Lyrical Muse

Sizzling chemistry, complex characters, solid world-building… and a double dose of male pregnancy. This sums up what people can expect when they tune into Chinese BL ABODesire, which just wrapped its finale episode today.

Based on the novel ‘Desire’ by Nong Jian – who also helm the show – the series starring Huang Xing, Qiu Dingjie, Jiang Heng and Li Peien is brave in its attempt to delve into a theme that has yet to be deeply explored in live action media.

The omegaverse is a subgenre of fiction that has a wealth of lore across written and graphic media as well as fan-created content. No matter what fandom you’re in, you’re sure to have run into an omegaverse-centred piece of fiction around it.

An intriguing tale of lies, obsession, manipulation and devotion.

Transporting us into a world governed by hierarchical sub-genders – typically Alpha, Beta and Omega – the omegaverse is an expansive genre exploring various concepts like heat/rut cycles, pheromones and male pregnancy.

In the case of ABODesire, it sets up the omegaverse as an after-effect/consequence of a fictional pandemic which left people segregated into the omegaverse sub-genders. In this world, genders don’t matter. You are classed as different tiers of Alpha, Beta or Omega – and the mysterious, rare, all-powerful gender of Enigma – finding your place in society based on your sub-gender.

The story quickly introduces us to Sheng Shao You (Qiu DingJie), CEO of a bio-pharmaceutical company, is an S-class Alpha, which the show emphasises as the gender that’s at “top of the food chain” in this world.

A bit of a player – with 32 exes as a previous scene mentions – and the only legitimate heir of his (now-deathly ill) father with a philandering past, Shao You is immediately established as a man who is confident of the power and influence he wields. However, his life is slowly yet steadily altered when he crosses paths with a helpless Omega, Hua Yong (Huang Xing).

Teary-eyed and delicate, Hua Yong is exactly Shao You’s type, as the Alpha gets to indulge in playing hero for his seemingly fragile love interest, who seems to run into problem after problem ; from a sick sister in need of surgery, a boss who harasses him and a landlord who kicks him out.

Hua Yong is introduced as a new secretary in a rival bio-pharma company headed by another S-class alpha, Shen Wenlang (Jiang Heng). Described as deeply omegaphobic, Wen Lang’s seemingly overt interest in his omega secretary Hua Yong not only places him as a love rival to Shao You but also shows up as cracks in Wen Lang’s own dynamic with trusted secretary Gao Tu (Li Peien).

Gao Tu – an omega who has masqueraded to the world all his life as an unassuming beta – has been a steadfast presence in Wen Lang’s life and quietly nurtured a love for him for a decade. But as Wen Lang’s tension with Hua Yong grows so does his distance with Gao Tu.

If Hua Yong and Sheng Shao You deliver a dark romance-turned-domestic-bliss storyline, the secondary pairing of Shen Wen Lang and Gao Tu dish out the angst

But nothing is as it seems and there’s much more to Hua Yong than meets the eye as audiences will very quickly discover. What seems like love triangle with a dash of one-sided love turns out to be an intriguing and twisted tale of lies, obsession, manipulation and devotion.

Without giving away any spoilers, if you’re into complicated, red flag characters who stop at nothing to get the person they love, Hua Yong will have you hooked. Every incident and instance in his story is a carefully orchestrated move towards one singular goal – Sheng Shao You.

Huang Xing embodies Hua Yong expertly, balancing the delicacy of a blushing, domestic omega against the eerie, unemotional and almost-Godly presence of his real identity with attractive ease. Hua Yong is consistently described as stunning in the novel, and Huang Xing definitely matches up to all the flowery adjectives used.

Meanwhile, Qiu Dingjie’s Sheng Shao You traverses a huge emotional arc, going from a protector and provider traumatised by the impact of father’s disloyalty in relationships to a stable, loving father and family man who is secure in the knowledge that his partner would burn the world for him. And he portrays all of it – including a surprise relevation of pregnancy – with an enthralling grace that fills the screen.

If Hua Yong and Sheng Shao You deliver a dark romance-turned-domestic-bliss storyline, the secondary pairing of Shen Wen Lang and Gao Tu dish out the angst in truckloads. Unfolding parallel to our main couple, Gao Tu and Wen Lang’s story is a treat for fans of the miscommunication trope as their festering tension culminates in a one night stand doused in the haze of heat and rut.

Blinded by instincts, Wen Lang has no memory of and only hate-filled vitriol for the “omega who seduced him with heat.” And for Gao Tu, his body already struggling with the ill-effects of keeping his omegan identity at bay, the night of passion ends in pregnancy. Fearing Wen Lang’s reaction and for the safety of the life he carries, Gao Tu gives up on his love and runs away.

The show builds an omegaverse world that feels close to reality, while also serving as a great starter-pack for anyone new to the sub-genre.

Unfortunately, the storyline of Wen Lang and Gao Tu doesn’t not get enough space to breathe and expand. In the novel, their story – the fallout of Gao Tu’s escape, their separation arc and eventual reunion – is brief yet affectionate. However, in the series, their plot is rushed, somewhat disjointed and left completely open-ended.

Despite their lack of screen time, the pair grab your attention every single frame they are present in. First-time actor Jiang Heng makes an impressive debut – holding his own against the experienced Li Peien – playing the sharp-tongued but loyal Shen Wen Lang with a layer of empathy and understanding, softening the character’s jagged edges with quiet moments of concern and emotion

Meanwhile, Li Peien is a stand-out in the show, ensnaring viewers with his portrayal of a gentle, principled man – with a stubborn streak – stuck in a web of his own lies and burdened by the weight of responsibilities. In particular, Peien’s nuanced performance as a pregnant man is awe-inspiring, his subtle but powerful screen presence rooting us in a realism that erases any sense of awkwardness or discomfort around the subject.

While Huang Xing and Qiu Dingjie sizzle – bringing as much sensuality as they do fluff – Jiang Heng and Li Peien are chaste yet alluring with chemistry that jumps off the screen. The NC scenes are limited by censorship, but it’s a testament to the actors’ natural chemistry that the sexual intensity is not lost.

Aside from the acting, the show’s world-building is commendable. From the small details like the presence of designated ‘ABO toilets’ to protection laws for omegas and the intricacies of the bio-pharma setting, the show builds an omegaverse world that feels close to reality, while also serving as a great starter-pack for anyone new to the sub-genre.

But trying something new is always a double-edged sword, and ABODesire also suffers from flaws. Despite starting strong with solid camera angles and detailed storytelling, the pace of the series begins to stutter midway. The indiscriminate use of time jumps to stuff in as many plot points as possible begins to weigh down the series especially toward the end.

The editing style is repetitive with messy transitions and the camera work could do with some improvements as well. However, the show’s biggest issue is the unequal distribution of screen time which leaves everything feeling a bit stilted and incomplete. Yes, the second couple’s resolution (or lack thereof) leaves much to be desired, but the main couple also suffers from the rush to cover as much of their story as possible.

As the show ended it’s 16-episode run today, it left fans with mixed emotions with many demanding second season or special episode to tie up loose ends.

But as it stands, ABODesire – with all its shortcomings – is a series that opened up a whole new world of possibilities for live action media in BL and beyond – and for that it’s worth a binge!

So if you’re open to watching something experimental, give ABODesire a try. The series is available to watch on Gagaoolala .

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