This review may contain spoilers
For China, it's pretty fire
I finished binging everything in like 2 days, and I've waited for this show since the pilot trailer. So, it's been about like 3 years or so since I first heard about ABO Desire, and as I waited for the show to finish airing (for the months that it aired for) I read the novel.
From the novel, it was pretty close to the show, which is exactly what I expected because NongJian sisters wrote the book and oversaw the show. The screenwriting is pretty okay (because there are scenes that could've totally been cut), the acting and cast was literally amazing, and I find myself listening to half the OST. I'd definitely go back to rewatch it again because I've literally been dying for an ABO themed show (I know PitBabe was one, but it was more abt powers than it was abt actual ABO).
I liked the obsessed trope because no one can truly top the crazy brain of Hua Yong, he's planned and he's planned WELL to capture his Alpha and no one can ever tell me otherwise. Xing's acting was so good, especially with the duality he had whenever he looks at someone else vs when he looks at Shaoyu. Qiu's micro expressions were everything, like when he was in the hospital and found out he was pregnant - it was so funny but so good I was fawning for 3 minutes straight. For Heng's first ever debut role, he did so well, especially the way his eyes gloss over with pain and trying to cover it with anger for Gao Tu's resignation is just so heartbreakingly good. And then there's also Peien! I just felt so bad for his character the whole time, and he had made his voice sound so small and shaky when he called Gao Qing to tell her to pack her bags.
The characters are not meant to be liked, and actually are pretty morally gray (minus Hua Yong, that guy's fully black flag), but I've fallen for them completely! Gao Tu who had told many lies, I still can't not feel terrible whenever he was on screen, Wenlang who was lied never felt love from his parents which had lead him to acting the way he does is honestly the worst thing ever. Because people who haven't read the novel won't know his pain. Hua Yong has never felt love before he met Shaoyu which got him into doing the craziest sht in the world, and Shaoyu who had slept with many Omegas (with questionable taste for the ones "untouched".) was burdened by an entire family line and his own father. Holyyyy like this show was just full of sadness and pain. But it was also so sweet I can't get enough.
And - of course, everyone must be talking about the LangTu ship (Shen Wenlang and Gao Tu), honestly, I had to dock a point for that. I'm a fan of both couples, and so I didn't find much of a problem with their screentime, considering how their story starts after the timeline of the novel and into the three years after Peanut was born. But their reunion could've had more. I honestly had low expectations, but I really didn't expect them to give LangTu like 30 seconds for their 3 year reunion.
As I'm writing this, there are no extras that have been out, and have been rumors of extras and director cuts. So I'm really hoping that LangTu gets one because otherwise I'd really be upset. In the novel, they weren't shown much of a resolution either, but honestly, I can't hate too much because they ARE a side couple.
I hope for their next 3 shows together (rumored to have 3 more shows, 2 modern and 1 historical with one already rumored to be next: Tenacious Illness) that Jiang Heng and Li Peien will get a better side couple role or even a main couple with Huang Xing and Qiu Dingjie. Or even better - if they were to both be mains.
From the novel, it was pretty close to the show, which is exactly what I expected because NongJian sisters wrote the book and oversaw the show. The screenwriting is pretty okay (because there are scenes that could've totally been cut), the acting and cast was literally amazing, and I find myself listening to half the OST. I'd definitely go back to rewatch it again because I've literally been dying for an ABO themed show (I know PitBabe was one, but it was more abt powers than it was abt actual ABO).
I liked the obsessed trope because no one can truly top the crazy brain of Hua Yong, he's planned and he's planned WELL to capture his Alpha and no one can ever tell me otherwise. Xing's acting was so good, especially with the duality he had whenever he looks at someone else vs when he looks at Shaoyu. Qiu's micro expressions were everything, like when he was in the hospital and found out he was pregnant - it was so funny but so good I was fawning for 3 minutes straight. For Heng's first ever debut role, he did so well, especially the way his eyes gloss over with pain and trying to cover it with anger for Gao Tu's resignation is just so heartbreakingly good. And then there's also Peien! I just felt so bad for his character the whole time, and he had made his voice sound so small and shaky when he called Gao Qing to tell her to pack her bags.
The characters are not meant to be liked, and actually are pretty morally gray (minus Hua Yong, that guy's fully black flag), but I've fallen for them completely! Gao Tu who had told many lies, I still can't not feel terrible whenever he was on screen, Wenlang who was lied never felt love from his parents which had lead him to acting the way he does is honestly the worst thing ever. Because people who haven't read the novel won't know his pain. Hua Yong has never felt love before he met Shaoyu which got him into doing the craziest sht in the world, and Shaoyu who had slept with many Omegas (with questionable taste for the ones "untouched".) was burdened by an entire family line and his own father. Holyyyy like this show was just full of sadness and pain. But it was also so sweet I can't get enough.
And - of course, everyone must be talking about the LangTu ship (Shen Wenlang and Gao Tu), honestly, I had to dock a point for that. I'm a fan of both couples, and so I didn't find much of a problem with their screentime, considering how their story starts after the timeline of the novel and into the three years after Peanut was born. But their reunion could've had more. I honestly had low expectations, but I really didn't expect them to give LangTu like 30 seconds for their 3 year reunion.
As I'm writing this, there are no extras that have been out, and have been rumors of extras and director cuts. So I'm really hoping that LangTu gets one because otherwise I'd really be upset. In the novel, they weren't shown much of a resolution either, but honestly, I can't hate too much because they ARE a side couple.
I hope for their next 3 shows together (rumored to have 3 more shows, 2 modern and 1 historical with one already rumored to be next: Tenacious Illness) that Jiang Heng and Li Peien will get a better side couple role or even a main couple with Huang Xing and Qiu Dingjie. Or even better - if they were to both be mains.
Was this review helpful to you?
