Ash

This might be a long Review!!

I just finished watching the show and boy was it an underwhelming ending!! I loved the premise of the show. I liked the characters, their chemistry and both of them are Very good looking people and the editing of the show was amazing(which was unexpected and refreshing). But with that I don’t know if it was the direction or their acting which at many occasion felt very inapt. The situations where they could’ve shown more emotions than just a still face was more than many.

The characters were not at all strong despite showing them powerful and wealthy, nothing was in their control. Half of the plans they made were fail, and most of the scenes did not make sense. Especially the scene where they talk in morse code! Like what the hell??? If you know he is there and you are anyways going to save him then why wait for the villain device a perfect plan to flee? I mean the whole time the villain was the one winning, and he would’ve won if he did not have a change of heart! The end where Hui Leuk To just kneels down and admits defeat for no particular reason was just embarrassingly senseless and made me loose some of my hair out of anger! Like bro you have a Freking gang just 2 meters away, use them!!

I also have a lot to complain about Fei Foon, who was not a fair boyfriend. This might be an unpopular opinion but I did not feel Hui Leuk To was a bigger red flag then Fei Foon. In fact, Vincent was a very nice boyfriend after the initial episode, whereas Fei Foon would leave him on the blink of an eye! I mean when Vincent said he did not kill the man, Fei Foon does not even stop for a second to think he might be innocent, and even blames him for being untruthful? Like bro how long does he know you for telling you his whole life history? And that was very hypocritical of him too (with him hiding from Vincent for six months that he was police officer!) On top of that it pissed me off that he was always ready to give the villains the benefit of doubt which he never gave to Hui Leuk To.

All in all, despite all these complains I did like the show a lot and the story was very different and interesting. I watched a good show after a very long while and the couple made me giddy and smiling a lot of times. Some of the dialogues were also sweet and made me feel the butterflies. So all in all, I will give this show an 8 out of 10.

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Nope on many levels

Lack of funds to deliver a believable story
Poor acting from a ml... almost anemic
Poor wardrobe
Repetitive scenery doing nothing
Auxiliary actors line delivery flatter than a flatline.
Posturing
Storyline that dipped and waned at the end.
Unbelievable action moments.
I'm not against ai overall, but here just made me agree with the naysayers.

This could have gone two ways. Either shoot within the budget or do a full ai production, put it on YouTube and monetize the channel. As is, it didn’t work for me. The six is for effort.

I will say that though their visuals were different, they did connect on some level.

Overall, they wanted to do too much with too little.

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This could've been one of the best dramas of 2026, but slided towards the end. Still quite watchable

You can watch this for Fei Foon (Kingston) alone.....those eyes, the face card and the charm....he's the best find for me in this show....the high of this series hits you right from the start actually....the delish, toxic, red-flagey and scintillating chemistry ... the push-me-pull-me angst....and the insane face cards...Woooooof!!! Unfortunately, the script and execution does start sliding somewhat from Ep 6 onward....and it made me really sad because this drama started out so well.....the ending also seemed rushed with pacing issues, but still quite watchable overall. I hope we see more of the cast- all three leads, actors playing Fei Foon, Tou and Shawn - all of them were really good all through

BL-Needle Score: 8. High BL-ness

A tough undercover cop getting into a 'no-one-must-know' lust-love entanglement with young CEO who seems all shades of doubt, dark, and irresistible charm....with enough elements for conspiracies, scheming family members, big-company board politics, guns, blood, lust and angst-driven love....this had it all, but it seems to have fallen prey to budget and timeline constraints.

Also, I am so glad that did not use AI animations for flashbacks after that one instance in Episode 4 I think and replaced them with still images in later episodes..

Verdict: Watch

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Mixed Feelings

Honestly, I enjoyed this drama a lot more than I expected to. I know a lot of the reviews are understandably focused on the AI-generated flashback scenes, and I really don't support the use of AI for that either. But I feel like the AI controversy has kind of drowned out discussion of the actual story, so I wanted to talk about that too.

The story itself was actually pretty good. I originally had this at around a 9.5/10, but I dropped it to an 8 mainly because some of the acting/chemistry felt awkward, especially during the more emotional or angry scenes. Some interactions with the side characters also felt pretty stiff, and you can definitely tell the budget wasn't exactly huge XD.

Leuk To also started feeling like a massive red flag around the halfway point 😭 but thankfully there's a redemption arc, so I'll give him that.

The biggest thing that kept me watching was definitely the mystery. I really liked how a lot of things that happened earlier eventually started making sense later. There were so many moments where I went "OH... so THAT'S why he did that." Like here, the little detail matter so much!! It actually felt like certain details had been planned from the beginning, which I really appreciated. And the cute moments between the main characters were genuinely really good 🧡. Their little secret language is SO cute hehe.

The ending, though... 😭 I don't even know how to explain it. It felt like it was being dragged out until the absolute last second while also somehow feeling rushed?? I definitely wish the ending had been handled a little better.

Overall, despite its flaws, I still enjoyed watching it. I do wish they hadn't used AI for the flashbacks, but I'm also not going to pretend the entire drama is worthless because of it. The story and mystery were quite enjoyable, and I wish more of the discussion around the drama included that.

Also Leo is just... why is he so hot.

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Two identities, one undeniable connection

I absolutely loved how Ash managed to combine crime, action, undercover investigations and romance without making any of them feel like an afterthought. But what really got me was Fei Foon and Hui Leuk To's relationship. THE CHEMISTRY!!! Whether they were arguing, looking at each other or simply sharing a quiet moment, the tension was always there, and that reunion in the alley after being apart was easily one of my favorite scenes. I especially loved Fei Foon's character and how different he felt as Cheung Wai Keung during his undercover operation compared to his real identity as a police officer. It genuinely felt like watching two sides of the same person, and I loved how intelligent and resourceful he was throughout the story. The investigations, family loyalties and power struggles kept me invested just as much as the romance, especially because everything became more connected as the story progressed. And I appreciated that their relationship wasn't built on physical intimacy alone, but on trust, longing, misunderstandings and everything they had to overcome together. Such an intense and engaging drama, with two leads who completely carried the emotional side of the story.

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This held a lot of promise but

Critically, it was 5 stars (acting, music, effects, ideas, plot development), yet for serotonin and chemistry it was 10 stars. But the truth is, if a series induces that much joy, even if I have quibbles, I just can’t give it 5 stars. Hence the “Whatever, it’s getting 7 stars” route. Okay, I might be a bit biased too.

So the opening starts out just as the summary: undercover officer Mok Fei Foon and CEO Hui Leuk To are drawn together while hiding their true identities behind dangerous secrets. They fall in love… yes… you can imagine. It sounds good. Very good. Kingston and Leo Pang are amazing. Their chemistry is electric, and I loved watching every scene where they interacted with each other.

Where things started to fall short for me was the development of the plot and, to some extent, the characters. Everything just felt very surface-level and not well fleshed out. I struggled to connect with anything that didn’t involve the relationship between the main characters. The pacing of the story didn’t have an even flow, and ultimately it felt like the director spent some time deciding what to show and what not to, but forgot the main thing.

In the end, while I enjoyed it, I think it could have used a little more work to make it more believable. There are some aspects that seemingly go unexplained, others were not logical, and some were downright strange.

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Chemistry class is now in session

This was way more enjoyable than I anticipated. I didn't go into it thinking it would be crap, but I also had no idea how much I was going to love this show and the MLs!

Kudos to the author/screenwriter for constructing the story the way they did, but much credit to Leo and Kingston. Damn, the actors more than delivered! Their chemistry is some of the best I've seen. And its not just because they are comfortable in NC scenes. Its the way they convey it. There's something very intimate about their interactions. It comes off as sincere, vulnerable, playful, intense, sexy, and very grown folk coded. And I dont mean explicit, I mean two grown men expressing their desire for each other, and their desire to grow closer to each other, through physical intimacy. The NC scenes were slowly paced to perfection!

It also stuck to the project. It was an organized crime/undercover police drama with an intense love story between the MLs. Some shows lose focus and you lose your bearings. No weird forays into rom-com or other genres. It makes it feel more cohesive to me, more thoughtful.

Outside of their chemistry, I also felt like the MLs were entirely believable in their characters. I didn't have any WTF or cringe moments, or times when I felt like rolling my eyes. No tear farming either. I was just there with the characters experiencing their story and their emotions.

They really made them most of what I assume was a modest budget. A solid watch for sure! Indulge yourself if you haven't already.

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Don't sleep on it because of the AI usage its like 15 min and an intro

The show was honestly one of my favourites that is currently airing. Out of all of the shows this one is probably the one I will be missing the most. It felt refreshing in a way. I know that a lot of people complain about the use of AI but IMO it really wasn't that bad. IT was the intro and some background, it really wasn't that much. It was at least the amount where I could ignore it. Like
an intro, are we really skipping a show that is a solid 9/10 stars because of an intro. I know I wouldn't.
I know that we should not have gen AI replace actors and all that. but I also know that there are also things where IMO to a certain extent and very limited it can be okay. I would not watch a show it if was gen AI all the way no actors or anything. no way. And this just wasn't that. AT ALL.
I'd actually say that if its within reason and not replacing actors then I feel its reasonable as it saves them cost while also keeping the traditional acting alive.

I think that this show was definitely memorable it was absolutely a joy to watch them fall in love. I think that Foon feel in love at that ashtrays there. heh. The actors also had great chemistry and that chemistry between them made the show really feel different in a way. If there's chemistry between the actors then I will eat a show. I love that I got to watch this as it aired but man would this have been an amazing binge. I would not mind that they make a second season just so that I could get more of the two of them

This show was actually really unforgettable; every moment was a delight, or well except when I contemplated murder on a certain someone. I couldn’t help but feel swept away by their budding romance between Kingston and Leo, I really need them to do more projects together. Also, the actors had an incredible chemistry. the chemistry was chemistrying. . When the chemistry is that believable, it elevates the entire experience it’s like watching magic unfold.
I love that I got to watch this as it aired but man would this have been an amazing binge. I would not mind that they make a second season just so that I could get more of the two of them

Overall, I had a blast watching the show. I really loved it. The chemistry, the vibes of the show, I mean the actors IRL streams and the fanservice like wow. Amazing. it's really one that I will binge again at one point when I miss these two. SO really don't sleep on this show if it's the AI that scares you away it's really not that bad. And the show is amazing and the chemistry is great.

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Ash left a mark....

The drama starts with Fei Foon undercover, using the identity of Ah Keung, when he unexpectedly encounters Leuk Tou, the CEO of Tinping Group. Their first meeting is chaotic enough to tell us exactly what kind of relationship this is going to be: Fei Foon is confident, capable and completely unimpressed by Leuk Tou, while Leuk Tou is used to getting what he wants and clearly isn't accustomed to someone treating him like an ordinary person.
Fei Foon is a police officer, but he is not written as some perfect, morally spotless hero. He is sharp, arrogant, occasionally reckless and very good at what he does. Leuk Tou, meanwhile, is a wealthy businessman whose family has connections to the criminal world. He isn't simply “the bad guy,” but he also isn't completely detached from that world.
That ambiguity makes their relationship much more interesting.

There is a lot of teasing, tension and physical attraction, but the relationship gradually becomes something much more complicated. What begins as something neither of them expects to take seriously slowly turns into genuine attachment.
And this is where Kingston and Leo Peng really impressed me.
Their chemistry is fantastic.
They have that kind of chemistry where even a simple conversation can feel loaded because you know there is something happening underneath it.
heir relationship isn't presented as a perfect fairytale. They make mistakes. They hurt each other. They misunderstand each other. And sometimes they are both so stubborn that you just want to grab them by the shoulders and yell, “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER.”
But, to be fair, they actually communicate more than many BL couples do.

I also loved the visual symbolism surrounding them. The sun-and-moon design on the lighters and the recurring cigarette/ashtray imagery fit the title surprisingly well. Ash is full of things that remain after something has already burned away, and that feels very appropriate for Fei Foon and Leuk Tou. Even when their relationship is supposedly over, traces of it are everywhere.
Then comes the final confrontation.
By this point, the drama has thrown almost everything at them: undercover identities, betrayal, separation, criminal organizations, murder, mistaken assumptions, obsession and the constant possibility that one of them could actually die.
And somehow, despite everything, they keep finding their way back to each other.
I would have happily watched a few more episodes, especially because the relationship between the leads is strong enough to carry them.
That is probably my biggest takeaway from Ash: I wanted more.
More Fei Foon and Leuk Tou simply being together. More of their everyday relationship. More conversations after everything they went through. More time to see how they function once they aren't constantly trying to survive or hide something from each other.

Fei Foon and Leuk Tou are complicated, stubborn, occasionally infuriating and sometimes absolutely terrible at making sensible decisions. But their relationship feels earned because we actually see them hurt each other, lose each other and eventually realize how much the other person means to them.
I started Ash expecting a dark Hong Kong BL with crime and undercover missions.
I ended up staying because I desperately needed to know whether these two idiots would finally figure out how to stay together.
And honestly, that's probably the best compliment I can give the drama.

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Bad romance…

I really love a Hong Kong action flick. Ash brought me back to my years in Asia and those classic Bruce Lee movies…the fighting, the danger and that unmistakable Hong Kong flavor.

The series started strong, especially when it focused on Fei Foon and Leuk To. It was at its best during their quiet and intimate moments…the peacock dance, the house key, the ashtray dialogue and the pain of loving someone who treasures you privately but cannot choose you publicly. Kingston and Leo Peng had genuine chemistry, and they never needed an NC scene to convince me that these two men desired each other.

But somewhere along the way, the corporate structure, hostile takeovers, kidnappings, crime syndicates and every familiar gangster trope began getting in the way of their romance. This seems to happen in many gangster BLs. The criminal plot becomes so complicated that the relationship is pushed aside, someone usually dies, and the writers suddenly remember during the finale that they are also supposed to finish a love story.

Some of the actors also looked far too young to be running major corporations, let alone criminal organizations. Being handsome is one thing…convincing me that an entire crime syndicate fears you is another. The ending felt rushed compared with everything the series spent so much time building. The Morse code scene was a nice touch, but it could not completely compensate for the compressed resolution.

Just like Kiss or Kill, Ash leaves me wondering how many gangster BLs are truly credible. The problem is not the idea of a gay gangster…it is that writers often struggle to make the gangster story and the love story exist naturally in the same world.

I would still love to see Kingston and Leo Peng together again, but next time give them a true romance where their chemistry can fully develop. Less corporate maneuvering, fewer kidnappings and more time for those two beautiful peacocks to spread their feathers.

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