Kei×Yaku: Abunai Aibou (2022)

A crime investigation with a strong theme of bromance.

Where do I begin with this series? Of course like many fans, I found out about this series on twitter and only knowing Inukai Atsuhiro. I went in and bought all of the source manga digitally. Reading the manga really excited me of what I call a mix of action thriller investigation and semi metaphoric romance between Ichirou and Shirou.

The drama version of Kei x yaku is almost prefect. But because as a manga reader and knowing how good the drama could have been I can’t rate this series higher than 7.

I also have to warn that most will not like the ending. But it leaves a possiblity for season 2/movie follow up.

Kei x Yaku as a standalone drama is still very good, it’s got action, suspense, mystery but good chemistry between the two main leads.

Story

Kei x Yaku base story brings together Ichirou a public officer and Shirou a Yakuza gang leader together through one person they both know. It leads them to work undercover as a “couple” to find out the truth the story and from this unfolds into something more deep. As well as the bond between Ichirou and Shirou forming.

Acting/casting

One of the biggest positives/highlights of Kei x yaku is the cast. I have little complains (but in my ideal mind I would of casted an actor who’s the same height as Inukai). This would be my 1st introduction to Nobuyuki Suzuki in anything that he’s done, I will say Suzuki did great! He pulls off the soft but serious Ichirou, the best thing about his performance is that he can withhold his emotions in his acting.

I was more interested to see how Inukai Atsuhiro was going to act as Shirou, because I really like Shirou in the manga. Inukai blew those expectations out of the water, because Inukai is the perfect casting for Shirou and I couldn’t see anyone else but Inukai play as him. It’s amazing that dyeing your hair blond changes his whole image, but the slight gestures and attitude he displays screams Shirou. This so far is the like the best thing I’ve seen Inukai act and I would recommend 100% for Inukai fans just to watch him in this.

The rest of the cast is also very strong.

Music

I have to give a shoutout to composer Ryo Nobuguchi because the soundtrack to Kei x yaku is amazing. The main theme alone is enough to make you excited as well as 13th drums. An amazing mix of cello, violin, piano and drums. The music is one of the highlights of the show.

Positives

What I think the best thing about Kei x yaku is quality. The directing is amazing, the production is high quality, the cast/acting is amazing, and the music is amazing. Put it together and you get something like a semi action movie like drama. The 1st episode will always be the best one for me as it goes out with a bang.

I also like that the story doesn’t ignore the bond between Ichirou and Shirou, because the drama weaves in the investigation action with general scenes with just Ichirou and Shirou getting on with their lives.

Negatives

Kei x yaku honestly could have been something more special. One factor of the manga is that it has hints of showing something more between Ichirou and Shirou but the drama version doesn’t go beyond the “bromance” line. I assume it’s because they think the audience wouldn’t be able to tell what Ichirou and Shirou relationship is if they showed it like the manga. So face down the drama version is just a bromance, any BL drama fans looking for the next History Trapped this drama isn’t it.

Another factor is that the manga is WAY MORE ACTION PACKED. There’s a lot of action scenes in the manga that is gripping, I assume the drama didn’t have that much budget so these action scenes were reduced. But there’s an odd pacing to the investigation, like trial and error approach. The characters think they make progress but then they stumble and the progress they made is pushed back. There’s also way too many flashbacks to fill in screentime when they could of shown more new scenes.

Overall

Kei x yaku is a good investigation action thriller with bromance. If you are open to watching bromance then you are in for a ride! Any BL drama fans just looking for the romance I suggest to watch an actual BL drama.

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I really wanted to write about this drama. I haven't watch a lot of jdramas and I don't really know a lot. I found this by accindent as a BL drama. Also, I haven't read the manga (but I am planning to).

I really loved the drama. The story is really interesting, but not the most unique. I may not know about japanese dramas, but as a crime thriller lover, let me tell you we have seen this plot a lot. But it is used nicely here and with the bromance/BL element it is a unique combination. But, I agree with a lot of comments and reviews, in about the middle the drama started to lose its suspense and interest. And in a mystery/crime drama this is unacceptable. As for the bl/romance thing, even if I started the drama for this reason, I really don't care if it is more subtle or is just bromance. In this story works, because it is not the main plot. For me there is enough moments to understand how deeply Shiro and Ichiro care for one another.

It isn't a perfect drama by far, but the reason I wanted to write this review is more because I really enjoy japanese movies and dramas. Even the most low budget productions find a way to give a nice feeling. They have a really realistic texture and you can actually feel the people, the society, the real world. As oposed, for example, the overly glorified thai or chinese dramas, where you feel you are in an illustration and cannot connect with anything. What I mean, for example, in japanese productions the roads are dirty, the houses are messy or with bad lights, the public hospitals are a bit worn out, there is nothing perfect and these little details make you identify with the enviroment. Even the worst dramas have really good aesthetics. And this is the reason that lately I really enjoy japanese dramas and movies.

(P.S.: Is it really only me or the music theme for the sadder scenes (the one that starts with a beat) has really similar beat with Outro: Tear of BTS? Not shading anything and I don't want to start anything, just my observation. Had any fellow ARMY the same feeling?)

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