Nice way to kill 50 minutes
Cute little baby baker Shuzo (yes, that Shuzo from TikTok and Instagram) just wants to find love but keeps inadvertently helping the guys he's crushing on with their problems by making them delicious desserts... Except they just take one bite of what he makes and then leave, which is the biggest travesty of them all. Most of them don't even thank Shuzo before they go! Shuzo's sister pretty much carries this show with her 30-second cameo's each episode. This is super short, with a run time of about 50 minutes, so if you're bored and want to look at Shuzo's beautiful face for a bit and watch him make really aesthetically pleasing food (as well as learn some fun culinary facts), this will be a good choice. However, if you're here for a profound plot or deep characters I'd advise you to pick something else. This is pure fluff that is cute and visually appealing.Was this review helpful to you?
Tropes: secret admirer, food in love, soulmates
Very short BL about a schoolboy who makes magic candy for a series of handsome classmates, questing for a soulmate. Each ep is a new love interest and while the sweets help others, they keep failing to bring him love. Of course h's overlooking someone. The lead was very good and the theme, cooking, and eventually romance were charming, but it is a series of BL vignettes not really a cohesive story, no kisses or anything. Japan doesn’t give us sweet BL this short very often, so it was nice to see them try out the style.Was this review helpful to you?
short and sweet
Overall: this is a cute food based series (and I would categorize it as BL/slice of life, I also have a more broad definition of what BL is). Watched on Youtube, here is the playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOHd2AnMfkDHd7XAEZKFt7iZ00IsC9uNl The videos have English subs.Content Warnings: none? maybe spying on another person?
What I Liked
- the premise was cute
- enjoyed the baking/cooking (and they even include recipes at the end, but they are in Japanese)
- those dream moments and the sister interrupting were hilarious
- color grading and overall production value
- good outro/credits and the song (by Imase)
Room For Improvement
- wish it had been even 1 episode longer or that they would do a second season
- the subs frequently miss spaces between words, but I could still understand them pretty well
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A lightweight comedy of cooking and cuteness.
The handsome 21 year old successful Japanese model Ohiro Shuzo is the star of this mini-series, playing the role of Amai Koichi, a 2nd year high schooler “obsessed with sweets”. Koichi candidly admits that his story is about falling in love for the first time, and we can see clearly that his gaze falls only on other boys at school.There are only 5 episodes in “8.2 By no Hosoku” and each one is centred on yet another boy for whom Koichi has the hots. But each boy has a problem and Koichi hopes to work his way into their hearts by solving their problem; Koichi, it turns out, is no slouch in the kitchen and the way into their hearts passes through their taste buds. Each episode features Ohiro Shuzo with cooking apron on preparing a different dessert for each of his love interests. Please note that Koichi’s failure to convert each of these boys to his arms is not due to any culinary inadequacies on his part.
Part of the charm of this confection of a show is that the character Koichi uses the character of each dessert to communicate a helpful message to each of the boys. Without giving too much away, the repeated chase resolves itself finally when the pursuer becomes the pursued.
Ohiro Shuzo makes for an amusing Koichi, determined to score a boyfriend for himself; and judging by some of the scenes in which Koichi fantasises about these pairings, Koichi’s desires are not so much romantic as full-on erotic. Sadly, anyone hoping for the ubiquitous BL trope of a shower scene of the toned and muscled model, will have to watch Shuzo’s video interview with Elle magazine instead.
The cast overall is good, the pacing of the show and the directing compliment the script which never lingers or sags. I recommend to watch all episodes at the one time: the 50 minutes will fly past very enjoyably.
Was this review helpful to you?
I need my 50 minutes back
This show is just a waste of time. There just wasn't anything substantial or special about the show. I wish I could have spent my 50 minutes watching other things. I kept waiting for the show to be good and for something exciting to happen, but unfortunately, that did not happen and the show was just boring and repetitive. The plot might seem good, and it was a good idea I admit, but it was executed poorly. You don't even get the satisfaction of a bl, because the "couple" is established at the very last second and you don't even see them get together. This is what I didn't like about the Man Who Defies The World of Bl. Would not recommend thisWas this review helpful to you?
Staring Contest: The MiniSeries
If you've seen one Japanese story about passionate dessert-makers, you know the tropes. It's cute, it's sweet, and it follows the same formula as all the others, but the twist is that Amai is entirely self-motivated and his effort is brushed off rather than revered. And then things escalated SO QUICKLY.The content may be a little dry for some people's taste, given how short each episode is, and the humor is a bit hit or miss. The 8.2 second rule is a silly concept to begin with, but I'm personally not a fan of the joke in episode 4 where the coach comes along and starts staring at him after his latest failure to seduce cute boys with delicious food. I kept sitting there asking myself, "Buddy, why are you not looking away? WHY DID YOU START COUNTING?"
Regardless, this miniseries gave me a good chuckle just as often as it made me recoil, so I can't help appreciating it for what it is. There are no real surprises here... unless you get jumpscared by those daydream scenarios like I did. Amai's sister only plays a comedic bit part, but she is hands down the best character and I love her. That alone is worth the rating.
Was this review helpful to you?
Interesting concept
It was cute, wholesome & short.The concept of falling in love coz of 8.2 seconds of eye contact is interesting.
The mc is adorable and I like that he fell for someone who pursued him in a similar way he pursued others.
Using desserts to solve problems is just so adorable.
I also liked learning about different desserts.
My only complaint is that no one finished the amazing desserts he made for them.
Like imagine someone making you a delicious dessert that relates to your problem to help you & you don't finish it!?!?
I also liked finding out why his secret admirer fell for him. It was so wholesome?
I wish there was more. It was so very short??♀️
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Picolé de chuchu
HISTÓRIA: Uma história bem água com açúcar, pra ser sincera. Não posso dizer que foi uma perda de tempo pq foi super rápida. Dessa série só consigo tirar uma vantagem e uma lição: a vantagem de conhecer uma parte da culinária, e a lição de que enquanto vc se desespera buscando quem não te quer, alguém te observa em silêncio, esperando a oportunidade de se aproximar. Não entendi essa necessidade absurda de ter um romance, a ponto de sair testando todo dia um homem diferente. Gostei do alívio cômico, que é característica das séries japonesas, e gostei de ser surpreendida no final, pois em nenhum momento percebi que aquele carinha estava sempre lá, esperando a chance de se aproximar.ATUAÇÃO/ELENCO: O Japão não decepciona quando o assunto é atuação. Sem mais.
MUSICAL: Senti falta de uma ost melhor pra ser tocada a cada vez que o carinha tenta seduzir um boy novo, não gostei desse ponto.
VOLTAR A VER: Já vi duas vezes, continuo não gostando, não pretendo ver de novo.
NO GERAL: Mesmo não gostando, eu recomendo a série. É bem rápida, em menos de duas horas você vê todos os episódios, e quem sabe você não gosta mais do que eu?
Was this review helpful to you?
