It was an all-time favorite... till it wasn't. Enough holes to swallow me up.

La Pluie started out on a fast track to being an all-time favorite of mine. It started out so strong. The aesthetic and cinematography of it all caught my attention before a word was even spoken. Then we got that gorgeous monologue overtop Tai riding the bus in the rain. We're told immediately what kind of fantasy world we're getting into. A world where people believe in and even trust in soulmates - because on your 20th birthday, people with rain-affiliated hearing loss can hear another person, and only that person, so long as both of them are in rain at the same time.

An interesting premise. Made all that more interesting by the fact that our main character is stubbornly refusing to acknowledge his soulmate. And that his parents are divorced, despite being soulmates themselves. It had all this set up to create a memorable message about not putting all your faith in destiny, that relationships take a lot more than love to make work. A message that they did exceedingly well throughout.

I fell in love with our 2 main leads immediately. And was giddy when ever they were on the screen together - with all the adorable awkwardness of getting to know and getting comfortable with each other. They were respectful, fun, and very cute together. They both had insecurities stemming from their pasts, as well as all the miscommunication/misunderstanding trappings that a new relationship and those insecurities are prone to. In theory, this all fit who the characters were. Tai, who learned from a young age that talking before things are resolved doesn't do anything. Who prefers to solve things on his own. Patt, who reached out for love and acceptance, and got shot down with silence instead - making him wonder if he's worthy of the love and acceptance he sought out. But when push came to shove, when it was time for the writers to deliver, it felt out-of-character. In one singular fell swoop, it undid all of the progress, development, and communication the leads had had prior.

The major support characters were also so fun. Tien was an adorkable brat and fantastic (and accurate) little brother to Tai. I wish we got more background to why he was so pettily antagonistic to Lomfon in the beginning, but by the end I was solidly sold on the Tien and Lomfon couple. They were equally as adorable as Tai x Patt when they let themselves relax, and they had the benefit of similar interests and passions to keep them talking, even when they clashed.

We even got a lesbian couple! One that felt pretty natural, even though they had very little screen time. But I am a little bit salty that the other pair of girls, who got quite a bit of screen time, did not become a couple. In fact, they gave one of them a HEA with a character we never even saw or heard about! Even if they didn't put Bow in the lesbian couple they seemed to had been hinting at, they could've ended her story in a different way that didn't feel as out-of-left-field. Even just her flirting with a coworker or thirsting after guys as usual. In a story where we literally get told that love can come in several forms, it felt artificial.

But the thing that really put a sour taste in my mouth and changed my overall view of the story isn't any of the above oversights and pacing changes. It's not even about the fact that it started feeling like a different screenwriter took over in those last few episodes. But rather the fact that we have several plot holes.

In episode 1, minute 1 of this drama, we get told how this world works:
- Certain people have a form of hearing loss where they can't hear anything when it rains (as suggested by the fact that everyone knew Tai had hearing loss already before the rain on his 20th birthday, and that he apparently never heard the sound of rain before).
- These people with hearing loss start to hear their soulmate on their first rain after turning 20 years old.
- That hearing loss is irreversible.
- That everyone is only able to hear 1 person

But suddenly, Lomfon spontaneously develops hearing loss. Spontaneously, Lomfon can hear Tai. And Patt. And Patt and Tai can hear him. No where near a birthday that we know of either. Oh, and spontaneously, you can just yell to the universe that you don't want the soulmate bond, and suddenly you won't have it anymore.

Absolutely none of this is questioned. None of this is explained. None of this is even pondered. In fact, in the last few minutes of the drama, we quite literally get told that it doesn't matter. "In the end, the hearing-loss and soulmate stuff are still questions that no one has an answer to. Rather, no one chooses to find an answer anymore." That love is all that matters.

I'm sorry. I'm all for making us and the characters question how the world works, but you don't get to just set rules for the world, break them, and expect us to be content because everyone gets a happy ending. That's not how worldbuilding and writing works.

And the fact that technically, Tien and Lomfon don't have a happy ending yet. Because, what do you know? Tien suddenly, spontaneously develops hearing loss and a soulmate bond too! And not on a birthday!

There's also a few smaller plot holes. Such as how Patt knew where to go to see Tai - when that was not Tai's usual café. And no one knew Patt was going there/went. Also, Patt apparently has had a long-time desire to resign and open up a vet clinic in rural Thailand? That definitely wasn't set up in the story. But the reason for it's existence was apparent: gotta have a good ol' ill-placed and ill-timed tourism ad for that final episode.

I love these characters. Some I loved almost immediately. Some, grew on me as their characters shown more depth in the story. And I loved that this drama didn't go the typical "villain" route, even while it did go the typical "misunderstanding" route. For probably 75% of it's runtime, this drama was a favorite. I was in a rush to get through the week to see the next episode. I scoured every corner of the internet for fanfictions and fan-edits of this story or similar premises. And I still highly recommend it. But I don't know what happened in those last few episodes. The writing went downhill along with the plot conflict's impact on the happiness of our leads. It stopped being thought out, and it shows. But can a terrific start truly make up for a lackluster ending?

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No establishment of plot, characters, or even tone.

Usually I rate something this low because of something that was done within the story. But this is an exception. There simply wasn't anything compelling about the film. There wasn't any real plot or characters. As a result, there was no sense of payoff at the end for viewers who watched. You can't even really pinpoint the tone of the work. It was just reserved. There was a brief moment of anger, but that was it - and it didn't really do anything. Perhaps there was supposed to be a tone, but it got lost in the acting (which was consistently stiff and muddled)?

The reason why I rated the plot as high as I did is because it didn't fall on the usual GL cliches. And I could see where there was potential for a plot. But the execution, whether that be the actors, script, or production, just simply wasn't there. I know it has received alot of love on it's youtube upload for being a simple lesbian romance, but personally I think there are other films and productions out there that are simple but also much more compelling.

The ending kiss was really adorable though. Cheesy, but in the best way.

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Like with many BLs, the idea was there. But execution wasn't.

The scenes felt disconnected. The characters lacked depth outside of their most basic character traits (Ba Da being shy and basically socially inept; Tommy being an eager beaver willing to do anything to keep his mind off his depression). But at least we saw notable and sensical character growth throughout.

I think a few scenes should have been cut in order to properly explore the episode 7/8 events - because they were way too big to be left for off-screen. But I personally don't have a problem with the events, or timespan, themselves. And I really liked the premise as a whole. It had all the makings to be a cute, gorgeous, and fluffy drama that would've went into my comfort drama list.

Overall, I don't regret watching. But it's not something that would come to mind to rewatch or suggest to others.

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Poignant, Understated, and Absolutely Heartbreaking

This documentary did a gorgeous job of combining essay, interview, and storytelling to convey to audiences the experiences of the residents of Rikuzentakata, 7 years after the devastating earthquake and tsunamis that changed life forever in March 2011. It was quiet, with a gradual build-up of emotions as we went from focusing on small details to the bigger tales that are hard to put into words.

The scene is set with silence, punctuated by our narrators telling us about their interviews and own experiences with the natural disaster/town. The setting is littered with construction zones and equipment, creating a 40 foot/12 meter elevation and widened rivers.

"Underneath the town where I live is the town where my mom and dad grew up."

The testimonies start off with children and teens. They're relatively numb. They speak of wanting to leave and come back after the restoration is complete and things are settled. They speak of the minor inconveniences that they focused on at the time - unable to really grasp the larger disaster around them, wanting everything to return to normal.

"And the livelier it gets, the more I think about my son who died. He's somewhere underneath this town, below this ground. We had to just leave him there."

And the small details and thin sentiments set the stage for the harder hitting stories of the older generations. Those that are filled with loss that is hard to put into words. Family. Friends. Chances. The memory of what your bathroom looked like. The kind of stories that tend to be absent of details. The kind of stories that make your throat close up and your eyes swim.

---

"I heard stories about him. With each person's images of him and fragments of the landscape of this town, I became ready to imagine that person. The person I imagine looks like myself or my friends."

There was a year in college where I took the train back home. I know I did my usual routine of listening to music and playing games on my phone. But I wasn't present, so I don't remember it. You see, just a couple months before, a hurricane wreaked havoc on my town, and put my own home completely underwater. The water had since subsided, but nothing was the same. Buildings were in pieces. Waiting for new roofs and floors. Waiting to be torn down. Yards were being packed with dirt, creating an intimidating slant. Houses were being raised, according to new town codes. What once was 2-3 steps up to your front door, was now more like 10. The fresh dirt just recently finished settling as of this review, so those steps need to be fixed so we don't trip anymore. The train ride back to school was similarly blurred.

It's the small details where the story really hits home. The small details that seem to say nothing at all, but are said with a tone that conveys a lingering sense of sadness, loss, and longing.

"Terrible things happened. I didn't lose my family, but I lost something in my heart."
"I used to love stories and books. But after the disaster, I wasn't able to read fiction books for a while."

---

"The plain white seawall, boxed-in gray sea, and carved away hills. This strange square-cornered sorcery. I wonder if I will ever get to love it... to [my grandchildren], this scenery is part of their irreplaceable hometown."

My flood didn't come from the sea; it came from the skies. So it was interesting to see the different ways our respective communities approached restoration and prevention measures. And the way that those very same measures and steps created different dysphoric experiences and types of loss.

The one thing I didn't like about this film though, was the way it was concluded. The very last scene. The whole film was touching and poignant. I never once minded that the narrators/interviewers weren't from the area, because they seemed genuinely touched and empathetic toward the subject matter and experiences being discussed. But in the very last scene, they just felt detached and awkward. The tone felt like a bland classroom discussion filled with empty platitudes and sympathy. I think it should've ended a better way - perhaps even addressing the audience ourselves - since that last scene was supposed to convey this message to remembering and passing on these stories and more. That's the purpose of the documentary. So bring that in. It would've felt more fitting and genuine.

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There's not really much to say on this film. I get that we are supposed to be watching a depressed male lead realize that he can be loved again - but the delivery just wasn't there. Shima's face didn't really change much throughout the drama nor was there any sort of chemistry between the two leads (and I'm not just saying that because of the fake kisses). Shima stands around like a log, even in the rare occasions where he masters his facial expressions for the scenes. The music was so quiet that I couldn't hear it, even during quiet moments in the film. And the story overall didn't sell me anything memorable.

The only thing that might add rewatch value, if you didn't notice it the first time, is the way they used lights and colors. Shima is consistently in and surrounded by monotonous colors and darkness. Meanwhile, whenever Togawa is in the scene, there's color and light coming through. Sometimes his color/light will affect Shima on the screen. Sometimes they look like theyre almost embodying two different spaces, even while being right beside each other. It's beautiful visual symbolism. And something the film did spectacularly well.

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Perfect after a long, tiring day

This is exactly the kind of drama I need after a long day. Or when going through a period where I can't handle the high emotions of other dramas. It's not fluff. But it's not angst either. Some may wonder how that's possible - and it's largely due to the episodic format. Each episode has it's own plot, focused on one of the regular customers of the midnight diner.

That's another standout feature: The show does not focus on the main character. The resultant nice, wise, and mysterious air that this gives him never detracts from all from the stories being told though. And each of the customers have really compelling stories - many of which are rarely told - that are given the proper attention and tone. Instead, we see all of the customers, denizens of the night life, being treated as whole people instead of a character embroiled in drama. And we see them all develop a peaceful and amicable dynamic with each other in the diner, as if they are family.

There's also a nice focus on food - with the customers each having a favorite dish, usually for a reason, that they will request the diner owner to make. And then at the end of the episode, viewers get a demo/explanation on how to make the dish or tips to keep in mind while doing so.

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Excellently developed characters with flawed but healthy relationships

Enjoyed the serious exploration into promiscuity and trauma. I was surprised by how much I found myself rooting for Fiat, considering his role in TharnType2. It was also a great presentation of a friends-to-lovers dynamic (the awkward phase included). All of the relationships were pretty healthy, but still with their own flaws and obstacles to go through. And all the intimate scenes didn't feel thrown in there for the sake of being there. They felt genuine and purposeful - especially considering Fiat's love language is very obviously touch.

The side/supporting characters were almost just as rounded as the mains. The twin brothers need their own show. I'd even watch it if there was no romance involved. And the subtle (but technically unconfirmed, i suppose) lesbian couple that no one made a big deal about in the show was a great sight to see.

However, all of the drama and trauma coming at the mains might have been a tad to much. And some scenes were too over-acted. So I would get thrown out of the moment on occasion (especially when the mother comes in). I'm liking the route Mame took with these characters. Major kudos. I can definitely see myself going back to certain episodes to re-watch. And I can't wait for the sequel series.

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Same enjoyable characters, great messages, but different tone

On one hand, this story aged better than it's prequel. But on the other hand, it didn't have the same innocence that attracted me to the prequel.

Nai still feels rather similar to his prequel version. And the friend group is just as mischievous as ever. Gump feels like a slightly different character - but I feel like this might be simply because of his new actor, as I couldn't pinpoint a reason for the difference. But ultimately, I can't find any fault in any of their performances.

Although the tone of the film is quite different than the prequel. I do think it still manages to tell an important message: that just because there is attraction, it does not mean you have to act on it. I loved how even though Gump did find Sunz attractive, nothing ever came of it - and they even became good friends. Furthermore, I liked that he made Nai work for his forgiveness.

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A superb fluff story that has a different dynamic than most romances.

Honestly, it saddens me to see this series get so much hate. Please, please don't watch if you aren't into fluff - because this series is VERY fluffy. There is so much to like about this show.

Pros:
- Our main protagonist may be innocent and naive, but not in an overly done, obnoxious way in my opinion. She doesn't say things she doesn't mean to say out loud or that would cause trouble, and she isn't slow to catch on to things happening around her. She doesn't create a fuss. And she does seem to grow in confidence thanks to Riichi's reasurances. And despite her reoccurring insecurities, she was never indecisive. And I LOVE that.

- While in real-life some people may not be able to handle how our leads' relationship works, you have to consider that this is what works for them, in this moment. Riichi understands Hanai very very well - because he's been in those shoes before. And even though Hanai has been working on manga for years, her career is just starting to boom - so of course she is going to be extremely busy right now, and riding the wave of her dreams coming true. And besides, they both seem legitimately entranced and inspired by each other working hard at their dreams - and that's something that I hope we all want (even if the show might take it too far at times).

- I love how her real life inspired her art, and in turn her changing art propelled her towards her dreams - while at the same time allowing for her to really connect with her real-life. Even her assistants commented about how eventually she wouldn't binge eat sweets and then go to bed after her deadline, instead she'd rush out to see Riichi. I don't think she was in the relationship just to inspire her work, indeed - she didn't seem aware of all the ways that her work has changed. Nor do I think the scenes where inspiration strikes were unrealistic or to callously placed (this coming from a writer myself).

- The (instantly predictable) plot conflict was handled in a very mature, decisive, and quick fashion from all parties. And the aftermath never lingered. As should ALWAYS be the case with a fluff story.

- The story was told in a really effective dual-perspective view. We got both sides of the story for all of the major scenes. And since the series was short, this didn't wind up feeling repetitive. Plus, it allowed us to really just enjoy the story/fluffiness, without wondering what the other side is thinking.

Cons:
- Riichi, baby, you need better/more compliments. You cycled through 3 (cute, cool, and beautiful) the entire series. It did start to feel tiring, and based on dialogue alone, shallow. Hanai isn't much better with her compliments either. So the dialogue could've use a bit of work to bring more depth.

- I would've liked to have seen another time jump where we see Hanai having an even better grasp of work-life balance. But as it stands, I think we got a really solid hint that that's the direction we're going in at the end.

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A pleasant romcom with excellent grasp of character

I actually really enjoyed this series. It doesn't take itself too seriously, while still maintaining a satisfying level of foreshadowing and moments that take on a new meaning upon completion of the series. And there is much more to the MCs' relationship issues than just miscommunication - issues that I don't see addressed in many series, let alone BLs. I do wish that those issues got a bit more screen time though.

The characters were written consistently and had a significant level of depth to them - which is quite notable for a series that has comedy as a focus. I was able to tell and stay in touch with each of the characters' motivations and insecurities. And I thoroughly enjoyed this friends-to-lovers plot because of how well the two MCs understand each other, and exceptions to that had valid and in-character reasons, rather than appearing out of thin air. And the pseudo-harem situation didn't take as much focus as initially anticipated - keeping the plot from feeling excessive and attention-dividing.

Having Fluke sing in this series was a welcome surprise - although the songs that got the major spotlight weren't as captivating as the music in other series'. The acting also had brief moments that felt off - with some actors appearing more angry than the character was. And kiss scenes didn't have as much chemistry as the non-kiss scenes suggested. But perhaps this is because of the friend-dynamic that the actors have in real-life. Even though I know that the French wasn't the best, I think that its inclusion was a welcome one, and story-wise it would've felt weird not to have it.

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