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...
Kijima is now a famous porn writer. He is famous and successful. One day while walking he gets in an accident with a university student Kuzumi. Since Kuzumi doesn't have any insurance money ti pay, he agrees to help Kijima at his household with multiple things including scribing for the novels that Kijima wanted to write. While dictating the erotic novels, Kuzumi's fascination for the man keeps growing but he doesn't understand the guy at all. There is always a sexual tension between them and Kijima is always in control. One night they do end up sleeping together but Kijima dismisses it as a drunken episode. One day Kuzumi realizes that all these books that he is being dictated to are actually not new and are simply reparation of Kijima's already books. He is confused. This is when Kijima confides in him that he has had a writers block for about a year an the is also short of money and when the accident happened, he thought this way at least he will have company which will help him from going insane. The ending is a bit open, with Kijima and Kuzumi finally giving into each other's needs and love and have sex, only for Kijima to leave the city for good promising Kuzumi better life and prosperity.
As the previous show, this show is not what it seems on the surface. Its complex and it peels layers one at a time. We want to know what's Kijima's deal. We can see he is clearly infatuated by Kuzumi but is always careful to let him in. Is he protecting himself or is he protecting the young boy? In contrast, Kuzumi is just a young adult who is enjoying attention and world of porn and BDSM through text which he was never exposed to. Of course, he will take a liking for a guy who is constantly reciting erotic stuff. He can't help himself. The story has potential but somewhere I feel this is not as string as Mood Indigo. And I guess given the prequel was released later, they probably got to work on some feedback from this series. That aside, the acting in this series was again very good with each actor doing his part meticulously. We also get to see Kido from Mood Indigo in a supporting role here as Kijima editor. This show has a few brief kissing scenes and a couple of pretend sex but nowhere as seductive as the prequel. I believe the focus here was more psychological. It's about the characters and how they deal with the situation they are put in, how they take into account the feeling of the other people involved, etc. The ending is the only things that I have issues with and I wish they had done a better job. I know there are movies also post this. Lets hope the movies will address some the other issues. (7/10)
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