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...
Teenager Pol lives with his mother Claire, who raised him single handedly after his father abandoned them. Migoy is Pol's best friend. (Both guys are apparently 19) Pol and Migoy spend time studying and sometime Migoy stays over. Pol had long harbored a crush on Migoy, but he did not have the guts to come out as gay, fearing it would negatively affect their friendship. Migoy had long harbored a crush on Claire, age difference be damned. One night, in one moment of impulsive passion, Migoy confessed his feelings to Claire and even shocked her with a stolen smack on the lips. Initially totally shocked, she pushes away Migoy, but eventually giving in. An affair soon starts between Claire and Migoy. The duo are not exactly very subtle about their trysts, so Pol eventually caught them, causing him much sadness distress. He eventually accepts their relationship and comes out gay to his mom who always knew. Eventually Migoy also finds out that Pol is gay when one night he tries to get frisky but Migoy reassure shim that he will always remain best friends .The couple starts to get serious. Claire wants Pol also to find true love and enjoy life, but he says he wants his first sex to be with person he loves and not anyone random. When his congenial heart failure resurfaces, the doctors tell them that he may not have long to live. In a bizarre twist, Claire convinces both Pol and Migoy separately to have sex, so that Pol can experience what true love is. That happens. Pol passes away and the couple gets married.
The film did not waste much time to establish the whole premise of the film. We see Pol lusting over Migoy. By the 10th minute, Migoy already declared his love to Claire, earning himself a slap for his boldness. But before the 20th minute, Migoy and Claire were already naked together in bed, cavorting in the sheets. Claire's initial repulsion and disgust was the normal and expected but how and why she gives in so quick is never explained. Was it just lust and attention from a hot younger man (disguised as love)? Maybe! Although the weirdest scene has to be when Migoy introduces his best friend's mother as his girlfriend and they are all pretty ok with it. The 5 of them having dinner together as if it the most normal and natural thing in the world. I am not judging the whole situation here, but the indie vibe that I was getting while watching the film was just weird. Also I am not sure how I fell about the whole thing of mother convincing her boyfriend to have sex with her son. I can see her intentions are in the right place. Both Claire and Migoy love Pol and would do anything for him, so maybe it makes sense; but I cannot decide how I judge the whole thing. The two male actors were both good looking and Claire as young independent single mom was good too. The acting and overall direction seemed pretty average to me. I think as audience you can see where the film is eventually headed. Overall just an average film for me. (5/10)
Comments