Shiagi

I think they had something good. It did feel just like a vertical drama in story telling and direction. I was bugged the whole time because I knew I recognised Kimmon and he was Ming! His acting was better now but the material doesn't do him justice. The only really poorly executed thing was the filming. I came here after and saw that it was filmed in 2025!! So why does the cinematography look like something from the 80s/ early 90s?! I hope he can get his acting chops into something more meaty in the near future but he is 35 so maybe aged out of BL even though he still has such a youthful look. Neel wasn't too bad either but the format and quality of these short films aren't going to do much to stretch his acting skills. They both need better direction and filmographers. Otherwise not too awful a watch if you are accustomed to v dramas. If you aren't, than the low production quality and fast paced story telling will be grating.

yeah. Usually its easy to spot. I didn't notice that so much as the missing scenes that were on the FB clip but not in the drama scene on DM until it showed up as a memory. Despite this they really didn't say or do much anyway. It was just angsty and sad throughout without any meaningful depth to carry it.

This is wonderfully acted. A little slice of life of two people "growing" together. Not a lot is said about their relationship and what they are each going through and feeling, its all in the body language and subtle hints which is refreshing as sometimes you don't want everything thrown in your face and over explained when great acting and directing can do the job. As they say in story telling - show, don't tell. The way the actor who portrayed Hiro showed the complex emotions that he was going through was chef's kiss. I also appreciated that both their experiences and feelings, though wildly different, are absolutely valid. The differing in each of their perspectives of shared experiences done so subtly. I think its a great piece of exploration of humans and our emotions and perspectives.

I also loved the subtle transition and development of both their characters in the way they appeared brighter and more vibrant and mature in character by the end of the story and in just 8 episodes too! Nothing was done over the top or drastically. It really does show how people change over time, though in reality it takes much longer.

I would say this is less BL and more LGBTQ+ in storytelling. I would also hazard to say that some of the commenters are really looking at just surface level relationship between to guys and getting rather disappointed with this drama. This is a bit more than two guys falling in love. In fact I would say it is not the most important part of this story. This was two broken individuals, growing confidence and supporting each other together and discovering what its like to live and be happy with who they are and the people who care about them, not the haters (more skewed towards Hiro) and all done in just eight 30minute episodes!

I feel that the version I watched may have cut scenes out but with these mini dramas often they are just like that. I also wonder how much was lost in translation? This was missing a lot of information in the quest for brevity. It wasn't that deep.

The wigs were terrible in this and stole the scene!

I call this actress "screamy/ screechy girl". She's cute and later dramas she has toned down, but girl cannot raise her voice without going high pitch.

I've not seen anyone liking that couple. Its one of my least favourite HIStory. Both couples creeped me out. Actually I can't even remember 5 at all either. Perhaps I was in a fog of the 4th volume but History 3 had amazing stories in that volume, it may also make History 4 tank so bad as they couldn't follow Trapped or MODC.

Its a very cheap way to do cliff hangers these days. It feels like they are pandering to the fujoshis who want the CPs to play daddies to cute kids. I guess it works coz now everyone is talking about who the kid is. I also wasn't expecting the kid to show up. Now I wonder how many more tropes are going to pop out of nowhere in the coming eps. I am sure nothing to deep and heavy though as this show is not giving those kinds of vibes so far. It is giving "Be Loved in House: I Do" tone / vibes.

So they have a nice cliff hanger to keep viewers guessing and hooked til the next episode....

He has a ring on his finger. I am guessing he either has a partner, or the way his demeanour is, he had a traumatic separation or he is a widow. Either way they seem to be building up to some heart wrenching experience and everyone ends up learning something about love from each other. Usually the way it goes with cutesy feel good mangas/ adaptations.

Yeah I was surprised not one person offered him support. I wonder how long these internships are supposed to last? I don't think they mentioned it.

Yeah don't watch that. It may ruin him for you. That BL was very problematic all around.

From the very first ep this was giving me Manga vibes. Then I think to check the details and it IS from a manga! LOL . Cute though. I didn't expect them to go 0-100 though! That speed was crazy but done very well. They are doing A LOT in 25 mins getting all the story and emotions and character development in. Very good job all around.

It indeed very ambiguous at this time. Very mixed signals. He doesn't look like he has good intentions but there is not enough evidence yet that he has those kind of ulterior motives. He does give off creepy vibes but I am not sure if that is because of HIStory 4 or directing.

Doesn't look like that kid. That kid was part Caucasian part Chinese.

Thats a shame. She is really good at writing characters and there are obviously things that would/should never be shown on tv lol. That book was insane. But the heart warming parts were really great between the two and the purpose of some choices were well established to highlight their character and relationship. CJD is really good at writing characters and also in insane storylines and situations. She is like no other author out there. I enjoyed both series versions but as usual, the book is better.

I am no longer used to seeing people smoking on TV so when ever Chinese drama has it it takes me a back for a bit. Thai BLs used to censor it out like drinking.

I was wondering where I have seen Zhan Xuan before. He looked somewhat familiar... it was in those short vertical dramas! Nice to see him in 16:9 rather than 9:16.

Actually true, I also did not shudder and squirm with the snakes on screen. I did have to look away just in case but over all I did not get a reaction I usually do.

Agreed. I felt that the characters of WSW and CC were heavily sanitised. Also the other two but the more important characters and the most fun characters in the novel are the main CP. So many things just didn't hit the mark quite right because context was missing so felt rather watered down.

It was a fine drama, but for novel readers a little lacking in the quirkiness department and humour. WSW is colour blind in the novel which lends to the drama that he couldn't tell which snake was dangerous when someone shouted "yellow" and the fact that he has a lighting company which Wang Shou looked quizically on after WSW redecorated his house with odd coloured lights. Also his sense of style was supposed to be quirky and somewhat mismatched in colour. Very watered down, he ended up looking so ordinary and like everyone else. WSW stinginess shows how clever he is in possessing CC. I don't think it was clear but maybe I can't tell either because I read the book and filled in gaps. The whole head brick thing was lost in this series which was what made CC notice him in the first place and symbolises the safety WSW comes to feel under CC's care.

CC is a lot more stoic and dangerous in the novel but I liked the way this actor played him actually in the context of this series.

There's so much I could go on but shall stop here. Overall, I think it was a fine series and the actors generally did a good job. I can't complain much for what it is. I wish it could have had those quirky elements and feel to it because without it the characters don't seem as interesting as in the books and looses some gravitas in each situation they faced.

I rated it 8/10 just because I think I had the cloud of the novel over my eyes while watching it but really it should be a 7 or so.