Duan Zi Ang to Xiao Shu He- Don’t cry, your tears hurt me worse than any blade!!

This show will tear your hearts to shreds and leave you wounded for different reasons!

It is mainly because the main protagonists are strong characters; you fall for them, root for their love to hold strong and yet you can’t argue whether their reconciliation is worthwhile affair or not?

It’s been a long time since I saw a wuxia styled BL (after “Word of Honor” which was adapted as a bromance because of cliché censorship). The reason why Chinese BLs are so addictive is that they match the production value of Korean mainstream dramas. No one produces historicals like China does, it’s their niche market. The cinematography is always lush and beautiful, costumes are ethereal and more than that, the actors are fully committed to their roles. It is a big deal for Chinese actors to star in a BL production; it could cost them their entire career and yet the recent hits like “Revenged Love” are totally proving that Chinese BLs are superior when compared to their Thai or Korean counterparts. The sincerity is delightfully persistent; you can see how much work the cast and crew have undertaken. And you learn to appreciate it, because a good Chinese BL only drops once in a while.

Duan Zi Ang & Xiao Shu He

For those who haven’t started watching this heartbreaking romance yet (I mean, what are you waiting for), here’s a short recap before we move onto dissecting the finer parts of the love story. The story focuses on two princes from rival nations, South Hui & Ji North. Predictable but surprisingly not. Xiao Shu He (Mi Jin) is the rather carefree Sixth Prince of South Hui. He ends up having an accidental (rather planned) meeting with his childhood friend, Duan Zi Ang (Zhang Zhe Xu) who has been missing for years after his entire family was executed. Zi Ang was rescued and trained by the Ji North Red Shadow Guard’s Commander (who is his paternal Uncle & the Emperor’s brother). Zi Ang is actually the child of Ji North’s Emperor, but his identity was hidden while his Uncle trained him as an assassin (presumably because the nation already had a Crown Prince & Zi Ang was a spare). Without knowing that the family he grew up in wasn’t his own, Duan Zi Ang vows revenge against the South Hui Crown Prince, Xiao Shu Qian (Cheng Fang). He plans a deliberate assassination attempt on Shu He and rescues him to get into his good books. Shu He takes him home & tends to his injuries but doesn’t trust him much. As Zi Ang stays in the Sixth Prince Manor to recuperate, slowly he starts falling in love with the reclusive Sixth Prince who only wants to play zither and avoid getting dragged onto court politics. Good times come to end, when the overtly suspicious Shu Qian plans a rebellion, kills his father and intends to murder Shu He. Zi Ang can’t stand the thought of Shu He getting hurt and ends up killing the Crown Prince instead. Even though, his own brother was trying to kill him & Zi Ang saved his life, Shu He cuts all ties with Zi Ang. Years later, they meet again when Zi Ang vanquishes the South Hui Kingdom and imprisons Shu He.

The Heartwrenching Romance

You need to be prepared for utter heartbreak if you are watching this show. So aside from popcorn, prepare boxes of tissues. Because this show will leave you heartbroken at a different level. The actor’s literary embody the emotions of the characters they portray; it’s nerve wrecking and painful. The first half of the show focuses on the budding romance between the main characters and the second half plunges you into heartbreak. Xiao Shu He & Duan Zi Ang meet under deceptive conditions. Zi Ang is masquerading as a good friend to gain information about the Crown Prince. Shu He doesn’t trust his intentions and has his own gameplan. As they dance around each other, slowly the walls are destroyed, and they inevitably fall for each other. Zi Ang starts from a guy who gets creeped out whenever Shu He gets too close to becoming a love crazed assassin. The way their relationship evolves is so defiant, you cheer for them. The fact that they belong to enemy nations and are princes means they can never be together in the traditional sense. And yet, they wish to give up on everything, elope and live a quiet life somewhere else. But things don’t go as intended. Zi Ang kills Shu Qian, mostly to save Shu He and also to avenge his elder brother’s death (who is massacred by Shu Qian). Shu He can’t accept the fact that Zi Ang killed his brother and cuts all ties with him. Heartbroken and injured, Zi Ang returns to his nation where he raises to the rank of the Commander. Shu He becomes the Emperor and cuts all trade routes between the two nations. Left with no option to contact his loved one who keeps spurring his advances, Zi Ang goes mad and kills his own father to usurp the throne. Thereupon, he invades the South Hui Kingdom and imprisons Shu He. Zi Ang is literally obsessed with Shu He who wants nothing to do with him. As they dance around each other, hurting and hurling abuses; Zi Ang falls sick. In his final days, Shu He relents and they get married. But in the end, Shu He deceives him again by committing suicide and Zi Ang is yet again left all alone. Zhang Zhe Xu & Mi Jin have an unassuming chemistry. It’s natural, uplifting and refreshing. Obviously, the characters took a toll on them, especially Zhang Zhe Xu. It’s quite evident from the BTS videos that Zhe Xu was in tears in quite a few scenes where he had to hurt Mi Jin. Strangely enough, the actors have a great camaraderie despite the fact that this is their first project together. It translates to great chemistry onscreen and their kissing scenes are a hit. Zhang Zhe Xu literally bought to life, the love obsessed Emperor who destroys nations, just so he could be with his beloved. Zi Ang doesn’t care about anything else, except Shu He. To him, Shu He is his religion, belief and faith. The way Zhang Zhe Xu emotes is impressive, and I’m a huge fan.

Kissing Chemistry- 🥰🔥😍🔥❤

Is it a Worthwhile Watch

These two, they were never meant to be; but I wish they could be!

There are very few shows where you are actually cheering for the main leads to end up together against all odds, but they don’t. The scriptwriters took a daring approach and actually portrayed a same-sex marriage scene between the lead pair. This was unheard of before, the novelty won’t wear off soon. Apart from that, the storytelling was crisp, the cast and crew were brave enough to adapt even the minuscule details of Zi Ang & Shu He’s tumultuous relationship. I’m slightly addicted to the lead pair and I really want to see them in a modern romance. Fingers crossed!

Rating- 5 out of 5

Streaming on- Gagaoolala/ Viu