This review may contain spoilers
They get right into it
First episode and they're already making out. Wow.Story plot and amazing acting. Both leads are gorgeous.
Love the way they both pretend they're acting/reharsing and getting all into it. I just don't like the fact that they're both taken and somehow don't seem to have no problem with all the kissing and getting handsy with eachother.
The plot seems strong, love the overall premises and I'm definitely looking forward to each new episode.
Would recommend.
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The beauty of stroytelling
Ep 6 and i am crying, the actors portrayed the scene so beautifully. Nobody really understands the pain of survivour, they relive the assault again and again. This series tackled such sensitive topics in a unique way. I feel the pain of the charcter's character, the guilt, the trauma, the memories coming back everything. I glad someone out there thought of a project like this and the actors "wo de tian a" they are amazing.Was this review helpful to you?
It's heavy (TW is advised). Have no doubt and just watch.
No bias. Giving a show 10/10 when its barely aired isn't helpfulREVIEW FROM EP1-5 ONLY.
3/7/26 Raw honest thoughts. Before embarking on this drama I didn't expect much. I hadn't seen a BL in over a year and wanted to find a new title.
First 10mins is an appetiser. I suggest you grab more holy water to drink prior to episode 2. They literally, kid you not, swan dived from 0-1000. I actually exited to make sure I was on the right episode lol.
Even as I'm writing this, it's unbelievable to see how bold and far Chinese BLs have come in such a short period of time.
They really did not hold back with "Deep In"
It can't be denied that there is great chemistry between them, at no point did anything feel forced at all. Great casting of new faces, and I imagine they'll be more popular and appreciated after this. However I find that it's extremely fast paced at the start - I do think it could go slower and it wouldn't be problem. With 12 episodes, it does make sense that a time skip was needed.
Hence pacing is a slight issue here I think, no build up - it impacts the immense satisfaction that comes with some kind of build up or tension prior - like background of the characters (but this remains to be seen as more ep are to come, I may have to retract this statement depending on what follows from here). There's no establishment other than both have girlfriends and are actors.
For Ollie in particular - I cannot believe he is only 20 years old (19 when filming). I was completely pulled in when he played the psychartrist, it's a completely different persona to Zhen Xin (the name is also quite telling, it's a pun in Chinese to also mean "honesty from the heart"!!)
Very mature presence, holds a wealth of intimidation just by a single look to Zhang Zhun.
At only 22, Shu Yuan portrays the sweet and gentle Zhang Zhun, and I thought he would be the younger one here, but it goes to show the chemistry is literally there - in the awkwardness, and growing tension the more scenes they share together as their own characters. as Fangchi and Gaozhun.
This work reminds me instantly on the kmovie "Method" With a similar theme, where both are actors and needed to build chemistry and the lines blur between reality and acting, which is something fans often wonder about the drama world. But Method has more of a mindf//k and darkness thrown in, with little bit of an arthouse feel to it which I loved.
But there is no comparison, truthfully.
It's worth noting that for DEEP IN, the setting doesn't contain much film/tv industry logic. No rehearsal. No script read prior to shoot. That opening as an audition. No intimacy coordinator for safety in that scene in Ep2.
Most wouldn't mind, depending on knowledge, but this is a slight nitpick personally, and forms the critique. I have to clarify no production would EVER EVER do things the way it's portrayed here!
There are major red flags - a real crew would have had a stroke with how vulnerable scenes are being handled, and it's not even an exaggeration. No safety or care is given to either of them, period. And there are plenty of other red flags for other scenes.
Rather than utilising the artistic choice of shots, this work excels in the emotional tension pulsing under a gaze, the pause before a line is spoken. And that alone, is enough. This aspect so far is the highlight of DEEP IN - it carries the entirety of this drama and it's doing it brilliantly. You'll find you hold onto every expression in the eyes, and their body language, and it beyond compensates for the average shot style.
But at the end of the day this is fiction (and I'm already stuck at 4 episodes in....) and it may not be for everyone. It's unhinged, it's toxic. But is it good? Yes, without a doubt. This is the closest I've seen BDSM portrayed in a Chinese drama, let alone a Chinese BL. Albeit not the healthiest, consent is blurred, but still, this is a first, if any.
Can't wait for more episodes. It's by no means perfect, but the mystery why Zhen Xin feels the way he feels remains to be seen, it certainly pulls you in deep with each ep :)
Will update once drama finishes airing.
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First Impression: Deep In
Overall: this might be the spiciest BL series from China that I have ever seen. 12 episodes about 35 minutes (plus long end credits and bonus scene at the very end of each episode). Airing on GTV YouTube Channel (ep 1 free, 2 onward for channel members?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZsDVs7WAo (available in Africa, Southeast Asia and some countries in the Middle East); GagaOOLala (not available in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Oceania, India, Japan or Korea); Viki viki.com/tv/41593c-deep-in and Heavenly (for S. Korea)Content Warnings: non con touching, punch
What I Liked
- chemistry/tension
- intimate scenes done well
- easy to understand premise
- focuses on the two main characters
Room For Improvement
- that both MLs have something (trying to keep this spoiler free for now)
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IDK yet
* note: the story works for me (at places), the execution not so much (the acting is wooden around the edges for my taste, possible reasons: work with actors, highly probably actors' age), the music is beautiful - and does not blend with acting; it is 2 levels stronger as if wonting to rely what the acting itself doesn't; still solid enough to not stop watchingWas this review helpful to you?
Romance That Would Happen Between Two Actors on Set
Two “straight” actors, mind you, but this show is telling the story well.Four episodes in, and there are a lot of things that makes this a good CBL so far. The story, the acting, the chemistry, the sexual tension, and the insane visuals.
So far, I’m liking the progression, but we all know a CBL cannot exist without something like a “red flag” that would have viewers questioning the whole romance dynamic (and this has that too) but I want to see how the romance would develop between these two “straight” actors. (I put “straight” in quote because it’s questionable so far, they could be latent biromantic/bisexual) but I’ll leave it here to avoid spoilers.
All in all, leave your hesitations and give this a watch! It’s good so far and you won’t hate it.
(PS - I’ll edit my review as I watch as usual)
Edit 01: After watching episode three, I have to say CBLs are notorious for featuring morally dark characters and I’m just never a big fan of that. There are some things that shouldn’t be represented even in fiction.
Not sure how I feel about this new episode, but I’ll keep watching.
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And the appearance of a senior who shouts, roars and yells... why is that character in the series? You start very well and then you screw up,
Yes.. it would be best if the ratings were up to 100, so if you give all 100, give some reality, so many omissions and mistakes, and according to you, every series is for Oscar!!!
There is no BL series here, but a series of how I recorded the series ?!?!? Stupidity
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Historia Intrigante
Definitivamente empezar a ver está serie fue la mejor decisión, al principio no le tenía fe, con el primer episodio quedé intrigada y después la historia se va desarollando y me parece que es un 2x1 tener 2 historias dentro de una, las actuaciones son muy buenas, ambos actores tienen una súper química juntos, estoy disfrutando mucho verla. Necesito ver la historia que están grabando, estoy súper atrapada en cómo será el Pilot twist, seguro que lo habrá...Si estás dudando en empezarla, no lo dudes mucho, en serio, dale una oportunidad, china está sacando buenas historias últimamente.
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