Kiseki: Dear to Me – Series Review & Episode Guide

The story begins with Zongyi leaving prison after completing his sentence. An extended flashback reveals what happened to him years ago.

Zongyi is a 17-year-old high school student who aspires to be a doctor. He gets excellent grades and even sells his notes to other students for cash. One ordinary day, Zongyi randomly encounters Rui in an alleyway. This badly injured stranger gives him a knife, claiming Zongyi's fingerprints have transferred to a murder weapon. The teenager will be implicated in the crime unless he helps treat Rui's injuries.

Zongyi lives in an apartment rental by himself. He brings Rui home and uses his medical knowledge to treat the stranger's wounds. Rui reveals he comes from a gang. He got hurt during a violent fight with Zhang Teng, the leader of a rival faction. Rui wants to keep a low profile during his recovery. He has decided to live with Zongyi for now and offers him rent money.

Zongyi doesn't want to live with a gangster and opposes this arrangement. However, Rui threatens to turn in the murder weapon with his fingerprints on it. Zongyi has no choice but to oblige and unwillingly gains a new roommate. Rui makes many shopping requests since he can't leave the house. He has a sweet tooth and constantly wants Zongyi to buy strawberry chiffon cakes for him. Zongyi obeys, even though he feels annoyed.

Zongyi and Rui grew close after living together for a while. Despite Zongyi's grumpiness, he treats his tenant with kindness. Rui also brings a lot of cheekiness and playfulness to the relationship. Over time, their interactions become increasingly affectionate. However, Rui feels conflicted because he doesn't think their lives should intertwine. Rui comes from a complicated criminal environment, which clashes with Zongyi's ordinary background.

Rui keeps in touch with Chen Yi and Ai Di, the other gangsters from his Yinyun Alliance. Ai Di is an underling of Chen Yi, although they often quarrel with each other. Dong Yang is the leader of the gang. He has been involved in crime for over thirty years. Chen Yi admires his boss and wants to impress him. However, he doesn't dare to act on his feelings. Ai, who has a secret crush on Chen Yi, grows jealous and lashes out at him.

Kiseki: Dear to Me stands out due to the sizzling chemistry between the actors. Both couples show no restraint during their iconic romantic encounters. Expect sensual touches, intimate embraces, and passionate kisses. My favourite moment is when the lead climbs on his partner and straddles his lap. Wow, that's hot! There are many instances of intoxicating sexual tension, accompanied by seductive visuals and sultry music. Kiseki: Dear to Me would get top marks if I base my review solely on eroticism. 

The series has stacked its cast with attractive hunks. These actors have muscular physiques, which they display in numerous shirtless scenes. The camera loves highlighting their bulging biceps, broad shoulders, sculpted pecs, and washboard abs. All four leads are charming in their distinctive ways. If I must choose a favourite, Rui's foxy actor (Kai Hsu) has caught my eye. He resembles a famous Taiwanese athlete, adding to his sex appeal. I fell under Kai's captivating spell. His dreaminess carries the series, helping me overlook the storytelling flaws initially.

Kiseki: Dear to Me begins with contrived circumstances. It's hard to believe an injured gangster and a high school student would cross paths, let alone live together. Still, I suspend my disbelief and go along with the shenanigans. As the plot turns increasingly preposterous, I'm dumbfounded by the convoluted events, nonsensical conflicts, and bizarre backstories. The escalating melodrama seems stupid and phony. Unable to immerse myself in the implausible story, I become emotionally disengaged. I roll my eyes or scoff incredulously at the outlandish narrative.

Kiseki: Dear to Me takes the plot in many different directions. The early episodes switch erratically between gangster activities and high school drama. These two genres shouldn't overlap, yet the series meshes them together. It results in a jarring viewing experience with tonal inconsistency and clumsy transitions. In addition, the story's unpredictability morphs into frustrating incoherence. The narrative doesn't flow smoothly, omitting crucial details or failing to offer clear explanations. The later episodes disintegrate into senseless chaos and bewildering melodrama.

The leads, Zongyi and Rui, have an icky age difference. The story never confirms Rui's exact age. Nonetheless, the ambiguity leaves me condemning the incompatible relationship between an adult and a schoolboy. Likewise, the secondary pair acts abusively toward each other. Ye Chen and Ai Di express their repressed feelings through disturbing antics. There are also several dubious moments of non-consensual physical intimacy. Despite the steamy encounters, this morally corrupt series perpetuates toxic couples and problematic romantic tropes.

Kiseki: Dear to Me is ambitious, deviating from a standard romance and venturing into the crime genre. In addition, I'm impressed by the polished production values and magnificent soundtrack. I also appreciate the fun cameos. Seeing familiar faces from other BL titles is cute! There are many details I like about this series. However, I can't excuse the outrageously nonsensical plot, which hinders most of my enjoyment. In each episode, I'm baffled by the story's absurdity. As much as I want to support Kiseki: Dear to Me, its imperfections tarnish my overall opinion.