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 film starts with Victor bringing in Renan to a secluded cabin in the mountains and they son hear about the murder of the senator Arthur a turns out that Victor was the last person to meet him. The cops soon arrive and they both ar taken for questioning, Through flashback we hear the story of what transpired. Senator Arthur is leading a double life of a happily married man but is also enjoying an illicit affair with a young boy Renan, to whom he has given an apartment ad all luxuries as his keep. Through a common friend Renan meets a journalist Victor and Victor takes instant liking for Renan. At work, he is also pissed off at Arthur's views on homosexuality and is hell bent in exposing him. Thanks to one of his gay sex worker friends, he does know that Arthur maybe interested in men but he needs proof, so they try and setup a sting operation because of which Victor finds out that Renan is actually a boy toy for Arthur. He lives Renan so much that he threatens Arthur with leaking his video of having sex with another guy unless he lets go off Renan, which he does. The real identity of the murderer and the motivation behind it comes as a pleasant surprise and I have to admit that I did not see it coming.
The film is a nice gay mystery thriller with a. Decent story on hand but the direction feels very basic and unpolished. The actor playing the lead role of the scheming senator does a good job of his character and so does Renan, the puppy eyed boy toy, who probably even loves the senator and wants more to his life. What I did not enjoy was performances by Victor and his manipulative boss. They both somehow felt as if they were trying too hard, especially Victor. He just did not seem natural at all and did not convey the part of the nice honorable journalist who has fallen really hard for a boy. To keep certain section of the audience happy, the film has two major graphic sex scenes to tease and titillate. The script could have used a little more work to make it more of a thriller than what it is presented. Also the budget was likely bare minimum, I mean look at the so called newsroom office. That was a joke. Direction and writing are decent enough, with the multiple flashbacks clearly handled so everyone knows where they are in the story and everyone can follow it. Overall, a decent thriller love story that doesn't try too hard but at the same time isin't boring either. Don't try to find logic or use brain, just let it flow. Thankfully at about 90 minutes length, it breezes by quick. (5/10)
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