I've always had kind of a love hate relationship with Chinese historical BLs. Some are genuinely excellent, but then there are others that cram in so much plot that keeping track of all the layers of betrayal and scheming gets exhausting, and I end up checking out mentally. Part of the issue is also just how much content is out there in this space, so something really has to stand out to keep me hooked. In this case, the production value is genuinely impressive, top tier stuff, but story wise, I just couldn't bring myself to actually care about these characters. There's a ton of political scheming and backstage manipulation running throughout. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, a hostage ends up falling for his own Prince Charming. The show runs eight episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long. After spending three years guarding the border, Fifth Prince Yin Qi gets called back to the capital because of a secret letter, only to end up walking straight into a deadly...
Businessman Tae has not returned from his Korea trip and this worries his wife Kade. She asks her police friend, Tum , to help her out but he advises her to wait for a few more days, because some work emergency may have had come up. But Kade is restless and can’t wait any longer so she asks her husband’s driver Mac to take her to his office to see if she can find something. There she finds an electricity bill for the house she never knows he had. Kade makes Mac drive her to the house hoping to find her dearest husband there. But she finds a set of keys and a card with spa appointment. They then find out that her husband used to visit male spas. From there they also find out about a house where once Tae ordered home visit. Turns out that this was the driver’s apartment and pretty soon it is revealed that Mac and tae were lovers. Now begins the cat and mouse game between the wife and driver and who’s playing whom. Mac gets a shock when he realizes that Kade has known for a while that Mac was her husband’s lover and she knew this all along while pretending to search. Now its Mac’s turn to find out what Kade knows and where is she hiding Tae.
The film has quite a few interesting twists and turns and you are always looking forward to what’s going to happen next and this is the mark of a good thriller. Agreed that sometimes, it felt a bit stretched, especially after, Mac finds out that Kade knew all along but despite that the film holds on its own. The actors are all good looking and their chemistry is very believable. The fact that they are all good actors helps. I always fear, actors going OTT in such thrillers but it was amazing how Kade’s character is shown as clam and always in charge. She is not ready to taken for granted and she has got plans. I, to be honest, wasn’t completely surprised when it is revealed that mac was tae’s lover; I somehow expected that but the journey before and after was still quite interesting. It would have been nice, if it was explored as to why tae married Kade when him and Mac were already lovers even before he married. Was it just because of her money? I think that was it, but it still would have been good.
There are very few gay themed thrillers, which are actually good. I will definitely recommend this one for a decent time-pass. You will not be bored for sure. (6.5/10)
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