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...
My second American BL, shot in Phone format, released as multiple episodes on DramaBox. Thankfully I watched the version where all episodes were stitched together and overall the duration is just under an hour. It is an easy watch even though the plot is filled with loopholes but once you start to watch it, it is easy to ignore some aspects.
The protagonist, Ace, is a ruthless and decisive mob boss who has firmly established his position at the top of London's underworld. However, during an ambush orchestrated by his archenemy, Jack, a younger stranger named Max unexpectedly steps in to save him. This act of bravery sparks Ace's interest and earns his trust. Ace brings Max into his inner circle, as his bodyguard. What he doesn't know that it was all Jack's plan. Ace likes to flirt and is gay and he does that constantly with Max making him feel uncomfortable. Max succeeds in planting care in Ace's room who does the same. So Ace knows that max is watching him have sex with random guys. Ace is sexually aggressive to Max many times but he always holds back. One day when Jack attacks Ace and his team, they get saved but eventually Jack leaves Max to die at Ace's place. This is also when Max finds out truth about Ace's dying mother and he starts to slowly fall in love with this emotional humane side of Ace. Having not learned his lesson, Jack attacks once again and the two men jointly fight and confess their love.
This was like watching one of thoseThai Bl stories but on steroids, where the story moves real fast. And there is enological reason for a supposedly straight man falling for a gay mafia guy. Having said that , its good that the story moves at. Breakneck speed because this is the only way to sit through this make believe world. Get in two very hot looking guys, have. A few shirtless scenes, a couple kisses, weave a story around and maybe it will work. An dit does to a great extent. Except that focus on romance is very little and I wish I had an opportunity to see more romance, more hot sex and kisses. What was odd that the enemy Jack would not learn his lesson and kept attacking Ace for some reason which becomes laughable after a certain point. The product quality is slick and watching it on phone actually works with the format. A fine average watch overall. (5/10)

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