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...
Ayden and Brent have been together for about 3 years. Brent is the more mature and older of the two with a stable job, meanwhile Ayden is impulsive and likes to party. Ayden's best friend is not a huge fan of Brent, so when Brent refuses to bottom for Ayden, his friend instigates him against Brent. But sanity prevails and Ayden suggests having threesome since he cannot just be a bottom. They try it but then as expected Brent has fun and Ayden gets even more jealous. But the constant bickering from Ayden is starting to get over Brent who ends up cheating when a male client of his hits on him. Ayden also has opportunity to cheat in the meantime but he controls. The couple splits eventually, hoping to figure out whats is store for them and how they will end up eventually.
I am not sure what was the whole idea behind the series, like I have already mentioned above. The plot is basic and the entire story could have been told in a 20 minute short story rather than 10 episodes of 15-20 minutes each. Some scenes just go on forever. The guys are all very hot and muscular. Brent can at least act, but all Ayden does is lick his lips constantly and complain. They have absolutely no chemistry. Their relation is more like what they show in porn: meet, seduce and get to business. Signal23 TV shows are starting to disappoint me very much. There is so much more that can be shown about black gay love stories, instead the makers try to stick to the same old. (3.5/10)
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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6255500/
https://alternatesexuality.blogspot.com/2017/11/man-in-orange-shirt-uk-mini-series.html