Advance Bravely

Lacking Something

I know they were not able to add kissing and more. I understand but there is nothing more than brother friend feeling to the story. I personally thought the acting was good. There are three “couples” and they might or might not be in love. There are hints to say they might be in love but for instance the main lead’s sister never says I think they hang out together because they care for each other. would this be too much? I am not sure. I do think that China let them make a bromance story is probably a lot for them. There is still some kind of emotional attachment missing. The two main leads have a connection but it is not on a deep level. The side characters are way too comedic and the ending is too. I have watched stories where the leads never kiss and they have slight comedy but still the story gives a bit of room for emotions without the sudden comedic moment. The flow is off when the comedy overwhelms the emotion. This all may be due to the restrictions imposed. so this is worth a watch but not a multiple time watch. We will have to wait for these kinds of countries to grow up a bit. Seems childish to be so much against this when the world has big issues and problems.

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Out of my nutshell

I'm going to come out of my nutshell: I'm not the biggest fan of dubbing in productions. It bothers me a lot. It feels like there is "sand in the gears".
Yes, dubbing has many resons. Some sound recordings are disturbed by airplanes, children playing in the vicinity, or engine noises. It is allowed to "trick" in those cases. But to dub through the whole movie/episode, it must be flawless, with real dubbing actors and real sound engineers who are specialized. Also, the voice must fit the character! For this purpose, there are special casting agencies that find type-appropriate voices for the actors.

Often mainland China BL productions have bigger budgets and for all the money they could produce better BL dramas compared to other countries. Well - this is my taste and means that there are exceptions:
I am a huge fan of "Addiction" (2016). I would almost say the mother of all BL productions! See my review of "Addiction" for more information.


Advance Bravelys production is good. The story is plain and it is dubbed. But I thought, be brave and watch the first 4 episodes. You will see very well trained bodies and if you love 6-packs, you will be happy here immediately!
:)
The cliché "Enemies to Lovers", "Rich meets Poor" is served here and the story is peppered with fight scenes. I can not judge whether this is really exciting for the target audience, but maybe you do it so that the boyfriends of the target audience are not too bored by BL dramas. ^^

And I liked Advance Bravely, so I watched all episodes.
What I do not like about the drama is that animals there are not kept species-appropriate. It is part of the script, that the cage incl. bird dropped on the floor. Someone sprayed an insecticide 1m below the cage. The cage of the bird was too narrow, hung on the balcony and exposed to the weather. Too much wind, sun and rain... how will the bird find protection? Never! The bird was carried back and forth for walks. This is absolute stress for a bird. If you really need to transpose a bird, then please carry it gently with both hands and a blanket over the cage so that the bird does not see what is happening around. It is best to use dummies for films or you can also use computer animation to incorporate an animal. Also that with the cock is not funny.
I think every production MUST be careful here. No matter if dog, cat, snake, hamster, fish or bird... it should be oriented after international knowledge.

A very long time ago in Taiwan and Thailand dogs were kept in very small steel cages on the balcony. Today, this is seen very very rarely. And the mortality rate from these animals dropped significantly. I wish there was a different awareness in this production. Who has no understanding for my demands, he can try it with pleasure. I'll put you in a cage and expose you to the weather day and night - and you get always the same food.

It is possible that you do not understand my concerns. It is only an animal and it may have no value for you. I am not writing this review through the eyes of every reader. It is in the nature of things to have different opinions. And I am writing from my point of view. Opinions are always just an offering to think about. In some countries, the value of an animal has no value. I am aware of that. Still, I think the film industry has a special responsibility here.
But I remain fair and do not disquality this production.


I think everyone acted well. The sister had a difficult role. She was the big pain in the butt - but a little less is more. Her role could also be a little less dorky.

A lot of relationships weren't fleshed out, there's an enormous amount of room for more depth. But I'm not sure why the series was stopped. If I compare it to "Addiction (2016)," it was the same problem, just a year earlier.
Thus, the story of the last episode and the ending of the drama is really bad. As a viewer, you feel very badly admonished, which is why I see the poor rating of the last episode as justified.
It is also a pity that the role of Xu He Ni is so small. I would have liked to see more of him.
The mother was a total surprise for me. Super played and had a really nice script. I would like to see more of Hu Cai Hong!

Aired Advance Bravely in 2017.... now it's 2023 and I assume we can no longer expect a well deserved 2nd season. Too bad.

Now that you know the story ends abruppt, it won't be so hard for you.

Enjoy the really nice minutes.
I wish you all the best!

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Best BL series ever!

This was the very first boy's love series that I ever saw. I knew very little about it but watched it on youtube. I was so hooked I've told my friends and sister about it. Main leads, Jason and Simon, have incredible chemistry. Jason is a former special ops veteran who opened up his own security company and made his fortune while caring for his younger sister. Simon is a "Cooler" by occupation in which he cools down situations and handles media. In the book, though, he is a police officer. Regardless, he is also an international MMA Fighter who has won awards and is a known celebrity. He has such a wonderful personality...funny, happy, charming smile. Jason is the opposite. He is reserved, authoritarian, a product of the military.

Jason's sister is infatuated with Simon but when she is unable to catch the aloof Simon she asks her brother for help. Used to the hooligans his sister usually attracts, Jason finds himself admiring the handsome Simon who is also spunky and a fighting force.

Every episode has scenes that are just brilliant. My sister and I have seen it more than 20 times now and still love it as much as the first time. We've been trying to get a DVD copy of it but have been unable to find one. If you are a fan of bl than you will love it, too.

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This will be short: Do not waste your time!

The movie had incredible potential. It had multiple plots, action and thrills, good acting, and good chemistry... BUT: China is doing a number with censorship! After the Chinese Inquisition (i.e. the Chinese censorship office... lol) finished cutting out what it deemed unacceptable, it left us with a film in shambles. Scenes are interrupted and cut short, there are countless abrupt endings to conversations, characters appear out of the blues with no background, or explanation... but the strangest and weakest failure is in the script itself. This movie has the most fatuous, pointless, and disconcerting (not to call it ridiculous) ending I have seen in all of Chinese cinema. It cheapens the entire movie and feels as if the ending too had been removed by the offices of the Chinese Inquisition and replaced with a finale designed by kids for the middle school play.

Like I said: Do not waste your time!

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Don't get me wrong. The story wasn't all that bad but it wasn't what i was personally looking for. The cast was good and acting was better than most. Music was unremarkable and common. Sime good fight scenes as well (these i enjoyed). Companies producing this drama have to do what that must to keep the cash flow going. So i can't be too mad when the band restricts output. With that being said, i came here to watch the romance and sexual interactions *~*. I came to be a pervert and left disappointed. And i didn't even get so much as a peck on the lips. There was skinship and i guess one "implied" sex scene. I don't even think it was . It was in the very last couple of episodes But no make out and no legit confession from any of the three couples. But i did have a good time at the beginning. The ending was animated which irritated me. I suggest to watxh the last 5 episodes with patience because the character can be very dim witted and full on stupid at times. Some characters were beyond crazy and could have had mental trama/illness. **I am not making jokes or say mental illness isn't serious**


So if you don't mind the lack of kiss scenes and closure then i recommend.

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A Masterpiece that is a Master Class in Subverting Censorship

Despite its flaws, I consider Advance Bravely to be part of the BL canon. That is, it has an esteemed place among the collection of BL dramas considered representative of the genre.

Moreover, it is highly canonical, closely following well-established yaoi principles. I would even say that Xia Yao and Yuan Zong are uke and seme archetypes and that they are the quintessential BL couple. Gong Jun and Jason Xu play these roles to the hilt. Their acting is pitch-perfect. Whoever cast these two knew exactly what they were doing.

As the seme, Jason Xu’s Yuan Zong depicts restrain, physical prowess, power, and shows a protective nature like few other characters I have seen in BLs. As the uke, Gong Jun’s Xia Yao is a bit androgynous, has a smaller build, and although a champion kick-boxer, is presented as being physically weaker than Jason Xu’s character. Also, Gong Jun’s portrayal of Xia Yao even contains traits that are usually associated with bishonen (although Li Zhen Zhen is the fully realized bishonen character).

This BL is a master class in using subtlety, innuendo, double-entendres, subtext, and even certain visuals to get around the loathsome, infamous Chinese censorship that is the ruin and devastation of many a Chinese BL. The director knew exactly how to take the platonic and obvious chemistry between the main leads and give us an intoxicating, addicting series using yaoi basics, all the while skirting and subverting heavy censorship.

Yes, I know, there is no kiss. But there is plenty of subtext and homoeroticism (unless you watch the “cut version). For example, in episode 10, Xia Yao, with a wide grin on his face, watches Yuan Zong collect lotus roots – which are oblong, tubular, huge, fat, and thick in shape. Another example is in episode 28, where Xia Yao and Yuan Zong play a video game in bed, with lots of touching and teasing and skin ship.

Speaking of subtext, the OST is full of it. My favorite is Jing's Love Sick.

The series has too many crazy sub-plots for my taste, and it suffers from poor continuity, under-developed supporting characters, and some truly awful editing. But these are mere quibbles, because, all in all, the world is a better place with a censored, somewhat haphazardly edited Gong Jun and Jason Xu BL than a world without one at all.

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Great but too bad it's from China

Geez, I really think this is worth doing again in Thai or Taiwan. It was really great up to the ending if that's what you want to call it. It wasn't a bromance it is a love story. That's plain and obvious. There was not kissing or anything else, but they slept together almost overnight. The 6 guys were all awesome. Simon and Jason just light up the screen and were obviously enjoying the series. Their chemistry just overflowed on the screen. Just the best. The story is too good to leave it alone. The sides stories and the main story left me wanting more even with censorships. Again it must be redone without censorship. Some one please do it. Bravo this production company minus the ending. Like what's with the cartoon ending?

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Amazing Chemistry. Great Series!

I loved this series! This series is better than most bl's I have watched, I consider it to be a bl - with no kissing, but definitely better than most bromances that come out of China.

ADDED NOTE - this series was recently added to Viki, BUT... they cut out some very key scenes and I don't know why. I stopped watching and went back to find it on youtube.

The way Yuan looks after and cares for Yao is incredible. "Don't mess with my baby", gave me chills. The production was also top notch, the body guard facility and training was very realistic.

I don't want to give anything away, but wait for the motorcycle ride in the rain. It's so awesome.

I wasn't too crazy about the side stories of Yao's friends, one episode got a little weird, but most of the focus for the series was on Yuan and Yao.

I know this is old, but if you have not seen it, check it out on youtube. One final warning - something happens at the end of the last episode, I feel like the producers were forced to change the final ending - it's in anime form and makes no sense for an ending, so I think it was a coverup. Just skip that scene.

For me, this series has a high rewatch value, not right away, but someday.

The episodes are not very long, but there are 30 of them.

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A bold, crazy, action-filled package of fun

It’s not the best--uh bad--because the storyline is all over the place, it’s largely comprised of fanservice (though they poke fun), the side couples and characters aren't great, there is some internalized homophobia, stalker stuff, and probably criminal actions that are brushed off, and the ending sucks; HOWEVER, if you overlook that, it’s a nice slice-of-life romance with bonus comedy and action. The chemistry between the leads is very good (Junjun is so cute in this role and though Xu Feng’s character comes off strong, he does a good job bringing a tenderness and likability to him distinct from the novel's character (who is ok but...) and the relationship of their roles is quite cute once the stalker stuff passes.

The show is also very brave in its portrayal of the main couple which is definitely what leads to its ultimate self-sabotage. It's really tragic. It was released a bit after Addicted/Heroin (上瘾) was taken down, so they were probably walking on eggshells with what they could depict, somehow a lot was included. I gained a lot of respect for Chai Jidan, I'm not gonna lie. I won’t spoil much, but let’s say you’ll become a living surprised Pikachu face. You might even scream a couple of times out of incredulity...or horror.

TL;DR I would recommend it because it’s cute, but action-packed and will make you laugh and smile and feel sad at times. If you are willing to overlook some--many--problematic/bad elements, you might be in for a really enjoyable time :)

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I started this series with a lot of hopes and expectations... I thought it was about a guy that does boxing to get money but that was only the first episode.. turns out that everyone here is rich except one character and the story is about certain couples and their problems.

Hsia Yao is rich guy that works sometimes (pun intended) and a rich girl called Yuan Roo falls for him. So she tells her brother, Yuan Zong, the CEO of a important bodyguard company, that she wants Hsia Yao to be her boyfriend. So the brother goes kinda stalking Yao but at the Yuang Zong ends up falling in love with him too. With this we have also Hsia yao's friends stories: Xuan Da Yu, a rich rich guy and how he meets Wang Zhi Shui, a thief and artist. Peng Ze, and how he wants to get closer to girl but he has a lovely model friend instead, Li Zhen Zhen.

The story started up so well but towards the middle we ended up with a lot of weird situations and obviously we have the China BL ban, so we don't have kissing or intimate scenes. Everything is off screen but we can assume that those moments take place. Everyone here is handsome and cute (I have to vote for Xuan Da Yu as my favorite) and each couple have their moments in the story. I liked the romance moments and the music of the series IS GREAT, I mean the songs are so catchy.

Off all the couples, my favorite is Xuan Da Yu and Wang Zhi Shui. I mean, they started bad: WZS steals from him but then they have cute moments together: XDY even goes when WZS used to live and finds out the tragedy of his past. Even though XDY has feelings for his best friend HY, we are kind of aware that he develops feelings for WZS too. And I wanted to see MORE OF THIS STORY DAMN.

As well of Peng Ze and Li Zhen Zhen, we don't have that many scenes, they are almost invisible and that's bad. And the main couple, I mean, I liked Hsia Yao but the was too good and do so many heroic stuff but man, Yuan Zong takes the cake. He was hot and adorable and charming. YES.

Overall and taking aside China's BL Ban, I think this is a fun and charming story. Even with all the weird moments (Hsia Yao and the doctors is the worst by far), I really liked the characters and the music is great. My favorites are Xuan Da Yu and Wang Zhi Sui *hands down*

Probably rewatch it? I don't know. Maybe in a couple of years, who knows.

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