Kiss or Kill

Bullets, Hidden Identities & Forbidden Chemistry Collide! Started With a Bang, Ended in a Mess!

Two mafia themed BLs were airing at the same time with a similar setup, Kiss or Kill and Ash, and both came out swinging from the very beginning.

I initially rated Kiss or Kill a 9.5/10 because the opening episodes completely hooked me. As the series progressed, I lowered it to a 9/10, and now that I have finished the entire series, my final rating is 8/10.

Unfortunately, the plot became quite messy towards the end, endless useless flashbacks and the unrealistic shooting and killing scenes in the finale were a bit of a turn off for me. I love action and I can suspend my disbelief, especially in a mafia series, but some of the final confrontations went a little too far and lost the intensity and realism that made the earlier episodes so exciting.

That being said, the fantastic acting, incredible chemistry and some seriously memorable NC scenes compensated for many of the weaknesses in the plot. Even when the story became messy, Chencan and Dadday kept me watching.

The episodes are listed at around 25 minutes on GagaOOLala, but once you take out the opening and the behind the scenes content at the end, the actual story is closer to 20 minutes. Even with that shorter runtime, the early episodes were packed with enough action, mystery and chemistry to keep me completely hooked.

Orion as Nie Chuan immediately caught my attention. His undercover introduction was definitely something I had never seen in a Chinese BL before. He tied up his client during a BDSM scene, and honestly, my jaw was on the floor! I was NOT expecting the series to open like that. He is absolutely stunning, but more importantly, he is such a strong actor. Then we have Dadday as Lin Yan, who is equally gorgeous and was clearly hiding something beneath that calm exterior.

I especially loved the flashback in Episode 2 showing how Nie Chuan and Lin Yan first met three years ago. The whole sequence with the soldiers, gunfire and chaos felt genuinely epic. Then came the rescue scene and Lin Yan being treated for his injuries, and THIS was where their chemistry really hit me. Their eye contact said so much without either of them needing to say a word. You could already feel the history, tension and unresolved feelings between them.

Episode 3 was another highlight. One moment they were about to make out, and the next, a bunch of men with guns suddenly stormed into the house with intense music playing in the background. The transition was insane!

That scene definitely lived up to the title Kiss or Kill. They were literally about to kiss, but if they had actually done it, they probably would have been killed! 😂 The timing was perfect and had me on the edge of my seat.

The action throughout most of the series was another huge highlight. The fighting and shooting scenes were intense, the story moved quickly, and there was always a strong sense of danger surrounding these two. With the undercover mission, arms syndicate, hidden identities, betrayal and their complicated history, the series had so much potential.

And can we talk about Episode 8? WOW! That kissing and intimate scene lasted over five minutes! I was NOT expecting Episode 8 to open like that. The passionate kissing, the chemistry and how long the entire scene went on completely caught me off guard. Chencan and Dadday were incredibly comfortable together, and their chemistry was easily one of the strongest parts of the entire series.

One criticism I mentioned earlier, which I also had with Ash, was the use of anime AI during the flashback. Yes, I still think it would have been better to use real actors, but it lasted less than two minutes and honestly did not take away from my enjoyment of the series. The plot, chemistry, acting and overall production were far more important to me. It may also have been a budget decision, and I would rather have a short anime flashback and still get the show than not have the show at all. Plus, this was not Chencan and Dadday's decision, so I would hate to see all their hard work overlooked because of a couple of minutes of AI.

My bigger criticism after finishing the series is actually the ending itself. The final part of the story became too messy for me, and some of the shooting and killing scenes felt unrealistic compared with the stronger action sequences earlier in the series. I wanted the finale to bring everything together and finish on the same high that the series started with, but unfortunately, it did not quite get there.

It’s still rare to see a BL attempt this much action, gun fighting, undercover drama and mafia conflict, so I have to give Kiss or Kill credit for trying something different. Most importantly, Chencan and Dadday absolutely delivered. Their acting, chemistry and intimate scenes carried the series through some of its weaker writing.

Overall, Kiss or Kill started incredibly strong but lost some of its momentum towards the end. I went from a 9.5, to a 9, and finally settled on an 8.5/10 after finishing it. The messy final plot and unrealistic shooting and killing scenes brought my rating down, but the great acting, intense chemistry, memorable NC scenes and strong earlier episodes still made this a very enjoyable watch.

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Wasted potential....

When AI is taking over for flashbacks the whole atmosphere of the show changes. AI does not do emotions well, it makes it's bits disconnected from the show, it was made lifeless. While the flashbacks should invoke the feel of dread and sadness it did nothing for me. It was a terrible decision to use AI in this form. It could have been done far better, but I guess they didn't have the budget.

The "military" actor is quite unbelievable too, both would fit an university narrative so much better. So I guess at least the "military" man was the wrong choices for the this series. It does not mean he acts bad, it just means I imagine something different when I see a military man or mercenary. He looks like he did not even do the basic training in the military. Maybe it's one of the stereotypes I grow up with and it's too much ingrained in me. That may be the case, but for me it does not fit.

And that's where the problems lie with this series. They can act great, kiss great and have sensible nc-scenes, it still is ruined for me. The theatrical end of this show does not help either. I wish I could have seen both actors in something completely different. They have the talent, but I don't think they tapped in enough because the script was their cage. At least it was not an hour long drama which would have gotten on my nerves for sure :)

So for me this is one the CBLs that failed. One of the few. Production quality is ok, but not stellar, the AI ruins most of it. It's still not bad, but it's not good either, it's just average. Again, cute faces, hot nc-scenes don't tell a story and don't let me feel anything. So watch it or not, your choice.

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An OK watch of an Interesting general plot

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.25

Finally a CBL not about toxic relationships and black/red flags! Kiss or Kill is a short Chinese BL, though listed as a Hong Kong drama. The general plot is actually quite good, but as always, a low-budget drama must choose where they spend the money. And that might piss off some viewers, as the first tag of this drama is “AI-Generated Content”.

Plot:
A romance between a mercenary and an illegal firearm trafficker? That sounds pretty interesting to me. Nie Chuan saved Lin Yan 3 years ago but lost contact. They reunited and Lin Yan is no longer the war zone photographer he claimed to be, but one of the heads of an illegal firearm trafficking gang. I actually quite like the story about hidden identities, a cat-and-mouse chase between the two leads, and figuring out who is and is not telling the truth. However, the storytelling is hit-or-miss. AI is used extensively for almost all the flashbacks, except for the backstory of the leads. We’re not just talking about a few transitioning scenes or fake buildings or landscapes. I’ve seen comics or animation used in dramas in the past before the world of AI descended upon us. I assume those were actually drawn by human artists, which I am already not a big fan of. But these flashbacks are very likely to be completely AI-generated (I wish I am wrong and please let me know if I am). The pace of the drama is OK, but at times, there’s too much uninteresting talking, especially between the traffickers, that don’t quite move the plot along.

Acting:
This is the first acting gig of the two male leads, Orion and Feng Tian Hao. I think they did a decent job. They’re not excellent but I’ve seen worse and they will definitely improve if given the chance. They are both 29 years old, but appear quite young in the drama. I’m so glad Orion did not have the pale white makeup as a mercenary, though he doesn’t look hardened or gruff enough either. A little too happy-go-lucky, but I guess he’s really enjoying the freedom of his new profession. Feng Tian Hao plays a more introverted character. As he’s still so new, there are times when his facial expressions didn’t quite work to show subtle emotions. The rest of the supporting cast is ok.

Romance:
I guess my main criticism is the writing of the romance. It’s hard for me to believe a chance life-saving encounter for a day, really creates such a lasting memory for Nie Chuan to be looking for Lin Yan for 3 years. Do they really think about each other after that one encounter? The foundation is not strong enough for me. Therefore, the romance seems a little unbelievable. The chemistry is pretty good and there’s a lot of sexual tension. I like the flirting and the banter, though the kisses could be better. The NC scenes err more on the side of romantic-filter cinematography, instead of raw passion. When the kisses are not good enough to show the release of the pent up sexual tension, the NC scenes lack impact.

Production:
The dubbing is as bad as any other low-budget CBL. The action scenes are surprisingly decent and not cheesy. The leads look good in their outfits, or lack of outfits. LOL I have to say, the drama doesn’t appear cheap visually. I’ve talked about the AI stuff already, so decide if that will deter you from watching it.

“Kiss or Kill” is an OK Chinese BL. It’s not the best nor the worst. It’s short enough that I don’t mind watching it, especially when the general plot is interesting enough and it’s not another toxic romance. However, the execution could be better and I wish for better kisses.


Drama Completed: 9/20/2026 Review #724

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Ai Generation

Personally, I do think Kiss or Kill has a lot of potential. The story itself is interesting, although there are definitely some parts that left me questioning things. My biggest issue, however, is the use of AI-generated flashbacks. I understand that the show may not have had a high budget, but whenever the AI flashbacks appeared, they took me out of the story and reminded me that I was watching a drama rather than being immersed in it. Besides that, it’s relatively a decent watch if you can push the AI aspect aside. I wouldn’t say it’s the best, but I wouldn’t say it’s the worst either. It sits somewhere in the middle for me.

If you really hate AI-generated content, I’d probably recommend skipping this one, because it can be distracting throughout the show. However, if you don’t mind it too much, then I’d say give it a go and see how you feel about it. The music is alright, but not the best. As for the acting, I would’t say it’s perfect, especially since the cast are newer actors, so there’s definitely room for improvement. That said, they do a decent job overall, and I think they have potential to grow with more experience.

Would I ever rewatch? No.
Would I recommend it? Low chance I would unless you don't mind ai generated stuff.
Is the story aside from the ai good? I would call it decent.

Off topic, but Nie Chuan reminds me of Peter Pan for some reason, and I genuinely cannot explain why. There’s just something about him that gives me Peter Pan vibes, but I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is.

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AI Flashbacks are ruining an otherwise good series.

Reasons why AI flashbacks are distracting

1. They ruin the suspension of disbelief.

2. They ruin the vibe.

3. They look so childish.

4. They look cartoonish and comical, yet they are very violent scenes.

4. They break the immersion in the show.

5. They are jarring, causing my brain to do a reality check, which ruins the show,

6. Shows that use AI should have disclaimers, so viewers can decide to watch and be prepared if they choose to watch.

7. Using AI assumes that viewers like or don't mind animation, but that is a mistake; some viewers like me don't like animation and don't watch animated shows,

I like shows with real humans, which is what I am expecting to see, which is why I chose to watch this show, so seeing animated characters is very disappointing and not what I signed up for.

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Chemistry Without a Script to Match

Let's just say isn't going to be a series that stays in my memory for very long.

I finished Kiss or Kill and my first thought was honestly: What did I just watch? And what was this actually about?

And to be clear, I don't need a series to explain everything to me. I actually like stories that leave me with questions, make me confused or force me to figure things out myself. I don't even necessarily have to "like" that kind of storytelling.
But with Kiss or Kill, by the end, I simply... didn't care enough to look for the answers.

The premise had potential. Undercover investigations, a criminal organisation, secret identities, betrayal and two people with a complicated history could have made for a pretty entertaining thriller. And Nie Chuan and Lin Yan have enough chemistry to make their relationship work despite the rather messy writing.

Unfortunately, the further the series went, the more disconnected everything felt. The later episodes become increasingly rushed, some plot points seem to exist without ever becoming particularly relevant, and the constant flashbacks — especially the artificial-looking ones — repeatedly pulled me out of the story instead of adding to it.

There were definitely moments where I could see the potential. I just never felt like the series actually made much of it.

So no, I wouldn't say I particularly enjoyed Kiss or Kill. But it did at least manage to keep me watching until the end, which is probably the nicest thing I can say about it.

I finished it. I moved on. And honestly, I already feel like I'm forgetting what happened.

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It’s not Ash, but the fire is real.

The story is hardly original: an undercover operation, a powerful crime family, two enemies with a shared past, guns pointed at attractive faces and enough sexual tension to ignite the ammunition warehouse. Think KinnPorsche or Spare Me Your Mercy which is the bar I set for this genre.

The criminal plot occasionally feels less like a true syndicate, it doesn’t feel like a Mafia-type group and more like a nice excuse to lock two handsome men inside the same house. Fortunately, the handsome leads Orion Chen and DayDay understands their roles and one can feel their intensity. Just like our two leads in Ash.

Kiss or Kill may not have the polish and feel of a major production, but it knows exactly what it is selling, danger, deception and two men who cannot decide whether to shoot each other or remove each other’s clothes. I love strong-willed gay men duking it out to see who ends up on top(our intended). The crime story still feels fake, yet the chemistry feels surprisingly genuine. Four episodes in, I’m not completely convinced by their love but I’m sufficiently seduced to continue watching. Since this was film outside the scope of the Chinese censorate I hope the intensity of the NC scenes are worth waiting for, after all, fireworks are bound to explode.

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How Many Want to Kill It? Or Kiss It?

There is actually more killing in this series than kissing. And honestly, the kissing that does happen is somewhat intense because the two protagonists are, frankly, hot. I rarely use that word, especially in BLs, since that is supposed to be the default setting. But these guys are the quintessential definition of eroticism. They are bad-ass rogues – damaged, violent, intensely dangerous, ruthless – which makes them sexy, lustful, desirable, and an aphrodisiac. Plus, both are, by any standard and measurement of beauty, on the upper scale and tier. It made them both desirable and dangerous and hence tempting to kiss or angry enough to kill. The story is frankly irrelevant. No one really watches these series for the story anyway. Honestly, I could have written this story in my sleep. There are endless versions of this plot that have been done before. Admittedly, when our protagonists are on screen, there is a certain strong chemistry and a rather strong sexual tension between the two. Their love scenes are also quite erotic and enjoyable to watch. Honestly, the ending made zero sense to me. It was almost laughable. This series, like endless others, is so rushed and cheaply concluded. This lunacy with BLs always needing to have a ‘happy ending’ is now the new driving force for both triteness and absolute conformity to cliché standardization.

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Okay Pass

The biggest assest: The opening music
The weakest liability: The script.

The acting wasn't the worst but it lacked depth. A story like this needed actor to give weight to the performances and they just didn't. The music was used effectively to create the settings.

AI once used in the right places should not sway a story. Do people believe ai has not been used in big productions? Are people truly falling off high rises or do they think that ships going down in storms are actually sunk?

They were paired well together as a couple falling in love. A lapse in judgement - making out while scoping out a scene was more outlandish than humorous. Then again Tawian has never failed in that department. Overall, I would think that lack of funds brought down the value.

Overall, it gets an okay pass.

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Definitely a Kiss

This series, I’ll say, is good. Not the best, but again, it was good.
The storyline was solid. I didn’t have a hard time understanding what was happening, and the flow of events was constructed well, in my opinion. I actually don’t have much to say about the storyline because it was very straightforward, though some parts were quite cliché for a crime/mafia-themed series. Kudos to the plot twist too, because I did not expect that revelation toward the end.
The actors did well in their roles. It’s their first pairing, but the chemistry is already there. The romance part wasn’t dragging. It was clear that there was tension and attraction between them, but their current situation was what hindered them from fully showing their feelings, and that was part of the story. The NC scenes were good and passionate too.
I would say the fight and action scenes were one of the highlights of the series. Their movements were not cringe, and the action was directed well. I’d say they really put effort into those scenes, and it showed.
The only thing that put me off was how they did the flashbacks using AI. Is it because of budget constraints? I honestly don’t know, but it kind of took me out of the scenes.
Overall, I wouldn’t say it was the best, but this definitely kept me hooked. I enjoyed watching it, and I’d recommend giving it a try.
And if you’re wondering whether it’s a Kiss or Kill for me... definitely a Kiss. 😂

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Wonderful chemistry, it was just wonderful

I really enjoyed this show. I couldnt wait until I got new episodes, like the plot is just great, its amazing actually; its not necessarily new or anything like that but it did feel new in another way. And, the actionscenes are impressive, the fights look well coordinated and thought out, the chemistry is intense I love it. The show definitely lived up to the title Kiss or Kill. And if you watch it you will see what I mean.

Can I talk more about that chemistry??? Absolutely overflowing. I need more of these two already and I just finished it.They’re such good actors, and you can genuinely feel the chemistry between them in every scene. This had me invested in the show throughout the entire show. I didn't feel bored or like I needed a break it was just so good. They did amazing through all of that show.

But honestly, Yeah its not just the chemistry, the storyline and plot are just as good. Nothing feels rushed or half-baked—the story actually takes its time, everything flows so naturally, and every scene feels like it has a purpose in a way. The show was well paced and nothing there felt overhyped or underwhelming. Just great in that way. The whole show is just SO interesting, and I loved literally every second of it. Their acting, the chemistry, the plot… everything is hitting. This show is seriously amazing.

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Done Really Well Crime + Undercover Agent

This show aired while several other BIG BL and dramas were airing so it definitely had solid competition. It wasn't crazy overboard with their cast or crazy NC scenes, however, I felt that the raw chemistry and storytelling elevated this drama to a top tier. I mean the most anticipated BL this season was Oat-Boat's The Knot and this scored way higher than them. I liked the plot twist at the end where you find out they were both working for the government. It also explains his reaction to their OG conversation when he brought him home. I almost feel bad for the "sister" but she was also an assassin. Idk if it was the ponytail or just the personality of his character but cop/military dude was lit. Honestly, a job really well done. This is definitely going on my re-watch list.

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