Its been a while since I have cried buckets watching a drama. Iam a fujoshi so I was well aware of this novel getting made into a series but was really hesitant to watch it because its china and for sure, the plot would be altered to exclude anything homosexual. But then when I realised that the script writer is the same as the original writer, I felt like the characters will be given justice. And boy I was right. Iam so glad I watched this show. From production to direction to acting to storytelling....and the mesmerizing portrayal of art, war and history..everything about this show is beautiful and full of emotions. And the best part, it did not hurt my fujoshi heart as did some of the other chinese bl adapted novels.... The first thing I fell in love with is the characters. Mr Cheng and Boss Shang will forever live in my memory. Even the supporting characters hold a special place in your heart...you laugh when they laugh, you cry with their sorrows...you may hate some of the characters but still cannot dislike them. Like a relative of yours that you hate but cannot exclude them from your lives. Second, the actors......Ill flip my brains if Andrew Yin is not nominated for awards this year. He became Boss Shang!!. His dedication is amazing and I have utmost respect towards him for portraying Shangs love for opera, his work, his madness, his devotion towards Cheng and so much more. So did Huang Xiaoming . His portrayal of Cheng as a wicked in a good way, full of love but typical rich guy and maintening the emotions flowing from certain corners and his devotion towards Shang was on point. I must say every actor/actresses in this show have done a wonderful job. I really felt like they were the real characters....need I say more?. Next the production and direction, I was so happy that the production did justice to this show. Every antique, clothing, jewellery, architecture,scenary was so beautiful and did not look artificial. You feel like you are actually living in that era. The direction was clean, pacing of scenes and the storytelling was as if you are reading the novel. And yes beijing opera.....i did know a bit about it before watching it so it was easier for me but never did I thought I would love listening to opera tbh. Also the amount of knowledge they have portrayed via this medium is amazing. Yes... Opera is dying and I really wished people would pay more attention to it. And this show places this emotion/concept into the younger generation in such a subtle manner. Claps. And the music...I have always been into ballads, and traditional instruments so this was a heaven for me. I could listen to this music for ages. For me, I know that Iam really into a show, when I actually pay a lot of attention to each and every dialogue. I could not miss any.... And thats whats beaitiful about this show. Now the only issue I had with this show was the portrayal of the japanese. I know they did really really really horrible stuff and its something none of us can revert. Sadly this world is a cruel place and war makes you into a horrible beast. I can understand the emotions of the people as my own country had several attackers too but I really wished they would put some effort in bringing some emotions in the japanese cast which was probably chinese. I felt like i was watching robots sometimes(thats just a typical japanese stereotype)...and had trouble when they spoke in japanese...did they use vocaloids hah..jk.It was very plain be it fighting or their cruel actions. I could only feel emotions from kazuma at the end episodes. And let me mention that reporters wife too while iam at it who seemed to come out of a horror show featuring fox possesed humans. I also regret the ending a bit.... I wished they would provide us a ending scene with old shang and cheng after their separation..and a bit of post war insights and the opera culture impacts. I feel that would be wholesome. But yes, I knew i had to deal with such an ending in the first place before begenning so iam fine.

Now my biggest take from this show...... The light fluffy heart warming interactions between cheng and shang. So basically they are lovers in the novel but because of you know who, they made it soulmates and brought in a wife to fortify it. But it dint upset me becuase the writer gave us all the implied feelings and emotions. I personally hate the word bromance.... And frankly speaking, this story does not give you bromance nor BL.....it gives us more than that, the bonds. The bonds between soulmates...which cannot be broken be it in this life or other. Love can be in different forms and need not be just between lovers or friends. Its hard to explain what I feel but iam sure you guys will feel the same watching this. Its not empty, nor satisfying nor dirty.......its just pure beautiful in so many levels. Emotions and bonds, not just between shang and cheng but also the bonds with the shui house, cheng family, the opera circle and lives basically...is what holds this show together. Hatsoff to the writer, the creators and the actors.

I just hope in future we live in a place where the writer does not have to alter their contents to fit the society however iam just glad for now that BL novels are getting more achkowledged for their art and plots. Lets support the novel too. And Andrew Yin....I love you...you tore my heart apart during this whole show. Boss Shang and Mr. Cheng will forever remain soulmates in my heart.

PS: Everytime boss shang ran my heart skipped a beat thinking that he would trip.