Advance Bravely (2017)

Assurdo e confuso, ai limiti del grottesco

Di questa BL - si fa per dire - ho apprezzato solo l'idea alla base condivisa nell'incipit della trama: il protagonista che entra nel mirino della bella ragazza di turno, la quale coinvolge l'aitante fratello... e così facendo la fanciulla diventa sostanzialmente il terzo incomodo della coppia BL.
Idea simpatica, ma davvero il drama non si salva su nessun fronte: le motivazioni sono assurde, esagerate e spesso insensate, prive di buonsenso e rigor di logica; sembra davvero di stare all'asilo, in tema di maturità di azioni e scelte. Domina il non-sense, e le scene assurde diventano anche a tratti imbarazzanti (la ragazza sembra una capricciosa bimba delle elementari, il fratello - dipinto come un uomo tutto d'un pezzo, responsabile e a capo di un'azienda - diventa peggio di uno zerbino e si presta ad inseguire/tormentare l'oggetto del desiderio di lei (ovvero l'altro protagonista). Già letta suona allucinante, ma trasposta sullo schermo rasenta davvero l'assurdo. In aggiunta, gli eventi procedono confusi, lo sviluppo della storia - ovviamente censurata - tra i due protagonisti non è propriamente l'emblema della chiarezza, tanto che sembra manchino proprio dei passaggi tra la scena di un episodio e la loro scena successiva di qualche episodio più avanti (sembra di giocare a "unisci i puntini", insomma). Attori esteticamente apprezzabili, soprattutto quello che interpreta Yuan Zong, ma livello di recitazione decisamente migliorabile. Anche i personaggi secondari li ho trovati un po' tutti simili, non nascondo che in molte scene mi capitava di non capire immediatamente di chi e di cosa si stesse parlando. Ciliegina sulla torta, in senso super negativo, il finale: tranciato brutalmente non solo a metà di una scena ma di una scena che tutto può essere tranne un momento di epilogo. Consigli di visione: tempo assolutamente sprecato.

Leggi di Più

I will say this before anything else. Everyone please stop complaining about the Chinese ban. Yes, it's horrible and irritating. But on the flip side, I think TPTB who are doing this work are doing an amazing job and I'm freaking thankful that China is allowing them to do this AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL work. I don't know about you but I have an imagination. The acting and chemistry between the characters with the writing is so well done that I don't need sex to get the idea. I'm currently watching the Japanese drama Todome no Kisu (Kiss That Kills). There is so much kissing--it's unbelievable. The most romantic, where all of who were watching our hearts skipped a beat was when the lead characters hugged each other. The guy grabbed her and she was like...do you want to kiss, are you sure you don't want to, and he's like no...I want to hold you. We just died. It's not about the sexuality people, it's about the emotions and relationship.

China ONLY shut down the sex on the drama and kissing, but they didn't shut down ANYTHING else and that's what we were given by the writers en masse. This drama was brilliant. I truly loved it. All the boys in this drama are extraordinarily gorgeous. I have no clue in what pits of hell they found them, but dear lord all mighty. I have always said...on the level of hotness when it comes to East Asian guys---Koreans are on the bottom. The ranking is Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, and then Korean. The Chinese guys all looked like hot vampires with abs and shit and moved in slow motion.

Anyway, all the pairings made sense. Xia Yao and Yuan Zong came together because YZ's sister, Yuan Ru, has a thing for Xiao Yao. As a note, Xiao Yao, rolls with a bunch of his co-wealthy rich kids Xuan Da Yu and Peng Ze. All three of them are of a long line of royalty. XDY has a thing for XY---of course. PZ has a thing for a girl but rolls with a guy to get a girl---irony. Anyway YR asks YZ to get involve to help her with XY---you usually get your friend not your bro (who then seems to be rather psychotically obsessive over XY)...makes no sense---irony again.

However, the greatest irony of it all is that rather than being irritating, nonsensical in some respects; it's truly romantic and you connect with the romantic end of the story). You then understand the story. You want all of the male characters to advance bravely towards their respective partners in their respective relationships; and you want their respective relationships to advance bravely in society.

The drama's title gives way to the ultimate meaning the character's relationships progress go through in the story. I do feel that Peng Ze's relationship was the one that was forsaken in the story. It could have been because his partner was not only the youngest but also the one that looked the most feminine of the group. That would have been a dangerous one to portray on screen too much. I think TPTB could have sold it...but I can see why they kept it at the minimum, but at least they put it in there. PZ's kid is like 21 to everyone else's 27 or so and YZ is 31.

Of course, I'm going to love the second pairing---just like I did with 2 Moons, Xuan Da Yu and Wang Zhi Shui. Slow build up...not enough air time when they did get together. They fulfilled the need both of them were seeking. I liked that Wang Zhi Shui was the most persistent. I don't know why I see them as such a long term couple that I would watch for eternity. I would love to see them with their own short series. I'd like to see Wang Zhi Shui interact with Xuan Da Yu's family if they do show up---his continuous bouts of fear of rejection. Ditto for Da Yu dealing with Zhi Shui's possible nightmares and fears and his backstory which we REALLY don't know all that much about.

AB is great and I recommend it to all.

Leggi di Più

Advance Bravely because it's a Train Wreck with Hot Abs!

The warning is correct: Advance Bravely! After watching a couple episodes, I thought to myself, What the heck am I watching? Why am I watching this? I wonder if it’s because I was watching this drama in 2023 instead of 2017, that I just couldn’t enjoy it. Watching “Advance Bravely” is like watching a train wreck that I couldn’t look away. It’s so bad that it’s hilarious and addictive?

The only good thing about this drama is Jason Xu and his abs (but not his acting). He’s hot and I enjoy staring at him, just like most characters in the show. That’s the only positive thing I can think of. Oh, also, the action scenes are decent. If you like Gong Jun, you might like him and his skinny abs as well. If you are a fan of abs, there are many for your enjoyment.

However, the plot is weird. Why would you ask your brother to help you chase a guy that your brother doesn’t even know? Why would you kidnap and force someone to go through a medical procedure to ‘correct’ an embarrassing medical condition? Why is this sister so annoying and can’t take NO for an answer?

Additionally, we have a hot but stalkerish male lead, plus a childish and somewhat annoying male lead. I don’t really like any of the leads, so maybe that’s why I don’t feel the chemistry even with the extended long looks and slow motion scenes. The second and third couples also have a weird romance/relationship.

The ending is ridiculous and it definitely has to do with censorship and the lack of funding. But even if I ignore how censorship could ruin this drama, there are just too many other things that are wrong and inappropriate. This is a very weird drama that I don’t know how to appreciate.


Completed: 2/23/2023

Leggi di Più

Although it is censored, this series is very obviously BL. The chemistry between the two main characters all but screams that they are in love with each other. There is plenty of VERY close skin ship, but no actual kissing. The storyline, although not well developed itself, was easy to watch and I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters interactions with each other. My only complaint is that it ended super abruptly and a little bit strangely with a animation scene rather than live action. I would definitely watch more episodes of this, but I think they end it where they do because Xia Yuo has the realization that he's in love with Yuan Zong. We don't really get any closure on the story between the two which is sad.

Leggi di Più

The chemistry between the leads, Gong Jun & Xu Fen, was amazing and they were so incredibly natural at playing a couple. Their scenes were the highlight of this drama. That and the fights, the fights were awesome. But the rest... There was basically no overarching story, the secondary couples were way too weird and the sister was dumb as a lamp post... Yeah.

If you want to watch it for a string of pretty much unrelated but fun and domestic couple-y scenes and you don’t mind nonsensical a plot that goes pretty much nowhere and a really, but really stupid ending - seriously, it’s animated! *eye-roll* - then I would recommend this drama to you. But if you want to watch something actually plot-heavy and simple chemistry between actors isn’t enough for you, then I think you would be bored to death. I know I was whenever them two were not on-screen. In that case, I rec you to just look at the pretty gifs on Tumblr and avoid the series itself.

Leggi di Più

I've read some parts of the English Translation and maybe it's just me but I wasn't in love with the story one bit. Actually I found it confusing. And the Series didn't help one bit. It dragged on. I'm aware of the 'Big China Ban' on its BL/GAY theme entertainment but come on, fine so don't have kiss scenes, I can live without the physical connection since the verbal chemistry between the two lead was good, but at least work on smoothing a consistent plot. This was a major PWP for me. The only thing worth even 4 stars for this Series is its casting. The two lead actors are very good. That's about all I could say for this Series.

Rewatch value = None.

Leggi di Più

i wondered why i gave this an 8....lmao

i'm going to be fair and give the honest rating that i think but i am upping it with like a 3 point curve (so a 5, but an 8 for what im about to explain) because i believe that if you have stumbled upon bl like i had and just watch this stuff to get lost mindlessly it is worth it.

it's insulting to call this "bromance" imo. they are a legitimate couple. they're in love. it's weird to me how this genre is so ridiculously rape-y and misogynist and weird and fetishizing but even with the growing censorship in china they put life into this relationship. the novel isn't amazing and i think addicted is one of the grossest things she has written and what was produced but almost all their scenes where they are heavily physical were non-consensual.

so here you have a novel about two dudes in love, it gets a visual adaptation, and there are limits to what they can show. they were more touching and intimate than any other chinese ones i've seen (addicted, like love) and the other couples ARE LITERALLY KISSING (or "kissing" in addicted's case)

there's nothing platonic about the end of this relationship. they may not officially ever say they're together but there is every cue to believe what they have together. and it's really cute and the actors have great chemistry.

the censorship itself is a huge problem so i find that it is reasonable to attack that. but we know the paramaters and this still managed to show us love better than other ones. perhaps people hate the fact that they believe they need to literally have sex on screen for it to be legitimate. if so, that's sad and kinda weird.

anyway u want sth fun and cute and dumb i recommend it and they ! are in love!!!! yuan xong's dedication to xia yao is a beauty to watch and how xia yao returns those feelings. like yx is so in love with him and protective and xy accepts it and tries to give it back in kind. cute

Leggi di Più

I have 3 to shows I watch over and over again and this one is one of them among Friends and Big Bang Theory, I’ve just finished fifth round and every time Is as much exiting as the first one.
Even if there are some flaws on the way the leads carry the drama in a fantastic way. The chemistry between them its just perfect.
And to be honest seeing the excitement on there face when Yao jump on YZ in his hometown recompenses all the missing kisses ,
I personally kind of like it that we have to let our imagination work here and I think the crew did amazing job to show us what they actually couldn’t
Great job ?

Leggi di Più

One expects a certain degree of melodrama and cheesiness with any formulaic romance /action/bl/whatever. But this goes overboard without a life preserver. Yes the actors are handsome and the teasing genuine, the comstuming adequate as are the sets, but if you're looking for a three dimensional character, forget it. After 20 episodes I thought finally we had something interesting. Could we be touching the human condition in the character of Wang Zhi Shui, whose background story was full of pathos? But no sooner had I fallen under the charm of a rich kid taking a poor suffering kid into his home and heart, than we see the wretch throwing eggs at the co-stars sister in a silly motivation that came off more like misogyny . In fact the way the sister character is treated throughout the entire production simply screams, "China!? Get into the 20th century at least on women's issues!" The characters are one dimensional and border on the offensive. You'll find more depth in a swimming pool.

Leggi di Più

This was so sweet and thankfully did not have a sad ending. I thought that reading comments from here...sorry :P
It was really cute, sweet and brought a lot of smiles throughout. loved the journey although ended a bit too hastily (I guess the Chinese Control is to be blamed for that) and our heroes didn't get a chance to confess face to face.
You will know when the time comes...he said...but that didn't ever come but the feeling of mutual understanding and consent was throughout there.
Wasn't steamy but really sweet.
But beware, at times it might really seem stupid execution of scenes which will seem like plot convenience (what was the shouting about in that episode...just...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...............LOL)
But really a must watch for fujoshis ;)
And whoever loves BL.
Really nice but unfortunately it was created in China where the future for such stuff seems really grim.
Enjoy the moment :)

Leggi di Più

Even with that nitirious ban this was a really great show!

Casting was perfect, leading actors are just wow! I m surprised that they are not superstars already, cuz they are better looking than 90 % of other chinese actors i ve seen. And the girls were also good looking and with great acting skills.

Production was much better than expected, for me even better than some mainstream dramas from China, with that creepy polished voices and stuff.

The story was fun to watch, without the ban would be perfect. For me the biggest problem was the ending. Unneccessary problem and situation, totally not for an ending. I was expecting their coming out to sister or mother, not this. From this story Beijing would be burnt down if firefoghters were this slow, but somehow even guys from company from another part of town were able to come. And the guy XY saved looked old, so that cartoon part was a bit..wtf. And the toes thing. Like...whaaat? I expected some romance :(

Leggi di Più