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...
Bai Lang is an owner of a bistro bar who is suffering from toothache but he has phobia for dentists so he keeps hiding it. When the situation gets really bad, his sister forces him to go to a dentist who also happens to be her friend and junior from college. Of course, Bai Lang resists dentists interactions during appointment but consistent persistence from the dentist leads to successful treatment. At sisters insistence, the dentist visits Bai Lang at home for follow up and in return, Bai Lang prepares a scrumptious meal for him. Slowly, the duo start meeting more regularly and you can see them having affection for each other. In fact they also flirt with one another in their own way. One day a man returns from US, who turns out to be a man that the dentist loved when he was in school but he was rejected then. Bai Lang feels they must give each other a try and pulls himself back when the dentist confesses his feelings for him. But things gets clarified slowly and the lovers are back as a full on couple. The last two episodes have a bizarre twist where suddenly dentist is too busy to meet Bai Lang, but turns out that he was busy making his parents accept of him on who he is and his love and in fact was even beaten by the father till they all accepted. There are some side stories of another bartender and a young boy's love story, the dentists assistant's love story and in a nice twist, Bai Lang's sister and the dentists former lover's story.
The fist thing that stays with me even after the show ended was how handsome and charming and beautiful actor playing Bai Lang is. OMG! More on that later. Dentistry setting for a BL show was interesting and Taiwanese shows usually do a good job of production values, good actors and direction; which is all true here as well. The initial scenes with zany humor and snappy banter between not just the leads but also including office staff and bistro staff with one another keeps the proceedings very lively and fun to watch. Bai Lang is a vivacious protagonist who exudes giddy enthusiasm. He smiles brightly, talks rapidly, and fills each scene with a powerful burst of energy. The dentist, on the other hand is more reserved and earnest and take him to mom kinda boy. But man, you will not be able to forget the Bai Lang actor. Lot more of him, please! The only problem here is lack of coherent screenplay. The story really has nothing new to offer except the setting. Essentially its just two guys meeting, start flirting, fall in love and get blessings from friends and family with some hiccups in between like any other couple. So that way, stretching this for 12 episodes felt long but I as long as it meant seeing a lot more of Bai Lang, I was ok. The show also does a great job of showing the courtship of lead actors and their flirting. You can feel and sense the slow build up from doctor-patient to acquaintance to friends to lovers. Although the relationship takes a long time to advance, they eventually have an overload of affection and intimacy. And thank god for ample kisses and intimacy, especially when it seemed genuine and real and not forced or just peck on lips like many other BL shows. The other side love stories are all decent but seemed more like fillers.
This show is not going to get any marks for originality in story and the flaws trying to create a rift between the lovers. But the show is very appealing because it features an attractive cast, vibrant chemistry, and adorable interactions. My main pleasure comes from seeing the hot guys (read Bai Lang) flirt cutely with each other. The actual narrative is an afterthought. (7/10)
Comments
Golu shame on you to enjoy a show only because you have a crush on an actor! (... now that you're all ashamed and reasonable and willing to let go of Bai Lang, he's all mine mouhahaha... Please make it my husband never reads this)
I am all in for shows that treat a subject delightfully. There are only so many permutations of a BL story, but its sometimes the actors and the execution that can make all the difference.
+1 on actors and execution!
Locations and production made the whole series feel really professional and sort of hid the clichés (luckily there were not many of those). Something felt different with the dialogue, like more impro, less memorized lines written by someone else. The text felt natural and it was clear the actors had fun while filming.
Those Asian series have a lot to look at, even when the story itself is "like watching the paint dry" :D