VIP Only – Series Review & Episode Guide

Liu Li is an author who goes by the pseudonym Morris. He has published two bestselling romance novels based on his real-life experiences in the past. The first book is about Liu Li secretly pining over a teaching assistant at the university. The second story is about him getting rejected and coping with the heartbreak. While Liu Li is commissioned to write a third installment, he has no more inspiration. Currently single, he can't draw experiences from his uneventful love life.

The deadline for Liu Li's book is fast approaching. Although his editor expects to see a manuscript, he has almost nothing prepared. Liu Li doesn't feel inspired in his apartment. He goes to Old House, his favourite beef noodle shop in the neighbourhood. This restaurant is in his apartment building, so it's within close walking distance. Liu Li is a regular customer who visits all the time. He'd sit at the table for hours, trying to find the motivation to write. Yet, Liu Li faces writer's block. Instead of typing, he spends most of his time folding origami birds, a therapeutic hobby.

The owner of Old House is Gu Jin. Most people, including his employee Ren, call him Boss Gu. This handsome restauranteur recognizes Liu Li as a regular customer. Ren complains that Liu Li occupies an entire table by himself, treating it like his workspace. However, Gu Jin doesn't mind. Despite multiple return visits, Liu Li and Gu Jin barely talk. They don't know each other well. One day, Liu Li's friend Lai Tsai sets him up on a blind date with a guy. They meet at the restaurant, where Gu Jin observes them. Yet, the date doesn't go well. Liu Li feels insulted by his partner.

After the unsuccessful date, Liu Li gets drunk at the restaurant. He starts acting erratically in his intoxicated state, which includes kissing Gu Jin on the lips. Lai Tsai arrives to take care of his misbehaving friend and brings him home. However, Lai Tsai tricks the kind-hearted Gu Jin into staying with Liu Li. Gu Jin spends the entire night attending to his drunken customer. Liu Li starts rambling about the hardships in his life, including his writer's block and his past heartbreak. Gu Jin seems sympathetic and listens to his companion attentively.

Liu Li regains consciousness the next day. However, he barely remembers what happened. Ren reminds him of the drunken ruckus caused at the restaurant. Liu Li feels embarrassed and apologizes for the inconvenience, but Gu Jin doesn't mind. After this icebreaker, they start chatting more intimately. Gu Jin wants to learn about the progress of the third novel. Liu Li explains he can't find inspiration from his love life. Gu Jin comes up with the idea of going on dates to stimulate his imagination. The two men hang out regularly and develop a close bond.

VIP Only is like culinary therapy. It tells a gentle, soothing love story in a cozy restaurant setting. This series is a firm believer in motivational messages. Each episode resembles a chapter from a self-help book, emphasizing inspirational quotes, emotional healing, and profound life philosophies. My favourite line is how it describes rejection: "You haven't been abandoned. You're just waiting to be cherished." Some will snicker at the corniness, but I have a soft spot for the sentimentality in VIP Only.

Despite its positivity, VIP Only is a boring BL drama. From the uneventful plot to the mundane exchanges, many scenes are too bland to leave a significant impression. The narrative lacks adrenaline and excitement, not building up to intriguing moments. Due to its abundance of cheesy cliches, the story feels predictable from start to finish. Besides being formulaic, it also copies the wrong formula. The series leans into annoying drama like miscommunication or love triangles. If you are going to repeat tropes, give us the enjoyable ones. We want cute romantic fluff, not tedious conflicts!

The romance in VIP Only progresses too slowly. Despite developing a mutual attraction, the leads won't define their relationship. They pretend to be confused and need clarification on their partner's feelings. These guys flirt, go on dates, and even share a kiss. Duh, it's obvious you like each other! Even if you don't know, why not confess and get a quick confirmation? The longer this ambiguity drags on, the more they test our patience. This delay also denies us precious BL content. Some fans may have lost interest before seeing the couple's most lovey-dovey moments.

My next statement isn't an exaggeration. VIP Only should be on the shortlist for the most cliched BL drama ever. The couple's generic relationship scenes are undistinguishable from the overused tropes in every other series. You may recognize the drunken encounter, the accidental kiss, the aquarium date, the pottery making, and countless recycled scenarios. Love stories borrow ideas from each other, but VIP Only does it excessively. Most of Liu Li and Gu Jin's romantic interactions don't feel unique, diminishing their impact. Their flirting is like a blur of worn-out plot devices.

Before starting VIP Only, I saw photos of Gu Jin's actor (Stan Huang) and developed a crush. I crossed both fingers while wishing upon a shooting star. Please don't waste this handsome leading man on a bad BL drama! From his smouldering gaze to his dreamy smile, Stan's attractiveness makes every romantic encounter more enticing. His performance is slightly forceful during a few scenes, but I forgive him because he still looks hot when overacting. He shares a mild chemistry with his costar (Xuan Chen). This pairing grew on me over time, especially in the finale.

VIP Only has a happy ending with a feel-good conclusion. The series plays to its strengths in the finale, promoting harmony and positivity. I like seeing the couple support each other, overcome hardships, and experience personal growth. They also have sweet romantic exchanges. My discontent from past episodes fades away with every therapeutic scene. I would rather appreciate a heartwarming BL drama than hate on its flaws. Overall, VIP Only is bland but pleasant. Although the story is dull, its schmaltzy messages of peace and love still resonate with me.