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...
The story follows Phuc, who moves from Hanoi to Saigon to open his dream bar and live with his girlfriend. Things go sideways immediately when he arrives a day early to surprise her and catches her cheating, so he breaks up with her and leaves. He ends up reaching out to his old childhood neighbors, Cong and his sister Han, who he hasn't seen in years. The siblings are struggling on their own with a massive debt and Han’s poor health. Han thinks her brother works at a convenience store, but Cong is actually a heavy for a criminal group, using muscle to collect debts. When Phuc first shows up, there’s some old tension because Cong used to be jealous of how smart and successful Phuc was back in the day. However, after Phuc moves in nearby and they start hanging out, they begin to bond again. Cong comes out as gay and starts messing with Phuc by flirting just to see him get flustered, which happens every single time. Meanwhile, the cheating girlfriend crawls back asking for forgiveness just around when Phuc finally gets his bar open. A shady client offers Cong a huge payday to ruin Phuc’s business and force him into bankruptcy, which would solve Cong's money problems, but he refuses to betray his friend. Both Cong and the girlfriend end up competing for Phuc's attention, but Phuc eventually realizes it's Cong he loves. The person trying to shut down the bar is eventually revealed—though it isn't a huge shock—and the two guys finally confess their feelings and share a big kiss at the end.
The production value is pretty average and definitely isn't polished, but honestly, that makes it feel more real and easier to get into. Even though it's packed with clichés like the toxic ex-girlfriend and the gay guy falling for his straight best friend, the chemistry between the leads just works. I really liked how different the two guys are; Phuc is a total dreamer and a romantic, while Cong is a practical tough guy who is super comfortable with being gay and won't hesitate to punch a homophobe. Their scenes together are the best part, especially when Cong is teasing him. They bicker and joke around, and they actually build a real friendship before anything romantic happens. It really isn't until the last two episodes that things turn into a romance. The actor playing Cong is definitely the star of the show. He’s handsome, has a great cheeky energy, and just has a natural confidence that makes you want to watch him. The guy playing Phuc does a good job too, especially at showing a softer, more wounded side. The girlfriend character is a bit of a "trophy" villain and felt way too pushy—I honestly don't know why Phuc even gave her the time of day after she cheated. Even though some of the character growth feels a bit thin, the show makes up for it in the finale when they promise to stay together despite being from totally different worlds.
It's a solid, cozy watch that succeeds because of the natural charm of its leads, even if it sticks to a very familiar script. (6.5/10)
Comments