As is the case with most Chinese Bromances these days, Stand by Me premiered without much fanfare. It’s like most Chinese production houses are bidding their time to drop new releases without much promotions/marketing; especially if they are bromance/brotherhood related. It wasn’t surprising; what surprised me more was the classic pairing and the overall look as well as feel of this miniseries. If you love Republican era dramas, then you are in for a treat. Unlike “Winter Begonia”, which had a magnanimous setting and popular casting; Stand by Me does fall short of these things. However, it makes up for the loss with a storyline that is tight lined and actors that have a great chemistry. Obviously, Bromances are marketed based on the subtle, barely there romance between the male protagonists. We know it is there, we can see it, but because of Chinese censorship; we choose to ignore it. Tencent’s Stand by Me does live up to that premise; it is a beautifully orchestrated love story between two compatriots, who are also best friends. Let’s dig deeper and figure out if this short web series is worth your time!
The BL Xpress 