The On1y One

Emotional damage, but I love it!

It's not just a bromance , and not yet a full boys love. But everything is here, we just need to wait...maybe because they're teens, underage high schoolers or because it's 2012. and same sex married wasn't legalized at the time ( 2019 was a breakthrough year).

I'm glad they didn't have characteristics of Thai bl- humping, jumping and d-ucking on every corner.

This was/is a beautiful story , where you finally try to understand your feeling and still you don't know how to react, cause you're still immature but the feelings are here and won't move on. You need to keep swimming, unit it's the right time. We saw how much time 2nd 'couple' needed to express themselves.

Main actors were fantastic, how they manage to express their emotions with just facial expressions . Let's hope there'll be 2nd season and the cast would be the same .

This show really stole my heart ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
I'll definitely read the novel .

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A flower that didn't get to bloom

I can't express how much I loved it, it was very unique and special drama, yet, it didn't feel complete, it felt like a very long preface and stopped right at the first chapter.

I have to say first that I haven't read the source material I know the series adapt a part of a whole, but my opinion relies only on the series, so excuse me if I ignore the whole and focus only on the part adapted.

What I liked about this drama despite the slow pace is the way the story is represented, I totally got immersed in it and wanted to see more, and although I mainly started it because it was a BL, I didn't really care about the lack of romance for the most of it, I also felt robbed of the relationship development as it stopped at a very critical point but that didn't deprive the story from it's charm.
Acting was amazing, I can't believe the two leads are actually that old, they fit their ages pretty well, and they did great job, specially the 30YO Liu Dong Qin, despite applying half a bottle of foundation on his beard area and how obvious it looked but I bought that he is 17.

However, what made me anxious toward the end - beside knowing that I won't find a drama as good after finishing it - is that I knew there won't be enough time to show the relationship and the blossoming romance between them.
And that really left me in a pinch, because I don't know if adapting a small part of the source material and stop the drama at this point on the story and depend on having a second season to tie up loose end is a good idea or not, because second season isn't promised and many problems could arise making it difficult to produce a second season, that been said, i also can't imagine changing and of the episodes to include more of the story as I believe it could take away from the beauty of how it's made.
I mean, ep9 is amazing I had so much fun watching it and despite most of it being a filler, I don't wish to change a thing about it.

Overall I love it as it is, slightly hoping that the plan of having a second season would be true and we will get to see more of them, I really want to see those two boys in love.

I really recommend this, it's one of a kind and very perfectly made.

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High school cohabitation BL that left me unsatisfied because of its open ending and lack of focus

This BL drama which features the budding romance between two newly step-brothers as they are forced to cohabitate and go to the same school. In itself, the series contains a lot of classical romantic tropes that I like but spend too much time on elements irrelevant for the romance to really maintain the interest. There is too much plot at school and even if it is important to establish the characters and develop their relationship, it also take too much place in the storytelling. When I look back at the 12 episodes and the open ending, I can only regret the choice of the production team to spend so much time on school plot rather than on family and romance, especially with the cohabitation aspect of the series being the best part of the story.

Acting wise, the main actors Liu Dong Qin and Benjamin Tsang did both an overall good job portraying the shift in feelings of their characters as well as the emotional trauma they carry. I wish there were a bit more tension and fiery chemistry between them, but it is far from being the worst that I have seen. Especially given the fact that the material they play does not contain a lot of intense moments of passion. The remainder of the cast is doing an okay job but nothing outstanding. The lack of charism of some of the "adults" part made me not care at the side characters storyline, especially the one of the teachers. I wish they would have removed from the script all the "teachers" stories because it was just a distraction on the main plot, without any real rewarding pay-off.

I also found the editing of the scenes and the overall making quite clumsy. The way they filmed some of the interactions and moments supposed to showcase the sparkles of feelings between the main leads was sometimes awkward. My biggest regret was that the production team decided to only adapt half of the story of a novel, thinking that they could have a season 2 to finish it but without greenlighting it. It seems that this second season will never happen, leaving the viewer with a relative bittersweet feeling given to the quite open ending. While it does not end on a cliffhanger, it left me hanging enough to feel frustrated about the big picture of the story told.

With S2 seemingly not happening, I would not necessary recommend this to people. If a season 2 was planned, I would probably say it is worth a shot if you enjoy slow burn cohabitation romance and are not allergic to a lot of sides plot and slice-of-life aspects.

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Simple done very well!

A massive congratulations to the cast and crew for a well thought off bl! I am forever in love with the cast (especially you andy chen!!!) and will forever cherish them in my heart!

Weeks ago when this was airing ep 1 and 2, I just saw this series on my fyp on TikTok and thought to myself that this might just be a silly Taiwanese series just for the vibes (cause I saw the truth or dare scene! the kiss was what reeled me in!), but woah was it more than that!

I might sound like I'm overhyping the quality, but c'mon you gotta admit everything was done soo well! The song choice, the camera angles, the script, and the lighting?! The production team carried a lot as well as the actors! I honestly was not prepared for what is to come, and honestly am very thankful for this rollercoaster of a show! We went through so much in such little time and I would applaud how the pacing fits sooo well!

This series so simple, like it has the most basic Taiwanese bl plot of step brother but it is sooo well done! It had it's own unique flair and style! I will forever love you Shang Weng and Jiang Tian ( and Gao Tianyang MY HUBBY) This is definitely forever one of my top bls to date!

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Fascinating chemistry, fun characters...but an underwhelming ending.

I was looking forward to On1y One as it gave me an impression that it'd be a BL in a similar vein to Addicted/Stay With Me, with what its teenage step-brother BL. It shared a lot of those basic beats with those series that it had me intrigued to see a Taiwanese interpretation of such a dynamic. I am also aware that this is actually based off of a novel of its own, but I've not personally read it so I know that going into this review I'm not as in-the-know of the finer details of the story aside from what I find pointed out on Twitter.

But as I've been watching this show...my interest waned over the weeks, I must say. I don't mind a nice slow burn story, and sure enough this season may not cover most of the novel, but reviewing this show on its own merit as a singular season with how they've presented the relationship...I'm not that satisfied with the ending. If it's supposed to lead to a second season - one that's not even technically confirmed to be in production at the time of writing - that's cool and all, but this season just feels very lacking. I'd hardly say this show is re-watchable, personally. At least if it's the only season we ever get to see.

That said, I did love Sheng Wang and his journey of self-discovery and his feelings towards Jiang Tian. I'm also a big fan of the secondary cast of friends. But what certainly caught my attention the most was Qi Jia Hao. His little venture throughout the season was in particular very fun to visit and I really wanted to see more of what he would get up to. Hopefully the second season does a bit more with him if it ever comes.

The overall romance is a slow one. And not just a slow burn. It's like we're watching an initial spark being made in real time so we can get to that burn. Yes, there's kissing in the beginning of the show, but the actual meat of the romantic tension is very, very quiet. It's like the most gentle breeze ever. The chemistry is certainly there and I adore both Liu Dong Qin and Benjamin Tsang for what they bring to the characters. I guess it would be nice if the pace would pick up a little bit as both Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian are dancing around the fact that they like each other and when the mutual pining is so obvious it gets to a point where I'm just hoping one of them takes the dive and does something a little more explicitly romantic.

There's also the secondary couple in the two male teachers who get into a bit of a love triangle and honestly? I. Could. Not. Care. Less. I feel like what the show is trying to do is almost present them as a parallel of sorts to the main couple but I do not see what purpose they really have in the show, and especially in this season. Undoubtedly they'd get more of a development in a hypothetical season season, but I can't imagine I'd be any more interested in what goes on with them. It's so obvious they're into each other and dancing around the truth from the get go that I caught that when I first saw them on screen, and considering we're following a primary couple with a similar story I don't really wanna see it twice.

The secondary couple is perhaps my personal least favourite part of the show. It feels like a drag when they're given the focus and I don't really recall if any of their scenes - bar THAT one in episode 11 - really impact JT and SW in any meaningful way. They feel like they could be removed or replaced and nothing would change. Why were they made teachers at the school? Seemed a bit like an excuse to put them in a love triangle and so we'd have an excuse to see them more often in context of the main boys. I dunno...eventually I just got to a point where I'm waiting for Sheng Wang and Jiang Tiang to show up again.

I feel like perhaps there could have been a review as to what scenes may or may not have been worth shifting to a potential second season and what could have been shifted over into this season to give it a more satisfying end. I don't know the novel, so maybe this was the best outcome in adapting it. However, I definitely think the end credits scene in Episode 11 - IYKYK - was...out of left field? I like the scene and what it does to inform us about Jiang Tian's backstory, however it felt so bizarre that we suddenly saw it in Episode 11 of a 12 episode season of all places. Am I the only one? Would it not have been a better fit, say, either at the very end of this season so we literally end on a saucy bit of exposition, or in the second season where it'd be adjacent to scenes that would better explain its context? It was a FASCINATING scene in the grander scope of the narrative of course but it feels like it was kinda plopped at the end of an episode and so close to the end of this season as well.

As for the last episode...yeah, uh, kind of a let down? I've already said I wasn't satisfied with the ending, but in general I just found myself amused at the fact that the main emotional conflict was...Sheng Wang moving classrooms. I'm sorry that really did take me out of it a bit because...huh? They already live together in the dorms so they don't really lack an opportunity to communicate or spend time together. Yeah, they're not in the same class but still. I wouldn't have minded this honestly if such a deal wasn't made out of it in the episode. It stops being a dramatic moment and feels a bit silly.

Overall, would I recommend this show? Yeah. I would. I absolutely would. The chemistry is there and I love the leads. I think if a slow burn and self-discovery is up your alley you'd like this. Plus the secondary cast is actually really fun to watch so all the friendship scenes and bonds between characters add some levity and vibrance to the show.

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The On1y One — A Love That Refuses to Say Goodbye

Some stories do not end. They simply stop breathing. The On1y One is one of those rare dramas that does not feel finished—it feels interrupted. Not because it fails, but because it builds a world and emotional truth so real that its sudden silence feels like loss. This is not just a BL. It is a coming-of-age story about identity, vulnerability, and the kind of love that changes the way you see yourself.

A Love That Grows Like an Addiction

There is something quietly addictive about this series. Not in the way of melodrama, but in the way the emotions slowly take hold. Each episode deepens the connection, not through spectacle, but through familiarity. It reminds me of Addicted, not in story, but in emotional grip. That sense of being unable to look away because the characters feel like people you might know, or once were. What makes The On1y One more powerful is its tenderness. It is not about rebellion. It is about discovery. Two boys learning who they are, and what they mean to each other, without yet knowing how to protect that love.

Performances That Feel Like Real Life

The cast carries this story with honesty and softness. Nothing feels exaggerated. Their awkwardness, joy, fear, and longing are not performed—they are lived. The camera often lingers on small gestures: a glance held too long, a hand that hesitates before touching. These moments create an intimacy that feels deeply human. You don’t just watch them fall in love. You remember what it felt like to fall in love for the first time.

An Ending That Feels Like a Door Left Open

The final episode does not close the story. It opens it wider. It is not a resolution—it is a promise. And that is why the absence of a second season hurts. The narrative clearly points forward. The emotional journey is only beginning. This is not an ending. It is a pause.

Final Thought

The On1y One is a rare gift: a story that feels honest, intimate, and alive. It deserves to continue. Until then, it remains a love story that refuses to fade—and one I will gladly return to again and again.

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Too polished & Not Logical

Although this series seemed to capture the hearts and minds of many, I found it lacking in story in terms of empathy and logic. Not acting, however. It is exceptionally well acted. And yet, that is also what bothered me. It seemed too polished, slick, and flawless. I honestly do not look to review the actors or actresses who are performing in series. I take everything at ‘face value’. This series, with acting not the problem, still lacked a Gestalt for me to connect to, in what seemed like a flawless acting exercise. I simply could not warm up to either of the protagonists at all. Something felt absent. Even though it had all the right elements and great screen chemistry, it felt too polished to be believable. It looks and feels off. The angst, rawness, realness, silliness, immaturity, and pain of teenagers was missing. It got too wrapped up in telling a cute story.

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A series that will make your heart beating again.

This series will make your heart think of ''Someone'' who is always in your heart, a story of love, friendship, and confusion. A time of youth that is bright and full of life. Their love and friendship will make a lifeless heart feel alive again. Even if you have to shed some tears but it is another series that is worth to watch and is a must in 2024...
ซีรีย์เรื่องนี้จะทำให้ใจของคุณหวนนึกถึง '' ใครบางคน'' เรื่องราวของความรัก มิตรภาพ เเละความสับสน ของช่วงวัยที่สดใส เเละ เต็มไปด้วยชีวิตชีวา ความรักและมิตรภาพของพวกเขา จะเติมเต็มหัวใจที่่แห้งเเล้งไปแล้วให้กลับมาชุ่มชื้นได้อีกครั้ง เเม้จะทำให้มีน้ำตาบ้างเเต่ก็
เป็นซีรีย์ที่น่าติดตามอีกเรื่องนึงของปี 2024 และเป็นซีรีย์ที่ห้ามพลาดของปีนี้ด้วยเช่นกัน...

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honestly…

Although it might not be for everyone… a high school, coming of age, love story that is pretty slow-burn at that, it’s still hella good in many other ways. The slow burn makes sense as the character starts off having bad impressions of e/o esp after finding out their parent are dating so naturally it will take a bit to accept that and have a better relationship but they did it and it turned out great! The scenes feel very realistic and genuine. The small but cute gestures will have you squealing already despite the fact it’s so minuscule. The cast is also lovely in my opinion even though many people, especially the novel enthusiasts, wasn’t the a big fan of it because that’s not how they expected the characters to look like. But i think the all the actors aced this! You can tell they really tried and it’s not some half- assed bs. Overall, I love this so far and would rewatch again for sure. Looking forward to the next 2 episodes!
(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))

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What was that ending?

This show made me so mad. It was a great beautiful story (very slow moving) and then it just ends abruptly. It's too many open ends. There are so many plot points that are not wrapped up.
You have
1. The Substitute teachers
2. Tian's Dad
3. Both leads parents relationship
4. Tian relationship with his mother
5. Sheng's relationship with his father
6. The overachiever boy and his insecurities
7. The English teacher

And that's just seven right off the top of my head. There's a few more that I'm too mad to remember at the moment. That is why I gave this such a low score. Those take away from the story. I'm very sure it was ended that way to set up for a second season. But I've seen plenty shows that do something like this and don't get a second season. I need Taiwan to do better. This is the second time they have disappointed me like this with a drama

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