The On1y One

Watch it as the first half of a story, it's still 100% worth it

Watch this as the first half of a story because that's what it is, and it’s 100% worth it. It's SO beautifully done. If you go into it thinking that it's a complete story, you will likely leave feeling disappointed or upset. I suspect this is why ratings are lower than I believe they ought to be. I haven’t ever immediately rewatched any show from beginning to end in adulthood and I’m in the midst of rewatching this one. The resounding refrain in my mind is – “The On1y One, how are you so good?!” It’s really well put together and has such great cinematic storytelling.

My suggestion is to watch the drama, then pick up the novel and read Chapter 60 onwards, which is what I did. The drama follows the novel closely enough for it to be possible to continue on.

If you go into this looking for smut, that’s not what this is and you’ll be disappointed. It is a lovely coming-of-age love story with excellent storytelling.

WHY I LOVE THIS:
- It’s incredibly sweet without being saccharine. No one’s overacting, everything feels genuine, deep and gentle.
- It’s beautifully shot and edited so that you can see into the inner emotions and thoughts of the characters, even when unspoken.
- There’s something to the order in which details are revealed that is really captivating and transforms the watching experience into a wonderfully slow peeling of layers.
- The way that these episodes are bookended with further glimpses into characters with the intro/outro and poetic commentary voiceover – it’s gorgeous.
- I’m in my 40s and I feel emotionally moved and transported into adolescence. This feels like the experience of adolescence distilled into a show.

WHY I DIDN'T GIVE IT 10 STARS:
- I find piggy back rides a little silly, but I get that it’s a regular trope.
- The acting is generally solid, nothing is bad. However, the acting in some episodes is really good, so in comparison, there were a number of lines in other places that I wish were delivered a little differently so that they could have landed a little better.
- There are a couple plot devices that feel a little contrived just to move the story along, which I didn’t love, but it wasn’t too distracting.

I watched this once, then read the 2nd half of the novel, and now am rewatching it again from the beginning. Now knowing what comes next in the story, it’s clear that they’ve laid the story foundation for filming a second half. This is the first 59 chapters of a 120 chapter novel. I truly hope they are given an opportunity to make the second half of the story as well as they did the first.

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Youthful shenanigans with slow burn gallore on the side!

This was all about youth, love and identity through the lives of two boys - Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian. The story begins with their parent's unexpected marriage and them sharing a roof but it goes beyond that and the typical BL tropes. As the drama progresses, it deals with loneliness, self-discovery and healing from past traumas.

What stands out for me is the pacing. The slow-burn romance allowed us to savour each shared moment between them - be it a glance or a subtle accidental touch. Every interaction between them felt special and gradually deepened their connection. The intimacy between them was chef's kiss. It was captured beautifully along with the confusion of young love. All the emotions were felt but none was spoken.

The character development of both leads was a treat to watch. Sheng Wang was portrayed as friendly in contrast with the stoic and often guarded Jiang Tian. As the polar opposite duo began to interact, the façade melted revealing their vulnerabilities and a new version of themselves. Their understanding of each other formed the emotional core that maintained a perfect balance between friendship and then the budding romance.

A special mention of literary element and small stories at the start of the episodes. The subtle references and metaphors for every episode and then the story revolving and unfolding around them was interesting and engaging to watch.

Though the ending feels incomplete and bittersweet but considering there would be a season 2, it gives a fitting closure. It is symbolic of Wang's realisation that they are just not brothers and friends. I am looking forward to season 2!
Overall, recommended if slow burn, character-driven romance is your thing.

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Directors and Writers should create series without another season in mind.

I might've dug up my own grave here by watching a series directed by one of the saddest gay films I've watched to date (Your Name Engraved Herein) but considering how there was a kiss on the first two episodes each, I expected the pace to pick up but it didn't. I don't hate slowburn, but that build up for 12 episodes was for nothing which is a sucker because everyone in the cast really played their part well especially the oozing chemistry between the two main leads. I really hoped the director and writers wrote this without a second season in mind and serve us a season that ends on a good note/ a series that could stand alone even without renewal. The ending was so disappointing tbh, really don't know what to feel about the series overall. The plot was just going circles in terms of the development of their relationship, I feel like the series peaked in the middle episodes and just went down from there :(( hope this would get a season 2 and redeem itself.

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Open Ended

Decent "BL" good acting, good story-having more details about how the background affected the ML would have been nice. Script was really good, the moments at the end of the first few episodes was an amazing addition....all in all Im glad I watched it.....but heres the thing....

The leads kissed twice, nonromanticly, then nothing....One lead reacted to the other lead physically, then nothing....There was a Very NC scene but was not the ML.....then nothing.....then....The End. The Gay Second lead even confessed to his counter part....Then The End.

One moved classes to put distance but they still live together in the dorms, still have a blended family, still have the same "friends", still have time out side of school...the classroom change doesn't do alot...Plus the Second ML knows the others feelings and feels it himself and expresses his hurt knowing the First ML changed classes to avoid him. But Nothing. Nothing at all.

If it ended this was because there is a second season then this is a great cliffhanger!-Second Season not a frequent occurance with Taiwanese BLs though.
If there is a special episode, which I've seen Taiwanese BLs do frequently, then I hope it closes everything for both couples.
If it just ending here.....I'm not for it.
There are too many variables and I personally don't do Open Endings because of those variables....Everything about it was good...I just can't stand the "Heres something that equals nothing" string along.

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Freefall, or, Now My Friend Refuses to Talk to Me.

A conversation between me and a friend called Zhuang Zhou:

Part I. Episodes 1-7

ME: There’s a new Taiwanese BL in town!
ZZ: Oh? Is it about stepbrothers?


ME: Ummm…
ZZ: Let’s run through the checklist. Are the leads unusually attractive?


ME: Yes.
ZZ: Is one of them poor, the other one rich?


ME: Yes.
ZZ: Is one of them a taciturn grouch, and the other a happy-go-lucky pout?
ME: Wait…
ZZ: A dead mother, or an absent father?


ME: Both!
ZZ: Does it go from (step) sibling conflict to (step) sibling rivalry to (step) sibling love to (step) sibling banging?


ME: I don’t know about the banging, but the rest of the arc is covered.
ZZ: Is there an outing by the beach, by the river, or in an arcade?


ME: Two out of three!
ZZ: Being pushed against a wall? "Spin the bottle"? "Teach-you-a-lesson" kiss?
ME: Uh-huh.
ZZ: An older, supportive side gay couple?
ME: Yes. But helpfully, they have no individuality so far.
ZZ: Cameos from other TBLs?


ME: Aplenty.
ZZ: A vague attempt at creating a stock villain?
ME: There is this kid who might fit the bill. But his only sin, as far as I can see, is wanting to be the best and popular. So, monster!
ZZ: Loud, intrusive background music?
ME: Yes! Why do TBLs do this? Sometimes, I can't even hear what they're saying.
ZZ: Pity. How about a timejump or a trip abroad?


ME: We aren’t there yet, but it is based on a novel, and the young people who have read it hint at both in the comments.
ZZ: Don't tell me they're going to pull another Addicted or Stay With Me on us.
ME: That's the fear.
ZZ: So tell me why I should watch it.
ME: Well, it is not without charm. The characters are in school, and they are actually shown schooling! You know, books, teachers, homework, and all that stuff which other BLs pretend don’t exist? Plus, in this world, the teenagers do have boners, which, of course, most teenage boys do all the time. (Remember what filth we entertained in our heads?) So, it is not chaste. And the leads do have great chemistry.
ZZ: Tell me why I shouldn’t.
ME: The fans might murder me for this. But the episodes are far too long for what they contain. They could have done each episode in 30 minutes or less (which the Japanese seem able to do effortlessly). I'm not sure what all those lingering shots of nothing accomplished. I love seeing the boys together. But this is not Andrei Rublev.
ZZ: It does sound like it is chock full of the tropiest tropes that ever troped.
ME: Doesn’t matter if done well, though, does it? I myself am a bit divided about the show, but on the whole, I'm rather enjoying it than not.
ZZ: Maybe I’ll give it a go. I’ll call you after it’s done.
ME: Shhhhh…. Don’t let people know we call each other! What will the teenagers on MDL think?
ZZ: Right.


Part II. Episodes 8 & 9

NOTE: ZZ has a very irascible sense of humour. His opinions are not mine :)

ZZ: I hate you.
ME: Why?
ZZ: For making me suffer through this show.
ME: Did you quit?
ZZ: Are you still watching?
ME (shyly): No...
ZZ: You do realise what you've done?
ME: What?
ZZ: You've made me want to quit Taiwanese BLs forever. After you ruined Thai BLs for me forever by recommending that pile of... Never mind.
ME: When did you quit and why?
ZZ: Fifth or sixth episode, I'm not sure.
ME: So soon?
ZZ: What was there to watch? It's every trope in the TBL book, but served half-baked and soaked in maple syrup. The boys were quite cute, yes, but they were clearly 30 playing on 17. Their roles and interactions were stale as last month's loaf. I'm fine with the step-brother trope, but tell me what was subversive about it? What was new? And it was so... slow... It wasn't building up tension. It was acting as a muscle relaxant. Which might be good for Wang, because he's clearly the bottom, but I kept falling asleep. What did you see in this?
ME: Just lots of lovely moments. Tenderness. Hope for a beautiful romance. Unlike you. Who has an iceberg for a heart.
ZZ: Which made you overlook all the bad signs posted along the way. Well, was it worth it?
ME: To be honest, I no longer know. Why couldn't they leave well enough alone? Things were good (for me) until Ep. 7. Then, at the end of Ep. 8, the boys move in together, and what should have been a beautiful moment was ruined by such an awful loud soundtrack that I thought, this has all the subtlety of a hangnail. It was a bad sign. Then Ep. 9 came and... I needed to be put out of my misery.
ZZ: What happened?
ME: Oh, ZeeZee. It was baaaaaad... an absurd kidnapping plot, strange bisexual love triangles between teachers without any palpable tension, students mooning their teachers, 25 minutes of a school sports day... IBS would look at that episode and say, that's bloated. I couldn't go on. But I hear that there was a bandit in the 10th episode, who provides the only possible excuse for our boys to finally sleep in the same bed together.
ZZ: Because you know... Wang, despite his build, is as helpless and maladroit as if he's always about to walk on a banana peel...
ME: Yes. The poor thing kept spraining his ankles. Despite fighting off thugs three episodes earlier, he's still afraid of sleeping alone with all that banditry.
ZZ: I told you. This is BL by the numbers. Why won't anyone listen to me? Have you been spoiled the ending? Was I right to predict a time-jump and a forced separation?
ME: It seems so. Which is why I quit. Either they will have to get precipitously to a happy ending, or, they'll do a cliff-hanger and wait for a second season. I'm not sure I wanted to stay for either. Do you think I should have?
ZZ: I don't know, and I don't care... I'm going to go sink into my bed like a hippopotamus and stuff myself with a Victoria sponge cake. Now, go away.

P. S. I did go back for the last episode, eventually. The ending was just... unforgivable.

Reader's Digest:
DO SAY: You're the On1y One.
DON'T SAY: I am the One & On1y...

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Overall worth it

You get this type of emotionally captivating series rarely from time to time.
At first the story seemed simple but throughout the series it gets deeper/complicated in a good way.
I didnt feel bored watching every episode and waited weekly for every episode which something rare while watching many series these days this one gets you hooked right on.

Liked:
- main leads were great
-emotional scenes and story is well paced (imo)
- the osts are amazing

Things to consider: (little spoiler)
There's some stuff that wasn't covered yet in this season which might be a cliffhanger for some. It was announced they're already done/working on s2 script.

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Slow burn done right

While the premise of the story might seem very simple, and even overused or cliche, what makes it stand out is the execution of the story, the amazing chemistry between the actors the lovely characters and their electric dynamic that give you butterflies.

Both leads are interesting to watch and they also have their own distinctive personality that makes their relationship perfectly balanced. Jiang Tian, at first glance, might appear cold or distant, but in reality he has a heart of gold, he is very caring and considerate, but his guarded nature prevents him from openly expressing his emotions since he is afraid of letting others get too close, yet he seems to crave a profound bond. On the other hand, there is Shen Wang who seems to be more approachable and cheerful compared to Jiang Tian, but he also deals with his own emotions of sadness. At first they do not get along, but that is to be expected considering how their world is turned upside down due to their new family circumstances, yet they adjust quickly and they turn out to get along. Seeing their relationship, slowly but steadily, progress helps the viewer get immersed into the story and get attached to the characters. The gentle, quiet moments of connection makes their bond special and all the build up creates the expectation of leading to a very satisfying conclusion that we can get if season 2 is confirmed, nevertheless, the drama is still worth to watch, because even watching the build up itself unfold in front of your eyes creates all kind of emotions. The yearning in their eyes, the sparking tension, the unspoken feelings as their bond grows and gets deeper make for an excellent, sweet love story of two young kids who are discovering the world around them, while also learning more about themselves and growing as individuals.

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Sure to warm your heart

The On1y One is an achingly sweet slow burn about two boys. One is the new kid in class, Sheng Wang. He’s adorable and eager but struggling with the aftereffects of the loss of his mother. The other, Jiang Tian, is an observant, aloof class favorite with a tender heart that he tries to hide. These boys are not just classmates but begin living together since their parents are dating. They are drawn to each other early on, and quietly grow closer and open up. Their interactions are heart fluttering to watch.

This series is more than a romance. It's about the growing pains of adolescence, the development of earnest friendship, and the love and support of family. There's a nostalgic and sincere tone to each episode. You can tell that a lot of heart has been put into its production.

It's based on a book, which has a happy ending. Be forwarded however that the series ends at a mid point and leaves the door open for a season 2.

I loved everything about this series. It isn’t glossy or overproduced. There’s no exaggerated acting. No intrusive sound effects. From the director of Your Name Engraved Herein, you can tell he took a naturalistic approach to the story and production. High schoolers act like high schoolers and struggle with issues that are age-appropriate like grades and making friends. The two main leads are a pleasure to watch. Both have the gift of delivering micro-expressions that convey so much meaning.

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So much potential and so frustrating

This is brilliantly acted and directed, and the writing is in detail much better than the average BL - but the story as a whole was tedious.

When you have characters kiss in the 2nd episode, you can't just slam on the brakes for 10 more episodes and then have nothing happen. The development of their relationship is beautifully done - slow burn at it's best - but it reaches a peak far before the end and then goes nowhere after that. Not slow burn - no burn, because to keep the relatioinship at a steady level they couldn't continue to show them quietly doing loving things to each other and so we didn't get any more of those beautiful moments.

Sheng Wang does what he does to avoid being turned on by the way Jiang Tian drinks water? After the enormous amount of focus on studies - and I mean ENORMOUS, there was no setup at all for him to do something that drastic. OK, so you're turned on. Go whack off and get it out of your system. Obviously there were deeper issues behind it, but those needed to be explored and not handwaved away with the sexy-water-drinking shorthand.

The could have entirely deleted the tiresome and totally unnecessary secondary couple plot and instead devoted that to Sheng Wang's descent into self-denial.

There's a scene a few eps before that where Sheng Wang explicitly names himself as Jiang Tian's home, which was one of the best scenes in the series and would have been the perfect place to end it. But unless you have a second season confirmed, then it's beyond frustrating to have devoted 12 weeks and hours to this to get absolutely nothing.

To be honest, what kept me from dropping the series was Andy Chen as their friend Gao Tian Yang, who I found enthralling. So hot and such a well-drawn and acted character.

Would I recommend it? No. Not unless a second season does come out and does resolve all the unresolved issues, which is ALL the issues since none of them at all are resolved. It doesn't sound to me like a second season is likely, and all those people, who appear to be most of the MDL audience, can blame themselves for watching pirated copies of this. That is stealing and it greatly diminishes the chances of BLs being made, so hang your heads in shame.

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Conflicted

Man, I love this series so much but I am so conflicted. They barely touch the relationship between the two characters and they put a useless second couple in the show for no reason which ruined the time and it ended abruptly without any warning. We were just beginning with the show and it decided to end. At one hand,I love this series so much but on the other hand how could they just end it like that. I pretty sure they did if for a sequel and that's is very very very shitty. It makes me unfulfilled and dissatisfied. But you gotta give 10s where it is due,good plot,good acting,nice chemistry and overall very good but still MAN....WHYYYYYYYY

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