honestly? eh - spoilers tag is just a precaution i keep it vague

If you're the type that likes humour and fluff with funny misunderstanding etc, an easy watch? then it's for you - the higher rated reviews give you an idea but if you're a little more picky (like me ://///) then this might help?

I only watched it because of Hoshino Gen's song koi, all the utaites were covering it and i said, gosh at this point i gotta watch. I checked it out and well, the concept isn't anything new but at the same time, it felt like a more serious or mature take on the idea. Typically, the marriage contract concept is humourous and hijinks ensue! sort of vibes but nigehaji takes itself a little seriously and luckily that provides a different story. As the synopsis explains, the story follows Mikuri who is lost in life– jobless and feeling purposeless, so she takes on a job as a housekeeper for this 30 ish year old office worker who's pretty much given up on love. Circumstances arise and Tsuzaki makes a suggestion for Mikuri to be his contract wife pretty much for the sake of convenience (which u know what, i get that – the tax benefits is just one thing-). Its pretty fucking slow burn but the story is still sometimes fluffy where the pair very slowly come to care about each other moving from worker/boss to aquintances to almost friends/one sided love and finally the slow development into lovers.

The characters themselves come off pretty simple and bland initially but the humour was enough to keep me interested. As the show progresses though, you understand the inner workings of the characters little by little, understanding their insecurities and worries and doubts and wants that they've both kept to themselves. Mikuri's character is much more likeable than Tsuzaki (extremely so) but at the same time i liked the way i didn't like Tsuzaki much – honestly he's pretty annoying but there are times when he's unbelievably considerate in this honest, no ulterior motives sort of way other than simply wanting to help. He was a very understandable character but also so typical and bland that just about anyone can relate to. I think his characteristics that were highlighted, was a lot of the things most people have seen in themselves at some point – he didn't seem to enjoy his life but wasn't doing anything about it, he has just about given up and is unintentionally being thoughtless in his actions because of his lack of experience? etc. Mikuri has similar feelings but she's a little more desperate to make things work out for herself because she had valued herself as a working woman and needed to get back into something that made her feel useful (as the lit title suggests). Mikuri is more complex in that, for her she has a lot of expectations of herself and is well aware of where her value comes in as a woman according to the expectations of Japanese society. For her, her sex plays a role in her life while for Tsuzaki, not so much and there's an interesting dynamic and dilemma between the two there. For Tsuzaki sex isn't something he cares about but in the real world even if it's something that doesn't change your view of someone, in society it is a key point that makes a difference. Like with racism saying you 'don't see race', you’re ignoring racism, not helping to solve it, the same can be applied with sexism and transphobia, homophobia etc. But yeah anyways, Mikuri has a kind, dynamic personality that despite her struggling with feelings of doubt makes her someone you want to root for, especially when Tsuzaki acts like an idiot.

There's very cute moments here and there and there's moments of frustration that also feel mature and poignant at times in the sense that these two characters who despite coming off very simple and bland are people that aren't just two characteristics and that events and experiences shape their reactions etc. The thing that falls short is that i think at points it felt like they were dragging things out, like crazily so and the show's only 11 episodes! I personally find it annoying when issues can be solved when people communicate well and i just find that communication issues (without trauma playing a factor), a cheap plot device. I honestly would've dropped it were it not for the fact that it was only 11 episodes and that the ending was interesting.

So nearly good, despite the average... well? everything. The story kinda falls flat in it's pacing and character development. I think the romance aspect of it should've been dealt better for both characters and I think if they had used the uniqueness of both leads to build off each other and push for growth in each other, - as the story seemed to have to wanted to go in that direction, but like most things in this show- it falls short - then the somewhat openendedness of the ending could've felt more satisfying. It gets a 7 because ost? slaps! and the casting was great and acting wasn't bad - not particularly amazing but above average !

Do note though, the manga is pretty different in comparison, it is a much more mature and mellow story that's very meaningful, i think, i hadn't read much, too much 2ndhand dread.

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its a fun time i'd give it a 7.7/10 bc of how fun

The top reviews are pretty great but you know, sincerely it's probably a little above average. Personally, I had a blast watching 3-nen A-gumi but to take a little step back, i'd say it's a story with an interesting theme and important message it wants to convey. As you can guess from the tags...

What can I say? I have a thing for justice and all that crap.

The story is good, not amazing but the concepts and themes within the story were meaningful and conveyed fairly well. If you're expecting something spectacular and powerfully moving, it might not be up to par-- the thing that removes from the experience is that it's pretty melodramatic at times and might remove some of the immersion that a show should provide for some people (as an unbelievably dramatic person, i just had fun with it). The acting and plot was interesting, the premise was just too fun for me to stop watching. Honestly the only thing i was unhappy was the fact that they didn't make it more dramatic (but that might just be me). But yes, it's a self aware ending that still hold meaning and i think they did a wonderful job at conveying the message that they desired

The intial characterisation of many of the students was a little bland and i think if the staff involved with the writing, producing paced themselves a bit better, more of the students could have been utilised better (i will admit it would be difficult considering the circumstanced of their scenario-- school 2013 did a wonderful job of utilising their characters and providing depth) i feel as though 3A was a little ambitious with the amount of characters that they wanted to use that they fell flat with many of them. They did improve as the story went along but it does make a difference. The pacing is a really big factor that affected the experience, it felt too quick or empty in many instances and sometimes confused at the progress that has been made. But that being said, the acting of everyone - especially Suda Masaki as Ibuki-sensei and Nagano Mei as Kayano-chan - was superb. Sure a bit overdramatic but isn't that the fun part? especially in the case of jdramas lol

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its pwithp guys

Short:
Pornographer is a rare mature bl that throughout my entire time watching, i felt insanely embarassed but it was worth the watch. Like porn is one thing because you're there for one thing– but this has a sincere story and characters involved. Like the headline says it pretty much porn with plot, the mature scenes are shown to a degree, so the rating is definitely something to keep in mind and the racy scenes can be a turn off to some, it can feel voyeouristic at times especially because the characters are fleshed out well. If you're really not a fan of openended endings then this might put you off a little as well but you can just read the final chapter of the manga by maki marukido which ties it up a little more by pretty much just a couple more pages although it makes a pretty big difference lmao in the experience. Either way I personally felt the ambigousness of the drama's ending satisfying, a very reasonable and impactful creative choice but also felt comforted by the manga ending haha.

Long:
With an interesting premise of a porn writer and a university student, Porngrapher peaks your interest straight away (i mean if your into that sort of thing haha) but it definitely has to have something to keep people watching, right? You come for the strange circumstance (like it's really weird, i'd /jk/ kms in that situation but being a broke college student would prolly test me) but stay for the interesting characters. Japanese bls, especially ones that suggests a mature story has characters with dept and dynamics. Kazumi is a university students that's pretty fucking weird for having accepted the request of the equally weird author; Kijima. But as you're watching the initally funny concept, the intrigue fades from that and grows more because of the ambigious charcater motivations that point out to something more, and that something is just a little off with Kijima's character– who's too composed and stone faced, with moments of teasing that peaks through making you wonder just why anyone would be like that. The weirdness and mystery to Kijima is weirdly charming. He's mostly polite despite his strange request and aware of the strangeness, that you don't find the request quite like the sexual harassment it should be ( and only becomes teasing as time goes on and his own feelings develop-- While Kazumi's naivety is charming and his sincerity almost admirable, and it's interesting to watch how he falls for Kijima. It goes from lust to genuine emotion and it's subtle and done well, I can't pinpoint when I thought, 'oh Kazumi really likes Kijima now.' It just happened and it felt like a weirdly natural progression of his feelings. Kijima provides a strange sort of excitement to his life and I think most people would be compelled by it. The complexity of Kijima's character and the growth and maturity in Kazumi is probably the best part of the show and I feel that the show did a better job than the manga-- a rare case where I think the mediums play a big role, i.e horror is better in manga or manhwas/manwas than in anime or tv shows.

The acting is superb, seriously *chef's kisses* everyone is so well played I can't even. The nuances in Kijima's tone and the eagerness and youthfulness of Kazumi is expressed amazingly by the Takezai Terunosuke and Izuka Kenta respectfully. They both beautifully express the deep and complex emotions that each charcaters feels in each event that occurs. Seriously they did a wonderful job because if the acting was stiff or awkward, there's no possible way to have watched the show- so I think they played a huge role creating such a great experience. They have amazing chemistry that is built up beautifully by both the actors and directors.

I think the only thing I'd like to have seen is Kajima's backstory being revealed a little, what experiences made him the way he was and another thing would be how did *certain plot event* affect Kazumi's life.

Music choices were great, sets the moods amazingly and adds to the entire experience. Like seriously, the soundtrack and instrumental choices is superb, it sets and compliments the scenes amazingly.

I definitely will not rewatch, i'll die of embarassment.

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its so fucking cute

The objective score is 8 but my score would be 10, i adored it.

I hadn't gone into this knowing it was a bl but it was a nice surprise and as I was watching it I realised I had read the manga back in 2018 but I hadn't remembered it well so each episode still had me intrigued. If you especially like a painless watch where the problems aren't angsty as most bl tends to be, then this'll be perfect for you?

This has the rare bl drama premise of the lead (Adachi) having supernatural powers of being able to read people's minds if he touches them and finding out the other lead (Tsuge) - who he finds is this unreachable charming and top standard competent handsome guy - likes him. Adachi has low self esteem but a huge heart and has a general opinion that everyone else is better and is lucky(???? not the best choice) to be better, although not in a cruel way, it's more from a place naivety? ignorance (although I don't think that's the best word for it either). There's a maturity to the chaarcters in that they are adults who have already established a lot of their identity but like everyone, regardless of age, has room to grow further and find new parts of themselves. There's no unreasonable problems, the characters grow and learn from each other and if you watch anime, I think its got wotakoi vibes (which is another office love story featuring characters that are older) a little less funny but same vibes.

It's nice and lighthearted and the characters are damn precious, there is not a single character that I hated. You get to watch Adachi come to terms with himself, his identity and forming new opinions on himself and the people around him, but this is still lighthearted mind you, it's just something the creative staff pulled off really well without coming off pretentious by neither taking the idea too seriously or not seriously enough. It's great progression, I thought and the pacing was just right. The other side romance is also pretty cute and paced well considering the screentime given although slightly hurried but they manage to ease out the edges as the episodes move along.

The acting is seriously good, like Eiji Akaso as Adachi, balanced the awkward, hesitant and unsure adult that's comfortable in his individuality in terms of his values and beliefs really well. Akaso portrays Adachi's earnesty and sincerity believably and charmingly. Keita Machida as Tsuge shows off the composed and competentness of Tsuge in a sort of alluring way and when Tsuge's inner thoughts are revealed, Machida highlights the fucking adorableness of his thoughts but also the fact that you cant take things from first glance, that even someone that seems to be doing well as their own doubts and expectations of themselves that they struggle with. The two leads had amazing chemistry and each scene I couldn't take my eyes off them. The side characters' actors and actresses did a wonderful job showing each character unique aspects. There is only one female character Fujisaki - portrayed by adorable and talented actress Ryo Sato - in the story and she takes on a slightly guiding sort of role but still just manages to be portrayed as someone with her own problems, ideas and values which will be enough for me although I'd love to have seen more of her, she's way too kind and cute to not have been utilised more.

The intro and outro songs slaps hard but you know jindie always be like that, so no surprise there.

Rewatch value for me comes in how fucking cute this shit is.

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