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THIS MIGHT BE A WRONG ADDICTION, BUT I LIKE IT!
The story in it's core was amazing, but there is one thing that didn't exactly sit right with me and that is the intimate scenes that portrayed a "dubious consent" rather than an "explicit" one and that explains why i only gave it a six. Other than that, this drama is a real masterpiece. The chemistry between them whether it was onscreen and offscreen was quite outstanding. This drama was popular for a reason and that reason is obviously the two male leads. Huang and Xu showed us how capable and incredibly talented they both are. This drama was so popular back then and remains the most popular boy love series ever made from mainland China till this day. Despite the phenomenal success of the drama, it was revealed that its second season was permanently cancelled, and the government unofficially banned the two actors from appearing at any events or on television together. However, there was a rumor about a second season being filmed in Taiwan in 2019. It would be amazing if the both of them reprise their role.Was this review helpful to you?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This show had a lot of good going for it in the first half, which is why I rated it kind of high. However, Addicted has a lot of bad going for it as well. I'm a big fan of the enemies to friends to lovers trope, which is exactly what happened between Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai. In the beginning, their relationship was adorable. However, later on, in the show, Gu Hai becomes extremely aggressive, and whenever Bai Luo Yin says no or pushes Gu Hai off he just ends up pressuring Bai Luo Yin more, and it's extremely upsetting and uncomfortable to watch. I really wish they could have handled the relationship between the two of them better because they had a lot of potential. Also, the storyline was okay, the acting was very good, and it does unfortunately end a cliffhanger. I would be lying if I said the ending didn't leave me a bit upset because I did kind of want to find out what happened. I believe they had a second season planned, but China banned the show before it even finished airing.Was this review helpful to you?
I highly recommend reading the books. They are an easy, exciting read and it will engross you. Don’t expect to get much done because once you start the books, you won’t be able to put them down.
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About the ending... I don't want to give anything away, but if you are like me and felt you want more, here is the link (http://www.56wen.com/txt/12035.html) to the Chinese original web novel. It is 70 sections long and the drama ended in mid section 21. So yeah, I felt like I have hit the jackpot! I enjoy the writing very much and the drama mostly followed the novel, so it followed the same theme as the drama, I just couldn't stop.
About the drama... I loved the drama, I loved the cast, and I loved the story. It didn't set up the 2 main characters as one lowly and one privileged like hundreds of other dramas that I have watched. These 2 characters are so genuine, so much alike , so honest, and their relationship is so organic. Their love for each other is so related-able, I almost want to swing that way but at last lack the proper equipment. The young actors did a wonderful job, portrayed such love and tenderness while showed off their natural masculinity. It was definitely a good drama. The story is so gripping that you may not notice the rough around some edges. I am sure the funding was limited due to the fact that it was a web production, but it does not disappoint.
About the music... I have to mention that the one song that stood out most for for me was by Twinbed titled "Trouble I'm in". I have been addicted to it since I've found it. You can find it on youtube through this link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvW63QsIxts&list=RDOvW63QsIxts&index=1)
I hope you will watch this drama and read the web novel to see where it will take you. Have a good journey!
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Still, no matter how I look at it, Gu Hai is really going about showing his affections to Bai Luo Yin the wrong way. I didn't not find it endearing not even at the end when they were in the car alone. What he said sounded literally threatening, but I guess it was supposed to be some sort of declaration of love and commitment?!?
All that aggression made me sad, because this could have been a nice series that was actually given a happy ending for a change.
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WTF
So, technically, I saw this probably about two months or so ago, so my knowledge is a little shaky. This was my very first Chinese BL, which from the looks of the Chinese government, will be my last. (lol). I remember it being about these two dudes that go from hater to lovers, and then they realized that they’re stepbrothers. Initially, I gave this series a 9/10, but after going back and watching it wasn’t all that good, and highly problematic. Gu Hai literally kidnaps Bai Luo Yin and then states how much he’s in love with the dude. Ummm, no? Don’t do that? Then when Bai tells Gu Hai that he might have an STD (or HIV/AIDS, I really can’t remember) He just like, “whatever, it’s fine I’ll have it too cause I love you” Ummm, yeah, still no! Then of course the whole rape thing happens and it’s just super upsetting. Even when we see the after moments, Gu Hai is just beaming and the other dude looks uncomfortable.Along with all that chaotic mess, they’re going to be stepbrothers. Again with the incest, we gotta love it! (that was sarcasm, please don’t support incest). The only reason I can remember liking this was because of Yang Meng. He was so lovely and such a supportive friend, and I wish we would’ve gotten to see more of him and his (i think) love interest. I think I liked the main couple a lot better in the first few episodes when they would do stuff to annoy each other. Like cutting up their jackets (can we just talk about the fact that they have to wear tracksuits to school?), and sewing the sleeves together, that was cute. Anything else with this series was a fail, I wouldn't recommend this series at all.
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Toxic BL Drama Show That Shows How Much BL's Have Improved
Okay so who lied to me and said this was a really good series? Because it really wasn't it was actually pretty bad. If you like this series probably don't read the rest of my review, because it's going to be pretty negative and roastful.First of all, the whole "stepbrother romance thing" is weird enough upfront. I don't like that plotline, especially not in the context of this story. The parental issues our 2 main characters have was actually quite interesting though, so I'll give the show that. Also Bai Luo Yin's father was the best character in the show. But it's overshadowed by the crap later on.
Our main characters Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai are really pretty boring. One is a borderline crazy stalker and eventual kidnapper (Gu Hai) while the other is exceedingly stubborn and wants seemingly nothing to do with the other for the most part (Bai Luo Yin). These traits make up just straight up bad character portrayals. The actors themselves played the parts well, but I just couldn't stand their characters at all. Especially together, which is where we get into the super serious problems I had with this series. STOP ROMANTICIZING SEXUAL ASSAULT. Too many BL series do this, granted not so much anymore because I think they finally realize it's super not okay. But back in the day, like when this aired it was too common. Literally Gu Hai's character does all these pretty kind things throughout the show and then BAM, he's literally an awful person! He has Bai Luo Yin kidnapped, tied up and he forces himself upon him. Assault does not always just mean sex by the way, if someone isn't interested in being groped or kissed DON'T DO IT! Then the show doesn't address any of it ever again. Absolutely not.
Amongst the varying levels of toxicity thrown into later episodes randomly, there's this weird disease subplot that also pissed me off. DO NOT get a disease for someone, like wtf that's so stupid and careless to throw in there! I mean it ends up being not real, but the idea is stupid and not something to be romanticized along with everything else. Also random note, the music in this show was weird too. Like either brokeback mountain esque, loud dubstep or whatever else. So weird, please don't watch this. I feel like because it was banned a lot of viewers have this weird attachment to the show? Well I went in knowing this and still hated it. I'm glad LGBTQ BL representation is getting much MUCH better with shows like UWMA and LBC. These types of important topics need to be portrayed correctly please and were definitely improving!
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No…just no
I can’t encourage you enough to NOT watch this. I don’t have much of a critical eye, so you can trust me when I say this drama was just not good.I was sort of okay with it in the beginning it wasn’t amazing but it was fine. But once the nonconsensual behavior started I lost all interest in the characters. WHY would Bao Luoyin fall for the guy who is LITERALLY SA’ing him? Why would I want him to?
I finished it just for the sake of closure and didn’t even get that!!! It ends with a crazy random cliffhanger and there’s no season two.
Overall a disappointing show with a disappointing ending. Save your time and watch something good like KinnPorsche.
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The most refreshing part of this series is how natural the characters feel. The actors chosen were a perfect fit and the chemistry between them is great. They truly make you feel for them.
There are parts throughout where I felt some more content was needed but overall it was really well done.
They ending though... If this show was intended to have multiple seasons, then I think they ended the show very nicely. You can tell they chose to end it with an ending that can be continued. Since they made it so it can be continued, I really hope they make a second season!
Even though there is an open ending, I still think it's worth watching!
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The acting is good. The atmosphere is depressive and the story is boring. There is no chemistry between the main actors and one of them is suffering all the time and I was suffering with him!
I do not know much about Chinese culture in general, but if this kind of relationship is normal, then it is sad indeed. There has been so many better stories than this with better representation of BL and relationships in general.
I am very disappointed.
Not worth watching.
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