Blue Canvas of Youthful Days (2024)

Second Couple

Whoever did the casting for this series and the Director deserves a large bonus. They did an amazing job. When tis series originally aired the Censors in Mainland China had it cancelled after only 4 of the 12 episodes aired. The streaming service GaGaOOLaLa pulled off a miracle and was allowed to buy the rights to broadcast all 12 episodes.
The 2nd couple of Tan Lin and Lau Lu are amazing. Tan Lin has a hearing problem and can not hear people speak. He communicates through sign language They met in a bar. Tan Lin was pouring drinks and lining up the empty bottles. Someone offered him a drink, but had emptied a bag of white powder into when he thought no one was watching. Lau Lu was sitting at a table drinking and saw it happening. He called to Tan Lin a few times, telling him not to drink it. When Tan Lin was getting ready to drink it Lau Lu rushed over and grabbed the drink. Lau Lu walked Lin home. So began their relationship.Lau Lu's kindness and gentleness with Tan Lin is what makes you fall in love with them.
The Main Couple are both studying art at the same school.

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Beautiful set up of the main leads story, but ending execution is disappointing.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75 (rounding up to show support)

Watching “Blue Canvas of Youthful Days” is to show my support for uncensored Chinese BL, even though I knew this drama is not perfect. Hopefully, the success of this show will encourage more uncensored Chinese BLs to be picked up by other countries to be distributed. Also, what a lovely drama title!

I agree with many reviews and comments that the first half of the drama is great. I enjoy the set up of how the leads met and their school interaction. Was it a little stalkerish on Qi Lu’s part to be clinging on to Qin Xiao? Probably. But I also applaud his courage to do so, knowing the consequence of when his father finds out what he’s up to. The growing friendship and affection between the two are developed nicely and convincingly. Xiao’s desire of having his own family is strong, but not enough to withstand his love for Qi Lu. However, we do have two young adults who are still quite innocent about first love. The ending would be different if they had talked to each other and figured things out together. But well, they were young.

I was not as invested in the secondary couple, possibly due to the age gap. Tan Yin just acts too young and naive compared to Liu Ming Yang’s maturity and as a teacher to our main leads. But I can see why Tan Yin would fall for Teacher Liu, and how Liu would eventually fall for Tan Yin. I just enjoy the dynamics between the main couple more. I also personally don’t like the blonde hair (LOL) and find Xiao Zi Zhou’s portrayal of Tan Yin to be the weakest of the cast (though not horrible).

Speaking of acting, I generally enjoy it. I was surprised to find out that this is everyone’s debut project. If that’s really the case, their acting is quite good. I especially enjoy Zhang Xuan Yu’s performance as Qin Xiao (I also find him to be the most attractive one 🙂). I also enjoy all the scenes related to art and the art school. We actually see students painting/drawing and not just pretending to be students.

Unfortunately, there are still quite a few things for me to pick on. The second half is definitely not as strong. Tan Yin’s hearing loss and the ease of him speaking fluently in just a few minutes is unrealistic. The last couple episodes are jam packed with different plotlines. Everything crashes down on our main leads in a matter of minutes. I was disappointed in the ending. The drama wasted a lot of time in showing Tan Yin and Liu Ming Yang’s happy moments, and failed to show the audience Qin Lu and Qin Xiao’s story. I want to know the ‘HOW’ and not just the ending result. Because of the somewhat blurry filter used in the last episode, I was wondering if that’s really the ending or was it one of those dream-like endings that happened in an alternate universe.

I did have a decent time watching “Blue Canvas of Youthful Days”, and especially in the earlier episodes of the main leads. Their story and acting are both good. If you have time to kill and want to support this drama, it’s worth checking it out. I watched the YouTube consolidated version and binged it all in 5.5 hours. The drama could have been better with editing and storytelling in the end, but that could have been a result of censorship.


Completed: 12/7/2024 - Review #525

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It Had Me Hooked But....

The story itself is certainly intriguing. And from China. Stunningly audacious. And one of the few times it actually portrayed homosexuality with surprising openness and candor. A round of applause and kudos for their efforts. In a bit of a schizophrenic twist, however, it goes deep but yet stays superficial. By that I mean that while we do actually get to know the characters, we never see them use what they know about themselves to better themselves. Until the end. Then it all comes together but in such a confusing way. I felt like I missed a big chunk of what happened to them to get to the place that they were finally at.

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Falling in Love under Complicated Circumstances with a Delayed but Happy Ending

This BL will not appeal to anyone who doesn't like/appreciate a bitter note of angst and reality in their BLs, but for those of us who do, it's a great watch, and closed on a satisfying note for me personally. I cannot give it a clean 10 because it had its drawbacks for sure, which I will note down below, but the drawbacks were few and not actually a surprise considering this BL managed to finagle its way out of no-homo China in the first place. Alright, on with -

*THE GOOD:
1. Zero disappointment on the acting/casting front, especially not from the two MLs, really, they brought their A-game, particularly in emotional scenes and even the fluff scenes. Qin Xiao is a gem, he managed to express a lot what was lacking physically between the MLs with some of his looks and actions.

2. The filming/cinematography side was to my taste, the music didn't contradict or overwhelm the scenes which was a win. The LUT of this highlighted the coldness of winter with it from start to finish, very suitable for the theme. The budget was probably not that high for a small production like this but they managed to apply whatever funds they had to bringing the characters to life very well.

3. The show touched on some interesting and lovely, but also disheartening and realistic facets of being gay in China. In the first couple, we meet Qin Xiao who was raised basically solo by a grandparent (not uncommon in modern China even when parents are alive), but even so, he's the adult, he's the responsible one, the one in charge, and his sick granddad is in his care, so he's quite independent, and as a result he's influenced by a mixture of modern life and wanting freedom versus traditional family values, expectations and responsibilities. We saw him have to work through developing feelings for someone of the same sex and how it made him question himself and worry. Then we have Qi Lu, who is openly gay to himself (and presumably to some other people he trusts since we see him confiding in his senior online friend, Bai, confessing to liking Qin Xiao and saying he's worried about the same thing happening as before, eluding to him having tried to confess to a boy he liked previously with negative results). We see him rather directly and certainly pursue his feelings for Qin Xiao. In the second couple we have Liu, who is independent as a grown, working man, but who is emotionally and mentally bogged down with family trauma and drama, and Tan Yin, another openly gay character who is likewise bogged down a history of abuse and disownment/abandonment from his family on top of his disability. We get to see how their situations play out differently, how differently they strive to be closer to each other and accept each other according to their different circumstances. It can all, in essence, be picked apart and discussed ad nauseum, as to how the issues with how even in modern China 'children' still have trouble escaping the reach of their parents/family influence and how it affects their adulthood in good and bad ways. But I think Blue Canvas highlighted what it needed to and moved forward and past topics well enough without overdoing it on those complicated themes. A good balance for only 12 eps.

4. Qin Xiao and Qi Lu are just really great individual characters with different strengths and weaknesses that they portrayed wonderfully.

5. The 'dangers' and 'drama' were not over exaggerated or blown out of proportion, from the side story of the small time drug dealers, to Qi Lu's abusive father and Qin Xiao's grandfather's death, it was all quite tidily handled and emphasized enough to show its importance to the plot.

6. The pace was good for 11 eps, 12 however rushed a bit, even so, the flow of events was clear and not confusing.

There is no 'bad', so I'll just do-
*THE DRAWBACKS:

1. As previously mentioned, episode 12 was rushed, and I do think this could have been avoided if some of the second couple and art school filler had been shortened or removed in order to play the more plot final relevant scenes out fully. Several scene choices were not very wise and used up valuable time.

2. There is a lack of couple-esque moments between the two pairs post 'getting together'. This is not surprising, and not a big issue because the fact that we have openly gay characters who blatantly confess, kiss and establish their same sex relationships, and go on to be together happily, in a Mainland Chinese BL, is already a big deal. Unfortunately, it does take away from some scenes where small things like kisses hello or good bye, or eluding to/implying intimacy would have done more for the actual realism of the two pairs being couples. Pity. That said, I do personally think that the reason any more overt physically romantic scenes were avoided after the first kisses was because these actors do still have to live and probably hope to have acting careers in China in the future, so they didn't want to overdo it and risk too much backlash, if any, from the government and entertainment industry. And I'm okay with that, small steps for the LGBTQ media in China.

3. The second couple fell off. It was weird, because their dynamic seemed quite mature and enjoyable BEFORE they became a couple, after that, I'm not really sure what the producer/director was going for with the excess play-fighting thing they were doing, it was almost nothing like Liu and Tan Yin had been prior to becoming a couple, so that was a bit 'okay then'.

5. The misunderstanding/miscommunication trope went very hard there at the end. Literally, a single line of explanation from Liu or Tan Yin to force the two to talk to each other could have fixed the need for them to separate, of course, it would also have meant their individual futures would have worked out differently, but I don't think any less positively and definitely in a shorter fucking time.

That's all for 'drawbacks' from me, onto
*THE HIGHLIGHTS:

1. The build up to Qin Xiao accepting his feelings and the moment he admitted it to Qi Lu and then kissed him was just EXCELLENT. Best 'confession' scene of 2024 hands down for me. Had to put on my profile under 'scenes that live in my head rent free' because it was just so damn good.

2. The scene in ep 12 where Qin Xiao steps in so he gets hit by the bottle to defend Qi Lu, I LOVED it. It was well done too, not over dramatic, not him foolishly letting himself get hit in the head so there could be some unnecessary head injury, instead he raised an arm and with his leather jacket on he avoided getting cut but had an impact injury and it made sense, it was filmed well, such an important scene too to show his feelings for Qi Lu, well written and executed.

3. Qi Lu and Qin Xiao arguing after Qi Lu confronts him the second time about trying to kiss him, great scene, feels feels feels.

4. Qi Lu standing up to his sperm donor TWICE. My guy Qi Lu was no little bitch, had it not been for the power his father held over external factors that could affect Qin Xiao, Qi Lu would obviously have stood up proudly for his relationship. I like that message, I like that clarity in that character's development.

OVERALL:

9.5/10 with 5 points deducted for some wasted screen time resulting in a rushed final episode, the second couple's ooc dynamic after getting together, and also for making the time Qi Lu and Qin Xiao were apart be 6 whole years. When it comes to the 'lovers separated' trope, less is always more.

100% recc this as a watch, but ONLY if you can handle or have a taste for angst, otherwise you'll just end up being upset.
This show checked all my boxes though, since angst feeds me! Great stuff, no regrets in 12 eps and definitely rewatchable!
✌️ 😁

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Clinging to Love

This little miracle of a drama was a sweet and touching, albeit "blue" experience. Qi Lu and Qin Xiao's desperate desire to do what they want and love who they love in the face of forces outside of their control. They hold each other a little closer in the cold, cover bruises with longer sweaters, and push the other onto dry land even as they sink. But, eventually, there does come a day for them. Tan Yin uses his new voice to give one to LiuMing Yang as he puts his past in the past and comes to view Tan Yin as Tan Yin.

In particular, I must praise them for the harsh reality they brought to the table with the way Qi Lu quietly and almost apologetically endured abuse and the delicateness with which Qin Xiao tried to bring him some comfort by giving him a small sense of normalcy. "I know I cannot save you. But I can make you smile when you're with me and forget the hell at home."

I do think there were flaws in the finale as far as the small details of how they wrapped things up, but I don't feel it took away from my overall experience.

I'm so incredibly grateful the rest of this drama got to see the light of day.

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overall super high quality, romantic.

Lovely, high quality. Be sure to watch to the very very end. Dont cry too much on the way.

I recommend this. There are some really good reviews out there so I dont have much to say except, the actors are so good and sooo young. Oh yes, also one of the two directors is a cinematographer and the other a screenwriter so that may account for the overall high quality.

The plot makes sense and has a clear clean structure. As always the theme of art and artists is fun to watch. As life becomes homogenized and Disneyfied, creativity, coming-of-age stories, individuality and bravery continue to be psychologically important.

All of these actors bear watching in the future, I would advise following them now. It is hard to be outstanding in this cast, all are excellent and charmingly good-looking but I would pick out Zhang Xuan Wu (21) for sheer beauty and outstanding charisma, and Yao Xing Hao for acting skills beyond his years (26).

As always BL is ahead of the international pack in new and trending themes and structures. Due to its brilliant and faithful audience (us, a'course!), creators can be experimental on shoestring budgets. More power to them.

Of the two directors, Li Xi was the cinematographer for Rise of Phoenixes, and has 2 more out this year, Bank on me and 13 Years of Dust. Ning Yuan Yuan was the screenwriter and director of An Insignificant Affair and an actress in The Hotel and Little Flowers,

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Brilliant watch

I need to start by saying who didnt give this a 10...this is a brilliant show with an amazing cast , story was great and fast paced to, no messing on with unnecessary stories , i loved liu and tans story , i binged watched this in one go and thought i had not seen a BL like this in a long time , sometimes you just dont need all the PDA if the story is great , dont get me wrong i love it too but sometimes the romance is good enough, im so used to watch Thai Bls with all there stupid stories and bing and bongs when someone gets hit, this was adult and great viewing .....more please

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TOP TIER BL OF 2024!!!

I'm utterly captivated by "blue canvas of youthful days ", a show that has not only met but exceeded my expectations.

The series is a feast for the eyes, with breathtaking scenery that perfectly complements the beautifully crafted OST. The cinematography is stunning, making every frame a work of art.

But what truly sets this show apart is its thoughtful exploration of sensitive topics, including domestic abuse and mental illness. The writers handle these complex issues with care and nuance, never shying away from the tough conversations.

At the heart of the series are two incredible characters who support and accept each other for who they are. Their love story is a powerful reminder that true happiness comes from embracing our true selves and loving without condition.

One quote from the show has stuck with me: "My wish for the future: Do what I like and love the one I love." It's a simple yet profound message that resonates deeply.
This scene from episode 12 was one of my favourites in this drama.

Overall, "Blue canvas of youthful days "is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates thoughtful storytelling, stunning visuals, and authentic representation. With its talented cast, beautiful scenery, and moving performances, this show is an absolute gem.

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Interesting and infuriating

I don’t write reviews. But I am just flabbergasted by this. I read another review that mentioned there was a scene after the end credits on the last episode. I missed that when I first watched it. Not that it actually improved things, but at least I found out where they wanted it to go.

The adult in me was both irritated and impressed at what I *thought* the ending actually was - them parting ways without actually knowing that the other also walked away, and in theory having no idea that the other’s path had been destroyed too. They sacrificed for each other, but neither of those sacrifices would have been necessary had they talked and realized that it no longer mattered. Had they talked, broken-hand’s exam was already ruined, so rich kid didn’t have to worry about his dad anymore. They could have peaced-out together with his mom. The avoidable tragedy was actually interesting to me. Folly of youth, real-life stuff. Neither got to do what they wanted, or love who they wanted. Both thought they were making it possible for the other to do what they wanted. The irony of that is actually great. But then…. The end scene.

I cannot express how annoying it is to have no idea how they overcame the obstacles. The text frames at the end just hand-waved it all away. The piece of human garbage Dad just…. Stops? The broken hand somehow doesn’t impact the entrance exam? Come on. Maybe he took it the next year, which he said he didn’t want to do, but maybe he did anyways. Who knows. But I guess it all worked out after all, somehow.

The music was wonderful. I don’t often notice the music, but it was very noticeable in this.

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