The On1y One (2024)

SEASON 2 is a MUST.

The On1y One is a BL series from Taiwan and they really make good ones. I will be honest and be straight that this is such a good series and my only ick is that ending. I know that they are trying to set up a second season for this show but I am not sure if there will be one so I am a bit scared that this might be where things will be going. Anyways, before we start with the talks of the second season, let us first talk about the first one. The story is about Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian who are now forced to be siblings because Sheng Wang’s father and Jiang Tian’s mother are now a couple and they are now starting to live together. We have seen this kind of siblings to lover’s storyline but what makes this so good are the characters. I want to highlight that the relationship may have started as this cliché storyline that we have seen where they are fighting but end up together. I think you can say that it is in a way like that but what makes this so good is that the characters are amazing not just the lead characters but everyone in the story. It is important in making a good show and they were able to cast amazing actors here. On top of that, we also have an amazing writer and director that did not really let the story stale. It is flowing seamlessly and they really focused on letting the relationship between the lead characters grew so naturally that it convinces me why they are so close together. Sheng Wang is played by Liu Dong Qin who resembles New so much from Thailand and is the other half of my favorite love team in Thailand so I am immediately drawn to him. He is so cute and I think what really made this character so attractive is that he is smart and acts so cute. I will have to say that I even fell in love with how the character is portrayed. He is also very nuanced as we got a side story of a kid who really loves his mother who died so the fact that a new woman is taking in that position from her deceased mother is a bit hard for him and that is understandable but they did not play on the character recklessly. Instead, he is a very kind person who accepted her as part of his family but not a replacement of his mother but an addition to his family and that really is such a mature thing to do. I feel like we do not always get that kind of representation onscreen so that is much appreciated. We also have Jiang Tian who is played by Benjamin Tsang. The character is more reserved and is the top student. He is very stereotypical smart kid but what him so interesting to watch is how his character evolved from being someone who easily moves from one place to another to someone who have found his own place. I feel like he had to play a much darker character with all the trauma that he had to go through when he was younger. I think it was believed that his father is abusive but little did we know is that there is so much to the story. This is a miss for the show and I hope something that they will tackle more about because this is a good storyline and to leave it like that is just bad. Jiang Tian had more of the opening up to do here because he is the more reserve character but we also got amazing Jiang Tian moments at the end where he is showing so much concern for him and I love those moments regardless of how small they may all have been. It is such a sweet story to see Jiang Tian and Sheng Wang really have this connection that is just getting stronger as the story progress. Actually, the small details that they were able to put in is really highlighting how this relationship went pass being brothers and into lovers already because they are so romantic to each other already. They had so many good scenes together where they are so sweet but I would understand if they will take their time thinking about it considering how Jiang Tian first saw something like it and how they are still very young kids. I mean, just look at Xi and Linzi who are adults already and are still confused with it. I think I will forgive them if they are just letting the characters have some time to figure things out. I think that is okay and they are still young. I just want to make sure that we will have a second season and get a happy ending because the ending we got here is not really sad but they are apart. I think it will be not the best way to end such story considering how they are really pushing for it. Anyways, I just want to give a special shoutout to their friend group. I think they were really able to establish a good set of characters to be their friends here. They are so fun but Andy Chen as Gao Tian Yang is just criminally hot. He is the hottest and funniest boy in their class and I just instantly fell in love with this guy. He is so cute and the muscles are insane. INSANE. He is so hot. I wish we got to see his shirt off but we did not. He is so nice to everyone to and he had this storyline of him being into Little Pepper but she is interested in Sheng Wang. Now, this is another storyline that I wish they are trying to explore in the second season. We really need a second season for this show because there are so many loose ends in the story and I wish they release it now. I love and enjoyed this show so much that I am wishing to see more of it as soon as possible.

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A GAME CHANGER

There's a lot to say about The On1y One, but one thing is for sure; this will captivate you until the very end. Watching the boys trying to navigate their lives while simultaneously going through their own changes and orientations with doubt and uncertainty's, is somewhat refreshing and heart wrenching. You can't help but route for them but also empathize that maybe just maybe it can't be. You can feel them through the screen crying for help. The chemistry between these characters has you thinking they've known eachother their whole lives. The cinematography, production, music, everything felt complete and harmonious. Hoping for a season 2 and the continuation of their story .

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Sad but real

I do want to understand why people have disliked the ending so much. I mean everyone was well aware of the possibility (and almost reality) of the series not ending in great terms.

Let's be serious: who hasn't ever been in denial or in denial about a potential relationship? It's totally understandable why Sheng Wang is rejecting his own feeling. Just try to put yourself in his place: you've never fallen in love with anyone and, now that the time has come, this someone has to be your best friend and even your """""""stepbrother"""""" (I hate people calling them brothers yuck)! Wouldn't you also be crazy? Try to see from the perspective of the character.

Furthermore, talking about capitalism reasons, you know pretty well that the team wants us to be as anxious and nervous as possible for another season. This the only way to stay with the hype up. We'll probably get another season. Taiwan does it a lot and, if they continue following the novel, the S2 will also be perfect. Please continue hyping the series to make it possible

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Hopefully we get a part 2!!

I finished the show and I had to read reviews and shit because I was super confuse for a minute. Now, the cast was marvelous everybody understood their job and fulfilled it excellent. However, as always I needed more. The story had my questioning wether this was a romantic BL or if the protagonist are really in an sentimental relationship like whats up. Despite that I like the story. It was not rushed I think some scenarios were unnecessary but, I understand the portrayal. Like Sheng its only 17 so we definitely have a long way to go. On the other hand, what concerns me is the fact that we dont have a season 2 confirm lol. Definitely this series is a slow rollercoaster ride but I like it bc you grow with them to the point of even navigating and overcoming your own traumas. I really hope we get part 2 or more episode with them as adult and not just for the main couple if they make it to couple land. But also Pepper and Gao like I need to see that couple. In addition to Qi Jiahao issues there is still so much to see. So I will keep my hopes for the series.

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Emotional damage, but I love it!

It's not just a bromance , and not yet a full boys love. But everything is here, we just need to wait...maybe because they're teens, underage high schoolers or because it's 2012. and same sex married wasn't legalized at the time ( 2019 was a breakthrough year).

I'm glad they didn't have characteristics of Thai bl- humping, jumping and d-ucking on every corner.

This was/is a beautiful story , where you finally try to understand your feeling and still you don't know how to react, cause you're still immature but the feelings are here and won't move on. You need to keep swimming, unit it's the right time. We saw how much time 2nd 'couple' needed to express themselves.

Main actors were fantastic, how they manage to express their emotions with just facial expressions . Let's hope there'll be 2nd season and the cast would be the same .

This show really stole my heart ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
I'll definitely read the novel .

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A flower that didn't get to bloom

I can't express how much I loved it, it was very unique and special drama, yet, it didn't feel complete, it felt like a very long preface and stopped right at the first chapter.

I have to say first that I haven't read the source material I know the series adapt a part of a whole, but my opinion relies only on the series, so excuse me if I ignore the whole and focus only on the part adapted.

What I liked about this drama despite the slow pace is the way the story is represented, I totally got immersed in it and wanted to see more, and although I mainly started it because it was a BL, I didn't really care about the lack of romance for the most of it, I also felt robbed of the relationship development as it stopped at a very critical point but that didn't deprive the story from it's charm.
Acting was amazing, I can't believe the two leads are actually that old, they fit their ages pretty well, and they did great job, specially the 30YO Liu Dong Qin, despite applying half a bottle of foundation on his beard area and how obvious it looked but I bought that he is 17.

However, what made me anxious toward the end - beside knowing that I won't find a drama as good after finishing it - is that I knew there won't be enough time to show the relationship and the blossoming romance between them.
And that really left me in a pinch, because I don't know if adapting a small part of the source material and stop the drama at this point on the story and depend on having a second season to tie up loose end is a good idea or not, because second season isn't promised and many problems could arise making it difficult to produce a second season, that been said, i also can't imagine changing and of the episodes to include more of the story as I believe it could take away from the beauty of how it's made.
I mean, ep9 is amazing I had so much fun watching it and despite most of it being a filler, I don't wish to change a thing about it.

Overall I love it as it is, slightly hoping that the plan of having a second season would be true and we will get to see more of them, I really want to see those two boys in love.

I really recommend this, it's one of a kind and very perfectly made.

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Simple done very well!

A massive congratulations to the cast and crew for a well thought off bl! I am forever in love with the cast (especially you andy chen!!!) and will forever cherish them in my heart!

Weeks ago when this was airing ep 1 and 2, I just saw this series on my fyp on TikTok and thought to myself that this might just be a silly Taiwanese series just for the vibes (cause I saw the truth or dare scene! the kiss was what reeled me in!), but woah was it more than that!

I might sound like I'm overhyping the quality, but c'mon you gotta admit everything was done soo well! The song choice, the camera angles, the script, and the lighting?! The production team carried a lot as well as the actors! I honestly was not prepared for what is to come, and honestly am very thankful for this rollercoaster of a show! We went through so much in such little time and I would applaud how the pacing fits sooo well!

This series so simple, like it has the most basic Taiwanese bl plot of step brother but it is sooo well done! It had it's own unique flair and style! I will forever love you Shang Weng and Jiang Tian ( and Gao Tianyang MY HUBBY) This is definitely forever one of my top bls to date!

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What was that ending?

This show made me so mad. It was a great beautiful story (very slow moving) and then it just ends abruptly. It's too many open ends. There are so many plot points that are not wrapped up.
You have
1. The Substitute teachers
2. Tian's Dad
3. Both leads parents relationship
4. Tian relationship with his mother
5. Sheng's relationship with his father
6. The overachiever boy and his insecurities
7. The English teacher

And that's just seven right off the top of my head. There's a few more that I'm too mad to remember at the moment. That is why I gave this such a low score. Those take away from the story. I'm very sure it was ended that way to set up for a second season. But I've seen plenty shows that do something like this and don't get a second season. I need Taiwan to do better. This is the second time they have disappointed me like this with a drama

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Fascinating chemistry, fun characters...but an underwhelming ending.

I was looking forward to On1y One as it gave me an impression that it'd be a BL in a similar vein to Addicted/Stay With Me, with what its teenage step-brother BL. It shared a lot of those basic beats with those series that it had me intrigued to see a Taiwanese interpretation of such a dynamic. I am also aware that this is actually based off of a novel of its own, but I've not personally read it so I know that going into this review I'm not as in-the-know of the finer details of the story aside from what I find pointed out on Twitter.

But as I've been watching this show...my interest waned over the weeks, I must say. I don't mind a nice slow burn story, and sure enough this season may not cover most of the novel, but reviewing this show on its own merit as a singular season with how they've presented the relationship...I'm not that satisfied with the ending. If it's supposed to lead to a second season - one that's not even technically confirmed to be in production at the time of writing - that's cool and all, but this season just feels very lacking. I'd hardly say this show is re-watchable, personally. At least if it's the only season we ever get to see.

That said, I did love Sheng Wang and his journey of self-discovery and his feelings towards Jiang Tian. I'm also a big fan of the secondary cast of friends. But what certainly caught my attention the most was Qi Jia Hao. His little venture throughout the season was in particular very fun to visit and I really wanted to see more of what he would get up to. Hopefully the second season does a bit more with him if it ever comes.

The overall romance is a slow one. And not just a slow burn. It's like we're watching an initial spark being made in real time so we can get to that burn. Yes, there's kissing in the beginning of the show, but the actual meat of the romantic tension is very, very quiet. It's like the most gentle breeze ever. The chemistry is certainly there and I adore both Liu Dong Qin and Benjamin Tsang for what they bring to the characters. I guess it would be nice if the pace would pick up a little bit as both Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian are dancing around the fact that they like each other and when the mutual pining is so obvious it gets to a point where I'm just hoping one of them takes the dive and does something a little more explicitly romantic.

There's also the secondary couple in the two male teachers who get into a bit of a love triangle and honestly? I. Could. Not. Care. Less. I feel like what the show is trying to do is almost present them as a parallel of sorts to the main couple but I do not see what purpose they really have in the show, and especially in this season. Undoubtedly they'd get more of a development in a hypothetical season season, but I can't imagine I'd be any more interested in what goes on with them. It's so obvious they're into each other and dancing around the truth from the get go that I caught that when I first saw them on screen, and considering we're following a primary couple with a similar story I don't really wanna see it twice.

The secondary couple is perhaps my personal least favourite part of the show. It feels like a drag when they're given the focus and I don't really recall if any of their scenes - bar THAT one in episode 11 - really impact JT and SW in any meaningful way. They feel like they could be removed or replaced and nothing would change. Why were they made teachers at the school? Seemed a bit like an excuse to put them in a love triangle and so we'd have an excuse to see them more often in context of the main boys. I dunno...eventually I just got to a point where I'm waiting for Sheng Wang and Jiang Tiang to show up again.

I feel like perhaps there could have been a review as to what scenes may or may not have been worth shifting to a potential second season and what could have been shifted over into this season to give it a more satisfying end. I don't know the novel, so maybe this was the best outcome in adapting it. However, I definitely think the end credits scene in Episode 11 - IYKYK - was...out of left field? I like the scene and what it does to inform us about Jiang Tian's backstory, however it felt so bizarre that we suddenly saw it in Episode 11 of a 12 episode season of all places. Am I the only one? Would it not have been a better fit, say, either at the very end of this season so we literally end on a saucy bit of exposition, or in the second season where it'd be adjacent to scenes that would better explain its context? It was a FASCINATING scene in the grander scope of the narrative of course but it feels like it was kinda plopped at the end of an episode and so close to the end of this season as well.

As for the last episode...yeah, uh, kind of a let down? I've already said I wasn't satisfied with the ending, but in general I just found myself amused at the fact that the main emotional conflict was...Sheng Wang moving classrooms. I'm sorry that really did take me out of it a bit because...huh? They already live together in the dorms so they don't really lack an opportunity to communicate or spend time together. Yeah, they're not in the same class but still. I wouldn't have minded this honestly if such a deal wasn't made out of it in the episode. It stops being a dramatic moment and feels a bit silly.

Overall, would I recommend this show? Yeah. I would. I absolutely would. The chemistry is there and I love the leads. I think if a slow burn and self-discovery is up your alley you'd like this. Plus the secondary cast is actually really fun to watch so all the friendship scenes and bonds between characters add some levity and vibrance to the show.

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