Once I completed this series, I asked myself what was the premise of this series? And I honestly could not figure one out. It is your standard formulaic BL, full of tropes, cliches, customary setups, and unremarkable contrived crisis. But through at least some portions of this series, I found myself being avidly entertained chiefly because of the charming effect of the two main leads. The remainder, however, not so much because it was your standard flat setup.

The whole concept is absurd, really. If anyone seriously thought that the audience was going to believe that Xiao Bai (Nelson Ji) was some type of operative for an intelligence agency has been reading too many spy comic books. He simply never fit the part. And if you further expected the audience to believe that the focus of his attention was observing Da Hei (Andy Ko) supposedly engaging in dastardly and clandestine activities, well, you have been smoking something that perhaps you should not be partaking in.

These two guys were the antithesis of their personas. They simply could not pull off these roles or at least not seriously enough to be believed and therefore the whole premise almost became a parody. BUT oh, it was so much fun to watch them go at it! This is one of the most enjoyable and fun ‘spy thriller’ series that never was to come out in a long time. Perhaps, if they made this as a comedy, it might have worked better!

Frankly I never understood what the nefarious portion of the ‘Convenient Store’ was supposed to be (I actually thought the concept made a lot of sense). Exactly why the intelligence office was so fixated for years on taking the Store down was never made clear. I further did not understand how a spy organization could be a ‘family’ operation and if it was above the law, or working with the law, or separate from the law, and functioning by what authority. But none of that mattered.

This is just fun to watch Da Hei and Xiao Bai develop their connection and relationship. To say these two are two of the more unusual individuals to form a ‘ship’ would be an understatement. There is something about them that seems so strangely off, yet when it came to being a couple, it felt intensely intimate. I just loved it. Loosely calling itself a spy plot, it failed. Almost laughably. You do not need to watch it for the ‘story’; simply watch it for them. It seemed so tongue-in-cheek.

The side characters were light fluff and mostly used for props except for Dou Ke Yi (Wills Sia), a rather enigmatic figure supposedly operating the “Convenient Story’ for nefarious reasons. It seemed like everything but that. I wanted his story to be told in greater detail and with deeper compassion than it was. There is a secondary couple that is an insufferable bore and frankly the wrong coupling. A wrong connection. There was a much greater and stronger bond that already existed that should have been developed. Here is where I think Wills Sia was completely underutilized That, I think, would have made this series a much deeper saga. A complete miss for the secondary couple.

Ironically, one character here is both fascinating and at the same time also a caricature. Lam Sau Kwan plays Da Hei’s grandmother, Hei Shi Lin. She does an admirable job of being a grandmother. Supportive. Understanding. Compassionate. And very intuitive. But then this series turned her into this Black Widow type of character to ‘save’ the relationship between Da Hei and Xiao Bia against Xiao Bia’s grandfather, who is a stern and nasty individual. Not only was that laughable, it was unquestionably also cringeworthy. It simply pointed out the inherent weakness in the story developed. It literally made no sense, and it was not believable. It was so cartoonish. But I loved her performance as the doting grandmother who was accepting and encouraging of her grandson’s relationship with Xiao Bai.

Both these protagonists were in their late 20s, essentially hard-working middle-class plebians who looked and acted just like us. They seemed awkward and average. That is what makes this series so special and unique. It is so common and ordinary despite the silly premises and nonsensical setups. I would have been just as happy if these two provincials lived next door to each other as quiet neighbors who serendipitously developed a relationship. That is who they were and that is who I wanted them to be.

For all its faults and its illogical story, the acting between the two main leads is actually very good and the chemistry quite believable. Although they are not your typical BL stereotypical protagonists, these guys made it work. The plot is a mess but a fun one. I completely enjoyed the development of their romance, and it felt genuine and quite credible. Their kissing scenes are devilishly beautiful and with intense sincerity enhanced by a sense of a deep love and true affection for one another. I believed them. When they kissed, it felt as if the cameras were not present, and we were accidently and voyeuristically watching Da Hei and Xia Bai cuddle, caress, and be amorous.

Watch this series just for Da Hei and Xia Bai and you will enjoy the simplicity of two rather commonplace men fall in love, softly passionate, and begin to establish a happy contented life, taking comfort in knowing that their world of love is around each of them. It envelopes them like a security blanket. Something that most of us strive for!

If I am being honest, this series is just pure fun on a spurious level but that does not take away its likability.

Rating- 3 out of 5

Streaming on- Gagaoolala