Beautiful, Dark and Heartwarming
It's been a very long time since I felt inspired to write a review but I simply MUST express how impressed I am by this series. The director, producers, actors and the crew pulled out all the stops to make this gem. I have watched SO many BL stories in the past 6 years and this one is top notch on many levels for me.Everyone will have their own opinions on what makes a good show but from a purely quality of production perspective, I really feel this one is excellent.
It's not a gentle ride. Just a note for anyone looking for something fluffy. This is NOT that. It's gripping, it pushes boundaries and certainly that's not for everyone.
I just feel like hugging everyone who made this series possible and thanking them sincerely for letting me walk alongside these beautiful souls as they tried to untangle the knots in their hearts...both in their lives and through their show. It felt too short by far and that is perfect. They left me wanting more and I will miss them!!
Was this review helpful to you?
You'll get DEEP IN the series without realising
I'm obsessed. No other could do justice to the role than Ollie and Shuyuan.I casually started it, but got hooked up to this series. I love both the main story and the secondary story, the quality🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻
Who would believe after seeing their performance that they're only 20 and 24.
I don't regret watching this series at all. Acting is top notch. I could keep watching this series on and on and on.
Was this review helpful to you?
A story within a story, double the fun!
Two drama's in one, what a treat! This was so good!! The story was very different and very well written. The production did a good job, the only bad thing about this drama was the dubbing. I think the emotions would have come out even better without the voice dubbing.I love how the screen gets smaller when the drama is filming, that makes a clear distinction between film and "reality".
The visuals and music were beautiful.
All the actors did a great job, i was surprised it was the first role for both leads.
They had great chemistry and good kisses. In the last episode we got a great kiss with a bit of tongue! The NC scenes were well done.
I highly recommend watching this great drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
THIS GOT ME HOOKED!
First of all I was spectacle, I didn't have high expectations but they delivered and I mean real HARD. It was so intriguing, I got fascinated by the concept, that they had two movies in one show. That was played amazingly.The kissing scenes gave me so much butterflies🦋. I was pretty surprised. The kisses were smutty, hot and sexy. The YEARNING was insane too. It feels as if they couldn't enough of each other. It's been a years since I've ever watched c - drama completely but Deep In got me hooked!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Let's start with the abject truth, that I have already rewatched this several times or turned it on to go to sleep. It's already become a comfort food. lolNow for the critical explanation:
1. The music choices are immaculate. The sound engineering also deserves praise with the subtle and detailed enhancement of the scenes. Even the title song is, imo, the best BL title song I've heard.
2. The story, while not exactly true to the novel, is perfectly told. I think the right choices were made as far as what to include, what to leave out and what to alter slightly. But nothing deviated from the original heart of the story, which is that two men fall in love while playing the roles of two men who fall in love. And our inability to tell what's real and what's not is exactly aligned with theirs as it progresses. The script is thoughtful and all of the characters feel believable, and in some ways likeable, even the "protagonists". The pacing is perfect. There's no fat on the story but it isn't rushed either. I found myself unable to predict as easily as I normally can with BLs what exactly was going to happen in the next episode.
3. The casting is A+, especially Zhang Zhun, Zhen Xin and Director Chen. Director Chen is hilarious and genuine. The main leads are beautiful and meticulous actors. The subtleties of the choices they made moving in and out of their "true selves" vs their characters was so well done. Side note: They are both pretty criers. And lastly, their chemistry was outstanding. Again it felt genuine and lived in, without needing to go to the extremes of nudity and saliva dripping off of their kisses, the implication of their intimacy was just as effective.
So with that, I really have no notes and this is currently ranked as my #1 BL. Bravo!
And in case you haven't looked, the director is only 27!
Was this review helpful to you?
Best Chinese BL in 2026
I really loved this one. It was a bit meta with the story that's being acted by the actors being presented like a story itself, but it worked very well! I really fell in love with the characters and I'm so happy they found each other.The ending was also really touching, because obviously, I don't think the industry and society is that far yet in China, but I really hope the country can get to that point eventually. I think all the BLs could help even though they're not being liscensed in the country.
Was this review helpful to you?
i'm talking bout innit
Ollie has single-handedly given me a thing for men in fur coats. key tags: co-stars to lovers, explores dark themesSpice Meter 9/10: In terms of the NC scenes here, they covered pretty much everything. Except I am SO PEEVED that we didn't really get to see them be intimate outside of when they're playing their characters on the show very much. However, I think this is first time I've seen a TOUNGE KISS in a CBL, I was gagged. Since Chinese BL's are voice over, I do think you miss out a bit on the real sounds, but overall, no complaints.
Story 9/10: I liked the story a lot. It kept me hooked and due to the pacing, I binged the fuck out of this show. There are times (as with most Chinese BL's) that the plot gets a bit confusing/convoluted and maybe things are drawn out a bit much, I also didn't particularly love the ending and the unnecessary conflict they have. I think the show really hit its peak at the midpoint. Overall, I think they balanced the "show" and real life pretty well, and I didn't find myself preferring one over the other as other reviewers have said.
Acting/Cast/Chemistry 10/10: Honestly, this is what really sells the show to me. Ollie does an incredible job and I can't take my eyes off him at all, and the chemistry he has with Shu Yuan is really special. I will say the actors are very skinny which can be a bit off putting at times, but I could literally watch a 20 minute clip of them eating dinner together I don't care. When they're on screen together it's mesmerizing. Supporting cast is also excellent.
Music 8/10: I can't say that I really found the music to be anything notable but it also wasn't distracting, which can be rare for a BL lol. They keep it relatively low-key to give the actual show room to breathe.
Rewatch Value 8/10: I have watched this once by myself and once with friends! And clips on Instagram. But I wouldn't say I would watch the whole thing in its entirety again.
Overall 9/10: Maybe I am overselling it, but I liked this show a lot! Especially in terms of Chinese BL's which I can sometimes find a bit hard to get through the whole thing, Deep In really kept my attention.
Was this review helpful to you?
Blurred Realities make Excellent Drama
This drama was intense from start to finish. The storyline, cast, music, and production was great. It was hard waiting for the episodes to release each week. So much could happen in each episode and yet it could feel so short. It did leave me wanting more but it was because the performances by both the main and supporting cast were so engaging.The star lead of the film pointed his romantic intensity towards is co-lead and kept pushing the drama on set as his co-lead tries to handle and understand his feelings about his advances. In a stark contrast, the characters they portray in the movie they portray are the exact opposite; with the intensity bubbling over from the seemingly shy co-lead/patient to the lead star/doctor.
The cuts between the story they were filming vs the story of the actors involved were masterfully done. The reality sometimes bends for the audience as sometimes we spent a lot of time engaged with the films story. It serves as an interesting substitute for what traditionally would be a secondary plot on the same storyline.
Additionally, I love that the main characters weren’t sidelined by green tea characters. Other characters were introduced to face push forward issues and insecurities they were facing. I felt it lead to deeper and more engaging character development. Loved it. 10/10.
Was this review helpful to you?
Deep in in two storys
Dios mio estoy llorando con las dos storylines, demasiado bien hicieron la producción por que en cada momento que se llevaba a la novela cambiaban super bien de roles. El ost funciono muy bien en los momentos de la novela, habia mucha tensión. En la linea de los actores no había mucha diferencia con el ost pero si las actuaciones ahí eran superiores. ME GUSTO MUCHO Y DEBERIA YA DORMIR LUEGO DE VER ESTO OK. Estuve conflrme con todo el cast, hicieron un excelente trabajo, supieron retratar a todosWas this review helpful to you?
Amazing!
I don’t normally like red/black flag type MLs in stories and won’t watch those types of dramas. But this one… this one I could help watching. I can give this nothing less than a full 10 star rating, and it is not even for the story itself!The director has done an amazing work with this series. The cinematography, the transitions between the ‘reality’ and the ‘movie’ were just beautifully done. Superb acting from the leads. They portrayed the multilayered roles within the series so well, that it was clear who were Fang Chi/Gao Zhun and Zhen Xin/Zhang Zhun at all times
While the characters were distinctive, the emotions were not. The way the emotions and scenes between ‘reality’ and the ‘movie’ being made just blended into/mirrored each other and fed each other was just sooo well done. The actors were indeed too ‘deep in’ to it. And so was I. Every time the director within this drama said ‘cut,’ it felt like my attention, which had gone deep into the movie within, was being viserally pulled out. So well were both stories done. Both the plots were equally engaging.
In the initial episodes, the ‘movie being filmed’ mirrored the ‘real life’ so much. Then in the later episodes, it was the opposite. When the plot with Fang Chi/ Gao Zhun was filled with heartaches, we got sweetness from Zhen Xin/Zhang Zhun. And when things got intense with the Zhen Xin/Zhang Zhun, things were improving for Fang Chi/Gao Zhun. It has the right dose of angst and sweetness mixed. The director truly played with our feelings. And like a person under thrall, I went through all the emotions the director meant to convey. So many emotions within the short span of each episode, that by the time I was finished with each episode, no matter the actual story, I was left in awe at the masterfulness the director.
And the OSTs. They were just amazing! As someone who doesn’t listen to music much, even my attention was thoroughly pulled and hooked by these OSTs. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve listened to them!
This drama is not just a story. It is truly an amazing art. And I loved every aspect of it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Worst psychologist ever. Never book an appointement with Fang chi. I love it so much. I was like the main lead, obsessed with them. I started the novel but didn't finish it because I didn't want it to spoil me. I'm sad it ended.
Glad he react this way knowing Zhen Xin took advantage of him while he was drunk. It was never romantic or acceptable.
To continue in the "fag world" the two girlfriends should have ended together.
I was mind fuck by the plot twist, i really didn't expect it. And people told me it wasn't just "a book in their world" both of the couple are actually real. Love it. Your friend write your story and you act his story. Okay diva;
Was this review helpful to you?
But like holy shit the plot twist in the end? That was also crazy but I'm happy about that too! I wished for more BLs like this PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! I can't believe I finished this drama in like less than two days! I'm insane!!
Anyways truly kudos to the actors and the whole crew for making this series come to live and possible! Truly one of the best bL series!!! Totally recommended!
Was this review helpful to you?
