compulsive viewing 〜really sorry to say goodbye to this drama： I thought 48 episodes would be too much but it went so fast。 lots of characters and well conceived and executed plots ending with grand finale of political conspiracy。 however I thought Tang Fan really did not get the just reward of his ability and contribution。 ending seems to leave open possibility of another series but maybe not in current anti cultural climate of China。
wonderful moving film about gay love repressed in an oppressive society reflected in its schools 〜thoughtful and provocative with much darkness about how and why people behave to each other so cruelly especially to those considered "different" and the struggle to accept yourself being gay in this environment。the action is filmed against a background of arid broken gloomy urban landscapes well reflecting the cruelty and alienation in the fight for survival among the persecutors as much as those they persecute. there are only brief interludes of happiness or beauty along the way such as Yong Joo's and Gi Woong's trip to the coast。 it is a dark film with much violence bitterness hatred but out of the darkness almost miraculously brings fragile glimmerings of light, love and hope💛💛
Wait I tried searching info on this but couldn't find anything. so like why is Taiwan like being God at releasing…
PRC government is homophobic maybe they are afraid the birth rate is dropping or just backward〜not the Chinese because there is a 2000 year history of GL there before 20 century
really interesting start and just gets better from quiet small beginnings in small provincial town about a clever local constable the plot becomes more complex progressing to involve high affairs of state〜the MLs have appealing chemistry of opposites reminding me of 「The Untamed」 and main female leads also have well-drawn characters〜 the wuxia is exciting without taking over the story。among the few dramas I can rewatch and wish was longer though one of the strengths is the tightness of the plot。 very glad I found this drama and I wish the MLs had more good roles though seem limited to support roles from MDL list❤️
cannot see how or why this is cut except maybe few harmless scenes of them in bed but without action or sitting closely together or obvious verbal flirting by Zhou〜 if that is objectionable to Chinese censors they must be very backward、 but maybe now even this is too much for them！ I find the suggestion of GL rather than actual sexual content quite OK as I can use my imagination and in my opinion Yan Zi Dong is very effective in doing this！am I right in seeing hints of same sex flirting by Liu's cousin （Myron Liu？） also? like this, hope is no sad ending like 「Love is more than a word」 on a general note I have read Chinese history and I must laugh at Chinese censors saying they want to protect ”traditional Chinese values” from corruption of morals considering same sex relations in China were accepted and widespread throughout Chinese history up to even the imperial court for centuries： this only changed with Western powers pushing into the country and bringing their narrow moral beliefs with them （all this also was true in Japan）、so their ”traditional values” now seem to be those of the West in twentieth century！
very slick well written and planned and well-acted thriller with plenty of action like the best K-drama of its genre〜the concept is not that original but it is well done 〜reminds me of 「Mission Impossible」except it is not one completed story for every episode but leaves cliffhanger〜 you have to focus to follow the detail 〜this is binge watch quality which is rare for me。Great cast both main and support。 you really want them to get those low-lifes in high places。Song Seung Hyeon was also in similar genre「 Black」（also with Kim Won Hae） and 「Time Slip Dr Jin」 that I liked but his main career roles seem romance or melodrama〜Kim Won Hae also has a long distinguished career in similar roles （main and support） from 「Nine Times Time Travel」、「Black」「 I am Human Too」 「Hotel del Luna」 to name a few
enjoy this good story attractive actors, costume, background but the modern political prejudices are hardly well hidden [Kuomintang one-sidedly portrayed as the inhumane thugs] and it is fairly obvious why Chinese censorship did not take a heavy hand with this despite the same sex undertones （some parts even contain virtual lectures：do not let the start put you off）：maybe in 2017 they thought with the propaganda it is worth risking effect of the heavy friendship！ yes、 end very telescoped （but you could say this about the whole drama） but it worked〜 look through the politics and use your imagination （though with Zhou Yao Huayou's character played by Yan Zi Dong maybe do not need much imagination） and this is endearing same sex drama〜
not taken with all the macho stuff especially in the early training episodes here but it improves and I begin to like it after a few episodes when Xia and Yuan are getting closer and sub plots come in with other characters 〜it is annoying this drama is very much affected by GL and gender stereotypes and ”real men" always must have a girlfriend and deflect any same sex feelings from themselves and keep up their macho image with throwaway expressions like "sissy" against others and so on which really reflect a backward society where GL is repressed and treated as abnormal but this is obviously the society in which the drama takes place
I'm less impressed by modern GL Chinese productions than wuxia and fantasy. But this is excellent list to alert us to many I never knew before. I especially liked Mermaid Jade.
For me the main virtue of this short GL Chinese movie is that it actually contains openly gay scenes 🏳️🌈 maybe just escaping the Chinese homophobic censorship〜 the story is nothing unusual of its genre except possibly the green blood❇️ and the mermaids of the title seem different from humans only by this and their possibly more ethereal makeup and clothing〜〜 but indisputably the best part of the movie is the end： brilliant original unexpected moving and beautiful with the music overpowering me with emotion 💕🔆 (♡ᵉ̷͈ัॢωᵉ̷͈ัॢ )‧₊°♡
this will not be to everyone's taste as it may seem slow and the characters not very dramatic、 do not be misled by the fierce opening scenes since although there is partly a court battle background most of the story plays out as a gentle comedy of manners with same sex attraction MLs。 I love the characters 〜the eccentric apparently slow-witted magistrate Tao Mo who actually has laser-like intuitive wisdom and the cool intellectual Gu She hiding his passionate nature deep within、 as well as their jealous retainers quarelling with each other and the various others on the make around the town and court〜and seeing how they relate and develop and there are law court sub plots as well as the background political intrigue to vary the story〜the final episode is very moving and confirms this as a GL story （maybe most openly so Chinese one I have seen）〜 it is a pity as others say that the series does not continue longer especially given most Chinese dramas are usually 30 episodes at least 〜maybe for political reasons
on a general note I have read Chinese history and I must laugh at Chinese censors saying they want to protect ”traditional Chinese values” from corruption of morals considering same sex relations in China were accepted and widespread throughout Chinese history up to even the imperial court for centuries： this only changed with Western powers pushing into the country and bringing their narrow moral beliefs with them （all this also was true in Japan）、so their ”traditional values” now seem to be those of the West in twentieth century！
(♡ᵉ̷͈ัॢωᵉ̷͈ัॢ )‧₊°♡