I’ve got really mixed emotions about this series. I get the art of subtlety and letting things unfold slowly, but I expected a bit more from a Taiwanese production. If it had been a Chinese show, I’d understand the legal constraints, but let’s be real—Taiwan has produced more straightforward BL series. Here, almost everything is left to the audience’s imagination. Sure, it’s a teenage love tale between two boys who end up as stepbrothers, trying to navigate their feelings for each other, but honestly, this show drags on too much. I enjoyed the first 6-7 episodes, but after that, it felt like I was just watching some chapters pass by. Plus, several side stories didn’t get wrapped up. There might be a sequel, but we’ll see. With around 12 episodes, each lasting about 50-55 minutes, you’re looking at a big time commitment.
The plot is pretty straightforward. Sheng Wang transfers to a new school and immediately clashes with classmate Jiang Tian. What they don’t realize is that their parents are dating and have decided to move in together, which means Jiang Tian is now living in Sheng Wang’s house. As the episodes progress, we see these boys evolve from rivals to brothers, gradually supporting each other and developing feelings they’re not mature enough to handle. Throughout the series, we also see how today’s kids juggle academics, sports, and the pressure to excel, given the intense competition. They’re expected to be experts in everything. The show touches on students’ insecurities and friendships, too. There’s also a subplot involving two substitute teachers who run a café together and are secretly developing feelings for each other, but they lack the courage to be honest. The introduction of a female teacher interested in one of them complicates their budding romance.
The production quality is excellent; you can tell a lot of effort went into it. However, the pacing is what really stands out—it could make or break the experience for some viewers. As I mentioned, I was really enjoying the first 7 episodes. As the teens explore their desires, the physical aspect of the story is quite striking. Each scene feels charged, with characters in a constant state of alertness, reacting without fully grasping what’s happening to them or how to articulate it. But I craved more action, and sadly, by the end, not much transpired. In fact, the boys didn’t even confess their feelings to themselves, let alone to each other. I can’t believe they hit us with the line, “I know my feelings, but I can’t act on them because he’s my older brother.” The initial chemistry gives you butterflies, and their growing connection feels special, but how much can you take? The two lead actors do a great job, and some supporting cast members, like the boy teasing the girl in front of Sheng Wang, were charming. Unfortunately, there was hardly any romance, and aside from the two male teachers, there weren’t any intriguing side stories. One student’s insecurity was never resolved, nor was Jiang Tian’s backstory involving the cigarette burn. I think many questions remain unanswered, and the actual love story between the two boys still needs to be fleshed out. I’m hoping for a sequel, but my only wish is for it to be a bit more romantic than this one, where I often felt let down.
