To be honest, this comedic BL is uneven. The story at times got a bit pedestrian. But hidden in this series is another tale; one that is not so sweet and with hints of deep pain and sadness. It is simply confounding yet brilliant how this BL can tell two different stories bound to one character that, seemingly, are insignificant. But is he the key to this captivating series?

It is a story of a grandmother (Phan Hiep) wanting to see her grandson, whom she has not seen for over 10 years. There is a reason for this absence that is hinted at initially, but we know something is traumatic. An (Doung Huy) does decide to visit his grandmother who lives in a fairly remote rural province. She lives with one of An’s uncles (Huu Dang), who looks after her and is her companion. Indeed, the uncle is a somewhat colorful figure who identifies himself as “bigender”. Along the way, An is nearly run over by Thanh (Thien Nhan), a young man of astonishing beauty. They get into an altercation without knowing that each other will be under the same roof. When An finally gets to see his grandmother, he is hit with the realization that Thanh is living there and will be with him, as he initially assumes that Thanh is his cousin.

Billed as a comedy, there are some cute and funny scenes in this series. While none are side-splitting, they did make the sexual tension between the two cute and mostly fun. But An’s reason for not wanting to visit his grandmother is authentic. Apparently, as a child, he was accosted by an unstable neighbor and it was a sexual assault. So, when Thanh gets drunk and tries to force himself onto An because he likes him, An reacts strongly and rightfully.

As the young men now begin to foster a deeper connection, another distant relationship comes to visit. Her name is My (Cam My). My is a very beautiful young lady who is laser-focused on trying to nab Thanh. However, the harder she tries, the more it seems to draw the two young men closer together. Her attempts are rather tongue in cheek and amusing. While tropey in parts, there actually is a trenchant exchange between her and Thanh. As My’s level of frustration rises when Thanh remains completely disinterested in her, she has a moment of honesty. She softly tells him that she has been and continues to be drawn to him, even though he shows little to no reciprocity. To say this is not bittersweet would be an understatement, and it is hard not to feel a tinge of sadness for her. Thanh continues to show an almost complete disdain for her while An, with whom she has been trying desperately to get to go back to Saigon, was and continues to be Thanh’s only focus. Both Thanh and An realized early on what she was trying to do. Her efforts only manage to draw them closer together and solidify their relationship.

There is a moment of solemnity when An is again attacked, presumably by the same person who did so when he was younger. But Thanh is there to rescue him, support him, give guidance, security, and encouragement. It pivots this BL as being frivolous to have character and a deep understanding of the trauma that An felt. And in that process of recovery, Thanh creates a shadow puppet performance that finally allows An to smile; to sense and feel Thanh’s love for him and his commitment to him. In the peripheral background of that performance as the uncle sits among the puppetry, he ensconces looking ruminative, forlorn, and deeply pensive.

This is a surprisingly well-acted series with some very strong performances by the main leads. Duoung Hy presents his complex characterizations of An with such richness and deep understanding of emotions. His eyes and facial expressions were both noteworthy and intense. Yet who stands out is the Uncle (Thuu Dang). Why? While he is presented mostly for comedic effect, towards the end there are scenes, mostly with no words, that deepens who he is mysterious and almost instantly takes him from being clownish to a forlorn figure worthy of compassion as he is obviously in deep pain. The look of regret on his face is haunting. Is he the key?

This is the brilliance of the Vietnamese series. They always take ordinariness and make it extraordinary in the most reflective way. This series teases that there is more to this story than meets the eye and I for one want more. As always, the Vietnamese BL series tells human stories. They arc stories that mirror the reflection of real life and present their characters with morality and integrity. An desperately wants to love Thanh, but what holds back in abeyance is the belief that Thanh is his cousin, which makes this relationship suspicious. But when he is told that they are not related, the relationship can now move on into a deeper acuteness with no sense of guilt, shame, or regret.

This BL takes a rather tropey story and makes it feel honest and, yes, even real. This is again another work of pure artistry by an independent film studio and so it is rough around the edges. The translations were a bit uneven as well, but for the most part, on target. The filming in the more rural areas always adds a new dimension of reality to an already earthy story. While not a polished or slick production, the acting is very good; the screenplay had some outstanding moments, and the story with its painful twists for some of the characters gives this series a refreshingly new dimension overall.

If you have never watched a Vietnamese BL, this would be a good start. It will show you the richness of characters, the subtle depth of emotions, and the relatability of ordinary life. There is always something so touching and heart-rendering to their efforts.

As I have done so in the past, I would highly recommend that production companies as a civic duty/responsibility acknowledge as a public service, the names and numbers of hotlines on where to get help for individuals who may have been a victim of sexual abuse or exploitation. You do not need to feel alone or helpless.

Rating- 4 out of 5

Streaming on- Here