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...
There are only two actors here. Anton is a university student, who works very hard and is just about to finish a major assignment. He needs to do well for his family and his under lot of pressure. He also fancies a dancer by the name of Miguel and has a poster of him in his room. Hoping to get his attention, he posts a lot of dance videos online also. There is a duo dance competition happening and to his surprise, Miguel reaches out to Anton to Bemis dance partner for it having seen his videos online. During his conversation with Anton, Miguel drops more than subtle hints that he is also attracted to Anton, just as intensely as Anton is into Miguel. But around same time Anton finds out that he failed the test ands parents are getting a divorce. The two boys discuss about life's meaning and purpose and that probably all is not that bad. They then start practicing after which Miguel collapses. He then tells Anton he has leukemia and doesn't have long to live. The duo win the competition but Miguel collapses again just when they are celebrating their win. Almost as if it imaginary, Anton is able to transport himself through the computer screen to Miguel, where in Miguel’s final moments, they are able to hold each other and exchange their devotion to one another. Just around then, we see Anton waking up to sleep getting a call from Miguel healthy, making us wonder whether it was all a dream or a parallel world. (The title refers to a dance competition that made Miguel famous)
It is a short series, so we can argue and question how can two complete strangers fall in love in like 5 seconds, but that is not the point of the show. You need to put that disbelief. What it shows is that while they had little time to foster a relationship, what time they had together been spent in doing what they both loved to do, and in their own way. Maybe it was all an alternate reality where Anton is so much in love with Miguel that the imagine the whole life short journey with Miguel. As Miguel says in the end "If you imagine hard enough, you can make it true"; so we will not know or sure. The two actors have to pretty much act alone and solo most times which can be very challenging, and they do a decent job out fit showing a gamut of emotions of love, despair, anger etc. I have a feeling that most people won't enjoy it much because it is sort of vague, slow and open to interpretation; but the fact that is so simple, yet effective and open to your ideas makes it worth my time. The couple's love (or maybe just Anton's) was string enough to manifest their own reality. (6/10)
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