BLISS RATING: ★★★★★
“I think heaven will be like a first kiss” – Sarah Addison Allen
This is the best coming-of-age series I have ever seen, be it straight or gay. It flows over you like a warm summer’s breeze. It is soft, gently, caring, and so full of warmth. That is all do to the astonishing screenplay and brilliant acting by some very young actors. All of them so full of joy with an exuberance for life.
It is a saga of love between two couples. The first couple is between Qi Zhang (Jyun Shen), who, almost as if destiny is involved, will become connected with the most popular kid in the school named Ye Guang (Li Zhen Hao). At one of the lowest points in each of their young lives, they meet accidently as if two ships are passing through the night. He gives his umbrella to Qu Zhang, who is sitting on the curb in the pouring rain looking defeated, which then becomes a symbol of their connection. He keeps the umbrella as if to say he too will provide a shield for Ye Guang someday. As chance would have it, the two becomes friends. Despite Ye Guang enormous popularity, he has no one in his life he can relate to on an intimate level. Despite his popularity, he is – lonely. His parents are often gone and when home, simple see him as a clay mold to shape him into honor, duty, and family.
While Ye Guang’s family is rich, Qi Zhang is not. He helps his mother run and operate her small noodle shop and live spartanly. But he is a gifted musician and singer and on the side plays for an up-and-coming band. To a degree, he is like Clark Kent and Superman – when he wears his glasses, his persona is different. When he does not, he becomes his own individual.
Both become enamored with each other and crave each other’s attention and focus. Qi Zhang becomes Ye Guang’s human umbrella – always there trying to protect him from the elements of life. Always growing closer to each other and seeing qualities in each other that they have not realized or envious of the ones possessed by the other. Is it sexual? Perhaps but still unfocused and if so, more driven by underlying lust.
The second couple is between Qu Zhang’s friend, Ah Jian (Andy Huang) and Ye Guang’s best friend, Ray (Tim Hsu). Their relationship becomes deeply physical a bit too early for each to process its magnitude. Ray, a rather pensive and introspective person, is more deeply affected by Ah Jian’s hesitancy. As with young and new love, time is not always their friend. When Ah Jian realizes the intensity of his feelings for Ray, they become a committed couple. It is adorable to watch what so many of us have gone through at such a young age in wanting and lusting for a relationship.
In the meantime, Ye Guang and Qi Zhang are more unsure and unsteady but not necessarily unwilling. Finally, alone, they kiss. In an awkward yet passionate way, both admitting it was their first kiss. Who can not relate to what these two had just experience? If not, just remember….it will return.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? Impossible to clearly see as it depends upon the perspective you are looking through. Each is relatable and each has his own story to tell and by those standards, they all do. Hesitantly, I have a favorite, which has nothing to do with lack of acting by the others, but merely the depth of character. For me the most enigmatic individual was Ray, played by Hsu Shuo Ting. Almost a brother, guard, confident to Ye Guang. He is the deepest of the four. He feels the most and speaks volumes with his body language and tone. He is deeply introspective and knows exactly who he is. It was a remarkable portrayal of a character that showed such a profundity of understand who Ray is and was not afraid to show it. Always in the background, yet so pivotal to all the others. Simply a remarkable rendering of a character who stays in the background but is so integrative to the story itself. Kudos.
This is nearly a flawless production. Acting is superb with 3 out of the 4 only being 19. Still fresh in knowing what it was like to be in high school and how traumatic of a stage that was. They are remarkably believable. Their innocence, their awkwardness, their unsureness, and the intense vulnerabilities they carried around with them. Just a brilliant coming-of-age story. Told simply, honestly with no serious complications from the usual issues that we face from families, society, or ourselves when growing up.
Usually not spoken about but always assumed, BL series are filled with stunningly handsome guys. This is no exception here except to say that they are all so exceptional handsome. Displaying boyish charm and innocence yet flexing their wings as they begin to grow out of the shadows of their families’ controls.
If there is one criticism it is that the episodes are too short. It would have been more complete if we could ‘see’ a bit more of who these four were, especially Ah Jian and Ray.
What we got to see through a very small window were four young men who have loved for the first time. Nothing more. The beauty of it. The joy of it. The simplicity of it. And more importantly, we got to vicariously experience our own first love through their eyes again. Thank you for giving me that again – from a time oh so long ago.
One of the best in 2022 and will no doubt be a Top 10 Contender.
“Like an old photograph, time can make a feeling fade away, but the memory of a first love never fades away” – Tim McGraw
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