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...
Oh god!! This was such a bad amateurish attempt. I mean, I am all up for amateurs trying to make content, but at least find a decent story or decent actors. Don't just take your neighborhood boys and create a story where literally everyone sleeps with everyone. This was a hot mess and in a bad way ! Thankfully it was only 4 episodes of approximately 16 minutes each.
Jason, Allen and Brandon are quasi friends / siblings from an orphanage. The show starts with Jason trying to get back together with his ex-boyfriend, but he has no idea that his ex is now having an affair with Brandon. Meanwhile Allen returns home complaining about his boyfriend issues and watches Brandon having affair but agrees to not tell Jason. Next Allen seduces Jason, Allen's boyfriend decides to move in to winnower him back but it feels like Allen's boyfriend and Jason's ex have something cooking as well. Its like everyone is having an affair with everyone, yet everyone keeps blaming theater person for stealing their boy. Its another level of cringe.
I have seen at least one more show form this production (which had similar house and surroundings) and I don't know what I keep doing this to myself. Just about everything was bad about this. Right from the very jarring and random background score, to bad acting to awkward sex scenes. Every single boy's reactions in those scenes were as if he is disgusted by the whole idea rather than getting pleased. They all love to go down immediately right next to the door or on the sofa. They all think they deserve the best but go behind each other's back. In the final episode Brandon confessing his love for Jason out of nowhere was the last nail in the coffin, where it seems the story idea was like, lets bring 5 guys together and somehow figure out a way to have everyone have sex with everyone. The dialogues, though decent and showed an open conversation, were delivered so badly, that I can't even begin to explain. Stay far far far away. (0.5/10)

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