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...
The story is about Todd, a good looking Asian American software, with buttoned up shirts. He is gay, his friends know that and even his therapist knows that but for some odd reason Todd doesn't want to be gay. He has OCD and any kind of any bodily fluids disgust him to the core. He’s lonely and longs for a partner, but he can’t begin to deal with sex. It’s just…too messy. A chance meeting with Rory, a struggling actress changes everything. She is also a brainiac and witty girl. they form the kind of communion where you could say that they finish each other’s sentences, except in this case it sounds like one long sentence. Neither is too keen on sex or kids but social pressure makes them want to try sex. A failed attempt makes them change their mind. Rory suspects something is off and maybe Todd is really gay, so she makes the bold decision of leaving him and moving to Seattle. Todd is heartbroken because he will now never find his soulmate (gender doesn't matter). Todd tries but eventually gives in, goes to Seattle and convinces Rory to be with him because no matter what, neither of them will find a person who is so like the two of them.
My biggest problem with the film is it's ending. It feels like it retreated into its own bubble. As human beings, we get caught up in our own ideologies and thoughts and create our very own psychological prison. Even though Todd is not really having a sexual-identity crisis, but he totally convinces himself of that, despite being in therapy. Maybe the real problem is something all the way deep down there. Todd does a good job both as an actor and director. We do not relate to Todd because he is a sensitive, bi-racial, guy with OCD. We relate to him because he wants to love and be loved, and because his story is told with skill and humor. And his chemistry with Rory, who shows his range of skills in the improv classes she attends, is also pretty good. There is often reference to Kinsey scale, which I found was very interesting. Personally, I quite enjoyed the first half of the film but after a film, I felt there was way too much just back and forth, non stop dialogues and no breathing space at all for any other character or situation. Nott hat those scenes were serious because everything has been done with a lightness so that its easy to connect with audience but for me, it failed to do after a while.
Today's people do not believe in labels. This film really about a generation of people who have discovered a new way to connect through their detachment. (6/10)
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