Deep In

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.

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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.

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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;

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Holy such a good drama!! This got me staying up late and fan girling like crazy. I'm so happy that its a happy ending my heart is full now. The acting is immaculate, the plot is so beautiful and the chemistry is just so fucking perfect!

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!

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Top-tier

A lot of people recommended this one, but I didn't start watching until Episode 5... and that's honestly one of my biggest regrets. 😅 CBL did it again.

Can we start with the visuals? Is Ollie even real? That face is a gift from the heavens. And Shu Yuan? I totally understand why people joked that he was AI-generated because of how ridiculously handsome he is.

Now the chemistry? Top-tier. I'm obsessed. Not just with their characters, but with them in real life too.

As for the story, it felt like a mix of familiar and fresh. Their relationship developed pretty fast, but I just accepted that they're simply meant for each other. Sometimes love doesn't need to take its time. 😌

And Zhen Xin... I love how possessive he is (minus the drunk scene, of course). His jealousy was on another level. 😂

One detail I really loved was how they changed the screen ratio whenever they were filming compared to the "real" Deep In timeline. Such a simple touch, but it made it so easy to tell the difference. And the acting? So good. This didn't feel cheap at all. They can really act, especially Ollie.

As for the loopholes... the therapy aspect felt a little odd and not very realistic, even if the idea was that he was genuinely falling in love with Gao Zhun. But you know what? I'll gladly turn a blind eye because I'm biased. 🤣

And the plot twists? The plot just kept plot-twisting. Hehehe.

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The line between a role and reality

finshed it pulled an all nigher this had me captivated!! I couldn't take my eyes way the high feelings built up before they even begun filming the moive and using the scenes to play off their desires at the start.
to then scene when the director having to tell them to cut not ones but 3 times!! because they got so wapped up in their desire for one another.

I was taken back a little at how intimate the scenes there were they went full in and just when you think okay the will probably cut to the next scene it got even spicier heater! and there was a lot! on and off the moive screen and I was here for it

the passion they had and chemistry was through the roof!! they not only portrayed the characters in the moive little well but the actual character for the drama amazingly they held you with it. they fully in bodied their roles and dive right into it form beginning ending.

the line between acting and reality slowly fading away as time went on from them at the start using the characters to cover the feelings they started to to develop for one another to accepting their feeling towards one another and embracing it.
them seeing what they truly mean to each other their raw emotions further in leaking from the main characters of the drama over to characters for the moive with their true feelings and desires they really had for another and no longer being able to hide and fight it really had me.

the story in the actual drama and the story on the moive screen had me shed a little tear at points. and the feeling of how loving the opposite sex makes you feel and the wight of society and the ones around telling you its wrong but still wating it the portrayed it perfectly. they played the role soo soo well.

The going from acting for a moive to acting for the drama they all did amazingly they did it perfectly the cross over was seamless. you couldn't tell that they was actors playing actors.

as for the filming was top the drama constantly shifting between the drama and the moive was seamles.
the fliters used when the moive was being shot was also good but the outfits with with that style of filter did confused me on what time period they was going for at at the start when the first started filming the moive it did give 50s to 70s with the sets decor and outfits at points for me.

I loved the way you could tell the moive was playing by how the screen slowly narrower then they started rolling. i like this artistic way of filming i know its not for anyone but i did quite like it to it slowly widening when they cut and seeing them come out of character but still playing a character truly amazing acting.

if I could give this a 20/20 I would!
I must stay one of the best bls I watched till this day j watch may most being chinese and thai but this one leaving the most impact!

form the actors acting to the production outfits, locations, and little finer details eveyone did such a wicked job at making this come to life.

pls give it a try you won't regret it!
if you love spice flames and passion this is the drama for you ✨️

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Plot twist twisting

They went to TOOOOOOWWWNN with this drama. I thought it needed to make more noise tbh. The ML is waaaay more younger than i thought giving a 35 year old aura lmao. Now as a therapist it was hard to watch for me most of the time i was like nooo, u-uhhh, wtffff, absolutely not and etc. BUT as a BL girlie on the down low it was mwuah 💋💋the plot twist at the end was unbelievable. Which shines light into why the fangchixgaozhu story was more detailed. Also there are end scenes in every ch make sure to watch it. The songs 10/10. Whoever did it i love you i hope you always have jobs and never broke.

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somehow homophobic despite everything

i am begging for literally any plotline aside from sexual assault. from start to finish.

chinese shows treat straight and gay romances and sex vastly differently: in hetero relationships, sex is the endpoint and just another expression of love. two people are in love, so they take it to the next level. in gay relationships, love is the culmination of desire. they are never shown the same courtesy of falling in love first. on top of not being divorced from sex, romance is not real or achievable. it’s merely physical. although it was funny in a frightening way, acknowledging it doesn’t absolve you of the mistake.

(idc how well such sex-focused portrayals may reflect gay men irl, when your country does NOT respect or even allow lgbt people to exist, these will remain homophobic. i will only believe in their sincerity when we get a respectful depiction of a lesbian couple.)

and even if at the end, zhun gains a backbone and starts standing up for himself, it’s all for naught. it briefly got me cheering when zhun slapped xin for taking advantage of him (which is also rape!) when he was drunk. the relationship was so believable there, how someone you love could also harm you, that it does not strictly have to be a stranger. wish they ended the show there instead of pretending it was all done with love. fuck you.

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My fav cbl

This is definitely a cbl that will make it to my top 10 series this year, the characters and storyline was complex, unhinged, intimate and crazy, it was well rounded, its a dark story so it will not be for everyone, the cast did incredible job, the acting was so good The serie within the serie and plot twist by end was immaculate, the serie had one of best pacing I've seen, i didnt struggle showing us 2 love stories in perfect way, kt was entertaining, the chemistry was on point, emotional core was strong, the intimacy was hot, the only issue I had that my shayla was entitled to an apology for the sa by end, im getting tired of romanticizing this in media.
The side characters were good, served different emotions, the director was one of my fav
Anyway this will get long if i get into details, but this was well rounded serie

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A Masterpiece That Pulls You Deep In

Deep In had me completely pulled into their love story. It had no business being this good.

Initially, I thought the story was going to be very dark just from the poster, but once I started watching, I realised it was something much more serious and immersive, with the kind of characters I usually love. Our main character is possessive and protective, and I loved how deeply they loved each other and stayed by each other's side through thick and thin.

The main characters had some of the best chemistry I've ever seen. Their chemistry felt incredibly natural, and there was an emotional intensity to their scenes that made it very easy to get lost in their relationship. There were moments where I genuinely felt like I was experiencing their emotions alongside them rather than simply watching them.

The writing was another highlight, particularly the way the series used a frame narrative and elements of metafiction. The story within a story, and the way the different layers gradually connected and mirrored one another, was beautifully done. It added so much depth to the narrative and the way the actors moved between characters so seamlessly was also remarkable. At times, I completely forgot I was watching actors because each character felt so distinct, yet everything remained connected.

The direction and editing deserve just as much credit. The way the scenes were stitched together, the transitions between the different narrative layers, and the visual storytelling all made the series feel incredibly cohesive. The cinematography was beautiful, with so many shots that added to the emotional weight of the story rather than simply looking pretty.

The soundtrack also deserves a mention. It added another layer of atmosphere to the series and worked beautifully with the emotional tone of the story, making certain scenes feel even more intimate and haunting.

And the ending was one of the best endings I've ever seen. The pre-credit scene was beautiful, the way the credits were incorporated was genius, and the post-credit scene was brilliant. It felt like the entire series had been building towards that conclusion, and I really appreciated how much thought went into those final moments.

The confession scene is also one of my personal favourites. The acting, the emotions and the chemistry all came together so beautifully.

Overall, this is one of the best-directed series I've watched. It was thoughtful, beautifully constructed, emotionally immersive, and far more layered than I expected going in.

A genuine masterpiece that pulled me Deep In indeed.

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