Smooth, solid, emotional, this drama has everything!

With a runtime of 6 episodes of 20 minutes, this drama is on the shorter side but the story leaves no stone left unturned. Miyata and Iwanagi knew each other from high school and secretly got closer together. Thinking about how it must have been to be gay at that time in Japan makes this realistic. They were supposed to run away together, but Miyata's feeling have been toyed with, and Iwanagi leaves their home town.

Years later, the two meet under professional circumstances. With some cat-and-mouse play, they decide to seriously love each other once more. I will not spoil more of the plot but I love the full circle moment at the end. All of the actors are skilled and look great to boot. I wouldn't know how to make this drama any better!

This drama can be serious, funny, intimate, and it does not stop or get boring ever. The acting and visuals in this drama make it a Japanese BL classic for me. Great job on everyone who was involved in this series and thank you for this fantastic piece of cinema. Do not hesitate, watch this now!

Read More

Very funny and sweet!

I didn't know what to expect of this drama since the actors and the trailers seemed to focus more on a comedic vibe rather than an iconic dashing BL couple vibe (like Kimi ni wa todokanai for example), but this drama was really good! My only issue is that the length is a bit long at 10 episodes of 20 minutes, but all characters were a joy to watch and it was really nice that everyone around Soga-san and Sakae-san accepted their sexuality and relationship as if it was the most normal thing.

The dynamic of the couple is really unique, a young izakaya/restaurant owner and a salaryman customer meet and while their personalities are wildly different, they feel drawn to each other and their feelings deepen more every time. As a viewer, you can feel the relationship becoming less formal and more comfortable for the two characters. While the drama is definitely a comedic one, the romance feels real and cosy. I recommend this drama not only to BL enjoyers but to comedy/romcom/slice of life enjoyers as well.

There's enough intimate scenes to make me satisfied, I don't think this BL needed anything spicier than what was in the drama. I hope this drama gets the appreciation it deserves.

Read More

Strong beginning and end, overall a cosy watch!

This BL is 6 episodes long, and it focused on one couple and a little of their personal life and past. Hirokuni is friendly and social, and Kai is quiet and used to being by himself. The couple look cute together, but only the first and last episodes are strong in terms of chemistry. The other episodes don't do much, and there were too many of Hirokuni's office scenes. This kinda makes sense as Hirokuni's storyline is that he is being overworked and doesn't see the joy in life until he meets with Kai again. Still, I would've enjoyed more scenes of the two doing something together. Every character was likable, and the ending was very satisfying. I loved Hirokuni's "proposal" to Kai, hearing what he said in Japanese was beautiful.

Overall I am pleased with this BL. The acting is fine, Kai is kind of monotone but I guess that's his vibe. I look forward to seeing more of the two. The biggest issue I had with this drama was the lack of interesting environments and episodes. It somehow felt too short while still having too much filler. I still recommend this a watch.

Read More

Too Short, Chemistry is lacking, handsome actors

This drama is too short and the storyline is all over the place. While I wouldn't say it is outright a bad drama, the beginning isn't strong enough to where I cared to get the know the pair and their struggle. They really shouldvé put all the high school scenes before the college scenes, and allowed for longer episodes.

The side characters are decent. They don't stand out much but they're nice. The chemistry of the main couple is a little bland. I don't really understand the great reviews here to be frank. I hoped there would be more time for the two to get warm and lovely so the viewer cared more for the outcome.

I don't recommend this watch unless you feel like watching a confusing and weak basketball related Korean BL drama. I know Ill forget almost everything about this really soon. I do think the actors have a lot to show, and the cinematography was good.

Read More

Not bad at all, but something is lacking

I liked all the characters in this story. I personally felt that sahara sensei and toki kun didn't quite match that well. Something about them feels like an odd pairing. I did really like the side characters and the romance between the childhood friends. It would have been cool if Rise had a love interest as well.

I think what I dont love about this drama compared to other BLs is that the scenes focus only on the characters and not the environment at all. The pacing also feels too quick and I feel like it could have been edited to be better. The casting of the characters is not bad, but there is a lack of chemistry between the main couple that makes it hard to love. I do commend everyone for their work in this drama.

Overall I would recommend this BL, but prioritize other better BLs before this one.

Read More

What The F-ck, also ignore the last five minutes?

This is the most unhinged movie I have ever seen, nothing about it made sense for the first hour and still many of the interactions were weird. It felt like we were a bystander and you see 2 people that know each other talk about something between them, but for a whole movie. I dont really know how to rate this movie but I will just put some of my thoughts here.

A married school teacher gets raped by a guy in a pig mask. Three months later, he is still traumatized by the event and gets followed by 2 guys, one of them being a guy called Kai. The teacher thinks its the guys that raped him, and he gets followed and teased with more and more. Eventually, he loses his job and his wife, and his mental state is a wreck. He lives randomly just like everyone in the shit town.

SPOILERS

Turns out, the teacher was not raped by Kai, but by an older man who is the boss of the shit town. The connection and why he "protects and gives money" is confusing but whatever. It is nice that some of the questions the viewer has were answered, but it is still obvious that this movie is open to interpretation in many areas.

Kai probably kept an eye out for the teacher because Kai liked him since he was a child. He surveyed the teachers trauma responses and helped him face his trauma. Still, he ruined the life of the teacher, so it felt quite meaningless in my eyes. Kai acted mostly self-indulgent in my opinion. One thing i dont get is why did the big boss man decide to rape the teacher? I see the connection with the teacher and Kai but not the with the boss.

As for the ending, it was cool that the teacher ended up burning the boss man alive, and then made love with Kai. It was a fcked up story, but at least there is some sort of happy ending. Until the boss man (i think? his face was covered probably from the hospital but idk) kllled the teacher and he lies dead naked in the forest. Bruh. What even is this story. Kai manages to escape and god knows what he is thinking and plans to do with his life.

I dont know how to recommend this movie. Its somewhat of an interesting watch but super confusing and does not deserve a re watch in my opinion. Still, the acting was great and I recommend it if you like darker themes in general. Respectfully, I prefer soft and fluffy BLs (this one is not even a BL), and will be enjoying them instead.

Read More

Hot actors, good moments, but mid overall

I was quite surprised by how much I liked this drama. While most of the actors are attractive, I feel the main couple doesn't quite look like they should be together. Either way, this BL is has many steamy moments, but I feel like they could have added a lot more. There were too many episodes that felt like they had little focus on the chemistry and were about the twin confusion and the big game. The excitement to watch each episode died for me and so I cannot rate this very high. The amount of funny moments weren't enough for a Thai drama, but the whole thing did feel quite bright and energetic.

Overall I would say this is an okay Thai BL. The intimate scenes are good, I just wish there was more tension between the couples and it wouldve been a highlight. Watch this if you like a sports theme and like attractive bodies and faces. Still I can't help but feel there has been some missed opportunities here. If you go for hot, go for really hot. This is an instance of a BL where I would have actually liked every member to be romantically/sexually involved with another, even though its unrealistic for a whole team of volleyball players to be gay or bi.

Read More

Perfect!

This drama has everything, it is funny, romantic, the actors are handsome, the supporting cast is great, the length is just right and it is simply so entertaining! I thoroughly enjoyed this drama and hope to see more from the two leads. While there are only 3 episodes, the total runtime is around 2-3 hours which is similar to the usual 6 episodes of 20 minutes. I don't think they could have added more to increase the length of the drama, but I wouldn't complain if it was longer.

This drama does feel quite anime/manga-like, which makes sense since many dramas are based on mangas. There have been other BLs that were very manga-like in their vibe in a more superficial meaning, but this one is simply enjoyable. I recommend you to watch this right now! Japan's streak on making great BLs is continuing :)

Read More

Not a BL, but a remarkable story

I didn't know what to expect from this since it has been marketed as a BL (as far as I can remember) but didn't see that from the trailers. I would consider this more of a bromance with a small crush/budding romance that happened between 2 male classmates but couldn't be fulfilled. Kouki has messed up his life and would rather die than live. He gets stabbed and dies, but somehow turns back to life with an angel waiting in his apartment. The two start to get closer and familiar with each other. At the end of the drama we can really feel that Kouki loves the angel and feels very attached to him, I cannot tell if it is romantic or platonic. Either way, it is love for sure. Kouki is able to enjoy life more and see it through a brighter perspective. The actors did a great job at conveying the characters.

The small side story of the two classmates is confusing. I don't know how realistic it is to bully someone you like because you are jealous or confused with them, but it left a very bad taste in my mouth. This is probably the intention from the director though. The school trip scene is even more confusing and weird. It just felt spastic and icky. I don't know how else to describe it.

I do have other complaints and confusions, slight spoilers ahead.

---

My biggest issue with the drama is the ending. It is simply confusing and does not bring closure at all. Kouki did not get closure, and the last part where he looks in the camera and the angel starts talking is even more confusing. Did Kouki see the angel? Did Kouki decide to unalive? I really don't expect a season 2 so this feels even more frustrating. What is also confusing is the message that the film is trying to convey. Is it about making life better? Or about making deep bonds? Kouki picked his life up but his attachment to the angel really hit him.

Overall, while the effort is good and this was a very intriguing drama, I personally don't understand the enjoyment one would get out of this manga or drama. Perhaps it is not quite my cup of tea and I simply prefer less supernatural and obvious romance stories. I don't know who to recommend this to, I can't even explain why someone should see it. If we consider this drama for the first 5 episodes, it is quite strong and leaves a unique impression. With the inclusion of episode 6, it becomes more meaningful but also more murky. If you are interested in the setting, give it a try, but don't expect romance other than the two hugging.

Read More

Like a perfect manga!

This BL has been quite viral and for good reason. The couple is adorable together and the height difference further adds to this. There's something about them being childhood friends that makes the viewer naturally curious about the relationship of the two. I am very satisfied with this BL and the length of it. 8 x 20 minute episodes is great for a Japanese BL and each episode added depth. I did feel like my expectations were made a bit too high from what I saw on social media, as the BL feels very fictional and manga-like with some of the acting and mannerisms. This is highly enjoyable but it does decrease the relatability factor for me personally. The side characters were enjoyable enough, maybe not quite as much as some of the side characters in other J-BLs. I was particularly annoyed by the guy who keeps trying to get Kakeru a girlfriend, but it is realistic for a Japanese high school setting. Overall, I highly recommend this BL, the visuals and vibes of the drama are great and I am looking forward to see more from the two. We didn't get much skinship other than a cute handholding scene and two kissing scenes that didn't quite feel passionate, but I don't think this is the BL that needed that. Enjoy this drama!

Read More

Warm and earnest, short summer BL

A story between an earnest Enoshima local and a bubbly transfer student. This BL is rather short but it achieves everything it needed to. The pacing is good and all of the screen time is focused on the couple. The setting is enoshima, which felt personally enjoyable to me since I have been there and I was able to combine this BL with my own memories.

I am giving this a high rating simply for the enjoyability of it. While there are minimal skinship scenes and the kissing scene is a bit lacking, it is commendable how well the actors and team were able to convey deep and relatable characters and the forming of the bond between the two in the short 5 episodes. I recommend this BL. It is short and sweet and I dont have any gripes about it to lower the rating, other than comparing it with all the other amazing Japanese BLs out there. Enjoy!

Read More

Confusing but somewhat charming

This BL had quite a strong start for me, I was intrigued with the hallucinations Jom had and was curious about the characters in the beginning. However, the drama is too long and too much of the runtime is spent on side characters. While it does make the world feel more real, it communicates to me more an atmosphere of the time rather than the strength and depth of the love between Jom and Khun Yai. The acting is quite strong, and the couple looks good together, but I think it would have been better if there was no time skip and it was set fully in the past. I always think Thai BLs spend way too much time on side characters and never make 20 minute episodes, so I usually end up fastforwarding through the later episodes. This BL does the same thing for me. While the inclusion of the lesbian couple is good and refreshing, the lack of other interesting side couples make the majority of the rest of the cast feel like padding.

Over all, there were enjoyable moments, but this BL is by no means a showstopper. Watch it if you are intrigued but maybe lower your expectations.

Read More

Not bad, but the source material deserved more

While the story itself is not outright bad, it felt a little empty to me. The drama is not fully cute and cozy or fully angsty, theres bits of everything. Normally this would make for a balanced story but somehow this BL feels like it's missing something. I dont know how much to fault the actors or the manhwa it is based on, but I heard a lot about the manhwa and expected this BL to be a hit. The kiss at the end is the last mediocre cherry on top for this drama.

Another gripe I had with this BL is the casting, while the Seoul guy is alright, the farmer guy feels too normally sized. The manhwa version was a lot bigger and the drama also references him as a person with a large frame. I think that either the farm guy should have been bigger, or the Seoul guy should have been more petite to have some size difference. Not that it is the most important part of the drama, but the size difference was one of the expectations I had with the casting.

Overall, I think the story, characters, acting and length to be mediocre. The underlying message is hard to see and I feel like I will forget this drama quickly. Watch if you are interested, but if you are looking for a solid and memorable BL, look elsewhere.

Read More

Cute couple but a little short

This BL has a bubbly feel to it, and all the characters add to this feeling. All actors were a joy to watch which made this drama flow very well. I do think that 15 minute episodes is too short for the story, especially with this cute pairing. I would have liked the episodes to be more around 20 minutes at least and for the first two episodes to focus deeply on the school era. a longer focus would have made the impact of the two being apart and then meeting again bigger.

There are two kissing scenes and they are both good. While the drama is short, the skinship is plentiful and feels natural. Overall, this is a rather calm and simple drama with no heavy conflicts or fights. Easy to watch in one or two days.

Read More

Great skinship, but felt more lusty than affectionate

This BL is a great showcase of intimate scenes as right from the start we see the pair having intimacy. The main characters felt real enough even though the story is somewhat manga-like. While the all the skinship is great to see, the story is somewhat confusing and uninteresting to me compared to some other Japanese BLs we have had. Mizuki, a secretive outwardly friendly guy meets Yoh, who he can be himself around and be intimate with. The two make a pact where Yoh can live together with Mizuki if he listens to whatever he says. Yoh ends up feeling taken advantage of even though he is physically attracted to Mizuki.

Basically, the story is about the tension between them and lack of communication that makes both parties feel frustrated, as Yoh feels Mizuki is not affectionate to him and thinks he is just a sxx slave, while Mizuki feels like Yoh is not interested in him anymore and is being avoidant. My complaint here is that there is not much of a storyline. This is obviously not the actors' fault. The only goal of the story is for the two to be more affectionate and an official couple, but I feel like it is still quite lusty rather than affectionate.

All of this is not to say the drama is bad, just that I was wondering why this BL didn't quite live up to my expectations. Still, I think every fan of BL should watch this as the intimate scenes are abundant and good.

Read More