“When Love Ends, the Story Begins”
Storyline & Plot — (9.2/10) A+
THE BOY AND I WHO WILL BREAK IN 100 DAYS takes us into a different dimension where this is not simply another BL romance, but a queer story that touches on issues that have long existed within and are frequently discussed in the LGBTQ+ community. In some ways, the drama feels reminiscent of Love in the Big City, as it attempts to portray the realities of LGBTQ+ life rather than simply romanticising queer relationships.
This drama is genuinely moving and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster that you might not experience with many other BLs.
To be completely honest, you might find the first two episodes quite boring. However, the story gradually becomes more engaging as the episodes progress. The further you get into the drama, the more things start happening, and the more the story has to say to its audience.
I understand why some people might find the drama boring because it contains a lot of dialogue, but personally, I didn't mind it at all. Since the drama is structured around the making of a documentary, it makes sense for there to be many long and detailed conversations. In fact, I think those conversations are essential because they allow us to understand the characters, their past, and the issues being explored on a much deeper level.
Another thing I really appreciate is the documentary-style concept itself. The decision to present the story through the process of filming a documentary already makes this BL feel unique and creative. It doesn't follow the typical formula of a cute, romantic BL, but instead uses the documentary format to explore something much more grounded and realistic.
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Acting & Characters — (8.1/10) A
Narumi Yui as Shiho, what an incredible actress!
Honestly, Shiho is one of the biggest reasons why this drama works so well. She is portrayed as an independent, strong-willed and resilient woman, and I have absolutely no hesitation in calling Shiho the true MVP of this drama.
Think about it: if she had decided to stop making the documentary about Yuma and Itsuki, this entire story would never have happened. The documentary would have been cancelled, and we wouldn't have gotten this drama in the first place!
Yuma and Itsuki's performances were decent overall. However, one thing that genuinely annoyed me in certain episodes was how frustrating Itsuki's character could be. He was arrogant, distant and incredibly nonchalant at times.
BUT by the end, we finally begin to understand why Itsuki behaves that way. Once his backstory and the reasons behind his personality are revealed, his character becomes much more understandable.
So please, don't judge Itsuki too early and make sure you watch the drama until the end!
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Chemistry — (5.5 /10) C
This is probably the biggest weakness of the drama for me.
Because the story revolves around a breakup, we never really get to see Yuma and Itsuki's relationship when they were actually together. The drama focuses heavily on the process of filming and producing the documentary, which means their romantic relationship often takes a back seat.
At times, the story even feels more centred around Shiho than Yuma and Itsuki themselves.
That being said, I still appreciate the way their conversations are portrayed. Their interactions feel surprisingly natural and neutral, almost like two exes who have recently broken up and are trying to interact with each other again.
It genuinely feels like they used to be a couple. There is an awkwardness, emotional distance and familiarity between them that makes their dynamic believable.
So despite the lack of romantic chemistry on screen, I still think the drama deserves a C here.
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Final Thoughts
Not every BL needs a happy ending to be a good story.
Sometimes, a heartbreaking ending can actually make a story feel more meaningful because it reflects the realities that LGBTQ+ couples may experience in real life. Love doesn't always work out. Relationships don't always end happily. And not every queer story needs to be wrapped up in a perfect romantic ending.
That's actually one of the things I appreciate most about this drama.
I want to end this review by giving a huge congratulations to the producers of this JBL for having the courage to step outside the usual formula.
We're so used to BLs giving us cute, warm and comforting romances, but this drama takes a completely different direction. It chooses to tell a more serious, mature and emotionally complex story, one that is willing to explore the realities of queer relationships and the issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community.
It may not be everyone's cup of tea, and I completely understand why some viewers might find the pacing slow or the dialogue-heavy approach boring.
But for me, THE BOY AND I WHO WILL BREAK IN 100 DAYS is a drama that deserves to be appreciated for what it is trying to do.
MY FINAL RATING : 7.6/10.
THE BOY AND I WHO WILL BREAK IN 100 DAYS takes us into a different dimension where this is not simply another BL romance, but a queer story that touches on issues that have long existed within and are frequently discussed in the LGBTQ+ community. In some ways, the drama feels reminiscent of Love in the Big City, as it attempts to portray the realities of LGBTQ+ life rather than simply romanticising queer relationships.
This drama is genuinely moving and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster that you might not experience with many other BLs.
To be completely honest, you might find the first two episodes quite boring. However, the story gradually becomes more engaging as the episodes progress. The further you get into the drama, the more things start happening, and the more the story has to say to its audience.
I understand why some people might find the drama boring because it contains a lot of dialogue, but personally, I didn't mind it at all. Since the drama is structured around the making of a documentary, it makes sense for there to be many long and detailed conversations. In fact, I think those conversations are essential because they allow us to understand the characters, their past, and the issues being explored on a much deeper level.
Another thing I really appreciate is the documentary-style concept itself. The decision to present the story through the process of filming a documentary already makes this BL feel unique and creative. It doesn't follow the typical formula of a cute, romantic BL, but instead uses the documentary format to explore something much more grounded and realistic.
---------
Acting & Characters — (8.1/10) A
Narumi Yui as Shiho, what an incredible actress!
Honestly, Shiho is one of the biggest reasons why this drama works so well. She is portrayed as an independent, strong-willed and resilient woman, and I have absolutely no hesitation in calling Shiho the true MVP of this drama.
Think about it: if she had decided to stop making the documentary about Yuma and Itsuki, this entire story would never have happened. The documentary would have been cancelled, and we wouldn't have gotten this drama in the first place!
Yuma and Itsuki's performances were decent overall. However, one thing that genuinely annoyed me in certain episodes was how frustrating Itsuki's character could be. He was arrogant, distant and incredibly nonchalant at times.
BUT by the end, we finally begin to understand why Itsuki behaves that way. Once his backstory and the reasons behind his personality are revealed, his character becomes much more understandable.
So please, don't judge Itsuki too early and make sure you watch the drama until the end!
---------
Chemistry — (5.5 /10) C
This is probably the biggest weakness of the drama for me.
Because the story revolves around a breakup, we never really get to see Yuma and Itsuki's relationship when they were actually together. The drama focuses heavily on the process of filming and producing the documentary, which means their romantic relationship often takes a back seat.
At times, the story even feels more centred around Shiho than Yuma and Itsuki themselves.
That being said, I still appreciate the way their conversations are portrayed. Their interactions feel surprisingly natural and neutral, almost like two exes who have recently broken up and are trying to interact with each other again.
It genuinely feels like they used to be a couple. There is an awkwardness, emotional distance and familiarity between them that makes their dynamic believable.
So despite the lack of romantic chemistry on screen, I still think the drama deserves a C here.
-------
Final Thoughts
Not every BL needs a happy ending to be a good story.
Sometimes, a heartbreaking ending can actually make a story feel more meaningful because it reflects the realities that LGBTQ+ couples may experience in real life. Love doesn't always work out. Relationships don't always end happily. And not every queer story needs to be wrapped up in a perfect romantic ending.
That's actually one of the things I appreciate most about this drama.
I want to end this review by giving a huge congratulations to the producers of this JBL for having the courage to step outside the usual formula.
We're so used to BLs giving us cute, warm and comforting romances, but this drama takes a completely different direction. It chooses to tell a more serious, mature and emotionally complex story, one that is willing to explore the realities of queer relationships and the issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community.
It may not be everyone's cup of tea, and I completely understand why some viewers might find the pacing slow or the dialogue-heavy approach boring.
But for me, THE BOY AND I WHO WILL BREAK IN 100 DAYS is a drama that deserves to be appreciated for what it is trying to do.
MY FINAL RATING : 7.6/10.
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