Addicted Heroin (2016)

"Addicted" es una de mis series BL favoritas, ever. Aunque, a diferencia de otras series made in China, el presupuesto se percibe más modesto (localizaciones, vestuario etc.), tiene lo esencial para atraparte: una historia brillante y bien narrada, estupenda química entre actores, buena factura técnica y una genial banda sonora.

Es cierto que la historia, adaptación de la extensísima novela "Are You Addicted?" de Chai Jidan, tiene algunas pegas: es obvio que ha habido cortes de censura (especialmente notorios en las escenas donde se intuyen relaciones físicas entre Bay Luo-yin y Gu Hai aunque, aun así, se pueden rescatar cosas) y el final es deliberadamente abierto (para una segunda temporada que, ya dijeron, no se hará). Sin embargo esta historia de amores donde caben los celos, el autodescubrimiento y las dudas sobre el fluir de la hetero a la homosexualidad... brilla.

Los actores principales son ma-ra-vi-llo-sos. Xu Weizhou (como Bay Luo-yin) y Huang Jing-yu (como Gu Hai) tienen carisma y una enorme complicidad, logran conectar y traspasar sus emociones al espectador. Y el elenco de reparto es solvente para que nos gusten esos personajes entrañables a los que adorar, como los compañeros de clase Ling Feng-song (como You Qi) y Chen Wen (como Yang Meng), o esos malos bichos a los que cogemos tirria, como las novias Lou Qing (brillante Jin Lu Lu) y Zhou Yu-tong (como Shi Hui).

La música, interpretada en los temas de inicio y cierre por los actores protagónicos, es adorable. Son baladas románticas de gran sensibilidad que acompañan estupendamente a la imagen y las emociones. Te aseguro que Xu Weizhou ha sido todo un descubrimiento (y, a fe, que algún día conseguiré material físico original y no sólo streaming!!).

La serie tiene la ventaja de contar con capítulos de 20-25 minutos con lo que los 15 episodios se ven con facilidad. Y sí, es una serie a la que recurrentemente volverás porque la historia es preciosa y el resultado global es más que satisfactorio. Si quieres empezar en el entorno BL "Addicted" es una estupenda puerta de entrada.

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Una buena idea inicial, pero llevada por un camino tóxico y nocivo

No me malentendáis. Quiero empezar diciendo que esta serie no es una mala producción como tal. Ha tenido mucho éxito, y puedo entender perfectamente el motivo.
Por un lado, es una historia entretenida y con humor, con la que poco a poco te vas familiarizando con los personajes y queriendo saber más de ellos. Tampoco es un mal concepto o una mala idea. Además, por otro lado, para los que nos gustan los amores que se van cociendo a fuego lento esta historia tiene un gran punto a favor. Pues, a diferencia de como pasa en otros BL, los protagonistas no se enamoran por completo en el capítulo 2 o 3, si no que se van conociendo y se van haciendo amigos. Las actuaciones sin ser excelentes, son buenas, también raro en los BL. Bien, hasta ahí todo bien.
Lo malo viene en pequeñas dosis, y, al menos en mi caso, al principio me hizo sentir un poco incómoda, pero no pensé que fuera a más. Pequeño aviso: sí va a más. Uno de los protagonistas básicamente abusa del otro, es dominante en un sentido que toca lo abusivo, controlador y posesivo. Esto no tendría por que ser malo como tal, si el guión y la producción reflejaran lo pernocivo de un comportamiento así, pero no lo hace; sino que lo romantiza. Hace parecer que el comportamiento de este personajes sea adorable, entrañable y romántico, una prueba de su profundo amor, cuando lo único que es es tóxico y desagradable, y no indica más que una obsesión enfermiza, no amor. Tampoco voy a entrar en el profundo machismo arraigado que hay en esta serie, porque apesta, los personajes femeninos son maniquís y estereotipos.
Por estos motivos, especialmente por el primero, creo que es bueno que la serie haya sido baneada, y la verdad es que, sintiéndolo mucho por los fans, me alegro. Probablemente el baneo también fue porque refleja comportamientos tóxicos, y no solo por tener contenido homosexual. Me estaba gustando, pero llegó un punto que fue imperdonable y la dejé a pocos capítulos de terminarla.

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Gran Serie

Es un gran serie lo único malo es que el gobierno chino censuro los últimos 3 episodios..del 16 al 18 despues de 5 años no sabemos que paso..yo me descargue toda la serie y vi tambien los videos musicales y los detras de camaras inclusos los fan meeting en China y Tailandia, y todo es muy triste porque no pudo el tener el final que esperabamos por la censura y no se grabo la segunda temporada que se esperaba
Me gusto mucho la quimica entre los actores, cada episodio era entrenido y bueno, llegue a la serie por la gran cantidad de comentarios y discusiones sobre lo que paso en ese entonces

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Potencial desaprovechado.

Lo primero que me viene a la mente cuando pienso en este título es, todo lo que pudieron haber hecho bien pero no lo hicieron, esta historia al menos en su núcleo tenía un gran potencial que podía aprovecharse muy bien, pero se desperdicio de la peor forma posible.

Sin duda, lo triste es ver lo que pudieron haber alcanzado pero no se logró. Y no, no es cosa de presupuesto.

Entre las cosas buenas que tiene este drama está que: La historia se vende, además de que tenía un gran potencial al menos en su primera mitad, era sencilla de ver y la trama mezclaba lo cotidiano con el drama y se vendía como un historia normal, pero interesante.

Las malas características de este drama, sobrepasan con creces, a las pocas cosas buenas que se pudieron haber conseguido:

Primero.- El potencial de la trama se desaprovechó, la historia se vuelve cliché y personalmente creo que no aprovecharon bien la dinámica entre los personajes principales.

Segundo.- La actitud del protagonista, no esta nada bien, que onda el tipo, parece Christian Grey pero versión China. Aparece de la nada, se impone ante el otro prota, ignora sus sentimientos, es celoso, violento y uff la lista se va de largo. Este tipo necesita terapia de forma urgente, además no olvidemos que se aprovecha de alguien en situación de vulnerabilidad y recurre al chantaje emocional.

Tercero.- Con los personajes secundarios no se dan el tiempo, tienen desarrollo casi nulo y solo aparecen a la conveniencia de la trama, (exceptuando el núcleo familiar de los protagonistas). Además esa segunda línea argumental que quisieron meter, sobre los otros dos amigos, era pesima, además de que el otro sujeto tambien era un abusador.

Las actuaciones están bien, pero en ocasiones no se siente del todo reales y parecen un poco forzadas, en especial cuando hay contacto físico.

Cuarto.- Visualmente la serie no destaca, el guión no es grandioso pero es funcional, tiene sus cosas criticables, pero nada que no sea algo recurrente en el género. (Eso no quiere decir que estén bien o que las apruebo)

Finalmente, lo feo de esta serie es:

Primero.- Sus personajes femeninos están muy mal desarrollados.

Segundo.- ¡Queda inconclusa de la peor forma posible! Tristemente la serie se produjo el año en que la ley se endureció y prohibió las representaciones de personajes LGBTIQ+ en los productos de todo tipo. Obviamente esto produjo que la serie quedará abierta sin poder cerrarse de forma correcta.

Lo peor, es que el corte es demasiado evidente y lamentable. Aunque no sé si hubiese podido ser mejor, después de todo, ya se estaba volviendo un poco forzada.

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The acting in this web series was great even though some of them were beginning actors. I loved all the couplings (or more like coupling, even though it was clear who the others were) because the chemistry between them was great!

The music was fabulous as well; especially their singing. The main two have such nice and lovely voices!

I don't personally like how a lot of things were cut from the drama and things got confusing here and there; especially when an episode ended in one place and the next one started in a different place and I'm sitting here watching it like, "What?!?! How did that even happened?? Or how did that even worked?" (I understand that some scenes were deliberately cut due to China's sensory issue, but at least make the continuity understandable.)

Overall, the web series is great and lovely even with a mere 15 episodes that were 20-25 minutes long each. I definitely recommend watching this web series because once you do, you will want more of the characters, lol. I will definitely re-watch this web series when I have nothing else to watch!

(I will be waiting for season 2!)

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what i really like about this series is that there acting were all natural specially the stubbornness of the two characters (Gu Hai and Bai Luo Yin), i really love their character ... its not really a typical gay series, the content was good ,the scenes were great and for me its a perfect series... I was able to relate it with my previous relationship of which we were stubborn but with a soft heart!!! Gu Hai and Yin Zi's character proves that no matter what the obstacles are , they are ready to fight for what they think is right and what they love!!!! So So love this series!!!! please update us for the 2nd season of addicted Heroin!!!!
Godbless you all guys~!!!! Fighting!!!!
:)

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um just watched all of this show how do people like it? he is sexually assaulting yin? is that his name? and he is never happy agh im so pissed they condoned this level of harassment and so many people like it. up to the episode where he kidnaps him he is so nice and is worried about hurting him like when he touches the wound on his head and is then worried but after that he goes on to rape him. this is how rape culture exists teenage girls and boys are watching and reading shows like this and come to believe this shit is right no way! is this a healthy relation ship yes yin kisses him himself but that is after talking to his ex he is so brain washed by whatever his face is and is worried about what would happen if he tried to leave him so reassures himself by being with him. the rapey guy also wanted to get the virus that yin had that could possibly kill him that's not love that badshit fuvking crazy I honestly thought it might have ended with him killing someone like the "feminine guy" for being close to yin. the first half was so nice and I really believed this was going to be the best show I've watched in awhile but it became so unbearable to watch and made me feel so uncomfortable I've lost all hope for humanity if people truly believe this pairing is perfect

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Wrong Addiction

Welcome to those who want to hear my rant/review again and this time it goes to the one and only, "iconic BL series", Addicted Heroin. Wooo. Honestly, I just don't understand why this BL is so popular especially with the problematic tropes being used there. I'll try to elaborate here.

I'll start with Gu Hai, the guy who's twisted and who has a terrible obsession over Bai Luo Yin. I am so disgusted by his behaviour over him. The fact he stalked him was creepy made me want to vomit. Also, him hiring people to kidnap Luo Yin. Did that scream romantic to you? If you were in his position, how would you feel? This was Stockholm syndrome on another level. I felt like I was watching 365 days movie, but in Mandarin and between two Chinese men. Not to mention how the dialogues he used, "You want to have nothing to do with me, don't you? Then I will keep you chained here so that you cannot run away" before attacking him with a forced kiss and ending with a "Baby, you've known long before that I have special feelings for you, don't you? So you are not surprised that if I kiss you" and followed by other cringey dialogues, "I sleep with you on one bed, it's because I want to fuck you. I even dreamt of it" and blaming his obsessive behaviour on Luo Yin with no fucking regrets. This was the worst, "Husband who doesn't have sex with their wives is not a good husband" What kind of bullshit message was Gu Hai trying to say? He treated him like a sex object and not like his partner. Here's a surprise, this whole thing just happened in one damn episode, Episode 11 and there's more, SHOCKING!

Episode 12, the scene of what happened in the bedroom. My gosh, that was gross. Gu Hai couldn't control his dick and hormones towards his favourite "object" so he did it again! You could literally tell by Lin Yuo's facial expressions that he was so uncomfortable with it and poor boy had to play along with it when he already asked him to stop. That word came out right from his mouth. Yikes. Wait, that's not it! It also happened in Episode 13. Amazing BL right? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcUiO4lQMr4 (Where I watched it if you guys are wondering) The fact that this loved BL show was romanticizing sexual assault, imagine this show being continued, I'll be counting how many more there will be in after this.

Also, Gu Hai's former girlfriend was so stupid. She's your stereotypical jealous girl who couldn't stand her boyfriend with other women. Of course, there had to be that stupid catfight between other women because of that. I just don't understand why BLs love portraying these type of women? I am tired of seeing it. Stop giving female a bad representation in BL please. I also couldn't understand her shitty behaviour of trying to make Gu Hai jealous by doing a fake affair. It didn't seem fake to me. The only fake I could see was from her fake attitude. Thus, I concluded, birds with the same feather flock together.

In conclusion, this chinese BL is not addictive at all and I am no way going to rewatch this thing again. I feel ashamed because I'm 3/4 Chinese and me seeing this? No. I've lost faith in humanity for those who love this BL. Goodbye!

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I spotted this drama on Viki, where it had excellent ratings and reviews, and I was excited to watch an Asian drama with queer themes as there aren't that many of them. I marathoned the whole thing, because the episodes are short and I have too much free time, and honestly I was disappointed. And more than disappointed, I was upset.

The plot has potential, and the actors are good (especially considering they're pretty much beginners), but I honestly have very little tolerance for queer storylines where every intimate interaction is more or less forced. Not forced as in 'the actors are clearly awkward about it', but forced as in 'if this scene happened in real life, it would be sexual harassment'.

I don't want to spoil anything but I think people should know this before they watch the drama, as it is content that may very well be triggering for some people. Some people will undoubtedly think I'm making this too big of a deal, but I have been sexually harassed and I don't take these things lightly. Personally, I was very uncomfortable watching the 'love' scenes of this drama, and also troubled by the fact that so many people find these forced kisses etc cute and romantic. I don't know if the creators thought kissing someone who's barely conscious or restraiting someone so you can kiss them was okay because the characters are both boys, or if it's just their opinion in general. Sadly, I've seen a similar problem with other queer storylines in Asian tv/cinema as well. I find it very concerning. There's nothing cute in forcing yourself on someone. And it's incredibly harmful to portray this kind of 'no means try harder' behaviour as normal and romantic.

If you cut out these disturbing scenes, the drama would be quite nice. The acting is good, and there are some funny moments. As the main couple was disappointing for me (not the actors; the behaviour of the characters), I found myself more invested in Bai Luo Yin's relationship with his father. Song Tao, who played the role of the absent-minded yet incredibly kind father, did a really good job. The dad was my favourite character. I also liked the classmates, Yang Meng and You Qi, though the drama definitely ended on a very confusing note re: those two.

TL;DR: this could've been a great drama, if not for the 'romantic' scenes being mainly sexual harassment.

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One of the best bl's? More like one of the worst bl's.

I still till this day wonder what's wrong with people who romanticize this abusive relationship. I'm all for watching disturbing things, I love horror for example, and I love disturbing stories. But the problem is that normal people know that disturbing things are... well... disturbing. It's only a problem when people start finding abusive relationships hot and they start romanticize such behaviour.

And I still wonder why this abusive relationship is mentioned as "one of the best bl's".
I felt so bad for Luo Yin the entire time. I do wonder what's wrong with people who find this relationship sexy/couple goals. It's laughable to me that some people say that this series is a masterpiece. Watching this I felt sad. I could say that it's an amazing series if Luo Yin realized that he deserves better and there would be another love interest who's treating him with respect. But this doesn't happens. And even if the show got canceled I'm pretty sure that this wouldn't happen anyways. As someone who already had an abusive parent I find it disturbing when people romanticize abusive relationships. There is absolutely nothing worse than being around abusive people.

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I’m going to be completely honest. I have no idea why everyone likes this show. People rave about the chemistry between the actors. What chemistry?? BLY acted like he hated Gu Hai’s guts the entire series. And Gu Hai was an aggressive, possessive, controlling creep. This entire series is nothing but Non-consensual intimacy. Gu Hai forces himself onto BLY constantly and even goes as far as blind folding him, tying him up, and KIDNAPPING HIM. He molests him multiple times and never leaves him alone when BLY is literally screaming “no, leave me alone!”
Like...in what world is this romantic??
And all the people talking about how “it’s fake, it’s fiction, get over it” really need to check their morality. Like, be 100% honest with yourself: if a guy was doing this to a girl, there is no way this show would even have half these good reviews. People will literally watch anything so long as they are seeing two men kissing or having sex smh. If that’s what you want, go watch a freakin porno.
And “get over it”?? Try telling that to a rape victim or a sexual assault survivor.
The storyline of how the two main characters came to know each other had potential but overall this show is not good. This is not romance and I’m so taken aback at the amount of good reviews and loving comments.
What if this were you and you were telling your aggressor “no” then he forces himself on you? What if this was your sister or brother and they were constantly telling their aggressor “no” so then the person kidnaps them? Would you still think it’s cute? Would you still think it’s romantic?

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If you've read as much BL manga as I have, you know that a big cliche of the genre is noncon, i.e., the romanticization of sexual assault between partners. I was disappointed to find it in Addicted, which is otherwise a great slice-of-life romance. For Americans raised on a very different set of sexual customs, these scenes of apparent non-con will be surprising or disturbing. I say "apparent" non-con, because I know that in some Asian cultures female partners are expected to put on a show of resistance to sex. This is a seriously problematic custom, and caused endless confusion for an American man I know when he was dating in Japan. But it's how I explain to myself the occasional "assault" scenes in "Addicted." I strongly believe that No means No, but I also get the sense these guys have never heard that.

The low budget, simple settings and slightly eccentric pacing give this show the feeling of real life. The characterizations are top-notch. Much of the tension comes from just how stubborn both of the main characters are. That they're able to rely on each other anyway is sweet, and makes them an interesting and memorable BL pairing. But the writer also portrayed a great father-son relationship and gave a humorous insight into the differences between China's poor and nouveau riche. The music is also good, and I often don't notice music. (The "It's Okay That's Love" shout-out in one of the musical selections made me very happy.)

The greatest flaw in this series is also the thing that makes it most interesting: the censorship of many scenes and the fact that China banned gay content before the series could be finished. The romance never feels fully developed because censors eliminated not only sex but kissing. The end result is a show where the guys talk about sex frankly (okay, Guo Bai talks about it, gotta love that cheeky bugger), but we never even see an affectionate kiss between them. And the story ends abruptly with a cliffhanger and a ton of emotional issues unresolved between the guys.

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