Kieta Hatsukoi (2021)

Cute, funny, moving

My Love Mix-Up! is high-school setting BL done right. It does not try too hard to be original about teen love, and it does not end up being silly. Instead, it's a cute, light-hearted comedy that manages to be sweet and moving. And it is very well made.

The misunderstanding that starts everything is cleverly used to show something about the main characters. Aoki's kind, lovable nature in admitting to Ida that the eraser with Ida's name is his so as to save Hashimoto from embarrassment is clear from the start. Although he has a crush on Hashimoto and is disappointed, he does not react with toxic jealousy. Ida's serious but open-minded nature is also seen in how he reacts to Aoki's "crush" on him. There could have been a love triangle, but the revelation of another misunderstanding resolves things nicely, enhancing the general light-heartedness of the series.

Apart from the romance, the friendship that develops between Aoki and Hashimoto is a nice touch as they encourage each other and comfort each other. In general, the world of My Love Mix-Up! is simple and innocent. Surprisingly, there is no pretense that homophobia does not exist, and the series does not ignore the issue. But it addresses it without becoming too serious or dismissive of the issue.

Much of the series' funny moments depend on Michieda Shunsuke, who plays Aoki, and he is pretty good with them. At the same time, he is able to restrain himself from exaggerated expressions in the moments that are not meant to be funny. This makes the character a nice contrast to the straight-faced Ida.

My Love Mix-Up! may be a series that makes us wishing for more of its goodness, but the ten episodes are nicely paced and nothing feels rushed. The ending is satisfying, and here is no cliffhanger for a potential second season, though I certainly won't mind one as long as it is equally good and doesn't ruin things.

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one of the best of this year.

ooooh It's so delicate to talk about Kieta, let's start congratulating the productors and the directors because they follow the mangá and this is damn good. Second thing is how the Suzuki Jin acting is SO GOOD!!! He goes to Uenoyama to Aida who are personas completely different and he acts so good that you just realize if you look carefully. Ida and Aoki were made to stay together, POINT. The actors did a Pretty good job I'm in love, because at the first episode I was watching and thinking how far they can go without not touch the mangá, and they go to above the clooooooous, the ost was good too, and the principal point: How Fukumoto Riko (Hashimoto) looks so MUCH similar with Nako from Izone, like man?????????? they are literally the same person HAHAHAHA, kidding,This is for Sure one of the best Bls that i see this year.

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Cuteness Overload

I was immersed in this wonderfully wholehearted and hysterical J-BL that was just a marvel to watch. After finishing My Beautiful Man, I thought -- why not watch the other one on my list? And man, was I impressed. Now, this series is far from a cinematic masterpiece, or anything to ponder deeply about, but I always give credit to the small BLs that lift my spirit and make me wish to be engrossed in their reality. Kieta Hatsukoi is a refreshing BL, full of fun experiences, funny circumstances, surprising plot twists, a leading romance that I can approve of, and a het couple I didn't hate!

Let's Dive In!

Kieta Hatsukoi was an endearing melodramatic BL that tells the story of Aoki and an incident with an eraser that gets him in some "troubles" with the handsome and brooding Ida. Through their story, we meet other characters that help to give our leads a happily ever after. This was very wholesome and just simply cute. In each episode, you are fully into the story, falling in love with each attribute and the way the characters carry the plot along. Everything on-screen looks like it's dowsed in a dream, and yet it still holds to be realistic in such an exaggerated way. This series held up great, with noticeable character development, an easy-going plot that flowed perfectly, and one that I will treasure for a while.

Let's start with what I loved: I genuinely did not dislike a single character. Not even the ones that had the very itty-bitty amount of screen time. There was something to adore about all of them, whether it was their charm, their personality, or their small storyline, I just really enjoyed them all.

I enjoyed that the side het couple had a decent plot, and weren't there to, at any point, take down the leads. There were actually some parts where I was really interested in Aida and Hashimoto's little romance. While I think some parts were lacking, it was overall cute, very bubbly, and a nice side story.

I think I loved Fukumoto more than I think I was supposed to. I absolutely loved her performance as Hashimoto, she's so adorable, her role fit her to the T, and I hope to see her in future series. I enjoyed the leads, some things were a bit iffy, but for the most part, they both did a good job. One thing I love the most about J-dramas, in general, is the exaggerated way they profess themselves. There are plenty of moments in KH where their movements, their motions, their bodies just contrive to create this really unique work of expression. They do such an extraordinary job, each and every one of them.

The love between Ida and Aoki, while not the most intricate, is still very enjoyable to watch. We see the build-up, we watch the execution and all the beautiful moments in-between, to end with the perfectly imperfect pair that still has a lot of learning and growing to do individually. But I enjoyed that we already see that growth at the end. Aoki's problem was that he was insecure about himself, he was frightened if the outside knew who he was or who he liked, and through his own personal journey, he learns to accept his truth and that others eventually will too. Ida's problem was that in the beginning, he was a bit selfish while also being too selfless. He said yes to everything, and because of that, he was hurting the one who cared for him the most. He was comparing feelings as one, when "having fun" and "being in love" are two completing different feelings that he had to understand. It took him time, but eventually, he realized the feeling he felt when around Aoki, and was able to confess it by the end. This is the type of character development I love, the one I strive to see.

Their date out and about town was the absolute thing to die for. I loved everything about it.

Some things that could've used work: Aoki getting upset with Ida after he teases him is very odd. Nothing about the teasing even was bad, or considerably rude. They needed something to cause a bit of turf between them, but it's frivolous and throws you off on how out-of-the-blue it is. It wasn't needed, it was honestly kind of upsetting, and I just know there was a better way to handle it.

The situation between the coach and their rival team helper was kind of weird. While he never acted on her pursuits for him, the entire story was just not needed. it was to show Aoki's jealousy, which I can understand, but there was, again, a better way to handle it.

Some parts of the series were kind of slow, The first few episodes were a bit of a doozy to try to get through. I had to kind of push my way through, but eventually, at about episode 3 or 4, I started piquing my interest.

While the romance is really sweet, I think there should be some form of a kiss at the end. Instead, we get nothing, even though, in the episode before, Aoki stresses about taking the next step which is kissing Ida, and in one circumstance they almost do. I don't think intimacy is needed in a series if the actors are able to put on a great romance, however, I think a kiss is what was needed to really tie up the ending. They were having the perfect moment for it, so I do wish that was something that happened.

Rating:

Story: 8 - I'll take two stars off for the very interesting beginning. I think the setup was nice, but it still didn't take away how boring it was. The rest is really good. I also liked the plot twist of Hashimoto not liking Ida and actually liking Aida.

Acting: 9 - Again, I really appreciated the acting, probably one of the best parts of this series. I'll take one star off for some iffy things throughout.

Music: 8 - To my surprise, I really enjoyed the music, and it was noticeably good. Meguro Ren whole sang one of the songs sounded like an angel. Very good.

Rewatch value: 1 - This was cute, but very less likely to come back and watch. Maybe some parts.

Overall, a very nice and enjoyable watch. The episodes are only about 30 minutes long, so it only took me a few days to get through. I highly recommend, as it has become one of my favorite J-BLs.

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Fuck I'm in love

I've watched so many bls that at this point they just don't give me butterflies anymore. But this sure did.
The cast was everything like Michi and Meguro stole my heart. And lets talk about Aida and Hashimoto. They were the cutest too
Such an unproblematic drama. No darkness Everything's just so pretty and peaceful.
I can see how everyone's so head over heels for Aoki.. I mean he's is a walking piece of drama. And his smile so freaking contagious.. Always too expressive. But not gonna lie he's also the epitome of second hand embarrassment. Like bro really made my anxious ass pause watching every now and then to get over the embarrassment he brings to himself lol.
But Ida 😩 please Ida's undoubtedly my favourite boy. He's the best boy and the nicest boyfie. Ughh someone get me one Ida please. The way he slowly fell for Aoki was so mesmerizing. So dense yet so understand. Not expressive yet always there for everyone. My precious little boy ☹️🖤
The second lead was really great too. But this time it was the first lead for me ngl. Everything was perfect.. Visuals, story, music, friendship, growth. Lets wait and hope for season 2

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Heart Warming and Simple

Like the title says, this series is just such a good break from some of the more angsty bl series we've been getting here recently. And although i tend to enjoy the more complex series, this show was such a nice watch.

It was cute, with cute characters, a simple and yet endearing and funny plot line, good acting, and just overall am enjoyable atmosphere.

I REALLY enjoy the relationship between the main character and the supporting female role. I was so scared that there would be a jealousy or cheating plot line but instead we got a very endearing male and female friendship with good female representation. (Rare for a bl series)

The production quality was good, not once did i ever think, "Oh goodness this looks low-budget." Which is a plus for me.

Anyways, very cute, please watch.

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An overall enjoyable experience

I really liked this drama! It started off very strong in the first half and I confess I did feel a bit frustrated by the pace of the plot in the 2nd half, but it wasn't enough to detract from my enjoyment of the series overall.

the plot is very simple and has little to no angst that doesn't get resolved almost immediately which could be refreshing if you are looking to step away from all the angst filled content out there these days. the characters are fun and loveable and main couples are very sweet and endearing to watch. i always had a smile on my face watching every week and i confess i will miss watching this cute little show every Saturday.

if you're looking for something much like cherry magic (or even just a lighthearted BL), but a little different this is the show for you! it's only 10 episodes at 20ish mins per ep and it doesn't require much of a time commitment nor will it feel like one once you jump in and start watching these characters navigate through a love mix up and the hijinks that follows.

highly recommended :)

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aoki and ida BEST BOYS

This was one of those dramas that you simply want to enjoy watching for the acting and cuteness and the feeling of happiness that the plot changes bring about. I absolutely enjoyed watching this and fell in love with the entire cast. every character was so precious and the cast was exactly what this drama needed. Michieda was PHENOMENAL and arguably the life of this show. Meguro Ren gave exactly what was required of him and made all his scenes with aoki look so swoon-worthy! along with stunning visuals from both the main leads, aoki's hilarious and on-point facial expressions, and the comedic timing of literally every character, this was THE perfect drama I needed to binge-watch. sometimes you just want pure fluff and humor like this and kieta hatsukoi gave EXACTLY that. my favorite character has got to be aoki, the precious precious little silly bean.

some of the things i loved about this show aside from the main leads whom i ADORE:
- HASHIMOTO!! she was an amazing friend to aoki and a cute character who was sometimes silly and all the time adorable. loved the scene where she slapped aida because he was badmouthing aoki. WE LOVE A TRUE FRIEND! Her story arc with aida was cute too.
- Ida's friend circle! That scene in episode 10 where they were celebrating ida's and aoki's relationship? wholesome. also the way ida's friend advised him? when will i get a friend a like that damn.
- the tackling of some irl situations done in the later episodes. very sensibly and smartly done. especially liked the way the different preferences of ramen were used to talk about how every preference when it comes to love is valid. very well explained.

all in all, this is def one of those dramas i will rewatch whenever i miss these characters. It's so easy to fall in love with them and their relationships with each other!

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A serotonin boost

Kieta Hatsukoi is by far the cutest and fluffiest drama I've come across. It is short, incredibly sweet, and very very, very enjoyable. Waiting for a 20 min episode every week was pure torture but also very rewarding.

In reality, there's not much to the story at all. It is cliche, and generic, nothing much to be impressed with. But the way the show was shot is an absolute joy. One can't help but smile their way through the entire show and squeal in delight every time something fluffy happens. The acting was exaggerated, but not in a way that made one cringe. The OST is catchy, and I would totally rewatch this show whenever I feel down.

It is no doubt one of my go-to dramas and I highly recommend giving it a shot.

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Arigato! Ida and Aoki

The eraser and the misunderstanding. The supposed to be someone else love story turned into a cute mix-up! Pilot episode did a great job holding me till the end. Since EP01 until EP10, there’s no doubt that this drama make me feel extremely happy. I just keep smiling the whole time. One thing that I always do when I am enjoying what I am watching is to took several screenshots from it. My gallery will prove how fond I am from the show.

IDA IS SUCH A NICE GUY –a rare gem to be exact. The way he handled Aoki and the eraser situation was something only kind-hearted people will do. He was shocked but he didn’t altered any harsh words to Aoki. He responded him with an utmost thinking of whether to accept Aoki’s confession or not. If only all guys acts like the way Ida acted towards Aoki’s love revalation, maybe people like Aoki may avoid a painful rejection from the guy he liked just because he is gay.

Ida-kun in a rolled white-school-long-sleeves with a loose necktie is so sizzling hot! With his kind personality and duality of either being a hottie or a cuttie, I therefore conclude that Ida is such a perfect boyfriend material.

Aoki on the other hand is the character I closely relate to. In the world where hetero relationship is labelled as “normal,” people who likes the same kind of gender tend to be really scared to even avoid speaking this kind of feeling to their friends. Some people can’t bring themselves to speak up and be honest with their sexuality to others, not even themselves. That is why I cried a lot when Aoki finally open up to his best friend, Akkun. It is really a blessing to have a friend that you can freely tell to them everything, even liking a person who have the same sex with you. I love how Aoki and Aida’s friendship was been told, supporting each other no matter who other person likes.

Aoki the cutest and the kindest. After their confession scene at the camping episode, every scenes were definitely a screaming-with-joy moments knowing that the two of them are real boyfriends now. Those beautiful smiles of Ida brought by Aoki’s action is absolutely the sweetest thing ever. His minimal laugh was sexy and appealing. I love him, we all love him, but most importantly, Aoki love him the most. On the episode where the appearance of a temporary new teacher –changing his attitude after knowing that Aoki is gay, make my blood boiled up. But thanks to this, we see that Ida is that gentle boyfriend who will protect you and let you be dependable to him because he doesn’t want you to be sad on something. Also, Aoki who will protect his lovelife and not letting other people say something bad about being in a homosexual relationship is the bravest thing to deal with homophobic person. I am glad that in the end, the teacher has been educate about this kind of relation.

From the special episode, aired before the release of the last two episodes, I am so happy to hear that Ida’s small and soft gesture of caressing Aoki’s hair from time to time has became a big topic in Japan. It trended and called as IDA-PON (Pon means touching or poking something.) Their first date was one of my favorite episode. I can feel how amazingly high their chemistry is with a consistent connection since the pilot episode. The highlight scene for me is when Ida is supposed to change his clothes on Aoki’s side, then Aoki were in panic because he’s too shy to see Ida’s angry abs. That was a funny clip for me, an exquisite one.

There’s only a few scenes where we see Ida being jealous and it was an adorable moments to see. Ida’s facial expression when he found out that Aoki has a little crush on Hashimoto before was the cutest! In spite of that, Hashimoto and Aoki became real besties now. This girl has a pure heart even after mistakenly knowing that Aoki has the same crush with her, she was so cheerful to accept her rival. I am also grateful that a person like Hashimoto exist in Aoki’s life owing to the fact that she’s a trustworthy and comfortable girl for Aoki to talked about his relationship with Ida, the same way Aoki help her with Aida. Hashimoto and Aida doesn’t have the best side couple story but both of them has been a great help to Aoki and Ida’s relationship; they’re truly a wonderful friends to have. Along with Ida’s volleyball friends who are kind too. I hope more and more people will be just like them, who is sincerely open on accepting homosexual relationship.

Ida and Aoki relationship has also some downfalls encountered. The misunderstanding or conflict thoughts were fix immediatle, proving that they have a healthy relationship.

The final episode is a real game over! When Ida say “I LOVE YOU” to Aoki, I hold my face so tight and cry in great silent. That was an insanely lovely scene, Ida finally giving Aoki a reassurance. The last scene is a happy ending indeed. Aoki borrowing Ida’s eraser and saw the text “Aoki (with a heart)” on his eraser bring me too many emotions. It all started with a eraser and ended up with another eraser, no misunderstaning, no mix-up, just being real with their feelings.

OST’s is as great as the drama. The fact that both Michieda Shunsuke and Meguro Ren was the one who sang Kieta Hatsukoi OSTs alongside with their respective groups are so cutely amazing. Snow Man’s Secret Touch and Ubu Love by Naniwa Danshi are the two songs that has been added to my favorite songs in my playlist. No doubt that it were one of the best Japanese song I’ve ever heard.

I never thought that after “Cherry Magic: Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You A Wizard,” there were another Japanese drama that I am been so attached to. Kieta Hatsukoi began its first episode on October 9, 2021, a year after Cherry Magic first episode well released as well. Destiny is really doing its job making this coincidence to happened. Both drama is an all perfect score for me! The OSTs, acting, visuals, chemistry, and everything about these two shows are a masterpiece. I am always so grateful for Japanese BL for having a Kurosawa and Ida as the perfect boyfriends ever existed in fiction and live-action, as well to their ever loving and caring cute boyfriends, Adachi and Aoki.

To those who read this review until my very last paragraphs, thank you so much for making time for me. I am just super happy to be able to wrote feedbacks from the show that made me feel so much happiness. Let us live our life always seeking for our happiness that we deserved. Ida and Aoki thought us that love is purely love regarding what kind of sexuality we have. I wish everyone the best in their life! Arigato!

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A sweet high school love

I watched the episodes on Netflix and it was such a fun ride. I loved the character progression and development and how they were able to weave in solemn topics like breaking the social stigma and acceptance of gay relationships. 10 episodes were definitely not enough!

Highlights:
1) Characters
i) Aoki's (Michieda Shunsuke) shy expressions, his selflessness, his heart of gold, his soft and adorable side.
ii) Ida (Meguro Ren) depicted a woody character who slowly became more aware of his feelings very well. His smiles really light up the room!
iii) Chemistry between Aoki and Ida was very apparent and believable. Enjoyed the romantic and sweet conversations they had. As they learned about each other and their relationship, they slowly matured and grew together.
iv) Hashimoto was such a strong female character and she carried her arc well. Strong support to Aoki too!
v) I like how the story navigated the social stigma and acceptance of gay relationships (it was respectful and enlightening). The message embedded was one of positivity and hope.

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