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...
The stories exactly the same. Ando Jun is a high schooler and a closet gay. He has been having an affair with an older married man but with his friends he pretends to like girls. One day he meets a girl Miura at a book store who is buying a BL manga. He remembers her from her class. She is a fujoshi. Because of this meeting, an unlikely friendship develops between the two and Miura even confesses her love for Ando Jun, who accepts her proposal. He is in closet and also hopes that one day he wants to get married and have kids. But when he is unable to have sex with her, he realizes there is more to it. At a double date event, Ando Jun meets his older boyfriend and Miura sees them kissing. She reads furiously but the next day some to senses and in school the duo talk and Ando Jun confesses that he is gay. This is heard by a classmate who unwilling and in shock ends up revealing it to the class. Seeing sudden change in behaviour, this brings out the worst fear that Ando Jun has and he jumps out of the school window. He survives but in the process he also learns that he needs to love himself for who he is rather than wondering why he is who he is. When he is back in school, a very moving speech by Miura helps him overcome his fear and very accepting of himself as gay. Even his close friends come around (one of them was always in support). But eventually Ando Jun decides to move to a new school.
Even though with a title like this, I think the makers have told the story form the female's viewpoint; but it still remains very much a Ando Jun story and his coming out and love story. The problems with young gay men probably have face in Japanese society and the fear of being bullied if the truth comes out. To be honest, this is still a very valid issues in a lot of other countries. But going back to how the fake love story establishes between Ando Jun and Miura is fun to watch. Their interactions are cute but you also know the truth behind all of Ando's lies. The good comic relief comes from Jun's best friend, who is there of him, always, a like any true friend. I would have liked to see more of the relationship with the older married guy and how it came to being, and maybe a little more of the secret chats that Jun used to have with online stranger, but as I said, the film was probably made from the viewpoint of the love story between a gay man and a fujoshi. I did like the fact that Ando Jun comes out as a string individual, sure of his identity and purpose by the end of the film. I found the film as entertaining as the series, but I can't remember much being different between the two. If you have seen the series and still have memories of it, maybe wait few more time before you watch the film. As a standalone product it is interesting for sure and very watchable. (6.5/10)
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