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Journey With You (Chinese Series)

By Golu
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...
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The Walker

By Golu
To be honest, this film is not what I was expecting it to be. At one hand the film feels like a murder plot being unraveled, but given the drag pace that occurs, it feels like the story is probably more about this aging gay man, whose mistake is to be gentlemanly with everyone, as he puts in his own words "I'm not naive, I'm superficial."

Carter Page is the black sheep of a blue-blood American family. His ancestors made a fortune from slavery and tobacco. His father was a grandstanding governor of Virginia. Yet, he is gay and a 'walker', an unpaid companion of rich society ladies as they attend events without their husbands. Quietly gay, he adores his ladies as friends and sponsors a weekly canasta game for them that turns into a gossip fest. Carter is witty an charming and always has the gossip on everyone in the highest of circles. Since he is known to be discrete, he is the one who drives his close friend Lynn, wife of a senator weekly to a male prostitute. One afternoon she finds him stabbed to death. To save her and her family honor, he tells cops that he identified the body. Soon Carter becomes one of the suspects and soon enough the investigation is shown interest from the highest levels in the federal government. Carter, with the help of an ex middle eastern boyfriend get on a journey of their own investigation, with Carter realizing that none of his friends are there to support him anymore.

I feel like more than a murder mystery, this film is more about Carter's loneliness and his interesting relationship with the world where he doesn't really belong to but somehow fit in because of his sexuality and Southern charms and gentlemanly attitude. Carter is a smooth, charming guy, who has practiced for a lifetime at concealing his emotions. He is even able to absorb the hurtful fact that his society "friends" drop him like a hot potato. He only wanted to be nice to them; he had no other angle. He enjoyed being on the inside, looking on, overhearing, knowing the real dish. Now he faces murder charges, just because he was a good guy. Woody Harrelson as Carter Page does a really good job of portraying the lead actor. The mannerisms and charm he picks up is amazing. Having said that, I don't think the film can be classifies as a queer film (I guess it depends on your definition). Sure, our lead is an openly gay man, but the film is not about his sexuality at all. The film is about his friends, his social circle , his life and could very easily have remained unchanged if the character was straight. All other actors do a good job as well , as you would expect from a film of such high production values. But, personally for me the film was just not entertaining enough. The fact that it lacks any thrills or action scenes aggravates the boredom. It's almost shocking that even argument scenes are so plain and devoid of emotion. Maybe it is because of the stiff upper lip of the higher social class? I don't know what I really was expecting, but you can decide for yourself. (5/10)
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