Fun but not in the way I expected
While I am no expert, I am a pretty big consumer of danmei novels. When these books are turned into dramas, my fancy is tickled. While I never read the source novel for ABO Desire, in a moment of boredom, I turned the drama on.
Less than 24 hours later, I completed this…..not masterpiece, not shlock, not….well, let me explain.
ABO Desire is a LGBTQ+ story set in the omegaverse. If you are not familiar with that type of genre, please google it. Just know ABO stories are typically the most toxic excuses for fiction out there.
Yes, I watched anyway.
Yes, it did have ABO toxic elements.
So why did I complete it in a day?
It may have something to do with having the time off of work to binge. Perhaps it was the long cold almost-winter’s night. This story had me laughing at all the wrong parts and hating every single character that graced the screen.
If a show can make me hate everyone on the screen while finding the characters sympathetic, it is worth watching at least once.
Characters:
Truth be told, if I say too much about the characters, it will be a spoiler. Just know that Hua Yong is probably one of the topmost memorable characters I have ever watched on the screen. Played beautifully by Huang Xing, Hua Yong sucks me in from the first moment I see him and I…..just……can’t……look…..away.
Watch this show just to see all the very interesting things Hua Yong manifests in all sixteen episodes.
Please know that if you are a human with a moral compass, all four leads will make you uncomfortable with their less than righteous choices…….very uncomfortable.
The main couple’s story was the most interesting where the second couple was borderline silly.
That said, if you’re looking for romantic chemistry, I did not find it anywhere in ABO Desire. If you desire (pun intended) stomach-fluttering-passion, watch Revenged Love not this show.
The one character that I will give detail on is Shen Wen Lang played by Jiang Heng. This was basically Jiang Cheng (notice the name is almost the same) from The Untamed. The actor looks like Wang Zho Cheng, he sounds like Wang Zho Cheng and he plays Shen Wen Lang if it were Jiang Cheng. The very essence of this character is Jiang Cheng played by Wang Zhuo Cheng, but not. It is UNCANNY!
I noticed other viewers commented the same thing.
Story:
I won’t go deep into the story because I’ll be honest, if I get too deep, it will spoil it. Just know it is about corporate China with an ABO story line that contains EVERY ABO and cold-CEO cliché known to Chinese dramas……yet, turned on it’s head.
And I laughed.
I laughed so hard at all the dramatic moments, I really do hope the screen writer meant for everything to come off as satire, otherwise, this is some really bad writing. I am grateful for the humor. It made this ABO mess just shine as something a little bit different or outside of the norm.
MUSIC:
The music was more than forgettable. This series is very low budget. Most of the money was spent on the clothes and cars. Everything else was passable.
OVERALL:
If you are looking for ABO on the screen, here’s your chance. If you long for clichés galore, turn it on. If you need a good laugh, I recommend binging the night away. Truly, Hua Yong’s character is the only one where I think the acting was spectacular, unless you consider the Jiang Cheng-impersonator.
Classic story, top notch writing…….not so much, but it sure was entertaining.
Less than 24 hours later, I completed this…..not masterpiece, not shlock, not….well, let me explain.
ABO Desire is a LGBTQ+ story set in the omegaverse. If you are not familiar with that type of genre, please google it. Just know ABO stories are typically the most toxic excuses for fiction out there.
Yes, I watched anyway.
Yes, it did have ABO toxic elements.
So why did I complete it in a day?
It may have something to do with having the time off of work to binge. Perhaps it was the long cold almost-winter’s night. This story had me laughing at all the wrong parts and hating every single character that graced the screen.
If a show can make me hate everyone on the screen while finding the characters sympathetic, it is worth watching at least once.
Characters:
Truth be told, if I say too much about the characters, it will be a spoiler. Just know that Hua Yong is probably one of the topmost memorable characters I have ever watched on the screen. Played beautifully by Huang Xing, Hua Yong sucks me in from the first moment I see him and I…..just……can’t……look…..away.
Watch this show just to see all the very interesting things Hua Yong manifests in all sixteen episodes.
Please know that if you are a human with a moral compass, all four leads will make you uncomfortable with their less than righteous choices…….very uncomfortable.
The main couple’s story was the most interesting where the second couple was borderline silly.
That said, if you’re looking for romantic chemistry, I did not find it anywhere in ABO Desire. If you desire (pun intended) stomach-fluttering-passion, watch Revenged Love not this show.
The one character that I will give detail on is Shen Wen Lang played by Jiang Heng. This was basically Jiang Cheng (notice the name is almost the same) from The Untamed. The actor looks like Wang Zho Cheng, he sounds like Wang Zho Cheng and he plays Shen Wen Lang if it were Jiang Cheng. The very essence of this character is Jiang Cheng played by Wang Zhuo Cheng, but not. It is UNCANNY!
I noticed other viewers commented the same thing.
Story:
I won’t go deep into the story because I’ll be honest, if I get too deep, it will spoil it. Just know it is about corporate China with an ABO story line that contains EVERY ABO and cold-CEO cliché known to Chinese dramas……yet, turned on it’s head.
And I laughed.
I laughed so hard at all the dramatic moments, I really do hope the screen writer meant for everything to come off as satire, otherwise, this is some really bad writing. I am grateful for the humor. It made this ABO mess just shine as something a little bit different or outside of the norm.
MUSIC:
The music was more than forgettable. This series is very low budget. Most of the money was spent on the clothes and cars. Everything else was passable.
OVERALL:
If you are looking for ABO on the screen, here’s your chance. If you long for clichés galore, turn it on. If you need a good laugh, I recommend binging the night away. Truly, Hua Yong’s character is the only one where I think the acting was spectacular, unless you consider the Jiang Cheng-impersonator.
Classic story, top notch writing…….not so much, but it sure was entertaining.
Was this review helpful to you?
