Yumi

Oh how I regret watching this

Just go and watch any two couple living together and making out every now and then because the story that started very interesting lost it's way half way through and the whole show is about 2 couples talking and having s*x...

It's already very very predictable right from the start but to make it more boring by having a few episodes in the middle full of absolutely nothing at all except for some random scenes of the 4 leads is a bit too much.

I have to admit one thing however, the cast was great and everyone did his job impeccably, but be that as it may that didn't save the series for me.

The only character I was interested in was Fadel, who had the same facial expressions for almost the whole show and when he started to change a bit I had already lost interest in continuing.

I'm not saying this was a bad drama per se but it was boring with no story, however if you like the cast/couple and just want to see them onscreen, you will enjoy because the whole show is the 4 leads acting all lovey dovey together ~~

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Almost perfect

My problem with historical Chinese dramas is that they tend to drag a bit with no consistent plot.
I mean, there is a main plot and as we watch some problems arise then get solved then another problem surfaces then solved and so on... in parallel with the main story.

So personally -since it's MY review- I haven't yet find drama that I'd give over like 7 or 8. hence my rating.
That been said, this was a great one, I really enjoyed it specially the beginning, I like the dynamics between the leads.

I love the Smart FL VS Smart ML, most dramas tend to have a clever lead while the other is always less intelligent but here I really enjoyed the ping-pong power games the two leads had.

Acting was great, I loved all character even the evil ones, the plot was interesting, at least most of the time.
I loved the leads, I don't know about their chemistry but I enjoyed them together.

Overall enjoyable, a bit longer than needed, not boring if you are into long dramas.

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Expectations met

You know when you see a trailer for a new show and you have high expectations for it because of the story, characters, actors whatever, and then you watch it, and it exceed your expectations!!

I've been watching Japanese/Korean dramas for so long that I started to kinda know what exactly they are going to offer, and tbh Netflix shows have the same pattern in term of everything.

I was so excited for this drama that I kept pushing watching it till I get in a slump and have nothing to watch, and I enjoyed every minute of it, it was exactly what I expected and more.

First let's state what I liked:
I've been a huge fan of Shun since Hanakimi, I don't care about what he does in his life, I just like his acting, and HyoJoo is one of my favourite Korean actresses so this combo is a win, no matter what, like it has to be the worst story ever existed to ruin this for me, also the rest of the cast were great, Jin, Yuri and Ryu, everyone is just a magnet for me to like it.
Story: a unique one, it's not original but I still find it interesting and fun, I love that they didn't magically cure them by the end.
Acting: as I said, everyone is an indication that you will enjoy the acting here even if you don't like the story.

Now is it the perfect drama?? Not at all, not in the slightest, it has many flaws, but the only thing that made me love it so much is it was as I expected it to be, it didn't disappoint me because I knew exactly how this is going to be like, all the cliché and expected twists I saw them coming, and everything fits my taste and preference.

Now what I don't like the most is the editing, specially in some episodes endings and the begining of the next, also not something I don't like but I still don't know the reason behind the 2 cameos at the end, like the last 30 seconds of JoongKi? And a minute of Kentaro didn't add anything to the series? But I don't hate that, it's just odd.
The storyline and the way everything has to be solved in the last 30 mins and the cliché moments like how the FL was actually saved by the ML not his friend, the way that the ML sometimes forget his phobia and touch stuff and knock on doors without disinfectants as in the whole 7th episode and the way they didn't explore more of the ML brother death and the reason for his phobia all were questionable moments, but can easily ignored IMO~

That been said, I'd definitely rewatch it and recommend it, because it is exactly my taste I really loved every second of it ❣️

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I was so invested in this show, and I have too many things to say but when I started to write the review, I felt lost, no words can describe how I felt about this!! So I'll just blabber whatever on my mind~~

It's not a simple infidelity drama, I usually don't like the Japanese opinion about cheating and how it is ok for men/husbands to cheat but not women, and that they should be beheaded if they even think about it, but men?? Nah just forgive him, he was weak for a moment and everybody makes mistakes, just forget it for the sake of saving the household from destruction!!

BULL-FREAKIN-SHIT!!!! Cheating is cheating, man or woman if you cheat, you should be ashamed, and forgiving you or not is up to the other person, not anyone!!

Aggravatingly !! This sh!t was said in this drama by one of the characters, and who was it? The cheating husband!!
şaşırdık mı? Tabi ki şaşırmadım...
And she wasn't even cheating at that point!! The husband was so obsessed with belittling his wife and breaking her spirits, even his OWN CHİLD told his mum to do whatever she wants, like just break up and leave dad don't think about me!! That's how bad the husband was ... EVEN YOUR CHİLD TURNED HİS BACK ON YOU!! he wanted to save his mother ~

So when we play an Uno reverse card, and she is the one who emotionally cheated, she didn't even act upon it! She didn't leave because of Yuta YET!! she was still in that loop of forgetting everything and act like nothing happened and keep living with this terrible husband
at this point I just wanted Shinobo to leave her husband, even if she doesn't end up with Chiaki, just leave that piece of sh!t for good, you deserve better.

She was one of the most sensible characters, at least for the first half, I felt sorry for her after she took Mihiro in, she was like a mother who lost her child, and then found it in her!! I don't know what exactly led to this point in her relationship with Yuta but I believe he went to search for his happiness and live his life the way he wanted after he asked his mother to do the same, and I still don't understand why she decided to stay even after Yuta left?? Did she just thought that her husband will magically change into a good person?? Oh god!

Even after the divorce, he was troubling her after he got scammed by this bar owner, I have never been that satisfied about someone being scammed !! But that damned guy still dare to go ask for alimony!! How rude can you be!? No dignity at all!! I feel sorry she wasted 20 years of her life on that guy!!!

And Chiaki, my dear boy, as messed up as he was, he was attracting all the stray broken souls like him, with no way of helping them or himself, I loved how Shinobo was like a surrogate mother in a form of a lover, he needed an adult because he was a kid!! He didn't even understand how he felt or how he was supposed to live, his mother destroyed every tiny piece of him, and oh don't get me started with this bitch!! She is even worse than the husband!! I have never wanted to kill someone as her!! Like seriously she should be killed somehow because only with her disappearance, Chiaki can breathe!!

I sadly understand how he can't just cut her off, cause I may sounds like a hypocrite, asking Shinobo to leave but not Chiaki, that's why I opted to kill his mother's character, but seriously, it's his mother, sometimes we can't hate our parents even if they treat us terribly, that's the only toxic relationship that can't be escaped easily, however I really wished something or someone would smack some sense to her, trying to sold her child like that for money!! Ugh! terrible woman!!

I loved how Shinobo and Chiaki both cure something in each other, I was mainly focusing on how I wanted each of them to leave the toxic relationship they were stuck in, more than their relationship, but by the end of the show I started to genuinely believe that they really need eachother, it's not about love, it's just their souls that fits!

A new character was introduced in the last few episodes, which was the editor,, this guy is just the better version of the husband, still as arrogant and ignorant!! Why do everyone think that their opinion about other characters life is the ultimate choice!! Like what gives you the right to tell anyone how they should life his/her life!! The audacity!!!

I could understand the terrible behaviour from Mihiro in the beginning, she is as wounded and troubled as Chiaki, I wanted them to explore more of her background story but I'm just glad she had her beautifully perfect end a d moved on with her life, now independent and brave, but I couldn't at all understand the editor's behaviour.

Overall it's not a simple infidelity drama, it has more layers and much more complicated characters, I still stand by my opinion that cheating is a terrible thing and it's better to leave the relationship if you are not happy instead or cheating and ruining everyone's life.

My line of thoughts ends here ... I don't know what I said I just wrote what I felt after watching, this was a hell of a ride, not a simple story at all!!
Highly, extremely and utterly worth it!!

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A tale of an obsessive guy and his kindhearted lover, plus dumb and dumber second couple

I waited for so long to start it, I have to say first that I didn't know anything about the ABOverse or omegaverse or whatever it's name, so I decided to read the novel first then watch the series, you know to get some insight about what to expect.

when I started the novel I was lost completely, it's probably not the best ABO novel to start with if you have no prior knowledge of this universe.

Now I have to also say a comment about the novel before the show review because that influences my opinion, the novel itself isn't great, it's a unique story, a tale of obsession, sadly it wasn't my cup of tea.
I really hated Hua Yong, what he did to SSY is really despicable and it's really difficult for me to like something while hating of the main characters, luckily I was more interested in Gao Tu and Shin wenlang because they seem to have more "normal" love story that is close to my taste so I managed to finish the whole novel.
However it didn't have a very satisfying end so I kept my expectations very low for them, beside not being excited about the main characters' story in the show.
another thing I didn't like and made me even less exciting to start the series is the whole business setting and companies matters, it's very confusing, I skipped some chapters because of that, this is also not my cup of tea.

That's why I knew I won't rate the drama over 8.5 or 9 max. Even if it is a better version than the novel, simply because the story itself isn't for me.

Now why I watched it if I don't like it? The reasons are simple, this is the first step toward the whole ABO universe world adaptations, and I later read some others ABO novels that I liked, also it's a part of the new generation of uncensored Chinese BLs, Third reason is second couple story, mainly my baby Gao Tu and his Dumbo lol I love Seeky and his character is my favourite so....🤷🤷🤷 Say no more I'm in.

Now to the real review of the show. (Sorry to taking long)
Story adaptation is nice, the drama is boring in some parts, I skipped some long scenes about the business as expected and aligned with what I did with the novel but to be fair, the whole thing is much more understandable in the show than in the novel, some scenes that were changed made the whole series dull and some others that were added made the show better, one of the scenes that were bad was the first time Hua Yong and Sheng shaoyou met, well, long story short, it's better in the book and make the whole obsession more understandable, now the scenes they added that were better were Gao Tu 's BD and Wenlang taking care of him.

The biggest thing I really hated was the end for second couple, and it wasn't even that great in the novel but they somehow managed to make it worse in the show.

Acting, I understand that only Ocean didn't have any previous acting credits, but the 4 leads were on the same level, Ocean was amazing as Shin Dumbo, he nailed his role and I'm excited for his next drama with Seeky, they deserve the world ❣️

Now a final unpopular and controversial opinion, also non-negotiable.
Hua Yong is a terrible person I don't like him I hate what he did to SSY, SSY deserves better. And little peanut deserves a better father who loves him and cherish his life. HY is selfish, self-centred b@stard who only cares about his obsession and doesn't care about any other person, he disregard everyone no matter what they do to him, no value for friendship nor loyalty, and he deserves the slap SSY gave him at the hotel.

Pheww!! Now I feel better after saying that out loud 😂
I genuinely don't know if I would recommend this drama, if you look behind all the hype and excitement from fans, this is a very average BL, nothing special about it, so you will probably just enjoy a good BL and that's it.

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Extraordinarily good

I can hardly stomach long and slow dramas, I tend to get bored like that *snap fingers* and I can't stand slow scenes where actors stare at each other for 15 mins unnecessarily... BUT!! I was willing to throw everything aside to continue watching this series despite being -according to my preference- a very slow and long drama.

Story is exceptional, but can be told in like 20 episodes and we all would be extremely satisfied, and everything would be shown and explained perfectly.

Acting was amazing, I loved the chemistry between the leads, I don't remember much of Hidden love so I don't know if they did the whole parallel stories without mistakes or plot holes because they both are interconnected and I'm a details freak but I'm glad I don't remember tbh because now I can enjoy it without thinking much.

Romance is spectacular, I want someone like Sang Yan, I believe every girl deserves love like Sang Yan's, and I don't mean the obsessive, clingy, over-8-years, can't-seem-to-be-moving-on, slightly-stalking type of love, just simply the devoted, unchanging and caring type.

Comedy is something I missed, because it's non existent here, in HL it was a excessive in a good way and ironically it was because of Sang Yan, I couldn't relate to the same character he was completely different here even his interaction with his sister felt like they are two different people in each series, but if you treat them as such, you won't be bothered by the lack of comedic relief.

Overall, pretty long, but at the same time entertaining and captivating, you won't feel bored watching it and the romance is spectacular.
Highly recommended ~~

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Almost perfect

I loved it, but not for the reasons I expected.

It's a very good well written drama, I think the source material have to be a magnificent piece of art to have an adaptation like this.

Acting, story, chemistry, everything was great I just needed a few things for it to be the perfect drama.

I know it's adapted from a BL novel and this is a completely censored adaptation which is the main reason why I felt it needed some romance in it to make it more enjoyable, and I seriously don't care about it being a BL or normal romance it just lacked this touch.
The second reason I needed romance was we get too deep with the characters, we dissect their personality to layers and put each one under a magnifying glass and know more and more about them, Yet, we didn't address their emotions and feelings for eachother.

Another thing that slightly confused me having too many characters, with more than one case -very old and new cases - I get confused then slightly bored and lost, but the thing that kept me going was the two leads and how they interact and try to solve crimes together.

So it lacks a bit of order and some romance to tie things up beautifully but other than that it's a very enjoyable crime drama ~

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So-so

Was anti reset that successful that they made another mediocre drama with the same concept, I mean I know the fairytale love is a thing and why not fall for a robot if you can fall for a vampire and all is good, but I'm talking quality-wise it's not the best.

If you have to redo an idea you kinda have to make it better or different maybe, more interesting but nope.

This was slightly boring, literally nothing is happening just the two leads spending time together and that's it.

Nothing to write home about, but if you are into this new type of robot-love BL then Go ahead, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it but it was an okay watch.

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Too forced

I'm sorry I've to be this harsh on the drama despite loving Taiwanese BL but this .... This is way below average.

Story was fine, I mean I don't mind the whole age thing, i mean it isn't a big deal, one is in high school and the other college that's what? a few years age gab. Well, kids In high school have sex so what? If it was between two high school kids I don't think people would mind so what is a few years older.
However, my biggest complaint is that everything is very forced, I see no reason for the two leads to fall in love? Moreover the second lead, one is mourning and boom! Suddenly in love all over again.

Acting was terrible, it's not abhorrent or unwatchable per se, but it's very inconvenient, chemistry between all characters is nonexistent, even the two brothers doesn't seem like brothers, and the second lead story is extremely forced beside being unrealistic.
So there is literally nothing to look forward to while watching, not even a side story, not even two brothers funny frienemosity. Nothing!

Also, I didn't like any character, I couldn't feel any connection for them, and I didn't care about them at all, making finishing the drama a chore.

Overall skip it, even if you are - like me- a fan of Taiwanese BL, this one is just bad ~

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I keep seeing many people talking about this on IG, so I decided to give it a go, some said it was "shocking" and "gay pørñ" but I thought, it's Korean.... You know, the worst thing they ever did in a BL is showing some butt cheeks 😂

Little did I know...
Well, first of all, story is nonexistent... İt's only a premise about a straight guy seeking help from a sex therapist, only to turn gay after having sex...
Well, in another show, I'd make a song and dance about it, because sexualities don't work that way.
But considering the 50 shades of positions they acted, I myself almost turn gay while watching ~~

Acting, was convincing, I didn't like the stoic face the therapist had all the time, not because of anything, but because it made me feel uncomfortable watching it, I understand it's part of the character personality but still, I was repulsed so I fast forwarded.

The ending for me was a bit vague, I don't understand the letter thing, and the last look the therapist gave the ML before leaving, what did it imply!? I was watching 3 episodes of uncomfortable sex to get a glimpse of something uncomprehended by the end. Did they want to show that something may happen between them? Because all I got was, the ML having 4 days of extreme sex to end up with depression and probably worse mental state than before.

I don't think this is supposed to be treated as a series, it's literally corn, so watch it if you feel hørny and want to watch some gay pørn or something ~~

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Highly overrated

Let me start by saying that this is a very good drama, and I don't mean that it's a bad drama by saying it's overrated... But 8.6/10 ... A big no, a good drama yes, but doesn't deserves all that, it has big flaws and many cliché moments, so it's a 7 at best imo.

I'm also not judging others opinions if they really like it, I'm only talking personally.

I can state what I like about this drama but I guess saying what's wrong with it is more meaningful since everyone is generally praising it.

I'll begin with the story, it's a very simple story, highlighted by the great acting and impeccable chemistry between the leads, also the whole cast in so good looking specially the women here, everyone is really beautiful and easy on the eye~

But I can't understand for the life of me the cliché way of ending it .. the change of heart some characters had, the small and public community where everyone is cool about being gay, in early 60s for god's sake, and the easy acceptance from old people like it's ok my son, if it's your happiness then go for it! Seriously?? I could also mention the conspiracies thing but this is a lakorn so let's be realistic.
Now the pace of the story is really slow, a very slow burn romance which is beautiful, but also boring as some point, with many obstacles they naturally have to face, so after a while I'm just watching out of loyalty just to get over with it.

Chemistry is impeccable as I said so nothing to say but praises here.
I won't go into details but some side characters are just too much, to explain, this is more a lakorn than a BL. IYKYK ~

I won't say more because I'm generally too lazy now and because it doesn't deserve to be criticized that much ~

So generally, except for the cliché things and the way the story went 180 degrees to reach a closure, every thing else is great, like I said it's a very good drama, just I saw much better IMO this doesn't deserve that high rate, however I would recommend it ~

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My most favourite KBL ~

Now this is by far, the best KBL I've ever watched.
Not because it has the best story, nor because it's somehow without flaws.

But because this the most natural BL I've ever seen.

Let me break this down...
First: Acting...
The two leads were very natural, no weird pauses between scenes, no unnecessary long shots of silence or stares for so long, not a single moment of boredom.
Vampire concept didn't feel cringe at all, ML didn't have a weird teeth baring, nor have unnatural funny fangs, instead i could see the struggle in his eyes naturally and without any second hand embarrassment 😂 my favourite scenes are the one when he faced blood, I believed he was a real vamp.
Chemistry was nice, for a low budget short BL they picked good actors and they did a great job, I can see potential for them to grow and be lead actors for proper dramas with proper script.

Second: story...
While the whole idea is repetitive and the whole hate-to-love genre is not original at all, with vampires falling for their preys plot, it's quite nice.
I love everything about vamps and gothic horror characters, so I watch anything related to it even while knowing it'd be bad, but this was light and relaxing to watch, also hats off for the director whoever he/she is, because this was perfectly put together.
If you like simple stories that doesn't make you use your brains that much and is ok with the concept just go watch this right now because it's this good.

Third: characters..
They are all very nice and lovely, not a single bad character and none of the actors was bad in his role, side characters were cute and did great.

Now I have to mention the flaws too because this isn't a perfect drama despite giving it a very high rate

1-Plot is very lame, now I know I just said I loved it but there is literally nothing going on which can be 2 edged sword, so it need a specific mood or for specific people who want to watch something light, if not you won't enjoy it.

2- story not fleshed out well, I believe these is more to show but they just showed us the romance, what is the characters background? How are they vamps? Are they brothers? What about the synthetic blood thing? ... Too many things that was skipped.

3- end was abrupt, nothing about the future of the two leads, they got together and what? How will the vamp survive? Did the blood thing work? How will they manage?

4- why everyone has to be gay in BL? Now this is in all BLs lol and it's quite stupid question, I know, but I sometimes miss seeing normal couples in BLs, instead it's like if it's a BL then It's gay people in gay world, having straight people here would be more natural, believe me~

Long story short ... For a light romcom BL this is perfect, for a proper drama this lacks a lot, but compared to other BLs,, this is easily one of the best~~

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Best BL in 2025 ~~ so far ?

I've finally finished this, and I'm obsessed!! So this is going to be a very long review ... Buckle up!!

I have to point out that I haven't read the novel so I had no idea what to expect story-wise, and despite being one of the few Chinese BLs I've watched that openly shows the BL part ( not bromance in disguise) I believe it hides more than it shows and the main story must have tonnes of other details that was cut from the series so I plan to read the book later, but for now this review is only about the show, if it's lacking then my bad ~
*I may or may not update it after reading the novel*

Now back to the review ~

Story:
I loved it, it has everything, it was slow at first with many twists and turns but every few episodes you are faced with a new challenge that keeps you interested and invested in the story.
You can't find one dull moment, the interactions between all the cast is beautiful, even Chi Cheng and Xiao Shuai!! Call me a sadist but I loved every scene Chi Cheng was bullying Xiao Shuai or intimidates him, even the rivalry between Chi Cheng and Cheng Yu.
What I didn't like was how random everything was happening, direction was a mess and it's obvious that it was heavily edited, no idea why or if it was necessary but the overall quality of the whole series is below bar, raised only by the interesting story and great cast, but the transition is absolutely terrible.

Also at some points I think they did the two leads dirty.
Sou Wei with his mother's arc, and Chi Cheng with the whole revenge/jealousy/misunderstanding part that parallels with the former. I won't say much but I hate when two people so in love yet can't manage to do basic human interaction which is "talking" ... But this is a very specific matter that I hate personally.

Cast:
The whole cast is spectacular! I'm not saying acting was Oscar worthy, but the chemistry, guys!!! The chemistry between every👏single👏 character👏is👏 FIRE!!! 🔥
just name any two characters, I even loved Sou Wei and Chi Cheng's dad scenes together 😂
I'm serious!! Those people are comfortable together!! They are friends behind the scenes and it shows!!
I wish I can watch Tian Xu Ning and Zhan Xuan in another drama 😂 those two were the best Frenemies I've even seen in a BL and I loved them here very much!! I don't care what their roles are I want to see them interacting together, I can watch them for hours and I wouldn't get bored!
And I may be crazy but I literally shipped everyone with everyone, the two tops?? Shipped! Exchanged partners? Shipped, even the two brothers ? Shipped 🤣 that's how bad I enjoyed all the characters together.
On the other hands, aside from the two main characters every other couple story is very underdeveloped, Cheng Yu and Xiao Shuai story was very abrupt, the two brothers story was vague and unclear what was going on or what might go on in the future, while there are other scenes that added nothing to the story and could be easily removed and add some clarifying scenes, also the end is like Boom! A sudden finish, it was so random, I wish they added something aside from just ending it like that, any hint for the work/relationship, parents acceptance or anything that indicates how are they going to live in the future.
Even Cheng Yu and Xiao Shuai had better closure 😂
Underdeveloped story with good end VS excessively explored story with abrupt end!

Characters:
As I said the cast were fantastic, which mirrors how we loved the characters too, Chi Cheng is the worst character I can even dream of meeting IRL yet! He is the best ever, very kind, lovable, cute and surprisingly obedient 🤣🤣
And not just towards Sou Wei, but also Cheng Yu, his BFF and his sister, it shows that he's not "only listens to his husband" type ... But genuinely listens to people who he loves and know they love him back.
My favourite characters has to be Cheng Yu, sorry everyone, but I love how flirty and very smart he is, cause let's face it... SW and XS are dumb and dumber compared to others also they are easily manipulated, maybe SW more than XS, he is kinda smart tbh and CC simply had so many hints but couldn't put two and two together, Wang shou was too destructive for my taste.
So for me, the one that shines the most as the smartest with the most mischievous ideas is my man, Cheng Yu ❣️❣️

I don't know what else to say, I will miss this drama, if you like BL then put this on the top of your list, it was fun, fluffy, sad, dramatic, sexy, hot, cute, suspenseful... It was a collection of emotions in it you don't want to miss ~~

Highly recommended ❣️

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