Addicted Heroin (2016)

Attractive leads, natural acting, but ABSOLUTELY TOXIC AF!

SPOILERS AHEAD - READ AFTER FINISHING DRAMA

I think it may be possible for some to enjoy this show because both of the leads are attractive and their acting is skilled/natural but that toxicity just will not fly in today's age. Like I'm not gonna lie and say that they aren't attractive. Or that the chemistry isn't there. Because that wasn't true. And also that their acting was so natural that when that one part at the beginning of episode 9 popped up with the actors talking about a fan meeting that I was caught off guard because it truly felt like I was watching the characters live out their stories in real life. Although none of that can be denied, there were still several issues.

Gu Hai and Bai Luo Yin's (BLY) relationship is almost symbolic of a real-life abusive relationship because you know that there's a good side (Gu Hai taking care of BLY in thoughtful ways, caring for BLY's family, gift-giving, making sacrifices for BLY, etc.) but then there's also the bad side that outweighs all that (forced intimacy, blatant sexual assault, stalker behavior, unrelenting/violent pursuit of BLY, obsessive tendencies, frightening jealousy, uncontrolled rage, LITERAL KIDNAP, psychological trauma, drugging drinks, etc.) You might keep wanting to go back to experience the good side but then the bad side is there to damage you in ways that you yourself keep choosing to return to. I don’t know how BLY didn’t run away in fear of his life at some point. Anyway, romanticized toxicity is not cute so hopefully, all future dramas will hop on the consent train. It would be so much hotter than whatever this drama is trying to do.

Another issue: the women/girls in this show were all portrayed and talked to so pathetically. It was so disappointing to see these women pining endlessly over their crushes, being uncontrollably driven by their emotions, being unable to let go of the past, being described as having an "unwilling to forgive attitude", having their only worth and roles tied to a guy, etc. I didn’t feel that there was a single strong female lead. These dramas can do so much better than this. No person or group has to be put down to raise up the show's quality.

The cancellation is very disappointing fr! I guess I'm not certain how show production and episode releases work but if I had the choice, I would've just ended it after the phone call BLY makes to his ex confirming he has Gu Hai in his heart now. Other than that I mainly just wanted to see how they'd end the show, but also kept in mind everything that was problematic about it. As an instructor, I'd definitely use this in a sex ed class on what to do and what not to do in a relationship.

But yeah watch at your own risk. Maybe "it's just a show" but the stuff you consume really can influence you. They say your thoughts become your words which become your actions which become your habits which become your character so just be careful. :)

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Loyal to source material

I watched the series twice already, from the beginning to the end consecutively, before I discovered, it was formerly a book. I had to know what happened after the last episode, so I begun reading the novel. I just wished it ended as it should have been, not dropped midway.

All that aside, I loved the chemistry of the main characters, their relationship dynamic, the fact that they are both strong "alpha" males, also the craziness, I was here for it.

Even if the budget seemed low, the execution was in my opinion top, so that I still want to watch it again in the future.

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Some things didn’t sit right with me

I saw how popular this drama was and decided to try it.

The acting is good however I have issues with the dubious consent and how stalkerish GH is. I get that this is fiction but how is this representing the LGBTQ community by showing one guy force the other into physical contact to admit he has feelings for said guy especially in such a homophobic society?

Once again, I reiterate that the acting is convincing enough that I feel uncomfortable with this. GH really is a bully to me. This bugs me to no end.

I’m glad BLY found his own feelings in his journey.

The music wasn’t anything unforgettable.

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There's something addictive about this problematic show

It's hard to put into words why this show works and personally even moreso than any BL that have come after it, ignoring it's very weird rapey writing (throw kidnapping into the mix) with the most questionable sexual moments (it doesn't matter you have herpes I still want to have sex..............WOW writing award), also the rapey-ness is both ways Bai tries to fuck a sleeping Gu Hai near the end it's just such a problematic show

But looking past this, in this absolutely fucked up way outside of the actual rape, the show manages to capture a gay teenager's horniness remarkably well, it feels completely unintentional the way Gu Hai's behavior actually does translate to actual real life teenagers (despite being an adult with muscles) but its very clear the writer just wrote him like this little explosive ticking bomb of sexual harassment

This is also one of the few shows where the canon couple coming together is done in the best way possible, the backdrop for Bai's life in poverty and how Gu Hai trying to match his life to Bai's and spending meaningful time with him and his family, him trying to improve his writing by tearing a page from Bai's notebook and buying him little presents to show him affection but them reaching the wrong desk, the writer for the actual novel this is based on manages to develop these very simple and small story beats that bring these two characters closer without it feeling very contrived, Gu Hai already does love him in an obsessive way which already breaks out of the tradition of BL story-telling where both of the characters have to climb the ladder to see each other romantically.

It's this one sided lingering that makes Gu Hai problematic but compelling to watch, you know it's stalkerish, creepy and obsessive but you can't look away, there's something about the way he's written that feels weirdly honest, he feels unfiltered and unsanitized, a person who is willing to get his hands dirty and really go there for the person he desires....... but the show doesn't view him as such, the show only sees him as romantic, this confusing delivery really stuck in my mind after all this time despite it being years since I've watched the show.

I can't divorce the show from it's very intriguing and problematic developments, but it being this way also circles back to adding an extra dimension to the show itself that it doesn't even realize it's adding, this isn't HIStory season 1 which JUST feels like you're watching rape on top of rape

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Better than most!

OK, so when I started watching this I was not expecting it to be so good. The acting was actually really great, considering some of the actors were beginners.

I know that Chinese censorship ends up turning BL romances into Bromances, so as I watched this and realized that it had MORE... well I was doubly impressed. The resentment in the beginning were your basic emotions when new marriage and siblings are thrown into the mix. The acting was great in this sense.

Honestly I was so into it I noticed that as the feelings started to change, the characters just seemed more real to me. That slow slide into love was amazing. I liked how Gu Hai never questioned his feelings and he was so open about what he wanted. Yes he was pushy and a little overbearing but I think that made the character more personable. Bai Luo Yin's character was really great too, in the sense that, even though he fought it at first, he gave in. Now that scene was very well done and the music they used made it even better.

10/10 would watch again. I really hope they get a chance to make a second season

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Conflicted Addiction.

Here’s the thing.. I watched the drama and I read both novels to cure my curiosity on how it all ends. As much as I anticipated the drama, it is honestly not appropriate. Period.

Yes. There is sexual assault. Not once but multiple times. The ML basically forced the other ML on numerous occasions and not just in that one scene. The “kidnapping” in the drama and the second “kidnapping” in the novel are both disgusting and uncalled for. It did not add to their story or development. It showed how psychotic the ML is and his obsession became overwhelming. Who does that to someone you love? Forcing them to have sex with you and forcing them to love you? To make it worst, the story ROMANTICIZED the abuse. The whole, “I did it for us” BS played over and over again. What a disappointment. This could have been such a beautiful story.

Throughout the entire drama and novels, they both continue to act out in all their jealous charades thus proving they should not be together. I’m so disappointed.

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i'm going to be completely honest.
this show is watchable but i'm not sure about enjoyable. i was watching it just to watch something.
the problems don't lay in the acting on the contrary i think for beginners they did a really good job with the acting and the expressions and the feelings they wanted to deliver.. now thats the real issue. i still dont get the feelings they wanted to deliver , i do not feel the love or the character development.. the aggressivenes of gu hai and the way it was simply accepted by BLY even tho he still showed his dislike towards GH .this series doesnt clearly give us the closure we need.

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The opening title and synopsys sold this as a sweet, romantinc BL drama. It is NOT!
I gave this a 7.5 because it is a well done series, the actors, direction and cinematography is great. It would work as a cautionary tale, if the ending would be different.
This series is basically Gu Hai sexually assaulting Louyin every chance he gets. He is a sick guy, even if he comes across as sweet and caring sometimes. He is obsessive, aggressive with everyone, overreacts, and hates Louyin's friends and he's rude to them on purpose (which is a red flag in itself).
He gets what he wants in the end, but I am not sure it's a happy ending and not sure this needs a second season (unless it's a very dark one, but I am sure the fans don't need that).
To me, this looked like the type of relationship that gets you killed if you want out. By the 10th episode, it got hard to watch. We really need to stop romanticizing abuse.

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PERFECTO!!!

Heck yeah my fave BL Serie all the time!

Their chemistry was so good! Jingyu and ZhouZhou really made it. What the most i love about this series is : The storyline was so great, the developing of their relationship from time after time, highschool era. Well this really my ideal type of BL series. Perfect package including :music which was the main actors whom singing it, good looking actors thoo!

The bad is : THEY BAN THE SEASON 2 OF THIS SERIES. DANGGGG!!!
I suggest you all after watch this whole series, go and find the novel. It has bitter-sweet story.
Ps: This is binge-watching thoo! i almost watched it for nearly 5 times (?) and read it twice.

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