Bai Li Tiao Yi (2020)

Censored BL with a naughty title

This could have been something more interesting, but it clearly has been censored or self-censored until there is barely a story.

I won't go as far as to say that the BL has been transformed into bromance. In fact, romantic feelings are quite strongly hinted. However, it is quite inconsistently done. In one episode, Nan Bo Wan acts like he has been "bent", but after that acts like his usual self again. In the last episode, the romantic feelings are hinted at again. The randomness is particularly jarring in the last few episodes.

Ultimately, this is a someone insipid BL that can perhaps be forgiven because we know the censorship situation in China. The title (Bai Li Tiao Yi) is perhaps the most BLish thing about the whole series. It refers to the names main characters, Bai Li Qian Chuan and Nan Bo Wan (which sounds like Number 1). You are certainly not imagining things if you suspect that the translated title has some sexual innuendo. The playful double entendre is also present in the Chinese title, which means Bai Li Selects 1 or Bai Li Selects (His) Top.

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feels dated (and not a BL)

Overall: this is a sitcom about two guys who pretend to be a couple for views/money. I did not interpret this as a BL or censored BL. There are maybe hints with one guy towards the other but it did not feel mutual. 12 episodes about 10 minutes each, on GagaOOLala.

Content Warnings: attempted self harm played as comedy, mentions of stalking, harassment, fight

What I Liked
- laughed 3 times
- abs
- the innuendo in the title (and at one point they cooked eggplant so maybe that was on purpose)
- translator notes

Room For Improvement
- did not see mutual attraction/love, definitely didn't see the same kind of hints/chemistry like in other censored things from China
- the laugh track, didn't find majority of their jokes funny
- making fun of masculine woman and effeminate men
- making fun of abusive contracts
- bad sound quality in episode 3

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Muito engraçado

Essa série é muito divertida, o único defeito é ser um bromance (China né?)

O formato da série não é p formato habitual das série chinesas que costumo ver, me lembra muito um sitcom.

O roteiro é bem interessante, não é apenas a comédia que instiga. Um jovem percebe que pode alavancar sua carreira na internet se fingir ser um casal imaginário com seu colega de quarto, seria uma crítica?

O fato é que a série conseguiu atingir o objetivo, é super engraçada, imprevisível e apesar de aparentar ser uma produção de baixo orçamento, com poucos atores, cenário único etc, conseguiu mostrar que se existe um bom roteiro e uma boa direção é possível fazer um bom trabalho.

Parabéns aos atores, que atuaram muito bem e fizeram dos personagens seres cativantes. Senti falta apenas de uma boa ost, mas isso foi apenas um detalhe. Com certeza indico essa série.

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