose ends left altho I feel like some characters deserved worse after everything they did.
-Opening ost.
-Didn't make me cringe like a lot of dramas usually do.
-Solid episodes from start to finish.

Leia Mais