imanirine
This review may contain spoilers
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly ~Worth Watching Tho~
NO SPOILERS HERE IN THE FIRST PART!
Overall: completely worth my time and energy to watch this drama and love it.
These two have a rocky and less-than-smooth start and the first half of the drama took my heart on a roller coaster. I have to give credit to this drama for leaving a lasting impression on my mind now and for being profound enough for me to feel so many emotions when watching this short drama. Bravo. If you can get past the rough, triggering, and unhealthy beginnings of these two characters' relationship, then I say watch this drama and you'll feel something. I'm sure.
SPOILERS STARTING HERE!
Both of the main characters have their issues. They both found an unhealthy way to interact with each other. However, both of them are victims of never understanding the difference between healthy expressions of affections and toxic, unwanted affections.
Kiyoi is a tsundere. He's cold on the exterior and soft on the inside. He's beautiful in appearance and seemingly mild-mannered as well. He doesn't seem interested in dating and he acquired a group of 'friends' pretty quickly at the start of the school year. He hides the fact that he's incredibly lonely and he really wants to be an idol so he can overcome his loneliness through his future fans' love and devotion. On his first day of school, he notices Hira, and the looks Hira gives him. Kiyoi isn't sure what Hira wants from Kiyoi but Kiyoi wants to find out. Just not in the best way...
Hira considers himself at the 'bottom of the pyramid' and finds it difficult to like anything. Or anyone, I guess since he doesn't seem to have friends or any old friends he use to have since he never mentions anyone else besides his parents and Kiyoi. He eventually gets a friend when he goes to university and meets Koyama. Hira has a speech impairment that makes him stutter and he gets too nervous to talk to new people. He owns a camera that his parents got for him when he was young to take pictures of things that he likes. He never photographed another person since he got a camera until he met Kiyoi. Hira finds Kiyoi so beautiful and lovely to look at that he can't help but follow Kiyoi around, do everything he tells him to and take his picture. He also says very intense and intimate things to and about Kiyoi that show his perspective of Kiyoi as the King in his life and Hira as a servant. This pedestal he puts Kiyoi on also isolates these two from having anything romantic or physical. At least in Hira's mind.
But Kiyoi doesn't want that. Not after he starts to change how he feels about Hira when Hira fights back against other classmates bullying Kiyoi. Their inability to say how they feel and be honest and open with each other causes them to inadvertently hurt each other and leave them separated with big misunderstandings. Kiyoi doesn't know how to tell Hira that what he says to him and how it makes him feel, feels new but good. So he tells Hira that his actions are a turn-off. The Japanese word 'kimoi' is a shorter version of the phrase 'kimochi warui' or 'bad feelings'. The culture translation for this slang is similar to telling someone that they are 'giving off bad vibes' or that they are a 'turn-off'. (There was some confusion and misinterpretations due to the subtitling of the videos but after some research, I've found out that 'kimoi' doesn't always mean disgusting like the translation says it does every time. I do believe that some of Hira's behavior was questionable, disgusting, and a little disturbing. I still finished this drama though, so I survived those few offenses.)
Kiyoi also hung out with a group of classmates that were mostly bullies who loved using and making fun of Hira since Hira will always tag along if Kiyoi is there to order him around. Kiyoi was different from the other students in that group - of course - but I was really surprised when he gave Hira his own money since bullies would never do that. It made me question Kiyoi's action a bit more and I started to pay attention to his body language more often and not just what he was saying. It wasn't until episode 5 when Kiyoi was able to give his POV for the show that things started to make so much sense after that.
The last half of the drama gets crazier and my jaw kept dropping to the floor because this drama is telling a story of these two lonely boys who find each other and find the thing they've been looking for in each other without realizing it. Their lack of slf-esteem, honesty and ability to properly communicate leaves the viewer confused and alarmed. Things get toxic and at one instance even violent since Hira imagines having a machine gun and shooting his fellow classmates because they were being mean to Kiyoi or saying something mean about him. That part almost made me quit the drama. However, that same episode - Kiyoi kissed Hira. Kissed him! All of the sudden, Kiyoi finds time to be with Hira. Go to his house, walk home together or study when its just the two of them. This all happens after Hira beats up a classmate that poured tomato juice (???) on Kiyoi's head after Kiyoi failed to win 1st place for the idol competition that he badly wanted to win. Kiyoi didn't look like he would fight back, just pretend that the bullying didn't phase him. Hira comes in like a firece storm and punches the guy until the guys' friends have to hold Hira back.
What I liked most about this scene was that it was shown from Kiyoi's POV and not Hira's. When Hira described the incident, there was only a black screen and a faded echo of someone yelling. Thanks to the creative direction, we get to see what really happened and we get to see what Kiyoi's sees when he sees Hira. This was the first time the viewers ever saw Hira act so differently. Even the teacher made a comment about it in Hira's POV in episode 3. After the incident, Kiyoi opens up to Hira. He actually asks him if he likes boys. If Hira wants to kiss him and then offers his hand (like some blushing maiden in a fairytale???) for Hira to kiss. Which Hira does - on his knee like some knight in shining armor, awarded for protecting his lady (in this case King's maybe??) virtue. I laughed actually. It was too on the nose and not subtle at all. I liked it and thought, "Okay, I''l keep watching."
The drama is beautiful. The way it was filmed was stunning. I love the Japanese countryside aesthic. I liked the moments when they were by the river and had their bike rides. I like the inside of Hira's home and the introduction sequences for Kiyoi and Hira. The actors are also very beautiful, each in their own individual ways and their acting was superb. The body language and subtle details make all the difference. I love this drama and the fact that its from Japan as well since it reminds of Kimi Wa Petto. Another drama about an unconventional couple that found exactly what they needed serendipitously. Beautiful.
The ending.... I won't spoil the ending but I adored Kiyoi's facial expressions and the progression the two characters had regarding their communication and relationship. Now I need to read the manga because there could be a season 2 & 3??!!
Overall: completely worth my time and energy to watch this drama and love it.
These two have a rocky and less-than-smooth start and the first half of the drama took my heart on a roller coaster. I have to give credit to this drama for leaving a lasting impression on my mind now and for being profound enough for me to feel so many emotions when watching this short drama. Bravo. If you can get past the rough, triggering, and unhealthy beginnings of these two characters' relationship, then I say watch this drama and you'll feel something. I'm sure.
SPOILERS STARTING HERE!
Both of the main characters have their issues. They both found an unhealthy way to interact with each other. However, both of them are victims of never understanding the difference between healthy expressions of affections and toxic, unwanted affections.
Kiyoi is a tsundere. He's cold on the exterior and soft on the inside. He's beautiful in appearance and seemingly mild-mannered as well. He doesn't seem interested in dating and he acquired a group of 'friends' pretty quickly at the start of the school year. He hides the fact that he's incredibly lonely and he really wants to be an idol so he can overcome his loneliness through his future fans' love and devotion. On his first day of school, he notices Hira, and the looks Hira gives him. Kiyoi isn't sure what Hira wants from Kiyoi but Kiyoi wants to find out. Just not in the best way...
Hira considers himself at the 'bottom of the pyramid' and finds it difficult to like anything. Or anyone, I guess since he doesn't seem to have friends or any old friends he use to have since he never mentions anyone else besides his parents and Kiyoi. He eventually gets a friend when he goes to university and meets Koyama. Hira has a speech impairment that makes him stutter and he gets too nervous to talk to new people. He owns a camera that his parents got for him when he was young to take pictures of things that he likes. He never photographed another person since he got a camera until he met Kiyoi. Hira finds Kiyoi so beautiful and lovely to look at that he can't help but follow Kiyoi around, do everything he tells him to and take his picture. He also says very intense and intimate things to and about Kiyoi that show his perspective of Kiyoi as the King in his life and Hira as a servant. This pedestal he puts Kiyoi on also isolates these two from having anything romantic or physical. At least in Hira's mind.
But Kiyoi doesn't want that. Not after he starts to change how he feels about Hira when Hira fights back against other classmates bullying Kiyoi. Their inability to say how they feel and be honest and open with each other causes them to inadvertently hurt each other and leave them separated with big misunderstandings. Kiyoi doesn't know how to tell Hira that what he says to him and how it makes him feel, feels new but good. So he tells Hira that his actions are a turn-off. The Japanese word 'kimoi' is a shorter version of the phrase 'kimochi warui' or 'bad feelings'. The culture translation for this slang is similar to telling someone that they are 'giving off bad vibes' or that they are a 'turn-off'. (There was some confusion and misinterpretations due to the subtitling of the videos but after some research, I've found out that 'kimoi' doesn't always mean disgusting like the translation says it does every time. I do believe that some of Hira's behavior was questionable, disgusting, and a little disturbing. I still finished this drama though, so I survived those few offenses.)
Kiyoi also hung out with a group of classmates that were mostly bullies who loved using and making fun of Hira since Hira will always tag along if Kiyoi is there to order him around. Kiyoi was different from the other students in that group - of course - but I was really surprised when he gave Hira his own money since bullies would never do that. It made me question Kiyoi's action a bit more and I started to pay attention to his body language more often and not just what he was saying. It wasn't until episode 5 when Kiyoi was able to give his POV for the show that things started to make so much sense after that.
The last half of the drama gets crazier and my jaw kept dropping to the floor because this drama is telling a story of these two lonely boys who find each other and find the thing they've been looking for in each other without realizing it. Their lack of slf-esteem, honesty and ability to properly communicate leaves the viewer confused and alarmed. Things get toxic and at one instance even violent since Hira imagines having a machine gun and shooting his fellow classmates because they were being mean to Kiyoi or saying something mean about him. That part almost made me quit the drama. However, that same episode - Kiyoi kissed Hira. Kissed him! All of the sudden, Kiyoi finds time to be with Hira. Go to his house, walk home together or study when its just the two of them. This all happens after Hira beats up a classmate that poured tomato juice (???) on Kiyoi's head after Kiyoi failed to win 1st place for the idol competition that he badly wanted to win. Kiyoi didn't look like he would fight back, just pretend that the bullying didn't phase him. Hira comes in like a firece storm and punches the guy until the guys' friends have to hold Hira back.
What I liked most about this scene was that it was shown from Kiyoi's POV and not Hira's. When Hira described the incident, there was only a black screen and a faded echo of someone yelling. Thanks to the creative direction, we get to see what really happened and we get to see what Kiyoi's sees when he sees Hira. This was the first time the viewers ever saw Hira act so differently. Even the teacher made a comment about it in Hira's POV in episode 3. After the incident, Kiyoi opens up to Hira. He actually asks him if he likes boys. If Hira wants to kiss him and then offers his hand (like some blushing maiden in a fairytale???) for Hira to kiss. Which Hira does - on his knee like some knight in shining armor, awarded for protecting his lady (in this case King's maybe??) virtue. I laughed actually. It was too on the nose and not subtle at all. I liked it and thought, "Okay, I''l keep watching."
The drama is beautiful. The way it was filmed was stunning. I love the Japanese countryside aesthic. I liked the moments when they were by the river and had their bike rides. I like the inside of Hira's home and the introduction sequences for Kiyoi and Hira. The actors are also very beautiful, each in their own individual ways and their acting was superb. The body language and subtle details make all the difference. I love this drama and the fact that its from Japan as well since it reminds of Kimi Wa Petto. Another drama about an unconventional couple that found exactly what they needed serendipitously. Beautiful.
The ending.... I won't spoil the ending but I adored Kiyoi's facial expressions and the progression the two characters had regarding their communication and relationship. Now I need to read the manga because there could be a season 2 & 3??!!
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