Sugar, spice and everything nice - Key secrets to a quaint midnight drama’s success
This review will be mainly about the main characters and actors.There is something about Cherry Magic that is definitely binge-watch and rewatch worthy. No villains, no fuss and minimal angst throughout. The opening and ending songs are nice, although the overall soundtrack wasn’t as memorable to me but somewhat fits with the drama’s quirks.
The love between colleagues, friends and partners presented in this drama is as universal as it gets. It lets the viewers know it is okay to have no romantic attachment to anyone as long as you valued and be content with yourself. It lets the viewers know it is okay to shamelessly chasing your dreams as well as abandoning your past dreams in pursuit of something new and exciting. It lets the viewers know the importance of mutual consent, patience, understanding and good communication when it comes to loving someone who valued less of themselves.
As the actors of Kurosawa and Adachi, Machida Keita and Akaso Eiji put a lot of thoughts into how their actions correspond with each other whether those scenes are improv or not. Most of the scenes were delivered well non-verbally and voiceovers were added in later to showcase Adachi’s mind reading ability. Viewers who rewatch would definitely notice the slight touches added to the characters throughout the episodes.
Kurosawa is the character that some viewers could easily relate to if they have yearned and loved someone the same way Kurosawa did. Machida’s rendition of Kurosawa did bore some resemblance from Oliver in “Call Me By Your Name” - both characters possessed the same gentlemanly charms, the earnest to love wholeheartedly and the unfortunately good facade to maintain people’s expectations. It seems Machida might have drew some inspiration from CMBYN. Be rest assured that Cherry Magic’s screenwriter didn’t pull out an Oliver move in the end, or else the viewers would have gone full Elio mode.
Machida did micro-expression quite well and delivered his scenes with proper tension and impeccable chemistry when it comes to Akaso. It was a joy to see Machida’s soft and courteous mannerism after seeing many of his aggressive roles in other LDH-produced films or series.
Kurosawa could have easily become many viewers’ favourite and could have completely overshadow Adachi in this drama.
That’s what I have predicted initially and luckily that didn’t happened.
Akaso’s rendition of Adachi at first seemed to be a bit overly comical in first few episodes but gradually improving as Adachi gets closer with his peers. Some of Adachi’s comical scenes reminded me of Haruta from “Ossan’s Love” - as it turns out both actors are from the same talent agency.
Nonetheless there seemed to be some bits of Akaso in Adachi. In contrast with some of Akaso’s past acting roles, his other roles didn’t feel the same way as Adachi did. It felt as if Akaso has fully immersed himself in the role of Adachi, delivering Adachi’s vulnerability in a way that shines most during these crucial scenes with Machida (Note: confession scene in Episode 7; breakdown scene in Episode 11; rooftop scene in Episode 12).
Akaso’s innate boyish flairs and doe-like eyes emote awkwardly shy Adachi adorably despite being dressed less fashionable than his peers. Seeing how Adachi wavers emotionally and gradually becoming more braver and livelier because of the people around him is what made this drama worthwhile til the end.
Here’s my 2 cents to wrap up this review, there are some things that screenwriter, director or producer have to take note of when it comes to maintaining their viewers’ expectation. Teasing viewers with certain scenes that didn’t end up being delivered in the end could easily hampered with viewers’ overall experience of the drama. It is better not to tease at something that was never intended to be shown or included in script in the end.
Being able to show Adachi’s bit of validation towards Kurosawa like a peck on the forehead would have been a full circle to this story. Plus it could easily make my queer heart weak and this drama could have been an easy 10.
Special thanks to everyone who were involved in the making of this drama in the amidst of pandemic. It was enjoyable to have something endearing to look forward to every week.
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Worth rewatching
I am biased because I have completely fallen for Eiji Akaso. He is too adorable and acts so well in this drama. I like the fact that unlike other BL that can sometimes be too physical (not that I’m complaining), this plot is more about the inner thoughts and the journey to self awakening. Some will say it is for those still in the closet, or for highly introverted. For me this is very engaging because it was like taking a walk down memory lane to my 1st relationship. I like the scripting of the show very much. Very refreshing indeed.Was this review helpful to you?
Cherry Magic!
"Cherry Magic" is a unique and heartwarming Japanese series that follows Adachi, a shy 30-year-old man who has never been in a relationship. On his 30th birthday, he magically gains the ability to read people's thoughts through touch. This power turns his life upside down, especially when he accidentally touches his co-worker, Kurosawa, who harbors romantic feelings for him.The series blends humor, romance, and fantasy in a light yet emotional way. Adachi’s innocence and Kurosawa’s caring nature create a sweet dynamic that makes the story even more touching. Viewers will be moved by Adachi’s journey.Was this review helpful to you?
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A disappointment. And yes, my rating is lower because of the cat.
I heard a lot of positive opinions about CM and couldn't wait to watch it but instead of a beautiful love story, I got one of the most weird and unbalanced relationships in my BL history. All Adachi does throughout the show is being awkward, nervous and tense around the person he is supposedly falling for. It's absolutely understandable at the beginning, but I really hoped that he would be very very slowly opening to Kurosawa. But no. Nothing changes when he admits that he likes him too. Nothing changes when they are in a relationship. Nothing changes when they finally have sex, which should theoretically bring them closer, make him feel more comfortable. I mean, he doesn't even want to hold Kurosawa's hand. To cuddle. To be close. Nothing. It seems to me that he didn't really fall in love, he just knew that Kurosawa truly loves him and would never hurt him and decided that being who he is, his chances to find a better, safer person are close to zero.Kurosawa in turn is loving, patient, noble, handsome, hard-working, sensitive, smart, kind... put any positive characteristic here and yes, he has it all. He's been pining for Adachi for years, had his heart broken a number of times and he never wavers. Like seriously, is he even human? Why wasn't he even a little angry when Adachi chose his gift (which he wanted to get rid of anyway) over him? Why didn't he get even a little bit frustrated when he showered Adachi with love and affection and got absolutely nothing in return? I cannot say that his love is entirely healthy, because he is willing to sacrifice anything for Adachi, to the point where he actually loses himself and any remains of self-esteem he could have had.
I liked Tsuge as a character, he was perhaps a little too expressive, but overall him being a confined, awkward virgin was portrayed quite well. I don't really understand why Minato looked like a 15 year old, the actor himself is much older so I guess it was intentional, but it made Tsuge look exactly like a creepy uncle he didn't want to be.
And the last straw, Udon the cat. I felt so uncomfortable watching episode 5, I mean the scene when Minato visits Tsuge and plays with the cat. There is a moment when he holds Udon in his arms and the cat is twisting and squirming to get free, but Minato just grips it tighter. For a few moments the cat ends up hanging in the air, while Minato only holds it by one leg, and it looked really painful. I don't even want to think what happened to that poor animal behind the scenes.
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Awkwardly sweet
I think this is THE best Japanese BL out there. I've seen many LGBTQ dramas and all those dramas have similar aspects. Yet this drama is so refreshing. Something not done before. (I will spare you a detailed explanation of the story)In this story there are two male (lead) characters. One of the guys can read minds and discovers that his colleague (aka the other lead) likes him. The best part is that he is totally nonjudgmental against his colleague being gay or even himself being potentially being gay. This makes the story just really sweet and a light-hearted watch.
The contrast between the two male leads, one of them being shy and one of them being confident, is reallyy cute and it is really well portrayed.
I really liked the side couple too. It made the story a whole lot funnier. Just seeing the male's best friend struggling with life and in his love life.. in my country (The NL) we call it "leedvermaak" (enjoying someone's pain-ish and struggles haha)
Overall, I'd recommend this drama. I'd recommend it more as a light watch than a really deep story (though it is about learning how to be confident and speaking up for yourself; so it has some deep subjects).
If you want to enjoy yourself and feel your heart flutter, than I'd say: "Watch this story!"
Spoiler!:
There are no kisses but the tension between the male leads makes it unnecessary. It's sweet enough! It was so sweet that I didn't even notice that there was no kiss!
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The actors played their roles very well. I like the lead couple better mainly because they weren't as chaotic as the second couple. I also like the fact that there was asexual character, which I think is rare in East Asian productions.
In my opinion, having magic like mind reading, the problems and positive things associated with it, is a good metaphor of how important communication is in relationships.
I really love this drama. It was cute but emotional.
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The journey of a first love, but most of all, the joy of loving and being loved
I can't believe I put this show off for so long. It's truly one of the greats among BL dramas but I think just in general with romance (Japanese) dramas, it's incredibly well done in such a short amount of time. This drama is only 10 episodes (with 2 extras) and about 23 minutes. The progression of their relationship still felt very natural.I watched all the episodes in one go and it gave me the fullest enjoyment: I cried when there was heartbreak and fear, I laughed at Adachi's panics but also just the awkward but sincere attempts to meet each other halfway, and I smiled so much during all the sweet and cathartic moments.
Cherry Magic is about the fumbles to first love, in which Adachi Kiyoshi, a thirty-year-old virgin--who has never been in a relationship--gains the magical ability to hear people's thoughts through touch and tries to figure out himself and how he feels about his handsome and cool co-worker Kurosawa Yuichi--who is in love with him.
Adachi Kiyoshi's growth from his shell to becoming more confident & his consideration and gradual intimacy with Kurosawa Yuichi is so satisfying. Also, to see that Kurosawa Yuichi is such a wholesome and thoughtful man toward Adachi, wanting the best for Adachi--it's so wonderful to see.
There isn't angst as in a lot of bitter and angry fighting or dumb jealousies & misunderstands but more of a lot of internal struggles and overcoming one's own insecurities, especially on Adachi's part who hasn't been in a relationship before and thus feels insecure about the right thing to say or do.
This drama has everything and is so delightful. It's emotional and uplifting.
I really wish I could see these actors in another production again--with the same crew and director as well. I'm so grateful to the whole production: the great directing, the fantastic acting, and of course, much love to the creator of the manga and also the writers that adapted it to this live adaptation. This whole drama is perfect.
An additional note: BL dramas sometimes lean too heavily on their own tropes or feels a bit too cliché but this drama was able to feel very natural and, when it does have a cliché, it's still refreshing. Also, what I'm saying is that in BL drama world, sometimes there's an expectation that the couples will face backlash from the homophobic society. I get it. That's a realistic part of society. However, I also enjoy BL dramas that say "nah. we're not going to let homophobes have a chance in this story" and just doesn't put our characters through that. Good for them.
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Must watch! (Not so helpful review, but you might find it entertaining to read... maybe)
As I was an avid fan of Thai BL, I completed most that were accessible to me. Although I must say, I was getting quite bored of the same plot being reused repeatedly. Therefore I had to find new BL, this search led me to Japanese BL. I have only completed a few, but I can say that I am truly satisfied. After a few Youtube searches and a couple Instagram scrolls later, I found this. Cherry Magic! Now, I won't lie, at first I was not interested in this BL at all. From the content I saw based on the drama and my desperate needs of a new show, I gave it a try. I absolutely fell in love. I have never been the type to watch this type of BL, so it was a new experience for me. I found it so unique. The whole 12 episodes made me laugh and smile, exception given to episode 11 & 12 though haha. I could not imagine this drama with different actors, and yes, it is most likely because I'm attached to them but putting that fact aside, the actors suit the characters and portrayed them so well! This drama was so worth the 6 hours I spent watching it today. My review might not be very helpful, but I like writing them anyways because if I didn't write my thoughts down I might just explode hahaha. So overall, Cherry Magic!, was refreshing to watch and definitely raised my standards.Was this review helpful to you?
The idea of the story itself is different than others BL series that released in 2020, but with a great execution this series become greater and get a line with another top 5 series of that year. This is also because of the supported from the acting of the main players who are quite capable of their characters,
Through the first 3 episodes I always got a hype of 2gether, even the smiley face that I made was the same when I watched that one.
I think for this year, I will trying to watch more series from East Asian Countries.
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Who wouldn't want a magic?
What just happened? I was mesmerized by the storyline entirely. It felt like they know from the start that I will be playing on the palm of their hands. Every emotion is uncontrollable. The undeniable chemistry added with dozens of humor potion and a spoonful of sugary sweetness left me hypnotized. The flow of dialogue is consistent. Each line of the characters is well-thought for the 20-minute episodes. The only things I skipped are the episode preview, intro and outro.I must say that the side story of Tsuge-Minato is pretty average. Should've been a different scenario. Also, Tsuge-Minato's acting and chemistry started great but ended monotonously.
This is a MUST-WATCH for sure. Don't waste your time. Watch this and be entertained by their funny moments. I was smiling most of the time while watching this. I laughed too and teared up a little bit.
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most wholesome BL ever
i inteded to watch this from a long time but hesitated for some odd reason, and boy do I regret not watching it before. Also damn this BL is wayyyy too underrated. If you're looking for a fluffy BL with cute scenes your'e at the very right place. This BL will just melt your heart at every scene. Adachi's cute antics along with Kurosawa's charming aura will have you addicted to the J-drama. However, if you want some steamy bed scenes, well i wouldn't recommended it as this drama dosen't have a single proper kissing scene let alone a bed scene. But i bet you won't be disappointed even if there aren't such scenes. It is so freaking fluffy and cute i just can't 😭😭😭putting the fluff aside, i would like to highlight some important subjects this BL covered, which i really appreciate:
• Protesting against homophobia: people who watched the bl probably know what i am talking about. Rokaku, (idk the spelling, don't come @ me) being the supportive friend he is protected his gay best friend minato againt Tsuge who, they supposed, was avoiding minato because he found him to be gay. Obviously its not true, i am not going to elaborate the context because that would take time. Anyways, i appreciate rokaku's protective nature and wish i had a friend like him :(
• Kurosawa respecting Adachi's decisions/Kurosawa prioritising consent: Man, Kurosawa has to be one the best BL leads. Even though he liked our little adachi for a long time, he never crossed the line when it came to his cute lover, always respected his boundries. He understood Adachi's dilemma about losing his virginity and never forced him into doing things. That company dinner scene where they had to kiss and Kurosawa sensed adachis fear and kissed his temple, had me in tears. We stan a respectful man !!! The series had multiple such scenes where kurosawa proved himself to be a gentleman and treasured adachi with all he has.
• Adachi's character development: Adachi went through some huge transformations throughout the series. From being this little anxious, socially awkward boy to gaining confidence of himself, standing for his best friend tsuge, confessing to his lover. Also the competition scene was so heartwarming, even though he didn't win it, he won in life. Kurosawa played a major role in his character development which made their love even more special.
•Aromantic/Asexual representation: Now i may be wrong about this one but since it was not clear in the series itself, i can consider it this way. correct me if im wrong but I don't think there are any BLs with such representation. Fujisaki's character was really refreshing to watch. finally, a BL that doesn't potray women love rivals as a crazy person.
The thing that sets this BL apart from other BLs is how the makers managed to insert every kind of charater and amalgamte it into one story.
HOPING FOR A SEASON 2 !!!!!!!
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Never hated a damn elevator in my whole damn life
April 7, 2021This Japanese BL is one sweet of a ride. I really like the ending as it leads to the foundation that can lead to a second season. I really love our two lovely main leads. They are very affectionate even though there not a single kiss scene or steamy scene like most Japanese dramas. I know a lot of people have been criticizing the side story of the second couple but to be honest I did not find anything weird about them. Both are legal adults and their story is pretty cute too.
It would have been a perfect 10 but I feel like the plot just needs more. I feel like it falls short on explaining things as there as so many questions left unanswered. That being said, Ill change my review later if they release a second season. As I feel like it would explain and clear things up. Crossed my fingers that another season will happen.
Lastly, DAMN I HATE THAT ELEVATOR I LITERALLY GOT ROBBED!!!!
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