Advance Bravely (2017)

I will say this before anything else. Everyone please stop complaining about the Chinese ban. Yes, it's horrible and irritating. But on the flip side, I think TPTB who are doing this work are doing an amazing job and I'm freaking thankful that China is allowing them to do this AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL work. I don't know about you but I have an imagination. The acting and chemistry between the characters with the writing is so well done that I don't need sex to get the idea. I'm currently watching the Japanese drama Todome no Kisu (Kiss That Kills). There is so much kissing--it's unbelievable. The most romantic, where all of who were watching our hearts skipped a beat was when the lead characters hugged each other. The guy grabbed her and she was like...do you want to kiss, are you sure you don't want to, and he's like no...I want to hold you. We just died. It's not about the sexuality people, it's about the emotions and relationship.

China ONLY shut down the sex on the drama and kissing, but they didn't shut down ANYTHING else and that's what we were given by the writers en masse. This drama was brilliant. I truly loved it. All the boys in this drama are extraordinarily gorgeous. I have no clue in what pits of hell they found them, but dear lord all mighty. I have always said...on the level of hotness when it comes to East Asian guys---Koreans are on the bottom. The ranking is Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, and then Korean. The Chinese guys all looked like hot vampires with abs and shit and moved in slow motion.

Anyway, all the pairings made sense. Xia Yao and Yuan Zong came together because YZ's sister, Yuan Ru, has a thing for Xiao Yao. As a note, Xiao Yao, rolls with a bunch of his co-wealthy rich kids Xuan Da Yu and Peng Ze. All three of them are of a long line of royalty. XDY has a thing for XY---of course. PZ has a thing for a girl but rolls with a guy to get a girl---irony. Anyway YR asks YZ to get involve to help her with XY---you usually get your friend not your bro (who then seems to be rather psychotically obsessive over XY)...makes no sense---irony again.

However, the greatest irony of it all is that rather than being irritating, nonsensical in some respects; it's truly romantic and you connect with the romantic end of the story). You then understand the story. You want all of the male characters to advance bravely towards their respective partners in their respective relationships; and you want their respective relationships to advance bravely in society.

The drama's title gives way to the ultimate meaning the character's relationships progress go through in the story. I do feel that Peng Ze's relationship was the one that was forsaken in the story. It could have been because his partner was not only the youngest but also the one that looked the most feminine of the group. That would have been a dangerous one to portray on screen too much. I think TPTB could have sold it...but I can see why they kept it at the minimum, but at least they put it in there. PZ's kid is like 21 to everyone else's 27 or so and YZ is 31.

Of course, I'm going to love the second pairing---just like I did with 2 Moons, Xuan Da Yu and Wang Zhi Shui. Slow build up...not enough air time when they did get together. They fulfilled the need both of them were seeking. I liked that Wang Zhi Shui was the most persistent. I don't know why I see them as such a long term couple that I would watch for eternity. I would love to see them with their own short series. I'd like to see Wang Zhi Shui interact with Xuan Da Yu's family if they do show up---his continuous bouts of fear of rejection. Ditto for Da Yu dealing with Zhi Shui's possible nightmares and fears and his backstory which we REALLY don't know all that much about.

AB is great and I recommend it to all.

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