BLISS RATING: ★★★★★
“People come and go in your life. Being fortunate enough to have someone who stays by your side through thick and thin is a blessing.” – Quote from Unknown
Overall, this is a raw, gritty series that presents itself more like a documentary than a BL series. It is dark, brooding, and exceedingly realistic. The characters depict real people with real problems in real life actualities. I felt drained after watching this series. And categorically it is one of the most intelligently thought-out and refined BLs I have ever seen.
It started out dark and remained dark even though its essence is not dark.
The bedrock of this series is three-fold. Family, love, and commitment. It is a story of the complete dedication of Wei Qian (Chris Chiu) to his family. His mother abandons him, and his sister and he is forced to raise both himself and his sister Xio Bao (Tammy Lin). His attention is not to himself but to his now family.
Still struggling to raise his sister, he takes compassion on a street urchin and blends him into the family so that he now becomes a member of their family. Wei Zhi [Xiao] Yuan (Kurt Huang) becomes ‘brother’ both to Xio Bao and Wei Qian. They are deeply and profoundly committed to one other. Wei Qian’s overriding mission in life is to provide for his family to the deprivation of all other pleasures and comforts and health concerns as well. He will do what he must to provide.
Over the years, stirrings began to happen between Wei Qian and Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan falls in love with Wei Qian. But it is not in the usual sense of the word ‘love’. Ostensively, this series helps redefine a level of love perhaps not seen before. It is so much deeper than physical love. It is like a connection to him that is unbreakable and unshakeable. It is somehow meant to be. While Wei Qian tries to deny it for a long time, he too, in a much softer and a more extended fashion, begins to feel the connection between the two of them. Their relationship is a work of art as it advances.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? While all the actors and actresses are simply outstanding, who stands out the most to me is Kurt Huang as Wei Zhi Yuan. He is simply brilliant. We get to see so many facets of who Xiao Yuan is. From an angry young man to an arduous student to almost a Zen master in his approach to life and his confessions of love to Wei Qian. He literally gives Wei Qian a path to take to loving him, if and when he wants it. A path that is accepting, comforting, full of commitment, and complete. And most of all, indefatigable. Xiao Yuan shows Wei Qian the meaning and definition behind the quote above in the most basic and simplistic terms. Kurt’s acting is electrifying. He conveys love without having to say it. Everything about him shows commitment. I have not seen that many performances where the entire persona is committed to the characterization. He embodied strength, wisdom, and passion – most of the time without ever having to say anything. Just remarkable.
There is obviously a lot more to this story, but I could not keep my eyes off the burgeoning relationship between Xiao Yuan and Wei Yuan. While one may question the ethicality of the relationship, Xiao Yuan made it feel right and gave permission to Wei Qian to have it feel right as well. Frankly that is all that matters.
The presentation of this series is very dark and certainly contemplative. It feels perilous and is filmed in a rather hazy dim fashion. Perhaps reflective of life for many people whose lives are more represented by this series. Pedestrian. Overlooked. Where life is difficult. Full of struggles. Lots of pain. Many unfulfilled dreams and desires. Yet, the foundation for continuing is still family, love, and commitment.
Take the time to see life’s rawness through the eyes of its core foundation and still manage to find happiness. This series, I think, is the untold story of many ordinary people whose lives mirror the images of this series.
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