CurlyFries

For being one of the worst queer shows ever written.

The only joy I found was knowing it'd be over today and that I could finally move onto the next life of queer shows and find inner peace. Yet, the ending was so terrible that I can't even achieve inner peace without turning into a vengeful spirit. Fuck this show. It will haunt me for years to come.

There are so few positives to my watching experience that I can't even make a pros and cons list because the ratio of awful to passable is so unbalanced that it'd be like beating a dead horse whose carcus has been pecked at by vultures and ran over by a fucking monster truck.

Usually I can watch a terrible show and find genuine enjoyment in how awful it is, yet this show just pissed me off exponentially because of the moronic glazers in the comment section. That's right; I made the daring and piss-brained choice to interact with the MDL fandom via the comment section after new episodes dropped. And dear god.....one of the worst mistakes a human being can make. If you even DARE voice your dislike for this show in any damn way then expect pitchforks and torches outside your house. Meaningful discussion was impossible in that comment section and I cannot bear with these people acting as if they speak for the entire fandom and acting like they know everything about ABO just because they read one ABO fic. ABO is NOT just meant for fetishes. It's really telling when people classify it as just that. Decent writers use it to express class structures and gendered systems in a meaningful and unique way; not to mention the appeal of queer relationships being normalized and women being able to be considered as top of the class structure. Stop acting like you know everything about the genre and spreading misinformation that will cause people to avoid interacting with the ABO in the future as well as future ABO adaptations.

Honestly, this show was so fucking sad to watch because I was expecting my first ABO live action series to be a funny and memorable time (no, Pitbabe does not fucking count as an ABO in my eyes. It never even properly attempted to be one so it doesn't deserve the label as one). I've read trashy BL manhwa that write better ABO plots than these writers could manage with SIXTEEN episodes.

Though, the worst part about this show, in my humble opinion, was that motherfucker Sheng Shao You; "How can I accept being used as an Omega by another Alpha?" basically tells you everything you need to know about this guy. He's rude, entitled, selfish, classist, sexist, violent, arrogant, and so very...very gullible. How this man ever managed to get where he is can only be explained through nepotism. He is everything wrong with the trashy ABO stereotypes personified into one character. This douche really does somehow check off requirements for different cliches and that might be the most impressive thing about his character:
- Rich CEO that somehow has free time and takes over the company before the age of 30.
- Attractive pale man with dark hair and eyes. Classic cliche.
- Deep, husky voice.
- Daddy issues.
- Mommy issues.
- Mistreatment of omegas.
- Entitled asshole.
- Thinks he's such a Casanova.
He was so annoying and I was lowkey hoping he would keel over at the end because he was such a douchebag. And before anyone says "Erm, actually, he's supposed to be a stereotypical alpha-" that does NOT make him likable. He wasn't even entertainingly bitchy like Shen Wenlang; he was just gross. You know he's bad when the guy with the highest societal rank; Hua Yong, is more progressive than him and has to call him out on his shit. Ugh. Can we leave this trope in the past, please? I seriously got the ick when this guy was hating on his own SIBLINGS for being illegitimate children. Ah, yes, it is completely logical to hate on people born out of wedlock because they had the ability to spawn themselves into existence in the womb of their choice. And they TOTALLY choose to "homewreck" your parents' legal marriage......WHAT?!!?!?!? Not to mention that he's heavily implied to be a pervert that likes watching omegas cry and in misery for some reason. Like, yuck. This guy seriously thinks he's so hot that he should be able to just swap out omegas at ease once he gets bored of them. Yet, the only redeeming thing about him was his hair and money.

Hua Yong was the classic obsessive stalker seme whose whole life revolved around his love interest. The only added twist was that he was absurdly pretty. I was fucking dying when he tried to justify Sheng Shao You being a kind and genuine person just because he was being nice to a stray cat. LMAO. They really thought a "save the cat" moment would really redeem this man in my eyes. Hua Yong is obviously an unreliable narrator in those scenes, but the show's objective was clear; and it was clearly absurd. Tons of terrible people are friendly to pets, but that doesn't mean they are good people. The show was just terrible at justifying Hua Yong's love for Sheng Shao You and that is detrimental to him since his entire character is obsessing over the guy. I would've loved to see more of what his life was like without revolving around Sheng Shao You, such as when he interacted with his omega cousin; the only member of his family he seemed to get along with. The best (and only redeeming) part of their relationship was how the "dom" was more feminine and progressive. The only scene I really liked of him in the latter half of the show was when he was visibly disappointed and lightly called Sheng Shao You out on his prejudiced gender views, serving as the only time he really seems to not bend to the will of the guy regardless of how absurd he's being. The streets won't like me for saying this but Hua Yong just felt like a watered down version of Hua Cheng from Heaven Official's Blessing. What they both have in common is their two-dimensionality and personalities existing solely to cater to their love interest, yet having endless potential for depth outside of that.

Shen Wen Lang and Gao Tu got washed so bad by the writers' room that it made me feel extremely disappointed. They were way more interesting than the main couple SOMEHOW since at least the two of them had personalities outside of just being sexist and simping. It was definitely the more classic ABO pairing, yet I found it more exciting than whatever the main couple had going on. How the actual fuck do they have less scenes than shows with MULTIPLE SIDE COUPLES??? My Engineer had given more depth to every single couple and it was SHORTER THAN THIS SHOW!!! Chief, don't make a side couple pairing if you don't have the energy to see it through. The ending was insulting to them as they don't even get into a relationship. Like??? Who thought this was a good idea??? They were so disrespected that they didn't even get screen time in a few episodes and it made me wanna cry. You know I was grasping at straws to find any enjoyment in this show when the cliche ABO couple (for both the good and bad reasons) is what was giving me hope that the story could be slightly passable. I liked both of the characters in this pairing leagues more than the main two and it wasn't even a competition by the end. Shen Wen Lang is a sexist and tsundere, yes, but at least the guy is kind of funny? And slightly relatable? Sheng Shao You had nothing for me to like; but Shen Wen Lang's attitude appealed to me because he was transmitting my exact thoughts half of the fucking time with his reactions to the nonsensical bullshit that the main two were doing. Salty as fuck that he didn't get to humble Sheng Shao You because of Hua Yong's cockblocking. Gao Tu was pathetic but in an endearing way; probably because of how well his actor delivered his emotions. I could feel his longing and related to his yearning for affection and stability. I found his long-term love to be way more believable than Hua Yong's since Gao Tu's self-deprecating nature and attachment to his only friend would definitely explain his unobtainable love for Shen Wen Lang.

The rest of the show was just pure nonsense. Dishonorable mentions are the exposition dump in episode 1 that literally went in one ear and out another when I made the premature decision to watch it under the influence of sleeping meds. There was also the random voice-over for Hua Yong's backstory near the end that caught me so off-guard since I swear it didn't exist before then. I also can't for the life of me recall Hua Yong giving his glorious king's watch back but my memory might just be failing me. Intro was too loud and boring; music followed suit. Fight scenes were cringe and I was holding back my laughter at how they really wanted you to take it seriously and find it cool. Outfits got progressively worse and Hua Yong's teddy bear white shirt at the end will haunt my eyes forever. The ages made it hard to believe; like they seriously want me to believe that Hua Yong is the big bad CEO at the ripe young age of 23. Get out of here with that; at least make him Shao You's age. All of the sets were overused and boring except for Gao Tu's run-down house. All of the actors were fluctuating from passable to cringe except for Gao Tu's and maybe Hua Yong's. The absolute lack of logic in making a male alpha able to give birth that ABO authors just can't seem to write a decent explanation for. Episode 9 could only be enjoyed by Redo of Healer enthusiasts and blind people would be insulted by how characters can't discern voices of their supposed loved ones and literally ANY attributes of the person in front of them DESPITE the lights being on. Huh??? Like what was the point of adding in the noncon with the main couple WHATSOEVER, and why didn't they make the side couple's scene at LEAST dubcon??? Did these writers not research ABO and just blatantly ignore the loopholes they could abuse with the common rules of the verse??? Oh, and the ending was an affront to the entire audience when they just jump from Sheng Shao You's death fakeout and the side couple not even getting to have a meaningful conversation for five seconds before blue-balling the audience.

The only redeemable aspects of this show were Gao Tu's actor, Hua Yong's looks since day one, Hua Yong and Shen Wen Lang's frenemies to lovers sexual tension (yes, I shipped it), and Shen Wen Lang's inexplicable glow-up near the end. Oh and I think that Hua Yong is a really pretty name that is surprisingly easy to pronounce. No idea what it means other than something involving flowers. Gao Tu's husky voice mixed with soft boy pining was also exquisite on my ears.

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but ABO: Desire is an insult to the omegaverse tag. How can cringy Ao3 teenagers write better fanfics with this setting than a team of adults??? Still better than Low Tide in Twilight and Love is an Illusion; not to mention the atrocity of Kiss Me Liar....but that bar is quite literally in the seventh ring of hell. I am LIVID that I didn't get my expectation to laugh my ass off in guilty pleasure met (thought, some did). This show isn't even worth rewatching unless I feel like inflicting self-torture. Never let this writer cook ABO again. There are SO MANY better Chinese BL novels that deserve adaptations, yet we get this monstrosity.....the queers deserve their favorite GOOD stories to be adapted. China, I beg, please let Thousand Autumns and Little Mushroom get adaptations before more slop like this gets to see the light of day. (T⌓T) (.づ◡﹏◡)づ. ┐(ಥ ͜ʖಥ)┌





Notes/Edits: Minor grammar fixes + Much needed clarity for the future influx of comments that will come after my review was linked in the comments section:

- Was my review harsh: Yes.
- Was my rhetoric exaggerative and dramatic for the sake of entertainment and fun: Also yes. I would've thought that using phrases like "vengeful spirit," "horse carcus pecked at by vultures," and "ran over by a fucking monster truck" would have indicated that my review wasn't trying to be ultra serious.
- Do I still stand by all my dislikes and disdain for the writing of this show: 100% and I would never lie on my scoring nor reviews just to cater to certain people. All of my reviews are fueled by my raw feelings and sometimes that strikes a chord with people under certain shows that don't have many reviews willing to be honest about the lapses in writing in series' that are flooded with 10's across the board.
- Did my review target any actors/staff: Not even once. I can't tell where people got the idea that I was trying to dissuade any actors from being in BL again, nor do I understand where they got the idea that I was trying to send hate to them. You can separate art from the artist, people.
- Am I a Shen Wen Lang apologist: Nope; nor did my review ever say I loved him. I simply stated that I liked him and Gao Tu more than the main two since they could have scenes that weren't solely reliant on their romance with each other. Also, me saying that Wen Lang was *slightly* "relatable" was because of the reactions he'd have to the hijinks the main two got up to since I often had similar reactions and inquiries. Also, he was funnier which made him more entertaining to see on screen. It didn't feel like he was taken as seriously as Shao You and that made it easier to ignore his few scenes of douchery compared to Shao You's abundance of screen time with his bad personality. Also, since when is it justified for a guy to despise ALL illegitimate children (even those he is not related to) just because ONE of his half-siblings despises him? To be honest, the only character I genuinely liked as person by the end was Gao Tu, and he was also the closest to using the ABO concept creatively.
- Am I a "crazed 2nd couple shipper": No??? Where did people even get this idea from??? I only said I liked them more but I still admitted they were cliche and I never put them on a pedestal. Those that preferred them are allowed to be sad at the lack of closure they received at the end too.
- My paragraph talking about the crazed fanatics is only getting proven true by the people that target me alongside others that voice our dislikes of the show even after it's finally just finished; which would be the prime time to voice any criticisms alongside the vocal praises. Yet, the vast majority of 10's get left alone whilst the few scores that go lower than 7's get attacked and shamed with insults, I received some such as "toxic ex gf," "delusional," "throwing a tantrum," and "needing a therapist" (as if needing therapy is even something that should be used to insult someone if you think they are having a "cry for help"). Do you guys not see the irony in this? I personally didn't even comment under anyone's praises even if I disagreed because I understood that there was not point starting any cheap wars over a simple difference of opinions; something half of you guys need to learn.
- Also, I understand this was Chinese and that producing a BL with actual queerness is difficult, which is why I never insulted the (consensual) intimacy. Though, I never give special treatment to a story simply because of what country it came out of, so I don't care if it was a Thai or Chinese BL; it was still terribly written.