Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Chinese series ‘Desire‘ wastes no time introducing its outrageously wealthy and manipulative protagonist, Hua Yong. In the show’s opening minute, he glides through his opulent mansion in silken black robes, while a row of men and women kneel before him like courtiers awaiting their king. Strangely enough, they’re all ex-lovers of Sheng Shao You – the man Hua Yong is determined to pursue. Using his influence to study Shao You’s “type,” Hua Yong prepares to go to absurd lengths to win him over. So, if you’re in the mood to watch a gorgeous looking psycho scheme his way into his crush’s heart, go stream it.
Based on a novel by Nong Jian, ‘Desire‘ is set in the fictional Omegaverse universe, which the creators painstakingly explain in the first episode for viewers unfamiliar with its tropes. All you need to know is that humans in this world are divided into three biological classes, regardless of gender: Alphas (dominant), Betas (neutral with low fertility), and Omegas (submissive, highly fertile). There’s also a fourth, the extremely rare Enigma, so powerful and unique they’re practically mythical.
Actor Huang Xing plays Hua Yong, a beautiful, wealthy Enigma and heir to a business empire, who takes on a fake identity to romantically pursue Sheng Shao You (Qiu Ding Jie), a handsome, top-tier Alpha, also an influential pharmaceutical tycoon who only dates submissive Omegas. ‘Desire‘ thrives on the tension between pursuit and escape, Hua Yong’s calculated seduction of Shao You, and the chaos that erupts once the prey realizes the predator’s true nature.
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A minor sub-plot of desire follows unsaid romantic feelings between Shen Wen Lang (Jiang Heng), Shao’s business rival, and his assistant Gao Tu (Li Pei En), an Omega pretending to be a Beta due to family baggage and past trauma. Hua Yong goes undercover as an intern at his friend Wen Lang’s firm, just so he can conveniently pop up wherever Shao You is. With sneaky charm and zero shame, Hua Yong starts low-key ‘training’ the Alpha, seducing him bit by bit with daily cookie deliveries and perfectly timed appearances.
‘I never understood what Sheng Shao You had that made you go to such great lengths. Now I fucking get it. You’re both lunatics…,’ Wen Lang hilariously mocks Hua Yong in the second-half of ‘Desire’. Huang Xing’s portrayal of Hua Yong is on point, he looks like a cold, scheming brat, however is almost-always in character as a ‘poor damsel in distress’ for Shao You, because that’s just his type.
Among the main cast, Li Pei En’s Gao Tu is the only working-class character, and also the one with most baggage, including an abusive, alcoholic father. Gao Tu relies excessively on suppressants and painkillers to hide his Omega identity, while flashbacks reveal his mother encourages him to do so. In the present, he is clearly in love with his Shen Wen Lang, someone very vocal about hating Omegas, so it gives Gao Tu more reason to suppress himself. Their romance had potential, but the pair gets minimal screen-time, because in all honesty, ‘Desire’ is all about the crazy billionaire Hua Yong.
Huang Xing, as the two-faced Hua Yong, is easily the most entertaining ingredient in Desire. If viewers can’t get on board with his blazing red-flag personality, it’s best to skip this show altogether. Hua Yong is terrifyingly powerful, yet masterfully maintains the facade of a “poor pretty boy,” always on the verge of fake tears to tug at Shao You’s emotions. Beneath that fragile exterior lies a calculating, dominant streak that he conceals with unnerving conviction, a dynamic that also fuels much of the show’s dark humor.
Qiu Ding Jie is cute as Shao You, although his character often feels one-dimensional, especially against the wacky Huang Xing. The two look great together, share decent onscreen chemistry, but for a show titled ‘Desire‘, the romantic moments are disappointingly tame, with abrupt edits cutting short any spark of heat between the lovers.
Li Pei En makes the most of his brief screen time as the troubled Gao Tuo, while Jiang Heng, sadly, is wooden as the pompous Wen Lang. Then again, maybe it’s not his fault, the script turns this “brilliant” businessman into someone bafflingly brainless when it comes to love.
Another minor subplot in ‘Desire‘ revolves around Shao You’s mission to find a cure for his father’s rare cancer. His pharmaceutical company is heavily investing in R&D while also eyeing rival firms for valuable research and breakthroughs. One name that catches his interest is the elusive, socially distant heir of a company called ‘X’, and of course, that mysterious billionaire is none other than Hua Yong.
Visually, ‘Desire‘ is stunning, with grand set designs that bring to life the glamorous world of powerful alpha men in a fictional country. Hua Yong resides in a jaw-dropping mansion, complete with infinity pools and breathtaking views. Much of the story unfolds in stylish flats, sleek offices and luxurious lounges, all styled with a professionally polished, high-end aesthetic.
The background score doesn’t do much to elevate the mood, relying mostly on bland piano tracks that blur into the background. At times, the costumes veer into outright odd territory, turning into distractions rather than style statements. To top it off, the production team overuses beauty filters to give the cast a glossy look unnecessary. Everyone already looks good; they didn’t need to be airbrushed into oblivion.
Sixteen episodes long, ‘Desire‘ might boast a gorgeous cast, but its storytelling is choppy, sluggish, with a few cringe-y moments strewn around. The dialogues drag on, over-explaining every emotion and slowing the pace for much of the show. The climactic episode was disappointingly slow, yet felt rushed, especially in wrapping up the stormy relationship between Gao Tuo and Wen Lang.
What ultimately gives Desire its edge, though, is the unusual omegaverse setting, and, of course, its unhinged romantic lead.
Rating: 6 on 10. ‘Desire’ is on iQIYI, Gagaoolala, and Viki.
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