etoks21

Sweet, sweet, sweet.
Wow, the customer is drop-dead gorgeous.
I love quiet shorts like this chock full of feels.
One flaw: That woman manager. She was a total b***h to the customer.

Well done. 8/10

Matchbox/Strongberry are the bomb. This early effort has a few rough patches, but the studio's trademark feels are all there. I like that they aren't afraid of melancholy/sad/open endings. This one reaches a low point for sure, but the coda with the boss on the riverside was a positive, hopeful wrap-up.

Anyone else think the customer was a tad bi-curious?

I loved the way the film started, with the boss gruffly saying "yo, bitch" and "even though you're a homo," etc. It was a great bit of acting in that I knew immediately he was on the kid's side, despite his language. lol

For the delivery boy it was exactly that, although it's more accurate to say "crush at first sight."

Yeah, I wish I had the willpower to wait until shows like this have aired in their entirety so I could binge them, but this one is too good for me to do that. We get so much crap out of Thailand, that I'm always eager to check out anything from Japan, Korea, Taiwan because that's where the good ones have been originating the last two years or so.

It was great when I discovered BL over three years ago, and there were so many existing shows for which all the episodes were available. I binge-watched BLs for a few weeks solid. lol All my fave first BLs were Thai, but my god, I haven't liked anything out of there since Moonlight Chicken two years ago.

All I am saying is that BOTH protecting his friend from being hurt, and being jealous that she wasn't interested in him are factors here. I keep remembering how excited Taichi was that the girl wanted to meet him at the restaurant. It was obvious that he was excited at the possibilities; that he was attracted to/likes her, and he was crestfallen when she asked about Kohei.

It's going to be interesting going forward...at this point, my feeling is that Kohei is romantically attracted to Taichi, but for Taichi it is the feeling of a dear friendship. Of course, this is a BL, so that's likely to change but that's the vibe I get after 4 episodes.

Whatever happens, this is a very good series thus far.

Do you really feel that he "confessed" his romantic feelings? He confessed that he would miss Taichi's voice more than anything else, but to say that was a confession in the Asian sense of the word seems like a stretch. He went part way there, but certainly not to a proclamation of romantic love. And then he switched gears in asking about the girl and what she said.

Aren't you missing his double motive in keeping quiet about what the girl told him about Kohei? Sure, he didn't relay the message because her insincerity is hurtful, but at the same time, he was interested in her himself and thus jealous that she didn't ask him to meet for that reason. I like the gray area vibe we're getting in that regard. Taichi's motives are mixed.

Both leads are exceptional actors. I'm enjoying their realistic, restrained, naturalistic performances, not something we see much in BL World.

The issue of what was said by the girl to Taichi but not relayed to Kohei is interesting. I get that Taichi didn't want Kohei to be hurt by her motivations, but at the same time it seemed that Taichi was hopeful that she was interested in HIM and was disappointed that her attentions were toward Kohei instead. In short, he was jealous. So it seems he had TWO motives for not telling Kohei, one honorable, the other not so much. I'm looking forward to that settling itself out as we advance.

The scene under the bridge was beautifully acted and directed. This is a good show so far.

You again. I repeat myself: The alleged stalker and his behaviors are the only aspect of this plot providing drama, suspense, fear, angst, all those juicy aspects of a story that make it exciting. It is of no concern to me that you can't differentiate between appreciating the stimulation provided by creepy characters and/or actions, and "defending" them.

I've watched lots of riveting murder thrillers that would be nothing without the murderer or the murder, just as without the creepy stalker this show would be almost nothing unless earrings and baggy pants provide you excitement. And guess what? I have yet to murder anyone.

I'm glad your last comment will be your last comment. Your comments are nothing as well.

Still can't read English, can you?

My comment was directed at the shrieking comments, which are still hilarious to read in light of the fact that gay baiting as a marketing strategy makes no sense, so why would they do it? I then proceed to ask a number of questions asking why it would be in the film's interest to use that strategy? You have provided no answers. Rather, you continue to accuse me of "defending" gay-baiting when you have not shown that is what is going on here, nor explained WHY they would market the film that way.

Using words like "obvious" and stating your opinions as fact do zero to bolster your hysterical, "outraged" arguments. People who use the words "I am outraged!" are generally emotionally "overwrought" and much less than objective.

",,,but now its become obvious that your just here to argue and troll.. Some you of people are so very very miserable in your actual lives.. How sad.." Says the outraged hysteric who keeps replying to my alleged "trolling" with troll comments of their own. Apparently, you're just here to argue and troll, distraught that I haven't bent to your will. lol

I hope your misery and sadness in life continue unabated.

Sorry about all the paragraphs again. I know how you struggle with those.

"...you haven't been in this situation or know what the reality is for people..." Just as I thought; you're not interested in what is going on in this story, you simply are eager to let us all know you or someone you know has been stalked and that you're an expert on stalking.

News flash: Haishin has never been in this situation before either. He knows nothing about stalking and case law surrounding it. Let it go.

"...when anyone can tell from the writing that taishin is somewhere on the autism spectrum..." lol OK, now, this is news. Where did this come from? It's nothing other than your assumption, made from your own perspective, with prejudice. You clearly want this to be about a dude with Autism when no such thing has been indicated in the least. You made a medical diagnosis of the character from "your perspective," and locked it in as if it were fact, when it is far too early to know any such thing.

Do people on the Autism spectrum, even high-functioning ones, really go pursuing a crush as aggressively as Haishin has gone after Takara? No, they don't. They avoid social interactions, making eye contact, prefer being alone, don't like people in their personal space, etc. Does this sound like the Haishin who chases after Takara, looks everyone in the eye, socializes with his new friends, and lays his head on Takara's chest after Takara chased away the chicken dinner man? No, no it doesn't sound like Haishin, not at all.

So, unless you're a certified M.D. specializing in Autism, please stop watching or at least stop posting comments that reveal your ignorance and need to play the expert on things you know little about.

I realize this comment contains paragraphs, which may be difficult for you to read and comprehend, but that's your problem.

P.S. if you reply, and I hope you don't, could you explain how you manage to view anything in the universe from any perspective other than your own as an individual? You can expand and grow your perspective by considering new information and the perspectives of others, but doing those things merely changes YOUR perspective, it doesn't endow you with someone else's.

I apologize for the extra paragraph. I know those are difficult for you.

Thanks for your know-it-all, insulting, arrogant reply, making it clear you have hostility issues. Also good to know you just "know" all of this without providing any backup info/links. So I'll assume you're full of shit on this.

None of what you wrote negates what I said above: Marketing a non-BL film as a BL is a stupid move, regardless of why it was done. It will backfire, as those who see it early will spread the word, hopefully in less of an a**hole-ish way than you have done, that it is NOT a BL, the BL audience will dry up and the studio will have hundreds of thousands of people left with a sour taste in their mouths. Sounds like a bad strategy to me.

My comment did NOT attempt to defend gay-baiting in the marketing of this film. I was seeking clarification as to whether that's what really went down and expressing why it would be a mistake. In your haste to play the all-knowing, self-righteous gay superhero, you missed all that.

Twit.

I guess you can't read English. In my comment, I pointed out that "he stood outside Haishin's door for HOURS with that chicken dinner sack..." Then for some reason you found it necessary to repeat what I already wrote. But can you point out where I wrote that his doing so is "normal?" Thanks, I'll wait while you try to find that quote in my comment.

I wrote "He hasn't really done anything yet." I wrote that because, legally speaking, he hasn't broken any laws unless it's illegal to stand on someone's doorstep for hours, which it's not. It might be later, after they get a restraining order issued by a court of law but that hasn't happened yet.

I'm afraid you're the "weirdo" here, making shit up and freaking out when nothing of consequence has happened yet. However, your hysterical reaction does make my point that the creepy dude character has been the only dramatic/interesting thing in this story thus far.

Started out pretty grippingly, but I can't abide that cheap TV-movie production look of these Japanese network "Specials." The straight-to-video vibe takes me right out of the story. Which is a shame, as this has a great cast, except for the actress playing the wife/mother. That semi-hysterical, whispery, meek-but-passive-aggressive Japanese wife type character drives me nuts. To anyone who would know, is this the way most Japanese women act? I've seen the type over and over in movies and series. ugh I wanted to slap the shit out of her ten times in the first 20 minutes.

I love Abe Hiroshi, but he's not gonna save this one for me.

OK, so dropped.

Haishin is definitely too naive and clueless to be living in the big city all alone. His mother is nuts for having allowed that since he wasn't going to be living on campus, which is where he should be.

After three episodes, I find his forced obliviousness annoying. I think that's a problem the actor has run into. The halting mannerisms and wide-eyed, nervous-Nelly affect ring false. He's ACTING like someone who behaves that way, rather than BEING that person. Which means the director is fucking up as well.

Why are you "disgusted?" He hasn't really done anything yet. "Creeped out," yes, but "disgusted?"

I like him. He's the only element of this story that has provided some drama, unless watching Haishin shop for earrings is your idea of angst and suspense. I find his perseverance amusing: He stood outside Haishin's door for HOURS with that chicken dinner sack, never once losing his amiable, cheerful demeanor, which is what made the character even creepier than he otherwise would have been. lol

What a weirdo. The actor did a good job with that character. Maybe he'll show up again and he and Haishin will hook up.

Are you suggesting that Haishin, the little trembling bird scared of his own shadow; who knows nothing of city life or case law regarding stalking, who doesn't even know what a stalker is yet, is nonetheless fully versed on the intricacies of how to deal with the chicken dinner stalker at his door, and that the last thing you do is call the cops?

The scenario in the series is not "your experience." It is the experience of the character, who knows only that a scary dude won't leave his doorway for hours. He's vulnerable, but we haven't been made aware yet that he is stupid.

It would definitely occur to him to call the cops. He's heard of police departments, right? Maybe he doesn't know what number to dial but that wasn't indicated in the script. Maybe he knows how to call them, but takes the opportunity to call his crush instead? That wasn't indicated either.

It is bad writing.

...and here you are again, still arguing your point.

So, are you saying this tiny, quivering bird from the countryside is ignorant of city life and its complications, yet understands "stalking laws" and the "nuances" of involving police with potentially dangerous people? He doesn't even understand what a stalker is yet, he just knows an intimidating weirdo won't leave his doorway

He is so scared of the man with the chicken dinner that he's been cowering in his apartment for hours shaking like a leaf, but he doesn't call the cops to deal with the situation. His vast knowledge of stalking laws and their unintended consequences prevent him from doing this, so he calls the guy he's crushing on instead?

Or did he simply embrace the opportunity to play damsel in distress and call his knight in shining armor for rescue?

Is it that you feel you've been stalked, and want to share your intimate knowledge of the law surrounding it? Let it go.