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...
After waking from a nightmare, the late Titi’s grandma is told by a spiritual advisor that her son has unfinished business, which is likely getting married to a man. She’s instructed to leave a red envelope that fate will deliver to the right groom. Enter Menn, a hapless police informant whose love life is even more tragic than his career. He stumbles upon the envelope and is almost forced in to the marriage. On their wedding night, Menn is stunned to find himself permanently accompanied by Titi’s ghost. What follows is a chaotic, comic partnership as the two try to uncover the truth behind Titi’s death, leading them into the orbit of a suspected drug lord. The duo help each other out. Titi wants to resolve issue with his ex-boyfriend only to find out that he was likely playing with his feelings and is actually straight. Together, they also try to figure out how did Titi actually die in a car accident and who was responsible, which turns out has links with the drug lord. Titi also has some unfinished loveliest with his father and needs him to forgive each other. The film follows how the two help catch the drug lord and resolve all Titi's issues so that he gets salvation. In the process Menn becomes a changed person.
The Red Envelope is patently ridiculous, comically overblown and absurdly camp. This film works largely because of the undying chemistry between the two leads. The rapport between them is palpable as Menn's prejudice gives way to care and he becomes accustomed to the presence of a ghost in his apartment, while Titi discovers things about his life that shatter his understanding of himself and his loved ones. Even the rest of the cast does a good job. While some of it got just a bit campy, it never lost its focus of telling a human drama. And the human drama was one of pain and hurt from the closest ones to us. If you are also expecting the story to be a BL, you are also going to be somewhat disappointed. It is not. Yet, it is a gay mythos that will, by the end, cause you to laugh, force you to think about death, and possibly make you cry. The story also does well to portray sexism and casual misogyny within the police department faced by the female police officer, who is one of the central characters. Less a rom-com and more a buddy cop bromance between the unlikeliest of partners, The Red Envelope tugs on the heartstrings. (6/10)
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