Something Supernatural is Stirring in ‘Stay By My Side’ EPs 1-2!

BL Recaps Taiwan

2023-07-11
12:33

The newest Taiwanese BL series ‘Stay By My Side’ is now streaming on GagaOOLala!

Starring Wei Zhe Hong, an idol-turned-actor, as Bu Xia, a young man who began hearing ghostly voices after losing his grandfather, and Yo Hsuan Yang, his roommate-turned-enemy Jiang Chi, whose touch seems to muffle the unsettling noises. The supernatural and the boys’ feelings are explored in this ten-episode series. Will the two ever get past their anonymity with one another as they fight the cries of the ghosts?

Warning: Spoilers alert! Read at your own risk!

Episode 1: Must strike back when the territory is invaded.

Basketball varsity player Bu Xia and his friends are playing at the school entrance when he unintentionally crashes into Jiang Chi, a Medical School transferee to Law School, who was able to catch him. The former apologizes, but his friends pull him away before they can even talk. This marks their first encounter.

During basketball training, the ball is accidentally thrown at the dean walking with Jiang Chi, who wants to apply to the dormitory. Jiang Chi shoots the ball to the ring instead of handing it over to Bu Xia, which amazes the whole team. This marks their second encounter.

Later that afternoon, Bu Xia gets a call from his older sister sharing the good news that the temple has been successfully passed onto her. She invites him to a party that he declines, but when his sister informs him that the masters will reinforce his seal, he quickly agrees. His sister incenses and prods his photo, which he feels in real-time. Back at his talisman-filled and messy dormitory, Bu Xia is surprised to find a new roommate. It turns out to be Jiang Chi, who had moved his belongings out of the way to make room for himself. Jiang Chi is informed by Bu Xia that their room is haunted, but Jiang Chi ignores him and questions why he is still there if it is haunted. Bu Xia argues that since he was raised in a shrine, the gods are watching over him.

A friend gives an idea to ask Bu Xia’s sister to cast a spell on Jiang Chi as he follows him around the school. While waiting for his meal delivery at their dorm, Bu Xia makes a mess of Jiang Chi’s belongings and is shocked when the delivery man turns out to be the latter. Bu Xia is urged to convince Jiang Chi to join the basketball team at their practice, but he refuses and informs them that they must decide between the two of them because they cannot be on the same team.

In their dormitory, the two keep bickering and getting revenge on each other. They get into a fight in the common room over who gets to use the remote control, which breaks the television. Finally, a frustrated senior steps in and urges them to arm wrestle the situation out like men. The loser must refrain from bothering the winner for a month. They quickly come to an agreement as people watch on. An intense arm wrestling match ensues, in which Jiang Chi clearly has the upper hand. However, just as he is about to win, Bu Xia unexpectedly moves closer to him as if to kiss him, distracting him and causing him to lose.

Episode 2: Your breath is my vaccine?

Despite Jiang Chi fulfilling his end of the bargain, Bu Xia still manages to irritate him. He once tripped over the law student and spilled his chips all over his chest. Bu Xia nibbles the chips off of him so as not to waste any food, making Jiang Chi irritated because he keeps remembering their almost-kiss.

For an upcoming examination, Bu Xia manages to convince Jiang Chi to help him study. Annoyed to find out that Bu Xia got admitted not because of Academics but because of the physical education quota, Jiang Chi tries to leave but stays when the former promises to stop bothering him in exchange. After taking a brief break from studying, the law student discovers him dozing off and wakes him up, but ends up getting hurt when Bu Xia unintentionally smacks him.

At his sister’s party, Bu Xia asks her to strengthen his seal that cages his powers, making her tease him for being scared of ghosts. Later that evening, his sister prays over his seal but accidentally burns its corner. Meanwhile, Bu Xia, who was on his way home, suddenly feels cold and uneasy. Jiang Chi discovers a feverishly dozing Bu Xia in the common room and tries to wake him up. The sleeping person immediately hugs him while appearing to be suffering a nightmare. Without a choice, he piggybacks Bu Xia back to their dormitory and can’t help but be distracted by their physical closeness to each other. Bu Xia did not let go of Jiang Chi’s hand after he was tucked in bed. When he wakes up, he sees a broken hand and gets scared, waking up Jiang Chi. He thanks the latter for staying with him overnight and reminds him to go to class. The Law student is surprised that Bu Xia expresses gratitude and knows his class as well. Meanwhile, Bu Xia’s sister tries to pray over the burned seal.

While taking a shower, Bu Xia suddenly feels cold and hears random noises but finds no source of them. He tries to look for the voices and discovers he is alone in the bathroom. He runs back to his room just as an eerie laugh follows him. The noises of the ghosts continue to haunt Bu Xia inside his room even when he is hiding under Jiang Chi’s bed. He unintentionally grabs Jiang Chi’s legs as he approaches and is startled when the weird noises abruptly stop. The sounds come back after he releases his roommate. He tries it once more and discovers that the noises stop when he touches Jiang Chi! He stares hopefully at the clueless Jiang Chi.

WRITER’S THOUGHTS:

The first release from VIdol’s Boy’s Love line-up is unquestionably intriguing and lives up to the expectation! While forced proximity plotlines are common in all kinds of shows, “Stay By My Side” adds some comic relief with a supernatural twist. With Episodes 1 & 2 done, we are left with more questions! How will Bu Xia react to the discovery that Jiang Chi can stop the ghosts’ noises with just a touch? Will the latter actually believe him? Is this the power his seal has been containing and can his new temple master sister even help him? Stay tuned to the next episodes to find out!

Watch “Stay By My Side” on GagaOOLala.

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