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...
Goyo is seventeen and just about to graduate from high school. Since he’s been a bit more feminine since he was a little kid, he’s always had to deal with emotional and physical transition from his dad, Ramon, who is obsessed with him being "a man." The only real love he gets is from a lady next door who actually respects him for who he is. The family lives in a Mexican community where everyone works on a grape farm, but things get shaken up when a new guy named Lucio arrives. Lucio basically seduces Goyo and uses him for sex, but things take a dark turn when Goyo finds out that Lucio has also been secretly seeing his twin sister. This bisexual guy plays them both but eventually ends up marrying the sister, which obviously leaves Goyo crushed. However, once the truth about Goyo and Lucio’s hookups finally comes out, it forces Goyo to stop hiding and embrace who he is, even with his father’s hate.
The title refers to a "waterberry," which is a type of grape that gets watery and soft when it’s ripe. They’re useless for making wine and usually just get tossed out. It’s a quiet metaphor for Goyo—someone his culture sees as useless or discards because they don't have a place for him. Since this is a true indie film, the guerrilla style of directing makes it feel almost like a documentary. The dialogue and the way the Mexican American characters interact feel very genuine. It’s pretty unique because it gives a realistic look at the politics within Spanish-speaking migrant communities and uses a cast of local, non-professional actors. Their acting is a bit hit-or-miss, but a few of them actually show some real potential. The movie tries to juggle a lot of big topics, like being LGBTQ+ in a Latino immigrant family, the pressure of "machismo" culture, the tough reality of farm labor, and the clash between kids wanting to fit in and parents holding onto tradition. It definitely lacks a polished look, but you can tell it’s trying to be authentic.
It’s a rough-around-the-edges project that’s still worth a watch as long as you keep your expectations in check. (4.5/10)
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