This series, without wanting to sound hyperbolic, is in an instant classic category and in essence prototypical. It is one of the most remarkable BLs I have ever seen or perhaps will ever see. It is that good. It is certainly unique. True to Vietnamese BLs, it is a series that digs deep into the internal onuses of humanity and its various components of human passions. I have stated this before and shall state it again. Some of the finest, if not the finest BLs come from Vietnam. They tell deeply insightful stories of humanity that have heart and aspiration and tell it in a way that underlying it all is still the message of hope. And they tell these stories in ways that if we listen and observe, can help us change to become better individuals. The narratives are just remarkable.

The telling is a duology of the gay love relationship between An Khanh (Vuong Han) and Hai Dang (Duc Duy). And the cast of characters who thwart their link. Jealousy rears its ugly head throughout this series and is so devastatingly destructive. As well as certain individuals whose own egomaniacal methods of bullying and controlling life’s determinants are beyond measure. All for the motive that they can. We see the full force of that ugliness and its life-long consequences.

Not only is this series a duology, but it is also a musical. The songs are hauntingly empathetic and impactful in this underlying sad story, made even sadder by its musical underscore. It all works with such surprisingly strong emotional connections and sincerely impassioned acting as well. While the story line is not necessarily new, its presentation is creatively unique and captivating and beyond enthralling. It had me beguiled from the very beginning and it never let up. It made it all so astonishingly relatable on so many levels.

The images and representations in this series are almost overwhelming and explodes at every major point in the story. It flows and ebbs as the story goes on. The music and singing which are such integral components of this series, gives it a “West Side Story” connection. Yet, the harmonies to the songs are so haunting that they will remain with you for a long time. The filming of this series is done in muted tones. Thus, giving it an even more foreboding feel and at times a deeper sense of melancholy.

However, in the end, it becomes also a story of redemption. Or offers a path to redemption. While perhaps slanted towards a Vietnamese audience, its message is a universal one and it can be understood completely by everyone. It will have you thinking about forgiveness in a whole new light and realm. No matter how much you think you have been ‘wronged’, especially when you were younger, two things stand out as we mature into adulthood. As adults, there are always losses. We are also, in some way, partly responsible for the role in the direction we have taken in our own lives; nothing is the sole blame of one person.

There is such remarkable acting in this series. As I stated, there are two stories in this series, and it is presented that way, and both continued the love story seamlessly. I would not try to distinguish anyone individual here as everyone gave the performance of a lifetime for this series. The subtleties of personality traits were obvious, and the complexities of individual personalities shown through even with years of time gaps in between. We knew who they were. We could see the hurt, pain, and the weight of what they carried from childhood spill over into their adult world even when the actors/actors are so different.

What this series so beautifully illustrates is a theme of acceptance and love, which can be taught and acknowledged at an early age. The antagonist Nooc Linh (Nhu Thuy) is given a chance to do it over again, after she understands, finally, what her actions have done. Her burden has been a heavy one.

To be sure, there are production issues with this series, but they are all minor in comparison to its incredible message. I applaud the production company for making this into a duology which gives it two distinct stories yet bridged by one theme. In addition to presenting it as a musical, with a musical score that both enhances the theme and advances the story along in a way that only a good musical could, without overpowering the storyline. It is quite a novel way to present an ordinary BL storyline. The Vietnamese have such a unique way of storytelling even for their BLs.

Vietnamese BLs are indeed works of cinematic art that simply do not get the recognition they deserve. Their stories are about ordinary people in ordinary circumstances, living sometimes marginalized lives that for most of us are so much more relatable that the idealized BL world of Pollyanna fantasies coming out of Thailand and other countries. They also manage to add a moral arc to the story, giving a sense of redemption and a path to right the wrong, in a way we wish we all could.

This series will without doubt be in my Top Ten for this year and is an absolute contender for the Best BL for 2024. You cannot watch this series without being moved by its theme, its music, and its presentation. If you are not, then honestly, you are not human. This is a series pertinent to everyone- be they gay, straight, or anything/everything in between. It is a story of redemption by acceptance of responsibility, told through the camera lens of entertainment and musicality, with a hint of morality.

Wow!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Streaming on- Phim Đam Mỹ Hay Nhất Productions YouTube Channel