The On1y One (2024)

A Powerful Exploration of Growth and Healing

"The Only One" is a standout BL series of 2024 that transcends its "enemy to lovers" trope to deliver an emotional exploration of personal growth, trauma, and the transformative power of love. Through the forced bond of stepbrothers, Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing, offering a compelling narrative that echoes long after the credits roll.

The series excels in its portrayal of character development. Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian's complex relationship is anchored by Liu Dong Qin and Benjamin Tsang's exceptional performances. Their nuanced acting brings to life the characters' inner turmoil, making their journey of healing all the more relatable. The series skillfully explores the impact of past trauma on present-day relationships, showcasing how even the most seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome with love and support.

Beyond its strong characters and performances, "The Only One" boasts impressive cinematography and direction that enhance the storytelling. The series' visual aesthetic complements the emotional depth of the narrative, creating a truly immersive viewing experience.

In conclusion, "The Only One" is a must-watch for fans of BL dramas seeking a series that goes beyond surface-level romance. Its exploration of personal growth, trauma, and the power of love is both thought-provoking and heartwarming. With exceptional performances, a compelling narrative, and stunning visuals, "The Only One" is a standout series that deserves recognition as one of the best BL dramas of 2024.

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Love is Beautiful and Messy but worth it!!!

Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian did a COMMENDABLE job !!! OH MY GOD.....the chemistry , the touches , the stares, the covert glances, the slow burning and sizzling overflowing emotions, everything was just perfect. I felt the actors did justice to the characters.... I do not want to say much but urge you to go and watch it please. This is how characters should be developed , the relationship stared because forced proximity and situation, where they went from strangers to special someone for each other.

The ending is perfect and it made me hungry for season 2. Please we need to meet them again and see how the love blooms between them.

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WE NEED SEASON 2 OF THIS MASTERPIECE

Please give us a season 2!!!! Pleaseeee I need it for my soul. ❤️ Also, all viewers please remember to like this show on Netflix so they know the audience loved the series and want season 2.
The Review:
The cinematography and story was so good!!!
The acting was next level. I cried, I felt the tention, I felt the anger, I felt the happiness, I felt the love between the characters.
This is 100% the best acting I have seen in any series this year. Both Liu and Benjamin are just perfectly matched visually and they have insane chemistry. It's impossible not to root for their characters... the romance is more than just surface level.... you see how much they care for each other and how they complete each other. It's a beautiful love story.
I must add Andy Chen who plays Gao Tian is super charming. He's so cute and charismatic.
Please season 2... PLEASE!!!!!

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This is a Masterpiece

The story, the cast ,the acting...it's an overall 10 series of the year.
Talking about the actors, I can't imagine anyone else doing either of the characters. Benjamin has become my favourite. He is really emoting the character well. I really wish for season 2 with the same cast (if not I drop the idea of watching it!), because nobody can replace this.
The story is actually been focusing many different aspects (the friendship,the family and the side couple)
which is making it more entertaining and anticipating to watch.

Hope for the success of this series and actors.

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Story with an amazing storyline of 2024

I am absolutely in love with this series. I'll share the things that kept me hooked up till the end. I really hate rushed storylines or too slow story too, for me this story have an absolute balance it's not too rushed to make them fall in love immediately or too slow that the characters doesn't come close till the end of the series. Another thing about the story is the way the dialogues deliver their emotions especially in a poetic manner, the deep meanings attached is my favourite. As for acting, I don't think kissing or being close define chemistry, it's way more than that in BL for me and the actor had the capability to show the chemistry even without being close, especially their eyes the love, pain, fear were all in their eyes it was so evident. The actors did an absolute fabulous job, the cast not just main but also the support actors are well suited for their parts, all are doing an amazing job. The show delivering not just love but complications of age, family, friends all in one, that so, so beautifully that I can't wait for the season 2. I am literally ready to beg on my knees for it.....??‍♀️

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The most perfect love story I've seen in a while

There are many aspects that make this the best BL show I've seen this year, but in this review, I'll concentrate only on why Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian are perfect for each other and why I think they are "The On1y One" for each other.

Let's start with Jiang Tian. I don't think I remember the last time I've seen someone to appreciate, adore and respect their love interest as much as Jiang Tian does. I did a rewatch of the entire show the last couple of days and with the exception of one time (the revenge kiss at the beginning of episode 3), I never saw Jiang Tian get angry at Shang Wang, no matter what he did. He was hurt and confused both times when Wang pulled away from him, but he still tried to understand and never blamed Wang or tried to pressure him into anything. He accepts him for what he is from the very beginning and is there for him, but only to support and encourage him, never to try to change him in any way. For him, Wang is perfect the way he is.

Wang is clumsy and falls down a lot? Well, it's adorable, and if necessary, Tian will let him drag him to the ground and lay down with him. Wang pouts a lot? Tian thinks it's the cutest thing he's even seen and it makes him smile every time. Wang is picky about food? No problem, Tian will make sure to get him something he would eat. Wang needs help to catch up with his lessons? Tian will stay up at night with him and will prepare notes for him, even with the power down. Wang wants to skip class? Tian will go with him even though he's never done it before. Wang gets drunk by accident and needs someone to bring him home? Tian will do that, carry him home on his back, even though Wang is taller and bigger than him, without accusing him or blaming him. Wang needs to distance himself, because he has to sort out him newly discovered romantic feelings? Tian will accept that, even though it hurts him immensely, and will wait for him. Wang constantly needs to borrow ink fillers? Tian has them ready for him. Wang can't stand a bully treating a helpless man like dirt and hits him? Tian is right there and will do the same. Wang doesn't want the honor student title? Tian doesn't either.

Also, he lets Wang make all the important decisions that define their relationship with each other at his own speed. More on this later.

Seriously, it's so rare to find someone who completely and utterly adores you like that. Of course, Tian is generally the caring type and this is his way to express his love for everyone he cares about, but his absolute devotion for Wang overtakes the way he treats everyone else in the show, because the difference is that unlike with the others (his mother, Uncle Ding, etc.) he opens up to Sheng Wang and not only shows him that he cares, but also tells him, several times. Tian is the perfect person for Wang, because for him, Wang can do no wrong, and he's able to read and understand what Wang wants and needs and is willing to do anything to give it to him, even if it hurts him.

Now about Wang. Although there are similarities in their childhood (both have experienced abandonment, although a different kind), Wang has a different way to deal with it and hasn't closed up like Tian. Wang is, despite having no mother and an absentee father and being forced to move a lot, thus becoming an outsider in his schools, an open, curious, friendly and positive person. He's capable of opening up to Tian almost from the very beginning and in being active, in talking about himself, smiling, making puppy eyes, asking for (or demanding) things, even being bothersome sometimes and making Tian care about him, he manages to get Tian out of his self-inflicted isolation and make him enjoy life without dwelling too much on the past. Tian didn't want to attend the first party with their classmates at the beginning; at the end, he was there and no one questioned it. He never participated in the school games before; this time he did, because Wang was there. Wang is the sunshine, Tian the sunshine-protector. It's Wang who moves their relationship forward and makes the important decisions, Tian simply follows them, because he knows that being with Wang, whichever way possible, has changed his life for the better. There is a person who genuinelly cares and understands and expresses it without being scared. This person also appreciates everything he does for them. In episode 12, they made a very important point: Wang is a brave person, and I think Tian got it.

It's Wang who tries, clumsily, but still, to break the ice when he went to Tian's room to ask for help with the homework he couldn't do. While he wasn't brave enough to say what he wanted, Tian is very smart and got it anyway, and the first step was done. It was Wang who added Tian's number and chat contact on his phone first and asked to be friends and was hoping that Tian would confirm it. It was Wang who pointed out to Tian that everybody around them was the opinion that they were close to each other, even though it wasn't true, and it was Wang who opened up and told Tian about his lonely childhood, about what happened after his mother died and his father stopped coming to comfort him, thus making Tian decide that the past didn't matter anymore and they should try to become close. It was Wang who decided that first they were going to stay together in the house and after getting why Tian wasn't able to feel there at home and would stay only because of him, he changed his mind and told Tian they should stay together in the dorm in order for Tian to finally have a place to call home. It was Wang who took Tian out on a date (well, not officially, but this is what it was), bought the bracelets, and made a promise to be there for him. And of course, painful as it it, it was Wang again to decide that he needed some distance from Tian in order to get his feelings sorted. What broke my heart was that Tian immediately closed himself to others after that. Without Wang around, Tian turns into the person we met at the beginning of the series - the best student in the class and respected for it, but with no friends, no other contacts except an elderly man who used to take care of him as a child but to whom he hasn't completely opened up either, and no real happiness, dramatic as it sounds, in life. Tian hitting the wall in the last episode was not exaggerated, because he knew Wang was deliberately pulling away from him and saw how far Wang would go to do that, and he felt absolutely helpless and knew he couldn't do anything to prevent it and had to wait until Wang comes around. He literally was experiencing the person he cares about most and the only one able to make him smile and laugh and relax and just enjoy simple things putting a barrier between them. This hurts.

To sum it up: these two complement each other perfectly and I honestly can't remember the last time I'd seen such a well-written couple. I have to admit that I needed some time and understanding to appeciate episode 12, because the ending was not what I wanted, but after waiting and rewatching it today I have to say that while I still would've preferred a different ending, I've changed my mind so far as to say that episode 12 is exactly as good and amazing as the rest, and the fact that Tian, despite his breakdown, realised that Wang will return to him and he has to wait for him. is enough even if season 2 doesn't happen. Because Tian knows Wang will come back, and we know, too.

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left my heart in a state of colossal turmoil

I'm writing this after shreding a mug ( lets be real a liter) of tears or something. I hadn't even finished the series when the tears kicked in. Personally I'm not AT ALL someone who likes to cry or people who cry, but the ending....just. broke. me.
This series was.......in more than just a few ways.....of retreat for me. The first few minutes of me, right after watching the last episode, was distraught. Usually I don't watch dramas that are still in the phase of being aired, due to the uncertainty of the endings, but I just had a feeling back then....that this would be great. And honestly it was, until the last 12 mins of ep 12.
This series................it's got that essence to it which says: Those transient years of teenage are like the golden leaves of fall. It's a series which lets you read into the tinest interactions between the leads, defying the reality (in the story) and keep hoping that it's gonna be possible, wishing that those hugs, lingering touches, stolen glances turn out to be something more than just brotherly love.
In the 11 eps, Jiang Tian and Sheng Wang slowly learn about eachother, through ups and downs, the darkess of their pasts, and slowly become eachother's safe place. *giggles* From the very first day the chemistry between them was very much something that only a chemistry-blind, low eq dumbo would not be able to see. The tranquility of the series was so satisfying, somehow it makes you fall in love with the process of falling in love as a 17 year old when you feel like you can be at the top of the world. The slow and steady unraveling of the 'emmotionally fort'-ed Tian and the 'love deprived' Wang, gets you soo deep into the story that you don't even realise before you start noticing every minor detail, every small act, looking into the meaning. Grinning and screaming at the screen.
The cinematography, was very very very beautifully placed. The steadiness and the stillness so crystally placed. Changing weathers with changing feelings. Beautiful. Growing emotions with growing times.
The last 12 mins though, killed me. Big brother, broken bracelets, intentional failing to change classes, and distancing.
In many ways the series has left open an option for a season two and I would watch it again even breaks my heart.

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A RECORD OF YOUTH

Strangers who turned enemies, then friends to brothers before they realised that what they felt for each other was so much more.

This is what I signed up for to begin with. I never imagined life at 17 could be that tedious or that two divergent characters could abandon their own natures and embrace those of their better halves.

Now this is more than an average junior high school crush when you realise that "spoiler alert" almost all the Couples feel restrained, afraid perhaps even uncertain of themselves. They fight heads on and yield the same way until you realise that they are all willing to give up as much or more for each other's sake. I couldn't find any reason to deny this show the perfect 10 perhaps even 1,000,000/10 cause it deserves it being a story of growth, sacrifice, longing and the feeling of wanting something you'd never have.

We need a season 2. This is my favourite BL of 2024.

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Spectacular series, awfully wrapped up... unless they are messing with us.

Please, someone helps me out here to understand what the fck of a finale I have just watched!

What the hell happened? I mean, is this the finale for real? 
Cos honestly, it doesn't make any sense: you, screenwriter/s, create a gay series just to end up suggesting that it's better to nip things in the bud and put distance in order to forget that you like your own genre friend?! OMG! 
This ending could be easily the most anti-LGBT thing I have ever seen in my whole life! 
Not even the Pope himself or Mohammed could think of such a strategy of reverse psychology, Wow! LOL
Basically, you spent 12 episodes in view of teaching how to give up the one you love and how to renounce and avoid temptations, trying to correct yourself like if it were a possible choice for a gay person?! Are you fking kiddin' me?! 
Except for the very end where you give us the ridiculous sop of "Pass the next exam"/"Okay" thing?! Whaaaaaaat?

So, now: I get it all wrong, right? RIGHT? Tell me I got it completely wrong, because unfortunately that is the message I received from the finale of the series and right now I am astonished! I cannot believe what I have just seen, I must be drunk or stoned without even knowing.

Though, if I got it wrong as I hope, then my production's friends, you really don't know how to create, write and film a season finale, and I am talking about the presentation and the form of the narrative development, not about the content of the plot. So again, the fault is yours. LOL
Because what the hell happened to the male teacher couple?!
We got a confession (as if it were ever needed, I mean, your mate has just kissed you on your mouth 2 days before and you, for real, ask him now if he does like the female teacher? How stupid and slow you must be! What did you need? Two meters of his tongue in your throat to get the message? I am shouting this to the screenwriter, of course).
And then nothing else?!  SERIOUSLY?!  It is just finished this way! How is that even possible?

What happened to the boys' parents? What about the Granpa?
And also... what is the use of failing the exam for splitting up if you are still in the same freaking room as him?! Didn't it occur to the writers to let the audience know that maybe Sheng Wang was about to go back home, for example?! You know, just for adding a little bit of logical sense to this foolish end!

We are not talking here about some sort of open ending, this is not, cos there is no end of any kind here! Not a chance.
This finale just cuts abruptly a storyline and it is not for debate: if you stop the story-telling at its peak, on its climax, you just kill the story itself, and you can't even call this a cliffhanger, cos generally in this industry you get a cliffhanger AFTER the main narrative arch is concluded, for introducing a new plot that is super interesting and breathtaking; or you can have nice cliffhangers between episodes, for instance. But that, again, is not the case here! 
So, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PRODUCTION?!
DiD YOU GET BORED TO FILM ALL OF A SUDDEN? LOL

UNLESS —and here is where I have been waiting for you since the start— you did all of that cos you guys had already signed this project for 2 or 3 seasons.
If that is the case, then stop being ridiculous and just announce it to the desperate public. Anyway, there you should have put well-designed and smart cliffhangers instead of cuts and walls all over the place. You make yourself clear through your filming that a second season will follow.

But, otherwise, IF you are NOT SURE you can pull it through, if you just casually took the shot without having a clue if the series would get a renewal for a second season, then shame on you! We have seen this attitude already countless times in old western TV series and in current Japanese anime, so... WTF!
Therefore this finale is simply bad from a film technical standpoint: awful structure, absurd chapters division for the lack of time balance (you were on drugs while creating the storyboard) and in conclusion, apart from the main leads, all the other characters simply disappear from the end of the story and basically they can go suck it; I dunno what else I may add! 
Pros should never work this way; they should always have a decent respect for the audience, if not, make ourselves a favor: keep the half story for yourself if you are not able to tell one entirely and let others have the job done. Thank You.

I am pissed off as hell, cos I give a super vote to this fantastic series, one of the best gay series on TV of the last 30 years worldwide, both Asian and western TVs; I am dead serious.
It is marvelous: realistic, believable, sensitive and deep, amusing and poor of clichè. All the characters are very well characterized and defined, 3D persons; all the actors, and i mean it, are great: the entire cast plays spontaneously, never overacting.
The dialogues between Little Chili and Gao Tian Yang are superbly written and their back-and-forth exchanges are amazingly performed by the actors. Andy Chen really did a splendid performance throughout the whole series: his naturalness in playing that role makes me think of him as any of my old classmates still beside me.
Beautiful directing, nice editing, maybe not original or innovating but still very good, cos the pace of narration is amazing: great rhythm, peaks and pauses that create a beautiful dynamic in the story-telling speed, with the result of having you addicted, greedy and eager for every tiny detail in every episode.
The attunement and the chemistry between the leads are really good, so much that they totally remind you of "Your name engraved herein" (Taiwanese cinema docet indeed) with several contact points. The building up of their bond and their attachment is really well thought out; it follows natural and realistic steps, giving this way real substance to their story.

In short, literally everything was great and stunning... until... the finale arrived... my goodness...
It is just neither a proper series finale nor a season finale. No matter how you put it, cinematically speaking, it just sucks. 
If someone had told me yesterday, I would never believe that I would have managed to find a worse TV-show finale than the "Game of Thrones" one! LOL

Damn you, TV's contracts, you create prostitutes amongst authors... sigh.

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