Such a refreshing story
I loved it!I loved the trope already with BL drama no Shuen ni narimashita, but I was left disapointed from the lack of proximity between the mains.
This drama goes exactly like I would have imagined the trope to carry on, but still in some surprising ways that got me hooked each episode. The slow burn was on point, the ending was so satisfying and their proximity at the end was awesome.
Here are a few things I specifically liked:
-The romance (obviously lol): I often find JBLs annoying for dragging us through never ending conversations rather than actual actions, and a lot of time they promise each other the moon before even having their first kiss which feels very childish. Here, the romance feels much more real. They cannot tell each other feeling's but they constantly make moves on each other, and they just go with the flow rather than making long confessions with tones of promises.
-Hayama. Although I would have liked to see the more sensible or goofy side of him, I found his quietness endearing. I wouldn't be able to tell why him specifically, when I usually dislike characters that act like Christian Gray (like takashi in Love is better the second time around), but there is something in his character that just makes me want to hug him.
-The music was super nice and recognisable, which is not very common in JBLs.
Here are some stuff I didn't like:
-Shirazaki: Nothing wrong with his character, although he was pretty cliché, but something about his posture and expressions bothered me and made some scenes awkward.
-Sakuma was a pretty nice character and I wish we'd see more of him. Maybe in season 2? if there will be any.
-Sooo many clichés and other stuff we've seen a hundred times in Japanese romance. The main's insecurity, the lack of communication, the hug before the kiss, the top being in love first, the super stiff first kiss, etc... But I guess it's ok because contributes to making it a comfort show.
Overall, I loved this show and I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy it too!
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A Slow Start With A Satisfyingly Conclusion
I liked this show a lot more than I had thought I would, while watching the first 5 episodes. The second half was worlds apart, and even if it hadn't been, that last episode was totally worth the time spent on this show.Shirasaki is an awkward character-- while Hayame comes off as cold and detached. Their relationship begins to shine when the story breaks down Hayame's persona, and we're left with the raw attraction between the two.
In true Japanese fashion, this is a slow paced romance, with two characters who refuse to communicate, and instead choose to hide their needs and emotions. It's not until they find themselves at the verge of loosing everything that they're no longer willing to let the other go.
TLDR : #Slow start #Watch it for Ep10!!! #The Chemistry!!!
Watch if you enjoyed : Taikan Yoho, Perfect Propose
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1Good chemistry, cute couple but slower pace in the second half
“25 Ji, Akasaka de” is a 10-episode drama that I think could have been shorter. The first half of the drama is fun. It was great watching two people who are clearly attracted to each other play fake boyfriend/boyfriend. The chemistry is great and their scenes together are sweet and cute. However, in the second half, the pace slows down, especially when the misunderstanding happens. Not a whole lot happened.The acting is pretty good and not overly dramatic. Komagine Kiita is attractive enough for me to believe that Hayama Asami is a very popular idol. Initially, I thought Shirasaki Yuki is just another passive and shy male lead (similar to Adachi in “Cherry Magic” or Hira in “Utsukushii Kare”). I am pleasantly surprised that though shy, Shiaraski does speak up and take initiative to pursue what he wants. He’s not as passive as I feared. The earlier kisses were meh but the last ones are a little better and their intimate scene was sexy and sensual.
I enjoyed the ending. The scene of Hayama Asami chasing after Shiaraski Yuki, worrying he did something wrong after their night together, was sweet and satisfying. I finally see some emotions from him, and he’s not holding back in expressing his feelings. Finally!! It did take 10 episodes for that to happen.
This is a sweet, nice watch, especially if you like faking relationships (though this one is not that fake) and the guessing-if-he-likes-me trope.
Completed: 6/22/2024 - Review #453
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A Familiar Yet Engaging Tale
While the series boasts strong performances, its familiar plot and drawn-out melodrama hinder its potential. The series follows the well-trodden path of a blossoming romance between co-stars, with Shirasaki's character development taking center stage. Taisuke delivers a commendable performance as the overwhelmed actor, effectively conveying Shirasaki's internal struggles. However, the series leans heavily on misunderstandings and jealousy, stretching the narrative beyond its natural conclusion.The comparison to 'Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen' is apt, as both series explore the dynamics of on-screen and off-screen relationships. While the former embraced a lighter tone, '25 Ji, Akasaka De' opts for a more serious approach. The actors' chemistry is undeniable, but the script fails to capitalize on their potential. While the plot adheres to well-established BL tropes, the series shines in its portrayal of the characters' emotional journeys. Shirasaki's internal struggles and Hayama's supportive role create a relatable dynamic. The actors deliver commendable performances, bringing depth to their characters. However, the series suffers from pacing issues. The constant misunderstandings and separations become predictable, hindering the overall narrative flow.
In conclusion, this series is worth binge watching thanks to the splendid work of the actors but it falls short of delivering a truly memorable experience
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Good?
Well, they bring up a new vision what CAN or NOT happen in the BL world, at the start I think that would be other generic BL but japan never fails to bring good story and acting to the Bl world. The acting was really on point, I mean if we explore a little more I bet we have the best drama of the year, but was okay. The visual in general was AMAZING. The music... well besides the track of the opening.. was not thaaaat good but was good. Rewatch value was high because for sure i will watch another times.Was this review helpful to you?
Know what kind of BLs you like
I can only say this series confirms for me that I am indeed a part of the Japanese BL target market - I am one of those audience members who really enjoys the slow-pace and the sensitive unfolding of a tender romance. This is one such drama, heartfelt and rewarding, with two well-cast leads, far from the clamour of the need for speed and thrills and urgency.From my experience to date, the Japanese writers, directors and actors, do this kind of series very well.
I don't know the actors from previous shows, but it's interesting to note that, like their characters, they differ quite significantly in terms of their Main Role experience.
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Might be better for viewers during a second watch
tl;dr: A simple story told in very subtle ways, with excellent acting and interesting camera work.The first episodes make this series seem like a more depressing version of "BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita" but it is not -- the dynamics and the background stories are very much different.
It's a slow-burn romance and does have the often used tropes of non-communication, self-deprecation and mutual pining -- so if you're not a fan of these tropes, you might want to give this one a miss.
The narrative choice to tell only Shirasaki's point of view first and to show Hayami's story then only later, in episodes 7 and 8, is something we've seen in other J-BLs (Mr. Unlucky, Senpai This Can't Be Love or the newer Living with him come to mind). Usually, it works fine. In this case though, I think it was not a good choice.
When we meet Shirasaki first, he is at his lowest, full of self-deprecation -- he is not at all a reliable narrator. Hayami, on the other hand, is quite unreadable -- not because the actor is bad at his job but because this is part of the character (Hayami's friend tells him exactly that in episode 7). So, for the first six episodes, we only get one (skewed) side of the story.
Because of real life issues, I had to take a break in episode 8 -- and after that I restarted the whole series. With the knowledge of Hayami's backstory, I was able to see things differently -- and what seemed depressing and a bit flat the first time, was actually just very subtle acting by both main actors.
Regarding the acting, the main actors are, in my opinion, excellent. Minuscule movements and facial expressions show the inner life if a viewer cares to look closely. Quite a few scenes have been taken in one single shot -- which shows the how good the actors really are.
Speaking of shooting the drama: I was intrigued by some camera angles -- we look through windows and through cameras, sometimes we are in vey tight spaces, feelinga bit claustrophobic -- and then some sces are wide-angle shots, and everything is only seen from a distance. Use of hand-held cameras in some scenes show the instability of the actor's emotions. Even just finding out how these choices relate to the character's emotions would make a rewatch interesting.
While I don't like the opening song, I do love the background music -- the piece itself was lovely, melancholic but strangely uplifting at the same time. Silence also played a big part in enhancing the scenes.
Overall, I think this series is not one to watch and forget immediately, rather it is to be savoured, and deserves a close look at its details.
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One of the best BL of 2024
This is all based on my own opinion.I love this series so much that I re-watch it everytime I feel like it.
The story is great, Hayama Asami using the filming as an excuse to be Shirasaki Yuki's off screen boyfriend was awesome.
Komagine Kiita and Niihara Taisuke did a great job!
The music is great.
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Pleasantly surprised!
This drama had me giggling and kicking my feet from the very first episode. It drew me in immediately, and it kept me drawn in the entire time. The moments between Shirasaki and Hayama were almost too sweet to handle. And when they weren't being sweet with each other, there was some mild angst thrown into the mix, and I am never one to complain about angst as it's my favorite plot device ever.I watched this entire drama in a single sitting, which is quite the feat for me considering it usually takes me months to complete a 12 episode k-drama or thai bl. My attention span just isn't too great. But I couldn't tear myself away from this one, and I immediately went searching for the manga because I wasn't ready to let go of them yet.
I will def be rewatching this in the future.
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This review may contain spoilers
Yearning. We love it.
*Spoilery but will not go into the details*As a BL watcher who tries to steer clear of the more mature romances(like this one), I thoroughly enjoyed watching this drama. They did an amazing job of showing different kinds of intimacy on screen, which I feel is somtimes lacking in some JBLs. The characters clearly respected each other. For some, the pace might be a little too slow, but as someone who loves to watch characters yearn for each other, I think the pacing was just right. It was clear from the beginning that there is a love to be explored between the two leads. And it made me want to learn more. Yes, there are a lot of misunderstandings and miscommunication, which may throw people off, but I think it works for the story. their backstories were very interesting, I like how their destinies are intertwined. I'm really impressed with how they were able to create a drama within a drama. Easily one of my favorites.
TLDR: If you love to watch characters yearn go watch this drama NOW
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This review may contain spoilers
Amazing
What to say? I’m not a huge fan of JBLs but I needed something short and unfinished since this was airing during my exams time, so I decided to watch this. My opinion? WOW! This was so so sooo good!If you want to ask why I don’t like JBL, I don’t really know how to answer this question. Maybe it’s because of their distanceness, maybe because of the fact that some BL’s I can imagine as anime but as live action it seems odd to me, maybe something totally different… I really don’t know. But I think you’ll agree when I say JBLs have something which makes them Japanese and it’s not only Japanese actors. I don’t know how to explain it but when you watch JBL, you just know it’s JBL before they start speaking. Does it make sense? I hope so…
This one as well and here I really enjoyed it. Two actors who are going to act in a BL drama? Yes, that seems like something I’d like to see, so I started to watch. Half of the series was already out, for the next half I had to wait every week, After some episodes I wanted to scream and throw things around but then I saw the preview for next ep and I calmed down. Not always, tbh, sometimes it was vice versa.
The first thing I noticed was their chemistry. It was really something. They basically kissed in the first episode. Yeah, it was that dead fish kiss where they just put their lips together but with the music and tension and everything around it made me feel butterflies. Don’t worry, we’ll get to see more than that…
The story is mostly shown from Yuki’s POV but there is one ep where you can see Asami was actually the one who fell first and also harder. And now imagine how he had to control himself… Well, maybe not so much since he was the one who came up with the idea of pretending to be boyfriends so they could get more into their characters. Maybe it was his strategy? Who knows…
They fell for each other really fast, but they lacked communication so everything took more time than it was necessary. Now, when I saw the last ep, I know it was actually a point, not a mistake or plothole. It’s exactly how it’s supposed to be and it makes sense.
They kind of remind me of Sasaki and Miyano. Asami was that cool one as Sasaki and Yuki the shy one as Miyano. Damn, I wish Sasaki and Miyano got a live action drama! It would be so good, trust me.
Ok, back to Asami and Yuki. Damn, when they called each other by their first name, it was so intimate...
During those 10 eps we actually got two bed scenes. First one was shown as Asami and Yuki’s characters and the second one was the real them. Guess which one was hotter? Just kidding, both of them were totally amazing.
The very last scene shown something which is giving a clue about season 2, so there is a small posibility we could see those two again.
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