There are some really annoying characters that get too much screen time. The plot is kind of interesting but after 25 episodes nothing much has changed. I had high expectations from this one, but seriously it's like a teen drama with labs, and science. I wanted to like this so bad I'm currently watching this drama, but dude it got so boring. I especially adored the closing credit piece, Signature (署名) by Azora Chin (尤长靖), and Leo’s haunting theme, It’s Time To Stop (时间停止吧), by ANU. MUSIC: Like many Chinese dramas, the instrumental background was sometimes too much, but the songs were solid. REWATCH VALUE: If I could break it down, I'd give all of Leo’s scenes a 10 (no bias here :P) and many (but not all) of Victoria’s very high marks too. (You can read my more spoilery views about the ending in the comments section below.) While expected, the execution of the story arc was frustrating - and almost cruel - at times. Unfortunately, these last elements became very difficult to ignore at the end, especially in the final episode. I tried not to think too much about details that didn’t make sense annoying tropes the rather ham-fisted effort at depicting anti-Asian/Chinese racism the heavy-handed overtones of patriotism/nationalism inconsistencies in pacing, tone, character depiction, and story arcs. I did park most of my usual standards aside and simply went with the flow. At the same time, I have a lot of caveats.
Personally, I genuinely enjoyed nearly every ridiculous, soapy, melodramatic moment and couldn’t wait for the next episode.
(A couple of the characters even reference “dog’s blood” dramas, which makes one think it’s a sly nod of self-recognition.)
#STEAL BL DRAMA CD ENG SUB SERIES#
As the series progresses, it also flirts increasingly with “dog’s blood (狗血)” plotlines - until it VERY predictably goes all-in on the makjang melodrama in the final quarter. Broker is flawed and messy, and whether it’s for you or not will depend on your enjoyment or tolerance of soapy, unrealistic melodramas and other elements that some people love and others hate: the science talk, the office politics and scheming (only in the early episodes though - it's great later), the secondary OTP, very tortured heroes/heroines/antogonists (To say Leo is put through the wringer, especially at the end, would be an understatement). For everyone else? It’s kind of a toss-up. (I was going to add sensible to the FL's list of attributes, but unfortunately I can not due to her actions and words in the final two or three episodes.)īUT. Victoria Song’s portrayal will have you wishing there were more characters like her in Chinese dramas. Broker could also be for you if you love your female leads strong, brilliant, independent, and mature. He gives an emotional performance as a flawed and tortured anti-hero who falls in love with a woman who changes the entire course of his life. If you are a die-hard Luo Yunxi fan, Broker might be worth it as it really showcases his talent.
A very flawed drama for die-hard LYX fans with a kick-ass FL.