Beautiful Story
No words, really.
These days, I don’t watch BL all that much. Call it growing older, call it cynicism, or maybe just losing some color—but I had started to feel bored with the same old saccharine storylines. Even the ones that leaned serious, spooky, or crime-driven seemed to lack something crucial: **heart**.
I haven’t been truly impressed since *Bad Buddy*, which I finished back in 2022. That series left a deep mark on me. Though its storyline was simple, it had **heart**. It had **soul**. Since then, whatever I watch, I always measure it against the benchmark set by *Bad Buddy*.
That was until March 2025, when I watched *The Only One* for the first time.
Oh. My. God.
This series is **phenomenal**. I love them. I love their chemistry. The "opposites attract" dynamic, the doomed romance, the *star-crossed lovers* trope—the **taboo** of being stepbrothers. The **pining**, the **angst**, the **acting**—so **subtle**, yet deeply affecting. Every little moment matters, even the seemingly insignificant ones that later come back in such a powerful way. This series delivers all of it **in spades**.
The longing looks! The drama! The side characters are **outstanding**. Special shoutout to Gao Tianyang’s actor—he absolutely **nailed** his performance. He’s so lovable, such a comedic genius, and genuinely one of the best supporting characters I’ve seen in BL. And, of course, a special mention to the **first cutest het couple in BL media** (not saying who they are, but I am **fully rooting for them**).
As for the main leads? Their chemistry is **unreal**.
The **skinship** is abundant, but it’s never meaningless. Their **love language is acts of love**, and it is **breathtaking** to watch. Someone once said that Jiang Tian teaches Shen Wang that love is **difficult**, not easy, but **worth it**—that you have to push through the ugly parts of love to truly reach the other person. That lesson is **so profound**.
We see Shen Wang being polite, distant, and mechanically affectionate—good at faking friendliness to keep everyone happy. But Jiang Tian? **He sees through him**. He **knows** when Shen Wang is being inauthentic, and when that false politeness is directed at him, he **calls him out on his bullshit immediately**. It’s such a rare and beautiful lesson to explore in a BL drama. **Chef’s kiss.**
Now, the story isn’t complete. *The Only One* is adapted from a novel (a **very** faithful 1:1 adaptation, with only minor changes), and so far, we’ve only covered **60 chapters**. There are **50 more chapters** left for Season 2. When Season 1 ended where it did, I **literally rolled around screaming,** *“No, this can’t be it!”* But I quickly calmed down, read the novel, and now… I’m **eagerly waiting** for the rest to be adapted.
Bring on Season 2. I need it. Now.
These days, I don’t watch BL all that much. Call it growing older, call it cynicism, or maybe just losing some color—but I had started to feel bored with the same old saccharine storylines. Even the ones that leaned serious, spooky, or crime-driven seemed to lack something crucial: **heart**.
I haven’t been truly impressed since *Bad Buddy*, which I finished back in 2022. That series left a deep mark on me. Though its storyline was simple, it had **heart**. It had **soul**. Since then, whatever I watch, I always measure it against the benchmark set by *Bad Buddy*.
That was until March 2025, when I watched *The Only One* for the first time.
Oh. My. God.
This series is **phenomenal**. I love them. I love their chemistry. The "opposites attract" dynamic, the doomed romance, the *star-crossed lovers* trope—the **taboo** of being stepbrothers. The **pining**, the **angst**, the **acting**—so **subtle**, yet deeply affecting. Every little moment matters, even the seemingly insignificant ones that later come back in such a powerful way. This series delivers all of it **in spades**.
The longing looks! The drama! The side characters are **outstanding**. Special shoutout to Gao Tianyang’s actor—he absolutely **nailed** his performance. He’s so lovable, such a comedic genius, and genuinely one of the best supporting characters I’ve seen in BL. And, of course, a special mention to the **first cutest het couple in BL media** (not saying who they are, but I am **fully rooting for them**).
As for the main leads? Their chemistry is **unreal**.
The **skinship** is abundant, but it’s never meaningless. Their **love language is acts of love**, and it is **breathtaking** to watch. Someone once said that Jiang Tian teaches Shen Wang that love is **difficult**, not easy, but **worth it**—that you have to push through the ugly parts of love to truly reach the other person. That lesson is **so profound**.
We see Shen Wang being polite, distant, and mechanically affectionate—good at faking friendliness to keep everyone happy. But Jiang Tian? **He sees through him**. He **knows** when Shen Wang is being inauthentic, and when that false politeness is directed at him, he **calls him out on his bullshit immediately**. It’s such a rare and beautiful lesson to explore in a BL drama. **Chef’s kiss.**
Now, the story isn’t complete. *The Only One* is adapted from a novel (a **very** faithful 1:1 adaptation, with only minor changes), and so far, we’ve only covered **60 chapters**. There are **50 more chapters** left for Season 2. When Season 1 ended where it did, I **literally rolled around screaming,** *“No, this can’t be it!”* But I quickly calmed down, read the novel, and now… I’m **eagerly waiting** for the rest to be adapted.
Bring on Season 2. I need it. Now.
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