Addicted – Drama Review

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The most engaging part of Addicted is the volatile relationship between Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai. The two of them don't start out on the best terms, which only makes it more exciting as they warm up to each other. Some of Gu Hai's provocative actions can shock you, and the lengths he'll go to get Bai Luo Yin's attention might seem totally inexplicable. However, I like that he's so bold, passionate, and unpredictable. He keeps both the viewers and Bai Luo Yin on our toes, making this a wild journey to watch.

Even when they get closer, there's still a vibrant dynamic between them, with Gu Hai showing too much passion and Bai Luo Yin not always reciprocating on the same level. You can expect lively banter, sizzling sexual tension, and the surprisingly tender moments between the couple. It's just a lot of fun watching their interactions together!

Addicted does a terrific job at developing the main characters, fleshing out their personalities and backgrounds. Both Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai are well-rounded protagonists, who are engaging to watch even if you don't always agree with their actions.

Stepbrothers

Their stepbrother dynamic, which they don't discover until much later in the series, adds an interesting complexity to their relationship. I like seeing Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai interact with their families. This is a great way to flesh out their characters, making their personalities and backgrounds more well-rounded. It also introduces a natural form of conflict into the narrative, injecting a lot of adrenaline and emotion into a handful of episodes.

Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai

Addicted is full of classic BL moments that will make your heart pound a little faster. Some of the best moments are like classic BL tropes played out in-person, and you'll appreciate them as a fan of the genre.

There's one extreme incident where Gu Hai oversteps his boundaries, kidnapping Bai Luo Yin, tying him to the bed, and forcing himself in a non-consensual encounter. However, many other scenes are much more lighthearted. Whether it's teasing each other at school or having a late night chat in bed, Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai feel as engaging in ordinary scenes as they are in their throes of passion.

The romance between Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai is very strong, even if its intensity feels very full-on. There are sweet and tender moments between them of course, but there are also plenty of toxic and volatile exchanges between this couple. This isn't the healthiest relationship and we shouldn't glorify it too much.

While their relationship crosses some problematic boundaries, Addicted is really successful in portraying a compelling BL romance. As a couple, they aren't always realistic, and aren't always wholesome, but you'll be entertained by them.

Intimacy

The intimacy between the couple is more of a mixed bag. It's evident that the two of them are close. They do make a lot of physical contact, but it's usually in the form of Bai Luo Yin pushing Gu Hai away any time he gets grabby. These guys look more like they're wrestling each other instead of showing affection. Later in the series, it's heavily implied that the two characters do the deed, but they always censor the juiciest scenes. Even the kissing is a little lacklustre. Don't get your hopes up about seeing a normal and consensual kiss between the couple.

While the characters have a lot of physical contact, it looks more like the actors are play-fighting or wrestling each other on the bed. Their kisses are also quite forced with mushed mouth pressing against each other. With that said, the actors have great chemistry with each other and I do enjoy their back-and-forth banter.

OK acting

The acting was a bit rougher at the beginning, but it improved noticeably as the series progressed. Their acting feels a lot more relaxed once the actors have gotten used to each other.

Bao Luo Yin

Tough to choose between the two leads, but I think Bai Luo Yin ultimately gave the more restrained performance. I love his whole moody and standoffish persona, which softens over the series, even as he denies his growing feelings for Bai Luo Yin. Gu Hai is also fun to watch though, since he can be very forward and mischievous.

Shirtless scenes

No. Both leads have a few shirtless scenes scattered throughout the series, but they cut away any time you expect to see more.

Problematic

Yes, there are definitely some problematic elements in Addicted. The romance between Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai isn't always consensual. There's one particularly extreme moment where Bai Luo Yin got kidnapped and tied to Gu Hai's bed.

In addition, there's quite a bit of violence. Some of their pranks also go too far and may seem outrageously reckless.

Last few episodes

Those last few episodes when Bai Luo Yin finally gets more comfortable around Gu Hai. Most of the series is about Gu Hai pursuing an unwilling love interest, so it's fun to see the roles reverse and for Bai Luo Yin to reciprocate the same feelings.

One of my favourite moments is when Bai Luo Yin steps out to the living room in just a towel, and then casually disrobes himself in front of a bewildered Gu Hai. It signifies that Bai Luo Yin is so at ease around Gu Hai and he has dropped many of his previous barriers.

Chinese censorship

It's impossible to review Addicted without discussing the gigantic elephant in the room. This BL drama has a premature cancellation, where its second season got scrapped after the Chinese government cracked down on the show for promoting LGBT themes.

This decision is infuriating, but unsurprising to anyone familiar with the Chinese government's history of silencing pro-democracy activists, human rights lawyers, millions of civilians in concentration camps, and anyone that dares to champion equal rights. The Chinese government has never been a fan of the BL genre, as evidenced by smacking down a ten-year prison term on a BL fanfiction writer. Her name is Tianyi, and she's currently spending her time in jail for writing a BL story.

The Chinese government-mandated censorship made it impossible to fully enjoy Addicted, a BL drama that got clipped at its wings just when it was about to soar. At its peak, Addicted was so popular that it could have been one of the biggest juggernauts in the BL genre. Sadly, it never got to reach its full potential, and the series ended on an unsatisfying cliffhanger that will never be resolved.

Imagine starting to watch a BL drama, getting emotionally invested in all of its characters and storylines, but then it just ends midpoint without any type of closure. That summarizes the Addicted experience for you. 😞

Chinese censorship

The Chinese government-mandated censorship stifled any potential that Addicted might have. Usually, BL dramas are pretty good at wrapping up the story neatly without loose ends, but this is clearly not possible with Addicted. The series ends abruptly on a minor cliffhanger, and it will always have an imperfect resolution that will leave you feeling unsatisfied.

In my review score, I docked some points from Addicted's grade due to the censorship crisis, which I can't overlook. This is not the fault of the people who made the show, but it nonetheless happened and restricted the overall quality of the BL drama.

Despite the compelling relationship between the characters, I just can't fully recommend a BL drama that won't ever have proper closure. I'm so disappointed by what happened to Addicted, and it still stings even all these years later. This experience will always make me feel jaded if I watch any other Chinese BL dramas in the future. 😞