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...
Hayakawa is a student who lives in this dazy lost, emotionally shut down place. He lets girls have sex with me totally emotionless , pretends to behaving greta time with friends but something dark deep is bothering him. He hums music and likes to sing but anytime anyone mentions about singing , he completely shuts it off. He sometimes goes to school roof to be alone with his thoughts and music. His pain is hidden behind masked smiles and soft teasing. One such day he meets Konno, a school student and a photographer. Their platonic friendship soon starts to grow, they have a connect but very few words are spoken. Konno realizes that there is something deep inside that's bothering Hayakawa. Through another student, he finds out the backstory on how since when he was a child, he was into music and good at it but he started to fall for one of his friends who did not look at him win any other way except pity and use him. Since then Hayakawa decided he will never sing, despite it being like the only thing he enjoys. With his friendship, Konno is able to convince his friend to pick up music again and forget his past, which he does. He makes Konno listen to first sing he creates and also kisses him. This takes Konno completely by surprise. Hayakawa runs away and starts to completely avoid Konno. Meanwhile Konno is struggling with his feelings. He knew he likes his friend as a friend but what does it men to love and be gay and what is to really about love. Anyways the friends reconnect and talk it through and confess their love for one another (now that Hayakawa has started to pursue his passion for music in a band).
The series beautifully uses the metaphor of sky and sea when these two boys are hanging out at the rooftop, which is where a lot of this film has been shot. I loved how music and photography mirrored Hayakawa and Konno’s inner worlds. Hayakawa's character was interesting, something I have not seen much before in BLs. Putting on a fake brave smile while he is completely immersed in fog, waiting for it to lift to see a clear view, which happens only thanks to Konno eventually. The show does a good job of building everything up but then ends soon. Maybe they wanted to keep some scope for season 2. For now, it only gives us a fleeting 5-minute confession and kiss before the finale, leaving no room for the couple to exist as an actual couple. I would've liked to see more of a sense of personality to both of the leads, there wasn't much to their essence and with the themes in the overall plot made this feel emptier. Acting wise both guys did a decent job of what was expected of them. The underlying message throughout the entire drama is : stop hiding and punishing yourself for who you are and what you love, just do it and be true to yourself! It's an emotional drama that believes in 'less is more' It uses silences over drama to show us tender connection between two lost souls. (6.5/10)
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