This review may contain spoilers
China: Truth Unknown
China does it again. The suprise of this beautiful gem was unexpected but very welcomed. After Blue Canvas of Youthful Days, I was hoping for something just as beautiful. It has arrived and surpasses anything else currently.It took me a while to write this as I felt any words used here would not do justice to how beautifully perfect this is. The warm conflicts of that summer transmit effortlessly through the screen and envelop your psyche. This is as good as it gets, and it's evident by my immediate desire to watch again until every scene, every nugget of wisdom is locked in memory.
It feels wildly free and deliciously innocent. The entire flow of this piece was refreshing in the current sea of mundane and uninspiring. Their meeting is boyishly relaxed and instantly bonding through proximity. Playfully engaging, their responses are as it should be. Conversations between them seem innocent in nature but bear the weight of maturity beyond Xiao Zhi years. The younger of the two is very self-aware. Chen Li carries the audience through the painful dance of acceptance. He acknowledges within himself that his behaviors are to prevent the unwanted judgement that Xiao Zhi tosses aside without care. The pain Xiao Zhi feels strikes at the heart of this story. No one else knows the full insertion of Chen Li in Xiao Zhi's life. His brother included. It is through dreams, memories, and half truths the audience is given one revealing moment at a time. Xiao Zhi's breakdown at the reunion seems overdramatic for a one-sided crush. Or was it? Only Xiao Zhi and Chen Li knew, but they both kept the secrets.
A wonderful treat to enjoy. The length of each episode captures the important aspects of their interactions. Smartly written and enticing. The support cast doesn't feel like an intrusion or filler but is used expertly to propel the story in a natural flow of young love coming to fulfillment. There are no flaws or anything to remove or add. The production and the acting of the entire cast are without question the best I've seen from China. Everything appears unrehearsed and a natural ease amongst all. As the characters aged, so did the mannerisms of the mls, adding authenticity to the passage of time. My only regret is that seven episodes left me wanting more of this and much less of what else is currently being offered.
The perfect depiction of youthful love and expression beautifully captured in time. I won't urge you to go see it. I will say it will be a great loss if you don't. It's really good.
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A meandering story of love and growing up
Though it is a coming of age story what makes this short story so beautiful is how it was written, the cinematography using a film like images juxtaposed with rendering of various scenes in the beginning and end, drawing you deep into the characters wondering what their going through, the pain of loving and the act of ignoring love. It isn’t filled with filler stories that just drags on nor characters that distracts you and has no bearing to the story. The actors are presented simply allowing not their looks but their talent to show effortlessly. The music, oh the choices of instrumental music appropriate to the scenes adds more depth to the show. I would watch this over and over again just to pick up the conversations I missed reading the micro captioning but mostly to actually ignore the close caption and focus on their emotions. It just tells you that in love it’s never over until it is truly over. I would like to see more Thai BL focus on these type of shows and less on the commercialization and sensualization of BL shows that are ypoorly acted.Was this review helpful to you?
I'm wondering why I didn't watch this series sooner. It's a delicate yet powerful story about love and identity. Beautifully shot, a true masterpiece in every sense. Visual poetry. It's art. Every scene is perfect, some so enchanting they look like postcards, they're so beautiful. It's hard to believe that such beauty came from a small team, likely working with a modest budget. The plot flows effortlessly and naturally, without unnecessary drama, with storytelling that is both creative and heartfelt. Xiao Zhi and Chen Li share a natural bond, slowly growing closer in a way that feels authentic and easy to connect with. The growing bond between them is undeniable. The great magic of this series lies in the perfect chemistry between the characters; the acting is genuine and natural, the emotions raw. It's impossible not to feel completely captivated and enchanted by them. Every look, every gesture, every smile, every silence speaks louder than words, and the romance unfolds naturally.
The narrative and cinematography of this series are among the best I've ever seen. With only 7 episodes under 20 minutes each, it’s easy to binge in one sitting and absolutely worth it. Strongly, strongly recommend.
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THIS BL IS SOMETHING TOO AMAZING !!!
I never before wrote a reviews but now i just NEED TO SAY HOW GOOD IT IS AND WHAT A MASTERPIECE IT IS!! I fell in love with this storyline, plot, characters, actors acting and their chemistry, cinematography, music choices... god i fell in love with everything here in. Thats story and how they conveyed this vibe through the screen such a surprisingly! Every little details here such a gorgeous.I want everyone to watch these cute and wonderful guys, because this drama is a complete masterpiece I'm telling you honestly. This truly one of the best bl of this year!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
A Masterpiece that Needs to be Savored Slowly!
Why did you bring me here to watch the sunrise? Because beautiful things are worth sharing.” – Quote from Secrets Happen On The Litchi IslandMagnum Opus. Masterpiece. 伟大的工作. This is a prodigious and matchless piece of artistry and cinematic enchantment as well as a screenplay paragon. Honestly, I am not sure there are adequate words to describe this series or its brilliance, nor its impact that it has on the viewer. It is that cogent. Even more astonishingly, this is not one of those long belaboring BL series. It is only 7 episodes, almost 13 to 22 minutes in length, easily viewed in one setting. You will be transformed and transfixed and may never be able to see BLs in the same light again as this is how they should be done. This is art but its aim is heuristic. It is sublimity. Honestly, I had to watch it twice because I was so tantalized by its message that I wanted to be sure that what I was watching was genuine, and I was not merely swept up by its spellbinding and intoxicating sentiments. Indeed, it is like watching a cinematic treasure.
Read the complete article here-
https://the-bl-xpress.com/2025/05/02/secrets-happen-on-the-litchi-island-series-review-ep-1-to-7-extras/
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O AMOR NAS FÉRIAS NA ROÇA É MAIS LINDO
o título poderia ser também "como superar pseudoficante?" mas achei esse mais legalenfimm
é uma história curta mas pra mim entregou tudo !
é um slow burn friends to coisas não resolvidas to lovers E SE fosse maior poderia colocar na categoria boygroups yearning 2gen kpop👆
tem um filme lésbico que eu gosto muito chamado the first summer né e eu acho que essa série entrega a mesma vibe desse filme (mesmo eles sendo completamente diferentes !!)
acho que tem algo na direção ou cinematografia que traz essa sensação de studio ghibli sabe? e eu gosto muito desse lirismo, dessa poesia
não sei explicar
só sei que gostei muito, porque também fugiu muito da vibe dos bls que eu to vendo
e eu achei que os atores tiveram bastante química e atuaram muito bem !!
eu só não dei 10 pra história pq ela apesar de tudo não é super surpreendente, só por isso mesmo
mas eu achei ela bem executada pro pouco tempo que os eps tinham
o que é uma pena porque eu queria TANTO que tivesse pelo menos um episódio especial
porque essa cena no final foi do caralho, acho que real foi top melhores cenas de beijo que eu já vi
só soube sentir pq foi TANTA intensidade
eles conseguiram passar exatamente o que era pra passar mt absurdo isso
muito bom de vdd mesmo !!!!
vou guardar esse comigo
ps: queria comentar sobre a música
pq pra mim é mt difícil lembrar desse detalhe, então nunca sei oq colocar
eu sinto que devo ser crítica mas acho q nada me incomodou fortemente aqui
acho que aliás a musiquinha tema vai ficar na minha cabeça
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Masterpiece
This is simply a masterpiece.It is like an Asian Call Me By Your Name, except it isn't.
The acting, the filmography, the photography, the settings, the plot, everything was masterfully done. I don't think it should be done differently and I don't think it should be changed or readapted it is perfect the way it is.
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Almost there... Needs more restless tension
At its core, this is a coming-of-age story between two young men. Of desire and denial, and whether there is something more to sustain the initial attraction beyond a summer holiday.The visuals are equally beautiful and dreamy but there are some differences from Call Me By Your Name. The pace is slightly more upbeat and less drawn-out compared to the Western version, and the dialogue is obviously adjusted for the Chinese context.
But it lacks the one thing that makes Call Me By Your Name so raw and real. It’s restless tension. What CMBYN does so well is that it visualises restless tension in young romances that are both clandestine and unstable.
The characters cling onto the need to be seen and to be noticed by the person they like. In their absence, they are filled with anxious energy, eager for the person to return again. But the moment they inhabit the same space, an awkward tension permeates.
Are we just this, or can we be something more?
More reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2025/04/21
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Rough around the edges but carries its own unique charm.
There are many imperfections to this series, but the last episode redeemed it ever so slightly. I don't mind some quick cuts, but when used excessively, it makes it too quick to follow and hard to really relish its beauty. More run time for each episode would've really been beneficial to make this story cohesive. That said, I do appreciate the vision with the 'Call Me By Your Name' inspired visuals, cinematography, the vibrancy of colours, and even the start/ending notes to each episode (yet I personally found it hard to read it at most times, considering the small font and colour choice).Was this review helpful to you?
Puzzle Pieces.
Well, well. This is unexpected. I watched it on a whim when I felt that 'The Demon Hunter's Romance' was taking a trip downhill, and it served it's purpose well.During the summer, Xiao Zhi is invited to an island as an assistant for the kids at camp. Having a constant push and pull relationship with his brother; he meets Chen Li, his brother's classmate who shows him around the island and takes him on mini-adventures. In the process, a secret relationship develops between the two.
The story can be 'VERY VAGUE' and you have to observe the characters' facial expressions and body language to connect the dots. Or else you'll be staring at nothing except some excellently filmed scenes which can be your next wallpaper.
It also seems to have purposefully hidden certain scenes or showed another perspective of them -- a rather clever move. But, hey! I knew Xiao Zhi liked Cheng Li; but if they hadn't shown those scenes later, I would've assumed that it was a one sided crush.
Chen Li was the hidden character for me; Xiao Zhi was the one whom I felt bad for, particularly at the end of EP6. Both of their performances combined made this drama a worthy watch.
A good palate cleanser -- the storyline was disconnected and jumped around during the last half, which is why this isn't getting an 8 from me and why me review is titled as such.
But, it also depicted some harsh realities of life in a limited time, so it's a 7.5/10.
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Un été et des litchis fraîchement cueillis…
L'été, ça passe toujours trop vite, même sous une chaleur écrasante. C'est une période qui nous laisse l'impression de ne jamais avoir terminé la liste de choses à faire (encore faut-il qu'elle existe). Traîner au bord de la piscine, se promener en vélo, déguster de délicieux fruits frais à toute heure, râler contre les coups de soleil, partager de longues conversations au couché du soleil ou encore se murmurer des secrets tard dans la nuit.Et puis, il y a cet été… Celui qui a l'air de ressembler à tous les autres, mais qui amène avec lui une nouvelle aventure, l'amour. Cet été-là, il est magnifique avec qu'il balance entre la douceur et l'amertume du litchi. Une rencontre, une amitié, une complicité. Des sentiments qui naissent, mais vivront-ils au-delà d'un été ? Les acteurs sont bons, notamment le couple principal qui se découvre au rythme des journées, se rapprochent et s'épanouissent. Xiao Zhi et Chen Li deviennent le point de gravité de l'autre avec une certaine innocence, un désir d'exploration et de curiosité.
La photographie est intimiste et ravissante. C'est franc et brut, plein de caractère et d'une infime douceur. En revanche, les sous-titres sont trop petits. Tout comme la police d'écriture principale. Je peux comprendre ces choix sur le plan esthétique, mais en pratique, ça ne convient pas (une erreur mineure, malgré tout).
En bref, si vous aimez les drames à petit budget, mais réalisés avec toutes les bonnes intentions du monde et d'un œil qui se veut au plus proche, alors il ne fait aucun doute que Secrets Happened on the Litchi Island sera capable de secouer votre cœur.
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This review may contain spoilers
Entregou o mundo todinho ❤️
E vamos lá...Tentar colocar pra fora as minhas percepções sobre esse BL. Eu fui procurar por ele por causa de um edit que vi dos protagonistas dando um BEIJÃO! E eu gosto de beijão, né? Vocês me conhecem.
Quando fui pesquisar mais, descobri que o BL é da China. Fiquei perplexa, porque a gente sabe como a China é em relação a boys love, então fiquei ainda mais curiosa pra assistir. Eu não sabia nada sobre a história, só o spoiler do beijo, e foi isso que me fez apertar o play.
Mas eu não estava esperando nada… e eles me entregaram o MUNDO TODINHO!!!
Gente, que história incrível. Eu não consigo descrever o que foi pra mim assistir essa série. Tive que ver duas vezes, porque senti que na primeira não consegui captar tudo. Fiquei com uma necessidade absurda de rever pra prestar atenção nos mínimos detalhes. As coisas que a série oferece são sutis e extremamente bonitas.
As falas são tão poéticas e profundas que você precisa voltar e reler. A fotografia é impecável — escolheram um cenário MARAVILHOSO, que deixou a obra ainda mais interessante e bonita. A trilha sonora também é linda, e tinha um saxofone em alguns momentos que eu achei engraçadinho de tão específico.
E a história… olha, é de uma complexidade gigante. Não é que tenha mil personagens ou mil tramas paralelas. É algo pontual, mas que se desenvolve em muitas camadas.
Xiao Zhi vai fazer um favor pro irmão mais velho, trabalhando em uma ilha como assistente de recreação para crianças. Ele divide o quarto com Chen Li, amigo do irmão. E aí começa a trama: "me apaixonei pelo amigo hétero do meu irmão" kkkkkkkk.
Juro pra vocês, a maioria dos episódios é MUITO gay panic! E vou confessar: eu também me apaixonaria pelo Chen Li. Ele é prestativo, empático, cuidadoso... Mas com o Xiao Zhi ele vai além. Vai se envolvendo de forma sutil, fazendo o nosso menino se apaixonar perdidamente.
Xiao Zhi é assumido, corajoso, enfrenta o mundo sem medo — e isso é incrível. Já o Chen Li ainda está se descobrindo, e isso o leva à negação. Ele não quer assumir esse lado dele, tem medo de tudo e de todos, e acaba machucando muito o Xiao Zhi nesse processo.
Algumas falas que me marcaram demais:
> "O dono da ilha disse que os galhos secos devem ser queimados e destruídos no fogo para que possam ser transformados em nutrientes, para que as lichias possam florescer e dar frutos no ano que vem."
Essa frase é tão profunda!
E sobre a paixão crescendo no Xiao Zhi:
> "Ele consegue ver minha pintura e entender que não gosto de ser definido. Ele também cuida das minhas pequenas emoções. Seria ótimo se ele fosse igual a mim."
Inclusive, achei o máximo citarem o artista David Hockney no BL. Vale muito a pena dar uma olhada nas obras dele — amo quando séries mencionam artistas!
Tem uma cena que foi puro gay panic (e por outro lado, muito cruel da parte do Chen Li):
A da banheira! O Chen Li peladão, como se fosse a coisa mais normal do mundo, ali na frente do Xiao Zhi. E o coitado do Zhi querendo virar pó de tanta vergonha kkkkkkkk.
O problema do Chen Li é que ele dá a entender muita coisa, e ao mesmo tempo não. Isso dá MUITO ÓDIO! Mas olha… eu ia me apaixonar também. Não julgo o Xiao Zhi, não.
O diabo ali é ardiloso!!!
> "Se a existência precisa ser explicada pelo fato de ser razoável ou não, então não é mais existência."
> "Assim como os pássaros do lado de fora da janela. Eles cantam do lado de fora. Nós ouvimos seus sons de uma forma, mas eles ouvem de outra. No entanto, seus sons nunca mudam, independente de quem os ouve."
Tem uma cena em que ele tira uma foto de um lustre pendurado no café e escreve:
> "Todos os estilhaços do mundo no esplendor de um só lugar."
E essa é a frase em que o Chen Li praticamente confessa o quanto é covarde em relação aos próprios sentimentos:
> "Ele se escondeu. Admito que sou preguiçoso, não suporto os olhares penetrantes do mundo, não tenho a coragem dele. Não ouso existir."
Dá pra sentir o quanto isso é angustiante pra ele, ao ponto de querer estar perto do Xiao Zhi mesmo sabendo que o machuca — porque ele precisa dele.
ESSA PALHAÇADA DUROU TRÊS ANOS, TÁ BOM?
E o Xiao Zhi sofre! Tem uma cena que ele chora pro irmão, surta de verdade.
E vocês podem perguntar:
"Mas nossa, sofrer tanto tempo por um macho hétero?"
Olha… quem assistiu vai entender.
Eu ia precisar de muita terapia.
O jeito do Chen Li é o pior de todos — você sofre igual cachorro sem dono. E o pior: aquela incerteza constante que ele deixa no ar. Um cu mesmo.
> "Não pensar nisso não significa que eu possa esquecer."
(Sim, chorei HORRORES aqui.)
Mas aí vem a redenção do nosso Chen Li — e foi LINDA, tá?
> "Desde criança, como aprendemos o que é amor? É o 'eu' disfarçado sob rótulos sociais ou é a sinceridade que irradia do nosso verdadeiro eu interior? No processo de despir o disfarce, tenho me esforçado para me livrar do medo. Mas não consigo superar os instintos da carne. Meu coração ainda bate nervoso à beira do meu limite de resistência. É como o momento em que um peixe na água morde o anzol e é levantado. Ele deveria ser igual a mim. Sofrendo, mas apaixonado."
(Eu surtando HORRORES aqui.)
Eles se encontram numa cena LINDA e se beijam. Tinha tanta vontade ali, tanto desejo... Foi TUDO!!!
Achei muito interessante o roteiro deixar muita coisa subentendida. Você fica pensando se realmente aconteceu entre eles ou não. Não achei ruim, achei inteligente.
E no final da série, eles lançam essa:
> "Você é o melhor no seu próprio mundo."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
(EU COMENDO MINHA MÃO COM FARINHA AQUI)
Enfim, gente. Foi uma experiência incrível. Nem sei se consegui passar tudo que senti com esse texto. Mas é isso.
Ah! E tem cenas extras deles bem casalzinho boiola…
AAAAAAAAAAAAA EU AMO!!!
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