Guardian (2018)

acabei de finalizar, o dorama em sim me pareceu confuso no inicio, mas me chamou atenção mesmo assim, oque me fez continuar freneticamente, porem no meio, ele fica um pouco mais confuso e por muitas vezes lento. o final eu não gostei muito porque, houveram inúmeros furos... eu meio que ja me acostumeis, acho sempre finais dos doramas muito corridos e acabam que não dão solução a varias perguntas, muitos menos desfechos confusos, mas esse aqui passou da conta de tamanha confusão que ficou. soube que ele é adaptação de uma novel, que teria censura do casal, já sabíamos, mas parece que a historia em si também foi bastante mexida em sua fonte. não li a novel, eu gostei da ideia base, mas queria que o vilão tivesse algo a mais em sua motivação. ao mesmo tempos, alguns poucos personagens parecem ser jogados na trama, e desaparecem sem grandes consequências depois, mas teve uma em especifico que me incomodou mais, que era para ser o par romântico do Da Qing, ela o fez lembrar de suas memorias, ok, mas precisava ela morrer tantas vezes sumir e aparece de novo morrer definitivamente? ? besteiras a parte, o que mais me enxiar os olhos foi, obviamente o casal principal, aqui mostrado num bromance, obviamente, a atuação de Bai Yu, Zhu Yi Long são fantásticas e eles parecem ser super carismáticos! a trama em si é interessante, não larguei de ver um dia se quer ate terminar, apesar dos pequenos incômodos, eu gostei do pequeno time-travel que teve, mas queria mais que fosse algo magico e místico, como acho que é na obra original, pois tem certas coisas que iam se encaixar melhor! não culpo os diretores, pois eles tinham que fazer algo dentro dos termos, então acho que ate que saiu algo bem legal!

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Geralmente não gosto de comparações, mas quando algo é adaptado de uma novel sempre o procuro para ler enquanto assisto, por isso é inevitável comparar. O que é bom e ruim, mas me fez ter uma base. essa resenha será baseada nisso, tentarei não dar muitos spoilers tanto para o drama em si, quanto para a novel.

Primeiro li a novel, quando já tinha lido uns 40 capítulos decidi ver o drama. Entendo que em uma adaptação nem sempre se é cem por cento fiel ao original, mas se deve eticamente respeito ao criador original, Guardian é uma releitura super modificada, até em coisas que não precisavam. Vi que há um possível filme com outros atores, espero que lá seja um pouco mais fiel à obra original.

Na novel mesmo sendo humano, Yunlan é bem poderoso e desenvolto, com seus talismãs, arma e chicote, justamente por isso ele é o guardião e chefe, mas senti que no drama eles diminuíram muito isso para destacar apenas os não humanos. Também teve mudanças com Chu e Lin, Chu é magrinho na novel e Lin um monge diferentão, muitas dessas o fato religião pode ter interferido para censuram.

Achei interessante transformar Daqing em um humano mais rápido, na novel podia se transformar em objetos também, adorei que mantiveram a cena do Guo e Chu, apesar de uma pequena alteração e por fim, amei que no fim dos episódios tinha um pouco dos bastidores das filmagens, isso era bem legal.

Os atores deram tudo de si, dava para sentir só com seus olhares. E por essa química que acho mesmo as modificações não impedem de ver o amor de Yunlan e Shen Wei, sem contar as pequenas, porém raras dicas deixadas pelo ar do relacionamento deles.

O final teve traços do original, mas ainda prefiro o da novel. Este é o terceiro BL que vejo, apesar e ela fingir que não é, percebi que a China, não só invalida censurando como também insiste que deve haver um final triste/infeliz, como se indiretamente ou não, dissesse que reprova a existência do relacionamento homossexual e que o mesmo só leva a desgraça. Quando isso terá um fim? Mas isso também me levou a analisar o quanto está evoluindo, espero mais diretores e roteiristas tenham mais coragem como os de Word of Honor e que tenha outros que tenham o compromisso de entregar um trabalho mais completo e igualitário a novel como The Untamed.

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Ahh China, vc ainda me mata de raiva

Esse drama, apesar de ser chinês, saiu da área do bromance. Saiu pq em diversas oportunidades, principalmente nas interações com a cobra, que o relacionamento entre Shen Wei e Zhao Yun era sim amoroso. Isso partindo de um drama chinês, e ainda por cima de 2018. é um ponto muito positivo. A adaptação para a TV teve algumas modificações, mas não acho que foi infiel à obra escrita, apenas não é possível ser cem por cento fiel.

Enfim, pra mim esse BL foi muito bom apesar da falta de qualidade em alguns momentos, e dos diversos furos e fatos que ficaram em aberto. Pra mim Guardian é épico, com seus efeitos especiais que me causam vergonha alheia de tão fracos, mas que me prenderam até o final. Os personagens são muito cativantes, e parece que os atores se encaixam perfeitamente em cada um deles

Algumas cenas foram muito comoventes, como a morte da menina corvo, como o fato do enviado do manto negro parecer cruel, mas na verdade reconhecer o arrependimento de alguns dixings e não dar-lhes castigos severos, como a declaração de amor da cobra e o fato dela entender o amor de Shen Wei e Zhao Yun, tantas cenas lindas, tantas demonstrações de amor e confiança...

Assisti esse BL na época do lançamento em 2018, já assistia BL desde 2007, e a China sempre foi motivo de ranço por causa da censura, mas preciso dizer que desta vez ela não fez tanta diferença. Poderia ter sido melhor, mais explicito? Com certeza sim. Mas a competência dos atores, do roteiro e da direção conseguiram amenizar muito esse ponto.

A série, por ser fantástica, apresenta locações interessantes e surreais. Para a época, posso dizer que a fotografia é bonita, assim como a ost perfeita. Os furos pra mim são a falta de fechamento de algumas histórias e os efeitos especiais horríveis, mas é impossível não recomendar guardiã. Com certeza, apesar das falhas, é uma das melhores séries que já vi.

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Eu tinha encontrando esse drama por acaso no youtube há alguns meses, mais ai do nada ele foi retirando, deixei de lado até que o encontrei legendado de PT-BR e quando vi devorei os 18 episódios que tinham e depois assisti em espanhol.
O elenco inteiro está de parabéns, mais quem merece Palmas é os atores principais, não tinha uma hora em que eu não surtava com aquelas trocas de olhares, aquele ciumes escondido por causa da censura.
Mais lhes digo aquele final foi aberto, podem muito bem explorar ainda mais a a historia dos dois como um casal, nem que seja na entrelinhas.
Só lhes digo esse foi o melhor drama do ano e para mim está na categoria BL por causa daquela frase que o Zhao Yun Lan disse no final: Agora você tem a resposta (Ou algo do tipo porque meu espanhol não é muito bom) e nem precisou de beijo ou amasso.

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One of the best summer dramas with top notch acting. Despite the loopholes and divergences from the source material, the drama is worth watching thanks to the acting of two main leads especially Zhu Yi Long, who knows how to subtly convey the micro changes on his face and a great range of emotions. Moreover, its opening song is epic. Despite the fact that most people on youtube do not find the ending satisfactory, I believe it is good/satisfactory as it insinuates that love will go on even after death and for those who believe in reincarnation, it is a promising end.

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The first Chinese drama ever that I forced my Mandarin fluent friend to read the book and watched all episodes and summarize it for me. And mind you he wasn't a fan of Yaoi.

The trailer was in my Youtube's recommendation and I was glad I clicked it. The first episode captured my heart; the moment Shen Wei (Zhu Yi Long) saw Zhao Yun Lan (Bai Yu) at the university. The look alone was a testament that there was something more about their relationship. With China's ban on certain things, what should have been a reunion between soul-mates had to be tone down to soul-brothers. But, Zhu Yi Long and Bai Yu managed to convey the gist of the book (which is Yaoi) with subtle things via facial expression and the way they look at each other. The plot was there but with limited budget, not much can be done. There were some part which made no sense because of the editing, like there should be something more but was cut short. If you cannot stand flaw in small details, then there's plenty in it. Just focus on Zhao Yun Lan and his lollipop and you'll know. One moment it was in his mouth, then his hand and the next thing it's back in his mouth.

The two main lead (Zhu Yi Long and Bai Yu) saved the drama from going down the drain; and to think the initial cast was supposed to be Bai Yu and an un-named actor. Bai Yu in fact mentioned he was uncomfortable taking the part once he read the book. I don't think it's because it was Yaoi but Zhao Yun Lan in the book was flirtier and reminded me of Sun Wukong. The supporting cast were brilliant as well. The entire SID team seemed like they walked out of the book; of course with minor changes to some characters to fit the ban. Some extra characters left an impact with the way they carried their role, for example, the guy who play the new king and the guy who have the fire ability.

The opening theme was epic. It promised of a grand scale drama even though the drama did not deliver much. And it was in English which was rare for China to have for an opening theme; maybe for interlude, but definitely not opening or ending theme.

Heck yeah you'll wanted to rewatch it. Maybe skipped most part and just stick with the main lead. In fact, someone should edit the entire 40 episodes and make it a movie just with the two of them.

Overall, it was the best Chinese drama I watched so far for 2018. Do not watch it for the logic, watch it for the main lead.

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This was a pretty enjoyable drama to watch overall, although it is very flawed and therefore I really can't give it a very high rating. I adore both main characters, but the production quality is poor and the writing is often sloppy. The acting varies; sometimes it's quite good, sometimes it theatrical to the point of being slightly ridiculous. Since the actors do prove their skill in some scenes, I'm guessing that in other scenes it is the direction they were given that I didn't care for.

I'd probably only recommend this because of the two main characters – Zhao Yun Lan and Shen Wei – and their relationship... which is kind of ironic, since it is overtly romantic in the source material, but comparatively subtle in this drama. It looks identical to queerbaiting in western television, but in this case it seems that they probably tried to retain as much of the essence of the relationship as they could given the restrictions placed upon it by Chinese censorship.

Perhaps it is because they are so different that they are so drawn to each other. Shen Wei is a distinguished but modest, mild-mannered professor. Zhao Yun Lan is unrefined, messy, and brazen. In the process of working on cases together, they seem to naturally counterbalance one another and quickly become an integral part of each other's lives. They're referred to as friends and they're characterized as a "bromance" in the synopsis, but that is misleading in my opinion. Yun Lan shows zero romantic interest in any other character, and it's indicated that he doesn't really have an interest in relationships generally; he's been single his entire life. He doesn't flirt with other characters – but he is frequently flirtatious with Shen Wei. He is quick to deny having feelings for another character, but when insinuating comments are made about his relationship with or feelings for Shen Wei, he never denies it. Moreover, despite only knowing Shen Wei a few months, there is a clear distinction between how he regards him and how he regards his other close allies he's known for years. It is even more quickly apparent that Zhao Yun Lan is the most important person to Shen Wei. There is an intensity to their dynamic that just doesn't seem platonic to me. It's a censored romance, not a bromance. (Nothing against close platonic friendships, I just don't see this as one.)

There's a secondary "bromance" in another odd couple, Chu Shu Zhi and Guo Chang Cheng. The dynamic between most of the Special Investigation Department co-workers are quite sibling-like in that they enjoy teasing each other and there's clearly some affection there, but they don't seem especially close. Therefore, the time spent on developing the intimate relationship between these two characters makes them stand out. Chang Cheng reminds Shu Zhi of the brother he lost and that surely accounts for a lot of his affection towards him; he wants someone to fill the void that his brother's death left him. But by the end of the story, it doesn't seem to me that Chang Cheng is just a placeholder for his deceased brother. Rather, Shu Zhi comes to genuinely admire him for his own strengths – and Chang Cheng, for his part, is unwavering in his adoration of Shu Zhi, even when Shu Zhi tries to scare him off for his own safety. The lines of this relationship are more blurred to me than the one between Zhao Yun Lan and Shen Wei. The intimacy and implied commitment seems decidedly less brotherly and more romantic, but there is still an element of brotherhood there. I guess it doesn't matter much whether it is one or the other or both; they're a cute duo regardless.

The other characters who work at the Special Investigation Department are enjoyable enough, but a little more forgettable for me. (Especially Wang Zheng and Sang Zan, who seem the most under utilized.) Zhu Hong is probably my favorite of them overall, although watching her struggle with her one-sided crush on a co-worker was a bit painful to watch. Da Qing and Lin Jing both sort of have romances with minor characters, but they matter so little that I wasn't able to feel particularly invested in them. The minor characters who fall into the "monster of the week" category were also pretty forgettable overall. Many of them make reappearances, but I found myself struggling to recall which one was which – a problem I don't typically have even with large casts of characters.

As far as acting goes, Zhu Yi Long stands out the most to me given that his roles are the most diverse. In addition to portraying the various sides of Shen Wei – the awkward professor, the Batman-esque masked hero, and the naïf he was 10,000 years before the present – he also portrays his villainous twin brother with dramatic flair. He is really able to showcase his versatility in this drama. Bai Yu also does an excellent job at conveying the multifaceted nature of Zhao Yun Lan. Aside from the two main actors, Jiang Ming Yang has some standout moments as Chu Shu Zhi. Although the character is generally very gruff, the actor really went all out during a humorous "personality changing" episode, and his more serious moments were some of the most emotional parts of the drama for me.

The OST is quite lovely overall. The opening theme is catchy and I'm afraid I'm going to have it stuck in my head for a while. I don't typically bother watching the opening or ending credits of dramas, but I often watched the opening of this one. The soundtrack really drives home the bittersweet sentimentality of the story.

Which brings me to the weakest part of the drama. The premise of the story is reasonably good, but it is not executed well. The plot is messy and the pacing is uneven. Even taking into account that I'm mostly reliant on English subtitles, the dialogue is very awkward at times (mainly between secondary/minor characters). Fortunately, the main relationships and characters are able to carry the show (at least, for me); had it not been for that, I would have dropped it because calling the rest of it mediocre would probably be generous. The CGI isn't particularly good, but I honestly don't expect a whole lot from Chinese dramas in that regard, so that doesn't really factor into my evaluation of it. Probably the most perplexing flaw is that there were many occasions where the audio switched between the actual voice of various supporting characters and the voiceover. It's a relatively minor detail, but it makes the drama seem unprofessional.

In spite of its flaws, I do consider Guardian worth watching because I think many viewers are like me - if you make me fall in love with your characters and their relationships, I'll be wiling to overlook a lot. Indeed, I did become quite attached, so I will definitely be giving the novel a shot.

tl;dr:

- the two main characters are multifaceted and portrayed well
- the main relationship is the highlight of the show, despite being played down due to censorship
- some of the supporting characters are good, many are forgettable
- the plot isn't particularly great, the dialogue is sometimes awkward
- production quality is poor

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When I found Guardian I was totally amazed by this Chinese series and I've never really seen much of Chinese shows before because it just wasn't my thing. Well Guardian changed that.

Story: I can tell you that the story itself may take 1-2 episodes to grow on you but it will. Mostly the show relies on the chemistry between the two main characters/actors though. The story is quite fantasy like and supernatural and definitely something different than the usual rom-com stuff you get everywhere. And over its 40 episode run there is not a single minute that does not fit into the storyline and atmosphere of Guardian. You get drama, action, comedy, sweetness, pretty much all of it!

Acting: The casting for the drama was done perfectly and the chemistry between the main leads is over the top. 80% of the shows awesomeness comes from them. The rest of the cast was superb too and you really forget that these characters do not actually exist somewhere.

Music: memorable, recommendable and I'm totally into it. One awesome fantasy song and one touching ending song will especially stay in your mind.

Rewatch: definitely when I have time.

Overall: for everyone who watches Chinese shows, check this out. For everyone who hasn't tried any or many Chinese shows, this is a great show to start.

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Where to even begin...

When I first heard of this drama I did a little bit of digging, and found out that it is based off a BL Chinese web novel. I then learned a little bit about Chinese censorship laws and found out that they do not allow gay romances on screen. This knowledge made me hesitant to watch the show, but I gave it a go and HOLY SHIT this show tugs at my heartstrings in ways that shouldn't be possible!

The heart of the show, and the reason you should watch it is the the relationship between our two main leading men, Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei. In this case I have to give serious props to the actors because they did an amazing job portraying the love and intimacy between these two characters. In the end it didn't even matter that the Chinese censorship laws didn't allow for outright romances. The two main leads communicated the love between these two guys by the way they held hands. That is some serious fucking talent. Needless to say, I will be watching everything they are in for the rest of my life.

So...the two leads are fantastic, but so is basically everyone else in the show really, character wise there wasn't a weak link anywhere. The relationship between Little Gao and Old Chu will leave you squealing in glee, the assorted hilarious side characters are entertaining, and doesn't leave you wanting to skip ahead to the main characters.

The OST was amazing, you can tell that the show invested the money into producing an amazing soundtrack, one that I have listened to, over and over and over again.

The plot has some weak points, but it doesn't really matter because what makes the show amazing are the characters, and the characters are on point.

Parting thoughts, this is definitely a show that you should watch, the time is worth it. Actually, I'm going to go and rewatch it right now.

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Oh boy, where do I even begin to unpack this mess?

First off, the premise was great. Due to China's censorship about supernatural themes, the writing crew smartly decided to go down the science-fiction path: a spaceship with aliens, a different planet with three main race/species, war between the three - all in all makings of a great science-fiction show, while keeping to the original novel's intentions and message.

And yet.

Right off the bat, what could have been a great entertaining show felt more like a B-grade science fiction movie. The writing was all over the place and it was like the writers couldn't decide what to focus on with so many plotlines and cases running ahead of them. The characters, including Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan, felt more like empty puppets with a headless chicken controlling them - mechanical and soulless (if not for the two actors' brilliant acting) which is starkly different to the characters in the original novel.

The cast though were so good! Bai Yu especially was able to deliver the inner loneliness of Zhao Yunlan: the way his eyes dimmed every time Zhao meets his father, the way he stares (lovingly) at Shen Wei and the fear pursing his lips in the last two episodes. Zhu Yilong was commendable too for the way he handled two drastically different roles, though sometimes it did seem that there was no difference between the two (I blame that on the writing, to be honest.) Can I just say that the chemistry between Bai and Zhu was just beautiful? It took a few episodes to get the chemistry going and that's a good thing because it's great to watch the blossoming chemistry take center-stage.

It's such a shame that such a good cast was wasted on this cringe-worthy show though.

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