This review may contain spoilers
I HAD TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT JUST TO VOICE MY DISGUST WITH THIS SHOW...
(SPOILERS! You have been warned!)I simply don't understand the rave reviews here, did we watch the same show??? Maybe there was a version that edited out the KIDNAPPING and RAPE and REPEATED UNWANTED SEXUAL ASSAULTS?? Because the show I watched was not a cute romance, but a very problematic and cringe-inducing cautionary tale about obsession and possessiveness.
The whole time B.L.Y. looked disgusted by G.H.'s advances. Even if the intent was to show the downside and desperation of a person in such a situation, it was completely undone by "romantic" music riffs stolen from the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack and the band Explosions in the Sky, the rights to which I doubt the producers obtained legitimately. The music was only "good" bc they were ripped from Hollywood films/TV shows, but they were used in excess and at the wrong time to force a mood that didn't fit the scene.
Yes, the boys were cute, and they were decent actors, and the story had some promise in the first few episodes that made you want to ship them (and maybe that's why the positive reviewers wanted to like it so badly?), but after the kidnapping, everything turned way too dark for it to be a romance. I mean, their FIRST KISS was forced onto one of the guys WHILE HE WAS HANDCUFFED and TIED UP AGAINST HIS WILL!
Even in the last episode (15, was it the last episode?) when B.L.Y. FINALLY showed a little bit of interest in G.H. (after rejecting him for 14 and a half episodes), it felt like Stockholm Syndrome had set in and he reluctantly gave in. It was not the heartwarming moment the showrunners intended it to be.
Given the title referring to drugs and addiction, maybe it could have worked as a thriller like Fatal Attraction or something like that, but the director was clearly intending this to be a love story, and that simply does not work both ways. I haven't read the source material, but since the show was also apparently written by the same author, I'm going to assume the show and book are similar.
It's sad what happened to the show regarding the bans, and I hope for things to improve in China regarding the homophobia, but even then, that doesn't mean this show should be held up as any kind of a triumph for boys' love, because the relationship shown here? THIS IS NOT LOVE.
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All of the actors here are beginners and they did a good acting here.
I really liked the story itself and the characters different attitudes towards other, it was my first time to see and hear a soundtrack that is sang by 2 boys. Quite rare.
Why i disliked here is the other couple didn't have any chance to get attention to their story but aside fro, that, they give everything is this series.
The chemistry is really adorable, strong, and different.
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Story : The story is interesting for people like me who like BL stories. But, this one is really my favorite (BL) because it got me through so much feelings.
Acting/Cast : All actors are beginners but they play really well, so well that I thought it was natural like real life - but in a good way. I got attached to them really easily. What I like is that they are normal guys, they didn't made them big brutes or girly.
Music : There's not a lot of musics, around 5 main but what is great about it, is that music doesn't steal the show - how can I say this - music doesn't get more important that what we are watching like in all those dramas we can see... ( They used the ost of an american BL ! brokeback mountain)
Rewatch Value : Rewatching is not a problem, I remember the following day I finished watching this drama, I was like "It's no possible !" "This drama can't be so great !" - well I was excited x) (I couldn't recover !!!)
Overall : For those who are still hesitating, this drama IS A MUST-SEE, get it ?! No seriously, I don't know what got me soooo attracted to this drama maybe the general atmosphere. Maybe the fact that it seems so realistic - but it doesn't lack a bit comedy either. Why realistic ? Because main characters have their own personality which is unique. They match and don't match at the same time, it's not just some characters, with personality traits, they have moods, and they just live.
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The story made me feel every possible emotion. I knew the finale was coming and felt like I was going to miss these characters. I love the very raw, powerful kind of portrayal. Something that begins from basically bullying each other in stupid ways to growing into a deep love. Just wow. Just one thing, if you get offended easily this is not the show for you. If like me you prefer flawed characters who make blunders because of what they're going through and you can suspend disbelief then you'll love it. The unfortunate reality of the majority of the Asian world is their lack of understanding for same sex couples. I realize that the entire team and actors were threatened and basically they were unable to make a second season. There's nothing you can do about that. But you know what, just forget that last scene of her appearance and it finished off perfectly at the parking lot car scene. That's it. Let's show our support for these shows so people can understand same sex stories are marketable and people love them, so love can win over hate. Again, thanks to the creators for being brave enough.
As for the two main leads both Timmy Xu and Johnny Huang are gorgeous (though I have a shameless preference for Huang).
Xu plays the role of Bai Luo Yin who was abandoned by his birth mother and has been living with his father for most of his life in a financially tough situation because of his father's meagre earnings.
Huang plays Gu Hai, who is extremely rich, but his birth mother died in mysterious circumstances and since then he's always held his father and his step mother responsible. Even though the step mom tries hard to get along with him, Gu Hai never listens to her or his father.
Basically when they interact at school neither Luo Yin nor Gu Hai realize that they both share a person-- Luo Yin's birth mother is actually Gu Hai's step mom who is about to marry his father.
But Gu Hai and his father have a falling out and Gu Hai leaves home to live in the same neighborhood as Bai Luo Yin. He hides the fact that he's rich from everyone. And the first time Bai Luo Yin encounters Gu Hai it's not pleasant.
They both end up not getting along and literally bully and tease each other to hilarious lengths. But one day when Luo Yin's complaining to a friend about Gu Hai, the friend tells Bai Luo Yin he believes Gu Hai doesn't hate Luo Yin at all in fact he explains why he believes Gu Hai actually likes him. Bai Luo Yin finds it strange that a person who bullied him that way could like him.
Anyway from here on out you are taken on a somewhat strange journey. As Luo Yin goes from extreme annoyance with the new guy who refuses to sit anywhere else but behind Luo Yin in class, to a weird kind of friendship to love and plain obsession from Gu Hai's end.
But man what a journey! I couldn't get over it for months.
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This review may contain spoilers
So utterly cute! My heart is full whenever Gu Hai and Luo Yin are onscreen together! And when they 'broke' up, my heart hurt. The chemistry between the two leads is electric and without a doubt, is one of the best BL couples no cap! The performances of everyone was ace! The writing was strong though there were some questionable plot points that don't make much sense like why Gu Hai and Luo Yin started to live together when Gu Hai had his own apartment or how neither of their parents mentioned the names of their sons for so long when they should know that their sons attend the same school and are in the same year, Also, the girlfriend coming back at the end seemed a bit shoe-horned in and makes it all the more annoying that there won't be a second season due to China's ridiculous censorship! Imagine all the BL content that China could have put out without that inane ban! The Untamed would have been so much better! This series could have been one of the best BLs ever alongside SOTUS & SOTUS S if it wasn't for China's censorship. I'm so angry! Anyways, the musical themes used in this show are very good though they don't really fit in with the story or atmosphere. And why did the drama use musical scores from iconic gay films such as Carol and Brokeback Mountain? How does music inspired by the 1950's and music inspired by the American wilderness work in a high school setting? And the usage of The Lion King's Can You Feel the Love Tonight was kinda random? Wouldn't it have been expensive to get the right to use them? I wonder how if they got clearance? Or maybe the fact that its in China means that they don't need clearance? Anyways, I also really liked that the two leads are not conventionally beautiful but rather regular-looking. It's nice seeing ordinary people get the spotlight unlike in Thai dramas where everyone is pretty.A reviewer on Viki said it best: "I wish that the cast and crew would just pick up and move to another country where they can start right back up where they left off and finish this series. Every person that has been involved since the beginning deserves to see the proof of their hard work and we fans deserve to know what happened to the characters that we got angry with, laughed , cried, and fell in love with, as well as those of us that who fell in lust with them and their hot steamy love scenes where we could almost see and feel the electricity and fire that sparked between them with every look, kiss, and touch. I want that kind of passion in my life. Even imagining a miniscule percentage of that intensity in my life has my heart pounding." Perfectly describes my feelings towards watching Addicted.
On a side note, I watched this using the free trial on Viki due to reports of scenes that were cut on the versions on YouTube. And the quality was good too!
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DON'T WATCH!! ABSOLUTELY TRIGGERING, GROSS, EW NO!!
trigger warning: SA, the whole drama has SAI have watched many bad dramas, but this gets the crown for the absolute worst drama I have ever watched. So many people have praised this drama and it really goes to show how many people on MDL love SA. I get that people have their preferences with what they like to watch... but homie literally went up and REPEATEDLY SAed the other lead when he told him visually, physically, and verbally that he did not like it. I HAD to drop it after episode 11 (I believe), because that's really when the SA got so bad that I felt physically sick.
I just need to let whoever is reading this know that the SA really, truly, is super bad. I read a comment before watching that there was SA and I was confused thinking it was like a bad guy or something, but NO it's literally with the two leads as in the couple and it's romanticized in a creepy, sickening way that repeatedly happens! This drama will make you feel absolutely sick.
All of this being said...I don't get how someone could enjoy this drama. Regardless of the SA, the two leads don't have good chemistry. They pretty much hate each other and I don't get what's supposed to entertaining here besides the... SA. That's not entertainment. Moreover, the acting is mediocre and visually the scenery of this drama is lame. The plot is like eating sand... it's so dry. I genuinely don't get why people have enjoyed his drama.
It's a shame that people like/praise this drama. I hope if you have read this I have persuaded you not to watch it, because this drama has been one of the biggest let downs I have ever watched and the worst in general.
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stop condoning sexual harassment !
the behavior of the main lead is not normal. NO is a NO, when will bl dramas stop romanticizing sexual abuse.. I loved the acting. they were super good at portraying the characters but the plot is a huge NO for me. the kidnapping, the non consensual touching.. there are so many things wrong about this drama,, i can't believe why this drama is not criticized as much as it should be.. the ratings are too high. could have done better with the plot if they stopped with that weird forcing in this.. all the other part of the plot including the relationship with their parents, the bond between family and the love hate relationship with mom and son.. they all r soo good. why did they have to ruin such a nice plot by that... the world would be a better place if we all speak up against sexual abuse..Was this review helpful to you?
Know your triggers before watching - Appreciate its rawness when watching in 2024
I don’t think I would appreciate “Addicted” as much if I were to watch this in 2016 and not in 2024. “Addicted” is one of the first uncensored gay romance C-dramas and we all know everything is censored now. There is a full on gay romance, and not the subtle bromance or implied gay romance. Additionally, this drama is starred by two big stars now, Timmy Xu and Johnny Huang.Timmy and Johnny had awesome chemistry and their acting is great considering “Addicted” is both of their first drama. As much as I enjoy them, their romance is problematic and toxic. Gu Hai (Johnny) is obsessed with Bai Luo Yin (Timmy). His way of courting and showing affection has red flags all over. At first, he’s acting like a typical high school kid who only knows how to show affection by being mean to the person he likes. If you are triggered and bothered by dubious consent to intimate acts and forced kisses, I do not think you should watch this. I am aware of these triggers, so I won’t fault this drama (too much) on some questionable actions/scenes.. I know what I am getting myself into. Having said that, I do not agree with Gu Bai’s method of keeping Bai Luo Yin in his apartment after they found out they are step brothers.
This is a decent low budget production. The acting of the main supporting cast is OK. But the acting of the minor roles, e.g. Gu Hai’s ex-girlfriend and cousin, is pretty bad. Those two characters are annoying. There are some weird plot holes. I am still not sure what’s going on between the other two friends, Yang Meng and You Qi. I thought You Qi likes Bai Luo Yin. So, what’s the deal with him harassing Yang Meng? Also, the ending…..that’s not how I expect the drama to end, and there’s no sight of a season 2 after 8 years.
There are quite a few scenes of the leads showing off their nice bodies/abs. Well, Johnny Huang has been keeping fit all these years. He looks just as good as I last saw him in “Bright Eyes in the Dark”.
The drama’s name is “Addicted” and also “Addicted Heroin”. At first, I thought it must mean Gu Hai is addicted to Bai Luo Yin like a druggie is addicted to heroin. After watching the drama, I realized their names together “Hai Luo Yin” = “Heroin”. What perfect names!
Lastly, there’s a quote from Gu Hai that sticks with me and pretty much describes how much he loves Bai Luo Yin - “No matter how much I hate your mother, it wouldn’t even be a fraction (1/1000th) of what I feel for you!”
I would only recommend this drama if you are aware of the triggers. It’s great to see a younger Johnny and Timmy, and how courageous of them and the production team to create such a raw drama. I’ve also watched the newer adapted version, “Stay With Me” and I would recommend that one if you want a tamer, sweeter and more romantic version of “Addicted”.
Completed: 5/23/2024 - Review #444
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I must add that although Korn and Knock are my favorite TV couple of all time, Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai are a fierce competition.
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Toxic, Confusing, Wasted potential, Overrated
Honestly I wasn’t planning on reviewing this show because I wanted to just binge watch this one and Stay With Me. But omg this show makes me so mad and I just have to speak about it. First of all I really despise the fact that this show is so glorified and overrated because it seriously isn’t all that it’s played out to be. I will admit the actors are good, the plot had somewhat potential but overall it’s mediocre and just a typical story. Nothing out of the ordinary. And the fact that it got banned and they had to remove scenes doesn’t help this case (though I don’t blame them for this since it’s out of their control) but still even the deleted scenes aren’t the best because almost all of them are just Gu Hai sexually harassing Bai Lou Yin and it just makes me so angry. There’s nothing cute or romantic about someone forcing themselves onto someone when they obviously don’t want anything intimate. And honestly half of the people who comment or leave reviews don’t talk about this and it’s so weird. It’s just a show, I know, but overhyping this show even though it has a mediocre plot and the only “romantic” content it shows is just pure sexual harassment is just wow. Usually I trust the shows that are rated lower on MDL than the higher rated shows because for some reason I tend to like shows that are usually rated like 7 and under rather than shows that are rated 8 and up. Idk what it is but that’s just how it works for me. I do like to give overhyped shows like these a chance to see what all the hype is about but everytime it’s always just very basic and disappointing or very boring and bad. But anyway, back on track another thing that I disliked was how Gu Hai was always treating Bai Luo Yin as property, an object or some sort of belonging. With the over jealous behavior and even getting physical with people when he felt jealous, also straight up telling Bai Luo Yin that he belongs to him and that he owns him is just huge red flag. This man is just toxic all over and it’s disguised by “romance”. But to contradict what I’ve been saying in this review I will state that I enjoyed the last episode the most out of the others and it’s maybe because the kisses and intimacy was more consented this time and more voluntary on both sides which was good, also things were starting to get interesting since Bai Luo Yin’s ex came back and you can tell if this show hadn’t been cancelled then it would’ve been really good and probably much better. But once again it wasn’t something they could’ve controlled so I don’t hold it against them. I will say that the chemistry was confusing, it felt like Bai Luo Yin didn’t really like him until episode 15 and that’s when he acted upon his feelings but I feel like at the same time he was forced to start liking Gu Hai. But at the same time he could’ve had hidden feelings for Bai Luo Yin and at towards each episode he realized that more and more but was a bit in denial or scared which is common. Regardless it was a bit confusing and that could’ve been portrayed or explained a bit better through actions or something.Overall, would I recommend? No. It’s not horrible, trust me I’ve watched worse. But it’s an unfinished show, along with its censorship, but even with censorship poor Bai Luo Yin is just getting constantly sexually harassed, then the plot is just mediocre, the whole show is just Gu Hai chasing Bai Luo Yin and it makes me so irritated cause the feelings don’t feel mutual for like the entire show until episode 15. So yeah, don’t waste your time and watch something better. It’s really not worth it and wasted potential. And let me tell you they did not lie when they named this show Addicted because that’s just what Gu Hai is towards Bai Luo Yin. Addicted.
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Nothing says I love you as much as being forcibly kissed (this is a bad joke)
I came for the lack of consent, and I was not the least disappointed. Had I come for the romance then this would probably have me running by the first assault. This is a short and intense drama with high pace and and not a dull moment. The leads acting is superb, while some of the side characters could use an acting lesson or two with very few side stories if at all. I found all the characters interesting but in need of allot of emotional guidance.The drama is called Addicted-heroin, it has very little to do with the actual drug and more with a (several) persons addiction to another person sending them to make some pretty bad decisions (I will write more about those as a comment wit a spoiler tag).
And tells the story of an extroverted rich bad boy who (unknowingly) falls for his stepbrother an introverted poor yet super smart good boy icicle and douse all in his power to own him. While still having a girlfriend and denying his sexuality. Both leads seem to have connections to having (had) girlfriends with an addiction to them who need to learn to let go.
All in all an interesting watch, just be prepared for sexual and physical assault, and most importantly what ever you do not have this as relationship goals, or in any way accept this kind of behavior when seeking a partner.
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Do you love sexual tension? Who am I kidding, of course you do
If you're looking for something with a lot of sexual tension and steamy, fairly explicit scenes, I can't recommend this one enough. While in many ways the plot of this show is cliche, there IS definitely an overarching plot, and it's interesting enough to keep your attention between bedroom scenes. Also, while the two main characters are technically step-brothers, this is a very minor plot point and is almost negligible. If you're worried that the incest vibes will be too strong, I can assure you they're only there if you squint.As for the acting, Timmy Xu tries his best to keep up and does well enough, but Johnny Huang steals the show. He really carries a lot of their scenes. Genuinely, if a less talented actor had been in the role of Gu Hai this might have been a lot cringier than it was, so let's all say thank you to Johnny!
Now, on to one of my favorite parts about this BL: the soundtrack. Music can be such a hit or miss with most BL, but I'm happy to say that the soundtrack for this series is actually really nice. Like REALLY nice. The acoustic guitar sometimes reminds me of The Princess Bride, and the steamy scenes usually have an appropriately steamy song that doesn't kill the mood or sound like something out of a bad por*no movie.
One last note: this drama is SHORT. The episodes are barely 25 minutes each, so you can easily plow through this show in a weekend, or even a long night if you have nothing else to do. The show was cut from the air before it could finish airing, but I actually don't think this matters in the slightest. The episode they left on wrapped things up quite nicely with the main relationship, and while there were a few arcs that remained unfinished, overall I was very satisfied with the ending we got.
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