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...
It's honestly a nice change of pace to get a gay romantic comedy these days since they don't seem to make many of them anymore. I'll be the first to admit the movie is super predictable—you can see every plot point coming from a mile away—but the characters are so charming that you don't mind sticking around, even when the plot starts looking like a piece of Swiss cheese. My only real gripe is that I wish the people behind it hadn't made the last twenty-five minutes so soppy. It really would've landed better if they'd just kept things fun and breezy until the end.
The story follows David and Quique, who've been a couple for fifteen years. David goes all out and secretly plans this big American road trip that’s supposed to end in Vegas, where he wants to finally tie the knot. When he actually pops the question, though, Quique shuts him down, leaving David totally crushed. David gets so stuck on the idea of a wedding that he starts hitting up basically everyone he knows to see if anyone is down to marry him just so he can live out his dream. That’s when Esteban enters the picture. He’s a pilot who spotted David at a mutual friend's wedding once and liked his free-spirited vibe. When that same friend introduces them, Esteban agrees to the Vegas wedding since he’s headed there for work anyway. As the two of them hang out, sparks start flying, and they end up having a "commitment ceremony" followed by a night together. Of course, the next morning, Quique shows up promising he’s ready to marry David after all, so they head back to Spain. But as Quique dives into wedding planning, David starts seeing that his long-term partner is actually pretty self-centered and realizes he’s just not in love with him anymore. He dumps Quique to see if there’s a real future with Esteban, and after a bit of a misunderstanding, they eventually link back up for a big, passionate kiss.
The first thing I really appreciated was how they just normalized everyone's sexuality. You’d think that would be a given by now, but it’s still cool to see a movie where nobody is struggling with their identity or dealing with social rejection. These characters just exist, fall in love, and mess up like everyone else without having to explain why they’re queer. One thing that felt really off to me, though, was the logic behind David and Quique’s fifteen-year relationship. For example, Quique doesn't even show up to the wedding of David’s best friend and work partner. What’s even weirder is that this same friend is also super close with Esteban, the pilot, yet somehow David and Esteban have never crossed paths despite both being so tight with her. Maybe I'm overthinking the details, but it felt like a bit of a stretch.
Other than those hiccups, the movie is mostly light and focuses on David’s obsession with getting married—though, when you look closer, he was really just craving the feeling of being loved. Esteban is great as the guy who sweeps him off his feet without making things too dramatic or asking a million questions. It’s a sweet, charming story about a guy who has a lot of self-doubt and is just trying to find himself. It stays mostly fun until that emotional dip in the last twenty minutes, but it finds its groove again by the finish line. The best part of the whole thing is David; his energy and enthusiasm are just infectious and really carry the movie. It's an enjoyable watch as long as you don't take it too seriously. Oh, and the title actually comes from a plastic doll they pick up at Area 51 right before their big Vegas ceremony.
This is a lighthearted and sweet rom-com that survives its plot holes thanks to a really energetic lead and a charming story about moving on. It’s a fun, easy watch for anyone who needs a break from heavy dramas. (6/10)
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