Ariel

I'm gonna add to all the hype by also writing a review. In a time where there are BLs galore, where there are very high production costs, and where we are getting more and more eyes on the genre, sometimes these small, low-budget dramas get glossed over. I almost also missed this drama, and it would have been a huge loss.

Not only does this drama talk about the queer experience in a very real way, it also makes you truly feel for the characters and their situations. There's no extra drama, no jealous girlfriend, no homophobic parents — just a simple, slice-of-life, coming-of-age, beautiful drama.

While this drama of course suffered from its low budget (some scenes abruptly ending, somewhat 2D side characters, etc), I honestly feel like it lacked very little. Sometimes we need these shows that don't explain everything outright, that let the audiences come to their own conclusions, but also give us a happy and satisfying ending.

I implore you to give this show a try - it's an easy watch with relatively short episodes, and it's honestly so, so worth it. I'm thankful that we got such a beautiful drama from China (!!!!) and hope that this allows more to come.

(I will add a quick note that sometimes the subtitles are a little off - they don't detract from the plot, but it can be a little confusing in a few places for those who don't speak Mandarin)