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...
One more DramaBox series stitched together like a film for audiences like me, making it easier to watch it all at Ince on iPhone. I am not sire how many gay web series like these have been released by DramaBox so far, but I think this is the fourth one that I am seeing. The show was cheesy, a bit unbelievable, but somehow still quite engaging, thanks to the short format and two handsome leads.
At their grandmother's insistence, Andrew and Frank marry each other but never see each other's faces. The show starts with Andrew leaving for 1 year business overseas and handing his husband his credit card with a promise to come back and get divorced. One year later, Frank is interviewing for Personal assistant to his new boss William. William gets totally smitten by Frank's hot face and body and hires him and tries to seduce him. But Frank resists temptation for two reasons: One, in his previous job he was seduced by his boss who ended up putting blame on Frank since he was married to a woman and second because Frank is now married. William has never been rejected in life and so he makes it amass ion that he will make sure Frank falls for him. While this is going on William (who is Andrew) also makes sure that his lawyers starting the divorce proceedings with his husband, who's I none other than Frank. There are many opportunities where Frank and William might get opportunity to know their secret but something happens and they both end up assuming that each other's friend is their husband or partner. Slowly Frank starts to realize that there is more to William than what he portrays and slowly starts to fall for him hard. Andrew/William's mother comes as a villain towards the end, but as you would expect eventually the truth comes out and they realize they wanted to divorce each other only so that they could marry.
TH thing with this show is that the story is totally non believable, yet t works. Sadly, the makers take the situation and keep stretching it out till the very last minute. Many situations are created where they would know the secret. For example William wonders why his husband and his assistants name is the same but never thinks more of it. I mean, why would you not even see faces if you ar both gay (agreed you were forced to marry but whatever). There are a lot of other characters like their friends or office co-workers who do everything to create confusion or sort it out. There was just a kiss and a simulated sex scene but nothing we see on the screen. It is a shame though since both t he actors were really good looking with chiseled faces. I think the reason why it worked mostly due to the charming characters. The two leads might not have the best acting, but they sure look great. This is again one of those brainless time-pass gay entertainers. (6/10)

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