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...
Story 1- New Ship
Before the ship, it wasn't easy. But this new era is even harder. In this first story of the drama one of the managers all but prostitutes their actors and goes behind their backs striking deals left and right with only their own wallet in mind. This effects the actor who feels trapped between their manager, an upcoming ship and his ship-partner, with who he develops feelings, but who gets better career opportunities which puts strain on the relationship. The actors mental state is getting more and more unstable until he chooses himself over his career.
Story 2 - War of Managers
The story of a shipped couple who are privately a real couple. Managers and drama clash until the couple is forced to separate. I'm sure some managers do try to exploit or benefit from rookie actors who get poor advice from them but the way this was portrayed in these 5 episodes was quite exaggerated and 99% of the things we saw would merit some jail time for so many criminal acts.
Story 3 - Y-Idol
A reality search for new actors—who can sing, dance, and act—and the chaos of the Idol Camp. The plot revolves around 2/3 aspiring BL couples. Nobodies' motives are clear, everyone has an agenda and honesty to another or even themselves seems non-existent. This story wanted to highlight the obstacles some of the trainees (in this case, trainees for a BL series) might face like a bad or mismatched partner, a non-approving family, producers/networks who prefer a specific trainee over another, etc., but all these issues were poorly acted and not explored that much because of all the other drama they had to fabricate.
Story 4 - Wife
When one half of a shipped couple has a wife, will their future in this industry be ruined? So what does happen when 1 shipped partner is in love but the other is already in a relationship?
By the fourth story, I had almost lost my sanity and desire to live and watch anything ever form This Bl industry. This show is sooooo bad. I understand the intentions are maybe novel on trying to sort of expose the behind the scenes and things that possibly happen in the BL world, but man, I have not seen something so stretched and elongated just because to fit in someone's whims and fantasies of making the greatest BL show ever made in the history. I mean, how can one make such a messed up series? Also how much of what is shown in really true or made up or something else, the audience will never know, but just focussing on the subject of this show, it is a HUGE no from me. I just feel I will need the longest break ever from Thai shows to recover from this long running torture that took forever to end. Please have some mercy on your audience. I am so angry, mad and upset and all these new feelings for me while writing this review. I mean there are bad shows but they never claim to be extraordinary, but the audacity of this series is they think its masterpiece in the making, a history for future but instead its a shit show. (0.5/10)
Comments
Honestly I've only watched 1st season when it came out and felt time had stopped. Horrible characters, horrible plot and how it's told. And the way they think they are doing something great just by it being hard... Just tried second season last week and quit after 2 episodes, thinking I might save it for latter (the last 10 days were rough personaly, thought maybe it was me who was not in the best condition to enjoy it). Now Golu you know you have saved 14 hours of my life, thank you again! And I feel bad I couldn't warn you... Especially if I kindda understand fisrt season was the best (Or should I say less bad?)
It's rare seeing you that angry at a show lol. But then I only did 1/4 of what you had, I don't want to imagine after 20 hours. I feel for you my friend.
If I can save you some time, you can skip the third season of 2moons. Unless you really want to know what happens to all those characters you loved so much :p (who you'll barely recognize anyway as they changed the whole cast again, and more annoyingly characters personality too).
And are you serious about 2 Moons 3. Have they changed the cast again? Unbelievable !! I was secretly hoping that the show might be decent given the predecessor, but thats a shame to know. I still at some point may watch it though, because I like to torture myself . lol