Mediocre but Refeshing

This series was very difficult to watch, as in, the English subtitled episodes with audio were hard to find. I had to use three platforms to watch the first season.

Although the story of a nerd crushing on a popular guy seems basic, the actual development of the story felt fresh. It is hard to understand why the two male leads like each other, but their chemistry is good and the progression of their relationship is unique and satisfying.

The series is a good representation of Chinese BL before the ban was enacted. A common characteristic in Chinese BLs is the quick and easy advancement of physical intimacy, which is refreshing to see.

The casting and acting felt appropriate. Any defects are due to poor writing and direction, not the actors.

The music was not memorable and in certain parts the music really did not fit the scene.

Despite the very noticeable defects related to a low budget, spotty writing, and mediocre production and direction...I would rewatch this show more than once. After watching 90% of BLs in existence, I find this show so refreshing despite it's many flaws. This show has potential to be great as a remake and also offers a look at China's unique take on the BL genre.

This show, a long with Addicted, are good watches if you want to see what to expect from Chinese BL when the ban is lifted.

In short, despite the low rating it was worth the watch and gave a refreshing BL experience.

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Trying too Hard and Boring

This drama started out with bad acting and plot that's trying too hard to be mysterious and has only grown more ridiculous. The nonsense sci-fi plot could be tolerated if they weren't trying to hard to make it a deep mystery. Instead of being mysterious and clever, the story comes out as a convoluted mess. Instead of being an enjoyable sci-fi BL with a bit of mystery, this show has panned out to be a horribly executed sci-fi mystery with a bit of romance between the two male leads.

If you really like the main leads, wait to watch this series until you can binge it all at once. Otherwise the show is just frustrating with it's fake-outs, 'reveals', and cliffhangers in each episode. If you're the type who hates the slow lean in for a kiss that predictably gets interrupted just before their lips make contact, them avoid this show.

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Bleak Romance, Not for Everyone

This is a very bleak and upsetting drama that I would not recommend to anyone looking to enjoy a romance story. It is the type of drama that portrays continuous suffering throughout 58 episodes with barely a 1/4 of an episode to complete the "happy ending". Personally, I would rather not watch a drama that devotes so little time to an incomplete "happy ending". By that point in the story, I can no longer feel joy at the couple's relationship, and it is not enough to make up for the horrendous suffering and torture of the previous 57.75 episodes.

I will say that it is a unique story in that I was always surprised and could not quite guess what was going to happen next. It's just that if you are not looking to watch bleak romance stories, then don't watch this one. If you are in the mood for pain and sadness, then you will enjoy this drama very much.

This kind of drama is excessive in using missed opportunities, misunderstandings and victorious villains to drive the plot. For me, these story-telling devices are used to the point where I cannot enjoy any tiny moments of connection between any of the couples when they do occur and I don't feel satisfaction when the villains are briefly punished for 50+ episodes of evil actions.

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Cute Fluffy Goodness

This is a super cute BL to watch that doesn't deserve all the hate it gets. If the series was more than 7 episodes I would have more expectations for a deeper plot with more character development. Also, this series is nothing like Even Sun, which was too much of a mess to enjoy for it's fluffiness.

Hard Love Mission was well-acted with a happy-ending. The leads are adorable, especially Yoshi. The MLs did a great job of portraying mutual attraction as it developed and didn't overact in their scenes together. It's refreshing to see a BL that doesn't rely on gay panic to tell it's story. The mature, relaxed portrayal of two young men falling for each other seems to be too boring for some viewers, but it works well with the short run-time.

If you want to relax with a cute, fluffy BL, I highly recommend Hard Love Mission.

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Underrated with Awesome Action

I want to make this review for other viewers like me who never read the novel version of a cdrama. Many bad reviews are complaining about the differences between the novel and the series. I think this is at least an 8/10, but I gave it a 10/10 because of all the low ratings given by people who read the book. The ending is also meh and not for everyone.

Story: This story focuses on Su Mo, a merman, and Bai Ying, a princess of a kingdom where the king and queen have magic powers. The story starts with background on how Su Mo and Bai Ying meet each other in a time when the mer people have been enslaved by her kingdom. The mer people have lost access to their homeland (sea) and are oppressed by the Kongsang. Soon after our lovebirds meet, the Kongsang royalty are overthrown and their kingdom is conquered by the Cangliu. Su Mo and Bai Ying and separated. Now we time-skip 100 years to see a powerful Su Mo return to bring his people back to their homeland. The rest of the story will focus mainly on Su Mo and Bai Ying fighting to regain their respective homelands ("the twin cities") by breaking through various magical seals and increasing their power. Both the mer people and the Kongsang royalty must battle against the Cangliu and their mysterious leader. The love story between Su Mo and Bai Ying is also there, but as more of a background detail.

What I like about this drama:
- Beautiful with lots of magic battles
- FL is a normal adult woman
- ML and SML get along well
- No nasty love triangle conflicts
- SFL has her own love interest and a happy ending
- The ML and FL don't have annoying misunderstandings
- The protagonists keep winning and the villains keep losing
- Decent OST

What I didn't like:
- A lot of slow motion and "dead air" that gets annoying
- The plot, especially towards the end, is messy in a lol kind of way
- The villains are very shallow and without any redemption
- Lack of detailed scenes after the cities are regained
- Boring ending that leaves me unsatisfied

You may not like this drama of you are looking for a really good love story; the romance is mostly drama-free with the couple never officially "getting together." However, their love for each other is always present and publicly known. They have tacit understandings rather than misunderstandings. This is a more mature romance, lacking flirtatious and swoon-worthy scenes.

Although I had to fast forward a lot due to excessive slow motion and dead air, I enjoyed the story and the characters a lot. Visually, this is a really well-done fantasy drama.

SPOILER - THE ENDING:

It's not for everyone. The ending is really underdeveloped and bland. Most of the characters are alone at the end. The ML has given up his life for the FL in an honorable way, becoming a Sea Deity with a dedicated holiday. The FL finally gets to live an independent life for herself rather than for the people. The twin cities are restored to their former glory and the villains are defeated. The ending is given in a pretty matter-of-fact way without much emotion. It was an ending just for an ending's sake.

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Not worth it

Total failure as a mini series. With only having as much time as a full length movie, this drama should not be using flashbacks. Yet there are frequent flashbacks as an attempt to prove the characters development of romantic feelings towards one another.

Watching this series was like listening to nails scratching a chalkboard. The poor scriptwriting, acting, direction, production and audio make it painful to watch. The concept was a good, but it was executed so terribly. I've never been so pained while watching a time travel drama.

What a waste of a good idea. I would rate it a zero if I could.

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