Chinese GL Webseries & Shorts for the Wuxia-Uninclined
Have you ever wanted to venture into the world of Chinese GL webseries and short films, only to find yourself at a loss about where to begin, or intimidated by the unfamiliar tropes and terms of the wuxia genre?
Well, worry no more! Here's a selection of non-wuxia webseries and short films curated by yours truly. Now you too can enjoy the lavish costumes and location shoots of these Chinese productions, so rarely seen in F/F works outside of feature films and the occasional TV series~
By the way, these are all translated and subbed by the inimitable Douqi (@douqi7s), whose immense contribution to the English-language baihe fandom is surely in breach of anti-monopoly laws. Offer up your thanks at her Tumblr and Twitter!
At-a-glance list
Webseries:
Ye-Mu Season 2 (1 hr 20m total, 2023) - standalone
The Vampires (41m total, 2022)
Ye-Mu Season 1 (27m total, 2022) - standalone
The Lost World (1hr 5m total, 2023)
Short films - order corresponding to the pictures above:
A Tale of Yearning (5 mins, 2022)
"She Brought Colour Into My World" (2.5 mins, 2023)
"I'm Her Weapon" (3 mins, 2022)
Miss Shen and the Woman Warlord (6 mins, 2023)
Women's Script (5 mins, 2023)
The Caged Canary (5 mins, 2023)
The Beauty of the Law (6 mins, 2023)
Flowers Bloom; Flowers Wither (9 mins, 2022)
Commentary under the cut!
FYI, I've opted to link directly to the subtitled versions since they're probably more difficult to find than regular anime, TV series, movies etc. If a link is broken, please refer to Douqi's blog directly.
Important note for the uninitiated:
It’s a bit difficult to talk about canonicity in relation to live-action works made in the PRC, as things which would normally be used as evidence of canonicity all fall under the censorship regulations— explicit references to romantic relationships or queerness, declarations of love, kissing etc. are all off the table. So while these may not look canon in the most traditional sense, they are intended to be read as such and should certainly not be dismissed as queerbaiting or yuribait. Also, the creators can get very imaginative, so this is less of a problem than you may think – see the entries on Ye-Mu Season 2 and The Lost World in particular!
1. Ye-Mu Season 2 / 叶穆 2 (32 episodes / 1hr 20m total, 2023, dir. Zhang Zhiwei) - MyDramaList
(Note: Despite the name, Ye-Mu Season 2 is completely unrelated to the first season; the only thing the two share is the cast, crew, and focus on Penthouse-style melodrama.)
Determined to take revenge for her mother's death, Xu Baiqing (Sheng Wei) marries a wealthy and much older businessman in the hope of finding evidence to put him behind bars. But first she must assuage the suspicions of his cheerily hostile second daughter, moody youngest son, and estranged eldest daughter (Ye-Mu Zhixia, played by Wang Laoji), the latter of whom Xu Baiqing dated in university and who is currently seething at the sight of her former girlfriend marrying her father...
If you want to get a sense of the potential breadth of Chinese GL webseries, this is a pretty good place to start. It does a decent job of matching the tone and presentation of a melodrama you might catch on TV (and in fact looks higher-budget than some I can think of), while committing to something that can’t be done on TV yet— namely, featuring an F/F exes-to-stepmother storyline and delivering on the drama inherent in such a premise. Of particular note is how the framing and behaviour of Ye-Mu Zhixia is very much consistent with that of a male romantic lead; thanks to some clever writing, it’s basically impossible to deny the nature of her relationship with the main character. They don’t even lean on the plausible deniability afforded by the label of “friendship”— in fact, in an early scene she is incensed when the protagonist refers to her as “[her] only friend”. There are a few caveats – the main character ends up in a lot of scrapes that her ex-girlfriend has to save her from, the reveals are often rather unsurprising, and the story shifts more to a mystery focus around halfway – but it’s still worth checking out if a Korean-style melodrama with an F/F take on a romantic storyline sounds appealing.
(CW: violence, murder, attempted sexual assault)
Note: See The Lost World (below), from the same creative team, for an even more impressive example of Chinese GL pushing the limits of censorship.
Links: MEGA / Internet Archive (compilation)
2. The Vampires / 吸血鬼鬼盲盒 (7 episodes / 41m total, 2022, dir. Zhang Zhiwei) - MyDramaList
(Note: Spoilers for the first 15 minutes or so, because otherwise the summary would be “They end up locked inside with the monsters on board”, which wouldn’t tell you much more than the title already does)
Every night, Tianyue (Ye Miao/夜喵) has been having dreams about the mysterious cruise ship docked at the pier. Convinced that there is treasure hidden inside, she and her exorcist-cultivator girlfriend Xiao Ling (Wei Miao/微渺) sneak on board only to find that they are trapped there until the sun comes up. Things don’t seem too bad at first: although they run into two vampires – the cute, cheeky Xingming (Yang Fuyu) and her elegant mistress Su Tanya (Sheng Wei) – they are able to call a truce, on the condition that the humans help search the ship for the latter’s beloved (Fu Cha, played by Wang Laoji). But when Fu Cha wakes up without her memories, it is clear that something is terribly wrong, and that the ship and its inhabitants harbour more secrets than expected.
For a webseries, The Vampires takes a while to get started— it’s a bit difficult to tell what kind of story or indeed what kind of tone it’s going for just based on the somewhat campy and comedic first section. But after that wobbly beginning, it manages to pull itself together to tell a compelling – and sometimes genuinely tense – tale about a motley band of humans and vampires, and the truths they have to face together. While the ending is no happily-ever-after, I found it satisfying and hopeful, and surprisingly affecting. Also, a bunch of the characters have real polyam energy, and this is reflected in the narrative beyond mere flirting!
(CW: abusive parents)
Links - MEGA / Internet Archive (compilation) / YouTube (compilation)
3. Ye-Mu Season 1 / 叶穆 (12 episodes / 27m total, 2022, dir. Zhang Zhiwei) - MyDramaList
(Note: Ye-Mu Seasons 1 and 2 are standalone stories; each season is entirely self-contained and the second season is not a continuation of the first.)
The head of the Ye-Mu family has died, leaving the next generation to squabble over the inheritance. It's a web of secrets, lies, and hidden resentments, as the characters dig out old grievances and fresh accusations in a desperate attempt to one-up each other. They're tangled up together to an almost incestuous degree, and indeed, the F/F subtext here is the ambiguous relationship between eldest daughter Ye-Mu Nanzhu (Sheng Wei) and second daughter Ye-Mu Nanmo (Wang Laoji) (rest assured that they are at least not biologically related).
Those who prefer darker stories and don't mind the pseudo-incest or other content warnings will find a melodrama which makes good use of its short runtime to deliver on twists, turns, and an explosive - if tragic - conclusion. That being said, the story is about the family drama in general, so do note that while the relationship between Nanzhu and Nanmo is narratively important, it is not fleshed out in great detail and certainly not the focus of the series.
(CW: suicide, ableist trope (spoiler – disabled character turns out to have been faking it), ableist language)
Links - MEGA / Internet Archive (compilation)
4. The Lost World / 夏夜知道风的甜 (1hr 5m total, 2023, dir. Zhang Zhiwei) - MyDramaList
(Note: Spoilers for the purpose of flagging triggering content, as it’s particularly easy to trip into for this show. Also, some vague spoilers for later episodes in order to highlight in order to highlight the themes etc.)
This webseries feels like two shows smushed into one: apart from the very beginning, the first half is a gritty, bullying-focused take on university life, while the second is a true-blue romantic comedy (aside from one blip – see the note below for details). But even if you’re wary of the bullying, I would still recommend watching the back half – which is basically standalone – as it’s a very funny and heartfelt story about two childhood friends finally getting their act together. Without further ado, here’s two blurbs!
From episode 1 onwards: After saving a classmate from the class bully, popular college student Xia Huaichu (Yang Fuyu) is subjected to a lengthy harassment campaign by the latter. She is suddenly faced with having to protect her reputation in the face of false allegations and fake nudes– despite the fact that all she wants to do is focus on reconciling with another classmate, a high school best friend whom she had previously lost touch with (Mu Qingfeng, played by Wang Laoji).
From episode 14 onwards: Childhood friends Xia Huaichu (Yang Fuyu) and Mu Qingfeng (Wang Laoji) are caught in a weird gay purgatory where each has feelings for the other, and suspects that the other has feelings for them too. But both are exceedingly stubborn and want the other one to take the initiative in confessing, leading to ridiculous displays of I-don’t-care-isms and lots and lots of UST. (Does anybody use that term anymore??)
As you may have guessed, I’m not too keen on the first part of this show, nor the decidedly unnecessary attempted rape segment, though that’s partly on me for not checking the content warnings beforehand. And yet I’m very glad to have stuck with it, because the second half is not only hilarious, but also a masterclass in censorship-dodging that needs to be seen to be believed. Not just in terms of the suggestive scenes, of which there are many, either— the story is literally about two women starting a relationship and having to reckon with parental disapproval, homophobia, and other obstacles which platonic friends wouldn’t have to deal with. I honestly don’t know how this ever got approved, and can only applaud. Bravo.
Note: For those who want to avoid the triggering content, I’d recommend starting at episode 14, but make sure to skip episodes 19 and 20 as there is a foiled rape attempt.
(CW for entire series: bullying (incl. violence, fake nudes), sexual harassment, attempted sexual assault, fatphobic language, homophobia
CW for episodes 14-24: attempted sexual assault in episodes 19-20, homophobia)
Links - MEGA / Dropbox
SHORT FILMS
Quick note: Click on the English titles for the subtitled versions, and the Chinese titles (which are really just the video titles) for the originals. And yes, although the majority of these are shampoo commercials, they really do hold up as short films in their own right. Give them a try, you might be surprised!
A Tale of Yearning / 一见误终生,不见终生误 (5 mins, 2022, dir. Liu Yun Rui/流云蕊) – A bittersweet story about a literature-minded young woman (Sheng Wei) and a Chinese opera performer (Ai Ye) who bond over their love of fiction, only to be torn apart by harsh reality. Tragic ending, but I liked the more literary turn of the dialogue. Shampoo ad. (CW: homophobia)
“She Brought Colour Into My World” / “她走后,我的世界又失去了颜色” (2.5 mins, 2023, dir. Zou Hui Qu Le/走回去了) – A very restrained short film (actually, more like a music video) set during the late Qing era, wherein a sheltered young woman (Xiao Yu Za/小宇咂) falls for her female neighbour, recently returned from studying abroad (Sheng Wei). Lovely use of music and visuals to create a dreamlike atmosphere. Tragic ending. Not a shampoo ad.
“I’m Her Weapon” / 我是你手里的一把刀 (3 mins, 2022, dir. Liu Yun Rui/流云蕊) – A moody, interior piece about an assassin (Ai Ye) who yearns for some sign of affection from her handler (Sheng Wei), only to be left devastated by her new assignment. Surprisingly not a shampoo ad.
Miss Shen and the Woman Warlord / 我们是孤独行走的钟,但也要做敲响希望的钟 (6 mins, 2023, dir. Liu Yun Rui/流云蕊) – I’d like to describe this as being inspired by the story of Mai Jia’s novel The Message and the aesthetics of Kawashima Yoshiko (1990), but most Tumblr users would probably find those references deeply unhelpful. Basically, a female spy (Sheng Wei) disguises herself as a male soldier and infiltrates the mansion of a Republican warlord. There, she meets the warlord’s daughter (Ai Ye), who quickly realises that there is more to the promising young officer than meets the eye. Shampoo ad.
Women’s Script / 纵使“科考”无女子,无碍红袖书香,星辰有光 (5 mins, 2023, dir. Liu Yun Rui/流云蕊) – While sailing down a river, a girl (Zhi Chun He/至春禾) catches sight of a woman writing poetry on the riverbank (Sheng Wei), and is fascinated by both her beauty and her flaunting of the rules against women’s literacy. Shampoo ad. (CW: domestic violence)
The Caged Canary / 如果这是一场骗局,那我也只愿意输给你 (5 mins, 2023, dir. Liu Yun Rui/流云蕊) – The protagonist (Ai Ye) is sent by her parents to beguile a wealthy young man into marriage, but ends up developing feelings for his modern-woman sister (Sheng Wei) instead. Shampoo ad. (CW: attempted sexual assault)
Flowers Bloom; Flowers Wither / 她们一个被铁链禁锢,一个被男装束缚,直到救赎彼此 (9 mins, 2022, dir. Qian Li Min/千里明) – Takes the romance between a cross-dressing noblewoman (Du Ruo/杜若) and her supposedly-mad stepmother (Rou Lian Cheng/肉脸橙) to tell a story about the restrictions placed on women in historical times, and how resistance, even when futile, can still have meaning. Tragic ending, obviously. Not a shampoo ad. (CW: domestic violence, misogyny, accidental misgendering, gender dysphoria)
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THE ALCHEMY OF SOULS 🔮
Yaaah!!! I did not expect it to be that good. Honsetly I watched it at first out of curiousity because Arin (my Oh My Girl bias) is there. From the first episode to the last, we all get excited to watch the new episodes every week and our souls almost shifted when we knew that it will not air for a week. HAHAHA! It is so wonderful to see old and new Korean actors and actresses.
Well here are my thoughts about the Alchemy of Souls.
🌿 Thoughts About The Ep 20 🌿
Super duper cliff hanger!! Like, I have to wait again for MONTHSSS just to see it. But yeah, that is what it is. We have to wait to see the PART 2.
I honestly did not expect it to end it that way because I really thought that the Part 2 of Alchemy of Souls will be a prequel.
Anyway, I am really pissed off with Jin Mu! Argh! Who does not, eh? He got the Crown Prince wrapped around his fingers and even the royal family. He uses their insecurities to fool them. How abusive it is!
I knew it, the Hong Sisters will leave us devastated after they made us laugh. Yah! Learned my lessons from My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Master’s Sun, Hwayuggi and Hotel del Luna. I can’t believe they did it again! That is why I am very cautious on the first part of the Episode 20 where everyone is happy and no worries, especially the proposal scene of Park Jin to Maidservant Kim. Yaaah! So funny at the same time so kilig! It made me laugh so hard. I love Park Jin and Maidservant Kim’s love story. I laughed to Master Lee for breaking his heart from maybe his forst love. HAHA! A reminder that no matter what age are we in, we can still be in love and find love.
Then comes the annoying and thrilling parts. So-i must die! Sorry chingu, but you are so annoying. Hahaha! Then there is Jin Mu. Ahhh! Really, he is a manipulative sad boy. He wants the Ice Stone for himself and uses people to get it from him because he is that weak.
🌿 THOUGHTS ON OTHER EPISODES 🌿
WHY DOES JANG GANG DIED ALREADY??? After his atolnement for his sins for using ALCHEMY OF SOULS… he just died??? DEAD! After he started it all??? JUST DEAD??? Well I do not know but these are the Hong Sisters, again, they are have this creative minds to twist and turn the events. I really wish he closed Jin Mu’s gate of energy before he killed himself.
I also think Master Seo Gyeong’s reincarnation is Jang Uk since they have the King’s Star and Jin Bu Yeon is the reincarnation of Jin Seol Ran who is the first leader of Jinyowon. I think… that their everlasting love for each other also reincarnated to Jang Uk and Jin Bu Yeon that is why the universe made them attracted to each other because it is their fate.
I really think that JANG GANG is the father of JIN BU YEON since Jin Un Tak says that he is not Bu Yeon’s father and he thank Bu Yeon for bringing him in to the Jin family to marry Lady Jin. So does that mean that Bu Yeon was born before Lady Jin met Jin Un Tak? Is it possible why Jang Gang uses the Ice Stone is to save Jin Bu Yeon his own daughter? These are just my hunch since it is said that Jun Bu Yeon became a powerful priestess because of her being a Jin and a Choi.
I think Joo Wol knows Naksu is the one living in Mu Deok’s body since she most of the time she knows the rumors which some are true. She knows how to think and trust her instincts. Maybe she is Naksu’s friend who helped Naksu but did not know it or Mu Deok’s friend and since Mu Deok is blind she do not know Joo Wol’s appearance.
🌿 Thoughts about the Part 2 🌿
As I have mentioned, I did not expect that the Part 2 will be a sequel. I just thought that it would be a prequel because how can they make it if Jung So Min will not be Naksu/Mu Deok/Bu Yeon? Admit it or not we loved her for those characters and we want her to continue playing that role especially that Jung So Min and Lee Jae Wook has a lovely chemistry. I think because Jung So Min will stick to her Bu Yeon character and we can see at the end that her body is starting to decay for using Alchemy of Souls. It is either Jin Bu Yeon died or Jin Bu Yeon will shift her soul together with Naksu’s soul to the original Naksu.
I do not know but I guess the ladies swimming in the Lake Gyeongcheondaeho who pulled up Bu Yeon’s body is the old Bu Yeon and the young Bu Yeon. As a powerful priestess she always accompanies Naksu. She is like Naksu’s conscience. Maybe she has powers to make her body as a soul.
I really think that Naksu’s original body was not burned since we saw her alive. Maybe some spell made it, maybe it was Yul or Bu Yeon’s powers that saved Naksu’s body.
I hope Seo Yul and Lady Heo will knew that there is a parasite inside Yul’s body and hopefully get it before Yul got killed by it.
I think Jin Mu will know that the worm is inside Yul’s body now since he will find So-i and will kill her. He will use that to control Yul. OH NO!
Lady Jin will do her best to save Bu Yeon’s body so maybe we will see Jung So Min but not that often since she will be placed in the Jinyowon to be healed.
Another guess is that Master Seo Gyeong is the ice stone. Since the ice stone came from heavens and both Master Seo Gyeong and Jang Uk’s powers came from heaven (not in the Lake unlike other mages) they are the ice stone from the very beginning.
I really hope that Master Lee will kill Jin Mu. I do not know it is just that satisfying to see Master Lee killing Jin Mu. Hahaha! Though we all know that Uk will be the one to finish it.
Master Lee will be Jang Uk’s Master for real. Since Jang Uk asks help to Master Lee if Mu Deok gone wild, I guess he will train and help Jang Uk to use well the power of Ice Stone.
The Hong Sisters said that there will be no deaths. BUT I DOUBT. It is the Hong Sisters. Every ending is bittersweet for them.
AHHH! We have to wait four months for the next series. I know all of us are excited. Share your thoughts with me and keep on fan-girling/boying! 🫰🏻 Saranghae!
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