Not Yours

Rich CEO Meets Poor Rival and I Already Know I’m Going to Love This

Another Chinese BL to add to the list, and I’m already loving it. Not Yours gives me similar vibes to Revenged Love with a rich, dominant and tall CEO who gets what he wants paired with a poorer lead who refuses to simply back down. Add in a rivals to lovers storyline and this is exactly the type of BL I enjoy.

Ross Chen has acted in so many Chinese dramas, and seeing him in his first BL as P’Eng is really interesting. He is paired with Shogun as Pao Bei, a Thai actor who I literally just finished watching in Payback. A Chinese actor paired with a Thai actor in a Chinese BL is such an interesting combination, and so far I really like them together.

My only small criticism is that Shogun cannot speak Mandarin Chinese, so his dialogue is dubbed and you can notice that his lips do not always match perfectly. Since I do not speak Chinese anyway, it is something I can easily ignore and it does not really affect my enjoyment of the series.

We also have our second couple, with Zuan Hao as Milan and Jerry Loong as Pong. Their characters already have history as former rivals, so once again we are getting that enemies to lovers energy. I love both couples so far. The chemistry is there, the acting is good, and both relationships have completely different dynamics while still fitting the overall theme of rivals slowly becoming lovers.

The story also has more going on than just romance. There are family secrets and mysteries surrounding P’Eng’s wealthy family, which should hopefully give the series enough drama to keep the plot moving alongside the relationships.
So far, the production looks great, the graphics are good, the music fits the scenes, and most importantly, there are no boring moments. The first episode moved quickly and immediately gave me a reason to continue watching.

There are still 11 episodes to go, but based on the premiere, Not Yours is definitely my type of show. Two couples, strong chemistry, rich CEO energy, family drama and two rivals to lovers storylines. I cannot wait to see how both couples go from fighting each other to falling completely in love.

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From a Promising Thriller to a Boring Soap Opera

Not Yours is one of the biggest disappointments of the year, which is particularly frustrating because the series got off to an incredibly strong start. Compared to the book, Pao Bei's character was made much bolder, tougher, and more cheeky, while Ross Chen (Peng) delivered absolutely brilliant facial expressions and screen presence. The brutal bathtub scene in episode 4, straight out of a psychological thriller, brought the characters' family traumas to the surface and created unbearable tension, promising a dark and hard-hitting psychological drama.

Unfortunately, just when things were getting most interesting, the creators slammed on the brakes and traded all that dark, toxic tension for a boring, overly sentimental picture of domestic bliss. It's completely unbelievable that after the bathtub strangulation scene, Peng suddenly turns into a perfect family man and takes the guy's siblings to an amusement park. It's as if the screenwriters suffered from amnesia and forgot that these characters were supposed to be fighting and clashing with each other, not eating cotton candy on a roller coaster.

The technical execution also takes a lot away from the experience. The Chinese dubbing of the Thai actor is absolutely terrible, and the poor lip-syncing combined with the artificial-sounding voices constantly pulls the viewer out of the scenes. However, the biggest problem is that there is almost no chemistry between the two leads. That particular kissing scene was an absolute joke: we got a stiff, lifeless "fish kiss" reminiscent of K-dramas from the 1980s, which is downright embarrassing in a story that's supposed to be this intense. To make matters worse, the side storyline is dragged out far too much. The other couple's endless hesitation and pointless back-and-forth only make the pacing even worse.

After such a brilliant setup, Not Yours has turned into a flat soap opera completely lacking in conflict. The actors' physical appeal is the only reason it deserves a generous 5.5 out of 10, but the story and all its tension have been completely lost in a sea of syrupy sentimentality.

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I expected more

I honestly tried to like it.

The plot really seems interesting and Chinese bls are definitely leading in this year,but this one isn't the one. It's not horrible, but acting isn't very good and I didn't connect with a characters. I couldn't see much from a chemistry for now, but in the first episode it wasn't existing. I don't want to rush and say that series is bad or anything like that, but the firts episode (which is supposedly the most exiting one since it needs to make you interested in a show) really didn't leave me hooked for a second episode. It didn't keep my attention and I think other Chinese bls that are currently airing are much better in every aspect.

I will give it a chance tho and write another review after the story unfolds more.

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Extremly dissapointing (Uncut)

It started not that bad, the first episode, while not really my cup of tea, was okay. But the more episodes came out, the more downhill this series went. From some things that are just annoying, like a voiceover and some inconsistencies, to actual disgusting moments like constant abuse, manhandling, and kidnapping.

You can watch it on GagaOOLala: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/9176/not-yours-2026

Things I liked:
1. Side couple. So far I do like them a bit more than the main couple.
2. Acting. It is pretty good, but the voiceover kills a lot of it for me.

Things I disliked:
1. I'm not the biggest fan of those tropes with the toxic CEO and sunshine main leads.
2. Voiceover. I just can't get over it, especially with Shogun.
3. Cringy sound effects.
4. Kidnapping, manhandling, and so much more.
5. Inconsistencies that could've been fixed so easy. As far as I know and understand, Pao Bei is fully Chinese, but for some reason when he texts his friend, he uses English, and his name in the app is written in Thai. I feel like it is really not that hard to fix such small things, and because they didn't, it just makes the series look sloppy.
6. Pao Bei, from being at least more or less tolerable and sort of smart in the first episode, turning into the most brainless damsel in distress in the next episodes. He really goes from 0 to 100 just like that, and I can't even feel bad for him anymore.
7. They keep repeating scenes, showing the same stuff again and again. Each episode the first half of the episode is always a repeat of the previous episode, yes, in more detail, but there is always a better way to do it. For example, just show full scenes in each episode to start with.

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A Disappointingly Disjointed Experience

Dropping it at Episode 3.

I’m genuinely disappointed. I really wanted to love this one. I was looking forward to Shogun. I’m dropping this one after episode 3. The heightened, soap-opera-style acting isn’t working for me, and the Mandarin dubbing—especially Paobei’s voice—feels noticeably disconnected from both Shogun’s lip movements and the gentle character he’s portraying. I’ve found myself cringing and looking away from the screen too often, and at this point there just isn’t enough here that I’m personally enjoying to justify forcing myself through the rest of the series. My viewing time is limited, and I’d rather spend it on something I actually want to watch.


Episode 2 wasn’t much better than episode 1 for me. I’m not sure if it is worth the time commitment. I can absolutely see what they are trying to accomplish, but it just misses the mark. I will try episode 3 when it drops, hoping it starts to gel.


Original review
I was genuinely excited for Not Yours, so unfortunately Episode 1 was a disappointment.

The biggest problem wasn’t that the story left unanswered questions—of course a first episode should. It was that I rarely felt curious about the answers. Instead of wondering eagerly about Jun Ying’s past, Paobei’s family situation, the history between Weibang and Milan, or the mysterious “Madam,” I mostly found myself wondering why I should care yet.

There are plenty of events, but very little narrative accumulation. Scenes introduce characters, mysteries, threats, potential jokes, and future plotlines, then move on before any of them have enough weight to pull me into the next scene. The episode is constantly giving me things that should be intriguing—the brutal cigarette-burning opening, Jun Ying’s severe allergic reaction, Paobei choosing not to let him die, Jun Ying’s apparent history with Madam, the missing diamond ring, the search for a new chef—but instead of building on one another, these elements feel placed beside each other.

I can see exactly what the episode is setting up. Paobei and Jun Ying meet when Jun Ying slips and Paobei catches him, establishing one future couple. Weibang unexpectedly reunites with celebrity Milan, establishing the second. Jun Ying needs a new chef, and Paobei happens to be one. The connections are there, but the way the story moves between them feels strangely disjointed rather than like the pieces of one developing narrative.

The tone also feels uncertain. Jun Ying is introduced as genuinely vicious, yet later his assistant (possibly) jokes about having Paobei drawn and quartered, and the scene seems to shift suddenly toward dark comedy - or if he was serious, that level of viciousness is not yet clear. Because the episode hasn’t yet established a strong tonal identity, moments like that feel more odd than funny or menacing.

The dubbing distracted me considerably as well. Shogun’s visible lip movements repeatedly did not seem to match what the Chinese dubbed voice was saying, making an already awkward episode feel even less cohesive.

This is only Episode 1, so I’m nowhere near ready to judge the series as a whole. There is still plenty of time for the story and characters to click into place. But as a premiere, this didn’t hook me. It was busy without feeling propulsive, full of setup without creating much curiosity, and—most disappointingly—boring.

I’ll keep watching, especially because I had been looking forward to this one so much. I just hope Episode 2 gives me a reason to feel that excitement again.

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Already obsessed after just ONE episode

I went into Not Yours (2026) not expecting much this early on, but episode 1 completely pulled me in. The chemistry between Ross and Shogun is honestly the highlight so far. It doesn’t feel forced at all, there’s already tension, softness, and something slightly dangerous underneath it that makes their dynamic really interesting.

The story itself has a strong setup. It’s not your typical soft romance, there’s clearly a darker tone from the start, which makes everything feel more intense and layered.

Ross’s character especially feels like he’s going to be complex, possibly even toxic, and I’m actually here for it. The whole “cold, controlling but maybe soft underneath” vibe is definitely there already, so I wouldn’t be surprised if his character leans into that as the story progresses.

I’ve seen people complaining about Shogun’s voice being dubbed, but honestly, it didn’t bother me at all. The acting is strong enough that you forget about it pretty quickly. The emotions and expressions carry the scenes way more than the voice ever could.

For a first episode, it’s already gripping, visually appealing, and emotionally engaging. If it keeps this level of chemistry and tension, this could easily become one of the standout BLs of the year.

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First Impression: Not Yours

Overall: not sold on the jerk ML. Based on a book which I haven't ready and I'm reviewing the series based on its own merits. 2 episodes about 45 minutes each. Airing on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/9176/not-yours-2026 and Viu.

Content Warnings: violence, manhandling/held against will

What I Liked
- visuals
- though there was a set up for 2 couples and another plot thread, it made sense

Room For Improvement
- the abusive jerk ML vs. the nice guy pairing
- I normally don't take points off for dubbing, but I wish they had let Shogun speak Thai and magically everyone else understood him instead of the dubbing

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