So I'm writing this review after my second viewing of this series. The first time I watched it I wasn't fully invested, so I missed A LOT of plot you cannot multitask during this show. So be prepared to sit down and really pay attention. I also watched this before its prequel movie "Kinematics Theory" which is a whole different entity. I wanted to go in fresh and to be honest I don't think it's necessary to watch that first, it wasn't my cup of tea anyway. I followed everything well enough and it can stand alone as its own story. I was told beforehand that the series and movie are hella different in tone too (weirdly lol), so depends on your preference. I much prefer this 1000% in every way and I think it deserves more credit than its given! Fluffy stories are fun sometimes, but don't overlook these absolute gems as well in storytelling and relatability just because it's "depressing" or "uncomfortable".

This series takes place 10 years into a relationship between Zhe and Nan. So from when they were 18 until 28, that's a pretty mature concept right off the bat because people can change a lot in those years. Then we add onto a plot of "cheating" coming from Nan. Which if you've watched this, you know isn't actually the case but that's what were presented with initially. So it's not deceiving at all with what's to expect from this show. However, I wasn't expecting the show to present so many complicated situations that honestly were fantastically presented in every way. It's heartbreaking, frustrating, complicated, messy and really rough to watch at times. But it felt real, so real at times that I felt like I was invading into someone's privacy. Going into more detail, there's already this huge blow to this relationship from the beginning. But then we get Zhe cheating back and for real not a red herring like Nan's. Listen, I get it but that doesn't make it okay. Especially because Nan's cheating wasn't even real! It was great storytelling, but holy crap I wanted to scream. There's quite a bit of back and forth between Zhe and Nan, to where you will get so frustrated with them guaranteed. Nobody is "innocent" they are all very much human beings making mistakes and I really appreciated that aspect of the characters developments. Because overall, this show is about them finding themselves without each other.

So I will say this. Without the talent of our two main actors, this series would've crashed hard. The actors didn't pull any punches, in many ways. There's so much love and care there from the characters, from the flashbacks (that swim scene with the kiss was super cute) and even from more present day exchanges. Like so so much, little things too that you kind of forgive the misgivings this couple has because you want so badly to see them work out! Which is the point I know, but my god it was really something. Like when you see Nan (played perfectly by John Wu) look at Zhe (also played beautifully by Huang Li Feng) its magical and obvious that the love never goes away between them. Even after the forced breakup when there's healing going on and then eventually reconnecting after all that they fall right back into place. If the actors weren't as good I wouldn't of felt so invested, but because they are it actually hurts to see them in love and hurt each other. Hurt themselves too even in the course of the story! Like my heart was aching dude. Especially during Nan's perspective, holy fu**. That phone call scene was roughhhhh. "Can't you fell how much I love you?" Yes Nan I can feel it. Some of the best and most believable romance acting I've ever seen, let alone in an LGBTQ centered story.

So last thing I'll say about the acting specifically may sound weird, but hear me out! So like I said the two main actors did a great job at presenting as being realistic. So that was also during the scenes where they were gettin down (you know what I mean lol). It looks pretty real first off, I was whiplashed in the first like 10 minutes of the show and later on after the bench reunion. My lord give me warning first! So the reason why I bring this up is because there's even explanations of where the characters are at emotionally in those scenes too. Which is interesting. Like whether it be feeling distant and broken (ie. the cup) or needing to take control (ie. "wrestling" lmao). Its adult and very much needed in the story for it to make sense. Moving onto some of the overarching themes. Like I said before, self-discovery apart is HUGE in this. Dependability vs. love, feeling needed vs. being taken care of. All fascinating concepts and HEAVYYYY. Even just trying to move on from a breakup and find independance again. This is stuff that a lot of series or films about romance/love will avoid because it can be so dark and dreary but you know what! It's reality baby and it needs to be discussed. I loved seeing Zhe realizing he kinda needed that pull away to find himself again, even if it's done in not a good way at all.

Although Zhe was mostly the MC of the series I would say, I loved let me repeat LOVED that we got Nan's side too. Made me think of "Theory of Love" but obviously much darker. So we transition from Zhe to Nan after they "run away together" after the...bench and reunion lmao. This made the title of the series much clearer to me, since obviously "ambiguous" means more than one interpretation. There's never just one side. He literally just wanted to surprise Zhe with a house and here comes Jimmy (demon embodied) bribing him with money for that and blackmailing him with his father's illness, medical bills and outing "scandal" eww. Jimmy's character made me feel so gross, I wanted to fight I swear. It also made me so mad and devastated for Nan's character whom was my favorite (and Chunzi, whom we'll get to). He never cheated! I wanted Zhe to prove Jimmy wrong by not cheating "back" but again this series isn't trying to sugar coat stuff. We're getting deep ya'll and it sucks. Heart broken many times. The first time I cried in the show was learning the truth about Nan and having to see him suffer being so in love.

Alright, so we all know I had to talk about Chunzi. Best friend Chunzi, who had the sass and determination to snap Zhe out of his funk so he kept his dignity after the forced breakup. Good friend and deserved better. Chunzi was such an interesting character to throw in at the side and throw me off. Because I was already so invested and then I got even more invested! It made me want to cuss out Chao, because seriously f*** him! Making Chunzi think they finally found a hubby and dude is texting Zhe being like "believe me you're the one I love." F*** you! He wanted love for once and this was the last shot. TRASH! Also Chao saying he was staying with Chunzi because they're depressed and lonely. Ooh I was so heated. Great topic of discussion and presentation in the plot, but ooh I saw red. Again I have to say, poor Chunzi. I felt for them I really did poor baby. What a devastating storyline ending. That was the second time the series had me bawling.

In the final act we get a callback to peeling the shrimps, but now Zhe is independent and does it himself. Jimmy confessing to what he did, which should've happened earlier dbag. Canada doesn't want you dude trust me! We learn he's a literal sociopath, whose had some awful things happen to him. But it's not really meant to make us sympathize with him, more understand the motives. And we get a flash forward to a few years later. The characters needed time and as "open" as the ending wanted to be, it was pretty clear to me what this was. Zhe and Nan crossing the bridge at the same time means they will always cross paths. It's time to start anew with each other based on the looks they give and saying one anothers names. There's a lot of hope there and the love never went away, as it wouldn't and shouldn't. Circumstances or not, like Zhe said it's in the past and they can move on together again. Hopefully this time they can actually get married though. Damn, I wouldn't change anything about this other than the dialogue being really really fast. Which made it hard to keep up sometimes. So rewinding will be needed to watch this lol. But do watch it, please. Especially if you need a good cry.