Our Golden Times – Series Review & Episode Guide

George is engaged to his fiancée, Cindy. Their wedding is just two months away. Cindy has taken control of the preparations, planning every detail while George passively follows her ideas. As a micromanager, Cindy oversees everything, from controlling George's diet to insisting he learn Japanese for their honeymoon. While George follows her many instructions, his lack of enthusiasm is evident. Deep down, he feels obligated to marry Cindy, driven by societal expectations to have a spouse before turning 30.

George works at a cosmetic clinic, assisting patients with beauty treatments. He has been in this job for the past few years, but it wasn't his first career choice. George was originally a freelance artist, but the pandemic dried up his income and forced him to switch careers. He joined the clinic at Cindy's mother's suggestion and has been stuck there ever since. Despite his lack of passion for the work, George gets along well with his coworkers, Abby and Pony. The trio often shares lighthearted banter, teases each other, and enjoys gossiping.

George is stunned when his new boss at the clinic turns out to be Mike, someone he shared a romantic past with as a teenager. Back in high school, George and Mike had dated. Their relationship ended abruptly when Mike moved to Canada, leaving George heartbroken. Now, 15 years later, their unexpected reunion stirs up old feelings. George remains bitter about how things ended and harbours resentment toward Mike. During a meal, Abby and Pony speculate about the tension between them. George denies having any connection to Mike, but his hostility fuels their suspicions.

A recent customer complaint jeopardizes George's job at the clinic, yet he isn't too concerned. He hopes to return to drawing professionally. However, Cindy doesn't want to marry a struggling artist and insists he finds a steady office job. To make matters worse, she mocks his love for collecting anime figurines, especially his cherished Dragon Ball collection. Cindy wants him to focus on their future, not play with toys. George feels hurt since art and anime bring him joy, even as an adult.

Mike is eager to make amends for the past, but George still holds onto his resentment. However, his stance softened after Mike helped him deal with an irritable customer at the clinic. Mike openly flirts with George, undeterred by his ex's upcoming wedding. He seems convinced there's still a chance for them to get back together. Unlike Cindy, Mike supports George's passion for art and even signs them up for a drawing class. When George spots a Dragon Ball keychain in Mike's bag, he's surprised to see his ex holding onto a piece of their shared past. It stirs up feelings of nostalgia.

Our Golden Times shows promise, offering glimpses of what could be a good BL drama. Some scenes are surprisingly witty. While I don't know if the humour translates in the English subtitles, the characters' clever banter flows smoothly in Cantonese. The first episode is well-written and would make a solid introduction if it were part of a longer series. However, Our Golden Times is much shorter. It doesn't make the best choices for a one-hour narrative, resulting in a clunky plot and an unevenly paced love story.

By Episode 2, the story already feels like it may be running out of time. George and Mike are still at odds, while the fiancée remains a significant barrier to their relationship. With only four short episodes left, it's hard to see how the drama can resolve these conflicts and deliver an enjoyable romance. Complex arcs, like rekindled love, a teenage backstory, an existing engagement, and Mike's dilemma with his career, all need room to develop. Unfortunately, the series rushes through its narrative. It condenses and simplifies too much, leaving little time to explore each plot with depth.

I hate how Our Golden Times handles George and Mike's romance, which comes at the expense of hurting Cindy's feelings. Mike shamelessly tries to break up an engaged couple, while George is unfaithful to his fiancée by getting close to his ex-boyfriend. Yes, Cindy may be controlling, but she deserves better than being deceived by a partner juggling two relationships behind her back. George and Mike's behaviour is a complete turn-off, making it impossible to root for this couple. A BL love story between a brazen homewrecker and an indecisive cheater isn't appealing.

The longer the fiancée drama drags on, the more annoyed I feel with George and Mike. It's a shame because this series excels in intimate cinematography, adding a touch of romantic spark to some encounters. Without the love triangle, the enchanting atmosphere may have won me over. I'm pleasantly surprised by the production values in Our Golden Times, which exceed the standards of a typical Hong Kong web drama. From the sleek visuals to the catchy soundtrack, this isn't the work of an amateur studio. Every detail showcases polish and professionalism.

The cast does a decent job, but I'm most impressed with the two actresses (Maggie & Mira) who play George's coworkers. They deliver their lines so naturally that it feels like I'm right there in the office, gossiping with them. George's actor (Nathan Cheung) is a hottie with an attractive physique, but his amateurish performance sometimes draws me out of immersion. There's room for improvement to make his reactions smoother. His rapport with the other lead (Lawrence Fok) is just so-so. I don't sense a genuine chemistry that makes their romance believable.

Our Golden Times has a happy ending, but it's too late to develop George and Mike as a couple. It tries to give Mike a last-minute backstory by explaining why he disappeared years ago. Like every other plot, his character arc feels shallow since it's too rushed. BTW, I was shocked to see an established TV actor (Matthew Ho) appear in the finale. What kind of connections does this little BL web drama have? 🤔 Overall, Our Golden Times has potential, but the poorly handled love triangle ruins the story. I end up disliking both lead characters and their romance.