Kill to Love

A Historic Milestone in BL Drama - China’s Mastery of Historical BL

After waiting so long for our first uncensored historical BL drama, I can confidently say it did not disappoint. Across a vast land torn by war, you’re the only freedom for me! perfectly captures the heart of this story.

The plot is gripping, following a prince and an assassin who fall in love as their kingdom collapses. To secure Xiao Shu He’s rise, Duan Ziang kills the crown prince, shattering their bond, only to return years later as emperor.

The scenery and cinematography are breathtaking,, and the snow scene paired with its moving score was simply unforgettable. The costumes, along with the stunning and handsome cast, were all top notch. The acting shines in every moment, and the music and OST heighten every emotion. The fight choreography and martial arts are executed beautifully, keeping me hooked from start to finish.

And can we talk about that flying scene? The two leads soaring through the air, clinging to each other with such intensity, it completely took my breath away. After watching over 350 BLs, this is the very first time I’ve seen two male leads in such a classic wuxia-style moment, protecting and hiding each other with eyes full of unspoken emotion. We’ve seen it countless times in straight dramas, but to finally witness it in a BL felt groundbreaking. I was literally screaming, because flying scenes like this only ever happen in historical dramas.

Duan ZiAng’s love for ShuHe is so consuming, so absolute, that he would rather drink poison than cause a single wound to the man he loves. For five long years he carried this weight, sacrificing everything, even killing his own father, all so he could fight for a future with ShuHe.

He created an entire identity, the Six Prince residence, not for ambition, not for glory, but as a gift, a sanctuary built with his own blood and sweat, solely for his lover. Two kingdoms waged endless war, millions of soldiers were sacrificed, and yet at the heart of it all was not conquest, but love, one man’s unshakable devotion to another.

If this is not love, then what is? A love that defies reason, a love that bends morality, a love so fierce it chooses the beloved over the world itself.

My heart tells me Duan ZiAng will die from the poison. And that thought crushes me, because what could be more tragic than a love between two emperors, eternal in devotion but doomed by destiny.

Their story is not just romance. It is sacrifice. It is pain. It is love written in blood, carved into history, and drowned in tears.

I truly hope China 🇨🇳 lifts its BL ban one day, because when it comes to potential, Thailand 🇹🇭, South Korea 🇰🇷, Japan 🇯🇵 and Taiwan 🇹🇼 cannot compare. China dominates in so many areas: cinematography, acting, storytelling, chemistry. And when we talk about historical costume dramas, horseback riding sequences, and martial arts fight scenes, China operates on another level entirely. The scale, elegance, precision, and sheer intensity are unmatched. Kill To You proves once again that no one does it like China.

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Love, Betrayal, and Kingdoms. A Historical BL That Will Leave You Breathless

I’m absolutely hooked! 😍 The chemistry between the two male leads is electrifying........seriously, the way they look at each other, the way they hold hands in such a sexual manner? The tension in every single glance? It’s pure chef’s kiss 😘🔥 And those kisses… wow. There were so many, especially for a C-BL. Honestly, I was not expecting that, but it was great!

=====PLOT/CHARACTERS/SHU HE AND DU ZI ANG======

The series centers on the battle between two kingdoms, the South and the North, as both plot and scheme to gain the upper hand in an increasingly tangled conflict.

We have Xiao Shu He, the 6th prince. He’s clever, considerate, kind, and charming. He reconnects with a childhood friend, Duan Ziang, who saved his life not once but twice (the second time was intentional to get close to him so he could find a way to assassinate the crown prince, since the first attempt had failed). They’re both ''somewhat'' scheming, but in completely different ways. One is sharp, intelligent, and perceptive—always staying one step ahead—while the other is driven by a thirst for revenge and hatred. The tension between their motives makes their dynamic all the more compelling. But fate is cruel. Despite their growing connection, neither can truly be happy—duty to their respective kingdoms always stands in the way. Yet in a shocking turn at the end of episode 8, Duan Ziang kills the South’s Crown Prince… to protect Shu He, fracturing their relationship.

You know, I kind of feel bad for Xiao Shu He. He just wanted to be a wanderer, free to do whatever he wanted: play music, write poetry, and create art. Meanwhile, Duan Ziang wanted nothing more than to be by his side through it all, even if it meant defying orders and refusing to kill.

Five years have passed, Du Ziang is now the emperor, having waged war across all the kingdoms, securing power, only to be with Xiao Shu He. This is truly a "kill to love" story. Du Ziang, in his relentless pursuit of love, has done whatever it takes: killing enemies, betraying his own blood, and destroying anyone or anything that could threaten the memories and moments he cherishes with Shu He. Du Ziang is ruthless and consumed by his desire to have Shu He; driven by love, he rules with an iron fist, while Shu He governs with a gentler hand. It’s no surprise that the South’s kingdom crumbled under the weight of the North’s invasion, and Du Zi Ang captured Shuhe as his war prisoner/male pet.

Du Ziang remembers every intricate detail of the 6th manor, every corner that once held fleeting moments of peace and love between them- so much so that he rebuilt it. His devotion to Shu He is absolute. What began as a close friendship blossomed into love, but eventually, it all fell apart, which led to a painful emotional fallout. While Du Ziang’s love for Shu He remains unwavering, Shu He cannot forgive the betrayal of trust and the murder of his brother, the Crown Prince. Now, as rulers of opposing kingdoms, their relationship is torn apart by loyalty, duty, and the deep scars of their past actions.

Both men, trapped by their kingdoms, haunted by the choices they’ve made, and still deeply in love ❤️, must confront whether they can ever find happiness together—or if their destinies are too far gone to change. Like the red thread, a bloodied knife that cuts both their hairs, ties their souls, only to be reunited in another life. LOVED the ending.

=====OTHER CHARACTERS====

Of course, this was in the first few episodes: I’m also loving the tension and dynamics between the doctor, the crown prince, and his servant. The crown prince is envious of his brother, Xiao Shu He, and wants to kill him. I blame their father, honestly—classic favoritism. Anyway, the crown prince assigns his servant, Huo Ying, to spy on his brother. While doing so, Huo Ying meets the doctor, who genuinely cares for him. The crown prince’s thirst for power and need to prove himself backfired, leading to his downfall—ultimately resulting in his death at the hands of Duan Ziang. Not going to lie, I was deeply annoyed that he died so early. I really wanted to see the love story between Huo Ying and the crown prince develop further. But that death scene? It was so emotionally moving. The way it was handled, with all the tension and unspoken feelings, really hit hard. Even though it left me wanting more. Also, I liked that the brother of Du Ziang was always by his side when they found each other again.

=====ACTING=====

The acting starts off as average but gradually becomes more compelling. By the middle of the series, you can truly feel the hate, longing, love, tears, and heartbreak in the performances. The actors really bring these emotions to life, making you root for the characters, even when they're making morally questionable choices. Episodes 8, 9, and 10, in particular, stand out for their emotional depth.

=====PRODUCTION=====

The editing is somewhat sloppy, especially in the fight and intimate scenes, which often lack coherence/weren't done properly. One episode felt off from the start, with jarring transitions and unclear timelines; it took me a minute to even tell what was happening. That said, Episode 9 was an absolute standout. It was easily my favorite part of the series. The storytelling was on another level; everything from pacing to emotional depth felt well-executed.

The wuxia-style costumes are stunning, and the beautiful landscapes combined with impressive cinematography create a visually captivating experience.

=====FINAL THOUGHTS=====

There is so much going on in the series that this review doesn’t even begin to cover it. I was hooked the whole time—no skipping or fast-forwarding, which is rare for me! Barely any filler, which feels like a miracle in my book 📖. The pace is a bit fast (maybe because there are only 12 episodes), but I’m loving every minute. If you’re into historical BL, love kingdom battles, and crave characters who are deep, driven, and full of drama, then trust me, this one’s a must-watch.

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The War Prisoner

See, now this is why I poke love with a stick. I see it coming, I order an uber. Cuz what do you mean, Duan killed and conquered an innocent kingdom, so he can kidnap Shu He and go, 'I did it for you boo, cuz I love you.' And Shu He played along with that nonsense reason, gave away his cookie and married Duan, only to drink poison and die as the ultimate revenge. Fam? That being said, that was some next level hating. Shu He is a professional hater, and I respect that. Let me explain.

First off, before I start my review, I'd like to say, Duan's brother is the worst. Mfker got hair and thought he was part of the team. Like, this ain't about you Sharon. Who even are you, and why is you talking? Like you are not important to this whole thing, go and sit done. I hate him so much, and if I knew where he lived, I hide in a corner and poke him in the eye on Christmas, just to ruin his holidays.

Anyway, you know that saying: 'holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die?' Shu He said, eff the other person, imma hold on to my grudge, drink the poison and die just to spit Duan. Mfker was playing the long game in the worse way possible and I felt bad for Duan, which is saying something, cuz after Duan invaded Shu He's kingdom, I was like: 'You know what, I forgive Hua Yong, turns out there's levels to this crazy possessiveness love thing, and he's only on level 7. Duan just obliviated the goddamn scale'. So yeah, I thought Duan sucked and deserved Shu He's anger and indifference, but this whole time Shu He was planning to hurt him where it would hate the most. The heart. And boy did it ever.

Listen, this drama hurt, but like in a bittersweet way. I saw the unhappy ending coming, what I didn't see coming was how deep Shu He hatred was. When I tell you my mouth was opened when we finally learned of Shu He's revenge plan? Dude was literally sleeping with the enemy, a man he loved but hated. He wanted revenge for his love, his brother and his kindgom, and I do get it, I really do, but really Janet? That's some next level of hatred.

Which brings us to Shu He's reason for playing the long revenge game. First off, his kingdom, sure, but didn't Duan's soldiers matched into that kingdom like they owned the place because literally no troops were at the gate, so they just made themselves at home? And Duan also mentioned Shu He's people were already planning on overthrowing him, even still, to some degree I get why he wanted avenge his kingdom. But DAFUG you mean you doing this to avenge your brother too? I'm sorry, in what planet does that crown prince deserve avenging? Somebody should have spat on his grave. The mfker was trying to kill you! He literally had your hand broken so you couldn't do the one thing you loved anymore, and oh, yeah, he murdered your father in cold blood. Like I don't get it? What was so special that prince that both Shu He and Huo Ying loved him and acted foolish?

The brother's in this show fucking sucked and did not deserve the love and devotion they got. Shu He's brother disgraced, hurt and attempted to kill him on multiple occasions. Then we have Duan's brother, you know the ex monk. Literally who the eff kept giving that dude the microphone? Like shut up Bob, this ain't about you. Every time he opened his mouth he made me wanna punch him in the throat. In the last episode, when he was sitting with them eating I kept going, 'Why is you here? You not part of this group? Who gave him a plate?' Arrrgggggg, dude was in the series for like 2.3 minutes and I hated him with a burning passion. Just the worst.

Duan Zi Ang & Xiao Shu He
Yes, I loved the main leads so much in this drama. Their love was beautiful and yet so tragic. In the last scene when they met in the afterlife and they were smiling I was like, 'Dafug is you all smiling and happy about, you are dead.' With how everything was going, I didn't expect them to have a happy ending. Cuz, literally the timeline of their love spelled out tragedy. They started their relationship with secrets and lies. Then they made us all sad when everything came out by stabbing and breaking up, and then there was the whole I destroyed your kingdom and shamed you in front of your people and ancestors cuz I love you crap, then being a war prisoner, Duan's impeding death, Shu He pretending to forgive, forget and love, that scene in the finale when Shu He played the zither and Duan danced? (the whole time I was like, dude is you not dying? why you posing for the camera and doing all that hand stuff? and what is up with that sun rays?) and finally him being a vengeful husband who drunk poison and died. So yeah, anyone who expected anything other than this tearjerker bittersweet ending must have not been paying attention.

Given all that, I still loved them, flaws and all. I understood Duan and why he did what he did. Of course his stupid head brother effed things up for him a lot, and made Shu He hate him even more. And I understood why Shu He couldn't forgive him and wanted to avenge all the wrong done to him. But at what cost people? All that pain, and really, all they both wanted was a little farm land somewhere, Shu He playing his zither and Duan fetching the water and keeping the house. Sounds so much like what Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian's wanted, and we all know how the Untamed ended so...

That being said, we should not forget Duan legit went crazy there for a moment there. Dude ended countless lives, his father's included because Shu He refused to reply to his letter one time. Then he duplicated the 6th prince home and wanted a thank you for it. Dude, read the room, you are literally the elephant. Like, which part of his hatred aren't you getting?

Anyway, after all that, they both dead and are happy in the afterlife, I hope. That crown prince is still there, so one can never be sure. I trust Duan to stab him again if he starts up his nonsense.

Crown Prince & Huo Ying
Another nonsense love I wish never locate me. Huo Ying being in love with the man who knowingly gave him an incurable poison, physically abused him and then sent him away to die was rubbish. Yes, yes, but forget those ingredients, cuz it was the least the Crown Prince could do. And all that time, Huo Ying had a very handsome, un-crazy, in love doctor making goggly eyes at him and bringing him candy, and homeboy was like, 'sorry, I hate sweets, I'm in love with a psycho, and I've decided to die a virgin'. All that for a dead man who waited in the afterlife for the brother he hated and didn't even ask about you. Pfft.

No. Cuz the eff you mean, that beautiful guard is gonna die alone and unloved cuz he was in love with a Crown Prince with the emotional stability of a fidget spinner and the IQ of a potato? And I say say potato, cuz how the eff you gonna commit patricide to usurp the throne from your father, then tell your soldiers to wait while you -tra la lala- down the road to go off your brother alone? Literally, that was the dumbest decision ever, and of course, he immediately got stabbed and shaved off a bridge. Like, what did he think was gonna happen? We need to be serious in this life peoples!

Plot-wise, I enjoyed myself with all the palace and political intrigued. The cast was great, the main carried the show beautiful and the side did what they were supposed to. It seemed there was a lot to tell, but not enough episodes so the pacing was fast, and we messed some stuff with time jumps and narratives, but I didn't mind it, cuz I was still able to follow the main plot. I still don't understand why Shu He loved his brother so much after all that, and even forgave and avenged him. Blood is thicker than water indeed, not my blood though, if it was me, I'd have ordered pizza the moment he hit the floor.

All in all, a very good drama, that I highly recommend, even with the bittersweet ending. I wish we get to see the main cast do something together again, either way I am seated for more work from them, liked them a lot. If you haven't watched this yet, hurry and give it a chance, you'd enjoy it, trust me.

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Can love survive when it’s built on lies? Can obsession ever be pure?

I have very mixed feelings about this drama. I like it for the convoluted plot, forbidden romance and a costume BL from China but at the same time it's watching soap opera to pass as Shakespeare! But I do applaud the effort.

First thing first, if you are here for a cookie cutter romance drama, run the other way around because it is anything but that.
The drama doesn’t try to sugarcoat its plot. It’s messy, complicated and at times very frustrating as hell. It is a dark, twisted descent that leaves you with questions on what is love and how love can be anything but also destructive and beautiful! How isn't it just about warmth, gentle touches but also about unhealthy obsession and power struggle! How passion can heal you but also be destructive to shake kingdoms!

It is a story of Duan Zi Ang, an assassin who falls in love with his childhood friend Xiao Shuhe all while plotting to bring the kingdom's downfall and avenge his parents.
What stands out here isn’t sweetness or innocence. It’s the tension. To be completely honest, I do not sympathise with both the characters but the plot was compelling enough for me to want to see how far they both would go! 
They are trapped not just by duty or bloodline, but by their own desires and regrets. Very early on it is clear, their love story is fragile, intense but also doomed! Every interaction they share is a question.  Are they lovers? Enemies? Pawns of a bigger game? The drama never lets you be sure. Instead, it plays in the gray area where love bleeds into obsession and somehow dedication becomes control. There are moments of tenderness, but they are fleeting and laced with tragedy.

Another thing that I enjoyed was how politics wasn't too overpowering and boring. Somehow I enjoyed the tussle that it brought between personal feelings and political/professional duties! Though the war conflict aspect could have been way better.

Also, I was actually invested in the toxic love story between the Crown Prince and Huo Ying. Almost convinced myself that it was headed somewhere dark and interesting… until it spectacularly crashed. I saw it coming from the synopsis but those two had so much chemistry and you can't just ignore them.

Coming to what I have conflicting feelings about is the overall pacing. While the story before the assassination feels well developed, the second half of it feels a bit dragged. The conflicts were very predictable and somehow monotonous. It was delivered intensely but you could see the trainwreck from afar.

The second glaring issue was the choppy editing. At times, it felt downright confusing, with scenes jumping around so abruptly that making sense of the story became a real challenge. I know it isn't a big production, but I feel this wasn't consistent...few episodes were fine but where there was transition between past and present, that is where the issue was.

The cinematography was pretty and I did like their costumes especially Shuhe's hair accessories. Also, few of the angsty dialogues were really good and hit home.

Acting wise, I found both the actors pretty decent, like they gradually grew on me as the drama progressed. It was hard to get invested with the awkward delivery especially in the first few episodes . However, as the story picked up, so did their acting. Emotions landed more authentically and their interactions started to feel more believable. By the middle and end of the drama, they definitely found their rhythm.

Overall, if you are in the mood for something that messes with your head, leaves you questioning loyalty and makes you root for a love that probably shouldn’t survive… this is exactly what you’ve been looking for. It has its flaws but it is surprisingly enjoyable!

** Fav quotes **
ᡣ𐭩 Between us so much is beyond control. But no matter how chaotic the world gets Shuhe, I am still Duan Zi'ang

ᡣ𐭩 By the end I couldn't tell if I was deceiving him or deceiving myself.

I am going to talk about the ending at the bottom, please do not read/scroll below if you don't want to know.
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The ending ( SPOILERS AHEAD)
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And about the ending… if you were expecting anything even remotely different from what we got, congratulations, you have officially earned the title of my delulu friend because me too. Somehow, I saw it coming, but that doesn’t make it any less of a trauma. Serving such a beautiful episode only to hit us with that tragic ending felt like a cruel joke. Still, I loved Shuhe finally meeting his Gege and clearing out the misunderstanding.

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accurate title

Overall: I enjoyed the setting/styling and darker premise. Ending explained in a spoiler comment. 12 episodes about 35 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala (not available in Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Thailand or Korea) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5680/kill-to-love-2025-e01 and YouTube (not available in Japan, Thailand or Korea) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhd4wr2gniAIyI4nj00zP9hz_PNnJ41Fn

Content Warnings: mass murders/deaths, blood, violence, manipulation, drugging, kidnapped/held against will, near suicide, suicide, past: murders, blood, manipulation

Watch Suggestions (me trying to take out the angst and violence in this series would be like taking out all the scenes where Pharm says P'Dean in Until We Meet Again). Here are suggestions for the last few episodes to make it happy.
- episode 8 watch beginning to 3:30, 12:50-13:40, 15:10-16:20
- skip episode 9
- episode 10 watch 26:10-31.25
- skip episode 11
- episode 12 watch 16:30-26:10
- episode 13 watch 37:30-end

What I Liked
- setting
- chemistry/tension with the leads
- styling, visuals
- that they did explain why some of the villains became the way that they did
- the ending made sense

Room For Improvement
- with the side couple, they framed it as mutual love when it was clearly about power and control which is abuse, I wanted the writers to stay consistent to the end and not try to make it mutual romantic love
- nonsense, many nonsense character actions, an example is a cordial family meal in the finale when several characters should want to kill other characters
- world building/information dumps
- a ton of characters/plot and rushed at places made it a bit difficult to understand especially in the beginning.

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Alexa play ' Let the world burn' by chris grey.

The song pretty much sums up everything. I wish it went another way, but damn it was inevitable.
Acting is okayish, chemistry builds up gradually & stays good. The fames look good(decent production value) beautiful cinematography. Costumes are pretty, but are repeated a bit too much which affects the continuity.
I don't want to give away much of the plot. The main characters are two people put in difficult situations & were forced to make difficult choices. MC & ML both have their reasonings, i may not agree with most of it, but it is what it is. Wish it had more episodes to shape the plot a bit better.
Don't know why they went with a sad ending story despite it not being a Chinese production. Excuse me while I go watch The untamed again to heal my heart.

This might be an odd thing to notice, but it sounds like it was dubbed by the actors, that is both good & bad. This works for some characters but not for others. It sounds like casual modern conversations, which comes across as jarring sometimes, given the historical & imperial setting ( could be a script/ dialogue delivery issue, don't know exactly). Editing is messy & it makes the plot confusing.
Overall it is a good watch if you are ok with not so happy endings.

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kill To Love

I've never cried at the end of a series the way I did with this one. The ending was profoundly moving. It felt like the show reached out and pulled me into its meaning. I wasn’t just watching. I was feeling every moment. I'm absolutely blown away by how beautifully this story was written, portrayed, and brought to life by the actors. It’s truly a masterpiece.

The only way they could finally be free, finally be together, was through death. When Duan Zi Ang held Xiao Shu He in his arms as they were both dying, and whispered, "Shu He… you deceived me. You’ve deceived me your whole life." It wasn’t anger. It was love. A love so complicated, so deep, that even betrayal became a kind of devotion. It showed just how far they were willing to go, not to hurt each other, but to protect the love they had for each other. That moment destroyed me. Because as painful as it was, it was also inevitable. In the world they lived in, this was the only ending that could bring peace.

Then came the scene with Xiao Shu's brother, waiting on the other side of the door for years. When Xiao Shu He told him, "I want to wait for someone too. When I died, I was in his arms." I was completely broken. That single line held so much meaning. In every lifetime, no matter how much pain or separation, their souls would always find a way back to each other. When Duan Zi Ang finally crossed through that door… not making Shu He wait. Not for days. Not for years. He came as soon as he could.

Their final smiles weren’t just happy smiles. All the pain, the loss, the fear… gone. In that moment, they had everything they were denied in life.
They were finally home. Finally together.

Just “you and me.”

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A Must watch Wuxia BL !! !

Kill to Love completely exceeded my expectations. At first glance, it looks like just another historical drama with palaces, politics, and power struggles—but it’s so much more than that. What really struck me was how beautifully the story balanced romance with destiny.

The relationship between Duan Ziang and Xiao Shuhe isn’t just about attraction—it’s about loyalty, sacrifice, and the painful choices they’re forced to make for love and country. Their chemistry feels so natural and heartfelt that even the smallest looks or gestures carry weight. The tension, the yearning, the heartbreak—it all kept me glued to the screen.

One of the biggest surprises for me is that this is actually a real BL wuxia drama. Most Chinese BLs are forced into “bromance” territory because of censorship, so we never really get to see queer love portrayed openly in this genre. That’s why Kill to Love feels so refreshing and exciting—it’s breaking the mold and giving us something fans have been waiting for.

Another highlight is the acting. Even though the cast is quite young, they all delivered far beyond expectations—especially the two leads. They brought depth, emotion, and incredible chemistry to their roles. Their performances made the love story believable and moving. Combined with the beautiful costumes and impressive production design, the whole drama feels visually rich and emotionally captivating.

The pacing is another strength. I have watched the first 8 episodes released till now and the best part was, there are no unnecessary fillers—every moment pushes the story forward. From assassin to emperor, from overlooked prince to sovereign, the character growth is powerful and emotional.

》Why you should watch: If you love epic romances where love is tested by fate, betrayal, and kingdoms at war, this one will definitely touch your heart. It’s intense, tragic at times, but ultimately unforgettable.

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Decent acting didn't make up for weak story

There were lots of enjoyable moments in this drama, so if your goal is to watch a boy's love story in a historical setting, it'll probably be fine (although be warned it's high angst). However, if you are a fan of political intrigue dramas, the plot incoherence will drive you crazy.

Vague spoilers ahead:

This is, for example, the only political intrigue drama I've seen where the court is divided into *one* faction. The prime minister is manipulating both princes, but with completely unclear and never-stated goals. It might be a fine plot point if the ultimate goal was to get the princes to take each other out and then seize power, but that isn't the note his character finishes on, so... shrug?

The world building was lazy, with many key elements left out or with contraditory elements thrown in at different times (for example, the leader of a group must be the king's brother, but also leaders can only serve for 10 years... how does that work?). There is a birth secret where the mechanism by which the character's identity changed was never revealed.

Characters constantly made baffling choices (for example: in one scene a character declares that it will be beneficial if X takes the throne and then a few scenes later orders that X be killed).

The ending was also... frustrating. It's like the writers wanted to write a tragedy with a happy ending and ultimately failed to deliver either effectively. I'm honestly surprised at the rave reviews and feel like they indicate more about how low the bar is for bl than how good the show is.

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A Love That Wouldn't Die

I can not let go of the hold this series has on me. In 12 ep, they managed to break me over and over again. Perfectly paired they have delivered the best yet. The desire, the angst, harsh decisions, resolute convictions and in the end, a love that didn't die.

Caught between two kingdoms, political plots and selfish ambitions, Zi Ang and Shu He, fought to be but in the end, on opposing sides, they fought each other. Finally, left with no other option, Shu He takes revenge but ultimately creates the only world they can live happily in. Free to be as they were meant to be, they greet each other with a smile. I will not go indepth with every detail as this entire series is worth viewing with fresh minds.

I easily bypass how small the production was Zhang Zhe Xu and Min Jin performances blotted out what was lacking. Central to the plot that delivered, was their meeting and the intense love borne of it. One raging and rash and the other sure and serene. Yet, both were bonded forever

The supporting cast is worthy of a mention. All of their parts were handled believably. This is a series I can fully recommend as its execution was effectively painful as it was beautiful. A period piece that will never age. It's worth watching time and time again.

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A Roller Coaster Ride of Love, Hate and everything in between.

I went into “Kill to Love” with no expectations at all. All I wish for is that it is better and not as cheesy as “Meet You at the Blossom” and that’s a pretty low bar. Ok, I didn’t really watch MYATB, but I watched clips of the drama and it’s not my cup of tea.

Having said that, I was so happy that it’s not similar at all and definitely better for my taste. “Kill to Love” is very political and angsty, full of schemes and lies and 1.5 toxic relationships. Though listed as a drama from Singapore, it’s actually another forbidden Chinese BL licensed to be broadcasted and distributed in another country.

With a somewhat inexperienced cast, the acting is OK. I’ve definitely seen worse but none of the actors performed horribly. The early episodes are rougher but the actors improved throughout the drama. I found Zhang Zhe Xu improved the most from the 1st episode to the 12th episode, even though I think Mi Jin started off stronger. Maybe being in the role of Duan Zi Ang, Zhang Zhe Xu has more to work with as his character has gone through the most and requires him to act out various emotions.

The plot itself is a roller coaster ride. In fact, I think the drama might have tried to do a little too much and should pull back just a little. It gets a little repetitive when you are expecting lies over lies with some guilt of true emotions mixed with it. The pacing is not bad but did slow down in the second half of the drama, until the final couple episodes.

How’s the BL romance? It’s good, if that’s what you are coming for. I enjoy the enemies-to-lovers development a lot. Even from early on, you can see the director intentionally show the unintentional (or maybe intentional) touches here and there. Linger around the waist to try to fish out something from the belt, the intimacy of applying medicine, don't forget the handwashing! That’s why this drama can never go past Chinese censorship. The chemistry and tension are there from the start with our two main leads. There are a few kisses, though not fish kisses, they could have been better (from Mi Jin’s part). A few cute and fluffy scenes before the angst starts. I wasn’t expecting the turn of events but I do enjoy the love/hate relationship. I actually like their ending and thought it was realistic given the lead's history of struggles, love and hate.

What was disappointing was the half-baked toxic relationship between Xiao Shu Qian and Huo Ying. It started off so strong with all the abuse, and I thought it’s going to develop into something more. But no, it just got dropped in the middle and left me hanging and wanting more.

We all know this is not a big budget production, but I do think the director did a good job in making everything look decent. The costumes are nice and the actors look pretty good, especially for Mi Jin/Xiao Shu He. The makeup is better than other bigger budget productions. But the fight scenes aren’t that great and I wish they got rid of the slow motion.

If you are looking for a historical BL from China, this is probably one of the better ones out there. I would recommend it if that’s what you are looking for. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride as you follow the development of the main romance and everything they need to weigh between feelings and responsibilities.


Completed: 9/11/2025 Review #624

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