Completed
Middle Aged Puerto Rican
0 people found this review helpful
May 6, 2020
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers
I love these stories but because of the BL aspect of them they are not allowed to end. I would almost prefer a death because at least the story will have closure. The Chinese studios/writers and produces never give the second season or at least a special episode to these series. If leaves me frustrated and frankly not very happy. From now on i will read the reviews so i know if the shows are cut off so i don't waste my time. I am sorry to be brat about this but there are too many movies and series out there that give me an ending whether happy or sad at least i get an ending.

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Completed
Felipe
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 19, 2021
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Just pretend the last scene doesn't exist

Even before I started Advance Bravely, I knew that the ending sucked and that the show got censored hard, so it influenced the quality towards the end. But, honestly, it would have been SO much better to just end it at the hospital or with a voice over saying that everyone is okay and landscapes/b-roll from the training facility. That animated scene is so random and out of nowhere that it’s, thankfully, easy to just pretend it doesn’t exist, so that it doesn’t ruin the overall show. I’d say that we can just pretend like the entire last episode, but the “confession” scene is the well is nice. But not as nice is the “don’t mess with my baby” from Yuan Zong’s revenge.

Yes, this show is not perfect, but I think they managed to get a few regular BL shot in there, like many Yuan Zong and Xia Yao doing romantic things and several scenes of them sleeping together. This show is basically carried by the chemistry between the two leads, since the main plot doesn’t make much sense. The ear bitting scenes are basically their version of kissing scenes, in this universe. The production used the songs in a clever way to say what the characters are thinking in those scenes where they couldn't go a step further, like the scene with the hot towel after the acupuncture.

The subplot between Da Yu and Wang Zhi Shui is not amazing but it’s not the worst either. Peng Ze as a whole didn’t need to exist because he doesn’t do anything at all. I’m still trying to understand what Yao’s job is and how did he manage to not go to work for many, many days and still have have that job. I liked the mom character.

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Completed
Suicide
0 people found this review helpful
Sep 18, 2019
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 5.5
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Mhmm, i give it a 7.

It's decent. It's not the best thing I've watched nor is it the worst so don't get too hyped up about it just because it's a 'Bromance', your expectations will be the cause to your depression.

The series would have been a lot better if Xia Yao was played by a different actor.
They missed out crucial information linked to the narrative so you're basically left on a cliff-hanger when the series ends. So, I guess we should all expect a season 2.
But, all in all, it's good.

Yours truly,

Suicide.
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Completed
AKAshon
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 7, 2020
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Pretty Good Until the Middle When Story Started to Make No Sense...

Overlong. Messy. Nonsensical especially in its last 10 episodes. Like there's literally no logic. It felt like the writer was just trying to throw random plot points at the wall and see which ones sticks. Props to China for using unique concepts in their BL's like Advance Bravely, The Untamed and Guardian, unlike Thailand which are always set in university. Though I do immensely love Thai BL's, it would be nice to have some different settings and concepts. It is unfortunate about China's censorship on LGBT relationships in films and TV shows though. They are censoring great works of art that could be immensely better if it weren't for the ban. I'm really surprised that this series passed the sensors to be honest. It's quite homoerotic and blatant in its portrayal of gay love, unlike say like The Untamed who is more subtle. A coming out scene to the parents would have been nice at the end but that would mean being blatantly gay, thus not passing the sensors.

Yuan Zong is literally the perfect boyfriend and the interactions between the two main leads were quite cute and adorable. However, The series does drag a bit in the middle though as nothing important happens. Even though the series is 30 episodes long, their relationship seemed a bit quick. Xia Yao went from being nervous around Yuan Zong to staying with him overnight, wanting him to scratch his back in like the span of a few episodes.

A few questionable plot points throughout the series though like why Da Yu would not know that he was carrying a stranger and why he would let the random stranger sleep over. It does provide comic relief though. And why is Da Yu so obsessed with Wang Zhi Shui. Or Da Yu being extra when an instructor kicked Xia Yao. Or Xia Yao being held against his will because the sister wanted to treat his 'premature ejaculation.' WTF?! And all the people helping her?! It makes no sense at all! Or when and why Yuan Zong and Xia Yao started to live together all of a sudden? There was zero talking about this. They just randomly started to live together and sleep on the same bed shirtless. This show is more light-hearted than I was expecting. The poster promotes a very different type of series; one that is more epic and wuxia.

Random plot points that don't make any sense like the random charity towards the end, a movie being shot where Wang Zhi Shui is the star. Xia Yao's random trauma of guy legs. Like wtf?! And it never got resolved. Or Xia Yao helping children cross the street in an inch-long flood. Or utterly stupid life-and-death scenario at the end when the construction workers asked random people in cars to help try to rescue a worker who fell down a well and the 'super selfless' Xia Yao decided to help them and then got stuck down there. Uh what?! Like could the construction worker like throw down the rope to him after pulling up the worker who initially fell down the well? And how the eff did Yuan Zong and the other bodyguard members get there before the firefighters? It makes no sense at all! And that animated ending which was literally one of the worst ending that I've ever seen in my entire life!

Even at 30 episodes, the story felt incomplete. Literally Nothing was resolved! None of the characters’ stories were complete! I've read that the original version of Advance Bravely had 35 episodes but the BL scenes were cut due to the broadcasting restrictions. I wonder how the censorship affected this show’s production. The censorship was implemented December 2015. I'm guessing that this show was filmed before the restriction. But does it take 1.5 years to edit since it began to air August 2017? Still, even with the restriction, the story could have been so much better and the animated ending could have easily been scrapped. Another series ruined by China censorship. Addicted Heroin. Advance Bravely. The Untamed. Ugh, China...

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Completed
Brandycloe
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 18, 2023
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

the ending (eye roll)

I love this little bromance story but, I really really hate the way it ended. and the fight scene at the wearhouse the explosions was about as fake as heck. this is my personal feelings , so sorry if it offended anyone. now it wants me too leave at least 500 words for my review. man that it dumb I can see if it was no more than 500 but must have is a bit much.i guess I'll just blab awsy..lol so why is China so against same sex love . they need too open their eyes and come to the present and future ..
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Completed
Ana
0 people found this review helpful
Nov 18, 2023
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Censored Snoozefest

**Brief Synopsis**
B (Bodyguard): Yuan Zong
T (Rich Kid): Xia Yao

- Beginning: B is an athlete and T is a rich kid. They are from two different worlds. Their universes collide however when B’s sister as B to approach T so he can ask T if he would consider her and T’s sister asked him to approach B so he can ask B if he would consider her. At the beginning, B really didn’t like T, but end up having to spend more time with him.

- Middle: As they spend more time together, they start developing feelings for each other and starting a relationship.

- End: The series ends with T saving B’s life by getting B out of well. They both end up in the hospital but reconciled.

**My Opinion**

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT:
- I really like the concept of enemies to lovers with an added twist.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT IT:
- The acting is just terrible. It’s so awkward and cringey to the point I really don’t want to watch anymore.
- The plot is super boring and the show is censored in many ways to make it more bromance than BL.

**Conclusion**
This is a show I will never touch again.

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Completed
Rayqal Azlee
0 people found this review helpful
May 21, 2020
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 5.5
This review may contain spoilers

For the bad thing:

Quite disappointed with the ending, can’t relate on the animations part at the end of the series. And as many people said there are certain parts with a bit confusion. And slow storylines as well.

For the good things:

Anyways, overall of the series are good and enjoyable to watch. Love all the actors and actresses. They have a good chemistry together especially for the main couple YZ and XY. We can see a lot of bromance things happened in this series. Good JOB.
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Completed
18months
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 9, 2023
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

The most rewatch value ever

I feel like I have to come back here and say how much this drama worth it, starting by the exciting and INCREDIBLE history that Chai Jidan written and going by the PERFECT acting of the main role, you cannot watch this and not have a big and wide smile while some scenes, you will fall in love, I always fall for them. I watch this drama a long time ago but I always rewatch not because I love all about it but is it because its super hard to find such a good love and act theses days. I remembet to search a lot some similar but never find. Like Addicted Heroin, this beautiful story is more than amazing. I just to say that I miss them a lot and hope for more.

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Completed
MinnieDK
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 26, 2024
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5

Worth the watch and rewatch!

A pretty nice drama!!! But the ending is so sudden, like it leads up to another season but then just ends… I LITERALLY DROPPED MY PIZZA WHEN IT SUDDENLY ENDED!!! 😭💖
This drama is a BROMANCE but a good one. Even though there are no kisses at all and some scenes cuts of bit sudden I would still recommend this drama! 🤩
The main couple had some pretty sweet moments where I started giggling and blushing but sadly these scenes often cuts off, I guess because of censorship, sadly, cause this drama could have been so good!
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Completed
Cheriann17815
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 6, 2024
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Lacking Something

I know they were not able to add kissing and more. I understand but there is nothing more than brother friend feeling to the story. I personally thought the acting was good. There are three “couples” and they might or might not be in love. There are hints to say they might be in love but for instance the main lead’s sister never says I think they hang out together because they care for each other. would this be too much? I am not sure. I do think that China let them make a bromance story is probably a lot for them. There is still some kind of emotional attachment missing. The two main leads have a connection but it is not on a deep level. The side characters are way too comedic and the ending is too. I have watched stories where the leads never kiss and they have slight comedy but still the story gives a bit of room for emotions without the sudden comedic moment. The flow is off when the comedy overwhelms the emotion. This all may be due to the restrictions imposed. so this is worth a watch but not a multiple time watch. We will have to wait for these kinds of countries to grow up a bit. Seems childish to be so much against this when the world has big issues and problems.

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Completed
Ggrosz
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 10, 2024
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

a nice picture puzzle w/missing pieces

If I am correct, this might be before Go Jun completed Word of Honor. His Censorship. portrayed the character well. The
entire cast, from lead to support did an excellent job. Production might be lacking a little in wardrobe; viewers can actually tell which scenes were filmed at the same day due to wardrobes. Props integration need a Lil work (mannequin in the well).
I feel it could have been directed better because the sequencing seems off a couple of times although it didn't really ruin the story.
Last but not least, I read that there was originally an uncut version of this series that made it more fulfilling to watch. Sadly, that may be buried since this was released 6 years ago. For a Chinese bromance series, don't expect what you normally see in a typical Korean, Japanese and Thai BL works. The closest this will get is a brotherhood relationship that hints that there could be more but then suddenly a scene or line is inserted that would tell pull you back that it's nothing more. There was a scene where the second leading man while in bed with Go Jun told Go Jun he isn't only being nice to him because of his sister and that will tell him in the future. the entire series ended without any scene revealing that reason.

I recommend this to any Go Jun followers because this shows his early talent that can be compared to his recent ones.
Kudos to the producer for bravely producing this series and doing their best to meet the strict censorship.

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Completed
Faith_H
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 23, 2021
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 3.5
Rewatch Value 1.0

Left Unsatisfied...

To be frank, I watched this via Youtube earlier this year; ergo my review will encompass the things that I still remember to this date. It's not as fresh. ^_^ Probably a good thing because I was so irritated. LOL. I had been searching for a good contemporary BL to watch and...this was not it. Sadly. It did have potential though.

Things I liked:
- Simon Gong did his part well. And the other lead as well. I liked the moments between them.

Things I disliked:
- The girl, Yuan Zong's sister who had a crush on Xia Yao, was annoying.
-The ending is atrocious with an anime style graphic that comes out of nowhere and has nothing to do with the issues at hand in the story. It ends abruptly and the story feels unfinished.
- Heavily censored. Some scenes cut off abruptly and the story would pick up somewhere completely different. All those sweet scenes between the leads that I liked so much got cut off before they ever fully finish the moments. Irritating. And it was super obvious.

Overall, it wasn't perfect, but I had been into it, and willing to put up with the heavy censoring hand, but that ending was just the epitome of stupid. What kind of sadist ends a story like that?!

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Advance Bravely (2017) poster

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