Takara-kun to Amagi-kun (2022)

Like:
+ I really fell for the dry humour. It made me laugh several times!
+ I like Agami! He's absolutely adorable and I actually liked his goofiness. :D
+ Also liked Takana. He's calm, but he give off pretty cool vibes.
+ I can absolutely see this made as an anime.
+ Suzuki Kosuke stole my heart. Again. I loved him in Jack O'Frost and his role in this show is really good! His acting is great and he's funny.
+ Tanakas acting was also good!
+ Some dislike the acting of the leads and I can understand this. But somehow I liked the way they act.. ^^' It was really fitting to the dry humour.
+ Overall I liked the characters a lot! It's fun to watch them.
+ I'm a huge fan of inner monologues most of the time and I also liked them in this show.

Dislike/Room for improvement:
- What is the actual plot? What is a chronologically timeline? Lol. I was so confused! There are many time jumps and still after finishing the show I don't get it. It was all over the place and hard to follow. x.x
- It's a bit sad that there aren't any proper kisses. Most of the time they are forced by Takara, which I really didn't like. I'm a huge fan of consent! Maybe it would have been better without any kisses and just hugs. That's really a point that bothered me much, because I'm so sick of people kissing others without permission (while seeing and KNOWING how uncomfortable the other person is, making it just worse) T_T
(Not really a - point for me, but maybe for others): I think it's definitely a show that's character driven and not plot driven. So..it doesn't really happen much plotwise. The whole show is centered around their feelings and thoughts. About how difficult a relationship can be and yeah, it's definitely repetitive. But it didn't bother me much. I see the reviews from others who are annoyed by the show and somehow I can understand this but I definitely don't share this opinion. I had fun watching this (after I deleted it in the beginning after reading reviews, but then decided to give it a try and didn't regret it.) even if I'm confused as hell. T_T

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my now comfort bl...

PRODUCTION:
everything was shot great and everything sounded good. however i sometimes had a hard time telling if a scene was a flashback or not - even on rewatch. i wish there wouldve been a better way for them to show that. the music didn't really stick out to me which is why i gave it an average score.

STORY:
simple but darling. i can understand why people would be disappointed but i am very much a sucker for established relationships / early relationship stories. and although the subvertions are subtle from generic stories i liked them a lot. i only wish there was MORE story so that says something.

CHARACTERS / ACTING:
amagi (nao oriyama) is a cute character - the most sunshine-y character i have ever seen. his actions and behavior never tipped the scale of being annoying to me and i think that is thanks to the wonderful acting job. sure amagi makes mistakes in the series but he's a high schooler! and he learns and grows thanks to them - i wish we could have more time to actually see amagi open up more but oh well...

takara (arata sato) is what really sold me - truly such a subversion from the popular boy troupe. im so glad that we do get his prespective because honestly i do feel like the series would be boring without it. i truly related to takara... i again wish there was more time to see him grow but ehat can ya do :/

together they make such a sweet couple - they are awkward but not in a way thats out of character. moreso that this is their first relationship. i truly appericated that the struggles they were having werent so catastrophic and they were able pretty much resolve each one by the end of the episode. they are so innocent too - makes me jealous of the high school relationship i never got to have. and again - their subversion is subtle but its a huge welcome for me.

the side characters were alright but the standout was definitely katori (suzuki kosuke). he was very funny and it was good for them to invent a way for the characters to talk about their relationship to SOMEONE. i didnt really care for tanaka (komiya rio) like he was fine and well acted. but i didnt really get why he got as much focus as he did other than giving a little more background to taraka's charactee ig?

OVERALL:
anytime i want a simple bl to watch i will definitely pick this one back up again. im not sure if a season 2 is possible but i would love it if it were to be done. i feel like i could watch these two idiots navigate their relationship for ages haha. but for now this will do.

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Those manga characters (exactly as David compared it in the previous review) that were invented by Japanese women still look really weird to me, because their horrible hairdos make both the main actors, aged 18 and 22, look like thirteen-year-old hermaphrodites, or at best, so that they would rather go to the bathroom to make sure they are a boy or a girl. And when the Amagi opened its wide mouth with huge teeth from ear to ear in the close-up, I was afraid that the head of the praying mantis wanted to eat me. And now seriously. As it is almost unnatural, I actually enjoy it on the other hand. From that point of view, it was a gentle, sweet series, well-acted in its Japanese way with a straightforward story. Anyone who knows Japanese will relax with it or even smile in some scenes.

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It’s like reading a manga and watching a series in one go.

A no spoilers review. The score 1 to 10 ratings show that this series isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. The series deserves a much higher score. I liked it and really wish for a sequel. It’s Japanese, so it’s different then drama’s from Korea or Thailand. See it for what it is: a simple first love high school series, in a specific Japanese genre. The story is small, but so what - it’s deep love we’re talking about. No real bodywork, it’s real cute and fluffy (holding hands etc.). You’ve got to like and respect that, and the meaning of the series - also in your ratings.

I didn’t read the manga. I also didn’t mind the overall scoring of the series, in the way that it would make me not watch the series. I’m very interested in Japanese series, because the are always unique. There’s no plot, no speed and no surprising action. It’s a series with a main role for the colors beige and blue to set the tone. The voice-overs for Takara and Amagi are great in their worth.

As I wrote in the headline: it’s like reading a manga and watching a series in one go. The main characters seem flat/2D in their expressions - like in a manga book, but aren’t. There’s a lot of room for communication and finding out how a first and also very deep love works between them. They make small mistakes and learn. The 2 boys also look like they stepped right out of a manga book. The lighting on their faces is specific, it suits the manga idea. I ‘fell in love’ with both main characters and their personalities. You see their struggle together and alone on being (not) populair, (physical) needs and finding a balance in that. There’s a process of adjusting going on.

The 2 most importend supporting roles seem like boys who could have been on your school, they are real. Their roles are well written and played. I want to see more series with these 2 guys. The chemistry between the four boys was very good.

The going forward and back in the story is not my thing, but suits the story.

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a bit disappointed but still cute

I had high hopes for this Bl but got kinda disappointed, the storyline was cute but the constant misunderstandings were a bit to much, also the story seemed for me kind of untied in the end, I had hoped for maybe a scene in the future and would have liked a bit more character developement. Amagi was always really shy and unsure and I had hoped that maybe he would take the initiative in a few moments just to not make it seem so one sided and i wished for Takara to maybe show a bit more emotion and vulnerability and also maybe a bit more background knowledge about them to really tie the story. I was a bit sad about the lack of information so i didn't feel connected or attached ro the characters like i normally do. All in all i think its a BL that is worth watching because of the unique characters and good if you want something cute and light but not one of my favorites, maybe because of the lack of connection I felt between the characters but feel free to watch it and make yourself yojr own opinion cause its still wort watching!

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Great Slice of Life BL

Takara-kun to Amagi-kun (2022) was great because they used defined tropes (cold, stoic guy with cute, funny guy) and brought life to the characters. My biases are, rural setting, slice of life, and odd couples, so I was bound to love it, but the acting, the setting, the friendships put this over the top.

Yes, like most Japanese BL, the intimacy scenes are not very natural, but what I did enjoy was, when one character stated his boundary, and need to move slowly, his partner respected this.

I will be rewatching this due to the overall package this series is. It may be too slow for some viewers, but it was like wrapping a gift for me.

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Cute and quirky.

Cute, cringe-worthy, hot in a vague way, over-the-top in other ways, but ultimately endearing and human. As in many Anime/BL works, high school is a useful construction for exploring human communication around feelings. But this series seems more sophisticated than most. Love the way competing inner monologues show the vast gaps in perception. Low self-esteem, excessive concern for others perceptions, fear of rejection, impact of childhood on ability to accept love. Some reviewers complain that nothing happens, but what is happening is entirely inside the characters heads. Characters develop a depth of love, learn what they need to do in order to build and maintain their relationship. Develop a larger definition of love that stretches beyond their own needs and even their own relationship. Love that Katori is the voice of the author/adult in the room, gently advising the characters, providing hints to the audience , and making vague snarky comments about the genre. Realistic ? No. But that's not the point.

Usually, conflicts in BL seem improbable, that real adults would never have those sorts of misunderstandings over such trivial matters. But in this case, around episode 6, I came to the embarrassing realization that I still think the way Amagi does, even at 3x his age. I wonder whether its just me (probably), and that for others, the typical BL misunderstandings are real to them.

One way to interpret Amagi's skipping around with arms waving and his continuous talking is as hyperactivity, and his constant running away (giving up) as rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD).

Maybe because I related so much to Amagi, I have a certain awe for a series that can speak to me across generations as well as cultures. Thank you Yoshino-san, Oriyama, Sato, Suzuki, Komiya and rest of the cast and crew.

Also, loved the slow beat dance club music brought out whenever there is sexual tension between Takara and Amagi. It was subtle but delightfully camp.

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Bask in the youthful sunshine of dreams

It is really hard to watch this without grinning! There are no high-stakes here other than the beautifully blown-up agonised imaginings of the teenage mind. Lots of fluff, hugs, smiles and super supportive best friends and allies cheering them on.

You can see Japan take cues from the sleekness of K-drama here, but still retaining the moody colours of the Japanese aesthetic. The boys are styled to a T even in their school uniforms but their bedrooms still look like teenage rooms - I find the interior designed bedrooms of K and C drama Land pretty unrealistic so it’s nice to see the balance here, it really helps the world building feel more genuine.

This is a warm nostalgic breeze of a show that highlights the sweetness of first love without the drama and toxicity of high school. Perhaps it is a utopia that doesn’t exist, but it is so nice to imagine a universe where this could happen, preferably one where Takara and Amagi can bashfully smile at each other forever.

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Good story with disappointment as it could have great

The story revolves around 2 guys at school that meet, fall in love, suffer minor hiccups in their relationship and stay together at the end. Takara (Sato Arata) is the silent type that really cares about his significant other and is out there to help and protect him. Amagi (Oriyama Nao) is the cute, energetic kind that has his small circle of friends and enjoys every moment. He also is in love with Takara and is not not shy about voicing his true feelings although is shy in certain other matters.
Both the male leads share a great chemistry onscreen however that develops gradually and its not rather evident in the first couple of episodes. Special mention should go to supporting cast of Katori (Suzuki Kosuke) who plays the ever-helpful friend of Amagi and Tanaka (Komiya Rio) who plays the oblivious but caring friend of Takara. Katori especially plays an important role in helping the 2 leads to reconcile their issues.

Now its time to discuss the things that I didn't enjoy and the list might be long. Warning: Spoilers ahead
Ep. 1 begins with a conversation between a sorrowful Takara and a crying Amagi wherein it appears that there might have been an event due to which they are no longer in a relationship or on the verge of breaking up. This hooked me immediately as now I am intrigued to know what caused this . The scene moves to the past where we are introduced to these 2 characters and how they decide to start "dating". Now I assumed I will be taken through a journey detailing their days together and how their relationship develops further but to my utter surprise ,in a rush the issue from the beginning is revelead to just be a simple misunderstanding and they get back together. So all that crying and weeping for nothing. That could have easily been resolved by having a conversation.
And this is where the series lacks behind many other BL series with similar themes and storylines. These 2 ML do not seem to have a natural conversation. They just happen to meet daily at school, they greet each other and go into mundane topics that dont further the narrative but is just a filler to move to the next scene. Every episode is - Amagi has a simple conversation with his friends about something random, Takara and his friends talk about something generic. Amagi and Takara look at each other. Then they meet and have another conversation about something random.
So what pushes the narrative ahead if its not the dialogue between the 2 ML? Its voice-over narrations. Takara will look at Amagi and will go into a long winded voice-over narration about how he feels about Amagi or Amagi will look at Takara will have his own voice-over narration talking about the past. This is how the series progresses from one plot to the other. Its not a smart dialogue but these 2 reminiscing about something from their past.
In one of the episodes they show Amagi's past when he was a kid, ignored by his parents and that revelation and his understanding that he is always ignored and abondoned by people could have been used as a plot showing his constant need for validation from Takara about their relationship. They teased that possibility by showing Amagi speaking to Tanaka that he is the only one who is in love but nothing came out of it at the end.
On one hand we get to know about Amagi's childhood, but on the other hand we get no information about Takara. Many such opportunities of improving the story was available but it was not grabbed.I understand that this series is adapted from a manga and I have not read it so not sure if anything like this was mentioned in there. Purely judging the story presented in this series, I can state that it could have been done differently with a lot of new concepts introduced but sadly we didn't get that.
I would recommend it as a 1 time watch and should be seen especially for the supporting cast.

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A prosaic story about love

This is a bit of an unusual BL story that frankly I am not sure that I 'got' it. That does not make it bad; just a bit confusing. It is like watching Romeo and Juliet minus the death scene of course. They speak not as teenage boys but like they are performing in a theater-in-the-round. It is a rather enjoyable series to watch as it is so different even if I did not quite understand it. I was perplexed by it all yet completely taken in by the charm and oddly soft passion with each other. As I watched this series, I felt inexplicably somber.
You can review my complete thoughts on this series at BLBliss.com.

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