Sometimes a near-death experience is all you need, to reclaim everything that you lost!!

This show was a subtle mixture of many tropes- “Childhood Friends to Enemies”, “Transmigration” and also “Toxic Romance”. You can take the pick of your favorite. Since last year, Chinese BLs have been slowly dominating the scene. If you were addicted to the possessive love story in “Kill to Love”, then comparably, “Journey with You” might seem mild. We do have an elder brother who is hellbent on killing his own brothers, and he is positively very, very gay. But the similarities end there. There is a lot of political maneuverings and even more scheming happening behind the scenes. In the midst of this turmoil, a hostage finds love with his Prince Charming and that’s the most beautiful part of this show. No matter the time & tide, they always find their way back to each other.

The Love Story That Reroutes to the Past

After guarding the frontier for three years, Fifth Prince Yin Qi (Tang Bi De) returns to the capital due to a secret letter, only to fall into a deadly trap alongside his closest companion, Pei Yanzhi (Wang Jing Han). At the brink of death, he finally realizes the depth of his feelings for Yanzhi. When he opens his eyes again, he finds himself transported three years to the past and, surprisingly, his mother is alive. Determined to change his fate and protect his loved ones, Yin Qi acts cautiously to gain favor from his father. At the same time, he subtly investigates his elder brother, the Crown Prince’s evil deeds. He also grows suspicious of Yanzhi’s intentions and on learning that he might be colluding with the Crown Prince, he undermines his attempts. Yanzhi only wants to protect Yin Qi, and as such, he is determined to safeguard him at all costs. In the end, they act together when Yin Zhou tries to kill the Emperor and brand Yin Qi as a rebel. Tang Bi De & Wang Jing Han have a natural chemistry, their NC scenes are scripted beautifully!!

The Toxic Prince Who Commits Suicide for Love

Crown Prince Yin Zhou’s (Colin Duan) death was an unexpected plot twist. The guy spent decades killing his brothers and Yin Qi was the only survivor. Not that Yin Zhou didn’t try, he did. But Yin Qi survives against all odds and even manages to outmaneuver his elder brother, who is out for blood. There are certain moments when you feel sorry for him. His mother, the Empress, is quite ambitious and keeps pushing his limits. As she is jealous of Concubine Chen, he turns both brothers against each other. Yin Zhou is explicitly depicted as gay, and he is quite unapologetic about his sexuality. He even has a male harem. Amongst them, he is closest to Wei Zi Ming (Li You Cheng) who acts as his personal assistant and paramour. Sadly, Wei Zi Ming sacrifices his life to stop Yin Zhou from committing more crimes. Yin Zhou loses his mind when Wei Zi Ming dies in his arms and commits suicide, following him in death. Their love story was sad and miserable. Wei Zi Ming dies without knowing the extent of Yin Zhou’s feelings for him.

Final Impressions

The show didn’t make waves like its predecessors, but the intent was clear!!

The show wasn’t a big-budget production, but surprisingly, the settings and cinematography are good enough to hold your attention. The actors are talented and embody their characters well. Especially, Colin Duan, who embraces Yin Zhou’s toxicity. Tang Bi De & Wang Jing Han have a comfortable camaraderie, their scenes are endearing. To love someone so much, is truly a blessing!!

Rating- 4 out of 5

Streaming on- Gagaoolala/Chinese Drama HQ YouTube Channel