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...
Yo is a university student who is best friends with Noboru. The two of them hang out all the time and it's clear that Yo has a crush on Noboru. A gay bar Bb is the only place where Yo can be himself (gay) and has a friend working behind the counter with whom they share each other's personal lives. Noburu has starting to see a girl and Yo feels compelled to make up a story that he has a girlfriend too. A sudden incident where Yo's bar friend's mother dies before he could have come out to her, makes Yo realize that he needs to be true about himself to his friends and family, regardless of what happens. He first comes out to his sister who takes the news very positively. Next, after immense struggle he comes out to his best friend Noburu. In fact, he also tells him that he had a crush on him. But Noboru continues to be the best supportive friend as he was before. Eventually he comes out to his parents too, whose reactions are more to blame themselves for Yo being what he is but eventually they also come around. The film ends with Yo confiding to Noboru that its probably time to come out to their remaining group of friends too.
I like the fact that it's a simple story. No unnecessary drama. Even the parents reactions initially is something that you would expect, but thankfully they talk it out and Yo shares some books to help them understand him better. My favorite is Noboru's reactions. He is slightly happy to know that he was Yo's crush and still he continues to be the same friend as he always was. Very supportive. I was hoping to see that Yo and the friend working in the bar get together, because I feel there was a potential of some love story there. But I guess the idea was to show the coming out story and process. Thankfully, its all shown in a positive light. On a negative note, the film is way too slow. Some scenes just drag on for no reason whatsoever. Whatever the makers wanted to show could have easily been achieved in a 45 minute short film. At almost an hour and a half length, the film rally tests your patience before coming to the point.
Sometimes, as individuals we think we way too much, make up stories in our mind and mostly that people would react negative to coming out. But you will be surprised how most people understand it and eventually come around. I liked this positive message. I am not sure what Japanese culture and society is like when it comes to gay men, but this will come as a positive message to younger folks struggling to come out. (5/10)
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