A dark romance that hit as hard as crashing waves, yet felt as gentle as a sea breeze
It is rare for me to enjoy a dark romance in my 20s. Maybe when I was younger, I would enjoy anything as long as it was BL. As time passed by, I began to value quality over quantity and gravitated toward stories that felt more life-affirming rather than villain-driven. Yet this drama has many of the negative aspects I usually avoid, and I still ended up loving it.
Fan Xiao and Shu Lang’s story is truly distinct. They are the embodiment of yin and yang. President Fan, the rich, cold-hearted, and obsessive man, meets the gentle and kind Director You. Cunning is Fan Xiao’s ultimate weapon, and his plans slowly begin to bear fruit when Shu Lang becomes addicted to his “matchstick,” eventually allowing Fan Xiao to take Shu Lang away from Lu Zhen. This is only the beginning of Fan Xiao’s madness.
One of the most beautiful aspects of this drama is its title, To My Shore. It reflects love, comfort, and Fan Xiao’s reason for living, having Shu Lang by his side. After Fan Xiao’s traumatic experience with a tsunami, which led to his mother’s death, he bumped into SHu Lang, who became his source of comfort. Ironically, Fan Xiao later becomes the storm that disrupts Shu Lang’s once-peaceful life.
Shu Lang has his own tragic backstory: being orphaned, adopted, bullied, losing his adoptive mother, raising an ungrateful stepbrother, and building his life and title from nothing with no one by his side. Despite all of this, Shu lang grows into a fine man with a heart of gold. I would do everything to protect him.
And then there’s the King of Manipulation himself, Fan Xiao. It was devastating when Shu Lang discovered that his boyfriend was the mastermind behind everything that had gone wrong in his life. The scene where Shu Lang cries alone in his bedroom while Fan Xiao and Lu Zhen stand outside was absolutely heartbreaking. From that point on, misfortunes keep crashing down on Shu Lang, all planned and planted by Fan Xiao.
But this is a dark romance. And for a dark romance to work, it must be carried by talented actors, and this one absolutely succeeds. I was deeply invested in every single episode, thanks to the powerful performances of Hao Yi Ran and Yun Qi. They truly brought Shu Lang and Fan Xiao to life. Their emotional delivery was always on point.
Fan Xiao’s redemption arc was a chef’s kiss. Watching him completely fall apart after Shu Lang left was painful yet satisfying. He paid the price for everything he did and genuinely regretted his actions. I’m glad I stayed until the end, because after witnessing all the evil he committed, forgiving him was not easy, especially from Shu Lang’s perspective. Still, the story’s progression made it feel earned.
This drama does not romanticize toxic relations. Instead, it explores giving someone a chance after genuine growth and change. That said, forgiveness is never easy, and it is also okay not to forgive. What matters most is choosing what brings peace, making decisions that align with both your heart and your mind.
For a dark romance drama to work, it must be led by talented actors, and the MCs did it very well. That bathtub scene was phenomenal. It hurts Fan Xiao the most when he sees the bruises on Shu Lang's body. This is Fan Xiao's redemption! I'm happy that I stay.
Ideals can make people evolve into a better version of themselves
A fantasy-romance that depicts reality versus ideals that work out as a key determinant of one’s life realization and progress. It started with a serious tone of a corporate work set-up, but eventually turned out to be a twist of mystery at the end of the first EP. It’s good that they established the MC’s reality and then later on jumped to the world where he lived as an ideal version of himself.
At first, I felt that something was lacking in the alternate universe concept. And then, the plot twist from EP04 happened, and I was hooked. It turned out that the Ogami from the alternate universe loves the MC because he is beneficial to his work. While the Ogami from the MC's real world seems to have a cold personality, but genuinely cares for him the most.
It was a good storyline that covers how people's ideals can transform them into a better version of themselves. Kano realizes that being gloomy and avoiding people will not help him to be happy, but after experiencing life in an alternate universe, he decides to take the big step of communicating and hanging out with his colleague.
The couple’s size difference is so cute. At the finale, we can clearly see how small Kano is compared to the big bad wolf, Ogami. The bed scenes are so adorable. But Ogami being jealous of the other Ogami is the cutest among all of these. Love to see a nice portrayal of fantasy elements in BL with a clear justification of its purpose.
My only problem is that it wasn’t as impactful as I expected it to be. This is more on the subjective side of the review and does not take away the good rating of the show. At least for me, it was above average. Nice show overall.
Hioki and Watarai, joining the list of most notable J-BL characters
I love everything about this show! This is super duper cute, and the whole ten episodes consistently feel so great. Even before airing, based on the promotion and teasers, I knew that this would be another J-BL masterpiece. They didn’t disappoint. I’ve already fallen in love since the beginning. The chemistry is top-notch!
Taking inspiration from a popular “F4 concept,” focusing on BL without the touch of any form of bullying. It leads to my whole watching experience to be calm and touching. Watarai’s romantic scenes were so smooth, and I love a green flag man. Hioki, on the other hand, is the epitome of cuteness. Everything he does spells C.U.T.E. My baby is surrounded by love, and I am so proud of him.
One of the most beautiful plots from this drama is how Hioki found his people from his new class. He started being an introvert with no classmates as friends to hang out with, but thanks to the school trip, he met the four heavenly kings, who then became his squad afterwards. I remembered how exciting the scene of Hioki and Watarai sharing a bed in the hotel was.
Hioki’s inner dialogue is always so entertaining. His small panics when Watarai are directing to show him his love were so funny. The confession scene at the beach was also one of my favourites. Isn’t it just so romantic to open up your feelings with the soothing breeze of sea air?
Then, Watarai hugging Hioki behind the gymnasium curtains was also a highlight. They have so many scenes that are unforgettable and have created an impact on the viewers. And that kiss at the finale? Oh well, they served pretty well. Love it so much!
The overall feelings are so positive, and it is obvious that I enjoyed the series so much. There’s not too much drama involved here, just two young men who are slowly falling in love with one another. A school series done right, and they made it even more special for BL-fans.
Hioki and Watarai, you’ll always be special characters in my heart. I love you both!
This is so beautiful, and what a masterpiece of showcasing BL in a dance. I feel like a second movie is so possible. I love you, Keita Machida and Ryoma Takeuchi!!
Drop this in the middle of the finale EP. I can't just accept the fact that, after all these years, Mob and Kikuchi are not the end game? Without a proper conclusion to their story. Sad
At first, I felt so bland about the alternate universe concept. But the plot twist from EP04 made me more attentive to the story. The Ogami from the alternate universe is hanging with the MC, maybe because he gains something from his and boosts his sales performances, while the original Ogami from the MC's real world may have a cold attitude but cares the most about him. I just love that plot twists are literal plot twists, scenarios that I wasn't expecting haha.
THIS IS SUPER DUPER ANNOYING. SHU LANG DESERVES TO BE HAPPY. EP10 REALLY MADE ME MAD SO BAD THAT I WANTED TO ENTER MY SCREEN TO SAVE SHU LANG, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FREE HIM FROM FAN XIAO.
Watarai getting in contact with Hioki's friends on Instagram is so wholesome haha. My boy wanted to get to know more about Hioki and his past. Hioke is so cute, even when he is jealous. Hioki is so beautiful! He was extra pretty in this EP. Both of my babies are remarkably mature, considering their young age. I love it so much when they are not just communicating but also comprehend each other. The rooftop scene is super duper romantic!
I love this! Even with its short duration, the story is saving it. The actors are actually the ones who make me want to watch more. They just have the right balance of tension, chemistry, and likable acting performances. Face-paced as expected, but still delivers quality appeal based on the mentioned reasons earlier.
The reel format is unsatisfying, and I’m so glad that they finally released the re-edited version with the usual landscape format of a drama. I felt so great watching it despite the obvious technical loopholes. Yet, the characters are just too cute that every scene they shared together, a ray of light has been flashed into my eyes.
It also has its own conflict to explore and emphasize how the MCs faced them. Aesthetically beautiful with eye-candy actors. I need a sequel with a longer time and more romantic scenarios from the two, especially since they finally became a couple.
Sweet and cute. The complaint from the majority regarding the reel format is reasonable, as the drama has a lower rating. But, after watching the story, especially in the re-edited version, it was a wonderful K-BL that just needed a minimum upgrade in its production area. Adorable story overall.
EP07 & 08 just made me feel so bad and sad for Shulang. As Fan Xian is the king of manipulation, and as much as I love the story, I badly wanted him to face the consequences of his wrongdoings, most especially by playing Shulang's heart and breaking his trust. When I saw Shulang painfully crying inside his room after learning that his ex and Fan Xian had something to do with the past, I felt heartbroken too. Shulang is so clever!! He managed to see Fan Xiao's manipulation. I love my boy! The confrontation scene is so satisfying. The storyline gets even more exciting now that the lies has been revealed.
I love how supportive Watarai's group of friends is. I also love that even after getting flustered and accidentally hitting the love letter to the floor, Watarai immediately apologizes to Hioki and needs to distance himself away to sort out his anger. My babies are crying in this EP, and I can't help but cry too. They're so pure, "twice as much, ten times, a billion times, I like you more, I like you more than she does." And Watarai couldn't believe what he heard was Hioki confessing his feelings to him while embracing each other. I love them so much, but why does their friend need to interrupt them in the middle of trying to kiss each other haha. They are finally so open to say 'I like you' to each other.
Happy for the sequel, but there’s nothing really special about it
I miss them. The prequel was lighter and tender compared to this sequel. It is more focused on the deeper connection between the couple’s individuality and their love for their craft. They went outside the box of delivering a trope of two celebrities getting caught dating by the public. This is commendable; however, the scenarios were too slow, which created a gap between the couple.
What happened to my dear Shirasaki? I have adored him from the first season, but he suddenly felt too focused on himself. I understand that it is one of his flaws when he is being driven by his role. I feel pity for Hayama too. Living under one roof but being separated by their own rules was painful. The couple just needs to communicate and comprehend each other more often. The most disappointing part is that we have fewer romantic scenes in their dating era compared to their flirting era.
The additional character in the story was unexpectedly weak. I love his backstory of losing his roles to Shirasaki, but I know they can create a way better spice-up challenge for the couple. Despite the disappointments, I still enjoyed this show on an average level. The confirmation of the side couple having their own sequel was the cherry on top. The OSTs and the arrangement of the opening were the best too.
It is just sweet that Fan Xiao is so caring towards Shu Lang after they became an official couple. He even does things that Shu Lang used to do with his ex-boyfriend, like Fan Xiao waiting so long for Shu Lang to end his dinner meeting and pick him up, as well as cooking dishes for Shu Lang. And they keep kissing each other in every single scene, haha they're so in love. The effort of learning how to cook for his boyfriend is just so lovely. Fan Xiao is so possessive haha. Even get jealous of Shu Lang's younger brother. But omg. I didn't expect that Shu Lang had a very tragic backstory. From being homeless to being adopted by a caring mom, and then she died, with his brother hating him so much. Love the way Fan Xiao teaches the younger brother a lesson by offering him help to settle his wrong actions. In the end, Fan Xiao wins and keeps his dashing photos on every angle of Shu Lang's apartment
It is rare for me to enjoy a dark romance in my 20s. Maybe when I was younger, I would enjoy anything as long as it was BL. As time passed by, I began to value quality over quantity and gravitated toward stories that felt more life-affirming rather than villain-driven. Yet this drama has many of the negative aspects I usually avoid, and I still ended up loving it.
Fan Xiao and Shu Lang’s story is truly distinct. They are the embodiment of yin and yang. President Fan, the rich, cold-hearted, and obsessive man, meets the gentle and kind Director You. Cunning is Fan Xiao’s ultimate weapon, and his plans slowly begin to bear fruit when Shu Lang becomes addicted to his “matchstick,” eventually allowing Fan Xiao to take Shu Lang away from Lu Zhen. This is only the beginning of Fan Xiao’s madness.
One of the most beautiful aspects of this drama is its title, To My Shore. It reflects love, comfort, and Fan Xiao’s reason for living, having Shu Lang by his side. After Fan Xiao’s traumatic experience with a tsunami, which led to his mother’s death, he bumped into SHu Lang, who became his source of comfort. Ironically, Fan Xiao later becomes the storm that disrupts Shu Lang’s once-peaceful life.
Shu Lang has his own tragic backstory: being orphaned, adopted, bullied, losing his adoptive mother, raising an ungrateful stepbrother, and building his life and title from nothing with no one by his side. Despite all of this, Shu lang grows into a fine man with a heart of gold. I would do everything to protect him.
And then there’s the King of Manipulation himself, Fan Xiao. It was devastating when Shu Lang discovered that his boyfriend was the mastermind behind everything that had gone wrong in his life. The scene where Shu Lang cries alone in his bedroom while Fan Xiao and Lu Zhen stand outside was absolutely heartbreaking. From that point on, misfortunes keep crashing down on Shu Lang, all planned and planted by Fan Xiao.
But this is a dark romance. And for a dark romance to work, it must be carried by talented actors, and this one absolutely succeeds. I was deeply invested in every single episode, thanks to the powerful performances of Hao Yi Ran and Yun Qi. They truly brought Shu Lang and Fan Xiao to life. Their emotional delivery was always on point.
Fan Xiao’s redemption arc was a chef’s kiss. Watching him completely fall apart after Shu Lang left was painful yet satisfying. He paid the price for everything he did and genuinely regretted his actions. I’m glad I stayed until the end, because after witnessing all the evil he committed, forgiving him was not easy, especially from Shu Lang’s perspective. Still, the story’s progression made it feel earned.
This drama does not romanticize toxic relations. Instead, it explores giving someone a chance after genuine growth and change. That said, forgiveness is never easy, and it is also okay not to forgive. What matters most is choosing what brings peace, making decisions that align with both your heart and your mind.
A fantasy-romance that depicts reality versus ideals that work out as a key determinant of one’s life realization and progress. It started with a serious tone of a corporate work set-up, but eventually turned out to be a twist of mystery at the end of the first EP. It’s good that they established the MC’s reality and then later on jumped to the world where he lived as an ideal version of himself.
At first, I felt that something was lacking in the alternate universe concept. And then, the plot twist from EP04 happened, and I was hooked. It turned out that the Ogami from the alternate universe loves the MC because he is beneficial to his work. While the Ogami from the MC's real world seems to have a cold personality, but genuinely cares for him the most.
It was a good storyline that covers how people's ideals can transform them into a better version of themselves. Kano realizes that being gloomy and avoiding people will not help him to be happy, but after experiencing life in an alternate universe, he decides to take the big step of communicating and hanging out with his colleague.
The couple’s size difference is so cute. At the finale, we can clearly see how small Kano is compared to the big bad wolf, Ogami. The bed scenes are so adorable. But Ogami being jealous of the other Ogami is the cutest among all of these. Love to see a nice portrayal of fantasy elements in BL with a clear justification of its purpose.
My only problem is that it wasn’t as impactful as I expected it to be. This is more on the subjective side of the review and does not take away the good rating of the show. At least for me, it was above average. Nice show overall.
I love everything about this show! This is super duper cute, and the whole ten episodes consistently feel so great. Even before airing, based on the promotion and teasers, I knew that this would be another J-BL masterpiece. They didn’t disappoint. I’ve already fallen in love since the beginning. The chemistry is top-notch!
Taking inspiration from a popular “F4 concept,” focusing on BL without the touch of any form of bullying. It leads to my whole watching experience to be calm and touching. Watarai’s romantic scenes were so smooth, and I love a green flag man. Hioki, on the other hand, is the epitome of cuteness. Everything he does spells C.U.T.E. My baby is surrounded by love, and I am so proud of him.
One of the most beautiful plots from this drama is how Hioki found his people from his new class. He started being an introvert with no classmates as friends to hang out with, but thanks to the school trip, he met the four heavenly kings, who then became his squad afterwards. I remembered how exciting the scene of Hioki and Watarai sharing a bed in the hotel was.
Hioki’s inner dialogue is always so entertaining. His small panics when Watarai are directing to show him his love were so funny. The confession scene at the beach was also one of my favourites. Isn’t it just so romantic to open up your feelings with the soothing breeze of sea air?
Then, Watarai hugging Hioki behind the gymnasium curtains was also a highlight. They have so many scenes that are unforgettable and have created an impact on the viewers. And that kiss at the finale? Oh well, they served pretty well. Love it so much!
The overall feelings are so positive, and it is obvious that I enjoyed the series so much. There’s not too much drama involved here, just two young men who are slowly falling in love with one another. A school series done right, and they made it even more special for BL-fans.
Hioki and Watarai, you’ll always be special characters in my heart. I love you both!
I love this! Even with its short duration, the story is saving it. The actors are actually the ones who make me want to watch more. They just have the right balance of tension, chemistry, and likable acting performances. Face-paced as expected, but still delivers quality appeal based on the mentioned reasons earlier.
The reel format is unsatisfying, and I’m so glad that they finally released the re-edited version with the usual landscape format of a drama. I felt so great watching it despite the obvious technical loopholes. Yet, the characters are just too cute that every scene they shared together, a ray of light has been flashed into my eyes.
It also has its own conflict to explore and emphasize how the MCs faced them. Aesthetically beautiful with eye-candy actors. I need a sequel with a longer time and more romantic scenarios from the two, especially since they finally became a couple.
Sweet and cute. The complaint from the majority regarding the reel format is reasonable, as the drama has a lower rating. But, after watching the story, especially in the re-edited version, it was a wonderful K-BL that just needed a minimum upgrade in its production area. Adorable story overall.
I miss them. The prequel was lighter and tender compared to this sequel. It is more focused on the deeper connection between the couple’s individuality and their love for their craft. They went outside the box of delivering a trope of two celebrities getting caught dating by the public. This is commendable; however, the scenarios were too slow, which created a gap between the couple.
What happened to my dear Shirasaki? I have adored him from the first season, but he suddenly felt too focused on himself. I understand that it is one of his flaws when he is being driven by his role. I feel pity for Hayama too. Living under one roof but being separated by their own rules was painful. The couple just needs to communicate and comprehend each other more often. The most disappointing part is that we have fewer romantic scenes in their dating era compared to their flirting era.
The additional character in the story was unexpectedly weak. I love his backstory of losing his roles to Shirasaki, but I know they can create a way better spice-up challenge for the couple. Despite the disappointments, I still enjoyed this show on an average level. The confirmation of the side couple having their own sequel was the cherry on top. The OSTs and the arrangement of the opening were the best too.