The Gaze

Typical toxic chinese BL...

It ended without much fanfare... While it was interesting in the beginning, it was overly toxic and the redemption arc was not well done. I felt like Mr. Toxic doesn't want to change for real and he still behaves like the asshole he is to anyone not connected to his love-interest.

I can't complain about the production quality, that was very high, even when they used too much blur for my taste in many scenes. So it felt a bit artificial. OST is excellent and the best point of this show.

Besides that I have not much to say. The kissing was lackluster, there aren't any nc-scenes and many say it's an adaption of another work but altered so they don't have to pay for a licence to use it. So that also leaves a bad aftertaste. Overall it's too plain and too ordinary to leave a lasting impression, it's average at best. If you are into the toxic tropé there are much better chinese series than this.

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Toxicity Meets Inevitability

there is something so immediate and tense In the way, the story unfolds. The male leads's ferocity Will take you by surprise and admittedly, is a little offputting. It relies on some of the semantics we've seen in other dramas of this kind, But the interplay between the male leads has me riveted. I've only watched the first four episodes, so it's very possible. They won't stick the landing but right now, this is a must watch.

The second couple tap dances on the line of being very tropey, But manages to never cross it. The second male lead artist is an enigma of a character. I can't wait to see his true motivations be revealed.

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promising start that devolved into terrible communication

Overall: I thought I had found an obsessed ML I could vibe with, but the series is lost me with neither lead able to talk to the other for many episodes. 10 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on YouTube

Content Warnings: past violence & blood, coercion, near suicide, kidnapping, violence, non con kissing/touching, mental health struggles, beginning sexual assault, manhandling

Watch Suggestions
- at whatever point you start to lose interest skip to episode 10 15:55 minutes and watch until the end

What I Liked
- visuals
- the initial set up of an obsessed ML
- the brother relationship

Room For Improvement
- I've heard from several people that this is plagiarism of Jinx. Instead of boxing it's tennis, instead of a grandma it's a brother but the plot is practically identical including some dialogues. The production either needs to say they bought the rights to Jinx or they should have written their own story.
- characters were continuously stupid and refused to communicate, a 1 minute conversation would have cleared everything up
- characters went hot and cold
- choppy at times

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What a letdown...

At first the plot did intrigue me as it was for once something rather new (apart from wandee goodday) and i was indeed hooked during the first 4 episodes, but then everything slowly went downhill... the story had so much potential but ultimately the writers/directors didn't do it justice. And it also didn't help that the characters felt 2 dimensional and rather stiff. None of the couples' chemistry felt natural and ultimately failed to pull me in. I can overlook a boring plot or plot issues/holes as long as the chemistry between the characters is good, but in this case there was nothing that kept me entertained and it was simply my (stupid) will to finish this series that kept me going until the very end.

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So much potential...

What a shame, this could have been so much better. I still enjoyed it, but i also anoyed me.
The story was good, the visuals and music beautiful. But the production was bad!
The actors did a good job acting, but it was a bit destroyed by the voice overs. It felt flat.

There was chemistry with both couples, but i really dislike it when one of the actors at least tries to give good kisses, but his partner hardly moves his lips.

And i have two things that were really bad:
Li You En was taken by the loansharks, Zhai Qiu Yu goes in, and saves him. Then he asks the loansharks how much is owed, he reaches for his phone and transfers the money. A nice gesture, but where did he wire the money to? He didn't ask the loansharks where to wire it to. Just a little mistake, but i hated it when such mistakes are made, it makes it less realistic..

And those pour goldfish!!! Kept in a bowl so small they couldn't even move in it! Animal cruelty at its max, no wonder the goldfish died!

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An Easy Watch, but Not a Standout

My feelings about this series were a bit of a roller coaster. For most of the show, I actually preferred the second couple. In my opinion, they had better chemistry and some of the most memorable scenes, like the pottery scene, even though their storyline wasn’t particularly deep. By the end, they weren’t very important to the plot anymore, but since they weren’t the main couple, that’s understandable.

The finale, however, didn’t feel completely satisfying to me. It felt rather abrupt and left enough room for a special episode with some cozy moments for both couples, free from additional drama or plot complications. That said, I did enjoy the redemption arc.

Overall, the series was enjoyable, but compared to the other BLs airing on Fridays, it was never a priority watch for me. I also would have liked to see more of Li You En in his role as a team doctor, especially in the earlier episodes, since that aspect seemed interesting but wasn’t explored much.

Another point is Li You En’s brother. For most of the series, I found him more frustrating than likable, although ep 10 finally made me warm up to him a bit.

In the end, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from watching it. However, if you’re not very familiar with Chinese BLs, I don’t think this is the best introduction to the genre, because it doesn’t really showcase the full potential of the industry. For me, it was the kind of series that was pleasant enough to watch and easy to relax with, but I never became deeply emotionally invested in it. In fact, I was more attached to it in the first half than in the second. Still, it remained an enjoyable watch that never made me feel too frustrated.

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Had it's fair share of pros and cons

Honestly, it's not a bad series. Some are saying it was toxic, and I'll say there was a hint of toxicity. However, I have a feeling that many Chinese BLs will add some because of the huge fame of 'Revenge Love'. That being said, this is a Hallmark movie compared to 'RL'.
There's some plot holes that could have been patched to make it better, but this is a low-budget effort, so I get it.
The secondary couple was adorable and I would watch a series of their story in a heartbeat. Actually, their story could have been a better story with the other couple being secondary, but what do I know, right?
Essentially, this was a tame, watered down version of 'Revenge Love', which was evident front the cast's appearances.
The settings were nice and the cinematography was well done for the budget they were working with.
The music was ok, but could have been better.
It was a decent story, with actors that have potential.
Worth a watch if you are looking for something that's not deep.

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The Toxic!

This is yet another one of those enticing BI series that initially pulls you in but then does nothing, and I do mean nothing, with the story. It drones on and on around the same topic. Toxicity. Yet, has the audacity to sugar-coat it with tear-jerking moments pretending to be examples of arcs to love. This series presents well as there is an arc to redemption. However, as is usual, the abuser tries his best to become the victim and the victim in essence becomes more like an abuser. These kinds of dichotomies must end. Abuse, bullying, and exploitation should have no value as being dominant in BLs. Yet here they are – living and thriving. Prettying them up and trying to make it acceptable and even throwing in heaps of absolution into the mix. It does not, however, even begin to diminish the pain that the real victim had to go through. This is yet another Chinese BL that projects gayness as full of toxicity, abuse, a milquetoast lackey always in need of some type of rescuing, and of course a lineage of tremendous pain and discomfort in order to receive the ultimate gift that the abuser will see the light and love you back. Plus, gays are obviously lousy kissers.

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Dont mislead people with using word toxic

Before talking about the drama itself, I want to address something that bothered me. A lot of people keep calling this drama and TharnType "toxic." When I read those reviews before watching them, I almost decided not to watch TharnType because I thought it would be a toxic relationship from beginning to end. Luckily, I gave it a chance, and it ended up being one of the best BL dramas I've ever watched.

Yes, there are toxic behaviors and conflicts in the first few episodes. However, many reviewers make it sound like the characters spend the entire series hating each other or treating each other badly, which is simply not true. They focus so much on the beginning that they ignore the character growth and relationship development that happen later. Calling a drama "toxic" without explaining how the characters change gives potential viewers the wrong idea and may stop them from watching something they could actually enjoy.

As for this drama itself, I don't think it deserves to be reduced to a single label. The actors have amazing chemistry, and their performances make the relationship feel genuine and enjoyable to watch. Once the couple gets together, they become incredibly sweet and lovable. Their interactions were honestly one of the best parts of the series.

That said, my biggest issue with the drama is the story. The actors are talented, the chemistry is great, and the romance is engaging, but the plot feels weak and underdeveloped. At times, it seems like the cast is carrying the entire show because the storyline doesn't give them enough material to work with. I also found the ending disappointing. After investing so much time in the characters, the conclusion felt unsatisfying and didn't provide the payoff I was hoping for.

Overall, I loved the chemistry, the acting, and the relationship development. I just wish the writers had given these talented actors a stronger story and a better ending. And most importantly, I think people should be more careful when using the word "toxic," because it can create a completely misleading impression of what the drama is actually like.

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Don't expect anything intense or dark

I saw a few clips of this show before I watched it, and it turns out they were all from the side couples' scenes. After finishing the series, I get why; they definitely had better chemistry than our main couple. Kisses were stiff either way. I liked the back hugs and cuddles, though.

I liked that I actually learned something from this series; I had never heard of Hyperventilation Syndrome or Aplastic Anemia before, and it was nice to learn more about them. I'll remember them, whereas I probably won't remember most of the other details of the show. Not that it wasn't a good show, but it was . . . safe. I feel like this show was sold as something much darker with a toxic, obsessive, and possessive romance, and it did the bare minimum with all of those things. I had really been looking forward to those darker tones.

OST was good; it made me feel like I was watching an anime at times.

The acting was good. I have no idea who played Xiaosi, but he did a great job. I loved his character and the relationships he had with Li and Zhai Qiu Yu. Li is his most important person, and he wasn't going to give Zhai Qiu Yu an inch.

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Literally the live action of the webtoon JINX minus the NC

I am not sure why we don't see credits to Jinx but this is literally Jinx to the core. They have switched up the sport probably cz they had a hard time finding a lead as buff as JK to cast but they've kept the eyebrows. They've switched the grandma to brother. Potato is now a photographer and the actor is an artist. The plot remains the same but cz they've removed NCs they've had to make some minor changes.

The NCs are barely there so JK doesn't seem as bad as the webtoon he seems like a normal tsundre ML who is unable to express his feeling🤭🤭 which is kinda cute. The only reason i am giving this an 8 is cz i love the webtoon a lot especially the boxing and the granny... so the change kinda makes me uncomfortable. Overall it's a good drama but the acting needs a little work in some places

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