This review may contain spoilers
Proceed With Caution - Viewer Discretion is Advised
I watched this drama eons ago and I suddenly felt compelled to type up a legit review. Don't ask why! I don't know. This is another drama that sits in a very grey area for me. This drama probably has the best acting, more cohesive story/plot, and better chemistry out of the entire History franchise/verse but it's also the most triggering thing you will probably ever watch from the Asian BL world in recent years. This drama is chock full of TRIGGER WARNINGS. I am not kidding when I say that. If you happen to stumble upon this review in the year 2025 and you've never seen this drama, heed my warning. Heed everyone's warnings, actually! When people say it's incredibly problematic and triggering, that is NOT an exaggeration. Please be mindful and take care of yourself.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me delve into why this drama sits in a grey area for me. Aside from what's already been mentioned, of course. I honestly really liked this drama. I know, I know. Please put the pitchforks down! It's triggering, it's problematic, but I really liked this drama. Don't get me wrong - I felt incredibly conflicted as I watched this drama for obvious reasons. Rape was a major plot point in this show, and I don't know why. I have no idea why they chose sexual assault/rape as a plot line and it happened a couple of times. There was an attempted rape but then there was a completed rape (which is gross to even type but that's the best way I can describe it). Then again, they were already toeing the line with having the ML's younger brother stalking him and falling in love with him. Yes, they may not be biologically related. However, the younger brother was raised from an early age to see him as his brother. They were raised alongside each other as brothers.
Here's where things get icky - despite the fact that these two men were raised to view each other as brothers (and the older brother saw the younger brother as such the ENTIRE time up until the birthday trip), the actors had IMPECCABLE chemistry. Their chemistry is so good that you ALMOST forget what's happened and who they are to each other. It's the weirdest thing. It's almost as if the casting department went out and decided to cast the two people with the best chemistry for this job and unleashed them onto the audience! That's where the conflict comes in because you're confused. You know they're brothers but you also can't ignore the very fiery and passionate chemistry between them. It's weird! Then again, the Taiwan market doesn't mind the pseudo-incest thing as much as other cultures do, it seems.
Unfortunately, the second couple was way more interesting to watch than the lead couple. Imagine that! The lead couple is fairly boring and mundane compared to the second couple. However, the lead couple is a LOT safer in comparison. But don't get it twisted - the lead couple has its own issues too. You have a ML pretending to be romantically involved with his straight best friend to get closer to a woman he's obviously attracted to. Neither of them are gay but they do start to fall for each other during this highly problematic ruse. It's problematic but less so.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely not. There's far too many land mines of triggers in this drama to safely recommend it to anyone. Would I rewatch it? I have in the past and may do so in the future. I'll be honest about it.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me delve into why this drama sits in a grey area for me. Aside from what's already been mentioned, of course. I honestly really liked this drama. I know, I know. Please put the pitchforks down! It's triggering, it's problematic, but I really liked this drama. Don't get me wrong - I felt incredibly conflicted as I watched this drama for obvious reasons. Rape was a major plot point in this show, and I don't know why. I have no idea why they chose sexual assault/rape as a plot line and it happened a couple of times. There was an attempted rape but then there was a completed rape (which is gross to even type but that's the best way I can describe it). Then again, they were already toeing the line with having the ML's younger brother stalking him and falling in love with him. Yes, they may not be biologically related. However, the younger brother was raised from an early age to see him as his brother. They were raised alongside each other as brothers.
Here's where things get icky - despite the fact that these two men were raised to view each other as brothers (and the older brother saw the younger brother as such the ENTIRE time up until the birthday trip), the actors had IMPECCABLE chemistry. Their chemistry is so good that you ALMOST forget what's happened and who they are to each other. It's the weirdest thing. It's almost as if the casting department went out and decided to cast the two people with the best chemistry for this job and unleashed them onto the audience! That's where the conflict comes in because you're confused. You know they're brothers but you also can't ignore the very fiery and passionate chemistry between them. It's weird! Then again, the Taiwan market doesn't mind the pseudo-incest thing as much as other cultures do, it seems.
Unfortunately, the second couple was way more interesting to watch than the lead couple. Imagine that! The lead couple is fairly boring and mundane compared to the second couple. However, the lead couple is a LOT safer in comparison. But don't get it twisted - the lead couple has its own issues too. You have a ML pretending to be romantically involved with his straight best friend to get closer to a woman he's obviously attracted to. Neither of them are gay but they do start to fall for each other during this highly problematic ruse. It's problematic but less so.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely not. There's far too many land mines of triggers in this drama to safely recommend it to anyone. Would I rewatch it? I have in the past and may do so in the future. I'll be honest about it.
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