This is the second vertical AI BL drama I've sat through, and honestly I went in knowing better. I had it on while I was doing cardio at the gym, and what struck me was just how much the plot echoed the last one I watched. Same step brother romance angle, same mystery girlfriend showing up near the end, same extra guy pining after one of the leads. Genuinely the only thing going for it was the runtime, the whole thing wrapped up in forty five minutes flat. The setup kicks off with Finn moving schools because his mom just married into money. He finds out his new step brother Aiden goes to the same place, and he's warned to keep his distance from him. Their first run in at school is rocky, just like you'd expect, but there's this odd pull between them neither can shake off. Finn keeps telling himself not to read into it because Aiden's straight and openly homophobic. Things shift when some kids start bullying Finn and the student council president, Ryan, steps in to ...
I honestly had no clue that people were making vertical BL shows in Ukraine, but this production definitely comes from there. I’m not 100% sure if they actually filmed it on the ground in Ukraine, but the production house is based there for sure. Plus, you can totally hear a clear accent that makes it pretty obvious the series was put together somewhere in Europe. Like most of these vertical BL dramas, the story hits on the usual themes of friendship, falling in love, doing what you're told, and a whole lot of mixed signals.
The story follows Jake, an orphan from a poor background who beats the odds and snags a scholarship to this super elite college. Aside from one close buddy, literally nobody likes him there, and they spend all their time putting him down. The big shot in town, William, is part of that crowd, and the two of them end up getting into a few messy situations because of it. As a punishment, the principal forced them onto the same basketball team. That’s when William starts coming on really strong to Jake, but Jake can’t tell if this is just another way for William to bully him or if it’s something real. He even has to remind William that he’s not gay. Meanwhile, William’s fiancé, Linda, is losing her mind over this and keeps dreaming up new ways to humiliate Jake. When William’s dad catches wind of what’s happening, he lays down the law and tells his son he has to marry Linda and quit with all these games. By this point, even though Jake and William are both catching major feelings, William tries to play it off like he actually likes Linda, which totally breaks Jake’s heart. Eventually, William’s friend spills the beans to Jake about what’s really going on, and the two of them finally share a kiss and spend the night together. But once the dad finds out, he has Jake kicked out of the school. That’s the final straw for William, and he stands up to his father, saying he won’t be pushed around anymore and will do anything for his love, Jake. Shockingly, the dad is actually stoked to see his son finally standing up for himself and his beliefs—which is apparently exactly what he wanted for the next king. He gives the happy couple his blessing and everyone is good to go.
The plot is pretty basic, and you can get through the whole show in less than an hour. Even though I usually dig a cute enemies-to-lovers trope, this show has a ton of plot holes. William really didn't like Jake at the start—he was literally part of the gang bullying the guy. So, it feels super weird when he just starts flirting with Jake out of the blue and catching feelings. I can get behind Jake's feelings growing over time, but the beginning of their romance is just wonky. On top of that, you’ve got all the standard clichés: the crazy jealous girlfriend/fiancé, the threat of an arranged marriage, and the usual family drama. I feel like these shows only really work because they’re in that vertical format with short clips, but eventually, these series are going to have to give the audience a bit more substance. If they don't, I really don't see how these production companies are going to stay afloat financially. On the bright side, the two leads are easy on the eyes and have solid chemistry together. They both play their parts well. I’m pretty sure the title is a nod to the moment William finally stands his ground against his dad and refuses to just follow orders like a puppet.
It’s a standard, short-form romance that hits all the tropes but struggles with a rushed plot and some confusing character shifts. It’s worth a quick watch for the leads, but don't expect a masterpiece. (5/10)
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