It’s Not As Simple As It Seems
Edit (Episode 6): I’m updating this review as the series airs because every episode keeps changing my perspective. I have a feeling this won’t be the last time I tweak it.Trying to form a definite opinion on Big Jane after only three episodes felt almost impossible, and even after six episodes, I still don’t think we have the complete picture. We’ve seen more of who he is, where some of his actions come from, and the experiences that have shaped him, but the story is still slowly revealing more about his character. I still think he could have gone about certain things differently, and I don’t agree with every decision he’s made. But as the story unfolds, it becomes harder to place every consequence entirely on him when everyone around him has also made choices of their own. This isn’t a simple case of one villain ruining everyone else’s lives, and I think that’s what makes his character so interesting to watch.
The cinematography is beautiful and does an amazing job of building tension. The wardrobe and character styling are also great, and the OST has easily become one of my favourites.
What I appreciate most is the writing. Every episode gives you new information that makes you question what you thought you knew. Whether the story completely subverts our expectations or simply reveals that the truth has been right in front of us all along, I think it’s going to be surprising either way.
When I first wrote this review, I mentioned that Little Jane was the character I found myself questioning the most. After reaching episode six, I think my perspective has shifted. I still think he has moments where he should slow down and think things through more, but I understand his character a lot more now.
If there’s one thing I’d say before anyone starts watching, it’s this: don’t take everything at face value and don’t assume you already know what’s happening. Trying too hard to force the story into one direction might make you miss what it’s actually trying to show you.
If you’ve read this far, I apologize for how lengthy this is ✋🏼🙂↔️🤚🏼
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1Two BLs in One: University to Office Romance, with Thrills, Mystery and Toxic Obsession
Another university BL?That was honestly my first thought before pressing play.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Don’t Be Too Emotional starts like a familiar university BL, but then it does something I genuinely wish more BLs would do. The first six episodes take us through their university years, while the remaining six follow them as mature working adults.
It feels like we’re getting two BLs in one.
A university romance followed by an office romance, with the same characters growing, changing, and carrying everything they experienced with them.
And I absolutely love that.
Instead of giving us their adult lives through endless flashbacks, we actually get to experience their journey. We get to see them meet, fall in love, hurt each other, grow up, and become different versions of themselves.
That alone makes this series stand out to me.
Don’t Be Too Emotional takes a familiar campus setting and turns it into something much more mature. It blends romance, mystery, and thriller elements without falling into the usual cringe or exaggerated melodrama I sometimes associate with university BLs.
It feels atmospheric. Emotional. Mysterious.
And most importantly, it feels different.
But the biggest reason this series has completely won me over is Tee and Heng.
I’ve never watched Love Truck, so this was my first time seeing them together, and I was completely unprepared for how good their chemistry would be.
Every glance.
Every smile.
Every little moment of silence between them.
They give me butterflies.
Their chemistry feels effortless, like these two characters naturally gravitate toward each other. Nothing feels overly forced or dependent on fan service. You can actually feel the attraction building between them, and that makes every interaction so much more exciting.
I was also shocked to find out that there’s an eight year age gap between Tee and Heng in real life. Tee is 32 while Heng is 24, yet watching them together, I never once felt like they were anything other than equals.
That’s a testament to both of their performances.
And Tee?
Tee absolutely owns Big Jane.
This man is rich, mysterious, ridiculously handsome, and terrifyingly captivating.
His first appearance alone had me staring at the screen.
Walking into the room shirtless, surrounded by almost supernatural darkness, he didn’t even look like a normal human being. He looked like a demon who had casually wandered into the human world.
And somehow, that feels exactly right for Big Jane.
Then we have Little Jane.
Fearless. Charming. Confident. Completely unafraid of Big Jane.
From the moment their eyes met on that soccer field, I knew I was going to become obsessed with their dynamic.
Neither of them feels like they’re desperately chasing the other. Instead, they constantly test each other. They challenge each other. They pull each other closer while simultaneously trying to figure out what the other person is hiding.
And that tension?
Electric.
The romance alone would have been enough to keep me watching, but the mystery is what truly hooked me.
Because what exactly is Big Jane hiding?
Every interaction with him feels like there’s something happening beneath the surface.
Every smile feels suspicious.
Every lie makes you question what’s real.
There’s something dangerous about him, and I genuinely wouldn’t be surprised if we eventually discover that he’s far more manipulative than we’ve seen so far.
And honestly?
I’m here for it.
The cinematography is gorgeous, the soundtrack is beautiful, especially the English version, and the opening song feels like it was written specifically for this story.
"You're a red flag but I'm colourblind. I know you're dangerous. If it burns, let it burn me alive."
That lyric is basically Big Jane in one sentence.
He’s obsessive, manipulative, emotionally unpredictable, and a compulsive liar.
Every red flag imaginable is waving directly in front of us.
And yet I can’t look away.
He is the definition of a walking red flag, but Tee plays him with so much intensity and charisma that somehow I just want more.
I genuinely have no idea how far Big Jane is willing to go, and that uncertainty makes every scene with him so much more exciting.
And then Episode 6 happened.
I usually love NC scenes, but this one?
It destroyed me.
Every touch felt heavier.
Every kiss felt like a goodbye.
Every glance felt like there were a hundred things they wanted to say but couldn’t.
Knowing that these would become their final moments together made the entire scene almost unbearable.
It should have been beautiful.
Instead, it broke my heart.
And then came the letter.
Big Jane writing about how special Little Jane was to him, followed by those ten reasons why he loved him, completely destroyed whatever emotional stability I had left.
I cried through the entire scene.
And suddenly, I understood the title.
*Don’t Be Too Emotional.*
Because it wasn’t just Little Jane who became too emotional.
It was all of us.
That moment is when the series really got me.
There have been so many university BLs this year, but Don’t Be Too Emotional has already become my favorite.
Not because it completely reinvents the genre, but because it takes something familiar and gives it a different emotional shape.
We get the university romance.
We get the mystery.
We get the heartbreak.
And then we get to see these characters as adults.
That university-to-working-adult transition is easily one of my favorite things about this series. It makes the characters feel like actual people whose lives continue beyond the romance we initially fell in love with.
The chemistry between Tee and Heng is phenomenal. The mystery keeps pulling me deeper. The cinematography and music elevate every scene, and the story constantly leaves me wanting the next episode.
I went into this expecting another university BL.
Instead, I got a university romance, an office romance, a mystery, a thriller, and an emotional breakdown all in one.
And honestly?
I’m not complaining.
If Don’t Be Too Emotional can maintain this level of storytelling through the finale, I genuinely think it has a chance to become the best university to office romance BL of the year.
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My typical type of drama, it totally passes my standards
Don't get too excited..It's so good, I like dramas containing absolute red flags or maybe blacks..
Story is so engaging, just continue and you'll understand what I mean.
But the coincidence of the lovers having same names is quite common.
The OST is excellent " you're red flag, but I'm colour blind " , I got extremely excited after the first time I heard, this drama is totally my typeee.
That devil looking guy is so toxic, but I like itt.
And the little Jane is too softt, totally opposite to each other.
I'm just excited to know the reason why big Jane manipulates human minds.
And make those blood contracts.
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This review may contain spoilers
Prepare Yourself.
Currently only half way through the show so review may change, will edit accordingly.Only 6 episodes in and it feels like so much has happened. Each episode has so much packed into it, sometimes you can lose sense of time progressing but it’s not too bad.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse or have lost someone close to you I would suggest giving this show a miss as it could be quite triggering, or atleast be prepared.
The acting is amazing, the story definitely hits you in the feelings and not always in the good way. Iminterested for the second half of the show.
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Waiting for the Storm to Clear
The thing is, I stopped watching after a few episodes. Little Jane just doesn't sit right with me, and the lack of trust makes me feel too frustrated. Because of that, I'm waiting for it to be completely aired before diving back in.I'm trying to organize and drop all my reviews for the BL series I watch, so while waiting for all the ongoing shows to finish, let me rewatch others instead! Hahaha. Hoping Jane's character improves as the story goes on, and really hoping we get more details and backstory about Phi Jane, too.
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This review may contain spoilers
Not enough Consent
What is up with all the sexual assault? I guess I was expecting romance between them and consent.I was rooting for them as a couple. I thought maybe the rumors were exaggerated. But even if he was doing bad things at least he shouldn’t get all grapey.
my review isn’t long enough….
I started out liking this. Big Jane is hot. But the forcefullness is not sexy at all. Idk I have to make this longer still not long enough. I think his out of control anger is also too much. I don’t believe the younger brother even seems like his brother and I also don’t think he would be gambling and get into debt. Especially that L Jane has to sell himself to B Jane.
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This review may contain spoilers
Episode 3 continues to blur the line between truth and rumor.
Jane is surrounded by frightening stories, yet every rumor seems to have one thing in common—the people involved broke their promise first. That makes it difficult to decide whether Jane is truly dangerous or simply misunderstood.Jenaree has always lived for the happiness of others rather than his own. Perhaps that's exactly why Jane was drawn to him in the first place.
The more Jenaree hears negative opinions about Jane, the more he wants to believe him. Ironically, love sometimes creates doubt instead of certainty.
At this point, I still can't tell whether Jane is a devil hiding behind a handsome smile or someone unfairly judged by everyone around him. The series is doing a good job of keeping that mystery alive.
I'm looking forward to learning more about Jane's past. Until the drama reveals more of his cards, it's still impossible to know who he really is.
🇯🇵 Streaming Information (Japan)
WeTV Japan (Japanese subtitles)
Rakuten TV (Japanese subtitles)
🌏 International Streaming
iQIYI (Available in selected countries/regions)
WeTV (Available in selected countries/regions)
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Feel it all
It's a very nice series which is emotional, manipulative,hot, even with great chemistry between actors. Their acting is amazing especially pjane acting.you can watch this series if you want new storyline and unique concept, just watch this without thinking twice believe me every episode their is new story which is very creative. You will never feel bore while watching this series. Main lead is too obsessed with lil jane. He really loves him too much. It's a good bl.Was this review helpful to you?
Nd the cast... Omg!! The best cast has been selected for giving life to the novel...
The perfect red flag, green flag story
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The Devil is Beautiful
Red flags and toxic traits run amuck in this series, but since that's the whole point, we are tuning in for it. It's Jane v. Jane in a battle of wills and I think we're all hoping for a sympathy for the Devil redemption arc, but we'll see. So far I'm 3 episodes in and the writing is keeping me locked in with all the little twisted details.Was this review helpful to you?
How did this series get all these positive reviews?
It’s slow, has repetitive narrative, unlikable characters, and a frustrating dynamic where characters hide secrets and easily fall for rumours.I understand a few novels are completely on the negative side with red flag characters but this series adaptation has genuinely made me question why sexual assault is glorified and viewers are actually excited by shit like that!? Even if it’s fiction!
I started watching because of the reviews and gave it a chance till the sixth episode but no more. Done with this atrocious series especially when there are SO many epic and amazing BLs coming out these days.
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This series would make you obsessed
The casting is epic and with just two episodes out it's already that good, if they keep this up, then this series is gonna be fire.These people came on my screen and collectively decided to ruin my standards for every BL that comes after them. The chemistry is so good that even their shoes are flirting. The acting? Incredible. The cinematography? Gorgeous. The OST? Straight to my playlist. The dialogue? Whoever wrote it deserves a raise. I'm only two episodes in, and I'm already planning to emotionally support this cast for the rest of the year. 1,000,000/10. Everyone involved deserves a hug, a trophy, and my eternal gratitude.
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