Stay by My Side Special (2024)

glad we got our follow up

Overall: Stay By My Side ended on a cliffhanger so I'm glad we had this special but I did want a few changes. Aired on Viki & GagaOOLala.

What I Liked
- chemistry/kisses
- sweet moments
- gave us a conclusion we needed
- callbacks to the series

Room For Improvement
- disappointed that they used the same plot device as the series instead of direct communication shortly after the thing that happened at the end of the series
- some wonky camerawork
- added in additional characters and tried to do too much, would have liked to see them narrow the focus more

Read More

Closure and Character Growth

I finally got the actual ending of this series, something I was looking for but didn’t think I will get. This follow-up delivers answers to lingering questions left by the series finale, providing a sense of closure and character development.

Bu Xia, like in the main series still acts playful and a brat and that is because of his upbringing. Suffering from torment from souls every day, he was protected by his grandfather, his sister and now Jiang Chi. We do however, see a growth in his character. He acknowledges that he has been kept safe by near and dear ones but he is willing to change and take responsibility for himself and Jiang Chi. He is worried about Jiang Chi all the while enjoying the concern and care he receives from him. His annoyance at Jiang Chi's self-sacrificing actions reveals his growing concern for his partner.

Jiang Chi has also developed as a character. He is all the more loving towards Bu Xia and wants to excel in life so he can take care of him. While playful in his reprimands, he adopts a more nurturing role, reminiscent of a parent caring for a child. Despite a lack of family support, Jiang Chi displays determination and ambition to secure their future together.

While the series excels in plot and character development, the acting might leave some viewers wanting more. There's room for improvement in emotional delivery, particularly in tackling more complex roles. That being said, they look good together and there certainly is a chemistry between them.

In conclusion, give this one a watch if you have seen the main series and enjoyed their antics. This special episode brings a close to the main story and shows their relationship growing stronger.

Read More

Two boyfriends who return to make the viewer fall in love

In 'Stay by My Side', the romantic and supernatural comedy broadcast between July 7 and September 1, 2023, Isaac Yang plays Jiang Chi, the son of a renowned family of doctors who defies his parents, because they They want the young man to follow in their footsteps in a career in Medicine while he dreams of being a lawyer.
The boy who in the early years of the century dreamed of specializing in Fine Arts, had to wait until 2023 to star in his first LGBTIQ+ themed series, after his debut in the film 'Leaving Virginia', from 2020.
The mastery with The way the actor plays the characters he has played until today distinguishes him as one of the most promising faces on the current and future Taiwanese acting scene.
For his part, Hong Wei Zhe plays Bu Xia, an Anthropology student and owner of a sports scholarship as one of the best players on the university basketball team. With this role, the Taiwanese singer of Yue Hua, also taking his first steps in the television industry of that Asian island.
Throughout the series, his character, rich in nuances, goes through dramatic moments, as well as hilarious ones, as he discovers that he has a paranormal ability to be able to hear ghosts murmuring in his ears. However, he will understand that being close to Jian Chi, his enemy and new dormmate, will allow him to escape the nightmare of having to face annoying "apparitions" every day.
Bu Xia's interest in having Jiang Chi help him, with his close presence, to "exorcise" the ghosts, will be interpreted by him as his dormmate having fallen in love with him.
This misunderstanding will lead to an unexpected and unlikely romance between these two young people with great differences in personalities, giving rise to a pleasant and fun series.
Vidol, the Taiwanese streaming platform that makes BL series such as 'VIP Only' (2023), 'Anti-Reset' (2024) and 'You Are Mine' (2023), gets 'Stay by My Side Special' (免疫屏蔽番外篇), update the viewer on the evolution of the romance between these two boys, a year after the events narrated in the series.
Bu Xia and Jiang Chi, who seem to us, due to their tender and constant romantic interaction, to be two college sweethearts living the fullness of romantic happiness, allow the viewer to expand their vision of the couple's bond from a physical and emotional point of view. and spiritual, while, with the same intensity, it exposes old and new conflicts of the lovers, because in addition to dealing with economic problems or the possibility of coexistence after graduating, now the ghosts "haunt" Jiang Chi, because already in the finals from 'Stay by My Side' this character had agreed to be the one who heard the voices of the spirits or wandering or lost souls, instead of Bu Xia.
The Special episode will allow us to appreciate the personal growth and as a couple of the protagonists. Bu Xia is able to recognize that he has been a child protected all his life by his grandfather, his sister and the apprentices of the temple owned by his family, and now by Jiang Chi, but today, thanks to love, he can take the reins of his life and take responsibility for both himself and the man he loves.
Although Jiang Chi does not have the support of his relatives for rejecting his parents' impositions, this does not prevent his determination to love, care for and protect Bu Xia, demonstrating that he is a character who has gained maturity and growth.
Bu Xia and Jiang Chi, who seem to us, due to their tender and constant romantic interaction, to be two college sweethearts living the fullness of romantic happiness, allow the viewer to expand their vision of the couple's bond from a physical and emotional point of view. and spiritual, while, with the same intensity, it exposes old and new conflicts of the lovers, because in addition to dealing with economic problems or the possibility of coexistence after graduating, now the ghosts "haunt" Jiang Chi instead of Bu Xia, Well, already at the end of 'Stay by My Side' the future lawyer had agreed to be the one who listened to the voices of the spirits or wandering or suffering souls.
The Special episode will allow us to appreciate the personal growth and as a couple of the protagonists. Bu Xia is able to recognize that he has been a child protected all his life by his grandfather, his sister and the apprentices of the temple owned by his family, and now by Jiang Chi, but today, thanks to love, he can take the reins of his life and take responsibility for both himself and the man he loves.
Although Jiang Chi does not have the support of his relatives for rejecting his parents' impositions, this does not prevent his determination to love, care for and protect Bu Xia, demonstrating that he is a character who has gained maturity and growth.
Bu Xia and Jiang Chi are lavish in showing the love and affection they have for each other, in showing their constant concern for each other, and they will take the step of continuing their life together after graduating, which demonstrates the constant evolution of the couple. The chemistry between the two is evident.
The Special Episode gives us Hong Wei Zhe performing "Newton and Apple", the opening theme of the series, accompanied by Isaac Yang, who is not a singer.
'Stay by My Side Special' has the added bonus of incorporating two new faces from the world of Taiwanese entertainment, as singers Chu Yv Ching and Eason Lee make their debut as actors by giving body to the Sanctuary trainees. Let us remember that the latter is the one who performs the closing theme: "Answer If You Hear", in addition to "Falling in Love", another of the songs that make up the soundtrack of the series, along with "Changed", by Yu Ching, and "Mr. Ya Li Shan Da", by Luna.
Joining the cast are Liao Wei Po as Guo Zheng Hong, Superway Hsu as Bai Yun Haom and Kevin Chang as Lan Bai Wei, members of the university basketball team and friends of the two protagonists.
Cai Fei Qiao is in charge of closing the cast, playing Haunting ghost.
The script for 'Stay by My Side Special' is in the hands of this actress, recognized for writing the script for the acclaimed drama 'Unknown', 2024 and being the executive producer of other classics of the genre: 'We Best Love: No. 1 For You' and 'We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd', as well as for playing Mrs. Yao, Shun Yu's mother, in 'You Are Mine Special', released in May 2024.
We have already seen the Special Episodes of 'VIP Only', 'You Are Mine', and 'Stay by My Side Special'. The only thing missing is the 'Anti-Reset' Special, scheduled to be released soon.
The public could consider that this audiovisual is a perfect closing to the series, as it manages to answer questions that remained latent, but Vidol seems to think otherwise, periodically returning us to the protagonists of the BL series in one way or another.
With the introduction of Chu Yv Ching and Eason Lee, the creators may be considering the relevance of developing a series in the future in which the two of them are the protagonists, while Isaac Yang and Hong Wei Zhe intervene in supporting roles or as guest artists.
Or is it my desire to continue watching this couple of actors?
The success of 'Stay by My Side Special' could be decisive in this endeavor. So from now on I give my support.

Read More