Innocent (2021)

A bit disappointing to say the least

I went in with pretty mild expectations as it does have a rating of 7.3, which is a good score in my opinion. But I was sorely disappointed with the series.

While the acting was pretty good, and I did appreciate the interesting settings of split personality disorder, but the plot just feels extremely choppy. One thing happens, then suddenly it jumps, and it doesn't seem like there was a conclusion either. I'm bad at describing things, but generally what i felt was that it just kept skipping skipping skipping, very much possibly because it had to fit everything into 4 short episodes.

The main couple's relationship was not fleshed out at all, and Top was even presented as a 'cheating' jerk in the first episode. The synopsis made it sound like the Top's arranged relationship keeps getting in their way, but honestly she only appeared for 5min. That was it. While I do like Noah being YS's protector, I don't understand how he suddenly just changes his mind in the span of 3min and trusts WZ enough to rely on him.

Then there's the second couple that was just there for no reason at all. They were not even mentioned until the very last 10min of the last episode, and their relationship went from a misunderstanding scene, and skip skip skip straight to years later where they somehow just miraculously made up without explanation. This is why I gave the show such a low rating, and this is me being generous with a 5. It has a nonsensical plot that just cuts out everything and anything. I only gave it a 5 to applaud the actors' efforts for the nsfw scenes as they probably put a lot of work into them.

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Beautiful & Short Story

So this drama is literally a short story of a total 4 episodes, and although I did find it a bit all over the place it was kind of sweet to watch and did'nt take up the time.

The Story was good, and had potential if they could have dragged it out and give us more of in depth of too how and why the split personaltiy took place, also the reason why he followed him all the time, and we could have watched how they love for each other developed. I did feel like that they were a jump in times and the flow just did not make any sense. The one that I did find extremely annoying is that the next the episode, literally had at leaset 3 minutes of the previous episdode, which I feel that they could you used that time to progress they story out more.

The ML were not so bad, and they did a good job, except I find some of the lines a bit 'stiff'. Main couple's kisses were very real and did not appear to be awkward so another big plus to their acting, the second couple was really confusing to the point I really wondered what they part was, as there was hardly any interaction accept at the end of the drama, and we have no idea what actually transpired between the two?

Overall : this drama is short, but they could have given us more, and it would have definately been a well worth watch.

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Excellent but just too short

I think what was there was excellently made, and well thought out - except the unexplicable inclusion of a side couple?? They only got 3 scenes, it came out of nowhere, went nowhere and made no sesne, and this series really didn't have any minutes to spare.

The duration really is the only thing bringing the score down here, there was a wealth of possibility and potential with the characters, and things they wanted to and needed to include, but some parts really felt rushed. This showed the most in the 3rd and 4th episode where things were paced more rapidly than the first two, but I get why they had to do that, it's just such a shame.

All in all, I'm a big fan - the story was touching and beautiful, and so unique. I would hesitate to call the depiction of mental health issues realistic as I don't know anything about the condition, but to my eye it felt fair? And was treated with respect.

The theme song (Twins by Julia Peng) is incredible too.

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A review from someone with clinically diagnosed borderline personality disorder

Personality disorders are usually misunderstood and have lower representations in movies/dramas (in a positive light). Often they are shown as negative characters or as toxic both in dramas and in real life too. I used to think nobody will ever love me or will leave me eventually, or I don't need anyone in my life ( for I have abandonment issues), but for some reason this drama gave me hope on love. That someday someone will hold me when I break apart, will love me regardless, will take care of me like how Xiao Yu is taken care of by Wu Zheng. Thank you for that, thank you for bringing this storyline beautifully into a 4 ep series. I don't know about others, but I feel pretty satisfied and somehow it gave me a ray of hope.
The only thing I felt that should have been added is an extra season or at least a one hour episode on the love story of both the main couple, and specially on the side couple because damn that is necessary. The acting is great and the ost is also amazing. Yes, it is worth the watch.

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Oh that Taiwan, it gives me trouble, as in this case of the freshly broadcast and SK translated series. I fear the time when China invades this island country and drains it of freedom of speech and freedom, similar to how Hong Kong was returned by the British years ago. The story is quite complex and there is little time for it. Likewise, the controversial character of the two beings Yu Shi-ho and Noah-a can be unpleasant for many viewers. But overall a big plus for me. Many will probably sing the praises of Yi Da Dian's acting, but I have to give kudos to Blake Chang, both his acting and the Wu Zheng character he portrayed, there wasn't enough room for the other couple. Great music and processing. Hopefully there will be a sequel. Hats off to Taiwan.

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DID Representation In A BL?!?!

It’s very common to see many mental disorders being represented in shows and BL’s such as Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar etc. But I never thought I would see a BL representing DID. In general DID is not something commonly talked about mostly in movies/shows, most movies or shows that have any sort of DID representation, represent DID in the worst ways and also incorrectly, portraying actions, feelings, emotions and more that aren’t accurate. I know a few things or so about DID since I had known someone who had it and learned a lot from that experience. With that I can say this representation is not that bad, the acting like a whole different person aka having a different personality when an alter has switched is accurate. Also the protective alter (Noah) being triggered out during moments of stress for the other alter (Yu Shi) is also accurate since that’s what they’re meant to do, protect. Changing the looks to make others around aware that you are a different alter can also be accurate since every alter can have a different aesthetic and interest. A lot of things are very accurate and on point. Therefore I give this show props for representing the LGBTQ+ but also the DID community. Now… where I’m a little confused/conflicted is that Wu Zheng is technically dating Yu Shi aka the 5 year old? While Noah is 28 and they did share intimate moments and obviously are dating as well which also confused me a bit because it’s not uncommon for an alter to not find the same person another alter finds attractive but it’s also not super uncommon. But that’s off topic, I just didn’t like how Wu Zheng had a sexual relationship and just intimate relationship in general with an alter that’s apparently 5 years old mentally. Not really sure what they were trying to do and that made me confused and also feel a bit disturbed. Since alters are their own person with their own thoughts and feeling, I find it odd how the alter who was supposedly 5 mentally didn’t react differently to being approached like an adult and treated as such romantically. But at the end of the day this was a show and it’s not gonna be 100% accurate with how it should work and more. But regardless good show, just would change a couple things and would do more research on DID for better representation. But other than that 8.5/10, I recommend for a quick watch.

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One of the more unusual BLs coming from Taiwan this year

This mini series is unmistakably a BL series because of how apparently straight men can fall in love with other men and how there can be additional BL side couples as long as there are enough young male characters in the story for their existence. Yet, the story is more unusual than many recent BL series as it focuses on the relationship between a man with dissociative personality disorder and his once-straight neighbor.

The dissociative personality disorder part isn't meant to be taken seriously although there is a short spin-off, "(Not That) Innocent", directed by a different director, that further explores the issue of whether one can be in love with two different personalities but only one person. What we do have here is a story with a lot of sweetness. Yu Shi is a grown-up man who behaves very much like a child--his personality is stuck at the time he was a boy and assaulted by a man. A second personality, Noah, has been created as a sort of protection--I think Noah is the main personality who ensures that the person can function normally day to day as an adult before the neighbor takes him home. The two personalities seem aware of each other's existence and do not fight for dominance: it's probably not scientifically realistic, but it's ok.

I like how Noah is at first much stronger and more assertive personality than Yu Shi, but we can see him becoming more similar to Yu Shi without entirely losing his grown-up sensibilities. This signals a sort of personality integration, which can help to resolve the issue of which one Wu Zheng (the neighbor) really loves.

I think the series could have opted for all-out fluff because that's ultimately what it is. The frequent switches in timelines due to flashbacks seem a tad pretentious and the story could have been told with more fewer flashbacks and in a more linear fashion. This would make it less confusing and allow the audience to immerse more in the BL fluff.

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Needs to be 8 episodes, but definitely worth a watch

The premise of the show is unique but heavy. Compared to the History series that Taiwan has become well-known for, Innocent takes on a far grittier quality.

My favourite thing about BLs is being immersed in the process of how couples fall in love and getting increasingly invested in their relationship However, the show struggles to elaborate on how the characters built emotional intimacy – likely a function of the series having only 4 episodes.

I was expecting a dramatic turning point where a character makes a conscious decision to act on their feelings in an us-versus-the-world moment (super typical for BLs), but there just wasn’t this sort of scene in Innocent. Not that it’s a big deal but this definitely contributed to the series being slightly underwhelming.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/15/innocent-2021/

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A cozy and warm short BL drama

Story:
Let me start off being harsh... to be very very honest, I don't find this drama very spectacular. There wasn't any wow factor + each episode tends to contain a recap of the previous episode that lasts for 2-3 minutes, which I found it quite unnecessary. A complete plot is also lacking in the entire film, like it's leading nowhere, but mainly just show their daily interactions and then a recap of how the two main characters met, and what sort of trauma did one of them went through when he was younger.

That being said, the overall drama provides a warm and cozy feeling like you would just snuggle up in bed on a cold night to watch. Generally no background music throughout the entire drama (good thing) and just a very quiet sort of film. And a lot of kisses considering the length of the whole drama.

Acting:
Both the main characters and the side couple are generally fine except I find some of the lines a bit 'stiff'. Main couple's kisses were very real and did not appear to be awkward so another big plus to their acting.

Side couple's story however appeared to be severely underdeveloped as they only came in the final episode and then the timeline was fast forwarded to 3 years later. Unless there is a sequel that explains their story, they shouldn't have even forcefully put in the side couple towards the end and it totally made zero sense.

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Such a great concept

I had to sit with the ending for a bit. You know I loved this concept so much and the actors did such a spectacular job, and I wanted to love this series more than I did.

The concept of a love affair with a person with DID is so fraught with ethical potholes and for the most part this series navigated them well. The actor who played Noah and Yu Shi didn't overact it and the character of Wu Zheng is open and loving in a very fresh way.

The parts I did not love about it were largely just... Editing and post production. Weird formatting, unclear time skips and flashbacks, mediocre music. They had such amazing raw material but sort of pasted it together haphazardly.

And the ending was less fulfilling than I'd have liked for this reason, but also because they sort of imply being loved is a "cure" for DID and that's not at all where I hoped it would go. Just let people with mental illness have things without implying that it's only worthwhile if the mental illness is cured.

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First of all I want to say that I really fell in love with the soundtrack, like falling in love at first hearing lol

With a very interesting music and (of course) a brilliant themes, this series absolutely become one of my favorite series of this year.

But for me It's really a shame, it actually could be more explored and extended the story. Somehow I feel something missing :(

In Indonesian:
Pertama-tama saya mau bilang kalau saya sungguh jatuh cinta dengan soundtracknya, seperti jatuh cinta pada pendengaran pertama lol

Dengan musik yang menarik dan tema yang briliiant, tentu saja series ini menjadi salah satu serial yang masuk jajaran favorit saya tahun ini.

Sayang saja, kalau dapat digali dan diperpanjang kisahnya. Series ini mungkin bisa jadi salah satu series terbaik. Entah kenapa saya masih merasa ada yang kurang :(

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