This review may contain spoilers
Summer of 2025
I don’t think I’m in the right mental space to write this review — but anygays, here we are. This drama just ended this week, and my heart is still caught somewhere between the moonlit joy it gave me and the aching emptiness it left behind. Revenged Love didn’t just entertain me — it consumed me. It made me happy — like genuinely, over-the-moon, can’t-stop-smiling happy — and it made me hurt. And honestly? Feeling both at the same time is a miracle only a few stories can pull off.
Let’s start with the obvious: the chemistry. My god, the chemistry. Tian Xuning, Zi Yu, Zhan Xuan, and Xuan Cheng — I have no words for the magic they created. This is one of those rare, rare series where you could take any two characters, pair them up in a scene, and the screen would sizzle. They made longing feel tangible, like if you reached out, you could touch it. And this wasn’t the high-budget, overly-polished kind of production — it was modest, but the acting? The commitment? Off the charts.
This isn’t a censored “brotherhood” BL. Oh no. This is an uncensored BL that aired outside China, complete with beautifully shot NC scenes that are tender, intense, and dripping with unspoken love. You can feel the comfort level between the actors — they weren’t just acting intimacy, they were living it in those moments. And that comfort, that authenticity, is what elevates this series into something unforgettable.
The story itself… the novel it’s based on had some problematic aspects, sure. But the way they adapted and edited it here? Chef’s kiss. They took the bones of the original and stripped out what wouldn’t work, leaving us with a narrative that still feels sharp, emotional, and deeply human. And come on — it’s China. We know when they want to deliver a BL worth remembering, they go absolutely stupendo-fantabulous. The best of the best.
I won’t lie — the editing in the final episodes let me down a little. Some pacing felt off, some moments could’ve been lingered on longer. But the songs, the cinematography, the soul of the story? Perfection. And the way both couples would just hold each other’s gaze — no words, just an eternity’s worth of emotions in their eyes — that’s the kind of love story that stays with you.
And yes, I have to mention this: the BTS footage is as addictive as the drama itself. These actors? Completely at ease with BL roles, laughing, teasing, and slipping effortlessly into their characters’ intimacy. It’s rare, and it’s beautiful to witness.
Also, Wang Shou — my beautiful, beautiful princess with a disorder. (And yes, I say that with every ounce of affection in my heart.) Special mention because he stole scenes in ways I wasn’t prepared for.
The last time I felt this alive about a drama was the summer of 2019. Now it’s the summer of 2025, and Revenged Love has carved itself into my memory forever. It’s the kind of series that leaves you with withdrawal symptoms — the aching kind where you can’t bring yourself to start anything new because you’re still living in its world.
So here I am, floating somewhere between Tian and Ziyu’s fierce devotion, Zhan Xuan and Xuan Cheng’s deep pull, and the bittersweet knowledge that it’s over. And I know one thing for sure — I’ll always remember this summer.
Let’s start with the obvious: the chemistry. My god, the chemistry. Tian Xuning, Zi Yu, Zhan Xuan, and Xuan Cheng — I have no words for the magic they created. This is one of those rare, rare series where you could take any two characters, pair them up in a scene, and the screen would sizzle. They made longing feel tangible, like if you reached out, you could touch it. And this wasn’t the high-budget, overly-polished kind of production — it was modest, but the acting? The commitment? Off the charts.
This isn’t a censored “brotherhood” BL. Oh no. This is an uncensored BL that aired outside China, complete with beautifully shot NC scenes that are tender, intense, and dripping with unspoken love. You can feel the comfort level between the actors — they weren’t just acting intimacy, they were living it in those moments. And that comfort, that authenticity, is what elevates this series into something unforgettable.
The story itself… the novel it’s based on had some problematic aspects, sure. But the way they adapted and edited it here? Chef’s kiss. They took the bones of the original and stripped out what wouldn’t work, leaving us with a narrative that still feels sharp, emotional, and deeply human. And come on — it’s China. We know when they want to deliver a BL worth remembering, they go absolutely stupendo-fantabulous. The best of the best.
I won’t lie — the editing in the final episodes let me down a little. Some pacing felt off, some moments could’ve been lingered on longer. But the songs, the cinematography, the soul of the story? Perfection. And the way both couples would just hold each other’s gaze — no words, just an eternity’s worth of emotions in their eyes — that’s the kind of love story that stays with you.
And yes, I have to mention this: the BTS footage is as addictive as the drama itself. These actors? Completely at ease with BL roles, laughing, teasing, and slipping effortlessly into their characters’ intimacy. It’s rare, and it’s beautiful to witness.
Also, Wang Shou — my beautiful, beautiful princess with a disorder. (And yes, I say that with every ounce of affection in my heart.) Special mention because he stole scenes in ways I wasn’t prepared for.
The last time I felt this alive about a drama was the summer of 2019. Now it’s the summer of 2025, and Revenged Love has carved itself into my memory forever. It’s the kind of series that leaves you with withdrawal symptoms — the aching kind where you can’t bring yourself to start anything new because you’re still living in its world.
So here I am, floating somewhere between Tian and Ziyu’s fierce devotion, Zhan Xuan and Xuan Cheng’s deep pull, and the bittersweet knowledge that it’s over. And I know one thing for sure — I’ll always remember this summer.
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