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...
This is what the official synopsis of the show says: A look into the contemporary gay dating world particular to San Francisco, through the eyes of a man lost inside the hookup culture, while on a relentless pursuit for a way out. He asks all the questions, he tries all the things, he falls in love in all the wrong places. Playing both the victim and the culprit, follow him traverse a world full of contradictions, over-the-top self expression, casual drug use, and the age old idea of ‘free love' with all the consequences that follow. In a place, seemingly without any rules, how do you know which game to play when you don't really want to play one to begin with? We meet Jackson who lives with his gay roommate, going about his life working in s startup, having sex and hookups, while also still emotionally in love with is ex (I think), because this part is never really clarified. He is trying to move on by having meaningless sex which he sneaks out of quietly next morning every single time, but also in unable to say no to his ex, with whom he now has some sort of a throttle relationship going on. The show doesn't really have a specific coherent story, but it's more like snippets of life of Jackson where his life seems to be full of sex and contradictions.
Jackson, both as an actor and director does a fantastic job. He acts well and more importantly directs very well. He has a good command over all his actors (who are all gorgeous to look at). The guy has probably spent a good time in SF to portray what today's gay culture has become and to portray it effectively; using interesting title for episodes like Jaded by Him, Jaded by Dating, Jaded By Hookups and Jaded by Ex-Boyfriends. In one of my fav scenes, he spends time with a friend of his and his husband and is happy that they are together and wishes the same for himself; but like most guys today, cant really figure out whether he wants love or sex. My complaint with the show would be that it's not trying to tell a story, and thats something that I miss. We just see Jackson going about his routine confused and lost between what he wants and what he needs. It would have been nice to see that but actually having said that, how many people truly today know exactly what they want. I am guilty of it myself. So, in that sense, this show is a decent one time watch, where it probably is not trying to give you a specific message but in its own subtle ways is trying to give a portrayal of where today's gay dating world has come to be. (6/10)
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