However, in this drama we can see such an amazing chemistry between the main characters that one can't give less then ten points, although it's not finished. Theoretically, the plot is very simple, an ordinary school story but the charisma of the main leads captivates you and doesn't let you go. I simply loved Huang Johnny's character as he, being so playful and manly too, created an incredible tension in his relationship with Bai Luo Yin. Somehow, you want to rewatch the show a lot of times because of an infinity of charming moments created by Johnny's character.
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Timmy (Zhou Zhou) is a very handsome young man that does really good at acting, despite being the first time acting. While Huang Jingyu also a new actor, but he completes the series. As for the other characters, there are some minor problems here and there but overall they did a great job.
The story is so touching. I am not the type that will cry over a drama or series, but if I do cry then that series is so good. Well, you have to watch it to find out how amazing the story is. But I must say that sometimes the stories are quite jumbled and cannot be comprehended so it is taking a longer time for me to understand the flow of the story.
For music, it is perfect. When they cue the background music just like Brokeback Mountain's music, I was getting chills up my spine immediately. There's so much aesthetic here and there, so the music just completes it all.
I already rewatched it three times, so I really recommend this series for you. But you will regret watching this drama because the story just end on episode 15 with a confusing plot. It's all because the series was discontinued and banned by the Chinese government so it was quite sad. I really hope they would continued the series with the same improved style, same music, same actors and actresses.
All love to the people who were making this series. We fans love you all and we hope you can make other great content for us to watch.
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Pros and cons
Slight trigger warnings: kind of sexual assault (forced kissing, not taking no for an answer)So the trigger warning is a complex one because the forced kisses fit the story and the desperation of the character but they still made me feel uncomfy. Maybe it's just because I am sensitive to those things and I don't romanticize them at all.
With that out of the way, I like this show and I was disappointed that China's censorship laws put a stop to the show. It feel pretty complete though it was supposed to have another 3 episodes or something around that number. I enjoyed the character and relationship development from this show. I also appreciate how controversial it is (China's government is homophobic and even some of their apps have removed multiple LGBT+ tags and pages. I don't mean that all Chinese people are homophobic!) Now that that disclaimer is over, the Plot of the story isn't messy, it is easy to follow. I like both of the main leads a lot, but unfortunately they can't work together in the future due to the previously mentioned issues. BL dramas can be a bit too perfect (like relationship wise, life style wise) and this one is the total opposite and is very relatable.
The music in the show is top notch and does a a great job, a bit like it was made as a movie sound track. The emotions are very well connected.
It is 100% worth the watch and I hope you get it a chance.
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STORY
THE STORY IS FUCKING GREAT but what I want to address is the amount of cliche this series has from the romance up to the background stories. The build-up was great, enjoyable and although conventional it still feels new. One of the things about their relationship that I do like is that they're both Masculine persons, no sign of being feminine or any sort. I like the way how it is paced, it was really unexpected that the two would really be a couple until it was revealed with a strong romantic build-up. YOU'LL GET ADDICTED WITH IT (still hoping for a season 2).
ACTORS
The actors did a pretty good job especially the two lovers, although the other potential couples had been plotted for a season 2-- it was cancelled. Their CHEMISTRY is a real bond and they really can make a good couple! The supporting cast seemed to be just paper cuts that can be strike down in a minute but still wouldn't be as they will be important.
PROGRESSION
The progress is really good with building-up, it makes an intense love-story between two locked out couples. The pacing is good EXCEPT FOR THE PLACEMENT OF EACH IMPORTANT SCENE. The last episodes where I feel like they are the important scenes to be followed on by next episodes.(which yet is now regretted by the director as it had been banned and MAY never be produced)
The romance starts at the middle episodes which can be said as exciting, the budding romance on the other half was too slow and can be summarized up to 1-4 episodes.
PRODUCTION
Some scenes were good, although the camera angles would be regarded as a little awkward but the places and lighting were really good. The way it is portrayed shall be applauded by the use of low-budget, especially the amount of time they were putting up on the spots of cold environment. KUDOS!
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Story: I believe it develops nicely although due to the censorship the progression of time does seem off, however that is not really something that can be helped all of the time. If there was a uncut version released I believe the story progression and development could very well reach near perfect.
Acting: I believe the two main actors play their parts well. They have not stepped back from the characters personality, specifically that the feelings develop nicely and do not get turned on like a switch out of the blue.
Music: The opening song is very nice, during the show the music is not overpowering.
Rewatch Value: I think you could very easily watch this over and over again because you are made to feel sad, empathetic, happy, embarrassed and shocked across all of the episodes. I found myself laughing at the characters and sometimes that is difficult to give to your audience.
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If the story is abit slower (focusing more on it's other characters like You Qi and Yang Meng), the show will be in it's 10.0
A must watch movie, watching this series the 3rd time over the last 3 days
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This review may contain spoilers
I'm so disappointed in this drama, to me, it was a waste of time. It was hyped so much but let me down so hard.The thing that annoyed me the most and repulsed me of it was the abusive nature of their relationship. Gu Hai was pretty much forcing himself on Luo Yin, there's nothing cute about that. And that was included in sooo many scenes, if stuff like that happened to me irl, I'll sue for sexual harassement.
The acting of the male leads was good (nothing astonishing either) but the secondary characters were awkward.
The production style was sloppy, especially in the first episodes, and some of the music didn't fit in into the scenes.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend watching it. There are better shows depicting LGBTQ+ relationships than this.
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I really loved the character interactions in this drama. Also the main couple had amazing chemistry throughout the whole show. The music was great too. There were a lot of laugh out loud moments and a lot of moments that just resonated with you.
What I Disliked
How the second couple never got together or developed thoroughly (maybe in season two I hope). How annoying a lot of the female characters.
Overall it's a good drama and I recommend giving it a watch.
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First of all, for people who had trouble with the darker aspects of this series, well, the title should have given you a clue. This isn't a sweet tween drama - Gu Hai's feelings for Bai Luo Yin are over-the-top, obsessive, and unhealthy - like heroin is. This isn't meant to be an ideal relationship - relationships can be complicated, even toxic.
Many reviewers have said Luo Yin doesn't reciprocate Gu Hai's feelings, but he really does - it's just that his expressions of love are subtle. When Gu Hai asks him if he likes him, he says "you already know the answer, so why ask?" Plus, Luo Yin invited him to live with him and sleep in the same bed, so that's another hint.
- Loved the cast. Timmy Xu who plays Bai Luo Yin is so beautiful it's painful to look at him. The acting is very solid.
- The writing is unusual, as it skips the saccharine quality of a lot of BL and actually gets a tad dark - you'll know what I mean when you see it. It's played for humor, and the Chinese title of the series is "addictive", so it does make sense, but some people will not find any of it funny. The power imbalance was kind of hot, to me at least.
- Although both boys have (semi- and ex-) girlfriends, this isn't the major and consuming obstacle to the main pairing like it is in many of the earlier BLs. Here, the girlfriends here mostly serve to help the mains figure our their sexuality, and they both fit into the addiction theme.
- While you have to wait for it, there are a couple of hot consensual love scenes, at least in the uncensored version. One of the characters is way more aggressive than the other, and in a couple of cases semi-forces the other, although never for anything more than a hand-job . In one scene the more passive one was clearly parading himself in an effort to drive the other crazy, but "he was asking for it" is a bit cringe-inducing even if it's two guys.
- If there's a flaw, there is some repetition, (although common to most serial dramas), especially rejection of physical intimacy. It later turns out there is some fear of pain involved, but hand and blow jobs don't hurt. Also, the main actors are clearly way too old for high school, although I'm not complaining about that.
Ironically, the censored version is more transgressive than the full version - there are physical scenes where cutting out just as it's starting makes it look like one raped the other whereas in the full version you can see that they didn't even have sex.
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Looking back, Huang Jingyu (Gu Hai) and Xu Weizhou (Bai Luo Yin) were so talented in their performances I think they had a real connection. The chemistry and the make-out scenes were the best but just seeing how they interacted with each other was worthwhile. With that said, I think the title is totally accurate "Addicted Heroin". The love that Gu Hai has for Bai Luo Yin is addictive, it gives you the feeling that even if he wanted to stop he wouldn't be able to.
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This review may contain spoilers
I enjoy watching this show up to the point where the GH start molesting BLY. I mean it is fine for 2 men to sleep together in the same bed but when someone start forcefully touching you it is so weird that you will let him sleep same bed with you. Worst of all is the kidnapping BLY scene. How come this rape attitude is acceptable by so many viewers? After that scene BLY still accept GH and let him stay in his room. I mean what is this mean? Does anyone will still sleep together with their sexual molester and be friend with them? I really feel bad for BLY, his life already very miserable and he still end up in a abusive and "rape oriented" relationship. He does not deserve to be with GH. I wish they make the love story move more romantic and realistic like typical straight drama example"Boku wa Asu, Kinō no Kimi to Dēto Suru or proposal daisakusen etc". Was this review helpful to you?
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